Ante

Bar · $$$$$ · newtown

Around 60 styles of sake are pouring at this intimate drinking den, inspired by the vinyl-spinning jazz bars of Japan. Expect rare Japanese gins and whiskies too.

146 King Street

Mister Grotto

Restaurant · Seafood · $$$$$ · newtown

This seafood diner from the Continental Deli team commits to its marine theme – hard. The dining room looks like the quarters of an eccentric ship captain and the menu heroes local fish, used to their fullest potential.

208 Australia Street

Yeodongsik

Restaurant · Korean · $$$$$ · eastwood

There’s usually a long line outside Yeodongsik – even on a weekday – and most are coming for the Korean hangover soup or the noodles.

15 Railway Parade

Bessie’s

Restaurant · Mediterranean · $$$$$ · surry hills

Bessie's and Alma's are the two-in-one follow-up to Bar Copains. Visit Bessie's for Mediterranean share plates and exciting wines. Then have an after-dinner cocktail at Alma's. And maybe even kick on to Bar Copains down the road?

111-115 Albion Street

Maybe Sammy

Bar · $$$$$ · the rocks

Maybe Sammy channels the opulence and excess of Las Vegas in the late '50s, and is considered one of the best bars in the world. The reason for that acclaim is simple: Maybe Sammy combines flawless service with singular cocktails.

115 Harrington Street

Sushi Oe

Restaurant · Japanese · $$$$$ · glebe

With just eight coveted seats and one service per night, the tiny restaurant books a whole month of seatings in minutes.

1 Bridge Road

Porteño

Restaurant · South American · $$$$$ · surry hills

This South American wine bar and diner in Surry Hills, with its charcoal-roasted meats and long wine list, was well ahead of its time when it opened in 2010. But it hasn't lost a step since, and is still well worth seeking out.

50 Holt Street

Fontana

Restaurant · Italian · $$$$$ · redfern

A visit to Fontana is like taking a Mediterranean holiday. The menu is a love letter to regional Italian dishes, backed up by a thoughtful curation of natural wines and aperitivo.

133A Redfern Street

Royal Palace Seafood Restaurant

Restaurant · Cantonese · $$$$$ · haymarket

In the old Golden Century site, this 400-seat Cantonese diner is ushering in a new era for Chinatown. The seafood tanks are full, the yum cha trolleys are back in action and late-night dining runs until 3am.

393-399 Sussex Street

Baba’s Place

Restaurant · Mediterranean · $$$$$ · marrickville

This hidden restaurant in Sydney’s inner west celebrates the cultural diversity of the city’s suburbs. Find creative nods to our Greek and Middle Eastern communities, and a cocktail list built around a classic Balkan spirit.

20 Sloane Street

Letra House

Bar · Spanish · $$$$$ · sydney

Love Tilly Group’s underground bar is where you can eat Spanish tapas and order the entire wine list by the glass. Dining here feels like a secret that you can’t quite keep under wraps.

344 Kent Street

Clam Bar

Restaurant · Seafood · $$$$$ · sydney

A handsome, New York-inspired seafood grill and steakhouse that’s all about irreverently executed classics. It’s only been around for a little while, but Clam Bar already feels woven into the fabric of the CBD.

44 Bridge Street

Valet

Cafe · $$$$$ · newtown

It’s run by the Catapult Coffee team. With the roastery just a five-minute drive away, you know you’re getting fresh, single origin coffee every day.

599 King Street

Fratelli Paradiso

Restaurant · Italian · $$$$$ · potts point

Whether you’re stopping in for that iconic lasagnette bolognaise or just a snack, Frat Paz nails it every time. Its groundbreaking wine list introduced the city to many minimal-intervention styles we're now obsessed with.

12-16 Challis Avenue

Sixpenny

Restaurant · $$$$$ · stanmore

This “little restaurant in Stanmore” serves ferment-forward dishes that are inventive, accessible and deeply Australian all at once. It’s a vision brought to life in a tiny historic building on a suburban backstreet.

83 Percival Road

Arthur

Restaurant · $$$$$ · surry hills

The name. The address. The commitment to Aussie produce. That’s what you’ll recognise when you step inside Arthur. At this corner spot, you'll find modern Australian plates cooked with precision and care, served casually. It’s unbuttoned, unbothered and unbudgingly Australian.

544 Bourke Street

Bronte Road Fish

Restaurant · Seafood · $$$$$ · waverley

This al fresco takeaway joint serves fish’n’chipper favourites alongside a funky wine list, Margarita slushies and a very special soft serve.

280–282 Bronte Road

Sang by Mabasa

Restaurant · Korean · $$$$$ · surry hills

At this tiny Korean restaurant in Surry Hills, you won't find barbeque, fried chicken or bulgogi. Instead, the team is hoping to expand Sydneysiders' definition of Korean food. And it's been working, to delicious effect.

98 Fitzroy Street