Photo of courtesy of Bennelong

 

Mercado

Photo courtesy of Mercado

This secret Spanish eatery is housed in the basement of the heritage-listed George Street Building. The lively, warm atmosphere greets guests instantly as they float down the opulent, marble staircase into the underground space, where the spot-lit open kitchen and the chic island bar are beautifully showcased. Just like chef Nathan Sasi’s philosophy is to make everything from scratch, Mercado’s culinary essence is to take things back to basics and revive archaic techniques of meat curing, cheese making, bread-baking and food preservation, giving respect to how cooking used to be, within a modern setting. Serving a seasonal menu of innovative, flavour-filled dishes and a well-paired wine list, within a warm, animated setting, Mercado truly has achieved a formidable fusion of old and new.

4 Ash St, Sydney NSW 2000, Australia

 

Chiswick

Photo courtesy of Chiswick

Boasting a glass wall of floor-to-ceiling windows and a luxuriant kitchen garden, guests of the Chiswick have the delight of dining with a view of the very ingredients used to craft every meal. Located within the Art Gallery NSW, the Chiswick, which recently celebrated its fifth birthday, resembles a crisp, clean art space, filled with natural light and exudes an elegant, laid-back atmosphere. Chef Tom Haynes’ menu is an ingredient-focused, down-to-earth celebration of Australian cuisine, with all vegetables picked from the garden, and locally sourced meats cooked to perfection. The generous, well-kept garden allures guests into taking a leisurely post-lunch stroll across it, and with the butterflies and aromas of the produce dancing through the air, this is the perfect setting for a lush summer’s day.

65 Ocean St, Woollahra NSW 2025, Australia

 

Bennelong

Photo courtesy of Bennelong

Located within the Sydney Opera House, one of the most iconic, architecturally magnificent structures in the world, this restaurant is sure to deliver a one-on-a-kind dining experience. Built on Bennelong Point, whose name is derived from Bennelong – the very first settler here and a man known for establishing communications between Aborigines and the colonists, the restaurant’s philosophy mirrors its history of warm, familiar story exchange. Australian culture is also embedded in famous chef Peter Gilmore’s menu, which is created in synergy with the farmers and fishermen who nurture the ingredients that are tailored to each recipe. A robust, authentic À la Carte menu with whimsical desserts in a beautiful setting makes Bennelong a truly irresistible experience.

Bennelong Point, Sydney Opera House, Sydney NSW 2000, Australia

 

Rockpool Bar & Grill

Photo courtesy of Rockpool Bar & Grill

Housed in the majestic, art deco City Mutual Building with the highest of ceilings, towering pillars and elegant marble accents, Rockpool Bar & Grill easily promises a beautiful dining experience with its grandiose atmosphere alone. With a focus on expert service, simple cooking techniques and high quality produce, this popular restaurant effortlessly pairs succulent, wood fire grilled meats and fish with what they swear is Australia’s finest selection of wines. Chef Neil Perry’s menu boasts a variety of locally sourced, organic meats that are dry-aged in-house for maximum flavour and finesse, winning Rockpool Bar & Grill a number of prestigious awards including a spot on Australian Gourmet Traveller’s Restaurant Awards. Round off your night of modern Australian dining at the cocktail bar and choose from over three thousand wines and a variety of aged spirits.

66 Hunter St, Sydney NSW 2000, Australia

 

O Bar

Photo courtesy of O Bar

Delivering the ultimate sensory experience, blending spectacular views, a warm ambience and a unique, health-conscious menu with creative cocktails. Perched high on the forty-seventh floor, this space has an ever-rotating mechanism that that allows perpetual 360˚ panoramic views of Sydney’s city centre and the beautiful Harbour Bridge and uniquely delivers an ever-changing dining scenery. Whilst taking in the views, guests enjoy renowned chef Michael Moore’s creative and health-focused menu, inspired by his bestselling cookbook series. He utilises innovative techniques to best showcase the fresh ingredients’ precise, tantalising flavours, also offering a great selection of vegetarian and gluten-free options. Also serving some of the best cocktails in Sydney, O Bar delivers 360˚ of class and quality.

Australia Square, 264 George St, Sydney NSW 2000, Australia