What’s the best new restaurant in Sydney? Despite the fact that we’re not a city-living rag, it’s a question that we’re often asked at Boss Hunting.
In that spirit, we’ve compiled a rolling list — updated every quarter — of all the best new Sydney restaurants (all opened within a year) below.
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Jump To:
- The Best New Sydney Restaurants Right Now
- Letra House, Sydney CBD
- The International, Sydney CBD
- Neptune’s Grotto, Sydney CBD
- Pelicano, Potts Point
- Prefecture 48*, Sydney CBD
- AMA, Surry Hills
- Song Bird, Double Bay
- Teddy, Potts Point
- 20 Chapel, Marrickville
- Arms Length, Potts Point
- Attenzione, Redfern
- Allta, Sydney CBD
- Comedor, Newtown
- Soluna, Lower North Shore
The Best New Sydney Restaurants Right Now
Letra House, Sydney CBD
The latest opening from the pasta and plonk maestros at Love Tilly Devine, Letra House actually sits in a moody subterranean hideaway beneath Palazzo Salato — the group’s sprawling take on the classic taverna.
Now notable for being the latest of late-night venues in Love Tilly’s portfolio, the specialty here is a frequently updated wine list; backed by small plates that lean into the cuisine of countries on the Iberian Peninsula.
Chefs Alex Major and Brandon Jones have devised a number of dishes that are a sheer joy to eat with a big glass of something grapey: with such highlights as spanner crab tortilla, red carid prawns on toast, the scorched rice dish known as soccarat, and various succulent cured meats.
To drink, Head Somm Julie Barbero-Lesage has crafted a list that includes more than 50 different bottles at any given time. Expect “obscure regions” and “lesser seen origins”, ranging from skin-contact Trebbiano to Xinomavro — a crunchy red wine varietal typical of Northern Greece.
Address: (Rear) 344 Kent Street, Sydney NSW 2000
Chef(s): Alex Major, Brandon Jones, Scott McComas-Williams
Opened: December 2024
Price Guide: $$-$$$
Opening Hours: Monday — Wednesday (4 PM — 1 AM); Thursday (4 PM — 2 AM); Friday (12 PM — 2 AM); Saturday (4 PM — 2 AM)
Bookings: Recommended
The International, Sydney CBD
Another “multi-dimensional” venue from Point Group — the same restauranteurs behind Shell House — The International is set across three distinct venues; including a wine bar, rooftop and grillroom (pictured above) inside Sydney’s heritage-listed MLC Centre.
The venue’s overarching culinary program is being overseen by Joel Bickford, whose focuses for this project appear to be food and beverages that are “fun”, “delicious”, and of “exceptional quality”.
Opening just in time for all your EOY power lunches, diners should expect an extensive array of wood-grilled proteins and playful riffs on old-school seafood starters — perfect for nibbling at alongside one of the venue’s ‘Freezer Bar’ cocktails. To our mind, best enjoyed at the grill’s four-abreast custom bar top.
Address: 25 Martin Place, Sydney NSW 2000
Chef(s): Joel Bickford
Opened: November 2024
Price Guide: $$$-$$$$
Opening Hours: Monday — Saturday (12 noon — late);
Bookings: Recommended
Neptune’s Grotto, Sydney CBD
Another moody, vaguely funkadelic Italian eatery from the trio behind Pellegrino 2000, Neptune’s Grotto has been on the radar of Sydney diners since it was announced earlier this year. Now ahead of the holiday season, it emerges on Loftus Lane — below the space housing sibling eatery and Manhattan-esque bolthole Clam Bar.
Executive Chef Dan Pepperell is once again plying his hip contemporary vision of Italian cucina: only this time, Pellegrino’s focus on classical Roman food has been swapped for the “quiet luxury of northern Italian cooking”.
Substantial pasta courses and a winking cocktail program (i.e. fun without being gimmicky) are the main attractions: both of which night owls will be well-placed to take advantage of on weekends, when the kitchen fires until late.
Address: Corner of Young St & Bridge St, Sydney NSW 2000
Chef(s): Dan Pepperell, Mikey Clift
Opened: November 2024
Price Guide: $$$
Opening Hours: Monday — Thursday (12 noon — 11 PM); Friday — Saturday (12 noon — 12 AM)
Bookings: Essential
Pelicano, Potts Point
Built on the same space that was once home to the (in)famous Hugos, Pelicano is the latest addition to a surfeit of F&B venues looking to inject momentum back into Eastern Sydney’s nightlife.
Pitched by Andrew Becher as a direct continuation of Pelicano Double Bay (which closed its doors in 2019), this club-restaurant hybrid has been envisioned by the Armorica restauranteur and his team as a destination where guests can “come in early and stay all night”.
In that spirit, Pelicano boasts an elevated and partially out-of-doors dining room where vibrant Mediterranean share plates are the order of the day. Start with a few platefuls of charred octopus and fritto misto, then get a flatbread to share.
After dinner, head downstairs to the venue’s belowground club space; which plays host to bottle service and different live musical talent every weekend.
Address: Level 1/33 Bayswater Road, Potts Point, Sydney NSW 2011
Chef(s): Jose Saulog
Opened: October 2024
Price Guide: $$$-$$$$
Opening Hours: Wednesday — Sunday (5 PM — late)
Bookings: Recommended
Prefecture 48*, Sydney CBD
I know what you’re thinking: “Why the asterisk?” Well, it’s because this list entrant isn’t so much a restaurant as it is an entire precinct comprised of six unique venues (four diners, a patisserie, and a whisky bar).
In a nationwide first, Azabu Group has enlisted a collection of internationally-renowned culinary artists to boldly plant its flag with a three-level establishment. One that ambitiously covers all 47 prefectures of Japan — it bills itself as “the 48th” — within a gorgeously appointed, heritage-listed Victorian warehouse.
Each of Prefecture 48’s vital organs showcases its own distinct character, drawing inspiration from the ‘Floating World’ or Ukiyoe — “a theme that epitomises the refined lifestyle of Japan during the Edo period.” They are as follows:
- Garaku (Kaiseki)
Led by ex-Tetsuya Executive Head Chef Derek Kim
“The headliner for P48 — an exquisite theatrical Kaiseki dining experience, with every dish an artisanal interpretation of the four seasons for a truly enchanting moment.” - Ibushi (Robata)
Led by Executive Chef Takashi Yamamoto & Head Chef Chris Kim
“The vibrant and energetic robata within the precinct, paying homage to the lively Tokyo street and social gathering spots after dark.” - Omakase
Led by Omakase sushi master Akira Horikawa (Ginza Kyubey) & Tomoyuki Matsuya (Kame House)
“A luxurious and most exclusive intimate eight-seated venue, truly heroing the exceptional cuisine for ‘one bite magic.’ This venue will also have a rotation of celebrated guest chefs.”
- FIVE
Led by Head Chef Hiroshi Manaka, ex-Charlotte Bar & Bistro (Azabu Group)
“Modern European reimagined with Japanese finesse, experienced the five core elements expressed in the menu: taste, colour, cooking, moderation, and senses.” - Whisky Thief (Whisky Bar)
Co-curated by Azabu Group and The Maybe Group
“Exclusive bar captives both seasoned whisky enthusiasts and newcomers alike, along with creative cocktails to impress every palate. With bottles hidden in secret spots and bathroom doors, a (secret) solid gold skateboard, it’s more than just a bar.” - Dear Florence (Patisserie)
Led by Executive Pastry Chef Aoife Noonan
“Named after the Founder’s daughter, this patisserie is more than just delectable creations of cakes, chocolates, and souvenirs, but a connection between father and daughter.”
Having recently experienced all of the above at the invitation of Azabu Group, BH can personally confirm Prefecture 48 honours its lofty promise by delivering an “orchestra” of culinary delights.
Address: 230 Sussex St, Sydney NSW 2000
Chef(s): Various
Opened: October 2024
Price Guide: $$-$$$$
Opening Hours: Tuesday — Thursday (5 PM — 11 PM); Friday — Saturday (5 PM — 12 AM)
Bookings: Essential depending on venue
AMA, Surry Hills
An affordable and independently run eatery that has been making waves on social media, Ama is a breath of beefy fresh air — in a Sydney neighbourhood where diners have grown accustomed to forking out $100+ for relatively pedestrian fare.
Founded by siblings Rowena and Kate Chansiri, Ama is a tribute (in name especially) to the duo’s grandmother — whose family recipe for Thai-Chinese beef noodle soup became the catalyst for this exciting new eatery. And what soup! Humming with deep flavours of beef stock, palm sugar, and the unmistakable acid-zap of black vinegar.
From Ama’s glass-clad frontage, diners will see a homely and unfussy interior. But, chances are, you won’t spy too many patrons who have managed to tear their gaze away from the assortment of comforting noodles, congees and rice dishes in front of them.
Naturally, the aforementioned beef noodle soup ($19.90) should be your first port of call, but feedback on the congee and veggie stew with pork belly has been similarly glowing.
Address: 47 Cooper St, Surry Hills NSW 2010
Chef(s): Rowena Chansiri, Kate Chansiri
Opened: September 2024
Price Guide: $$
Opening Hours: Monday — Thursday (8 AM — 4 PM); Friday — Sunday (8 AM — 7 PM)
Bookings: N/A
Song Bird, Double Bay
For a long time, serious devotees of Cantonese cuisine, who happened to reside in the Eastern Suburbs, would have had to hoof it into Sydney CBD’s for a taste of the classic large-format seafood and siu mei (roasted meat) dishes. The arrival of Song Bird, Neil Perry’s expansive three-floor eatery in Double Bay, theoretically puts an end to that era.
Likely aware of the immense culinary canon within which he’s working, Perry has wisely chosen to focus his attention around mostly Southern Chinese classics — with the occasional nostalgia trip into recipes inspired by the heyday of Australian-Chinese cooking. A handful of regional staples, like the tofu & crab casserole (reportedly inspired by a Shanghainese dish of similar style) also make an appearance.
Architect Neville Gruzman’s vitrine-like housing for Song Bird also showcases the three individually distinctive ways in which diners will experience the restaurant. Walk-ins and snacking excursions can be accommodated on the ground floor, Level One is akin to Perry’s nearby award-winner Margaret; while the second floor is most reminiscent of the Royal Palace Seafoods of the world — populated by leviathan, 10-seat tables best enjoyed over an afternoon of yum cha.
Address: 24 Bay St, Double Bay NSW 2028
Chef(s): Neil Perry
Opened: September 2024
Price Guide: $$$$
Opening Hours: Wednesday (6 PM — 11 PM); Thursday — Saturday (12 noon — 11 PM); Sunday (12 noon — 10 PM)
Bookings: Essential
Teddy, Potts Point
Few restaurants felled by Sydney’s ongoing hospitality crunch were as beloved as Raja. When the Indian fusion hotspot was forced to shutter its doors earlier this year, owners Kirk Mathews and Nick Bowden refused to take the bad news lying down.
Their solution? To transform the space into a “Triple A” (accessible, approachable, affordable) bistro with a pointedly Aussie lean.
Now reimagined as Teddy, this new Potts Point eatery specialises in recession-proof flavours and easily identifiable ingredients: pork sausage rolls with ‘fancy’ tomato sauce, pork schnitty slathered in gravy, and a range of daily offers that make ducking in multiple times per week an attractive proposition.
Duck in on Mondays, with a really great bottle you brought from home, for $0 corkage and then come on back in early on Saturday afternoon for a $12 Bloody Mary.
Address: 1 Kellett St, Potts Point NSW 2011
Chef(s): Nicole Coelho
Opened: September 2024
Price Guide: $$
Opening Hours: Monday — Thursday (4 PM — late); Friday — Sunday (12 PM — late)
Bookings: Not required
20 Chapel, Marrickville
After a long stint as Culinary Director at Hunter Street Hospitality (The Cut, Spice Temple) Corey Costelloe is pairing proceedings right back with a tidy 64-seat dining room on the site of Marrickville’s popular Stix café.
Costelloe’s background, involving mastery of all things carnivorous, should leave diners in no doubt as to what 20 Chapel Street’s overarching theme is. Those with a craving for classic drinks, woodfired meat and no-bulls**t sides will find plenty to sink their teeth into.
On the beastly front, the restaurant works exclusively with Blackmore Wagyu. Even the 240-gram skirt steak — the most affordable cut of beef on the menu — is aged for 28 days, with a decadent 9+ marbling score that lends it to satisfying eating, alongside elegantly dressed-up sides like the silver beet gratin or shatteringly crisp potato wedges.
Our hot tip? Request some seats close to the restaurant’s signature Negroni tap.
Address: 20 Chapel Street, Marrickville NSW 2204
Chef(s): Corey Campbell
Opened: August 2024
Price Guide: $$$
Opening Hours: Wednesday — Thursday (5:30 PM — 9:30 PM); Friday (12 noon — 3 PM; 3:30 PM — 10 PM); Saturday (12 noon — 3 PM; 5 PM — 10 PM); Sunday (12 noon — 3 PM)
Bookings: Essential
Arms Length, Potts Point
Located in the (formerly infamous) vicinity of Kings Cross, Arms Length epitomises the new era of budget-conscious, value-driven eating that is currently gripping the Sydney hospitality scene.
In the front of house, you’ll find co-owner Rebecca O’Shea (ex-Rockpool), while the venue’s kitchen is overseen by Chef Keno Perlas — formerly of Monopole and Margaret.
Open daily, and notably ’til 2 AM on Fridays and Saturdays, the menu here has been expertly penned to satisfy big groups… and even bigger appetites. The boozy brunch package is pitched at a criminally affordable $29: giving diners 90 minutes worth of unlimited Mimosas, Garibaldis and Espresso Martinis. An excellent Happy Hour programme is also on offer.
Address: 7 Kellett St, Potts Point NSW 2011
Chef(s): Keno Perlas, Jeffrey Sue
Opened: August 2024
Price Guide: $$
Opening Hours: Monday — Tuesday (8 AM — 10 PM); Wednesday — Thursday (8 AM — midnight); Friday — Saturday (8 AM — 2 AM); Sunday (8 AM — 10 PM)
Bookings: Optional
Attenzione, Redfern
Embracing a bite-sized, moreish approach, Attenzione Food & Wine is the much-anticipated opening from longstanding buddies and hospo veterans Felix Colman, Toby Davis, Toby Stansfield, and Dexter Kim. Between them, the quartet have basically covered the field so far as Sydney hospitality goes: having worked at a bevvy of establishments under the Love Tilly and Bentley Group banners.
Taking up residence in the old Sunshine Inn digs — a local Redfern favourite — Attenzione appears, at these initial stages, to be very much what the people have asked for.
The food menu is self-described as “Italian-ish”: full of satisfying, uncluttered flavours that pave the way for Colman’s wine list (also behind several venues with excellent bottle lists such as Ragazzi).
On the pass, Attenzione’s Day 1 guests can expect crystal-crunchy chicken skins smothered in trout pate; properly decadent desserts like the much-ordered sticky date cake; and charcoal chicken, roasted with horseradish.
Unsurprisingly, the pasta courses are the main event. Duck agnolotti and the appropriately silky Mandilli with saffron embrace an Italo edge, but if there’s one dish that snapshots the Attenzione universe it’s the pico XL. Practically a single gigantic nood, lathered in scallion crema, it’s an almost-perfect accompaniment to a glass of Nebbiolo.
Address: 180 Redfern Street, Sydney NSW 2016
Chef(s): Toby Stansfield
Opened: August 2024
Price Guide: $$
Opening Hours: Monday (5 PM — late); Thursday — Friday (5 PM — late); Saturday — Sunday (12:30 PM— late)
Bookings: Recommended
Allta, Sydney CBD
Trend-obsessed foodies have already taken to describing Allta as a Korean restaurant in Sydney that is “unlike any other”, yet I’d venture a step further and say my experience there was practically singular — without any direct comparison in Australia.
The Herald‘s Scott Bolles has tentatively observed this new Hansik-inspired fine diner “could pick up” where the now-shuttered Tetsuya’s left off, but beyond a few superficial parallels between its two Executive Chefs (i.e. East Asian of origin and European-trained) you can be assured Allta is its own, seriously reso-worthy beast.
There’s no shortage of factoids to pique the discerning diner’s curiosity. Currently, the restaurant only offers a single service per night, orchestrated around an austere U-shape counter. And if you want to be among 12 patrons lucky enough to snag a seat? The price of admission starts at $325: more, if you tack on Allta’s premium wine pairing ($250).
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Still, Firestone Group (the same restauranteurs behind delightful casual eatery Funda) are betting that well-heeled Sydneysiders can be persuaded to empty their wallets: for an exploration of inimitable Korean flavours, from an executive chef with all-star credentials.
A student of legendary French master Pierre Gagnaire and an alumnus of the two-Michelin-starred Jungsik Seoul, Jung-Su Chang is inarguably the man for the job when it comes to introducing Aussie palates to the world of contemporary Korean fine dining.
Needless to say: if you’re looking for one splurge-worthy culinary experience this tax season, my 10 cents is that you let it be this one.
Address: 50 Pitt Street, Sydney NSW 2000
Chef(s): Jung-Su Chang
Opened: July 2024
Price Guide: $$$$
Opening Hours: Tuesday to Saturday (6 PM — 10 PM)
Bookings: Essential
Comedor, Newtown
When it comes to Sydney’s Mexican dining scene, Comedor definitely sits at the top of the food chain. At least as far as we’re concerned.
Headed by Alejandro Huerta, who notably honed his skills at legendary Copenhagen institute Noma and Mexico’s Pujol, this sophisticated Australia Street newcomer — which is named after the Spanish word for “dining room” — eschews all the cliches you’ve come to expect from Mexican cuisine for a decidedly modern, and inventive, fare.
Within the 100-year-old warehouse it calls home, you can enjoy a menu that also incorporates Asian, Italian, and native Australian flavours with a respectful nod to the traditional: Swordfish Milanese served with a beurre blanc, cabbage, honey vinegar, and katsuobushi… Skull Island Tiger Prawns in corn tortilla, paired with clam & morita sauce and nasturtium… Roasted Jerusalem Artichoke alongside salsa macha… it goes on.
The real highlight, however, is the absolute steal of a set menu lunch special: $35 per head for three whole courses that change fortnightly. In this economy? Unbelievable.
Address: 182-184 Australia St, Newtown NSW 2042
Chef(s): Alejandro Huerta
Opened: July 2024
Price Guide: $$-$$$
Opening Hours: Wednesday (12:30 PM — 3:30 PM), Thursday to Saturday (12:30 PM — 3:30 PM; 5 PM — 10 PM); Sunday (12 PM — 4:30 PM)
Bookings: Recommended
Soluna, Lower North Shore
Soluna is one of four new openings that form the bedrock of Walker Street Precinct — an ambitious new “culinary neighbourhood” in North Sydney, from French-leaning restauranteurs Etymon Projects, that also includes Genzo, Una Providore, and Sol Bread & Wine.
A real about-face from the team that brought Sydneysiders Loulou and The Charles, Soluna is (at present) the most fully realised of Walker Street’s newfangled eateries. Both the restaurant’s airy, 200-seat space and F&B menus encapsulate a kind of meet-cute between Los Angeles and the Lower North Shore.
Executive Chef Rhys Connell explains that Soluna’s dishes take cues “from Mediterranean and Asian flavours.” That being the case, fresh seafood and veggies seasoned with emblematic Japanese ingredients (e.g. yuzu koshu) are a common refrain.
Imperadore with rhubarb or a cobb-inspired winter salad are all great options, yet Connell’s bowlful-of-sunshine approach is almost singularly embodied in the signature sourdough spaghetti. Consisting of pasta made using finely ground bread crusts that are tossed in roasted garlic miso, it’s toothsome, rich in flavour, and doesn’t sit heavy on the proverbial tummy. Now that’s having your cake and eating it.
Address: 50 Pitt Street, Sydney NSW 2000
Chef(s): Rhys Connell, Keno Perlas
Opened: July 2024
Price Guide: $$-$$$
Opening Hours: Monday to Sunday (11.30 AM — late)
Bookings: Optional
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