Best Eats
Best restaurants with outdoor seating
26/09/2023
As the sun starts to warm away winter, we can’t help but think of sunny days spent enjoying good food with even better friends. To make the most of the sun (and some stellar views) we’ve rounded up the top alfresco places to enjoy some top-notch nosh. Whether you're a foodie seeking some delicious dishes under the open sky or simply looking for a tranquil meal in the fresh air, our handpicked selection of Australia’s best outdoor dining spots promises to elevate your dining experience.
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OTTO Ristorante
Woolloomooloo, Sydney, New South WalesOverlooking Finger Wharf, where sleek boats bob in the water, its location is so very Sydney, but Otto’s signature colour palette evokes the Mediterranean blue and citrus yellow of the Amalfi Coast. Otto has managed, with typical Italian verve, to remain as fresh and relevant as the day it opened. Sit outside among pots of olive trees and enjoy a taste of la bella vita, touring Italy’s regions with chef Richard Ptacnik’s produce-driven contemporary menu.
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Blackbird Bar & Grill
Brisbane CBD, Brisbane, QueenslandWith floor-to-ceiling glass, almost every table at Blackbird has a stellar view, but a word to the wise; take a terrace table for the best view. You get two Brisbane icons for the price of one at Blackbird – a close-up of both the arched steel girders of the Story Bridge and the city’s curving river. Our top menu picks? An iced shellfish platter with a classic cocktail like Cuba Libre or a Martini.
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Le Foote
The Rocks, Sydney, New South WalesFollow your nose, the happy hum of conversation, and the scent of smoke wafting from the Josper grill and you’ll find yourself at Le Foote. If not for the distinctly Australian setting; a heritage-listed building in Sydney’s historic The Rocks, Le Foote could well be a Parisian bistro or a Barcelona-based bar. The food has a Mediterranean spirit – seasonally slanted, flavour forward, and perfect for sharing, while the incredible Harbour Bridge views with alfresco tables set the scene perfectly.
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Nu Nu
Palm Cove, Cairns and Tropical North, QueenslandNu Nu is the perfect example of barefoot luxury, a concept that favours people, place, and produce over stiff formality or over-complicated dishes. Outside tables – always cooled by an ocean breeze – overlook a palm grove, romantically lit at night, and a golden strip of sand to the water’s edge. Nu Nu’s footloose insouciance may fool some first-time diners – because this is seriously good food with owner/chef Nick Holloway’s, hyper-local, multicultural menu setting the tone.
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Beach Byron Bay
Byron Bay, North Coast, New South WalesBeach is one of the few places in town where you don’t have to forgo one (the beach) for the other (the food). Absolute beachfront, it sits in the dunes with uninterrupted views across the crescent of Clark’s Beach and features a contemporary, local menu with a seafood bias. So, brush the sand off your feet, take a terrace table set with crisp white linen and sparkling stemware, and toast the spectacular view.
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View MoreManta Restaurant
Woolloomooloo, Sydney, New South Wales
