Best Waterfront Dining in Sydney
For a full list of fabulous waterfront restaurants Sydney visit
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It's perfect for fine Italian seafood with sparkling Middle Harbour views.You need to try the market-fresh fish or handmade pasta with olive oil.Look out for elegant wharfside dining and impeccable service.Ormeggio at the Spit, perched on D'Albora Marinas at The Spit in Mosman, is open to the water on three sides. Go early to watch the sunset and dine on modern Italian food. The restaurant has been hatted since the first year of opening and maintained one ever since.Read more -
It's perfect for long lunches and elegant seaside dining at Balmoral Beach.You need to try the lobster linguine or kingfish crudo.Look out for art deco charm, ocean views and white-tablecloth coastal luxury.Read moreOverlooking Middle Harbour at Balmoral Beach on Sydney's Lower North Shore, Bathers' Pavilion is the place to take visitors in Sydney. Even locals will be quietly chuffed by the elegant dining room, which exudes beachside elegance with a 1920s art deco soul. Expect a refined Mediterranean-inspired menu, with seafood the star of the menu. Savour the meal and the service, then linger for the view, the rare wines and the digestives. The adjoining Bistro serves breakfast, lunch and dinner in a more casual atmosphere. Betel Leaf, upstairs on the Terrace serves modern Thai food with dine in and takeaway choices.
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It's perfect for glammed-up group dinners with bold flavours and cocktails to match.You need to try the twice-cooked duck, crispy, sticky and full of flavour.Look out for the harbourside terrace where every table is the best seat in the house.China Doll, located at the historic Finger Wharf at Woolloomooloo, is known for its fresh, inventive pan-Asian cuisine and abundant al fresco dining for glittering views of the water. Try one of their decadent seasonal cocktails and if you're having trouble deciding what to order, the luxury banquet will make the night truly special.Read more -
It's perfect for seaside aperitivos and pasta with a side of people-watching.You need to try the tagliatelle with crab, chilli and lemon. Bright, buttery perfection.Look out for the breezy deck lined with locals and Aperol spritzes.The latest venture from the Sydney Restaurant Group. On the water's edge at Walsh Bay enjoy superb Italian cuisine, from pastas, pizzas to mains, all at a reasonable price.Read more -
It's perfect for relaxed riverside dining with a Mediterranean lean.You need to try the seafood paella or grilled octopus.Look out for a deck with water views and sunset magic.Read moreGrand river views and fresh seafood are the highlights of this popular restaurant at the Sydney Rowing Club on the waterfront at Abbotsford. With panoramic floor-to-ceiling windows, Watergrill dining room takes in a wide, boat-studded sweep of the Parramatta River. Enjoy a scrumptious lunch in the restaurant or a relaxing drink in the waterfront bar areas.
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It's perfect for waterfront meze, good wine and glowing golden hour selfies.You need to try the saganaki, bubbling hot and begging to be scooped.Look out for the pink and yellow palette that feels straight out of the Aegean.Read moreSituated on the iconic Woolloomooloo Finger Wharf, Akti invites you to indulge in Mediterranean-inspired flavours and a lively atmosphere, where every meal is an experience to savour. More than just a restaurant, Akti embodies the spirit of coastal living - effortless, vibrant, and full of joy, with every corner offering a taste of laid-back luxury and unforgettable moments.
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It's perfect for elegant seafood dining by the harbour with understated glamour.You need to try fresh oysters or market fish—simple, pristine and right for the view.Look out for floor-to-ceiling glass, sweeping water views, and a legacy three‑decade family hospitalityWith floor to ceiling windows, it will be hard to focus on anything but the stunning view of the harbour at Rose Bay in Sydney's east. With the kitchen open from midday to late, drop in when it suits to enjoy the seafood-inspired modern Australian menu.Read more -
It's perfect for waterfront dining with white tablecloths and the occasional celeb sighting.You need to try the spaghettini with spanner crab, delicate, buttery and iconic.Look out for the open-air terrace with yachts bobbing just metres away.If you want to dine beside the who's who of Sydney, Otto's, an elegant, modern restaurant on Woolloomooloo wharf serving simple, excellent Italian fare is where you want to be. With impeccable service and a joyous atmosphere, it's right for any occasion.Read more -
It's perfect for neighbourhood chic breakfasts and modern Australian lunching.You need to try the smashed avo or seasonal salad on toast.Look out for relaxed wood interiors and light-filled café windows.Read morePublic Dining Room's unique waterfront position on Balmoral Beach allows you to take full advantage of its stunning location, on one of Sydney's most exclusive beaches. Balmoral Beach is located on Middle Harbour in the harbourside suburb of Mosman, with views across to North Head and Manly, providing an ever changing backdrop for all occasions. Head chef Adam Tyl has created a contemporary menu, featuring fresh local ingredients while incorporating Mediterranean culinary influences. The menu reflects the changing seasons sourcing selected local boutique produce from small farmers throughout Australia.
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It's perfect for fine dining by the sea with Sardinian soul and surf views.You need to try the iconic roast suckling pig or bottarga‑topped pasta.Look out for heritage beach‑house ambience and Two‑Hats calibre flavour.The delicious food at Pilu at Freshwater is only enhanced by its location in a rambling, spacious weatherboard beach house on the shores of Freshwater Beach. The restaurant delivers an impressive Sardinian menu with exceptional service and relaxed sophistication.Read more -
It's perfect for elegant waterfront dining in a secluded Ku-ring-gai Chase retreat.You need to try the lobster pasta or slow-cooked lamb shoulder.Look out for pontoon seating over the water and forest-meets-fine-dining ambience.Cottage Point Inn offers a prime waterfront dining location on the Hawkesbury River, where diners can land right in front of the restaurant by seaplane direct from Rose Bay. Enjoy superb modern Australian cuisine on the deck while the water laps gently by, or among the cosy, converted boatshed interiors.Read more -
It's perfect for sunset cocktails and seafood with ferry-access views.You need to try oysters or seafood platters with a crisp white wine.Look out for waterside decking, ferry charm and lush bush surrounds.Read moreRipples Chowder Bay overlooks the harbour and sandy shores of Sydney Harbour, a perfect backdrop for this very popular Sydney restaurant. Ideal for an al fresco lunch or dinner and only 15 minutes from the CBD across the Harbour Bridge, with a pleasant drive through the bushland to this waterfront restaurant. Featuring a modern Australian menu with European influences. This fully licensed and BYO waterfront restaurant is perfect for dining with a group, a special celebration or a romantic waterfront meal for two, Ripples Chowder Bay has become one of the top favourites amongst Mosman, Cremorne and Neutral Bay locals. -
It's perfect for sublime Italian plates right on the Mosman wharf.You need to try handmade pasta or grilled seafood with olive oil.Look out for sweeping harbour views, stylish nautical décor and Ormeggio pedigree.Read moreBYO and barefoot-friendly", Ormeggio's casual yet quality sister site Chiosco by Ormeggio is a real Italian trattoria by the sea with stunning views. Only 12 km from the city centre, or 20 minutes in a water taxi, Chiosco is a small jump from the CBD but offers incredible privacy and easy access. A western facing waterside dining room to fully enjoy the sunset, a fully licensed bar plus BYO options, and of course classic and delicious traditional Italian fare, this is a crowd pleasing venue for groups small and large.
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Read moreSala occupies a commanding position at the end of Jones Bay Wharf in Sydney's inner western city suburb of Pyrmont, around 10 minutes from the CBD. This waterfront venue boasts a Modern Italian menu with a coastal theme, paying homage to dishes like crispy risoni fingers with caviar & parmesan, squid ink tortellini with crab sauce, butterflied King George Whiting and Glacier 51 Toothfish. Wines are from Australia and overseas, but maybe start your experience with a creative cocktail or the very classic Italian cocktail - a Negroni.
Open for lunch Wednesday-Sunday and dinner Wednesday-Saturday
Photography: Courtesy of Sala Dining
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It's perfect for long lunches that feel like a Sydney postcard.You need to try the seared scallops or whole market fish of the day.Look out for uninterrupted Harbour Bridge views from every table.Read moreLocated right on the water's edge of McMahon Point, Sails on Lavender Bay offers breathtaking views of Sydney Harbour, the Opera House and the Bridge, creating a perfect backdrop to impress clients and guests. With an inspiring Modern Australian menu focused on fresh seafood, a tempting wine list and carefully crafted cocktail menu, Sails on Lavender Bay comes highly recommended.
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Read moreThe Cruising Yacht Club of Australia (CYCA) is Australia's premier yacht club and home to what is considered yachting's ‘Mt Everest' -the Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race. Choose to dine in The Restaurant or on the more casual deck which opens out on to the marina. (Only for members or if you live outside of 5 K's - a perfect choice for interstate and overseas visitors). NB: If dining in the restaurant only and you live within the five kms radius, you need to be signed into the clubhouse by a member