The Best Restaurants in Surry Hills
If you’re hungry in Sydney, head straight for Surry Hills. This trendy pocket of Sydney is where you’ll find fierce food, clever cocktails, and hidden spots awaiting to become your next foodie obsession. This inner-city icon is a tangle of cobbled laneways, heritage shopfronts and way too many “just one more” wine bars. But make no mistake: Surrey Hills is a dining mecca first and foremost.
Where to find the Best Restaurants in Surry Hills?
You’ll find everything here. Fancy a 10-course tasting menu by candlelight? Done. Prefer dumplings and a bottle of pet nat at a grungy laneway hangout? Also sorted. Surry Hills doesn’t take itself too seriously, but when it comes to food? Deadly serious. There’s a casual brilliance in how effortlessly it all comes together, from classic pubs with elevated menus, cafes doubling as bakeries/art galleries, and fine diners hidden behind unassuming façades.
And the locals? They’re not just chasing trends, they’re setting them. Which means whether it’s a vegan laksa, nose-to-tail charcoal feast or cult-level pastries, you’ll find it here first.
So loosen your belt (or wear stretchy pants), because we’ve rounded up 10 of the best restaurants in Surry Hills worth booking a week in advance, or stumbling upon after your third negroni. Let’s eat.
The 10 Best Restaurants in Surry Hills
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It's perfect for omakase whispers, serious sushi, and serene refinement in a buzzing city block.You need to try the chef’s tasting sequence—the purest expression of flavour and restraint.Look out for quiet corridors, minimalist wood, and a dining rhythm that slows your pulse.Read moreToei Grill & Sushi combines refined Japanese cuisine with casual dining in the heart of Surry Hills. Their menu is a showcase of freshness and skill, with expertly rolled sushi, sashimi platters, and sizzling robata-style grilled skewers. Favourites include aburi salmon nigiri, spicy tuna rolls, and teriyaki chicken bento boxes. The dining room is minimalist and calm, with polished wood, soft lighting, and a welcoming vibe. Toei offers quality and consistency that has made it a local staple. It’s a reliable choice for anyone craving authentic Japanese flavours in a comfortable setting.
Hungry to explore Sydney's best Japanese spots?From fresh sashimi to cosy ramen bars, there's a world of flavour waiting to be discovers. Browse our complete list of Japanese eateries and discover your next favourite destination. Hot tip: Look out for the green tick to see where your Best Restaurants gift card is accepted.
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It's perfect for Mediterranean-tinged feasts with rustic charm and buzzing heritage energy.You need to try the whole wood‑roasted fish, wrapped in vine leaves and bursting with sweet‑sour eggplant.Look out for exposed brick, flickering open‑kitchen flames, and a wine list that feels like a love letter to Aussie vintners.Read moreNomad Sydney's food is inspired by travels through Spain, Morocco and the Middle East and cooked with fire and smoke. The menu draws on these flavours using local Australian ingredients to create a dynamic and seasonally driven menu. Nomad source the best produce from local growers who share that same belief. An interesting wine list focusses on small growers making great wine sustainably sourced from the world over.
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Read moreTwo words: Oui, oui. Armorica Grande Brasserie in Surry Hills is a grand and spacious French Brasserie adorned with brass features, leather banquettes and timber - thus creating a sophisticated and opulent interior. The menu is all about classic French dishes designed to be shared. Many of the mains, fish and beef are cooked on the huge Josper grill, giving maximum flavour. The unique seafood tower features oysters, prawn cocktails, octopus and rock lobster - Australian of course.
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Read moreJane Restaurant is located in Surry Hills, adjacent to Sydney's CBD. The restaurant serves modern Australian food, prepared by Chef Tristan Rosier in a beautiful yet nostalgic, casual and fun atmosphere. Expect top notch Aussie fare, with dishes often featuring Moreton Bay Bugs and kangaroo with seasonality and freshness dictating the menu.
Photography: Kimberley Low
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Read moreArthur creates a uniquely all Australian 5/6 course set menu. Our menu is constantly evolving, with our chefs focusing on produce that is in season and at it’s best. Our signature set menus, available to all guests, offers additional extras to enhance your experience.
Chef menu $130pp
Arthur menu $160pp
Lunch Saturday-Sunday and dinner Wednesday-Saturday
Photography: Courtesy of Arthur Restaurant
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Read moreThe Blue Door Surry Hills, offers Sydney-siders an opportunity to taste some of the finest fresh produce and wines sourced straight from regional New South Wales. Ran by chef Dylan Cashman, there is a deep connection between the kitchen and the farms, with Cashman only serving up proteins from farms he has personally visited. The wine list also only showcases NSW wines, served by the glass, perfectly paired to the contemporary menu that features dishes like Jervis Bay mussels and Mareema duck breast with native ingredients.
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Read moreChin Chin Sydney is housed in the historic and heritage listed Griffiths Tea Building on the corner of Wentworth Avenue and Commonwealth Street in Surry Hills. Chin Chin lives by the philosophy that eating and drinking should be fun and relaxing . The extensive menu offers a selection of Asian dishes all blended with a mix of freshness, spice, heat and exotic herbs. Chin Chin's unique private dining room and event space with three separate private dining rooms, accommodates from 12 to 80 guests.
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Read moreAn unique venue, Jazushi is a funky combination of fine food coupled with groovy live Jazz from 7.30pm Tuesday to Saturday. Ensconce yourself in the warm, cosy atmosphere as you dine on the tapas-style menu designed for sharing and admire the pictures of jazz greats which line the walls.
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Read moreGiuls is a cosy Italian eatery tucked into Surry Hills’ bustling Crown Street. With Tuscan roots, the menu stars house-made pasta, like squid-ink fettuccine with crab to vodka-sauced conchiglie as well as pared-back yet classic antipasti like focaccia, arancini, charred octopus and kingfish crudo. The restaurant itself while small, it's warm and industrial, and weekends mean bottomless Aperol Spritz or Espresso Martinis paired with pasta and antipasti. It’s Italian delivered in an intimate way with the comforts of home.
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It's perfect for bold Indian street eats in Surry Hills’ chic heart.You need to try Curry Bombs (trust us).Look out for Bollywood-bright walls, cozy industrial flare and curry aromas around every corner.Read moreCheery and full of energy, Marsala Theory in Surry Hills is recreating traditional Indian cuisine for the new era and is not hard to miss for its bright walls and buzzing ambience. Inside the decor features Indian pop-culture relics mixed with retro finds creating a quirky and funky space a lot like the menu which is also full of authentic favourites with a creative twist. Anything but formal this is the kind of restaurant to visit when needing a little spice and fun to your dining experience and is great for group dining.
