The Best Restaurants in Sydney CBD

Blink and you'll miss Alberto's Lounge, hidden down a nondescript street, this Italian restaurant is making its mark on Sydney's food scene. The majority of the restaurant is reserved for walk-ins so join the queue, grab a glass of wine and work up an appetite. With former 10 William Street chef Dan Pepperell behind the pots and pans, it's little surprise that the menu at Alberto's Lounge is kicking goals however it's more Italian- Australian than true Italian, in the best possible way. 

ARIA's curvaceous dining room overlooks Sydney Harbour Bridge and the Opera House with sweeping views of the harbour. At ARIA you are guaranteed to be presented with food that's as good as the view with Executive Chef Tom Gorringe's less-is-more approach to cooking is rooted in a lifelong connection to nature and a deep reverence for his ingredients and their unique regional qualities. Joel's reinterpretation of the menu at Aria allows him to embrace a cooking style highlighting a superb variety of seasonal Australian ingredients. 

Tucked away in a hidden Sydney laneway is the trendy and cosy Esteban. Inspired by Mexican and South American flavours, this isn't your everyday tacos and cocktails. Crafted by a creative team who have lived and travelled throughout South America, this is where you will find original dishes that hail from their homeland. The moody dark timbers and warm lighting create an opulent space that's perfect for celebrating with someone special or sharing with a close group for a good time.

Located in the well heeled legal district of Sydney, beside the Supreme Court and amongst barristers chambers is La Riviera. Airy, art-lined interiors meet a menu balancing casual Italian with French flair — think pizzas, pastas and soufflés alongside coffee and cocktails. It's perfectly pitched for an unexpected business lunch or last-minute dinner after a long day.

Cult favourite Kitchen by Mike is back and now located at 1 Bent Street in Sydney's CBD. Acclaimed chef Mike McEnearney's canteen-style eatery, serves simple, nourishing dishes for breakfast, lunch and dinner. Breakfast offers favourites such as Mike's bacon butty or his take on an avocado smash of lime, miso on toast with coriander, sesame & nori salad. At lunch, diners are asked to browse the day's dishes from a central countertop laden with salads, freshly wood-roasted or slow-cooked proteins, tartines, slices of pizza and pastries. Evenings see the canteen transform into a more refined experience offering table service with the same generous, warm approach.

Morena Sydney is an elevated Latin American dining experience by Executive Chef Alejandro Saravia. Celebrating the rich culinary heritage of the region, the menu showcases bold, authentic flavours from Peru, Colombia, Mexico, Venezuela, Argentina and Brazil. With a focus on warm hospitality, seasonal ingredients and vibrant traditions, Morena offers a refined yet soulful take on Latin American cuisine — bringing the spirit of the region to life in the heart of Sydney. 

Photography: Courtesy of Morena

With handmade pasta; ravioli, gnocchi and traditional Italian fare, Machiavelli has been producing true Italian flavours befitting its famous name for 30 years. Explore a menu of fresh antipasti, handmade pasta adorned with seafood straight from the Sydney Fish markets. Boasting an impressive wine selection from the best wineries of Italy, Australia and New Zealand, diners are truly spoilt for choice. Perfect for an intimate dining experience or an impressive corporate function, Machiavelli caters to all occasions.

Santa Catarina serves an ancestral cuisine of Oaxaca, from south-west Mexico and is perfect for mezcal sommeliers and anyone who loves fine dining with flavour

Open Tuesday-Saturday from 4pm

In Angel Place in the CBD, just opposite the City Recital Hall, Ragazzi is a neighbourhood wine and hand made pasta bar from the Love, Tilly Devine and Dear Sainte Eloise crew. The 38-seat wine bar showcases small Italian producers and Australian wines that use Italian grapes in a tiny, intimate setting. Snag a table at one of the 10 seats at the bar and let the seasoned waiters guide your evening. Start with anchovies on toast with chilli oil before selecting one of the six hand-rolled pasta on the menu.

Touted as a contemporary adaptation of the New York style steakhouse, Chophouse Sydney is a meat-lover's delight. Hemmed in by the blinking high-rises of the city, with the interior fitted out with well-worn chopping blocks, exposed bulbs and walls clad in iron and reclaimed timber, the mood is atmospheric and impressive, great for intimate dinners. Chophouse also features a private dining room and bar on the upper level.

At Matteo Downtown you will find a true Northern Italian ristorante experience, with a buzzing vibe and authentic Italian flavours in a contemporary urban setting. The design of The Bar, The Dining Room and The Terrace will transport you to Italy, with contemporary meets classic-cool interiors perfectly balanced with the menu. Downtown has two imported wood-fired ovens from Italy, one for Roman-style pizza, and the second dedicated to meats and specialty dishes. Matteo Downtown can cater for up to 275 guests cocktail-style and 120 guests banquet-style.

Alfie’s reimagines the steakhouse with swagger at Sydney’s CBD edge, perfect for serious lunches and not-so-serious drinks. The moment you step in, grime-washed beats mingle with the scent of Riverine sirloin sizzling on a custom grill. Sides are clever, cocktails are swagger-filled and the vibe hums with raw energy. It’s not just dinner—it’s a rush of flavour and attitude you won’t forget.

The Quay Quarters dining precinct at Circular Quay is the home of the third Lotus Dumpling Bar in Sydney, famous its for steamed and fried dumplings also wok style dishes designed for sharing. Can't decide? Try the Classic Tasting menu or the Quay Banquet menu allowing you to try all of the Lotus Dumpling Bar favourites. Lotus Dumpling Bar Circular Quay is ideal for the family, and pre theatre dining.

Oborozuki proudly sits within the luxurious Opera Residences in Macquarie Street, in Sydney's CBD. Oborozuki specialises in a refined Japanese-French fusion a la carte menu and private Teppanyaki Terrace. Coupled with views over the the Harbour Bridge and Circular Quay makes this Japanese dining experience one of the best in Sydney. 

Alegre is not your average Mexican bar — it’s a harbourfront hideout built for indulgence. he menu marries Mexican soul with Aussie native flair: mole madre on wagyu, Mayan-spiced king prawns, lamb barbacoa slow-smoked over charcoal. Whether it’s bottomless brunch, a team celebration or sunset cocktails after work, Alegre is the kind of place that sticks in memory.