Australia Travel

The wide range of restaurants, cafes and pubs that Sydney has to offer is a reflection of the city’s cultural diversity. There are so many choices that it’s almost like reading an atlas. You can choose from local Australian food, or European, Asian, Mediterranean, Italian, Japanese and lots more.

If traditional Australian food is what you’ve been looking for, consider a trip to Harry’s Cafe de Wheels. They offer some of the city’s best meat pies. For people seeking bush-tucker - traditional Aboriginal cuisine, including kangaroo meat - some venues offer this as well. While kangaroo has only been legal to serve in restaurants since 1993, foreign visitors have caused its popularity to soar.

Sydney’s harbor means that many restaurants serve seafood exclusively, and it’s a staple for many others. Leading restaurants that specialize in seafood include Five Dock Seafood Cafe and Fishface. You’ll be able to try fresh snapper, mussels, barramundi, octopus, squid and prawns, all thanks to the Sydney Fish Market, located nearby.

The king of seafood in Sydney is still the popular Doyles Hotel. It’s the oldest seafood restaurant in the city, and one of the best. Located on the beachside, it also provides a wonderful view of Watsons Bay.

For Italian fare, consider Mezzaluna and Gelbison, or look for some of Sydney’s best pasta in Little Italy, at Norton Street in the Leichhardt inner city. There’s a strong influence of Italy on the fashionable cafes, too. You’ll see it in the great places on Potts Point, Darlinghurst and Bondi Beach.

Some locations known for their trendiness and great coffee include Tropicana, Bills, La Buvette and Bar Coluzzi.

European influence can be spotted elsewhere, too. French restaurants include Sel et Poivre and Bistro Moncur. The Greek Mykonos and Spanish Capitan Torres are a hit with locals and visitors, and you’ll find the best in Eastern European food at Corner 75.

For Asian food, whether it’s cuisine from the Philippines, Thailand, Malaysia, Vietnam, India, Sri Lanka, Cambodia, Singapore or Iran, there’ll be many options. Some of the best rated include Chinta Ria, Blue Elephant, Malaya and Lebanon and Beyond.

For those who love sashimi, sushi, teriyaki and tempura, or just a bowl of noodles, local Japanese restaurants are available to please. Raw Bar, Dragonfly, Sushi Suma and Shimbashi all offer great options.

For restaurant hoppers, here’s a quick guide to the regions. In the Western suburbs, several Turkish and Cambodian restaurants are an option. Southern suburbs play host to Lebanese and Greek food, and northern ones offer Japanese, African, and Indian fare. For Indonesian or European restaurants, head east.

Want a great view as well as great food? The Summit, Catalina, and the Boathouse are excellent choices. For vegetarians, try Harvest and Govindas, and trendseekers may wish to investigate Hugos and Bayswater Brasserie Restaurant.