There are a few dishes that seem to rile Sydneysiders up more than others. The best bánh mì, for instance. Or the top places to get cracking fish and chips. Sydney’s best burgers is another lava-hot topic, with people caring about buns (nearly) as much as their firstborn. We are those people.
There are a million and one variations on the burger, of course, but the essence of a truly great burger remains the same: a two-handed meal made with fresh, quality ingredients, a complementary balance of flavours and textures – salt, zing, crunch – and one that makes you smile.
Here is Time Out’s guide to the nine best burgers in Sydney right now, based on us eating our way right around town. Odds are, your list will be a bit different – but the two things we can all agree on are: charcoal has no place in burger buns. Same with anything low-fat. We’re simply not interested.
1. Gidley Burger at The Gidley
The burger at subterranean swish steakhouse The Gidley is our absolute favourite in Sydney. And it’s not just us – it was the only Aussie burger to make the coveted Top 10 Burgers in the world 2024 list. Made on a milk bun, it features a double beef patty sourced from their in-house butchery at sibling restaurant Alfie’s, rich cheddar cheese, secret sauce and zingy pickles. Best not to share.
2. American Cheeseburger at Next Door
Neil Perry’s Margaret was recently voted the second-best steak restaurant in the world, so it makes sense that the patty at his next-door venue – aptly named Next Door – is bloody good. The burger features a 200g Coppertree Farm beef patty (a mix of brisket and chuck), grilled to medium so it's a touch rosy in the middle. It’s topped with cheese, pickles, tomato sauce, mustard and jazzed-up mayo, all on a soft bun.
3. Yellowfin Tuna Cheeseburger at Saint Peter Bar
King of the sea Josh Niland gives beef and pork a run for their money – while proving we should be eating more of the fish than just its fillet – with his legendary yellowfin tuna and swordfish bacon cheeseburger. It's available at the Saint Peter Bar in Paddington’s Grand National Hotel. Think: two patties of yellowfin tuna, swordfish belly bacon, both sourced from Mooloolaba in Queensland, served with melted cheese and a sharp sauce on a fresh bun. V smashable.
4. Original Smash Burger at Eat at Robs
Eat at Robs (short for Rozelle’s Original Burger) was born when owner Michael Carter returned home from travelling and found a lack of good smash burger options. What began as a market stall has grown into a full-blown burger shop with loyal fans. The menu is short and simple: choose from grilled chicken or a smashed burger featuring 100 per cent grass-fed beef, caramelised onion and melted cheese on Martin’s Potato Rolls that are soft, squishy and a little bit sweet.
5. Cheese and Bacon Burger at Clam Bar
Clam Bar’s burger isn’t cheap, but thankfully, just like the restaurant, it's a clam dunk. The 250g grass-fed patty is pretty and blushing pink, fatty and juicy, with perfectly melted American cheese, topped with a tangy mustard sauce and onion. Thick-cut bacon and pickles are served on top of the sesame bun and stabbed with a knife. It's rich, messy and yum.
6. Mary’s Burger at Mary’s
We’ve long been fans of rock ’n’ roll burger joint and bar Mary’s and their cracking American-style burgers. The classic burger features quality beef, melted cheese, fresh lettuce, thick slices of tomato, white onion and Mary’s secret sauce, all held together in a soft white bun. They serve vegan burgs, too.
7. Paul’s Famous Works Burger at Paul’s Famous Hamburgers
Loved for its old-school, Aussie-style burgers, Paul’s Famous Hamburgers has been in operation since 1957. Our pick is the works burger – with a well-cooked patty, fresh tomato, raw onions, beetroot, crisp bacon, a fried egg and pineapple. You’ll find this banging burger joint in Sylvania, in Sydney’s south – and we reckon you should.
8. Classic Burger at Chebbo’s Burgers
Chebbo’s Burgers has taken the social media world by storm, and for good reason. They specialise in smash burgers, and they’re as delicious as they are good looking. The team started as a food truck in Roselands and recently opened their first bricks-and-mortar store in Marrickville. We love their classic bad boy, with a smashed beef patty, American cheese, the usual suspects (lettuce, tomato, fresh onion) and Chebbo’s special sauce.
9. Cheese & Bacon Burger at Regatta Club
The burger at Regatta Club (at UTS Rowers in Haberfield) comes stacked with a large beef patty, a chunky slice of very thick-cut bacon, diced onions, a big gherkin slice, melted American cheese and creamy, tangy burger sauce on a sesame-seed-topped milk bun. It’s everything we want from a salad-free burger.
