The best new restaurants in Sydney

20 Chapel, a neighbourhood bistro with a focus on wood-fired cooking and farm-fresh produce, is now open in Marrickville. Corey Costelloe, the former culinary director of Rockpool Bar & Grill – recipient of Time Out Sydney’s Legend Award 2023 – is behind the 64-seater Chapel Street spot. Costelloe has teamed up with David Allison, an old friend, chef and owner of Stix Farm, as well as Rockpool’s former maître d' Anthony Qalilawa, to bring 20 Chapel to life. As you’d expect from the team’s impressive CV, the menu features premium proteins alongside locally grown, seasonal and organic fruit, vegetables and herbs. We’re told Negronis are on tap, too.

A 100-year-old warehouse in Newtown is now home to a modern Mexican restaurant and bar with a seriously good chef at the helm. Called Comedor, which means dining room in Spanish (it's a nod to gathering around a table and sharing delicious food and good times), the restaurant is led by head chef Alejandro Huerta, who has drawn on his Mexican heritage to create the menu, as well as his time on the pans at some of the world’s best restaurants: Pujol in Mexico City and Noma in Copenhagen.

Peter Conistis, the founding chef of Sydney’s Alpha and Ploos restaurants, who is widely regarded as the pioneer of Greek cuisine in Australia, has opened Ammos in Brighton-Le-Sands. Meaning sand in Greek, the breezy, sun-drenched 160-seat diner is located on level 3 of the Novotel Sydney Brighton Beach and has a spacious terrace with pretty views of the bay. With dreamy coastal interiors, a fresh seafood station, mezze bar and wines sourced directly from Greece, guests can enjoy a taste of the Med without leaving the tarmac.

Located on the upper level of the Rozelle pub, Bistro Red Lion by Manu (yep, the same one from My Kitchen Rules) is a joint venture between Manu and owners Laundy Hotels, who also have Watsons Bay Boutique Hotel, Woolly Bay Hotel and Woolwich Pier Hotel under their belt. Manu is joined by Laundy Hotels’ group executive chef Jamie Gannon in the kitchen, and says the menu will be focusing on "delicious, approachable food rather than aiming for the stars." “I want guests at Bistro Red Lion by Manu to forget the outside world and feel as though they're dining at my home, enjoying a good bottle of wine,” he adds.

Surry Hills stalwart the White Horse has reopened after a massive renovation with a fresh, new team holding the reins. The 170-seat venue features a stylish ground-floor restaurant, an upstairs bar and a sun-drenched garden terrace complete with lush plants – the perfect place for sinking a couple of cold ones in the afternoon. Giddy up. As for the food, expect to find ethically sourced produce from respected producers, as well as a spotlight on native ingredients.

Holy guacamole: Mami’s is an all-day cantina serving up delicious and authentic Mexican fare on Bondi Road  – and if you haven’t been, you really need to go. Nothing on the menu costs more than $20, the tacos took me right back to scoffing them standing up in Oaxaca City, and it’s BYO. Plus, if you head to The Royal across the road you can score 10 per cent off beer and 20 per cent off wine. How good is that?

Good Luck Restaurant Lounge, Merivale's new restaurant, is now open. Located in a hidden basement below the historic Burns Philp & Co building in Sydney's CBD, this head-turning venue is a project three years in the making by executive chef Mike Eggert (also of Totti’s) and CEO Justin Hemmes. Come for pan-Asian cuisine, big, bold flavours, and lots of seafood, fresh herbs and punchy sauces and sambals. And fun. It's Very Fun.

Think there’s not much action happening north of the bridge? Think again. Genzo, a fun and modern Japanese restaurant and sake bar, is now open in Etymon’s new supercharged Walker Street precinct. Lit up by rainbow neon lights and works by Tokyo artist Masanori Ushiki, it’s a cool space, and features a 28-seater cocktail and sake bar (with its own temperature-controlled sake room), a 90-seat dining room and an all-weather terrace. Executive chef Rhys Connell (ex-The Gantry and Sepia) is heading up the kitchen at Genzo alongside Tuan Colombo (ex-Sokyo, Nobu London) serving riffs on Japanese dishes and flame-kissed skewers.

The talented duo behind Time Out favourites Jane and Arthur have opened Fior, a breezy and casual Italian diner in the Sutherland Shire. Come for an Australian riff on Italian cuisine laced with charm, nostalgia and good times. The menu features rustic antipasti, handmade pasta and casual plates at affordable price points, made from mostly local ingredients. Oysters are freshly shucked to order, there's a roaming gelato trolley, and “the Shire’s best aperitivo hour”. We're there.

Whatever way you flip it, Sydney’s pizza game is strong, encompassing everything from NY-style slabs so big you can fold them in three to Neapolitan-style slices loved for their charred blisters and puffy crust. Now, there’s another pizza joint entering the chat: 170 Grammi, the sibling to Lane Cove favourite Via Napoli, is now open in Surry Hills on the corner of Crown and Foveaux streets. Don’t come expecting the same offering as Via Napoli, though. Here, chef-owner Luigi Esposito will be firing up the hand-made Italian wood-fired oven to serve Roman-style pizza, with a thin and crisp base. At 170 Grammi, each pizza is made using only 170 grams of dough (hence the name), so there’s a delicious crunch. Plus, you can eat more.

Good news for the golf, surf and food lovers among us: The Mona Social, a bar and bistro located on the lush grounds of the Mona Vale Golf Club, is now open. Situated in the coastal town at the northern end of Sydney's Northern Beaches, The Mona Social is run by The Boathouse team, who also have The Boathouse Shelly Beach and Manly Pavilion under their belt (among others). Don’t worry if golf’s not your jam. Everyone is welcome to check out The Mona Social – members and non-members alike – so if you’re hungry and in that salty neck of the woods, you have a new good-looking option.

It’s one of life’s universal truths that things on sticks are just more delicious. Wife-and-husband duo Alina Van and Raymond Hou know this well. Since 2019, they have been serving flame-licked skewers to hungry folks all across Sydney including festivals, breweries and the Royal Easter Show. They've now opened their first bricks-and-mortar venue – a two-storey restaurant on Enmore Road – right next door to Bar Louise. With an intimate chef’s table, chic seats and colourful art, it’s a sophisticated step up from their beloved red food truck. And though you may now enjoy their flame-cooked eats alongside a glass of wine – as opposed to scoffing it standing up – their delicious food remains. 

After a big build up, highly anticipated Latin American restaurant Morena is finally now open. Headed up by esteemed chef Alejandro Saravia – the executive chef and owner of Melbourne’s award-winning restaurants, Farmer’s Daughters and Victoria by Farmer’s Daughters – the 200-seat diner is located in the gorgeous, heritage-listed GPO Building in Martin Place. The menu pays homage to Saravia’s home country of Peru, as well as the flavours found in Colombia, Mexico, Venezuela, Argentina, Brazil, Cuba and more.

North Sydney’s dining scene keeps getting better, thanks to newish spots Rafi and Poetica (and there’s a new food and drink precinct currently getting built). Now, we’ve got another one for you. Bar Lettera, a modern Italian/Australian restaurant and wine bar, is now open in the Citadines Walker North Sydney hotel. The kitchen is headed up by head chef Ryan Perry, who has worked at highly regarded Sydney restaurants including The Bridge Room and Momofuku Seiobo. Expect riffs on classic Italian dishes. Decked out in a Negroni-inspired palette, the space is all warm lighting, ceramic sculptures, striking marble and soft curves.

Sydney’s hotel scene just got a little more delicious, with the launch of woodfire grill and bar Sydney Common, now open in the Sheraton Grand Sydney Hyde Park. Backdropped by lush views of the verdant park, the elegant space is headed up by head chef Jamie Robertson, who spent time on the pans at top Sydney spots The Bridge Room and Ester. Prior to the opening, Robertson was mentored by one of Australia’s most talented chefs, Martin Benn, who was behind the accolade-collecting Sepia to curate the woodfired menu. In short: Whatever your thoughts are on hotel restaurants, you can leave them at the park, because Robertson's menu is anything but beige.

All hail the King. King Clarence, to be exact, which is the name of the new contemporary Asian restaurant found on the corner of King and Clarence Streets in Sydney. The 100 seat restaurant is by the award-winning Bentley Restaurant Group – whose impressive restaurant empire includes Bentley Restaurant and Bar, Monopole, Cirrus, Yellow and Brasserie 1930 – and, it's now open. Star chef Khanh Nguyen is the executive chef of King Clarence. Most recently, Nguyen had been heading up the kitchens at Melbourne’s award-winning restaurants Aru and Sunda. And prior to his move to Melbourne, Nguyen spent years working with the Bentley Group, and had a stint at the always-pumping Mr Wong.

Tita Carinderia is a Filipino café on Marrickville's main drag. And it’s easy to see why people are flocking here: The vibe is homely, the food is tasty and generous, the service is friendly – just like visiting your favourite aunt. Be sure to try the drool-worthy and Insta-worthy vibrant purple ube soft serve.

Brendan King says his nanna never cooked while he was growing up, and instead always remembers his grandpa in the kitchen, preparing spiced tandoori wings and fiery pork vindaloo. Derrel’s – the new late-night Indian diner by Public Hospitality (also Maybe Sammy, El Primo Sanchez) and Baba’s Place Creative (a new hospo creative agency by the Baba’s team) – is named after King’s grandpa, and is a nostalgic ode to his food and the dishes that King loves to cook and eat himself. We'll have one chip butty with a side of butter chicken gravy, please.

Balmain has welcomed a fire-hot Argentinian-inspired grill from the team who brought us Paddington-favourite Tequila Mockingbird and Mexican CBD restaurant Esteban. Casa Esquina has taken over a historic building on the corner of Elliott Street in Balmain, previously home to L'Unico and Efendy. Anchored by two gorgeous 80-year-old camphor laurel trees, the site has transformed into a white-washed and sun-drenched Argentine dream. Come down on Sundays – the custom-made parrilla grill will flame-cook suckling pig and lamb.

The Barrenjoey Boatshed was originally built in 1947 to store and maintain boats in the local area. Over the years, it became an iconic Sydney destination, partly thanks to its idyllic waterfront location, and partly due to its starring role on Home and Away. Most recently, the historic building was known as the relaxed coastal café, The Boathouse. Now, after being acquired by hospitality professionals Rob Domjen and publican Ben May – and undergoing a whopping $7 million rebuild and refurbishment – it’s reopened under its founding name, The Barrenjoey Boatshed. Though, everyone’s calling it ‘The Joey’.

A tiny Korean omakase restaurant has opened in Sydney, welcoming just eight guests a night to sit down and enjoy 18 courses of innovative Korean cuisine. Decked out in charcoal, the dark and moody spot features an open kitchen, so diners can take a seat at the chef's table and watch the action up close. The team is headed up by executive chef Jacob Lee (ex-Kobo, Soot, Tokki), who has drawn on his heritage in Korea’s Jeolla province, as well as his grandmother’s cooking and his travels throughout his home country, to craft the technique-driven and fire-powered menu.

Neapolitan-style pizza with a ‘rebellious’ twist is what you can expect from Freshwater’s new pizza shop by Bella Brutta’s former head chef. Meaning ‘rebellious’ in Italian, Ribelle is located in Freshwater village – a thong’s throw from the beach – making it a cracking option for a post-surf or swim feed. And it’s BYO (there’s a booze shop up the road), so you can settle in for an affordable dinner, too.

Double Bay has welcomed a modern Japanese restaurant called Tanuki. It’s by the Matteo team, and is dotted on swish and happening Bay Street. There are many things to like about Tanuki, named after the Japanese raccoon dog, which in folklore is believed to have powers to shapeshift. But in short: on-point sushi, a multifaceted space, Midori-spiked cocktails, Wagyu sambos, and matcha tiramisu. Dress up.

Yana stands for ‘you are not alone’. It’s a fitting name for a restaurant designed to bring the community together. The concept was spearheaded by chef Sam Lane (ex-The Corner House) who wanted to recreate the feeling of sitting around a campfire, telling stories and tucking into delicious, honest food. This is pretty much what you can expect to find at the new 120-seater in Coogee. Though, you can forget about the dirt – located a shell’s throw from the beach on the main promenade, Yana is chic, decked out with sandy tones, warm wood and exposed brick. If camping had a stylish eastern suburbs’ sister, this would be it.

A wine bar with a Southeast Asian twist is what you can expect from Double Bay's new kid on the block, Bartiga. Come for flavour-packed plates like the butter-poached bug roll with red curry pesto, and barbecue prawn tom yum spaghettini.

Morrison Bar & Oyster Room has had a glow up, transforming into Morrison’s Oyster Bar & Grill. With soaring glass windows, eucalyptus-green booths, elegant moon lights and period-style oak panelling, the bistro channels a classy yet relaxed steakhouse with big city energy. Prime cuts of beef – hand-selected and sourced from Aussie farmers including Jack’s Creek, The Australian Agricultural Company and Rangers Valley – is the go here. The meat is aged in-house from 6-12 weeks, tenderising the protein and allowing it to develop a deeper and more delicious flavour.

Hong Kong-style eatery Kowloon Cafe is now open in Chatswood. This is the fourth nostalgic spot to swing open its doors to hungry Sydneysiders, joining restaurants in Haymarket, Burwood and Eastwood. And while the retro, neon-green decor is similar to the other venues, here the menu focuses on express eats with big flavours, spanning Hong Kong-style snacks, sandwiches, rice dishes, stir-fried noodles, and more. Plus, you can leave feeling full and happy with change from $20.

Fifteen minutes – that’s how long it’s going to take from ordering to when a beautifully cooked sirloin from NSW’s Riverina region will be served at your table at Alfie’s, a new restaurant and bar by hospitality group Liquid and Larder, that's now open. Name ring a bell? Liquid and Larder are the legends behind some of Sydney’s and the world’s best steakhouses – Bistecca and the Gidley – as well as sepia-hued bar and restaurant, the Rover. So, the steak and drinks at Alfie’s are sure to be on-point. Speaking of drinks, the team are pouring what they are calling 'Sydney's coldest Martini'. Get that.

Sydney has a lot of excellent Japanese restaurants. Ones where fresh produce is paramount, where dishes look like works of art and taste like the sea. Now, there’s another one to add to the mix, with the opening of Ito, a Japanese izakaya from the team who brought us elegant Middle Eastern restaurant Aalia and pastel-hued Nour, with an ex Nobu and Cho Cho San chef leading the charge.

Meaning “two brothers” in French, Deux Frères is the third Sydney venture by French restaurateurs Johan Giausseran and Vincent Ventura, joining Circular Quay’s Bouillon l'Entrecote and neighbourhood bistro Brasserie l'Entrecôte in Pymble. And while Deux Frères is French sounding, don’t go off the name – this new spot is a charming ode to the glorious pintxos bars dotted all over Basque Country. Gildas, patatas bravas and truffle jamón? Don't mind if we do.

Kurumba, a Sri Lankan-inspired restaurant and wine bar, is now open in Surry Hills. The family-owned eatery is by the team behind Dulwich Hill’s beloved café and restaurant the Fold, which sadly closed its doors earlier this year. Come for modern takes on Sri Lankan street food, inspired by head chef Augustus ‘Augi’ de Hoedt’s Sri Lankan and Dutch heritage. There's also a dedicated hopper bar where you can watch the traditional thin, bowl-shaped egg cups be made right in front of you, before topping them with curry and sambol. Delicious.

Long time locals Adam and Kylie Micola have always dreamed of opening up a seafood restaurant right on Cronulla Beach. And when the perfect sight became available on the south end of Cronulla’s Esplanade – one that’s literally a shell’s throw from the sand – they knew they had to snap it up. Enter Bobby’s – a breezy, Mediterranean-leaning and seafood-championing café, restaurant and bar named after Micola’s dad, which is now open.

Potts Point has gained another newcomer with the opening of Caravin – led by the crew who brought us rocking Bar Suze. The 30-something seater wine bar and restaurant has taken over the former Dumpling and Beer site, and is neighbours to the red-hued and fun Bar Piccolo. Caravin is a gear shift from the Swedish and Scandinavian leaning Bar Suze, with owners Greg Bampton and Phil Stenvall taking inspiration from the rock and roll bars of Paris.

Rozelle has welcomed a neighbourhood French bistro called Chez Blue with an ex-Bistro Moncur head chef is at the helm. The 90-seater bistro and cocktail bar is owned by the Solotel group, who also oversee Sydney establishments the Clock and the Golden Sheaf, as well as Opera Bar, Aria, and Chiswick with chef Matt Moran. Here, the classics get a playful spin. Take a dish of peach and tomato. The fruit is paired with goat’s curd, fennel and almonds and plated to look like a peach melba dessert.

When you think of French food, what comes to mind? Rich and creamy sauces no doubt, as well as hearty stews and picture-perfect pastries. And while delicious, this isn’t what you can expect to find on the menu at new French restaurant and rooftop bar Martinez, which has just opened in Sydney. Instead, the team are focusing on the food and flavours found in the South of France and neighbouring idyllic Mediterranean coastlines. Think light, produce-driven dishes with lots of fresh seafood – perfect for summertime drinking and dining.

Kimchi, soju and Korean barbecue are some of the very best things about South Korea’s pulsating capital, Seoul (alongside K-beauty, its incredible food markets and karaoke). And you can get all that at 789 Korean BBQ, now open in Darling Square. The new Korean barbecue joint is by the same team behind 678 Korean BBQ in Haymarket and Eastwood, so you know they are experts in firing up the grill. We’ll have one bottle of soju and a coupla glasses, please.

Hospitality guns and long-time mates Lachy Sturrock and Sam Smith have teamed up to open Folly’s Bar and Bistro, a smart-looking neighbourhood venue, now found on Sydney’s Lower North Shore. Named after nearby Folly Point in Cammeray, the 130-seater has taken over the former site of Epoque Belgian Beer Cafe on Miller Street, and the beautiful original timber flooring and chequered tiles remain. With 18 vinos by the glass and a rocking $75 set menu, Folly’s Bar and Bistro may become your new midweek go-to.

Hot pizza, natural wine, disco tunes and cold beers right by the beach – a rocking pizza party has landed in Sydney and we’re keen to join in on the fun. Called Ullo Pizza & Wine, the neon red-hued restaurant is the latest venue to open by Oi Hospitality (also Banco Manly and Corretto Dee Why), boasting an oceanfront location on Dee Why’s main drag.

George Street stalwart Jacksons on George has finally reopened with a fresh look and chef at the helm. Steven Sinclair – who’s worked at Bondi’s Icebergs Dining Room and Bar and Britain's three-Michelin starred restaurant, L’Enclume – is the executive chef of the multi-level venue. A casual bar is on the ground floor, but we're most excited about Bistro George – a flash European-inspired bistro. Expect dishes like ‘Clams Casino’ made with clams, bacon and bread crumbs; salmon gravlax with blinis and cultured cream; salt crusted ribeye Wagyu; and a signature ‘Jackson's Banoffee Sundae’ for dessert. At night the bistro will transform into a late-night live music bar.

A Ukrainian eatery serving home-style dishes with heart is now open in Sydney. Kyiv Social is by the formidable Plate it Forward hospitality group (also Colombo Social, Kabul Social, and Coyoacán Social), who are committed to creating equal opportunity across the table, one plate at a time. Spearheaded by the social enterprises’ founder Shaun Christie-David, Plate it Forward has so far employed more than 15 Ukrainians who have been displaced because of the war – including former doctors, lawyers and economists – to work at Kyiv Social, helping them find their place through connection, community and sharing their stories of home through food.

Established in 1857, the heritage-listed Dry Dock is the oldest licensed pub in Balmain. And now after a year-long renovation, it’s back better than ever, with a rocking fit-out, an ex-Rockpool Bar and Grill chef leading the kitchen, and a fresh drinks list. Staying dry? Forget about it. Hospitality duo James Ingram and Balmain local Mike Everett are the ones behind the massive refresh – they were keen to restore the historic boozer and ensure it has a place in the community for years to come. And they’ve done a brilliant job.

The hospitality guns behind Paddington’s Royal Hotel and the Toxteth in Glebe have expanded their footprint with the opening of a dazzling dining destination in Sydney’s South. Located just a 20-minute drive from the city in One Hurstville Plaza, this impressive 350-capacity venue houses both an elevated pub and a luxe fine diner.