The best places to eat and drink in Circular Quay

Change is afoot in Circular Quay with a spate of new openings pulling the precinct up by its Ken Done-patterned souvenir socks. These days, there are restaurants and bars coaxing visitors and locals to slow down and immerse themselves in the scene. Flaminia, an Italian restaurant by Giovanni Pilu and Marilyn Annecchini, is up there with the best of them. If sibling Pilu at Freshwater is tethered to Sardinian tradition, Flaminia roams more freely, bouncing along the coastline from Cagliari to Napoli, Venezia, Genova and Palermo in celebration of Italy’s port cities.

Time Out tip: Pop upstairs to El Vista, the Latin-inspired bar and lounge on Level 3 that is a collaboration between Accor’s Table For and the Maybe Group, with Giovanni Pilu taking care of the bar bites.

Park your butt on an outdoor seat at the completely alfresco Whalebridge at sunset and, as you look over towards the Harbour Bridge and Luna Park beyond it, it’s impossible not to understand why Sydney’s harbour is considered one of the most beautiful in the world. Watch the ferries pull into Circular Quay's wharves, the sparkle of the last rays of sun reflecting off the water, the sky change colour, as people behind you wander over to the Opera House for an evening show. It’s a very Sydney experience. And take it from me, the food here is good too, making Whalebridge a solid option for pre- or post-theatre dining.

Time Out tip: Heading to the Opera House for a show? Whalebridge is a thong's throw away, so pop in for an early dinner and enjoy not feeling rushed.

Beauty and convenience don’t always go hand in hand, but Opera Bar is a glam exception to the rule. It manages to be both one of the most enviably located bars in the city as well as its most advantageous spot for a pre-show drink or snack. On the day you snag a seat facing the Harbour Bridge up on the raised promenade you should go buy a lottery ticket, because lady luck has smiled on you. 

Dreaming of fine French fare? You’re not alone. I say: head to Bouillon L'entrecote in Circular Quay and feast until your heart's content. Located a short stroll from the harbour, the good-looking restaurant is owned and operated by Frenchmen Johan Giausseran and Vincent Ventura (also Brasserie l'Entrecote in Pymble) and heroes traditional French cuisine at a reasonable price point. That may look like duck liver parfait and baguette; French onion soup; snails with parsley and butter; or Wagyu tartare – and crème brulée to finish it all off, of course.

Time Out tip: On Saturdays, Bouillon l'Entrecote offers a fixed-price two-course menu for $59 per person. Fans include: my mum and I.

Get mouth-watering chicken, a great drinks menu, vinyl tunes and party vibes at Belles Hot Chicken in Circular Quay. All of your Belles favourites are on offer: wings, drumsticks, tenders and even buffalo cauliflower. Each of those are available in the signature flavours: chicken salt, original, traveller, hot and really f**kin hot. You better bring a fire extinguisher. There are also Nashville-style chicken sandwiches, tasty sides, and "heaving share plates" for those coming in a group.

Come her for a taste of India in the heart of Circular Quay. The Spice Room didn’t get its name for nothing. Step inside this traditional restaurant and be hit with a wave of hunger-inducing aromas. Service is warm and welcoming, and those spices go into creating curries with an incredible depth of flavour.

Time Out tip: Heading to a show at the Opera House? The Spice Room offers a pre-event dinner menu at 5pm and 7pm, including a starter, main and dessert.

While Deux Frères means "two brothers" in French, don’t go off the name – this Circular Quay spot is a charming ode to the glorious pintxos bars dotted all over Basque Country. At Deux Freres, you’ll be able to get your hands on a bunch of both hot and cold small plates, starting from $6 a snack. Gildas, patatas bravas and truffle jamón with a glass of vermouth? Don't mind if we do.

Time Out tip: Deux Frères is warm, cosy and a vibe – I think it's a fun option for a first date.

Chat Thai is a beloved Sydney institution for good reason. The casual diner, which has outposts dotted all over the city, knocks out delicious, flavour-forward and traditional street food favourites at reasonable prices. From your classic pad Thai with sweet-sour tamarind to pad kra pao with fragrant Thai basil and a runny fried egg, you’ll find all your favourites here. 

Time Out tip: There is a full menu for vegetarians, making it a great choice if you’re with a group of friends.

You’ll find the rustic Italian restaurant Grana within the historic walls of Hinchcliff House in Circular Quay – and I reckon you should. Once you’re there, you’ll soon see why. Firstly, the space is gorgeous, with sandstone- and exposed-brick walls, warm moody lighting, and striking dried floral displays, channelling a country house in Tuscany. But the food is what will make you return. Grana is home to its own mill, which the chefs use daily to grind New South Wales' grains – such as spelt, emmer, and khorasan – into flour to make their own pasta and pastry. (If you’re wondering about the name, Grana is the Italian word for ‘Grain’.)

Time Out tip: There's great seafood and pasta options available, but I love Grana's pasta dishes.

There’s a lot of noise surrounding the battle between carnivores and vegans, especially online, but imagine if there was a place where we could eat side-by-side, in digestive harmony; in one plastic basket a classic Mary’s burger with fries, and next to it, an identical burger, only this free from any animal products? This dietary utopia is a reality thanks to Mary’s CQ, the ground floor burger bar found in Circular Quay.

The Cut Bar & Grill is a subterranean steakhouse and wood-fired grill in The Rocks by Sydney hospitality group Hunter Street Hospitality – the team behind the award-winning Rockpool Bar & Grill, Sake and Spice Temple. Located on Argyle Street, the heritage-listed underground space features a smart dining room with wooden and forest-green booth seating and large marble tables. There’s also a bar, perfect for an after-work snack and a The Cut’s Gibson (made with house-made Gibson mignonette and Oyster Shell Gin, served with a Sydney rock oyster) or an end-of-night Negroni. Expect New York steakhouse classics on the menu, along with quality produce cooked over fire and, of course, top-notch steak.

In the basement of a heritage warehouse in Sydney’s CBD you’ll find a Sicilian-inspired cocktail bar named for the ill-fated wife of Michael Corleone in Francis Ford Coppola's 1972 mobster masterpiece, The Godfather. Dimly lit and dramatic as the movie itself, Apollonia is, by sheer geography alone, a triumph. Carved into the sandstone bedrock of Customs House, the hand-chipped, 150-year-old walls have been ambitiously transported to the 21st century, with accents of marble bars, deeply stained wooden finishes, mismatched tiles and red leather banquette seating.

Try this: Apollonia's Negronis are always on point.

Sydney Place is a buzzing dining precinct near Circular Quay that's home to more than 15 delicious places to drink and dine. There, you'll find cult bakery Lode Pies, sandwich gods Kosta’s Takeaway, and Sydney institution Malay Chinese Noodles.

Time Out tip: Be sure to check the venues' specific opening hours, as some close on the weekend. Also: if you're going to Malay Chinese Noodles, don't wear white (like I did).

George Street stalwart Jacksons on George has reopened with a fresh look and former Icebergs chef at the helm. The multi-level venue now sports a ground-floor casual bar, a charming bistro and an airy rooftop bar. Choose your fighter.

Time Out tip: The first-floor restaurant, Bistro George, is a cracking spot for a romantic night out (and be sure to order the 
rigatoni alla gin with pomodoro sauce and fermented chilli).

Circular Quay has a restaurant bar serving up swanky Margaritas and red-hot modern Mexican eats. The interiors are inspired by grand Mexican haciendas, complemented by views of Circular Quay and the Harbour Bridge. As the name gives away, the drinks are focused around Patrón, with limited and rare bottles available. Come for fresh tacos featuring freshly pressed corn tortillas and fiery salsas. You'll also be able to order up soups and small plates, enmolada con pollo (mole chicken enchilladas) and taco platters to share. 

Don't miss: Bar Patrón's happy hour. Monday to Friday, 5-6pm, featuring $15 cocktails.

Does it get any closer to the Opera House than dining under its sails? The thought “By God, this is a beautiful place to eat a meal,” is almost certain to strike at some point as you dine under the dominating, post-Brutalist arches of executive chef Peter Gilmore's restaurant inside the Opera House. And that’ll be before you even see the food.

Time Out tip: There are a few ways to eat here: the restaurant downstairs; the cured and cultured section up a floor; and at the top, a bar and 'The Dress Circle' which has the best views in the whole restaurant.

Drink up some of the best views in the city at Cafe Sydney. The huge balcony looks over Circular Quay with a bird's-eye view of the Harbour Bridge, the Sydney Opera House and Sydney ferries making their way across the sparkling blue water.

Time Out tip: If you're in full impress-your-mates mode, go for a selection of fresh seafood with oysters, bugs and prawns.

You'll find Lana in Hinchcliff House, at the self-described "urban neighbourhood" of Quay Quarter. It's an Italian-ish up-market osteria heroing fresh seafood with low-waste principles. Seasonality is key at Lana, and head chef Alex Wong’s menu is constantly shifting, leaning on the best available local produce. So, even though the venue’s soul is Italian, you’ll find plenty of Antipodean and Asian flourishes.

Try this: After a nightcap? Head to underground cocktail bar Apollonia. 

They’ll tell you to go for the Peking duck. They’ll tell you it’s a juicy bird with crisp skin and sweet meat. And they’d be right. It is. This is just one of the many roast delights at Mr Wong – a two-level Canto-extravaganza offering everything from fancy dim sum to green beans stir-fried with pork mince and house-made XO sauce. The Wynyard light rail station is right there so you can just pop off to Circular Quay whenever you're ready to revel in the wonder of the Opera House.

Time Out tip: Come at lunch for excellent dim sum.

Luxe, elegant and a little bit special, pearls are the ocean’s jewel. Pearl is also the name of the refined Cantonese restaurant in Circular Quay by the Lotus Dining Group (Lotus the Galeries, Lotus Barangaroo, Lotus Double Bay). Located in the Quay Quarter on Bridge and Young Streets, the 84-seat restaurant and bar serves modern takes on the cuisine from China’s Canton province, with influences from Hong Kong, where chef and director of culinary Cheung Shui Yip is from. Expect all the hits: dim sum, fresh seafood, succulent meat and tasty rice and noodle plates.

There’s some excitement to be found in this Japanese restaurant and bar. Bar snacks are bite-sized and pack a tasty punch. Salty and often deep-fried, they are perfect accompaniments to the long and potent drink’s list. A hungry group should make a bee-line for the chicken karaage (crunchy crisp-fried pieces of chicken) or the renkon chips – lotus roots that have been lightly fried, sprinkled with coarse rock salt and served with edamame dip. If you’re rolling two deep, opt for the melt-in-your-mouth teriyaki burger balls.

There are stories. Mysteries. Legends. And they’re all surrounding the window seats at this stunning Quayside locale. We’ve heard of people talking up terminal fatal illness to nab one. Others try the old ‘I’m a very important friend of owners Matt Moran and Pete Sullivan’. Some just happen to get very lucky when they book. So would you fake a serious (though presumably non-contagious) illness to get prime position here? Maybe, if you’d seen the backdrop of Sydney Harbour, the Bridge and the Opera House.

Time Out tip: Aria turned 25 this year. Do you have a birthday coming up? Why no splash out and celebrate here.

Aster Bar is found on level 32 of the InterContinenal Sydney, which recently underwent a whopping $120 million facelift. And while you will need a reservation to take a seat at this bar, you absolutely should. Why? Because Aster boasts some of – if not the – best views in Sydneytown. Think sweeping vistas of the Harbour, Opera House and Royal Botanic Gardens. We have had a Negroni here and let us tell you – life's good at Aster.

Finding a good Irish bar in Sydney is like searching for a four-leaf clover: hard to find but you’re lucky if you do. Frank Mac’s gin and cocktail bar is close to the top of our list, with its heritage charm, extensive gin list and one of the largest botanical collections in Sydney.

The mega food court is home to more than 25 different cafés and takeaway joints. You'll find cheap Thai maestroes Chat Thai, Indian street food by Billu's, sweet treats from Messina, crumbed goodness from Schnitz, warming laska from Hawker Star Malaysian Kitchen and much more in the Circular Quay compound. 

There’s a lot of history in the walls of 10 Bulletin Place, Sydney. Now, 10 Bulletin Place is home to Bar 1880 – a speakeasy-type bar that pays homage to its history and exudes character and charm in spades. Come for 'forgotten’ cocktails with cheese and charcuterie, and enjoy alfresco out the front.

This neon-lit Bridge Lane bar is all about smashing together rock'n'roll aesthetics with Japanese food. Kid Kyoto – the third venue from Sam Prince, who is also behind the nearby Indu and Mejico – has taken inspiration from Nirvana lyrics and (there's a giant sign fluorescent sign bearing 'Come As You Are') and is dishing out an Izakaya-style menu.