The best restaurants in Surry Hills

What is it? This cracking Surry Hills Italian number from the Bistrot 916 team has amped-up trattoria classics that will stay with you long after you've said arrivederci.

Why we love it: If the sign of an excellent restaurant is that you can’t stop thinking about it after you’ve left, then Pellegrino 2000 is the cream of the crop, offering banging food, attentive and warm service, and a romantic dining room – plus a moody upper level, complete with plush dark carpet, statement artworks, and a slick bar. This is one of our favourite restaurants in Sydney, and it's Taylor Swift's too – this is where she dined when she was in town. 

Time Out tip: Love Pellegrino 2000? Try its sibling restaurant, Neptune's Grotto – winner of Time Out Sydney's Restaurant of the Year Award 2025.

Address: 80 Campbell Street, Surry Hills 2010

Expect to pay: Snacks and starters $9-$32, pasta $39-$40, mains $48-$68, sides $15-$16, cheese and desserts $15-$24, menu del giorno $89 a head, plus drinks from the bar

What is it? Found on Albion Street, just 70 metres up the road from sibling Bar Copains, Bessie’s is a Mediterranean restaurant with wood-fired flair. It’s by chefs Morgan McGlone (founder of Belles Hot Chicken) and Nathan Sasi (the founding chef of Nomad), as well as Sasi’s partner Sali (co-founder of Wrapd). 

Why we love it: The team brought in serious talent to helm the kitchen, with Sydney-born Remy Davis – from the Michelin-starred Elkano restaurant – relocating from San Sebastián for the gig. Go for the garlic and herb sourdough flatbread alongside a smooth, umami-rich cod roe dip; devilled eggs straight outta your nan’s dinner parties; and the Moreton Bay bug sambo.

Time Out tip: Don't have a booking? Head to Alma's – the cocktail bar at the front of the room, with the same excellent snack and booze menu.

Address: 111-115 Albion Street, Surry Hills 2010

Expect to pay: Snacks $7-$28, small plates $24-$38, large plates $44-$175, sides $15-$18, plus drinks from the bar

What is it? Growing up, sisters Rowena and Kate Chansiri used to eat a beef noodle soup made by their mum using their grandmother’s recipe. It’s a traditional street-food dish that’s slurped in Chinatowns all over Thailand, and now, they are serving it at their unassuming eatery on 47 Cooper Street in Surry Hills.

Why we love it: As well as the tender beef and chewy noodles, we're big fans of the dark broth – it has great depth thanks to stock made from the beef bones and caramelised palm sugar, it's fragrant with earthy Chinese five spice, and balanced with vinegar. And a bowl will set you back less than 20 bucks.

Time Out tip: For something a bit different, try scooping addictive puffed rice crackers into the beef neck dip (cooked in coconut milk with roasted red onion, Thai herbs and fermented soybean). 

Address: Unit 1/47 Cooper Street, Surry Hills 2010

Expect to pay: Noodles and rice dishes $16-$22, small plates $14-$26, snacks $5-$13, plus a drink

What is it? There are certain dishes that stick in your head, like a catchy pop tune that you find yourself humming for days after hearing a snippet on the radio. Jane, the little sister to chef Tristan Rosier's Arthur, provides exactly these sorts of memorable and original dishes in a homey and retro dining room. 

Why we love it: While the menu is certainly inspired by childhood memories and dinner parties of yore, Jane is anything but twee. Brass finishings, marble-topped tables and golden velvet booths for two are accented with a very modern Australian touch. Kangaroo tartare replaces the usual beef, and sharp bush tomato and pickled cucumbers provide all the acid needed, a crown of matchstick potato fries bringing moreish crunch.

Time Out tip: Jane's happy hour is one of our faves – hop down early to make the most of it.

Address: 478 Bourke Street, Surry Hills 2010

Expect to pay: Snacks $6-$15, small plates $14-$26, protein-driven mains $48-$62, sides around $16, cheese and desserts $8-$18, plus drinks from the bar

What is it? 40Res is the blink-and-you’ll-miss-it small bar and diner of our dreams. You'll find the darling little wine bar tucked away down a side street (40 Reservoir Street, for those playing along at home) in Surry Hills just a short stroll from Central Station, away from the hubbub of Crown Street and the wow factor of the new Wunderlich Lane. 

Why we love it: It’s all the better for its hidden location. Low‑key. Lo‑fi. Laid‑back. Lacking pretension. Luverly. It's a proper little neighbourhood wine bar with top drops. And don’t skip the snacks, either. 40Res is owned and operated by the former executive chef of Tetsuya’s, Josh Raine. So you’re in for a good time.

Time Out tip: Walk‑ins are welcome, and there’s no timed seating for your reservation, making 40Res a fab option for your next after‑work drink and bar bite.

Address: 40 Reservoir Street, Surry Hills 2010

Expect to pay: Snacks $6-$14, small plates $28-$28, mains $34-$56, sides and desserts $14-$18, plus drinks

What is it? This ambitious and innovative 24-seat fine diner on Waterloo Street places sustainability on the same rung as deliciousness, and chef Dylan Cashman is as exacting in his ethics as he is in his execution. 

Why we love it: The local flair doesn't stop at the food though. The Blue Door's award-winning wine list is curated by general manager (and ray-of-sunshine incarnate) Angelica Nohra, and is almost entirely Australian, heavily focusing on the diversity of wine from all over NSW. The Blue Door is one to not miss (and you sure as heck won't, with the aforementioned blue door).

Time Out tip: Have a spesh bottle at home you’d like to try? Thursday night bookings accept BYO.

Address: 8/38 Waterloo Street, Surry Hills 2010

Expect to pay: $169 per person for the 7-course tasting menu, non-alc and wine pairings $60-90

What is it? Ito is a Japanese izakaya from the team who brought us elegant Middle Eastern restaurant Aalia and pastel-hued Nour, with a former Nobu and Cho Cho San chef leading the charge. Found on Surry Hills's leafy Crown Street, the 85-seater two-storey venue has taken over Cuckoo Callay’s former digs. Top Aussie architect Matt Darwon has transformed the space with Tasmanian blackwood furniture, clean lines and pops of bold colours. And while the restaurant is inspired by the izakayas found all over Japan, expect to see Italian touches throughout the food, a nod to head chef Erik Ortolani’s background.

Why we love it: At Ito, Ortolani cleverly remixes Japanese and Italian cuisines with finesse, and the results are delicious. It’s clear the chefs have a deep understanding of flavours and how to marry them together well. I’ll be back for the chicken and octopus skewer licked with ’nudja; the spaghetti twirled with spanner crab, garlic and togarashi; and charred Roman beans with barley miso and furikake. And when Sydney puts on its next cracking hot day, you know where to come, and what to order. Watermelon Spritz and cherry mochi sorbet, I’m looking at you. 

Time Out tip: If there's eggplant on the menu, go for that.

Address: 413-415 Crown Street, Surry Hills 2010

Expect to pay: Lunch menu $49, signature banquet $129, festive menu $139, desserts $11-$19, or you can order select dishes from the a la carte menu

What is it? You won’t be able to find a website for Kood. That’s because the Korean tea café and kitchen doesn’t have one. Or a phone number, for that matter. Instagram? Forget about it. What you will find, though, if you happen to stroll past 414 Elizabeth Street around lunchtime, is a line snaking out the door. Hungry workers waiting to be served by a smiling Korean lady working out of a teapot-sized kitchen. 

Why we love it: You come here for authentic Korean food that's a flavour bomb. Think Seoul food at its best. 

Time Out tip: While the menu may switch things up from time to time, the only thing you shouldn’t waver on is the chilli pork. Vivid red in colour thanks to chilli powder, the pork is cooked with soy sauce, onion, Korean salt, shallots, onions and cabbage. It’s got a kick from the chilli, a beautiful fruity flavour from cooked-down apple and pear, and the ideal amount of salt and garlic. In other words, a home run.

Address: 414 Elizabeth Street, Surry Hills 2010

Expect to pay: Around $5 for onigiri, bibimpap $21-$23, poke bowls around $20, lunch boxes $23-$24, soft drinks and water $4

What is it? Sáng by Mabasa is one of Sydney’s best Korean restaurants. Found on Fitzroy Street in Surry Hills, this small, family-run eatery specialises in modern Korean dishes. The lunch menu is affordable and delicious – the crisp kimchi pancake, bulgogi and fried chicken wings are our picks. 

Why we love it: It's all about the details at this tiny, family-owned Korean gem, like the beautiful handcrafted chopsticks. Sure, you'll find fried chicken and bibimbap here, but it pays to branch out and venture bravely into the territory occupied by clam soup or the so-called platter of nine delicacies: a neat little pile of pancakes surrounded by colourful condiments, each one more delicious than the last.

Time Out tip: At night, there’s an ace set menu for $85 per person, too.

Address: 98 Fitzroy Street, Surry Hills 2010

Expect to pay: Lunch dishes $17-$25, dinner dishes $22-$49, rice and banchan $9, desserts $9

What is it? 'Copains' means 'friends' in French, which is an apt name for this gem by longtime mates and chefs Morgan McGlone (culinary director of Potts Point’s Sunday, and founder of Belles Hot Chicken) and Nathan Sasi (the founding chef of Nomad). Sasi’s partner, Sali, is also co-owner. Friends since their paths crossed in 2010, the duo long dreamed about opening a little wine bar where they could catch up and enjoy good bottles of natural wine. In late 2022, that’s exactly what they did.

Why we love it: While Copains is a wine bar first, restaurant second, McGlone and Sasi’s menu is no afterthought, serving the kind of seriously tasty food that one dreams of (speaking from experience). Whether you've got a date night, or catch-up with a mate, Bar Copains will impress. 

Time Out tip: Make sure you also check out Bar Copains’ sibling venues Bessie's and Mr Vin-Cenzo's.

Address: 67 Albion Street, Surry Hills 2010

Expect to pay: Snacks $6-$14, small plates (inc. pasta) $16-$34, mains $48-$56, desserts $18-$32, plus drinks

What is it? The capacious Crown Street site formerly known as Toko is now the home of Andrew Becher’s latest grand venture, Armorica –a grand, glittering jewel in Sydney’s crown (street). 

Why we love it: No stranger to dropping a casual few mill on a resplendent refit, this grandiose renewal is as tastefully opulent as one has come to expect from the self-confessed Francophile behind Potts Point’s fine-dining duo Franca and Parlar. Executive chef Jose Saulog's food is spectacular.

Time Out tip: You must order the chocolate bar.

Address: Shop 1 and 2, 490 Mary Street, Surry Hills 2010

Expect to pay: $195-$320 for signature caviar (with brie-stuffed doughnuts and chives), starters $13-$48, sides $12-$18, mains $40-$90, steaks $39-$139, desserts $18-$29, plus drinks

What is it? Since 2018, chef Tristan Rosier has been quietly trying to define what Australian cuisine actually is. He’s been doing this at his restaurant Arthur, which he co-owns with his partner Rebecca Fanning. His finesse and skills, some of which were honed working alongside Peter Doyle at the award-winning Est, as well as his passion for beautiful, seasonal Australian produce, come to fruition at the Burgundy-coloured Victorian-era terrace – with sublime results.

Why we love it: The set-menu-only restaurant works with local ingredients, and you can opt to pair your meal with Aussie drops curated by the in-house sommelier Henry Quinn. Dining at Arthur seems less like a pursuit of answers and more like a celebration of what we have in our very own backyard. And that feels good – and tastes even better.

Time Out tip: Looking to woo your love? This handsome neighbourhood restaurant has date night written all over it.

Address: 544 Bourke Street, Surry Hills 2010

Expect to pay: $130 for the chef’s menu, $160 for the Arthur set menu

What is it? A legendary rooftop restaurant with a funky fit-out, cracking drinks menu and weekend DJ residencies that channel all the are-we-in-New-York vibes – now paired with a fresh new menu and dream team.

Why we love it: Mitch Orr’s Jatz and anchovies may have gone, but there’s ace stuff coming out of Sydney rooftop restaurant Kiln. Beau Clugston, former Noma chef and owner of Iluka in Copenhagen, Denmark, is now the head chef of the sky-high diner found atop the Ace Hotel in Surry Hills. Clugston, who grew up in Sawtell on the New South Wales coast and worked at the world’s best restaurant for six years, is drawing on his fine-dining creds as well as his love of the ocean and native Australian produce for Kiln 2.0. 

Time Out tip: Looking for more hot rooftop haunts around Sydney? This list is your new best friend.

Address: Level 18/53 Wentworth Avenue, Sydney 2010

Expect to pay: Set menu $120 per person (wine pairings and extras available), snacks and starters $7-$12, larger plates $26-$40, mains $49-$160, desserts around $26, plus drinks

What is it? Before plant-based eateries of all shapes and sizes began popping up on every corner, there was Yulli's. They paint with broad strokes, incorporating influences from here, there and everywhere: kale and saltbush gyoza, edamame and coconut moneybags; and Korean fried broccolini are just some of the things you'll find.

Why we love it: Surry Hills' you-can-make-friends-with-salad-here stalwart, Yulli's, is completely vegan – and they even have vegan wines. They also offer a separate gluten-free menu, making it a solid choice if you're dining with a big group of friends. The menu draws inspiration from South East Asia and the Mediterranean – we're fans of the fresh and crunchy san choy bow, and the steamed leek and ginger dumplings with plum sauce.

Time Out tip: Since this is where Yulli's Brews was born, make sure you order a beer.

Address: 417 Crown Street, Surry Hills 2010

Expect to pay: Small plates $12-$17, medium plates $19-$24, large plates $21-$24, desserts around $16, plus drinks

What is it? A multi-award-winning restaurant serving up modern Australian tasting menus and paired wines in a characterful vintage-inspired space.

Why we love it: There are many things to love about this bunker-like fine diner. That the food is beautiful to look at (and even better to eat) is one thing. And there’s that feeling you get when you’re scaling the stairs to below street level, chic Nordic wooden furnishings all around, Ella Fitzgerald on the stereo, staff only too keen to make you comfortable. It’s just a lovely place to be.

Time Out tip: For those who love food, is there a better gift than a fine dining gift card? Nel has a selection at different price points here. 

Address: 75 Wentworth Avenue, Surry Hills 2010

Expect to pay: Set menu from $185 a head, non-alc drink pairing $85, classic pairing $155

What is it? Run by an all-star family of chefs, Kurumba serves up fragrant and delicious riffs on Sri Lankan street food – including seriously delicious curries, hoppers (of course) and clever desserts.

Why we love it: Walking into most restaurants you’re either greeted by a smiling host or waitstaff, or maybe no one at all. At Kurumba, Surry Hills' Sri Lankan eatery, we are first met with a wave of spices – cumin, cloves and cardamom – being cooked down gently in coconut oil so it’s fragrant and hunger-inducing. We imagine it smells like dinner along the palm-fringed Unawatuna Beach and street food stalls in bustling Colombo. And after a year of new openings in Sydney filled with opulent brasseriesand lavish steakhouses, it smells exactly like the kinds of things we want to eat right now. 

Time Out tip: Don’t miss the dark and unctuous beef short rib curry, which has the depth of a dish that’s been braised for hours, the aromatics building on one another like Lego. Sweetened with treacle and rich with coconut cream, it’s so good I wanted to bottle it and take it home with me.

Address: 555 Crown Street, Surry Hills 2010

Expect to pay: Snacks $5-$14, small plates $19-$32, mains $24-$45, rice and roti $7-$10, desserts $18-$22, teas $8, signature menu $85, premium set menu $125, Tuesday night hopper feast $49

What is it? Surry Hills’ handsome bar and bistro The Rover is by the Liquid & Larder group, the team who brought us the steak-slinging likes of Bistecca and The Gidley – so you can count on the drink and food offerings to be all class. 

Why we love it: Where do we begin? We love that it's open on Mondays, has a permanent happy hour, and night owls will be happy to know food is served until 10pm. But that’s not all – you can also order The Gidley’s famous burger – and one of the best burgers in Sydney – at The Rover. Think: double beef patties with sharp cheddar, zippy sauce and house pickles on a soft bun.

Time Out tip: You can’t forgo a Martini here, which they pour at the table into an icy glass for max frostiness, and serve it with one olive on a toothpick and a couple more on the side. Our Editor-in-Chief reckons it’s her favourite in all of Sydney.

Address: 75 Campbell Street, Surry Hills 2010

Expect to pay: Snacks and chips $5-$12, burgers $21-$28, desserts $15-$17, plus cocktails

What is it? There may not be electricity in the Firedoor kitchen, but that doesn’t mean there’s a shortage of power. Helmed by Lennox Hastie – the visionary chef who spent years honing his signature style of cooking with fire in the Basque country at Asador Extebarri – Firedoor celebrates how ingredients at their peak transform thanks to billows of smoke, burning wood and a lick from the open flame.

Why we love it: This is real culinary wizardry, and a coveted spot at the chef’s counter is the best place to watch the magic happen. We’re like moths to the flame at this fire-powered restaurant serving one of Sydney’s most famous steaks.

Time Out tip: Firedoor offers venue hire, so if you’re planning a swish work event or celebration – this is the ticket.

Address: 23/33 Mary Street, Surry Hills 2010

Expect to pay: Lunch set menu $145, four-course steak set menu $195, chef’s six-course dinner menu $225, wine pairings $145

What is it? Like Egypt’s soaring pyramids and Miley Cyrus’s ‘Flowers’, the Gilda is a masterpiece. Consisting of a vinegary guindilla pepper, a plump briny olive and salty anchovy all held together on a tiny stick, the best-known of all Spain’s pintxos is a flavour knock-out. At Gildas, Lennox Hastie’s second Sydney restaurant after can’t-get-a-booking Firedoor, the chefs add a sliver of cheek-sucking preserved lemon. The result, like we said, is a masterpiece. 

Why we love it: Couple the above with a handsome dining room, on-point service and other stellar plates, and we reckon Gildas is a triumph. If you've got a hot date coming up, make a booking here.

Time Out tip: Looking for a fun fact to impress your foodie friends? Here you go: the Gilda was a snack first created in San Sebastian in 1946, around the time of the release of the film Gilda, starring American bombshell Rita Hayworth (as a character named Gilda).

Address: 46-48 Albion Street, Surry Hills 2010

Expect to pay: $65-$128 for your choice of Basque sharing menu, tapa-style snacks $6-$18, cured meats $26-$42, small plates $22-$28, mains $25-$58, cheese and desserts $17-$19, plus drinks

What is it? Nomad is one of Sydney’s pre-eminent contemporary dining experiences with a fire-driven focus, inspired by Spanish, Moroccan and Middle Eastern cuisine.

Why we love it: What Nomad may lack in intimacy, with its cavernous spaces and industrial-chic-cum-Nordic fitout, it certainly makes up for in warmth: by way of food from the heart, friendly service and enough garlicky aromas to take any first date to a next-level relationship. Nomad has been flourishing for more than a decade, and we're excited for the next decade.

Time Out tip: The bold and extensive wine list has always been geared toward the minimal intervention side of things, but a clever balance of more New World numbers means there's something for your wacky friend just as much as there is for your parents if they fancy a crisp savvy b. 

Address: 16 Foster Street, Surry Hills 2010

Expect to pay: ‘Express’, ‘feast’ or ‘experience’ share-style menus range from $90-$150 a head, mezze lunches available from Wednesday to Saturday for $60 a head, or you can order from the a la carte menu

What is it? A beloved pigeonhole restaurant with more than 80 dishes listed on its A3 laminated menus, all which have been keeping flavour fossickers on their toes for decades. Although co-owner and head chef Sujet Saenkham has been in Sydney since 1985, it wasn’t until 2004 that he felt the city was ready for his authentic brand of Thai cooking, taken from the recipes his mother would make on their farm in Ratchaburi, south west of Bangkok. 

Why we love it: Omelette in a sour Thai soup does not sound like it should work, but, goddamn, if it isn’t a delicious revelation. Young, tender cha-om leaves (climbing wattle) are densely packed inside a tangle of golden egg, chopped into bite-sized pieces and submerged in a sour soup with a company of fat prawns. It’s richer than a tom yum, feistier than a tom kha gai and perfectly balanced – you won’t find this on suburban Thai menus.

Time Out tip: For something that’s both rich and so light it might levitate, order the Phuket-style ho mok (number 68). It’s a steamed parcel of condensed curry flavours delivered via a fluffy, savoury fish custard. Forget sharing and get two.

Address: 90 Wentworth Avenue, Surry Hills NSW 2010

Expect to pay: Snacks around $10, soups $20-$30, most stir-fries and curries $27-$32, plus steamed rice ($5) and a drink

What is it? This Surry Hills local is a sprawling pizza party, where primo Italian food meets punters painting the town red.

Why we love it: The Dolphin now has a dedicated in-house pizza kitchen. It boasts a handmade Neapolitan Mesiano wood oven, a dough recipe made of three types of Italy-imported flours, and the masterful hands of head pizzaiola Sasha Smiljanic, who previously led the kitchen at popular Newtown pizzeria Bella Brutta. 

Time Out tip: We love a flamboyant pizza, but take it from us: when the dough’s this good, a simple marinara or margherita suffices. 

Address: 412 Crown Street, Surry Hills 2010

Expect to pay: Snacks and share plates $8-$24, mains $25-$48, pizza $19-$32, burgers around $24, sides $12-$14, desserts $8-$20, plus drinks

What is it? If you think Middle Eastern cuisine is all hummus, falafel and kebab, you’re going to need a lie-down and a cool compress by the time this pastel-hued sensory wonderland is done with you.

Why we love it: Whether it's charred and juicy cabbage skewers dressed in a harissa emulsion or a riff on lamb tartare livened by fermented mushrooms, roasted chilli and preserved lime – Nour paints an incredibly detail-oriented picture of modern Middle Eastern cuisine that's about as refined as it gets. 

Time Out tip: Love a bottomless lunch? Nour’s offers 90 minutes of bottomless booze every weekday alongside a set menu of hits at $119 a head.

Address: 3/490 Crown Street, Surry Hills 2010

Expect to pay: Lunch banquet $59, signature banquet $129, festive menu $139, desserts $9-$22, or you can order select dishes from the a la carte menu

What is it? We first fell in love with Elvis Abrahanowicz and Ben Milgate back at Bodega, where they married Spanish tapas and rockabilly sensibility, forever changing Sydney’s dining scene. They one-upped themselves with Porteño, an Argentinian grill that threw down the gauntlet for carnivorous thrills in this city. 

Why we love it: Now in its second life, down on Holt Street, the restaurant remains a knockout – as much for malbec, rib-eye, sirloin and Wagyu skirt as for wood-fired vegetables and desserts drenched in dulce de leche.

Time Out tip: Hit the reset button on your belly with a glass of Montenegro over ice with a squeeze of fresh orange. It’s bitter and cleansing without being abrasive. 

Address: 50 Holt Street, Surry Hills 2010

Expect to pay: Chef’s selection menu $140, grand banquet $190 or instead take a look at the restaurant’s sample a la carte

What is it? With its hypercolour walls in earthy vermillion hues, green amaro bottles and an open kitchen that dominates the space, Bastardo’s dining room is a step back in time. Either to a coastal Italian villa in the 1960s or, perhaps, to Commonwealth Street in the early noughties, when Milgate, Abrahanowicz and Valore first swung open the doors to Bodega. This Sicilian, Argentinian and Italian love letter is all heart, and all Surry Hills.

Why we love it: You’ll find plenty of flavours that the palate recognises, but assembled in ways that are pleasingly surprising. Take, for instance, the sweet corn agnolotti; oblong pillows of egg pasta, stuffed to the brim with pureed kernels and doused in a burnt butter sage sauce with capers. Flavours we recognise, for sure, but crafted in a way that keeps you on your toes.

Time Out tip: While the ‘secondi’ part of the menu is lovely, we recommend spending your time well at the shareable 'primi' offering – a far more extensive and expressive menu.

Address: 50 Holt Street, Surry Hills 2010

Expect to pay: Set menu for $85, antipasti $18-$34, ‘primi’ $28-$34, pasta dishes $30-$44, ‘secondi’ $38-$44, salads $16-$18, desserts $8-$16, plus drinks

What is it? A sophisticated date night spot in the heart of Surry Hills, where you can enjoy a glass of wine and a snack before a film or settle in for a cosy dinner date night.

Why we love it: The jury is still out as to whether Poly is a wine bar or a restaurant, but the fact that it’s close to impossible to come here without succumbing to the temptations of the menu and ordering half of it pretty much confirms you can (and should) use it as the latter. Start small, with unforgettable anchovy toast or the signature fried potato sauced in salted egg, but don’t hesitate to splurge on a magnum of something funky and a barbecue snapper with native spices and brown butter.

Time Out tip: Most of the menu is available in half portions so it’s a great place to dine solo.

Address: 74-76 Commonwealth Street, Surry Hills 2010

Expect to pay: Set menu $95, snacks and starters $8-$26, veggie dishes and salads $16-$34, seafood and meats $28-$110, desserts $18-$22

What is it? This Japanese-style bar-restaurant in Surry Hills is from an ex-Bodega chef, and dishes up excellent sushi, sashimi and all your Japanese comfort food favourites.

Why we love it: Some might argue that izakayas are places where great food plays second fiddle to bending the elbow, but that’s not the case at Fujiyama. Yes, the stockpile of sake and other fine things to drink is very good, but the eats – be they expertly sliced pieces of sashimi, favourites like chicken gyoza and miso eggplant, or something from the list of specials – are outstanding. It’s stood the test of time in this competitive ’hood, and if the crowds are any indication, it’s not going anywhere.

Time Out tip: How about a happy hour? From Monday to Thursday between 6-7pm, you can get $8 glasses of sake, wine and bubbles.

Address: 38-52 Waterloo Street, Surry Hills 2010

Expect to pay: Snacks and sushi $7-$16, cold dishes $11-$28, hot dishes $18-$28, grilled meats $48-$62, desserts $11-$17, plus drinks

What is it? Chin Chin may no longer be the new hot thing on the scene, but when you’re after flavour-packed Southeast Asian food and a fun time, this Surry Hills joint is still a strong contender.

Why we love it: It’s the finely tuned combination of style, spice, booze and price that means yacht parties share tables with business lunches and crews of early-adopters. The restaurant is fast-paced and at times frantic, so it’s not the place to go if you’re looking for a low-key spot. Though, the fact that this stalwart still heaves proves that for the right occasion, Chin Chin still slaps. It’s where everyone wants to be eating, so we give humble thanks that at least you can book for lunch.

Time Out tip: Fire up the group chat and make a booking for Chin Chin’s weekend boozy lunch series – a table full of Chin Chin classics and new faves at $89 a head.

Address: ​​69 Commonwealth Street, Surry Hills NSW 2010

Expect to pay: Set menus from $77-$115, share-style starters around $25-$35, most curries and mains $35-$47, sides $8-$19, plus drinks

What is it? Owned by the same company behind the world-famous Ipuddo ramen chain, Gogyo takes it to the next level with signature charred miso ramen, plus a wider selection of Japanese dishes.

Why we love it: Gogyo's kogashi (read: burnt AF) ramen is one of Sydney's must-try dishes, full stop. Yet to focus on the merits of this trademark charred miso and chicken stock number alone would be a crime, because the classic tonkotsu, shoyu and shio broths are all standouts as well. Throw in a handful of inspired snacks like guacamole with gyoza skin and seared salmon sushi, and it becomes clear this ain't just another ramen shop.

Time Out tip: While you’re coming for the ramen, this is also the sort of place you could easily pop in for a half-and-half Asahi (that’s a mix of Asahi dry and black) or a glass of on-the-up Japanese white wine, and sit up at the bar and work your way through the snacks.

Address: 52-54 Albion Street, Surry Hills 2010

Expect to pay: Ramen around $24-$33, plus a drink or two

What is it? A Bourke Street pizzeria and adherent to a less-is-more mantra, which earned rave reviews in Bronte before opening this second outlet in 2012. 

Why we love it: The crisp, thin bases are very legit and they fly in the buffalo mozzarella fresh from Naples, which is a pretty good indication that sourcing ingredients here is serious business. 

Time Out tip: A seat out on the sidewalk makes for primo people-watching, and there's the added bonus of it being BYO ($14 per bottle corkage).

Address: 414 Bourke Street, Surry Hills 2010

Expect to pay: Antipasti (inc. focaccia and mozzarella) $9-$25, primi $28-$31, salads $12-$22, pizza $25-$30 (kids’ menu is also available), $5.50 per scoop of gelato, other desserts $13-$22

What is it? Emilia is a refuge for Italian pasta purists – enter, and you’ll feel like you’ve stumbled upon a rustic local treasure in the backstreets of Parma or Bologna. 

Why we love it:All the pastas are made in-house with the use of local, certified organic and/or biodynamic ingredients, and whether it's a simple spag with aglio, olio e peperoncino, or duck and truffle tortelli coated in butter and herbs, the quality of those ingredients is what really shines.   

Time Out tip: When you’re through with your meal, buy some pasta to make at home.

Address: 259 Riley Street, Surry Hills 2010

Expect to pay: Antipasti $5-$38, pasta dishes $30-$44, sides $14-$18, degustation set menu $60 per person, plus drinks

What is it? Famously running several outlets around Melbourne, DOC has become a go-to for authentic Italian cuisine, heroing high-quality produce, superb antipasti, and a fast, no-fuss vibe. Now, Sydney’s pizza seekers can also join the DOC fan club, as its first store in NSW is open for business in Surry Hills.

Why we love it: The pizzas are thin and charred with a wood-fired base (mostly wholemeal and some white). Like in Sicilia, they are minimally topped, allowing the four-day slow-rise process of the crust to shine through. Try the classic margarita: the base is crisp yet substantial enough to balance out the sweetness of the San Marzano tomatoes, while the DOP buffalo mozzarella is creamy and stretchy, and the basil leaves punchy without being overpowering. 

Time Out tip: Rather curl up on the couch and watch a movie with your pizza at home? Good news: DOC does takeaway. 

Address: 78 Campbell Street, Surry Hills 2010

Expect to pay: Antipasti (incl. mozzarella, salumi and bruschetta) $10-$30, salads $18-$22, lasagna around $32, pizza $25-$35, desserts $16-$20, plus drinks

What is it? Spaghetti and Spritzes: are there any two things more possibly in tune with eating and drinking in this day and age? Well yes, yes there are: vegetarian and vegan cooking, menu puns, restaurant interiors and bright blue noodles perfectly suited to social media, and alcohol-free drinks that might just be better than the hard stuff. Mark and Vinny’s offers them all, under one roof, but know that if you’re just after antipasti, lasagne and tiramisù, Mark and and Vinny’s has them, too. 

Why we love it: Mark and Vinny’s offers up something totally different to the traditional trattoria Sydney knows and loves. Overall there’s something old, something new, something borrowed and something blue – and it works. 

Time Out tip: If you are hankering for some meat, the traditional amatriciana is the way to go. Long frilly tentacles of mafalda pasta hold the just-sweet, umami tomato sugo perfectly, while hunks of prosciutto give it a smoked meaty edge.

Address: G07/38-52 Waterloo Street, Surry Hills 2010

Expect to pay: Starters $12-$20, salads $19-$20, desserts $16-$17, spaghetti $36-$42, pizza $28-$34