The Sydney Morning Herald Good Food Guide 2027: Full List of Hats (NSW)

A hotel dining room inside Crown Sydney that trades neighborhood character for group-friendly private dining and harborfront convenience. Book this for milestone gatherings of six or more when you need managed logistics and a special-occasion setting without the three-week lead time of nearby omakase counters. Solo diners and couples will find more personality elsewhere in Barangaroo.

AALIA at 25 Martin Place is Sydney's most considered Middle Eastern restaurant in the CBD, built around an open fire grill using Blue Mountains ironbark and a menu researched from 10th-century Arabic cookbooks. Under Chef Paul Farag, it sits well above the generic category. Book it for a special occasion or a serious weekday dinner: it is easier to secure than its quality warrants.

Aenza received one hat in The Sydney Morning Herald Good Food Guide 2027: Full List of Hats (NSW).

Allta holds a quiet corner of Surry Hills with Tuesday-through-Saturday service and a conversational rather than kinetic atmosphere. makes direct comparison difficult, but the Reservoir Street address offers proximity to Crown Street's energy without the noise. Worth considering if you prioritize a lower-decibel room over publicized awards or chef pedigree.

Amuro received one hat in The Sydney Morning Herald Good Food Guide 2027: Full List of Hats (NSW).

Ante is worth choosing when food matters as much as sake. The Newtown bar’s Japanese-leaning small plates, vinyl-led room and casual format make it a strong dinner-adjacent pick for two to four people, especially if the table wants to explore sake without committing to a formal restaurant night.

Arthur received one hat in The Sydney Morning Herald Good Food Guide 2027: Full List of Hats (NSW).

Ashe works when the brief is South-East Asian cooking with a grill focus, especially for diners who want Vietnamese, Thai, and Malaysian references in one Sydney meal. It is less suited to diners who need published pricing, named signatures, awards, or a formal tasting-menu structure before committing.

Attenzione! Food & Wine in Redfern has earned Star Wine List recognition two years running, 2025 and 2026, making it one of Sydney's more wine-serious venues in a deliberately casual format. Book it if the list is your priority; skip it if you want a grand room or cuisine-first experience. Booking is easy, which is a practical bonus in a competitive city.

Avia received one hat in The Sydney Morning Herald Good Food Guide 2027: Full List of Hats (NSW).

Baba’s Place is worth booking for a $$ Marrickville dinner when the goal is shareable multicultural Sydney food, natural wine or cocktails, and a cosy warehouse room with a casual sense of occasion. Go for dinner over lunch if drinks and atmosphere matter; choose elsewhere if you need private dining, outdoor seating, or a formal chef-led tasting-menu night.

Bangalay Dining received one hat in The Sydney Morning Herald Good Food Guide 2027: Full List of Hats (NSW).

Beach Byron Bay is worth booking when the occasion calls for a coastal Byron Bay setting with enough polish for a date, birthday, or visiting-guest meal. Star Wine List recognition in 2026 gives the drinks program credibility; choose Raes Dining Room for a more dining-led splurge or Azure Bar and Grill for a resort-style alternative.

Berowra Waters Inn is worth booking for a special-occasion Modern Australian degustation where the riverside setting and Glenn Murcutt-designed room are part of the value. At $200 per person, it makes sense for lunch or dinner built around the experience, not for a quick or casual meal. Smart casual dress and advance planning are the right move.

Besa works for a casual Spanish / tapas meal in Bondi Beach, especially when the group wants shared plates rather than a formal tasting-menu format. Treat it as an easy dinner option, not a view-led destination, and verify outdoor seating before making that the reason to go.

Bessie's is a practical Surry Hills pick when the night is wine-led and flexible rather than built around a known chef or fixed menu. Star Wine List recognition gives it a clear reason to book, while easy reservation difficulty makes it useful for dates, small celebrations, and late-week plans that do not need heavy advance planning.

Bistro George received one hat in The Sydney Morning Herald Good Food Guide 2027: Full List of Hats (NSW).

Bistro Penny received one hat in The Sydney Morning Herald Good Food Guide 2027: Full List of Hats (NSW).

By Sang is a practical Zetland option for an easy Sydney meal, especially if Green Square convenience matters more than a destination dining brief. Go for lunch or a relaxed dinner nearby; skip it if the priority is a documented cocktail program, named chef, awards, or signature dishes.

Cafe Paci is worth booking for a wine-led Newtown dinner, especially with Star Wine List recognition in 2026 giving it a clearer edge than a standard neighbourhood table. It is a stronger fit for two to four diners than a loose large-group plan, and better for people who care about the drinks program than those chasing a casual fallback.

Canvas received one hat in The Sydney Morning Herald Good Food Guide 2027: Full List of Hats (NSW).

Catalina has kept a waterfront table in Rose Bay since 1994, and the McMahon family's long-running operation shows in the service consistency and a 3-Star World of Fine Wine & Living Accreditation that few Sydney venues match. Book it for anniversary dinners, client lunches, or any occasion where a serious wine list and harbour views need to work together. Reservations are easy to secure with a week's notice for weekdays.

Cho Cho San is a well-regarded Japanese-influenced restaurant on Macleay Street in Potts Point, best suited to dates and special occasions. The room is low-lit and considered, the menu moves through small plates in a natural progression, and booking is easier than most comparable Sydney options. Go if you want an occasion dinner without the pressure of a hard-to-get reservation.

Civico 47 is a modern Italian restaurant at 47 Windsor Street in Paddington, Sydney. Executive chef Matteo Zamboni centres the cooking on seasonal produce and handmade pasta, with a front-room bar, outdoor tables and semi-private dining by request.

Continental Deli Bar Bistro on Australia St in Newtown is worth booking if you want a by-the-glass wine program that goes beyond the standard neighbourhood bistro offering. The room is warm and low-key, booking is easy, and it suits two to four people looking for a relaxed evening with considered wine. A solid regular's choice in the inner-west.

Cricca received one hat in The Sydney Morning Herald Good Food Guide 2027: Full List of Hats (NSW).

A lively Rushcutters Bay trattoria from Orazio D’Elia, this is worth booking for Italian breadth rather than pizza. Go with a group, order across pasta, seafood and wood-fired mains, and let the seasonal specials shape repeat visits.

Eleven Barrack received 2 hats in The Sydney Morning Herald Good Food Guide 2027: Full List of Hats (NSW).

Ester is the right booking for food-focused visitors who want to eat modern Australian cooking at its most ingredient-honest. The wood-fire kitchen in Chippendale earned a spot on the Tatler Best Restaurants Asia-Pacific 2025 list, and the seasonal menu means timing your visit matters. Easier to book than its prestige peers, and more personally scaled than Sydney's bigger dining rooms.

EXP. restaurant is the Hunter Valley pick when the wine program is central to the night. Star Wine List recognition for 2026 gives it a clearer drinks-led reason to book than more casual nearby options, especially for a date, celebration, or business dinner in Pokolbin.

Farmhouse Kings Cross received one hat in The Sydney Morning Herald Good Food Guide 2027: Full List of Hats (NSW).

Firepop is a practical Enmore pick when the night is wine-led and casual rather than built around a formal meal. Go early on Thursday or Friday if conversation matters; choose a more established restaurant-bar if cuisine, seating format, or a full dinner brief is the priority.

Frida’s Field received one hat in The Sydney Morning Herald Good Food Guide 2027: Full List of Hats (NSW).

Garaku received 2 hats in The Sydney Morning Herald Good Food Guide 2027: Full List of Hats (NSW).

Grill Americano Sydney is worth booking when the brief calls for a polished CBD Italian steakhouse with a lively, theatrical room. The spend makes sense for long lunches, business dinners, date nights, and celebrations, especially if the table plans to share seafood, pasta, bistecca, wine, and dessert rather than order lightly.

Haco received one hat in The Sydney Morning Herald Good Food Guide 2027: Full List of Hats (NSW).

Hey Rosey received one hat in The Sydney Morning Herald Good Food Guide 2027: Full List of Hats (NSW).

Book Ho Jiak Town Hall - Junda's Playground when the priority is an easy, central Sydney CBD meal with lively energy rather than a formal special-occasion dinner. It makes the most sense for lunch, early dinner, or a casual group plan near Town Hall and the QVB.

Itō Restaurant is worth booking for a polished Surry Hills night built around Japanese-Italian share plates, sake, cocktails, and a bright modern izakaya room. It works especially well for date nights, after-work dinners, and groups that want flexible ordering rather than a formal tasting format.

Jane received one hat in The Sydney Morning Herald Good Food Guide 2027: Full List of Hats (NSW).

Joe's Tavern is a flexible Newtown option rather than a destination booking. With no confirmed cuisine, price, hours, or menu details, it suits low-stakes local plans better than special occasions, dietary-sensitive dinners, or late-night itineraries that need certainty.

Kindred received one hat in The Sydney Morning Herald Good Food Guide 2027: Full List of Hats (NSW).

Book King Clarence for a lively Sydney CBD meal where the à la carte format lets the table build its own progression across Chinese, Korean and Japanese influences. It suits dinner with energy more than hushed conversation, though lunch is the smarter move for business meals or a tighter schedule.

Kisuke received one hat in The Sydney Morning Herald Good Food Guide 2027: Full List of Hats (NSW).

Book Lee Ho Fook for a polished Sydney CBD dinner built around modern Chinese cooking, Australian produce and a heritage warehouse room. Dinner is the stronger special-occasion play; lunch works better for a lower-pressure city meal. The tea pairing, private dining rooms and Melbourne two-hat pedigree give it more decision value than a standard upscale Chinese booking.

Loulou Bistro Milsons Point received one hat in The Sydney Morning Herald Good Food Guide 2027: Full List of Hats (NSW).

LuMi Bar & Dining in Pyrmont earns its La Liste 2025 ranking with a tasting menu that fuses Italian structure and Japanese precision in an intimate waterfront setting. and recognised with a Star Wine List White Star, it is one of Sydney's most coherent fine dining formats. Book the tasting menu; the bar works well for solo visits.

MAIZ Mexican is a sensible Newtown pick when the goal is a relaxed, flavour-led dinner without much booking friction. Choose it for casual groups, pre-show plans, or a flexible weeknight meal; cross-shop Hecho en Mexico Newtown for the closest category alternative and Osteria di Russo & Russo for a more occasion-focused Sydney dinner.

Neil Perry's Margaret in Double Bay holds No. 2 on the World's 101 Best Steak Restaurants 2026 list, and it earns the position through coherence rather than spectacle. Dry-aged beef over a wood-fired grill anchors the menu, but the seafood programme operates at the same level. Book it for a serious dinner where Australian provenance is the point.

MATKIM works when you need a central Sydney dinner option with useful evening hours, especially around the Circular Quay end of the CBD. Treat it as a convenience-led booking rather than a trophy meal: if you want clearer hotel polish, compare Mode Kitchen & Bar; if wine-led sharing matters more, look at Tapavino.

Megalong is worth booking for an adult celebration where the farm setting, views, and set-menu structure are central to the value. Go for lunch first if seeing the gardens and escarpment matters; return for dinner when the occasion calls for a quieter, more formal rural meal.

Meribella received one hat in The Sydney Morning Herald Good Food Guide 2027: Full List of Hats (NSW).

Mister Grotto works when the plan calls for Italian in Newtown without a formal, high-pressure booking. Treat it as a practical local dinner pick rather than an awards-led destination, especially for repeat visits, casual catch-ups, or groups that want Italian as the easy common denominator.

Mu Omakase received one hat in The Sydney Morning Herald Good Food Guide 2027: Full List of Hats (NSW).

Neptune's Grotto is a practical Sydney CBD pick when flexibility matters more than a defined chef, cuisine, or tasting-menu identity. Use it for an easy central lunch or dinner plan, but confirm current menu and spend before choosing it for a special occasion.

Norma received one hat in The Age Good Food Guide 2027: Full List of Hats (Victoria).

Book NOUR if you want an easy Surry Hills dinner that feels planned without demanding a high-effort reservation strategy. Wine-focused diners should treat the list as a question to check before committing, since the stronger case here is location, usability, and occasion flexibility rather than verified cellar depth or awards.

Omakase by Prefecture 48 received 2 hats in The Sydney Morning Herald Good Food Guide 2027: Full List of Hats (NSW).

Osteria Mucca is a practical Italian pick in Newtown when the brief is a relaxed local dinner rather than a trophy booking.

Otto Sydney holds a Star Wine List White Star listing (2026), which puts its wine programme well above what the relaxed waterfront setting implies. Book here for special occasions where atmosphere matters and formality does not: the Woolloomooloo Wharf room handles groups well, booking is straightforward, and the wine list rewards anyone who arrives with a bottle in mind.

Paper Daisy received one hat in The Sydney Morning Herald Good Food Guide 2027: Full List of Hats (NSW).

Paski Sopra received one hat in The Sydney Morning Herald Good Food Guide 2027: Full List of Hats (NSW).

Pellegrino 2000 is a strong Surry Hills choice for a date, small celebration, or lively dinner where atmosphere is part of the reason to go. It is a weaker fit for large groups that need privacy, quiet pacing, or detailed menu certainty in advance.

Pilot Restaurant and That Other Place is a good Canberra choice for a considered lunch or dinner when the group is comfortable booking without a clearly published cuisine or price signal. It is less useful for breakfast or diners who want a defined category upfront; compare Akiba, Amara Indian Restaurant, The East Kitchen, Moowingsteak, or Flui if clarity matters more.

Pilu at Freshwater is worth booking when you want a calmer Northern Beaches meal where the setting carries real weight. First-timers should lean lunch rather than dinner, especially if the Freshwater location is part of the draw. It is easier to book than many Sydney occasion restaurants, so it works well for planned but low-stress meals.

Book Pizza'Mare when you want casual pizza-led Italian in Barangaroo without the formality of Sydney's higher-commitment dining rooms. It is a practical first-timer choice for lunch or dinner when the group is aligned on Italian, but choose Nobu, Woodcut, Golden Century, Epicurean, or Oncore by Clare Smyth if the brief calls for a bigger-format occasion.

Poly is the wine-bar sibling of Ester, one of inner Sydney's most respected kitchens, making it the most food-serious mid-tier drinking option on Commonwealth Street. The natural wine list rewards explorers willing to spend $90–$140 per round for two. Book a few days ahead for weekends; walk-ins work earlier in the week.

Porteño is Surry Hills' most convincing Argentine kitchen: open-fire asado with dry-aged Australian Wagyu and Black Angus, a deep Argentine wine list, and service that's genuinely warm rather than performatively polished. Book for Friday or Saturday evening if you want the full room energy, and come ready to share cuts and spend time at the table.

Printhie Dining received one hat in The Sydney Morning Herald Good Food Guide 2027: Full List of Hats (NSW).

Raes Dining Room is worth booking when the brief is a polished Byron Bay meal with a calmer, more occasion-ready feel. It is not the practical pick for a casual group feed; use it for a couple, visiting family or a return visit where seasonal produce and setting matter more than menu certainty.

Rebel Rebel received one hat in The Sydney Morning Herald Good Food Guide 2027: Full List of Hats (NSW).

Book Restaurant Ka if you want a focused Darlinghurst dinner and do not need a published tasting-menu price, award signal, or confirmed wine-pairing format before choosing. Wine-led diners should cross-shop Claret Club first; casual Italian seekers may find Vin-Cenzo's easier to assess from its clearer positioning.

Restaurant Santino received one hat in The Sydney Morning Herald Good Food Guide 2027: Full List of Hats (NSW).

Rockpool Bar & Grill is Sydney's most credentialed steak restaurant: La Liste Top Restaurants 2025 (77.5pts), a place on the World's 101 Best Steak Restaurants list. Book four to six weeks out for peak slots. The art deco room on Hunter Street sets the occasion; the wood-fired grill and dry-aged beef program deliver on it.

Sala received one hat in The Sydney Morning Herald Good Food Guide 2027: Full List of Hats (NSW).

Sean's on Campbell Parade is the North Bondi restaurant that earns its reputation through consistency rather than hype. The room is relaxed, the kitchen is ingredient-focused, and booking is straightforward: a week or two ahead covers most nights. If you want considered cooking without formality in Bondi, this is the clearest choice.

Sinclair’s received one hat in The Sydney Morning Herald Good Food Guide 2027: Full List of Hats (NSW).

Sixpenny is one of Sydney's most considered fine dining choices for a special occasion: 34 seats, one sitting per night, and La Liste Top Restaurants recognition in both 2025 and 2026. Chef Daniel Puskas runs a set menu format in a relaxed Stanmore room that punches well above its neighbourhood setting. Book several weeks ahead; walk-ins are not realistic.

South End is a smart pick for a relaxed Newtown bistro meal when wine, seasonal à la carte cooking, and a small adult-leaning room are the priority. It is better for dates and small groups than children, private dining, or allergy-sensitive meals, and the easy booking profile makes it useful for a polished but low-friction lunch or dinner.

Spice Temple is a practical Sydney CBD pick when the group wants a polished dinner and a wine program with a 2026 Star Wine List nod. It is easier to justify for planned group meals, client dinners, or occasion nights than for a quick solo meal; cross-shop Rockpool for Australian cuisine or Suminoya for a more casual group format.

Stanley is a strong Manly Wharf pick when the brief is Cantonese food, water views, and enough space for a social meal rather than a small-room dining experience. Return for the yum cha lunch menu, seafood-led cooking, or tableside Peking duck service; the scale works especially well when the booking needs room to breathe.

Stonefruit is a practical Tenterfield pick when the round should be wine-led rather than just convenient. The Star Wine List 2026 recognition gives it a clearer reason to book than a generic café-bar stop, though the lack of published price and menu detail means it works better for relaxed drinks than a highly planned occasion.

Such and Such is worth booking for a flexible Canberra City meal that can shift from snacks and drinks to a polished Modern Australian dinner. The strongest reasons to go are the 500+ bottle list, theatre-friendly format, smart-casual room, and menu range that works for groups, celebrations, and after-work plans.

Sushi Oe is worth booking for diners who want a tightly controlled, high-focus omakase counter in Glebe’s Sydney Fish Market precinct. The $$$$ price makes sense if technique, pacing, and chef proximity matter; skip it for groups, casual sushi, or anyone who needs à la carte flexibility.

Taste of Shunde received one hat in The Sydney Morning Herald Good Food Guide 2027: Full List of Hats (NSW).

Tera Bar is worth booking for a small Sydney group that wants Japanese wine, sake, and considered snacks in a relaxed Surry Hills setting. The downstairs bar is the flexible move; the upstairs Teramoto omakase is the deeper commitment. It is better for dates and curious drinkers than for loud larger groups.

The Charles Grand Brasserie & Bar received one hat in The Sydney Morning Herald Good Food Guide 2027: Full List of Hats (NSW).

Book The Dry Dock when the brief is a lively Balmain pub meal with a serious drinks program and bistro-grill cooking. It is good value at $$ for drinks, snacks, or a full dinner, but the loud upstairs room makes it a weaker choice for quiet occasions.

Book The Palomar Sydney for a lively, share-friendly meal built around Southern European, North African and Levantine cooking. It suits repeat diners who want range rather than a single trophy order, especially when the group has mixed appetites and wants a flexible seasonal table.

The Schoolhouse Restaurant received one hat in The Sydney Morning Herald Good Food Guide 2027: Full List of Hats (NSW).

Tida Persian Food received one hat in The Sydney Morning Herald Good Food Guide 2027: Full List of Hats (NSW).

Tintino received one hat in The Sydney Morning Herald Good Food Guide 2027: Full List of Hats (NSW).

Viand received one hat in The Sydney Morning Herald Good Food Guide 2027: Full List of Hats (NSW).

Vineria Luisa received one hat in The Sydney Morning Herald Good Food Guide 2027: Full List of Hats (NSW).

Wai’s Omakase received one hat in The Sydney Morning Herald Good Food Guide 2027: Full List of Hats (NSW).

Watermans is the right Barangaroo booking when you want harbour views, smart-casual polish, and Eastern Mediterranean share plates built around wood-fired cooking. It is strongest for groups, long lunches, date nights, and celebrations where the table can order broadly rather than rush through individual mains.

White Horse received one hat in The Sydney Morning Herald Good Food Guide 2027: Full List of Hats (NSW).

Woodcut is a strong Barangaroo choice when the brief is a polished group dinner, special occasion, or wine-led meal inside Crown Sydney. It is easier to recommend for ambience and flexibility than for a narrow destination-dining brief; cross-shop Oncore by Clare Smyth for a more formal splurge or Golden Century for a classic Sydney group meal.

Yan received one hat in The Sydney Morning Herald Good Food Guide 2027: Full List of Hats (NSW).

Book Zin Food & Wine House for a relaxed Mudgee winery lunch where farm produce, shared plates, and Lowe wines are the point. It is better for celebrations, couples, families, and wine-weekend groups than for takeout-style eating or private business dining. The One Hat history adds confidence, but the real fit is guests who like communal, produce-led meals.