Sydney - Restaurants

Restaurants
Expensive

Catalina Rose Bay
Catalina Rose Bay is a must for lovers of seafood and ocean views - every year, the Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race begins under the very noses of its patrons. Japanese and Spanish influences alternate over a range of fish and shellfish creations that melt in the mouth, such as crpinette of crab and snapper and sea scallops with smoked quail. Closed Sunday night.

1 Sunderland Avenue, Rose Bay
Tel: (02) 9371 0555.
Website: www.catalinarosebay.com.au

Flying Fish
The venue, in a restored wharf facing the harbour, is definitely one of the slickest in town. Fortunately, the menu doesn't disappoint either. Head Chef Peter Kuruvita presents an ever-changing menu inspired by fresh seasonal produce and daily seafood selections; Humpty Doo barramundi and Sri Lankan king prawn curry are just two examples. As with any self-respecting seafood joint, there's a raw bar with oysters opened to order.

Jones Bay Wharf
Tel: (02) 9518 6677.
Website: www.flyingfish.com.au

Guillaume at Bennelong
The only Sydney restaurant that is also a world architectural icon, Guillaume at Bennelong is the smallest of the three soaring structures making up the opera house. Under the direction of Guillaume Brahini, a three-Michelin-starred chef, the restaurant's menu embraces local produce cooked with French techniques. The chef's signature dish is the mouth-watering basil-infused tuna with mustard seed vinaigrette. Booking well ahead is essential. Closed Sunday.

Sydney Opera House, Bennelong Point
Tel: (02) 9241 1999.
Website: www.guillaumeatbennelong.com.au

Quay
Located in the Overseas Passenger Terminal, a meal at Quay is as much about the location as it is about Peter Gilmore's food - particularly if you're fortunate enough to get a table in the Tower section, which has 320 degree harbour views. The innovative dishes include mud-crab-stuffed zucchini flower, poached quail with truffle custard and a heavenly five-textured Valrhona chocolate cake.

Overseas Passenger Terminal, West Circular Quay
Tel: (02) 9251 5600.
Website: www.quay.com.au

Tetsuya's
Tetsuya Wakuda's is one of Australia's most renowned chefs and his 12-course dgustation menu is one of Sydney's most celebrated culinary experiences. The Japanese and French inspired set menu consists of numerous small dishes, including the now famous confit of Tasmanian ocean trout with ocean trout roe, as well as lobster ravioli with seaweed vinaigrette. Advanced bookings are essential. Closed Sunday and Monday.

529 Kent Street
Tel: (02) 9267 2900.
Website: www.tetsuyas.com

Aria
If you really want to seal the deal then take your business associates to Aria, the jewel in Sydney's fine-dining crown. Situated on the edge of the harbour, this intimate restaurant dishes up an innovative and contemporary menu that has the critics raving.Fresh seasonal produce and unusual dishes such as duck and pea pie ensure that the punters are satisfied as well.

1 Macquarie Street, East Circular Quay
Tel: (02) 9252 2555.
Website: www.ariarestaurant.com

Bayswater Brasserie
More than one ex-prime minister has been spotted at this Kings Cross stalwart that has been keeping on top of Sydney's dining trends for over 20 years. The menu is traditional with a twist and highlights include the grilled sirloin with porcini butter and the blue swimmer crab lasagne. The cocktail bar is a popular spot for a pre- and post- dinner drinks.

32 Bayswater Road, Kings Cross
Tel: (02) 9357 2177.
Website: www.bayswaterbrasserie.com.au

The Summit
Claiming to be the world's largest revolving restaurant, The Summit has 360 degree views of Sydney, retro-futuristic design based on the space station in the movie 2001: A Space Odyssey, and a good-times atmosphere. The menu is more than adequate, if a tad overpriced, with such dishes as grilled snapper fillet, venison loin baked in pastry and seafood risotto. A seafood buffet is available for Sunday lunch and dinner.
Level 47, 264 George Street
Tel: (02) 9247 9777.
Website: www.summitrestaurant.com.au

Sushi e
Set on the 4th floor of The Establishment complex, Sushi e is a world-class sushi bar ideal for both a quick business lunch and a long boozy dinner. Head chef Nobuyuki Ura and his team work in the centre of the white marble counter presenting a selection of sushi specialities such as soft shell crab rolls and wafer-thin snapper sashimi topped with a lime and sea salt dressing.

Level 4, 252 George Street
Tel: (02) 9240 3041.
Website: www.merivale.com

Longrain
Housed within a converted warehouse space, this Asian-style restaurant simply oozes cool. Long wooden dining tables, polished floorboards and a DJ make a meal at Longrain a unique Sydney dining experience. The menu is a blend of Thai and Southern Chinese influences with dishes such as softshell crab with a green mango salad and peanut curry of braised wagyu beef being particularly popular. Dinner bookings are not taken so arrival before 1930 is advised.

85 Commonwealth Street, Surry Hills
Tel: (02) 9280 2888.
Website: www.longrain.com

Bodhi
Positioned between the church and the swimming pool in Cook & Phillip Park is this Asian eatery that serves up tasty yum cha by day and mod-Asian by night. Set outside under a canopy of fig trees, it's a world away from the hustle and bustle of traditional Asian restaurants. The vegetarian menu features all the usual suspects in addition to a few signature dishes such as sweet Japanese pumpkin and fresh snowpeas.

2-4 College Street, Cook & Phillip Park
Tel: (02) 9360 2523.

Billy Kwong
Always busy, this restaurant owned by celebrity chef Kylie Kwong churns out delicious Chinese-inspired food of fantastic quality. The dishes are based on traditional Chinese recipes but Kwong adds her own contemporary twist that appeals to a hip, young audience. The signature dish of crispy-skin duck with plum sauce is out of this world but you won't go wrong whatever you choose from the menu.

3/255 Crown Street, Surry Hills
Tel: (02) 9332 3300.

North Bondi Italian
Positioned on the northern end of Bondi Beach is this bustling restaurant that's a favourite with locals and celebrities alike. Although it can get noisy at times, the laid-back atmosphere and excellent food make for a very enjoyable night out - especially if you manage to grab one of the tables outside. The modern Italian menu features dishes such as parmesan crumbed flathead and farfalle with braised game, porcini and peas.

118-120 Ramsgate Avenue, Bondi Beach
Tel: (02) 9300 4400.
Website: www.idrb.com

Oscillate Wildly
Oscillate Wildly offers a high-quality dining experience at absurdly cheap prices. Tucked away just off the boho bustle of King Street, Newtown, this tiny art deco dining room serves up modern Australian fare, such as wild barramundi with pancetta and red wine butter, and some of the best value desserts in town. The service is expert, even if the one waiter is rushed off his feet at times.

275 Australia Street, Newtown
Tel: (02) 9517 4700.

Seans Panaroma
Seans doesn't look like much from the outside but it's the beach cafe feeling that makes this place so special. This cosy restaurant is packed to the doors and the old photos and beach memorabilia make it seem more like a friend's beach shack than a restaurant. That said, the food is excellent. Wholesome and hearty, the modest menu features dishes such as King George whiting, organic chook and Greenham grass fed scotch steak. Open for dinner Wednesday to Saturday and lunch on Friday, Saturday and Sunday. Booking essential.

270 Campbell Parade, Bondi Beach
Tel: (02) 9365 4924.
Website: www.seanspanaroma.com.au

Arthur's Pizza
Nothing satiates the hunger after a day's shopping in the chi-chi boutiques of Paddington like a big traditional pizza or pasta at Arthur's Pizza. All the classics are served here, along with unusual combinations such as duck sausage with provolone and potato. If the place is full (and it often is) staff are prepared to come and fetch patrons from the pub next door when a table becomes free.

260 Oxford Street, Paddington
Tel: (02) 9332 2220.
Website: www.arthurspizza.com.au

BBQ King
Peking duck hangs in the window and it is Peking duck that attracts the crowds to the authentic if slightly tatty BBQ King on the northeastern border of Chinatown. Open until 0200, the menu includes a superb suckling pig and plenty of out-there Chinese delicacies. Frills are not to be expected, although a great meal can.

18-20 Goulburn Street
Tel: (02) 9267 2586.

Bill & Toni's
Old school charm and a no frills menu keep the punters coming back to this East Sydney institution. Generous portions of pasta, schnitzel and meatballs are served up in a dining room that looks like something out of Goodfellas. The downstairs cafe pours steaming cups of rocket fuel-strength coffee throughout the day.

72-74 Stanley Street, East Sydney
Tel: (02) 9360 4702.

Harry's Cafe de Wheels
Not a restaurant but a waterfront meat pie stand, Harry's has been serving the Aussie staple of pies with peas, mash and gravy to sailors, hoodlums and late-night party casualties since 1945. Consequently, it has become a tourist attraction and is decorated with photographs of famous visitors - including, oddly enough, Colonel Sanders. And the pies? Bloody good tucker, mate. Harry's is open until 0400 Friday and Saturday.

Cowper Wharf Road, Woolloomooloo
Tel: (02) 9357 3074.

Manna
Sometimes you want the vaunted Sydney cuisine without the Sydney attitude. That's when a trip down Parramatta Road to this cosy bistro is a welcome respite. This former corner shop has excellent staff whose laid-back welcome puts you in exactly the right mood for a quartet of lightly seared scallops topped with crunchy string chips followed by a classic prawn, garlic and chilli linguini. Closed Monday.

Station Street (Corner ofWest Street), Petersham
Tel: (02) 9568 4644.

Thai Pothong
King Street in Newtown seems to have more Thai restaurants than Bangkok but Thai Pothong still stands out as the biggest and the best for value. Standards such as chicken cashew nut and tom yung soup, are as good as they come, the service is swift and attentive, and there's the happy buzz of contented diners who know they're getting great food for very reasonable prices.

294 King Street, Newtown
Tel: (02) 9550 6277.
Website: www.thaipothong.com.au

Hotels
Luxury

BLUE
Arguably the most boldly conceived of the newer hotels in town, BLUE (formerly W Sydney), acquired by Taj Hotels in 2006, occupies the renovated interior of an old loading wharf, jutting out into the harbour at Woolloomooloo Bay. Retaining the original exterior and many of the interior beams, the refit is an ingenious exercise in industrial chic, which sees a vast central atrium occupied by a bar, cafe and massive, obsolete conveyor belts - once used for loading bales of wool. Rooms feature sophisticated modern styling, while business travellers are well catered for with oversize work desks, ISDN lines and two telephones.

6 Cowper Wharf Road, Woolloomooloo
Tel: (02) 9331 9000.
Website: www.tajhotels.com/Sydney

Park Hyatt
Occupying a unique position on the water's edge of Sydney's Harbour, the views from the Park Hyatt are unlike any other. There are a wide range of rooms to choose from all offering deluxe amenities including shoeshine, turndown, robes, gym access and 24-hour butler service. The hotel's restaurant, the Harbour Kitchen & Bar, offers incredible views of the harbour and opera house through floor-to-ceiling folding glass doors, and the Harbour Bar is well known for having some of the best panoramas in the city. The hotel also features a spa, fitness centre and fantastic rooftop swimming pool.

7 Hickson Road, The Rocks
Tel: (02) 9241 1234.
Website: www.sydney.park.hyatt.com

The Hilton
For business accommodation with an edge try the refurbished Hilton in the heart of the CBD. This chic hotel combines fashionable design with cutting-edge facilities and award-winning dining at the Michelin-starred Glass Brasserie. Spacious bedrooms feature contemporary dcor, flatscreen TVs, Wi-Fi access and even ergonomic chairs. There are 23 meeting and function rooms on offer (catering for 20 to over 1,000 people) and an efficient business centre that can arrange office rental, mobile phone hire and secretarial services. At the end of the day soak up the harbour views from the Executive Lounge or mingle with the fashionable folk in the Zeta Bar.

488 George Street
Tel: (02) 9266 2000.
Website: www.sydney.hilton.com

Hotel InterContinental
This deluxe 5-star hotel is housed within the restored Treasury Building - a heritage landmark in the heart of Sydney's business and government area, close to Circular Quay. Many of the rooms have harbour views and some have panoramic views of the harbour, Royal Botanic Gardens and the opera house. Lavish executive suites offer a separate study and lounge room, while all rooms are equipped with cable TV, dual telephone line, voicemail and daily newspaper. An outstanding feature of the InterContinental is its private dining rooms, ideal for high-level lunch meetings or special occasions. The business centre boasts two video conferencing studios along with every other conceivable amenity.

117 Macquarie Street
Tel: (02) 9253 9000.
Website: www.intercontinental.com

The Westin
The hotel's Heritage' rooms have been carved from the 1887 GPO building while the 'Tower' rooms feature glass-walled bathrooms and unobstructed city views. 'Guest Office' rooms are fitted with printer/fax/copiers, speakerphone and an ergonomic chair. The business and conference centre has seven meeting rooms and there are two ballrooms for those seeking to entertain on a grand scale. Combining old world charm, modern conveniences and cutting-edge design, it's a favourite with business travellers and trend-spotters alike.

1 Martin Place
Tel: (02) 8223 1111.
Website: www.westin.com.au

Establishment
For the best in boutique hotels look no further than the Establishment. Oozing with style and sophistication this is the place to stay if you want to mingle with the rich and famous. There are just 31 guest rooms, including two penthouse suites, distinguished only by their colour schemes. The more modern rooms feature warehouse ceilings, black floorboards and strong colours, while those favouring a more serene environment can opt for rooms with a softer paint palette. All rooms come with a business desk, mini-bar, and generous marble or bluestone bathrooms. Clubs, bars and restaurants are all on site including the award-winning est., the Establishment's fine dining restaurant.

5 Bridge Lane
Tel: (02) 9240 3100.
Website: www.establishmenthotel.com

Hotel Altamont
Set within an 1830s Georgian mansion in the heart of Darlinghurst, the Hotel Altamont has seen many a famous face walk through its double doors, most notably Mick Jagger. But despite its star-studded guestbook, the Altamont represents excellent value. The boutique-style accommodation is fun and quirky. Instead of conventional hotel corridors, rooms here open onto a curved communal street and internal courtyards and a spectacular rooftop garden lend a sense of openness. Much of the furniture here has been custom-designed for the hotel and the smart guest rooms feel as though they should cost much more than they do.

207 Darlinghurst Road, Darlinghurst
Tel: (02) 9360 6000.
Website: www.altamont.com.au

Travelodge Phillip Street
This no-nonsense hotel in the financial district offers the familiar Travelodge amenities for the budget-minded traveller. Rooms are workmanlike and feature a kitchenette with microwave and cable television. There are also five disabled access rooms. All rooms are en suite. The building houses the NSW Leagues' Club (guests gain automatic membership) whose four bar areas fill up with after-work revellers. The Quay is a five-minute walk away and Martin Place is just around the corner, although visitors should not expect any views apart from the central atrium's rather unconvincing trompe l'oeil mural.

165 Phillip Street
Tel: (02) 8224 9400.
Website: www.travelodge.com.au

The Kirketon
The award-winning Kirketon is a byword for stainless steel, mirrors and conspicuous cool. Bright wall colours, stylish bathrooms and retro furnishings are the norm here, as are the fashionable clientele. The 40 guest rooms have been recently refurbished but still feature their trademark mohair throw rugs, designer toiletries, top-of-the-range linen and bathrobes so cosy you'll want to take them home with you. More dramatic renovations occurred on the ground floor, which was completely recreated to house the hotel's new restaurant, and bar, Kells Kitchen.

229 Darlinghurst Road, Darlinghurst
Tel: (02) 9332 2011.
Website: www.kirketon.com.au

Sofitel Wentworth Sydney
A vast 1960s semicircle of concrete, the Sofitel Wentworth was one of Sydney's first modern prestige hotels and is heritage listed for its space-age design. It is located in the heart of the CBD, close to key attractions such as the opera house and The Rocks. The hotel specialises in conventions: it can cater for up to 1,100 people in the function and meeting rooms, and an in-house audiovisual department offers state-of-the-art equipment including satellite teleconferencing. The charming guest rooms have been recently renovated and many of the 46 luxury suites overlook the courtyard garden. The lounge bar/restaurant offers morning tea and all-day brasserie dining.

61-101 Phillip Street
Tel: (02) 9230 0700.
Website: www.sofitel.com