Famed for its picturesque cafes serving up Instaworthy delectables, it goes without saying that Sydney is one of the go-to cities for food enthusiasts. The streets are brimming with mouth-watering options and restaurants abound. For the overwhelmed traveller, here are some of the must-visit food places and their must-eat grubs in Sydney — it’s time to sink your teeth into these delightful local favourites!
1. Bills Australia
Art student turned self-taught cook, Bill Granger is now one of Australia’s most renowned chefs. In the spirit of sharing, he opened three outlets of Bills at Surry Hills, Darlinghurst and Bondi Beach in Sydney. Rumour has it that there’s nothing else quite like their Full Aussie - creamy scrambled eggs, roasted tomatoes and herb mushrooms lay atop thick slices of sourdough toast, and topped with savoury pork sausages. Claimed by many smitten patrons to cook up the creamiest and fluffiest in the world, Bills sure whips up the scrambled eggs of dreams.
Another highly raved about favourite on their menu is the Ricotta Hotcakes - soft, fluffy and eggy hotcakes topped with banana slices and drizzled in honeycomb butter. Complete with warm interior décors and communal-style seating, the dining experience at Bill’s is truly one of a kind.
Bills Australia
Location and opening hours:
- Bondi Beach: 79 Hall Street Bondi Beach NSW 2026 (7 am - 10 pm Daily)
- Darlinghurst: 433 Liverpool Street Darlinghurst NSW 2010 (7.30 am - 3 pm Daily)
- Surry Hills: 359 Crown Street Surry Hills NSW 2010 (7 am - 10 pm Daily)
2. Black Star Pastry
Visitors will have no issue identifying this bakery from a distance — if not by the characteristic crowd spilling through its entrance, Black Star Pastry has a large sign of its name tethered right above its shopfront. Its interior is minimalistic and simple, decked in comfortable and inviting wood tones.
Acclaimed to have created one of the world’s most Instagrammed cake, Black Star Pastry’s Strawberry Watermelon Cake was what catapulted the bakery to international fame. Artfully crafted with a blissfully satisfying taste to match, the iconic cake is generously stacked with two layers of almond dacquoise, rose-scented cream, fresh watermelon, sliced strawberries, pistachios and topped with dried rose petals.
Many have testified that tasting the decadent pairing of watermelon and strawberries is the closest thing to life-changing. It’s now a cult classic and one of the most common things to check off on the agenda for those travelling to Sydney.
Black Star Pastry
Locations:
- Newtown: 277 Australia Street
- Rosebery: 113 Dunning Avenue
- Sydney CBD: The Galeries (Opening soon)
- Moore Park: 210 Bent Street (Opening soon)
Opening hours: (Wednesday - Friday) 7.30 am - 4 pm, (Weekends) 7.30 am - 5 pm, (Closed on Monday and Tuesday)
3. Bourke Street Bakery
From its humble beginnings as a vendor operating out of an old car, Bourke Street Bakery has since flourished into the well-loved café and bakery chain of the present day.
Despite the limited seating available in the store, there’s a pleasant ambience and an aromatic scent of buttery goods that warms the air; Most customers buy their baked treats to-go for the queue snakes on to intimidating lengths down the street.
Crowd favourites include the Pork and Fennel Sausage Roll - minced pork and fennel seeds wrapped up in a flaky pastry - and their famous Ginger Brulée Tart, a crusty tart shell filled with ginger cream blanketed with a layer of torched sugar. Other notable offerings include their Almond Croissants and Carrot Walnut Cake.
Bourke Street Bakery
Address: 633 Bourke St, Surry Hills NSW 2010, Australia (Original bakery)
Opening Hours: 7 am - 6 pm Daily
For the many other locations across Sydney, refer to this page here
4. Brewtown Newtown
Boasting a café, micro-roastery, brew bar and retail floor all in one, Brewtown Newton is housed in a space modelled after the 19th-century industrial warehouse. Dripping with retro charm, this quaint café is where one can get speciality coffees alongside an impressive brunch menu — there’s just about every brunch item imaginable, burgers and a sweet selection of desserts.
Even if you’re on a time crunch, past patrons have justified that one can’t leave Brewtown Newtown without snagging one of their heavenly Cronuts - a hybrid of croissant and doughnuts.
For a quick retail fix, ascend upstairs to peruse their concept store which features apparels on display created by budding local designers. Be sure to check out the various homewares lining the shelves too!
Brewtown Newtown
Address: 6-8 O'Connell St, Newtown NSW 2042, Australia
Opening Hours: 8 am - 4 pm daily
5. Sydney Fish Market
No Sydney food guide would be complete without the most notorious of them all, the Sydney Fish Market. First established in 1966, Sydney Fish Market is perched on Blackwattle Bay, operating as one of the largest working fishing ports and wholesale fish markets. Crammed full of eateries and retail kiosks, visitors can expect to find the freshest seafood and have them prepared on the spot however they like — grilled, deep-fried or sliced into sashimi. We recommend indulging in some fish and chips as there is no better place to have such a fresh catch of the day than at the Sydney Fish Market!
Owing to its prime location right by the water, Sydney Fish Market offers unparalleled harbour views and embalms a fresh, salty tang to its air. Take a seat at one of the open dining areas and admire the clear skies as seagulls hop around the deck.
Sydney Fish Market
Address: Corner Pyrmont Bridge Rd &, Bank St, Pyrmont NSW 2009, Australia
Opening Hours: 7am - 4 pm daily
6. The Grounds of Alexandria
Affectionately dubbed The Mother of All Cafés, The Grounds of Alexandria is a one-stop destination encompassing a grand café, coffee roaster, bar, bakery, kitchen garden and a florist. As if that’s not impressive enough, The Grounds is also home to a mini petting farm — families with children will thrill their little ones with the animals onsite.
Refurbished and transformed from what used to be an old pie factory in the 1920s, The Grounds is now one of the most picturesque cafés in all of Sydney as well as a highly sought-after wedding and event venue.
Offering both indoor and outdoor seating, the interior is tastefully decorated with garden themes and elements of a mad scientist’s lab. The Grounds is frequently packed to the brim with customers eager to enjoy brunch within an enchanting sphere. Despite that, the restaurant is well-staffed and the service is swift. With an atmosphere as unique and vibrant as this, The Grounds is definitely one of the brunch cafés you need to visit during your Sydney trip.
The Grounds of Alexandria
Address: 7a/2 Huntley St, Alexandria NSW 2015, Australia
Opening Hours: 7 am - 2.30 pm (weekdays); 8 am - 3 pm (weekends)
7. Tramsheds
Housed in what used to be the historic Rozelle Tram Depot, Tramsheds’ space has since been restored into one of Sydney’s most prominent dining precincts. The commercial and dining complex exudes a quaint industrial charm and is made up of several independent restaurants and cafés owned by some of the city’s most innovative chefs.
True to its roots, a number of tram carriages have been repurposed into bars and stationary dining carts, adding to its already whimsical ambience. Bordering on fine dining, the restaurants serve up a variety of cuisines including Japanese, Italian, Western and Middle Eastern.
If you think Tramsheds is only good for pleasing the palate, that’s where you’re wrong; the area boasts a generous handful of community-based vendors such as nail salons, a medical centre and a supermarket. Be it a morning coffee or a quiet dinner date, one will be spoilt for choice at Tramsheds — you won’t leave disappointed!
Tramsheds
Address: 1 Dalgal Way, Forest Lodge NSW 2037, Australia
Opening Hours: 7 am - 10 pm daily
From a lazy brunch with an ocean view, digging into fresh catch for lunch at a bustling market to dining alfresco by the harbour at dusk, Sydney’s got you covered. With all that the city has to offer, one can never run out of food options before running out of stomach space.
