Diners' Choice: Lively restaurants in Sydney

OpenTable

Updated May 05, 2025

Looking for restaurants that have the most vibrant bar scenes in Sydney? You’re in the right place. Each month, OpenTable analyzes nearly 2 million global diner reviews from the past four months. We sort the results by location and category to help you discover new favorite restaurants. It's a great partnership: you reserve, eat, and review. We listen...and deliver the results for all to benefit. Enjoy!

Chuck & Son's Brewing Co.

5.0

5 (49)

$40 and under

Brewery

St Peters

About the restaurant

When a brewing legend confesses to his son that his best brews are still within him, the son decides to change that. To develop a craft brewery. Where beers crafted by expert palates and perfected over decades can be shared right now. Pilsners and pale ales. Amber ales and radlers. Friends and family. Memories and moments. That legend is Chuck Hahn. This is that brewery. Chuck and Son’s Brewing Co.

Top review

Linda

Dined 5 days ago

Great place to take the family, heaps of kids at lunch time. A great children’s play area inside. Friendly staff and great beer.

Maybe Frank - Randwick

4.7

4.7 (457)

$40 and under

Pizzeria

Randwick

About the restaurant

Welcome to Maybe Frank
We are a traditional Italian Woodfire pizzeria as well as a small cocktail bar on Perouse Road in Randwick. Our pizza is made in the traditional Italian way. Our dough is rested between 36 and 72 hours, making the pizza easy to digest with a delectably crispy texture alla romana.The bar at Maybe Frank is our little secret. We are focused on aperitivo and digestive cocktails. Our list is constantly changing according to seasonality and provenance. Always using the freshest ingredients, and peculiar Italian liquor that we can find on the market. Maybe Frank is a place for daily-dining, Sunday drinking, and for a little day-dreaming of your next adventure to our beautiful mother land.

.………Eh la madonna!!!

Top review

Sally

Dined 7 days ago

A lively atmosphere in a very busy restaurant. Pizzas were great with a generous rocket/parmesan salad, just what we felt like with a glass of wine.

Nakano Darling

4.7

4.7 (23)

$40 and under

Izakaya

Haymarket

About the restaurant

If you go beyond the wooden benches and beer crates out front of Nakano Darling's ever-changing facade, you might feel like you've stepped into a different world in Tokyo.

This place is where Suntory whiskey, sake, sochu, umeshu, and beer are freely flowing, and Japanese is spoken all around. It's a spot where anyone who loves good booze and delicious food could easily lose themselves for entire nights if not days. Nakano Darling represents everything that makes the izakaya, or humble 'stay-drink-place', such a central and beloved part of Japanese culture.

Of course, you'll find all the food and drink favourites here (think homemade gyoza, karaage chicken, and whisky cocktails), but it's about more than just that. It's about the experience.

Top review

Jae Sung

Dined 3 days ago

Great food and great atmosphere! Will be back again!

Tokyo Bird

4.6

4.6 (615)

$40 and under

Japanese

Surry Hills

About the restaurant

Tokyo Bird is a Japanese inspired small bar located in Belmore Lane, Surry Hills, serving Japanese whisky and beer, cocktails, sake and yakitori – chicken and other delicious morsels on skewers, grilled Japanese style.

Tokyo Bird combines the best of Tokyo’s yakitori-ya and izakaya with classic cocktail bars in an intimate Sydney laneway small bar. We look forward to welcoming you to Tokyo Bird!

Top review

Timothy

Dined on Apr 19, 2025

The owner gave us extra attention all night and generally made it a wonderful evening. The food was so delicious

Saga Bar

4.6

4.6 (457)

$41 to $100

International

Chippendale

About the restaurant

A mythical island oasis containing a magical hybrid of different influences from India, the Middle East & South East Asia. SAGA brings together the best of all things beautiful and delicious about these regions and combines them all in one unforgettable establishment. Let SAGA whisk you away to a haven where you can enjoy the world’s finest and most exclusive wines, unique and mouth-watering cocktails, and a perfectly seasoned and matching food menu to tie it all together.

Top review

Greg

Dined 7 days ago

Service here is first class in a wonderful ambience

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Experience

Saga Bottomless Brunch

The Boatshed Pyrmont

4.6

4.6 (182)

$40 and under

Seafood

Pyrmont

About the restaurant

At The Boatshed, we pride ourselves on delivering you with a modern and casual dining experience with delicious dishes, specialising in seafood cuisine. With beautiful views overlooking Blackwattle Bay and The Anzac Bridge, we provide a fantastic dining experience for every member of the family. Open every day brunch, lunch and drinks, with the option to have your meal here or have it takeway. Come down, explore the surroundings and enjoy a great meal, with a great view today.

Top review

Craig

Dined 1 day ago

Not the first time we have been so they are obviously doing something right.... the seafood platter is substantial & good value

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Popular dish

The Boatshed Seafood Platter

4.6

4.6 (61)

$40 and under

Italian

Bondi Beach

About the restaurant

An Italian inspired eatery promising to serve as a home away from home. Makaveli provides a warm and welcoming space for a morning coffee, an afternoon bite, or a lively evening out. The carefully curated menu includes a selection of snacks and shareable plates, designed to complement an innovative beverage selection which features locally sourced coffee and creative cocktails. The menu at Makaveli is a tribute to the joy of sharing food, with an emphasis on communal dining. Key menu highlights include Burrata, Kingfish Crudo, and Stracciatella di bufala. Makaveli will also emphasise supporting local, independent wineries, showcasing their unique flavours and craftsmanship.

Top review

Shanelle

Dined on Apr 24, 2025

Absolutely wonderful experience, love this place to bits. Thank you! x

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Experience

Bottomless $99pp, non refundable deposit required

Hustlers. Syd

4.5

4.5 (208)

$101 and over

Asian

Sydney CBD

About the restaurant

Our menus will take you on a culinary journey throughout Asia, paying homage to our cultures by elevating traditional flavours through modern techniques. Enter underground and indulge in a mouth-watering menu of shared plates and cocktails.

Top review

John

Dined today

All the dishes we ordered were great! Good flavours and steak was cooked medium rare. The butter on the steak elevated it to the next level. The barramundi was a solid dish with authentic Asian flavours. The crispy skin on the char siu chicken paired well with the sauce. The beef tartare was very tasty and had the flavours to rival the mains. The snake eye mocktail was sour and delicious!

Miji Bar & Grill

4.0

4 (17)

$41 to $100

Japanese

North Sydney

About the restaurant

Miji Bar & Grill is a Japanese Izakaya Bar & Grill that offers the freshest grilled seafood, complemented by a selection of beer and fine sake. Experience Japanese dining in a lively atmosphere, perfect for casual nights or special celebrations.

* 11:30-14:30 Lunch Menu
* 14:30-17:00 Happy Hour (Drinks Only)
* 17:00-21:30 Dinner Menu

Top review

Berty

Dined on Apr 12, 2025

Great service & food, highly recommend for this restaurant.

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