Diners' Choice: Innovative restaurants in Sydney City

OpenTable

Updated April 05, 2025

Looking for the best restaurants that are fit for foodies in Sydney City? 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!

Crafted by Matt Moran

4.7

4.7 (763)

$41 to $100

Australian

Sydney CBD

About the restaurant

The Art Gallery Restaurant, Crafted by Matt Moran, provides a unique dining experience in one of Sydney’s most stunning dining rooms. Reflecting Moran’s signature style, the restaurant showcases locally sourced produce and premium Australian meat and seafood through a light, Mediterranean-inspired menu guided by the seasons. The drinks menu features an all-Australian wine list as well as Champagne, cocktails, beers, ciders and a substantial non-alcoholic offering. The restaurant is operated in partnership with the Gallery’s culinary advisor, Matt Moran, who works with food and beverage partner The Fresh Collective to execute his vision.

Top review

Adrian

Dined on Apr 22, 2025

Starter, Smalls and Mains all excellent Dessert underwhelming Cocktails were great Service impeccable Nice view

Zushi - Barangaroo

4.6

4.6 (1610)

$41 to $100

Japanese

Barangaroo

About the restaurant

At the edge of Sydney’s impressive new harbour foreshore playground, discerning foodies can now find some of the city’s best sushi in Barangaroo. Zushi is both stylish and comfortable, designed by the renowned architect Koichi Takada. Zushi prides itself on using carefully sourced local ingredients; the freshest vegetables and sustainable seafood where possible. We offer premium service complimented with a wide selection of imported beers, Japanese inspired cocktails, sake and whisky. We are open every day for lunch and dinner, serving our delectable signature rolls, sashimi and share plates.
And the glorious harbour views are pretty tasty too.

Top review

Lisa

Dined on Mar 29, 2025

Everything was exceptional!! We thoroughly enjoyed our meal and service Top notch!!

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Tapavino - Circular Quay

4.6

4.6 (314)

$41 to $100

Spanish

Circular Quay

About the restaurant

A celebration of Sherry, Wine, Tapas, & Friends. Influenced by the culture of sip-a-little-bit-of-this-and-eat-a-little-bit-of-that, Tapavino began in August 2012 as Australia’s first Sherry Bar in Sydney, in a little lane-way not unlike something you would find in the cobblestoned alleyways of Spain. Helped by the beautiful warm vibe that greets you as you step inside and take a seat among floor-to-ceiling wine bottles, Tapavino was named runner-up in Sydney Morning Herald's 'Best New Bar' Awards within 4-months of opening. 12-months later we were named 'Best Bar with Food'.

Top review

Robyn

Dined on Apr 24, 2025

Service and vibe was fantastic - more food than we could eat and the wine recommendation was perfect.

Kuon Omakase

4.6

4.6 (99)

$101 and over

Japanese

Haymarket

About the restaurant

Kuon Omakase offers a truly unique dining experience, where you can entrust the chef to create a 20-course menu of the freshest sushi and sashimi. The menu changes daily depending on the season and produce available from the local fish market. You can expect dishes like osetra caviar with sea urchin and toro tartare, steamed abalone with abalone liver and sea urchin sauce, and Japanese egg custard with snow crab meat and netsuke monkfish liver. Matching wine and sakes can be added to complete the experience.

Top review

Thanh

Dined on Mar 22, 2025

Amazing experience at Kuon. Everything served was fresh and quality. Love this menu. Would love to come back another time in a new season for a different menu. Definitely recommend!

Pony Dining The Rocks

4.6

4.6 (150)

$41 to $100

Steakhouse

The Rocks

About the restaurant

Pony’s executive chef and team are the masters of the wood fire grill, producing contemporary and modern Australian dishes of the season’s freshest produce since its opening in 2006.

In an open kitchen where Exec Chef Neil Nolan enjoys a chat with our guests, the Argentinian grill fuelled by iron bark takes dominance with the menu created around this masterpiece.

Pony is located in Sydney’s oldest cobblestone laneway within the historic and bustling dining precinct of The Rocks offering inside and outside seating. Our carefully crafted boutique selection of wines and delicious cocktail list complements our a la carte and group menus.

Top review

Aaron

Dined 3 days ago

I’ve been dining at Pony for over the past 10+ years, and every time dining I’m blown away with the amazing food, drinks and service. Can not fault Pony. Perfection.

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Experience

$100 - THREE COURSE MENUS - MINIMUM 4 GUESTS

Experience

$115 - THREE COURSE MENUS - MINIMUM 4 GUESTS

Experience

$135pp - TOMAHAWK 3 COURSE MENU

Mod. Dining

4.6

4.6 (16)

$41 to $100

Asian

Sydney CBD

About the restaurant

MOD. Dining brings the vivid flavours of Asian cuisine to a contemporary setting in the Art Gallery of NSW. The menu by chef Sushil Aryal features locally sourced and seasonal produce, transformed into an array of vibrant dishes that pair perfectly with a range of crafted cocktails and unique wines.

Top review

OpenTable Diner

Dined on Apr 6, 2025

Perfect location for a birthday celebration, wonderful meal, wine and service.

Hustlers. Syd

4.5

4.5 (206)

$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

OpenTable Diner

Dined 1 day ago

Amazing food and superb service! The vibe is onc point very relaxing and great for date night!

Elements Bar and Grill Walsh Bay

4.4

4.4 (129)

$41 to $100

Australian

The Rocks

About the restaurant

Elements Bar and Grill has become a dream destination among connoisseurs who appreciate taste of fine food over anything else. No matter what the weather is like around you, you will find it right at home with our cozy seating arrangement and homey ambience. You will be surrounded with smell of freshly cooked steaks, close glimpse of elegant wine and vibe of euphoria coming from our staffs who don’t bother to go extra miles to bring the best food you truly deserve. Whenever you are waiting for your food to come to your table, you may as well take a sneak peak at our meat fridge which is nothing but a teaser of what’s cooking inside. Our customers have fallen in love with this place, its people and what we offer.

Top review

Erick

Dined 1 day ago

Tomahawk Tomahawk Tomahawk is the best. I will recommend and come back for this one for sure

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Experience

All You Can Eat Steak $99 per person

Experience

Bottomless Frites Brunch $89 per person

Experience

All You Can Eat Sunday Wagyu Roast $69 per person

Babylon RESTAURANT

4.3

4.3 (1121)

$41 to $100

Middle Eastern

Sydney CBD

About the restaurant

Table reservations are only accepted for the restaurant, not the rooftop. A set menu applies to groups of 8 or more. If you have a party of 8+, please make an enquiry at bookings@babylonrooftop.com.au. A customary 10% gratuity fee for groups of 8+ applies in the restaurant.

The Rooftop is our bar area and is available on a walk-in basis for groups of 1 – 14. We do not accept online bookings for this area. A full a la carte bar menu is available to order all day. Groups of 15+ must enquire at bookings@babylonrooftop.com.au. Minimum spends apply.
Please note, if you book the restaurant, and on arrival decide to move to the rooftop, a cancellation fee of $50pp will apply.

Please view the restaurant and bar menus on our website as they differ.

On public holidays a 15% surcharge applies. On Sundays a 10% surcharge applies.

We hope to host you soon!

Top review

Michal

Dined 4 days ago

Food and service was outstanding highly recommend it

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Experience

Mother's Day

Experience

Vivid Dreams Share Style Set Menu

Experience

Deluxe Set Menu

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