Diners' Choice: Innovative restaurants in Sydney

OpenTable

Updated October 05, 2024

Looking for the best restaurants that are fit for foodies 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!

MATKIM

4.9

4.9 (20)

$101 and over

Korean

Sydney CBD

About the restaurant

Matkim is short for “Mat kim” (Entrust) “Cha rim” (Table) which is Omakase in Korean

Matkim is a Korean BBQ Chef’s table like you have never experienced before.
The finest cuts of meat are daily sourced, prepared by the hands of our butchers, perfectly aged and served with the finest ingredients to match.

Top review

WANYI

Dined 4 days ago

very impressive dining experience, definitely the top restaurant of the year!

Ates Blackheath

4.8

4.8 (446)

$41 to $100

Mediterranean

Blackheath

About the restaurant

From Ottoman Turkish آتش‎ (āteş, “fire”) Ateş is a restaurant and wine bar set in the heart of Blackheath. The 100 year old oven is the wood-stoked soul of the place. Sensory experiences, shared plates and fun wines.

Top review

FRANCES

Dined 6 days ago

My husband and I visited Ates on Wednesday 9 October for a special occasion dinner. We were warmly greeted by Sean (spelling?) who took us through the menu with detailed descriptions of the dishes. Our selections of wood-fired focaccia, Jerusalem artichoke, and beetroot and ricotta to start and market fish (silver dory) as a main with a side of cumin-roasted pumpkin were all shared, as they were generous portions, so much so that we had no room for dessert (even though we really wanted to have the pear crumble with rhubarb ice cream)! We really enjoyed the food, attentive service (Sean and Tudor) and 80’s playlist! It was great to be back in the location of another fabulous food experience we enjoyed over 20 years ago when it was Vulcans.

Kobo

4.8

4.8 (100)

$101 and over

Korean

Circular Quay

About the restaurant

Kobo is the workshop for Hatted Chef, Jacob Lee, a space for him to demonstrate his love for his homeland of Korea, re-engineering regional dishes onto a contemporary platform, incorporating Japanese and Australian influences for a dining experience like no other.

A solid marble chef’s table is front and centre, seating 8 guests at a time for an intimate chef's table (meaning “I leave it up to you.”), Chef Jacob breaks the menu down into “Episodes” with each episode featuring a core focus on a culinary moment of his life.

Kobo is located in Sydney's new Quay Quarter Lanes, a short walk from Circular Quay station, nestled just behind the historic Hinchcliffe House.

Top review

Jennifer

Dined on Aug 23, 2024

Jacob Lee and his two sous chefs delivered an exquisite 11 course degustation menu which was cooked, curated and presented in front of diners. Locale - on Loftys Lane, in a simple sleek intimate setting even though guests are seated with backs to large glass panels, high bar seating where diners can view all the work to be presented and consumed at after being provided with local Korean background. Food - in a word, stunning. Simply cannot explain how beautiful each dish was presented and how the flavour combinations all work together to give guests a mouthful of Korea. Chefs - knowledgeable, friendly, delicate handwork, the care taken to ensure each dish was perfect. Value - yes, this is an expensive night but after seeing the care and attention taken by each chef, the willingness to share background stories of their Korea, I’m happy to pay. It was 2.5 hrs that ended with the most stunning burnt rice ice cream I suspect I will never taste again. A night meant for special occasions that you will not regret. Just go.

MAIZ Mexican

4.7

4.7 (89)

$41 to $100

Mexican

Newtown

About the restaurant

Maíz is the word for corn in Spanish which is the backbone of the Mexican food scene. Maíz Mexican Food is a food and beverage concept that celebrates and integrates a wide range of corn preparations that most Mexican restaurants aren’t offering at the moment. Our menu draws on the bold and fresh flavours of Mexico, our traditions and culture to bring you a unique dining experience.

Top review

Zac

Dined on Oct 5, 2024

Great customer service and the berry spritz was delicious

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4.6

4.6 (298)

$41 to $100

Dining Bar

Sydney CBD

About the restaurant

COCKTAILS, WINE AND GOOD TIMES

We are a captivating cocktail and wine bar hidden below the hustle and bustle of Sydney's streets. Our progressive cocktail list has contemporary and traditional cocktails to delight all tastes. We have an extensive wine list to please all palates. Additionally our delicious food offering has a range of fresh appetising bar food and meals.

Top review

Carole

Dined 4 days ago

Fun spot! Not hard to find—there is a clear sign posted on the street. Descend steps, proceed down a dark hallway. Cool atmosphere and vibe. They had happy hour prices on a couple of things, which was unexpected. Fun!

The Waratah

4.6

4.6 (90)

$41 to $100

Australian

Darlinghurst

About the restaurant

The Waratah is a neighbourhood friendly bar, located in the heart of Darlinghurst.

Our ground floor features a friendly and easy-going public bar designed for walk-ins only. Upstairs is open for bookings, with a vibrant terrace bar complete with a stunning sun-draped rooftop and wrap-around veranda.

Our focus is on cocktails and great food. The Waratah is our love letter to all that makes Australia unique: small & independent producers, local growers, native produce and a diverse and singular landscape.

Welcome to The Waratah, let’s explore Australia together.

Top review

Sue

Dined 4 days ago

Always love our night out The Waratah. Food is sensational & lovely atmosphere. Great service & cocktails too. Highly recoomend.

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Experience

GOLDEN HOUR

Experience

Christmas Feast: Lunch and Dinner

KOI Experiential

4.6

4.6 (75)

$101 and over

Modern Australian

Chippendale

About the restaurant

An imaginative tasting menu designed by Reynold is here, presenting an unmissable feast for the senses.

Top review

Andrea

Dined 3 days ago

Lovely service from a friendly team and the food was delicate, beautiful, and tasty. We had a great time.

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Experience

Experiential Dining Menu $165pp (SYDNEY)

Belly Bao

4.5

4.5 (329)

$40 and under

Asian

Newtown

About the restaurant

Belly Bao is a located ion King Street, Newtown - Sydney's cultural hub.

Sydney's first dedicated home of Bao, we specialise in hand made Bao creativity. It's important to us that you enjoy our love for food paired with great drinks and friendly service in our fun, casual restaurant that offers a hint of old Chinese restaurant nostalgia.

Taking from the traditional chinese pork bun (pork bao), we pride ourselves on our hand made bao, and introducing our asian heritage to our Australian home.

We hope you enjoy our love for Bao as much as we do.

Top review

Narelle

Dined on Sep 21, 2024

Greeted by a friendly host who explained how to order, the restaurant is dimly lit with great ambiance. Table was spacious and easy to move in and out of. The food was delicious!!!!!!!! Great portion sizes of fresh and beautifully presented meals! Well priced menu items!! Beer on tap was good too! We will be back!!!

Comedor

4.5

4.5 (68)

$41 to $100

Mexican

Newtown

About the restaurant

Comedor means dinig table, but for us it also means welcoming you into our home. Contemporary Mexican cuisine with a laid back Australian twist, available for lunch and dinner, banquet style.

Top review

Lauren

Dined 2 days ago

My fiancée and I went here for lunch on a Sunday afternoon. It is a beautiful open restaurant with lots of sunshine streaming through the windows at lunch. All the staff were very friendly and explained each dish as they arrived. The food! What a treat. Each and every dish we had was absolutely phenomenal. I really struggled to pick my favourite. We will 1000% be back. Thank you to the staff and the chef - amazing!

Rising Sun Workshop

4.4

4.4 (440)

$40 and under

Asian

Newtown

About the restaurant

Our restaurant & workshop share space, but more important are the views we share - that if we can make it ourselves, we will. That traditions guide but do not rule. Rising Sun Workshop does not support factory farming, what we buy in we buy local, from roasters, smokers, brewers, growers, winemakers & distillers who share our philosophies - our mates.

We’re here for your crazy & not so crazy dietaries, not all things are possible but with a little notice they might be.

Top review

DebB

Dined on Sep 16, 2024

It was so wonderful to see that Rising Sun has reintroduced its longer a la carte menu to complement the ramen soups. The food was, as always, delicious and inventive.

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