A sleek French brasserie, Vietnamese seafood by the waterfront and a three-story Jimmy’s Falafel family in Paddo? We’re here for it.
Sydney’s dynamic dining scene is constantly changing, and that has never been more obvious than in the past few years, with new and exciting venues, concepts and flavours popping up all over the city.
To help guide locals and visitors around Sydney’s new dining scene, we’ve listed our favourite new Sydney restaurants for you to check out (plus some upcoming newbies to keep an eye out for). And yes, consider this a challenge.
These are the best new restaurants in Sydney
Lua
Although the Sydney Fish Market officially opened its doors on January 19, Luke Nguyen’s highly anticipated seafood restaurant, Lua, didn’t make its debut until March 5, adding another standout dining experience to the waterfront precinct.
Lua, meaning “fire” in Vietnamese, speaks to the warmth, passion and flame-led cooking at the heart of the restaurant. From charcoal-kissed ocean trout to scallops with brown butter fish sauce, Moreton Bay bug fried rice and sizzling claypots, every dish delivers bold flavours and impeccably fresh seafood.
Where: Lua at the Sydney Fish Market, 1 Bridge Rd, Glebe NSW 2037.
Jimmy’s Falafel Paddington
The Jimmy’s restaurant family has officially expanded, with Merivale unveiling a new multi-storey venue in Paddington, spread across three vibrant levels. The venue, which opened at the end of April, offers meats, mezze and share plates on the ground floor, a private dining roof terrace upstairs, and an underground bar, perfect for post-falafel partying downstairs. As Merivale states, it’s the “same Jimmy’s — just more of it.”
Where: 374 Oxford Street, Paddington, NSW 2021.
Ananas
Opening its doors on May 7, French brasserie Ananas returns to The Rocks, settling in just next door to its original Argyle Street address. Its previous iteration earned a coveted hat in the Sydney Morning Herald Good Food Guide, and that same calibre of dining is set to return, this time in a refined, upgraded space. Très bien!
Executive Chef Mike Flood, a long-time figure in Sydney’s French dining landscape, stated, “The menu draws from across France and shifts with the seasons. For launch, the menu leans more towards a classic Paris Brasserie mood — deeper sauces, butter, a bit more richness on the plate. As we move towards spring, it lightens and leans south, with olive oil stepping in and dishes becoming brighter. The idea is familiarity and comfort, with moments of decadence when you want to dial it up.”
Where: Argyle Stores, 18a Argyle St, The Rocks NSW 2000.
Caravin Deux
Potts Point’s chic wine bar Caravin has welcomed a stylish new sibling, Caravin Deux. Pouring natural wines, cocktails and seafood, the venue’s bold red furniture spills onto the street, creating an effortlessly lively neighbourhood vibe. Throw back oysters, tuck into buttery scallops and sip on funky wines as you soak up the buzz of Llankelly Place.
Where: 46 Llankelly Place, Potts Point, 2011 NSW.
Las Palmas
We were all obsessed when Manly Wharf hosted La Mexicana Festival and served up tacos, cerveza and margs for two weekends this March. Well, there’s actually a more permanent fix to this craving with Las Palmas (operated by the Boathouse Group), now open on Manly’s West Esplanade.
Highlight dishes include fresh snapper ceviche, tuna tostada with lime mayo, beer-battered fish tacos, beef brisket barbacoa tostadas with dark beer salsa and crunchy, sugar-dusted churros to finish. We’re so there.
Where: Manly Pavilion, West Esplanade, Manly NSW 2095.
Grappa The Rocks
After 26 years on Leichhardt’s Norton Street, iconic Italian restaurant Grappa has expanded, opening a location in The Rocks. Founder Charlie Colosi and his wife Virginie have brought their signature blend of house-made Italian cooking, generous wine culture and deeply personal hospitality to the Sydney CBD, with a menu that stays loyal to Leichhardt.
The venue occupies a heritage sandstone building, spanning approximately 300 seats across its dining room, upper-level bar, private event spaces and an outdoor terrace on George Street. Expect all the carbs: pasta, pizza, bread and desserts made in-house, with a focus on Italian tradition grounded in quality Aussie produce.
Where: 107-109 George St, The Rocks NSW 2000.
Pasta Shop
Taking over the former Sonora site on Bayswater Road, Pasta Shop is a low-key 35-seat eatery, with every plate costing under $30. Featuring 11 different dishes, including spicy rigatoni alla vodka and homemade polpette con sugo, Pasta Shop is all about premium serves for accessible prices. It’s also BYO, but if you forget your vino, there are pre-made Maybe Sammy cocktails and Sardinian beer.
Where: 37 Bayswater Rd, Potts Point NSW 2011.
Full Proof
Okay, so it’s not technically a restaurant, but any place describing itself as serving “doughnuts for grown-ups and coffee” already has our attention. This tiny new hole-in-the-wall, run by a mother-daughter duo, is turning out made-to-order sourdough doughnuts that lean both sweet and savoury, including a wildly good (and very Aussie) chicken salt doughnut. There’s also house-made ice cream, plus a mint affogato that’s worth saving room for. Dangerous, really.
Where: Llankelly Place, Potts Point, NSW 2011.
Dr. Goodes
Dr. Goodes has officially replaced the former El Primo Sanchez site on the Paddo side of Oxford Street. They’re going to for the mantra “disco, pizza, cocktails”, which sounds pretty unfaultable to us. Although it’s technically not a restaurant, and instead labelled a “boogie lounge”, the presence of pizza makes it a worthy addition to this list, and we can’t wait to see what they do with the coveted space.
Where: 27-33 Oxford Street, Paddington, NSW 2021.
