- Sydney Morning Herald Good Food Guide Chef Hats have been announced.
- The results include exciting newcomers and old time favourites.
- Oncore by Clare Smyth in Barangaroo tops the list with 3 hats.
This year, Sydney boasts a smorgasbord of hatted restaurants, between the one, two and three hat awards . Which means 2026 is going to be a gastronomer’s year to party. The Sydney Morning Herald’s Good Food Guide has done all the ground work in dining, defining, discerning and deliberating all the top gongs, but now Sydney Travel Guide has put together the must-taste list for you to hit the food-ground running for the year ahead. Grab your hats people, here’s our personal short list of Sydney’s hatted restaurants you simply must taste.
An Aussie Good Food Guide Chef’s Hat has long been recognised as the epitome of dining royalty down under. And since their inception, there’s been an abundance of hats awarded across our fair city. The problem now isn’t in finding a hatted restaurant, it’s in selecting which ones you have the time (and appetite) to try next! Out of the many hatted restaurants awarded across Sydney for 2026, these are the ones Sydney Travel Guide has decided you and your tastebuds simply cannot resist. Bon Apetite!
Three Hats
Oncore by Clare Smyth, Barangaroo
Positioned at the lofty heights of level 26 of Crown Sydney, Oncore has unsurprisingly received three chefs hats for 2026. The brainchild of British chef Clare Smyth, it was destined to turn heads since she opened her first and only international restaurant. Smyth is the first and only female British chef to hold three Michelin stars in the UK. More importantly, the three hats from the Sydney Morning Herald’s Good Food Guide acknowledges Smyth’s passion for sustainable produce.
Oncore has also recently placed as one of the top fifty restaurants in the world from the prestigious La Liste Awards. Better get in quick though, thios one is going to be the top of the lust list for reservations this year!
Quay, The Rocks
Not new to the dining scene by any stretch, but certainly one that consistently continues to deliver. That in itself is a massive feat in the ever developing dining scene of Sydney. That said, this hat awards round for 2026 will be her last as Quay has decided to close her doors on the 14th of February after 37 years at the helm of culinary experiences in the harbour city.
No better way to exit the stage than after a standing ovation.
Saint Peter, Paddington
Saint Peter has been a real contender in recent years as one of Sydney’s golden children. Saint Peter is an Australian fish restaurant by Josh Niland, located at The Grand National Hotel in Paddington. Championing a sustainable “fin-to-tail” approach with fresh Aussie seafood, Niland has gained acclaim in his niche. The dining scene is high-end, while intimate. The menu features dry-aged fish, seafood charcuterie and offal with a daily changing menu.
Sixpenny, Stanmore
The name Sixpenny matches the location, a historic building on Percival Road, which was erected in 1907. In fact, she is named in honour of the existing Sixpence restaurants that operated in Australia in the late 1800’s. If you’re expecting a modern, sleek dining experience, think again.
Founded in March 2012, Chefs Daniel Puskas and Tony Schifilliti lead with passion in sourcing local suppliers, growers and producers to focus on creating a narrative around all things that make up Australia. They collaborate with small-scale farmers, fishermen, and producers with a goal to create a progressional menu with a nod to the seasons.
Two Hats
There were literally stacks of double hats across Sydney for 2026, and excitingly, the list included a bunch of newcomers to the scene. Notable newcomers to the two hat category include Eleven Barrack in the CBD, and The Grill at The International, also in the CBD.
- a’Mare, Barangaroo
- Aalia, Sydney CBD
- Allta, Surry Hills
- Aria, Sydney CBD
- Bathers’ Pavilion, Balmoral
- Bennelong, Bennelong Point
- Bentley Restaurant + Bar, Sydney CBD
- Berowra Waters Inn, Berowra Waters
- Cafe Paci, Newtown
- Eleven Barrack, Sydney CBD NEW*
- Ester,Chippendale
- Firedoor, Surry Hills
- Garaku, Sydney CBD NEW
- Icebergs Dining Room and Bar, Bondi Beach
- King Clarence, Sydney CBD
- LuMi Dining, Pyrmont
- Margaret, Double Bay
- Ormeggio at The Spit, Mosman
- Pilu at Freshwater, Freshwater
- Porteno, Surry Hills
- Rockpool Bar & Grill, Sydney CBD
- Shell House Dining Room & Terrace, Sydney CBD
- Spice Temple, Sydney CBD
- Sushi Oe, Cammeray
- The Grill at The International, Sydney CBD NEW
- Ursula’s, Paddington
- Yellow, Potts Point
- Yoshii’s Omakase, Barangaroo
One Hat
- 10 William Street, Paddington
10 William Street, Paddington is a teeny weeny hole in the wall making big waves in Paddington. Not new to the scene, but now a household name for any food-lovers in Sydney. Patience is key when booking as seating is limited. Hats off to the kitchen for consistently providing such an award winning menu, despite the miniature catering capabilities.
- 20 Chapel, Marrickville
- Abhi’s Indian Restaurant, North Strathfield
- Amuro, Darlinghurst
- Ante, Newtown
- Attenzione!, Redfern
- Baba’s Place, Marrickville
- Bar Copains, Surry Hills
- Bastardo, Surry Hills
- Bessie’s, Surry Hills
- Bistro George, Sydney CBD
- Canvas, Sydney CBD NEW
- Catalina, Rose Bay
- The Charles Brasserie & Bar, Sydney CBD
- Cho Cho San, Potts Point
- Cibaria, Manly NEW
- Civico 47, Paddington
- Clam Bar, Sydney CBD
- Continental Deli, Newtown
- Corner 75, Randwick NEW
- Cricca, Windsor
- The Cut, The Rocks NEW
- Da Orazio, Bondi Beach
- The Dining Room by James Viles, The Rocks
- The Dry Dock, Balmain
- Firepop, Enmore
- Fontana, Redfern
- The Gidley, Sydney CBD
- Gildas, Surry Hills
- Gran Torino, Double Bay NEW
- Grandfathers, Sydney CBD NEW
- Haco, Sydney CBD
- Ho Jiak Town Hall, Sydney CBD
- Ibushi NEW
- Infinity by Mark Best, Sydney CBD NEW
- Ito, Surry Hills
- Jane, Surry Hills
- Kiln, Sydney CBD
- Kindred, Darlington
- Kisuke, Potts Point
- Kuon Omakase, Surry Hills
- Lottie, Redfern NEW
- Loulou Bistro, Martin Place, Sydney CBD NEW
- Loulou Bistro, Milsons Point
- Maiz, Newtown
- Maydanoz, Sydney CBD
- Mister Grotto, Newtown NEW
- Neptune’s Grotto, Sydney CBD NEW
- Nour, Surry Hills
- Olympus Dining, Redfern NEW
- Omakase by Prefecture 48 NEW
- Osteria di Russo & Russo, Enmore
- Osteria Mucca, Newtown NEW
- Otto Ristorante, Woolloomooloo
- Palazzo Salato, Sydney CBD
- Pellegrino 2000, Surry Hills
- Poly, Surry Hills
Outstanding accolades in NSW
- T2 Tea Restaurant of the Year Corner 75, Randwick
- New Restaurant of the Year, presented by Aurum Poultry Eleven Barrack, Sydney CBD
- Regional Restaurant of the Year EXP. Restaurant, Hunter Valley
- Oceania Cruises Chef of the Year Lauren Eldridge, Paisano & Daughters
- Legend Award Kumar Mahadevan, Abhi’s Indian Restaurant
- Bill Granger Trailblazer Award Sharon Winsor, Indigiearth
- Cultural Change Champion Sorry Not Sorry
- Food for Good Award Addison Road Community Organisation
- Young Chef of the Year, presented by Smeg Jen Kwok Lee, Infinity by Mark Best
- Oceania Cruises Service Excellence Award Ecca Zhang, TBC by Grape Garden
- NEW AWARD Pub of the Year The Dry Dock, Balmain
- Bar of the Year, presented by SevenRooms Silver’s Motel, Enmore
- Drinks List of the Year The Wine Bar at The International
- Sommelier of the Year Amanda Yallop, Fink
- Critics’ Pick of the Year Ama, Surry Hills
- Cafe of the Year Yum Yum Bakery, Guildford
The Good Food Guide has an app featuring more information about all the restaurants and a handy guide on where to spend your hard-earned dollars if you want to maximise your spend and avoid disappointment.
What is the best hatted restaurant in Sydney?
The best hatted restaurant in Sydney is Oncore by Clare Smyth, which has three hats. Other favourites are Saint Peter, Quay and Sixpenny.
What does it mean if a restaurant is hatted?
Chef’s Hats are to Australia what Michelin stars are to pretty much everywhere else in the world. They are marks of superior quality, handed out by an experienced panel of judges at the Australian Good Food Guide. What makes a restaurant hatted? There are many judging criteria, including the food, ambience, service and innovation.
How many three hat restaurants are there in Sydney?
There are currently four restaurants in Sydney with three hats. The most obvious one is Quay, but there’s also Sixpenny, Oncore by Clare Smyth, and new addition Saint Peter.
What is the difference between a hatted restaurant and a Michelin star restaurant?
The Michelin Guide has inexplicably snubbed Australia for years, so that’s the primary reason you wouldn’t find any Michelin star restaurants in Sydney. The mark simply doesn’t exist here. And so we have Australian Good Food Guide’s Chef’s Hats which more or less accomplish the same purpose. Some people find that Chef’s Hats aren’t as reliable as Michelin Stars.
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