It’s official: Sydney has 11 of the best steakhouses in the world right now

• Neil Perry’s Margaret has come in second place in a list of the World’s 101 Best Steak Restaurants.
• The Double Bay diner leads the charge, but that’s only half of the story with Sydney absolutely dominating this year’s rankings.
• The Harbour City has 12 entries on the list, including Bistecca, 20 Chapel and AALIA.
• READ MORE: This Sydney wine bar is offering its entire selection by the glass.

Sydney makes up over 10% of the 2025 World’s 101 Best Steak Restaurants. And not only has the Harbour City managed to completely dominate the authoritative round-up this time around (besting even New York City, London and our southern rivals, Melbourne), but we’re found near the tippy-top of the list with Neil Perry’s Margaret coming in at #2, just behind Buenos Aires’ legendary Don Julio Parrilla.

Neil Perry opened Margaret in 2021, kicking off what’s been described as an ostensible Double Bay takeover for Australia’s most famous chef. At a time when Sydney’s pandemic-induced lockdowns were in their stop-start phase, Perry’s $5 million neighbourhood restaurant managed to inspire diners back into the city, serving as a shining light in long string of sad closures brought about by Covid-19.

Despite his illustrious career reaching over 35 years, Margaret was Neil Perry’s very first solo restaurant, following light retirement plans announced in July 2020. Many wondered what the produce-obsessed chef would do post-Rockpool, and since he’s built quite the dining empire in the swanky neighbourhood with Margaret, Next Door and, more recently, Song Bird.

And so with Margaret now slotting in as the second best steakhouse in the world, it seems Perry’s perseverance has paid off. These kinds of lists are known for directing tourism dollars with ruthless efficiency, pandering the tourists who want the “best” experience for their money.

READ MORE: Sydney’s foodies are going wild for this new Korean bakery in Chippendale.

What is Margaret like?

Margaret isn’t technically a steakhouse in the same way Rockpool Bar & Grill was. You’ll spy just as much fresh seafood on the menu as anything else, and there’s a healthy balance between all types of food. Yet, Perry’s always been a steadfast champion on traceability and knowing precisely where each cut of steak comes from.

His network of producers is large and varied, giving him enough scope to slap seven steaks on the a la carte menu. That’s often more than most steakhouses have anyway, so Margaret’s stunning performance on the global stage comes as no surprise.

You’ll spot the following on the current menu.

• 200g CopperTree 60 Month Friesian Fillet with Red Curry Butter and Grilled Shallots ($69)
• 500g Dry-aged CopperTree 36 Month Grassfed Hereford Ribeye ($125)
• 500g Dry-aged CopperTree 36 Month Grassfed Hereford Bone-In Sirloin ($120)
• 240g David Blackmore Ration Fed Wagyu Rump with Anchovy Butter ($75)
• 240g David Blackmore Ration Fed Wagyu Eye of Chuck ($95)
• 600g David Blackmore Ration Fed Wagyu Bone-In Sirloin with Chimichurri ($330)
• 800g David Blackmore Pasture Fed Mishima Ribeye ($350)

READ MORE: Sydney’s Bastille Festival is going bigger and better this year.

Who else made the best steakhouses list?

Sydney’s performance has been outstanding this year. Speaking of Perry, his former haunt at Rockpool Bar & Grill is still kicking around on the global stage, coming in at #12 on the list, while newcomer The International is the highest debut at #14. Here’s who else made the cut:

• No. 2 Margaret, Sydney
• No. 12 Rockpool, Sydney
• No. 14 The International, Sydney
• No. 16 Firedoor, Sydney
• No. 20 Porteño, Sydney
• No. 32 The Gidley, Sydney
• No. 36 AALIA, Sydney
• No. 51 Shell House, Sydney
• No. 62 The Cut Bar & Grill, Sydney
• No. 93 20 Chapel, Sydney
• No. 99 Bistecca, Sydney

We already knew about 20 Chapel and Bistecca prior to the full list being released, but we don’t think anyone would have expected Sydney to perform so unseasonably strong from bottom-to-top.

READ MORE: Two of London’s best chefs are coming to Sydney for Vivid 2025.

Who decides on the world’s best steakhouses?

A good steak is subjective and it’s hard to get right, with several variables always effecting the overall taste, from what the cattle was fed (and for how long) to how exacting the cooking process is. According to the World’s 101 Best Steak Restaurants ranking, which is now in its sixth year, the global panel of judges considers meat quality, meat selection, service, wine lists, reservation process and ambiance.

The panel has individual “steak ambassadors” in each country that visit these restaurants several times throughout the year to ensure consistency (the single most important factor for any steak restaurant). The list is then published by founder Ekkehard Knobelspies and Upper Cut Media House Ltd, which is based in London.

Headline photo: Petrina Tinslay Photography.