Western Sydney’s dining scene is picking up – here’s what’s worth catching the train for

Feel that seismic shift in Sydney?

Okay, it might just be a few tremors here and there for now but Sydney’s fascination with finally building up Western Sydney is front-and-centre. And we here at the Sydney Travel Guide couldn’t be any more excited for something that has been long, long overdue.

The rapid refocus towards major Western Sydney hubs like Parramatta, Blacktown, Penrith and Liverpool makes sense. We’re just under two years out from the highly touted Western Sydney International Airport (WSI), which, when opened in late 2026, will be one of the world’s most modern examples of cutting-edge airport design and, according to Multiplex Regional Managing Director David Ghannoum, will “leave a legacy for years to come.”

Plus, the Australian Government will commit up to $5.25 billion to extending Sydney’s now critically acclaimed Metro network out west to better connect the city with the new airport. And, it’s hoped, encourage more inbound tourists to not only stay out west, but to fully immerse themselves in these suburbs so rich and dense with culture, community and vibrant street festivals.

But this won’t just be about ducking in and out of Sydney via air; the metro network will also have the profound benefit of activating Western Sydney in a way that hasn’t been seen before, threading through these major suburbs where the sense of community and ethnic diversity is so strong, soulful, and, most importantly, delicious.

Western Sydney is culture and community

If Sydney is Manhattan, Western Sydney is Brooklyn and Queens wrapped into one giant community. Who needs to go to Astoria in Queens when you can stroll the streets of Blacktown in Sydney? Yeah, we kind of need our own Williamsburg, and we don’t have anything that comes even close to the warehouse district of Bushwick, but the infrastructure is there; the people certainly are.

This is where Sydney’s kaleidoscope of cultures will kick into high gear and start to really set us apart on the world stage, opening up an entire treasure trove of food, art and culture that feels distant to those always holed up in the CBD and surrounds.

Think of any major city in the world and you’ll see destination restaurants, essential bars and vibrant nightlife in places that aren’t just clustered around the CBD, and are only really accessible by train or car. New York? You’ll be regretting it if you don’t have a night out in Bushwick, or Park Slope, or Red Hook. Tokyo? Shimokitazawa is often just as exciting as Shinjuku, and Kichijoji’s bars could step toe-to-toe with anything you’ll find in Ginza.

Many things need to happen in order for Western Sydney to become internationally known and anticipated, maybe even to the point where inbound visitors aren’t flying in to see a show in Surry Hills or have a bite of Barangaroo, but to fully throw themselves into the ferociously busy scenes in Cabramatta or have a lavish Middle Eastern feast in Merrylands.

It’d certainly help if we had more Chef Hat’s (Australia’s version of Michelin stars) out west. Sure, you could post up the argument that Western Sydney just doesn’t have those restaurants that are truly punching above their weight yet, because they are too busy trying to appeal to everyone at all times in order to make rent.

But that’s not believable for a region as big as this, with so many smart, ambitious and industrious people who come from all over the world. It’s just blatantly untrue that Greater Western Sydney only has a handful of destination restaurants. Methinks our arbiters of culinary excellence, the Australian Good Food Guide, need to venture past Strathfield more often. And I’m not talking a weekend away in the Blue Mountains.

And so I want to highlight a few of the heavy-hitters that either have Chef’s Hats or most definitely deserve a closer look from AGFG. I’ll be adding more to this list as I re-visit a few restaurants in Western Sydney in the coming weeks and months, but for now here’s a handful of suggestions I think are worth catching the Western Line for.

1. Sinclair’s, Penrith

Distance from CBD: 1.5 hours on train

Scott Mills, Head Chef at Sinclair’s, understands the power of produce very well. His team has built up strong relationships with productive locals like Pepe’s Ducks and Game Farm, and their hard work is found all over the menu at this waterfront stunner. Located above The Log Cabin, Sinclair’s is the only restaurant in Penrith to have ever been dressed with a prestigious Chef’s Hat.

The restaurant has only been around since 2022 but has already lifted Penrith’s culinary chops considerably; sometimes all it takes is one show-stealer before more start to sprout up. It wouldn’t be a surprise to see the Nepean River absolutely flanked with star power in the coming years, but for now Sinclair’s does a mighty fine job at carving out its own identity and sticking resolutely with the Nepean as both a source of inspiration and an unforgettable vista set against the mountainous backdrop.

Heart-warming, country-style dining sits at the heart of the menu. You’ll find smalls like a house crumpet with bugeja sweet corn and fennel jam, XL king prawn with Schofields citrus and spicy green salsa, and burrata with Camden persimmon and crispy chilli. Large? The line caught snapper with bugeja rainbow chard and an almond gramolata is a consistent crowd-pleaser, and the Londonderry free range chicken with Horsley Park peppers is every bit as good as substantials I’ve had at closer-to-city favourites like The Charles, AALIA and Nour.

Address: 1/20 Memorial Ave, Penrith NSW 2750
Contact: (02) 4711 3324
Opening Hours: Wednesday-Thursday (5:30pm-9:30pm); Friday-Saturday (12pm-3pm, 5:30pm-10:30pm); Sunday (12pm-4pm)

sinclairrestaurant.com.au

2. New Market Room, Liverpool

Distance from CBD: 1 hour, 20 minutes on train

Accor was ahead of the game when they opened the William Inglis Hotel on Warwick Farm Racecourse, a five-star with an Equine theme tracking the long history of horse racing and the local thoroughbred industry, in 2018. The M Gallery brand typically sits in the upper-premium in Accor’s stable, as opposed to outright luxury, so it’s a surprise to see this hotel offer a hatted restaurant. One of the finest in all of Western Sydney for that matter, with New Market Room receiving a Chef’s Hat for two consecutive years.

Hotel dining didn’t look as strong in Sydney a few years ago as it does right now. And while it may seem like a non-issue, it’s important to have better restaurants in better hotels if the harbour city hopes to be mentioned in the same breathe as those big cities it aspires to be. Things have changed drastically over the past few years. Sofitel Sydney Wentworth, for example, has an entire food scene worth exploring, and you wouldn’t catch me saying no to a dinner at QT Sydney’s Gowings Bar & Grill, Pier One Sydney Harbour’s The Gantry, Capella’s Brasserie 1930, or The Eve’s Bar Julius.

New Market Room sits in the same category as the aforementioned, pushed as a special occasion for the Liverpool community and a treat for any hotel guests. Grab a seat out on the dog-friendly terrace for lunch and you can trot through plates like spaghettini with roasted prawn bisque and caramelised pumpkin ravioli with goats cheese. Simple, consistent, delicious, and perfectly portioned so you can cap your culinary session with a salted caramel apple tart without feeling like you’re forcing it down.

Address: 155 Gov Macquarie Dr, Warwick Farm NSW 2170
Contact: (02) 8324 3460
Opening Hours: Monday – Sunday (6am-10:30am, 12pm-3pm, 5:30pm-10:30pm)

williaminglis.com.au

3. Darley’s Restaurant, Katoomba

Distance from CBD: 2 hours, 50 minutes on train

Located in the historic Lilianfels Blue Mountains Resort & Spa, Darley’s Restaurant is one of the most obvious examples of fine dining west of the CBD, but it’s much more than just a once-a-year Mother’s Day special. The antiquated destination restaurant frames stunning local food with an old-world ambiance that could just as easily serve as a movie set, steeped in style with plenty of decorative flourishes sandwiched between those two ornate open fireplaces.

the heritage-listed original home of Sir Frederick Darley keeps it classy. The wine list would take days to pick apart and special occasion menus are both regular and well-planned. A la carte is typically the way to go, however, with a list of essential signatures including dry aged duck breast with coffee emulsion and carrot, blue-eyed cod with tomato fondue, and the luxurious scallop ravioli with Oscietra caviar and scallop roe consomme.

Preface your dinner with a peaceful stroll around the property’s gardens, or a bigger afternoon hike around the Blue Mountains, and you’ll see exactly why Darley’s simply can’t be excluded from any conversation about eating well in Sydney.

Address: 5/19 Lilianfels Ave, Katoomba NSW 2780
Contact: (02) 4780 1200
Opening Hours: Tuesday – Thursday (5:30pm-8:30pm); Friday – Saturday (5:30pm-9pm)

lilianfels.com.au

4. CHU Restaurant by China Doll, Rooty Hill

Distance from CBD: 1 hour, 15 minutes on train

China Doll is still one of the most obvious examples of upscale, celebrity-endorsed modern Chinese in Sydney. But the waterfront location on Woolloomooloo’s Finger Wharf has always been a big part of its international appeal. The team didn’t have that big selling point when they opened CHU Restaurant in Rooty Hills’ ambitious West HQ development, but that just meant they had to ensure they food and drink was top-notch.

It certainly is. Sitting adjacent to the impressive Sydney Coliseum Theatre—ostensibly the Sydney Opera House of Western Sydney—CHU Restaurant has managed to pick up awards for Asian Restaurant of the Year (2023 NSW Restaurant & Catering Australia Hostplus Awards for Excellence) and has given Rooty Hill locals something to be incredibly proud of. It’s a destination restaurant without question, with chefs Frank Shek and Arthur Jheng presenting a masterclass on translating classic Asian dishes taken all over the continent, from China and Japan to South East Asia.

Pre-theatre dining is becoming more popular now that Sydney Coliseum Theatre is picking up their programming (although it still isn’t on the level of the city’s performing arts venues) and the yum cha is particularly popular on Saturday and Sunday afternoons. The real reason to head out to Rooty Hill for this under-radar gem, however? That’d be the signature mango pancake with raspberry and toasted almond.

Address: 33 Railway St, Rooty Hill NSW 2766
Contact: (02) 9851 5850
Opening Hours: Thursday – Friday (5pm-10pm); Saturday (11:30am-3pm, 5pm-10pm); Sunday (11:30am-3pm)

churestaurant.com.au

5. Lilymu, Parramatta

Distance from CBD: 40 minutes on train

Sydney’s biggest hospitality groups have ignored Western Sydney for far too long. Wondering how many restaurant Merivale has out west? None. The answer is none. The same goes for Etymon Projects, Swillhouse, Applejack Hospitality, Hunter St Hospitality and Liquid & Larder—our major hospitality groups. Solotel has a few, like Albion Hotel in Parramatta, and The Speakeasy Group at least show the region some love with Nick & Nora’s in Parramatta. Laundy Hotels are the dominant name out west thanks to their upscale pubs, but it’s Esca that has been the most successful in terms of both quality and consistency.

Why? Lilymu. The mod-Asian stunner in Parramatta Square is one of the few examples of a relentlessly modern, premium restaurant from a highly dependable hospitality group that you’ll find out west. And it’s constantly batting above its weight, lifting the local dining scene considerably with signatures like banana leaf roasted barramundi, swimming in turmeric curry, and whole snapper goreng with pomelo, green mango and sambal. The tendency to take South-East Asian staples in a brand new direction, rethinking simple dishes as luxury items, gives Western Sydney’s dining scene the pop of distinction that’ll help lure people out from their beachside bubbles.

Address: 153 Macquarie St, Parramatta NSW 2150
Contact: (02) 7809 4952
Opening Hours: Tuesday (5:30pm-9pm); Wednesday – Friday (12pm-2:30pm, 5:30pm-9pm); Saturday (12pm-2:30pm, 5:30pm-10pm); Sunday (12:30pm-2:30pm, 5:30pm-9pm)

lilymu.com

6. Arrana’s, Springwood

Distance from CBD: 1 hour, 50 minutes on train

Australian seafood has plenty of champions around town, and while most are clustered around Sydney Harbour, you’ll be surprised to know that one of the best can be found at the foothills of the Blue Mountains. Arrana’s has been leading Springwood’s dining scene for a while now, mostly considered a treat-yourself stop over from city folk driving back and forth between Sydney’s most iconic ranges. But Arrana’s deserves to be seen as much more than just as “if I’m out that way” dinner. It’s worth the drive.

Springwood isn’t known for much outside of its charming, intimate layout of boutique shops and abundance of nature, set in the foothills of the Blue Mountains. Arrana’s is the suburb’s biggest offering, however, and it’s dedication to Australian flavours is admirable. Think crocodile and prawn with zucchini and pepperberry; goats cheese with wattleseed, apple and proscuitto; beetroot with mandarin, native basil and popcorn. You won’t see any of these flavour profiles buzzing around Chippendale.

Address: 9/12 125 Macquarie Rd, Springwood NSW 2777
Contact: (02) 4751 5159
Opening Hours: Wednesday – Thursday (6pm-10pm); Friday – Saturday (11:30am-1:30pm, 5:30pm-11pm)

aranna.com.au

7. IFTAR, Merrylands

Distance from CBD: 47 minutes on train

IFTAR is still a fresh-faced entry for Western Sydney’s overall dining scene and the airy Middle Eastern restaurant doesn’t yet have a hat to it’s name. But I think time will treat owner-chef Jeremy Agha well given he has quickly built a strong following based on his mother’s recipes and a simple, fresh-first approach to Lebanese food.

All those wagyu kofta dumplings and shawarma tacos play in current, fusion-favouring trends but Agha’s family-style cooking is more impressive when he’s thinking fresh, like the essential Middle Eastern breakfast platter with fried eggs, foul, labneh, mixed pickles, dried fruit, veggies, village cheeses, cured cold meats and zaa’tar monoush. It’s given Merrylands its very first must-try dish; took a while!

If breakfast and brunch look like this in IFTAR, then we can’t wait to see what the kitchen has in store for Sydney when dinner services commence.

Address: Main Ln, Merrylands NSW 2160
Opening Hours: Monday – Sunday (7pm-3pm)

iftar.com.au