If you’re after a perfect date night in Sydney then you’ll need to be across the most romantic restaurants Sydney has to offer.
From casual charmers to fine dining powerhouses, Sydney has got plenty on the plate for anyone tasked with planning the next date. If you’re looking for a romantic restaurant in Sydney, take note of all the below options in and around Sydney CBD, as well as a few that are an hour two outside of the city.
What are Sydney’s most romantic restaurants?
Editor’s Pick: L’Heritage, Chowder Bay
Best for views: Ormeggio at the Spit, Mosman
Best for first dates: Joji, Sydney CBD
Best for anniversaries: The Gidley, Sydney CBD
Best for weddings: Pilu at Freshwater, Freshwater
Best for double dates: The Gidley, Sydney CBD
Best for overnight accommodation: Jonah’s Restaurant & Boutique Hotel, Palm Beach
Best for fine-dining: Bennelong, Circular Quay
Best for a road trip: Saddles Mount White, Mount White
1. L’Heritage, Chowder Bay
Best for: Casual dates, first dates, anniversaries.
Head out to Chowder Bay and enter this former Army Drill Hall to find a charming, homely French restaurant perched over water. The almost provincial feeling gives that sense of French countryside charm spliced with one of the most underrated perspectives of Sydney Harbour.
Although its romantic atmosphere is only one reason to make the drive on out to this secluded part of Sydney Harbour, which sits just outside of leafy Mosman at the edge of Cliffton Gardens Reserve. The food is excellent, complementing the ambiance perfectly with comforting French classics like chef Julien Audibert-Lebon’s signature bouillabaisse ($49) flavouring a medley of Sydney’s best seafood, the beautifully simple Carpaccio de Boeuf ($32/$48) with truffle oil and parmesan, a rich Duck a l’orange ($48) and the must-try Fondant au chocolate ($23), which is served warm with a scoop of vanilla gelato.
Elevated by an elegant wine list of familiar French favourites, the dining experience at L’Heritage makes for one of those dreamy date nights you’d expect to find in the South of France. Having such a romantic restaurant in Sydney makes planning Valentine’s Day easy for any Francophile couples looking for a special dining experience.
Address: 7b Chowder Bay Rd, Mosman NSW 2088
Contact: (02) 9968 1658
Opening Hours: Wednesday – Sunday (11:30am – 3:30pm, 5pm – 10pm)
Price: $$$
2. Bennelong, Circular Quay
Best for: Anniversaries, special occasions, weddings.
Resting inside the Sydney Opera House’s iconic sails, Bennelong is one of Sydney’s signature fine dining experiences and an excellent showcase for Australia’s best produce. Jaw-dropping views out to Sydney Harbour and the Royal Botanic Garden are framed by the Opera House’s unique curves, shadowing an elegant, angular dining room with plenty of intimate spaces for couples celebrating special occasions.
The grand, vaulted concrete ceiling coupled with stately Indigenous art and head-turning, avant-garde furniture underscores the dining experience with dramatic visuals. It’s the kind of larger-than-life look that contrasts well with those smaller, more personal touches like tables positioned with privacy in mind.
Peter Gilmore’s culinary team is one of the best in the business, gently showcasing top-shelf produce to tell a dynamic story of Australia’s flora and fauna. Some dishes are so beloved that they’ll likely never leave the set menu, which is priced high at $210 for a three-course meal with side dishes for dinner service. You’ll get the perfect amount of food as well, giving you just enough for a satisfying pre-theatre feast or a light date-appropriate meal without sending you waddling home wondering if your pants are too tight.
Address: Sydney Opera House, Bennelong Point, Sydney NSW 2000
Contact: (02) 9240 8000
Opening Hours: Monday – Thursday (5:30pm – 8:45pm); Friday – Saturday (12pm – 2pm, 5:30pm – 8:45pm)
Price: $$$$
3. Catalina, Rose Bay
Best for: Lunch dates, anniversaries, special occasions.
The quintessential Sydney long lunch is at Catalina, throwing all concept of time to the side with rounds of fresh Sydney Rock oysters best taken with frequent, life-affirming glances of Rose Bay. Since it was founded by late restaurateur Michael McMahon and his wife Judy in 1994, the sparkling waterfront diner has been an endearing favourite for celebrities and high-society socialites. But the well-scrubbed service is anything but stuffy, maintaining a casual charm that anchors any notion of nose-turning exclusivity.
A long lunch is the way to go at Catalina. Given the open design, any table will give you those billion-dollar views while you and your date dine on fine Modern Australian. The $150 set menu nets you three courses and a generous suite of options, from soy marinated ora king salmon dressed with Japanese flavours and crispy skin Murray cod to roasted organic suckling pig and Sydney Rock lobster risotto.
Bright, lightweight desserts like rhubarb jelly, caramelised fig, and pistachio parfait are an essential part of the experience and why Catalina will always be seen as one of Sydney’s best restaurants for an anniversary or special occasion.
Address: Lyne Park, New South Head Rd, Rose Bay NSW 2029
Contact: (02) 9371 0555
Opening Hours: Monday – Sunday (12pm – 10pm)
Price: $$$
4. Pilu at Freshwater, Freshwater
Best for: Lunch dates, anniversaries, special occasions, weddings.
Pilu at Freshwater has been one of Sydney’s most emblematic restaurants for over a decade now, proudly looking over the beach from an immaculately-clean, pristine white beach house. The food nods to the region of Sardinia, pairing perfectly with the location. Although the restaurant is quite modest in size, there’s still several function rooms making it a popular choice for beach weddings and more relaxed group dinners.
Pilu is also one of the only restaurants in Sydney to maintain two Good Food Guide Chef hats every year since opening, a testament to the hard-won consistency achieved by Giovanni Pilu and his studious culinary team. With most of the dishes speaking well to the classic Mediterranean diet, a feast here won’t leave you feeling weighted down. But a meal at Pilu still feels indulgent and like a rare treat, making it the perfect date spot for anniversaries and special occasions.
Address: Moore Rd, Freshwater NSW 2096
Contact: (02) 9938 3331
Opening Hours: Wednesday – Saturday (12pm – 10pm); Sunday (12pm – 7:30pm)
Price: $$$
5. Alberto’s Lounge, Potts Point
Best for: casual dates, first dates.
A late-night candlelit dinner with rich, full-flavoured handmade pasta and a banging wine list of classic Italian varietals. If that’s what you’re looking for come date night then Alberto’s Lounge is one of the smartest picks, standing on a quiet Potts Point street with a fabulously warm and welcoming atmosphere.
The secret here lies in the indulgence. These are rich, soul-nourishing pastas that are best shared, lest you sketch a bit of food envy onto the date (never a good idea). Work your way through a few glasses of nice, deep Italian reds to get the full experience. There’s few date-night dinners as ideal as the life blood of Chianti paired with a generous dish of pappardelle ($36) swimming in slow briased beef shin ragu, or pork and veal meatballs ($35) with creamy buttermilk polenta.
Address: 17-19 Alberta St, Sydney NSW 2000
Contact: (02) 9232 0881
Opening Hours: Monday – Thursday (5pm – 12am); Friday – Sunday (12pm – 12am)
Price: $$$
6. Spice Temple, Sydney CBD
Best for: Casual dates, first dates.
Spice Temple has long been an easy choice for a memorable date night in Sydney. It’s dependability is mostly due to the seamless balance of ambiance and service with fun Sichuan flavours. You’ll want to make sure you can handle spice or you may leave the date with a red face, but even if you’ve got a low tolerance it’s worth braving your gut for dishes like the signature kung poa chicken ($49) and fish drowned in heaven facing chillies ($58) with Sichuan peppercorns.
You don’t want to lock any first date into an entire banquet, but if this is date 3 or 4 then you might want to go for the $159 per person premium banquet instead, which fills the table with Spice Temple’s best dishes including the great Moreton Bay bugs tail with XO sauce and Shandon-style tea smoked duck.
Address: 10 Bligh St, Sydney NSW 2000
Contact: (02) 8099 7088
Opening Hours: Monday – Thursday (12pm – 3pm, 6pm – 9pm); Friday (12pm – 3pm, 6pm – 10pm); Saturday (12pm – 3pm, 5:30pm – 10:30pm); Sunday (12pm – 3pm, 5:30pm – 9pm)
Price: $$$
7. The Gidley, Sydney CBD
Best for: Double dates, casual dates.
Framed by dark timber veneer and herringbone floors, The Gidley’s transportive dining room is a stylish escape from Sydney’s overt love of bright, well-lit dining rooms. Dipping into something darker and moodier is perfect for more serious dates or groups of couples looking for a fun night out. And while the Mad Men-esque aesthetic doesn’t necessarily scream romance, feeling like you’re extras in neo-noir thriller adds a nice little layer of excitement.
Don’t get the burger that everyone raves about. As good as it is, you don’t want a potential stain-shooter to ruin your date and throw you off course. Keep things simple with the simple rib eye on the bone ($19 per 100 grams) or the excellent kangaroo loin ($48) with saltbush and Cafe de Paris. Pair that up with some on-point wine suggestions from The Gidley’s sommeliers and you’ll set the scene perfectly for a great romantic night out in Sydney.
Address: 161 King St, Sydney NSW 2000
Contact: (02) 9169 6898
Opening Hours: Monday – Sunday (12pm – 12am)
Price: $$$
8. Quay, Circular Quay
Best for: Anniversaries, special occasions, weddings.
Peter Glimore’s fine dining powerhouse is still every bit as a special as it was when it first opened in 1988. Quay has outlasted every other fine dining institution since, powering through changing dining trends with its enviable location, offering a wide-berth of Circular Quay’s greatest hits coupled with a consistently excellent set menu.
If you should be so lucky, a table right by those large glass windows looking out to the Sydney Harbour Bridge and Sydney Opera House will take your date to the next level. Then it’s on you to make the right choices. What set menu you go for should be dictated by what kind of date you’re on. If it’s early on in the relationship, keep things short with the $220 per person four-course set that’s available for lunch only on Saturdays and Sundays. If it’s a special occasion, however, splash out on the $385 per person eight-courser with Gilmore’s greatest hits including mud crab dumplings and the signature smoked confit of pork jowl.
It’s also a great pick for a romantic dinner the night before, or after, a cruise, given Quay is located on the upper floor over Overseas Passenger Terminal.
Address: Upper Level Overseas Passenger Terminal, The Rocks NSW 2000
Contact: (02) 9251 5600
Opening Hours: Tuesday (5:30pm – 9pm); Wednesday – Friday (6pm – 8:30pm); Saturday – Sunday (12pm – 8:30pm)
Price: $$$$
9. Ormeggio at the Spit, Mosman
Best for: Anniversaries, special occasions, weddings.
Much like Pilu at Freshwater, Ormeggio at the Spit is quintessential Sydney in a nutshell. Good, fresh food best taken in with prime water views. And that beautiful, waterside vibe lends perfectly to weddings and special occasions, making Ormeggio a constant scene of loved-up couples losing track of time with fresh seafood platters and handmade pasta sitting in front of them.
The menu fetches and high price, it’s dynamism dictated by the freshest catches. On any given day, you’ll find standout pasta dishes like pippies tagliolini ($49) and grilled scampi bottoni ($52) and oversized seafood mains like crumbed and fried swordfish cotoletta ($142) served with cured tuna loin and Pyengana cheddar.
Address: D’Albora Marinas, Spit Rd, Mosman NSW 2088
Contact: (02) 9969 4088
Opening Hours: Tuesday – Sunday (11:30am – 3pm, 5:30pm – 10pm)
Price: $$$
10. Saké Restaurant, The Rocks
Best for: Casual dates, double dates.
Fun and colourful, buried beneath the historic sandstone frame of The Rocks. Sake Restaurant is still an endearing favourite for couples looking for a lively night out. Signature, Japanese-accented cocktails are a regular sight, best sipped alongside bowls of crunchy shumai popcorn shrimp ($34), flaky miso glazed toothfish ($74), and platters of premium sushi.
The atmosphere can be quite loud so take note that it might not be the ideal setting for a first date or a milestone. This is better pitched for double dates and more comfortable couples that are locked in for a big night. Considering, you might want to go for the $185 chef’s selection set menu instead, which brings in all the kitchen’s signatures. Plus, it’s only $19 per person to add-on one of the kitchen’s social media-baiting Dragon Egg desserts, which is a sightly oversized egg cracked open to reveal a body of coconut mousse with rhubarb compote, crunchy hazelnut and miso caramel.
Address: 12 Argyle St, The Rocks NSW 2000
Contact: (02) 9259 5656
Opening Hours: Monday – Thursday (12pm – 9pm); Friday – Saturday (12pm – 10pm); Sunday (12pm – 9pm)
Price: $$$
11. 10 William St, Paddington
Best for: Double dates, first dates.
10 William St is considered one of the best Italian restaurants in Sydney, arrestingly casual with its neighbourhood trattoria vibe and snacky Italian comfort dishes. You’ll rarely find the upstairs dining room empty so don’t go in expecting privacy for a one-on-one date. But the energetic atmosphere can work in your favour sometimes, leading to plenty of fun first dates that don’t feel uncomfortably formal or undercut by pressure.
The friendly service certainly helps. As does the deeply satisfying signatures like the $22 pretzel with whipped bottarga (a dish so rightfully famous that it defines the entire experience) and a pitch-perfect $17 tiramisu that’s smartly kept simple and is made to an exacting recipe.
Address: 10 William St, Paddington NSW 2021
Contact: (02) 9360 3310
Opening Hours: Monday – Thursday (5pm – 12am); Friday – Saturday (12pm – 12am)
Price: $$$
12. Jonah’s Restaurant & Boutique Hotel, Palm Beach
Best for: Weddings, anniversaries, special occasions, overnight dates.
As one of the most popular wedding venues in Australia, Jonah’s Restaurant & Boutique Hotel is brimming with romance. The luxurious ocean retreat in Whale Beach has been drawing lovers to its special part of the world since first opening in 1929. And decades hasn’t dimmed the allure, with a fine offering that includes luxury boutique accommodation and fine dining coupled with those cheek-slapping views of the Pacific Ocean.
You don’t want to make that road trip just to have dinner and be done with it. Spend a night or two at venue to get the full experience. Plus, you won’t want to be driving anywhere after you browse the bookish wine list, which has over 80 pages listing more than 1600 vintage Australian and international wines.
Address: 69 Bynya Rd, Palm Beach NSW 2108
Contact: (02) 9974 5599
Opening Hours: Thursday – Sunday (12 pm – 2:30pm, 6:30pm – 8:30pm)
Price: $$$
13. Aria Sydney, Circular Quay
Best for: Anniversaries, special occasions.
It’s all about the views at Aria Sydney. Matt Moran’s signature fine dining experience has the perfect location, looking directly onto the Sydney Opera House and out to Circular Quay from the corner of Macquarie Street. The show stopping views are best dialled in at dinner time, when the kitchen operates at its fine-dining best with elegant five ($240) and eight ($290) course menus paired with selections from the restaurant’s oversized wine list.
While it’s definitive visuals is the biggest reason Aria Sydney has stuck around for years, a commitment to constant creativity and restraint when using the best local produce means the food is almost always going to be satisfying. Take a date here before seeing a show at the Sydney Opera House; it’s a rite of passage for any gourmand who appreciates both fine dining and high culture.
Address: 1 Macquarie St, Sydney NSW 2000
Contact: (02) 9240 2255
Opening Hours: Monday – Wednesday (5pm – 8:30pm); Thursday – Saturday (12pm – 2:30pm, 5pm – 9:30pm); Sunday (12pm – 2:30pm, 5pm – 8pm)
Price: $$$$
14. Sean’s Panorama, Bondi Beach
Best for: First dates, casual dates, lunch dates.
With its dramatic views of the beach, Sean’s Panorama is Bondi’s most dependable special occasion restaurant. Lunch dates are best here, filled with fresh, farm-to-fork dishes and leisurely wines while surfers chase waves off Ben Buckler in the background. Sean’s star hasn’t dimmed since it opened in 1993, leading the ever-changing dining scene at Bondi Beach with the outsized swagger of a CBD fine diner.
The food is straightforward and produce-driven with minimal fuss. And yet the flavours are often so rich and surprising that every plate is a talking point. This is the best choice you’ve got in Bondi Beach if you want to keep things simple of your next date.
Address: 270 Campbell Parade, North Bondi NSW 2026
Contact: 0431 133 352
Opening Hours: Monday – Thursday (6pm – 9pm); Friday – Sunday (12pm – 9pm)
Price: $$$
15. Parlar, Potts Point
Best for: Anniversaries, special occasions.
A smart, well-dressed dining room and spectacular food always goes far for date night. Parlar delivers both with the utmost confidence, wearing its luxury brasserie pitch well with luxe Rosso Damascus marble floors and curved European oak walls. The complex tapestries on the walls add greatly to the romantic ambience, but it’s the food that’ll really make the date.
Chef José Saulog has put together an incredible menu of inventive Catalan flavours, split by three set menus priced between $99 and $179 per person. And yes, they all have the signature Black Rice, a velvety plate of perfectly textured bomba rice flecked with chunks of spanner crab, king prawn and squid. It’s perfect for couples that appreciate good food.
Address: 81 Macleay St, Potts Point NSW 2011
Contact: (02) 9184 7744
Opening Hours: Wednesday – Saturday (5pm – 12am)
Price: $$$$
16. The Charles, Sydney CBD
Best for: First dates, casual dates.
With trimmings of Spanish, Austrian and Italian influences, The Charles is a worldly modern French brasserie that’s led a bit of a renaissance for the once-inescapable cuisine in Sydney. Since opening just a few years ago, its impressive dining room has become one of the CBD’s hottest dining scenes, with almost every meal best anchored by the signature dry-aged duck ($180) stuffed with witloff, hazelnut and orange.
And even better idea would be to head along for afternoon tea on a weekend, where a dessert trolley brings around various baked treats including a 28-layer Russian honey cake and custom-moulded chocolates offered alongside a menu of desserts, cheeses, coffee and tea.
Address: 66 King St, Sydney NSW 2000
Contact: (02) 9145 8066
Opening Hours: Monday – Friday (10am – 12am); Saturday (12pm – 12am)
Price: $$$
17. Mimi’s, Coogee
Best for: Anniversaries, special occasions, weddings.
Merivale’s most expensive restaurant is still one of their heavy-hitters when it comes to Sydney’s swanky upper echelon. Caviar bumps and glasses of fine Champagne are always there if you want to go the influencer route, but don’t mistake Mimi’s social media fame for a lack of substance. The food here is some of Merivale’s best work, from the caviar pie ($170) with scallop mousseline, citrus and butter, to the handpicked crab ($130) served with preserved lemon mayonnaise, chives and salted brioche.
If you want to play it smart, go for the $195 per person set menu designed for 2 people. Mimi’s is one of Sydney’s most popular restaurants for couples so this option appears perfectly designed to work with the ideal pace of a date.
Address: 130a Beach St, Coogee NSW 2034
Contact: (02) 9114 7324
Opening Hours: Wednesday – Thursday (12pm – 10pm); Friday – Saturday (12pm – 12am); Sunday (12pm – 3pm, 6pm – 9pm)
Price: $$$$
18. Oncore by Clare Smyth
Best for: Anniversaries, special occasions.
As one of the only three-hatted restaurants in Sydney, Oncore by Clare Smyth has quickly become the frontrunner for special occasion dining in Sydney. The high-concept restaurant, which only opened a few years ago at the top of Crown Sydney, is a perfect expression of Clare Smyth’s culinary mastery with intriguing dishes that change far too frequently for us to list favourites.
Every dish is a talking point and there’s a certain air of exclusivity that makes Oncore by Clare Smyth such a reliable date spot for Sydney’s well-heeled gourmands. With views that stretch far over the Sydney Harbour, there are few dining experiences in Sydney that feel more appropriate for couples celebrating a milestone.
As far as romantic dining experiences go, this will be the most expensive but you get what you pay for. And a Valentine’s Day dinner at Oncore by Clare Smyth will undoubtedly be a special night.
Address: Level 26/1 Barangaroo Ave, Barangaroo NSW 2000
Contact: (02) 8871 7171
Opening Hours: Tuesday – Wednesday (5:30pm – 10:30pm); Thursday (12pm – 3pm, 5:30pm – 10:30pm); Friday – Saturday (12pm – 3pm, 5:30pm – 11pm)
Price: $$$$
19. Saddles Mount White, Mount White
Best for: Anniversaries, special occasions, road trips, overnight dates.
Named by Condé Nast Traveller as one of the most beautiful restaurants in the world, Saddles carves out its own identity just outside of Sydney with its retro cowboy aesthetic (the bar stools are literal saddles) and picturesque location, set on 28 acres of bushland with a large dam in front.
The homestead-style dining room is unlike anything you’ll find in Sydney, so it’s worth the hour-or-so drive for any special occasions or milestone dates. Given it’s location in Mount White, which is between Sydney and the Central Coast, you’ll also want to keep this idea in your back pocket when you’re in the mood for a little road trip and staycation. There’s a bunch of boutique accommodation nearby so we recommend making a weekend of it with Saddles as the main attraction.
Address: 20 Ashbrookes Rd, Mount White NSW 2250
Contact: (02) 4370 1152
Opening Hours: Monday – Sunday (8am – 5pm)
Price: $$$
20. Joji, Sydney CBD
Best for: first dates, casual dates.
While you’d typically want a swanky large-format restaurant for your date, sometimes its the casual charmer that works best. For first dates, you’ll want a romantic atmosphere that isn’t caked in societal expectations. In other words, you want a bar that also serves good food. Joji slots in nicely here, gently resting above the Cartier watch boutique on the corner of George Street and King Street, with a wraparound terrace that’s perfect for younger couples and anyone looking for an affordable romantic restaurant.
The cosy lounge seating places you physically closer together with your date, and the food is a talking point with interesting takes on comforting Japanese snacks like a scallop and bug sando ($32) with kimchi mayo, and the beautiful king prawn ($16) with bonito cream and pickled ginger. Throw in some fun, colourful cocktails, a banging wine list and acoustics so good you can have a conversation despite the rotating roster of DJs; Sydney has needed a date spot like this for years.
Most first dates in Sydney seem to be favourite a wine bar with a great wine menu. Joji offers that but with some great food on top and a fun atmosphere that picks up as the night rolls on.
Address: Level 5, 388 George Street, Sydney
Contact: (02) 8353 9788
Opening Hours: Monday – Tuesday (4pm – 2am); Wednesday – Friday (12pm – 2am); Saturday – Sunday (4pm – 2am)
Price: $$$
Romantic Restaurant Ambiance
A romantic restaurant ambiance is just as important as the food. Sydney’s top romantic restaurants offer a range of ambiance options to suit every taste. Some of the top romantic restaurant ambiance options include:
- Candlelit dining: Restaurants like Pellegrino 2000 and Armorica Grande Brasserie offer candlelit dining options, perfect for a romantic evening. The soft, flickering light creates an intimate and cosy atmosphere, ideal for a special date night.
- Waterfront views: Restaurants like Quay and Aria offer stunning waterfront views, perfect for a romantic dinner. The breathtaking scenery of Sydney Harbour adds an extra layer of romance to the dining experience, making it truly unforgettable.
- Intimate settings: Restaurants like Alberto’s Lounge and Parlar offer intimate settings, perfect for a cosy and romantic evening. The warm, inviting ambiance and the attention to detail in the decor make these spots ideal for couples looking to enjoy a quiet, romantic meal.
Booking Tips for Valentine’s Day
Valentine’s Day is one of the busiest nights of the year for restaurants. To ensure you get a table at your preferred restaurant, here are some booking tips:
- Book early: Book your table at least 2-3 weeks in advance to avoid disappointment. Popular romantic restaurants fill up quickly, so securing your reservation early is key.
- Be flexible: Consider booking a table for an early or late dinner to avoid the peak hour rush. This flexibility can increase your chances of getting a reservation and can also provide a more relaxed dining experience. Almost all of the way romantic restaurants Sydney has to offer can get quite busy.
- Check the menu: Make sure to check the menu and wine list before booking to ensure it suits your taste and budget. Some restaurants offer special Valentine’s Day menus, so it’s worth reviewing these options in advance.
- Make it special: Consider booking a special Valentine’s Day package or degustation menu for a special evening. Many romantic restaurants offer exclusive packages that include multiple courses, wine pairings, and other special touches to enhance your dining experience.
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