10 Best New Restaurants in Sydney (July 2025 Update)

• The best new restaurants in Sydney have been rounded up by the Sydney Travel Guide.
• Everything from Italian and Cantonese is on the menu for visitors to the Harbour City.

Sydney’s dynamic dining scene is constantly changing and never has this been more obvious than in the past few years. After a swift recovery from the pandemic, the city started demanding more luxurious, world-class restaurants and was given a big influx grand dining rooms as a result.

Recent months have restored a gentle balance to the scene, with a great diversity of new concepts: harbourside havens that champion Australia’s oceans (Felons Seafood), unique cross-cultural clashes (TOKI), soulful Greek restaurants with unforgettable spaces (Akti) and more Sydney restaurant openings.

To help guide locals and visitors around Sydney’s new dining scene, we’ve listed 10 of our favourite new Sydney restaurants for you to get across. And yes, consider this a challenge.

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These are the best new restaurants in Sydney

Last Updated: July 2025

Editor’s Pick: Felons Seafood, Manly.
Best new restaurant in Sydney CBD: Ette.
Best new restaurant north of the bridge: ONICE.

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1. Felons Seafood

Signature dishes: Traditional fish and chips, with a choice of luderick, dusky flathead or pink ling, served with hand-cut chips fried in beef tallow and tossed in salt and malt vinegar.

Brisbane favourites Felons Brewing Co. quickly won over Sydney when they transformed Manly Wharf in October last year — just in time for summer. Still riding that wave, they’ve expanded further on the Wharf, with the addition of Felons Seafood, a new dining destination that blends Australian seafood with a Mediterranean touch. The kitchen is headed up by Luke Bourke,The Sydney Morning Herald Good Food Guide‘s 2025 Young Chef of the Year.

Settle on the terrace to enjoy freshly shucked oysters with native kelp vinegar and cucumber mignonette, an abalone schnitzel sandwich with salted chilli mayonnaise, and Queensland mud crab seasoned with black pepper and curry leaf sauce. They also serve thin and crispy pizzas, chargrilled fish, pastas and steak frites too. All washed down with their Super Cold Crisp Larger (the coldest in the country, served sub-zero), make sure to stop here on your next trip to Manly.

Address: East Esplanade, Manly Wharf, NSW 2095.
Opening hours: Daily from 11:30am ’til late.

felonsseafood.com.au

2. Ette

Signature dishes: Tuna tartare with Calabrian chilli and whipped avocado, which is served in a crunchy seaweed cracker cone.

Tucked away in Sydney’s CBD, Ette is a stylish new laneway restaurant and bar, accessible from both Bridge Street and the Underwood Street laneway. Rooted in a philosophy of exceptional food, swift service and unpretentious charm, Ette makes bold promises, and during our visit in its opening week, it certainly lived up to them. With every ‘snackEtte’ (see what they’ve done there?) only costing $9.50 each, and mains at $39 each, its one of a few chic CBD locations that won’t break the bank.

Snackettes include Sydney rock oysters, charred lamb rib with baba ganoush and pomegranate, and tuna tartare served in crunchy seaweed cracker cones. Looking for something larger? Mains are categorised in four sections: steak, land, sea and grain. The menu changes regularly, according to what produce is available, so no two visits will be the same. Creamy and bitter with a strong coffee flavour, their take on an Espresso Martini makes for the perfect post-dinner drink. Oh, and did we mention? Fluffy, salty focaccia with balsamic vinegar and oil is complementary to all.

Address: 10 Bridge St, Sydney NSW 2000.
Opening hours: Open Monday–Friday, 11:30am–2am.

ettesydney.com

READ MORE: Review: Ette is the CBD’s best-kept secret for chic, affordable dining

3. Conte

Signature dishes: Busiate pasta with prawns, spicy tomato sauce and n’duja crumb; duck breast with beetroot purée and fioretto; negroni tiramisu.

Claiming to be the world’s first dedicated negroni bar and Italian restaurant, regardless of the title, it’s a beautiful spot that should be added to your list immediately. High ceilings, luxe interior, vintage Italian alcohol posters and an intimate Negroni Room dining space upstairs all make for a chic lunch or dinner in the city. On the menu? More than 30 Negronis, antipasti (including wagyu tartare with Parmigiano), generous house-made pasta, secondi and negroni tiramisu, among other desserts.

From the team behind Surry Hills favourite, Bar Conte, this new Italian dining destination is its chic, grown-up sister in the city.

Address: 151 Clarence Street, Sydney NSW 2000.
Opening hours: Monday–Friday 12pm–3pm & 4pm–late, Saturday 4pm–late.

contesydney.com.au

4. Akti

Signature dishes: Arnaki (lamb shoulder, chimichurri and lemon), Saganaki (fried kefalograviera with smoked lemon and oregano) and galaktoboureko (filo with cream and honey)

Sydney’s love affair with Greek cuisine continues, and Akti has added a Mediterranean touch to Finger Wharf in Woolloomoloo. Overlooking the water, the old cargo dock is now home to many fine dining restaurants and hip bars that attract trendy clientele. Akti is already appearing across our FYP and its been open for less than a month.

Blending the warmth of Yiayia’s kitchen with a modern touch, familiar flavours are given a refined twist. You can keep things light with some small plates including the soft, handmade pita with tzatziki or melitzanosalata, Sydney rock oysters with ouzo mignonette or saganaki with smoked lemon and oregano. Larger dishes include Moreton Bay bug linguine, lamb shoulder with chimichurri, and pork belly souvlaki with yoghurt and pita.

For dessert, portokalopita is a light organe filo cake with yoghurt sorbet and honey, or there’s a chocolate mousse trilogy with popping candy for the ultimate sweet treat fix. Head next door to Baraki (meaning ‘small bar’ in Greek) for a post-dinner cocktail by the water.

Address: 6 Cowper Street Wharf, Woolloomooloo NSW 2011.
Opening hours: Wednesday–Thursday 12pm–3pm & 6pm–9pm; Friday–Sunday 12pm–3pm & 5:30pm–9pm.

akti.com.au

5. Greenbergs Counter & Catering

Signature dishes: Gaia salad – snap peas, broccoli, green beans, pepitas, kale, spinach and Greenbergs’ herby ranch dressing.

This might just been Sydney’s answer to London’s Ottolenghi. From the founder of Lox in a Box (the masters of freshly baked Polish bagels), Greenbergs is a new salad spot that shouldn’t be underestimated. One look at their Instagram and you’ll soon realise this isn’t just chopped cucumber and tomato. Bowls are piled high with baharat-spiced pumpkin, carrots, labne, sumac onions, pickled currants and fresh herbs, and salmon is topped with baba ghanoush, falafel and pomegranate seeds.

Every salad always has something crunchy, roasted, steamed, fresh.

Paired with a can of pomegranate hibiscus iced tea and a side of twice-cooked crispy potatoes with rosemary and flaky salt, that sounds like the perfect lunchtime treat to us.

Address: Shop 3/17 Warners Ave, Bondi Beach NSW 2026.
Opening hours: Daily 11am–8pm.

@greenbergscounter

6. Caness

Signature dishes: chorizo in red wine beef jus and the halva basque cheesecake.

Surry Hills hit, Shaffa, now has a little sister. Tapas-style dishes are filled with Middle Eastern and Mediterranean inspiration, made simply to share. It’s simply, hearty, flavoursome food in a relaxed space. The lunch menu includes bites, sharing mains and desserts, while dinner includes entrées like kubaneh bread, padron peppers and seared tuna with micro herbs and finger lime ‘caviar’.

Mains include tender lamb kebab served simply with yoghurt, chopped salsa with a punch of harissa oil, and grilled octopus with roasted cos lettuce. Still have space for dessert? Choose from chocolate mousse with zaatar, olive oil and salt flakes; grilled pineapple with vanilla, ginger, pomegranate and a mango aleppo compote; a cheese selection or the ‘OG’ basque cheesecake.

Address: 348 Oxford St, Paddington NSW 2021.
Opening hours: Tuesday–Thursday 5pm ’til late; Friday & Saturday 12pm ’til late; Sunday 12pm–10pm.

caness.com.au

7. A.P Quay

Signature dishes: Any of the hot spit sandos – choose from porchetta and crackling, rotisserie beef rump or veg on focaccia, or BBQ-spiced spatchcock on a white crustry roll.

A.P Bakery continues to take over Sydney, and we’re not mad about it. The Circular Quay location adds something new to the mix with an in-store spit, cooking up porchetta, spatchcock, hot beef and veg for the spit-roasted sandwiches. All the usual go-tos — pies, Aleppo pepper scrolls and croissants — are still available and baked in-store, but once the rotisserie’s ready, you have to get a hot spit sando.

Starting from $17 for the veg focaccia panini, our eyes are on the porchetta: lemon and garlic roasted pork belly is served on focaccia with crackling, salsa verde, cheese and aioli, with the option to add carrot salad and roasted green chilli too. Sign. Us. Up.

Pastrami melts, golden rotisserie dripping potatoes, freshly baked bread rolls and buttery croissants made on site daily round off the menu, and the expertly crafted coffee is pulled from a rare La Marzocco Leva machine.

Address: Quay Quarter,  Young Street, Sydney NSW 2000.
Opening times: Monday–Friday 7:30am–3pm.

apbakery.com.au

8. S’Wich, Redfern

Signature dishes: S’Wich Schnit slice with white cabbage, pickled red onion, mayo, sticky sweet chilli, peanut chilli crack and shallots; Caprese melt on sonoma sourdough (Redfern only).

Bondi may be famed for its beach but its food scene is just as impressive as that golden sand. S’Wich is a favourite with locals — so much so, they’ve now expanded to a second location in Redfern. They serve “slices, salads, snacks and sips”. The cross-section pics that fill their Insta grid are enough to make our mouth water.

The Croque Le Dijon is a melty, cheesy dream with double smoked ham, dijon mustard and pickled cucumber on sonoma sourdough, while Le Boof (Wagyu beef, horseradish mayo, cos, tomato and pickled cucumber) and Spring Chicken (shredded chicken, mayo, cos and fresh cucumber on AP Bakery fenugreek and sesame sourdough) are only available at the new Redfern location.

Address: Wunderlich Lane, Redfern NSW 2026.
Opening times: Daily 11am–9pm.

eatswich.com.au

9. Toki Bistro & Bar

Signature dishes: Duck with house-made duck sausage, quince umeboshi and jus de poulet.

French sophistication meets Japanese artistry at this new North Sydney bistro and bar, helmed by head chef Jay Choy, whose impressive background at Michelin-starred restaurants in the US is evident throughout the fusion menu. Think chicken liver with unagi, tuna with smoked bonito and tomato ponzu, and sides of shokupan with mushroom butter or pomme puree with nori.

There are several set menus available to take the pain out of choosing. The four-course set menu, available all day, costs $110 per person and takes you from entrées to udon to large plates before ending with dessert. If you’re looking for pure indulgence, look no further than the eight-course tasting menu: at $170 per person, it’s split into four chapters and takes diners on a comprehensive journey through the varying flavours and styles across the menu.

Address: T23–24, 100 Miller St, North Sydney NSW 2060.
Opening times: Tuesday–Saturday 7am–10pm.

toki.sydney

10. Margot Osteria

Signature dishes: Margot burger – 150g beef cooked on the Basque grill with gruyere, tomato, pickles, dijon mayo and fries; three beef cuts to share: double hanger 2GR full blood wagyu, 600g rib eye or 800g bistecca alla fiorentina.

Start your day with an Australian breakfast of perfectly cooked eggs, smashed avo on sourdough and wild mushroom toast, before things take a more European turn at lunchtime. Freshly made pasta and charred meats and seafoods cooked on the custom-built Basque grill are among the lunch and dinner offering. To wind down after work or a short pit-stop before heading off to your evening plans, sit indoors or outdoors with a glass of wine or a cocktail and enjoy European-inspired snacks.

Address: 10 Barrack St, Sydney NSW 2000.
Opening times: Monday–Tuesday 8am–4pm, Wednesday–Friday 8am–10pm.

margotosteria.com.au

11. ONICE

Signature dishes: grilled Skull Island prawns with XO butter and burned lemon; Wagyu beef betel leaf with peanut dipping sauce; and Auntie’s marinated lamb cutlets with house chilli oil.

Vietnamese, Thai and Japanese flavours merge to create a punchy menu at this new Mosman restaurant where they pride themselves on great service which is as warming as the food. To start, tuck into mini ba’nh mi, prawn spring rolls, crispy duck pancakes, Sizzling half shell scallops with nam prik pao brown butter or sweet and sticky chicken wings that are already highly-reviewed.

The rest of the menu comprises salads (including green papaya salad with shrimp floss, cherry tomato, fresh cucumber and peanuts), wok and stir fry dishes — including thai sweet chilli king prawns with capsicum and pineapple, or braised Wagyu beef pad see ew — large plates and sides. As for dessert, there’s Vietnamese crème caramel, matcha cheesecake and an intriguing sounding tiramisu mousse mochi to satisfy your sweet tooth.

There’s not a single dish that doesn’t sound mouth-watering, so we’re happy to see two set menus, ranging from $89 to $119 per person.

Address: 161 Middle Head Road, Mosman NSW 2088.
Opening times: Monday–Wednesday 5:30pm–9:30pm, Thursday–Saturday 12pm–3pm & 5:30pm–9:30pm, Sunday 5:30pm–9:30pm.

onice.com.au

Where else should I eat in Sydney?

While Neptune’s Grotto (beneath Clam Bar) and The Collective are currently the top picks in Sydney, there’s still plenty of other places that are helping push the city’s dining scene further onto the world stage to rival the likes of London, Chicago, Tokyo and New York City.

Neil Perry is doing great things over in Double Bay with both Song Bird and Margaret (and the drinks menu at jazz and cocktail bar Bobbie’s is delicious). Executive Chef Jacob Lee has perfected the art of Korean BBQ at Soot in Barangaroo. Sydneysiders can’t get enough of the chip butty with butter chicken gravy at Derrel’s. At the luxurious Sheraton Grand Sydney Hyde Park hotel, Head Chef Dylan Bennett (ex Shell House) has designed an  ingredient-focused menu that showcases woodfire cooking.

There’s more. Executive chef Mike Eggert has given Merivale another stunner with Good Luck Restaurant Lounge. Head chef Charles Woodward and Joel Bickford are going great things with The Grill at The International in Martin Place and Tilda Dining in Sofitel Sydney Wentworth.

You’ll also want to head on over the North Sydney, where Etymon Projects is doing weighty work with talent like Executive Chef Rhys Connell, who heads up the Walker Street precinct with bakery and wine bar Sol, bar and lounge Soluna, Japanese eatery and sake bar Genzo and providore Una. It’s a great place to mix-and-match: grab some Japanese dishes, maybe sit at the chef’s table as well, and then back that with some wine at Sol. This choose-your-own-dining-adventure approach is completely transforming how people eat out in Sydney.

What’s next for Sydney’s dining scene?

New Sydney restaurant openings won’t stop rolling out over the coming months. As above, we’ve got a big newbie from Hunter St Hospitality set to completely transform The Rocks. Then we also have the new Sydney Fish Market opening, and we’re hoping at least one of those restaurants will have a good, creamy butter poached bug roll on the menu.

For a deeper insight into all the new Sydney restaurant, bar and hotel openings coming this year take a read of our what’s new in Sydney guide.

Why trust this list?

Sydney Travel Guide’s staff have spent weeks dining out at the best new Sydney restaurants to help put together this round-up for our readers. We realised that bloated dining listicles can end up giving people choice anxiety so we wanted to keep it tightly curated and keep it just ten of our favourite new Sydney restaurants. This is by no means an exhaustive list, which is why we’ve included a section calling out a few other places you should eat around town.

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