Although the food here is also great, the dessert is quite amazing. Make sure you have enough space for the 5 course Dessert Tasting Menu!
Only 15mins away from the city, this is actually a working winery (grapes are mainly from regional NSW). Try a wine blending session...it is very informative!
This bar sources fresh fruits everyday from the market and creates original cocktails on a daily basis. Tiny bar but great quality!
In the busy business district, this modern Indian restaurant offers colourful yet tasty southern Indian dishes. Fish curry is a must.
Cool and pleasant restaurant, good for lunch and dinner. Their speciality is dumplings, so delicate and yummy!
A specialty art, film and music bookstore - if you like one of them (or all of them), you can spend ages exploring their unique collections.
Funky restaurant with great food, wine and service! They are focused on local produce, and all of their wines are from Australia.
If you need a relaxing time, just head to the Botanic Garden - the harbour view is just amazing and you can see various seasonal flowers depending on the season.
Overlooking the magnificent Queen Victoria Building, this restaurant has a gorgeous ambiance. Crab omelette has a distinctive Asian twist - must try!
Open every Saturday, this market offers all sorts of food from local farmers and most of them are organic.
Located right under the great Harbour Bridge, you can sip a latte or have lunch or dinner with amazing views of Sydney city. If you're less hungry, jump to the Olympic Pool next door and do some laps!
Arguably one of the best coffee spots in Sydney. Tiny cafe, but you can sit on the footpath and enjoy people-watching.
This is one of the first craft beer cafes in Sydney, and they brew so many different types of beer. Beer-inspired food is also on offer. Try Organic Pale Ale or Honey Beer.
Good luck finding this Laneway underground bar - there is no visible sign (hint, plain white door)! Try bourbon & fresh apple juice...or one of so many bourbons on offer.
Just look for an ordinary looking business building...and take an elevator to the roof...once you get there, enjoy some nice cocktails and casual food - lobster is their specialty.
Right on the water, this craft beer brewery offers various beers and brews beers on-site. White, creamy ale is the hit, just a sensational taste and after-note.
Funky, modern Japanese restaurant offering unique combinations and ideas to their dishes. Kingfish ceviche is so beautifully presented and the smoking salmon does smoke!
One of the most authentic Japanese restaurants in Sydney. Go for their degastation menu, which changes every month. If you are a group or family, they also have Japanese-style private rooms.
Located in the heritage building, this underground bar is divided into rooms with different themes. Whisky is their specialty but Guinness is also great. Sundays are live music.
Catch a ferry from City to Watsons Bay, head to South Head - you can get a stunning view of the city skyline and Sydney Harbour. If you are lucky, you can even see whales.
Best art and craft market in Sydney's cute suburb...most products here are handmade and there are lots of food stalls if you get hungry.
This matcha (Japanese green powder tea) cafe is probably the most authentic one in Sydney. Try Matcha Latte or Matcha-Ya Parfait if you like sweet ones.
Amazingly beautiful interior (used be a bank lobby), amazingly thick wine list (most expensive ones are kept in the original vault)...and of course amazing food (especially steak)!
They ONLY serve Bistecca alla Fiorentina for main course, and they don't take bookings (unless 6 or more). They also ask you to lock up your mobile phones...but I can tell ya, it's worth it!
Throw back to a 1940s feeling, this cafe is always busy - from breakfast till dinner (prepare for the queue or book in advance). Everything is tasty but they are very serious for their coffee.
Originally from Melbourne, they make yummy donuts onsite. Try the Earl Gray or Matcha donuts!
I know this place is on many guidebooks and travel guides, but still offers best breakfast in Sydney - choosing between the ricotta pancakes or scrambled eggs is indeed a tough question!
You can find this place easily by the beautiful smell of pastries they bake...great place for breakfast or an afternoon treat.
Located in beautiful the Strand Arcade building, this busy cafe has been offering great coffee and snacks day-in, day-out. The staff is very efficient and friendly.
Best Italian restaurant in Sydney's CBD - ideal place for your business lunch or romantic dinner. You gotta try their pasta dishes.
Beppi's is the oldest Italian restaurant in Sydney (and perhaps in Australia). Warm old-fashioned service. Ask them to see the museum-like wine cellar (even you don't drink it).
Yeah, service may not be top-class but once you taste its BBQ duck and port, you will be back...great place for late dining, open till midnight.
One of the most authentic Thai restaurants in the heart of the city. Complex smell of spices will hit you as you enter this place. You have to try one of their curries with Thai-inspired cocktails.
You want a nice steak AND seafood? Go to Kingsleys in Woolloomooloo Wharf. Lunchtime is ideal to enjoy the view overlooking the Gardens.
Cozy bistro middle of the business district focusing on local produce. Try some of the seafood dishes for entree, and for main, the Wood-Fired Lamb is amazingly tender.
Vietnamese cuisine married with French - great combination! You can enjoy a bit of both if you order their "Feast" menu. Pavé de porc (pork belly) will simply melt in your mouth.
Funky but friendly gastro-pub. In my opinion, their pizzas are the best in Sydney! If you are serious about wine, their cozy wine bar has a pretty amazing variety of wine.
Mediterranean / Middle Eastern cafe/restaurant. Kepos benedict is the go-to dish for breakfast, and for lunch try the cauliflower salad and/or Tunisian-style seared tuna.
This tiny Japanese bar offers Japanese home-cooking food and an impressive selection of Sake and Shochu. Make sure to book a table as it gets full very easily.
So many selections of teas and tisanes, you can spend ages smelling their beautiful aromas. Friendly staff will guide you to the best tea for you. Great souvenir options.
It looks like one of many souvenir stores, but their products are mostly made in Australia. Their Australian beauty/cosmetic products are quite impressive if you want to be healthy and feel beautiful!
As their sign suggests, No Ramen = No Life! Really? I am not sure, but it is worth lining up to have their thick Tonkotsu ramen, especially on a chilly winter night!
A short ferry ride from the city, this World Heritage listed island has a rich history of colonial and industrial history. You can even stay on the island overnight.
One of the least known walking tracks in Sydney. Gorgeous view of the Harbour. Make sure you have a dip in some of the beaches along the way (Milk Beach is my favourite).
This pleasant park is located right in the middle of Darling Harbour. Lots of water features, especially great in summer!
Free entry for general admission. Great collection of Aboriginal and Australian art. Open late every Wednesday.
It's not well known, but this is a very nice restaurant in the Art Gallery NSW. its sister restaurant is located in the quiet suburb called Woollahra.
Once you go down the stairs, you will be greeted by a waft of incense! Cocktails are served with a teapot. Dumplings are a great match.
Great range of cakes and pastries - but you cannot go past the watermelon cake (quite often it gets sold out...so be quick!).
Architecturally beautiful shopping mall in the middle of the city. Many local and international stores. Good for shopping but also people-watching.
Celebrated 125th anniversary in 2018. Perhaps Sydney's oldest cocktail bar (not pub) with original interior?
Shirt maker turned into a cafe/bar...go figure! While you are sipping your flat white or premium whisky, you can also get a tailor-made shirt...very unique experience!
Steep climb up to the Lighthouse, but you will be rewarded by the panoramic view of Palm Beach and Pittwater - try to go in time for sunset.
If you have a chance to go to Palm Beach, visit this amazing place - plenty of outdoor seating with a lovely view of water and national park. Nice cold beer and fish and chips, anyone?
You can see pretty much every Australian fauna in here - Koala, kangaroo, snake, butterfly and even giant crocodile! Breakfast with a koala is highly recommended.
Animals are lovely and there are lots of shows to entertain you, but the view of Sydney Harbour from here is simply breathtaking!
Can you believe it used to be an industrial container port? Be sure to sign up for their Aboriginal guided tour to learn about their culture and history.
Asian-inspired cafe in a busy business district. Try Breakfast with their Sakumas (salmon) or Katsu Sando if you are really hungry!
Have a bit of a walk or run around the Botanical Gardens and pop in for breakfast in this cafe with a pretty view. You can go for a swim at the swimming pool too, if you wish!
There are so many gelatos to choose from, I always get confused. Just ask the staff and they will give you a small sample. I honestly can't say which is good - because they all are!
Post office? Yes, but this isn't your normal post office. Original GPO building, it is actually a great place to get nice Australian souvenirs (calendars, memorabilia...) with reasonable price tags.
You can smell this yummy burger shop from miles away...grab one of their gourmet burgers (I like cheeseburger) and head to nearby Hyde Park as they only have a tiny eat-in area.
Sydney is not so renowned for live music. but you can enjoy live Jazz/Blues music between Monday and Saturday.
Located in famous QVB, this cafe offers Italian-inspired breakfast and lunch. Nice to sit outside of the cafe to watch the shoppers go by. Also open for dinner between Wed and Sat.
Sit outside on a sunny day and look at the people in Hyde Park - away from the city buildings and traffic.
Cool and funky regional Chinese cuisine - many dishes are indeed spicy! My favorite is the spicy fried chicken. Also try their special cocktails based on your zodiac (yes, they have all 12 of them).
Craft beer bar/restaurant. The beer and food is nice of course, but the view - both the Opera House and Harbour Bridge. Day or night, you can spend ages with this view (and nice beer).
This busy cafe roasts their own coffee brand - You can enjoy different types of coffees. Ideal place if you need a caffeine hit for breakfast and lunch.
