It must be said, my husband and I are HUGE fans of food and wine. We absolutely LOVE trying new restaurants in search of the some of the best meals in Sydney and taste some of the finest wines (ok, and a few cocktails in there too!).
But we have found when it comes to deciding where to go out for dinner in a city where there seems to be a trillion places to eat, it can be overwhelming deciding which one is the right one. What I have come to discover about Sydney is that some of the best places to eat aren’t always in the heart of the city. And what better excuse do you need to go and explore more of Sydney than in the search of the best meal?
Now, I know that what is deemed to be ‘the best’ differs from person to person that is why I have used the below criteria to determine, in my opinion, what a place needs bring to the table (pun intended):
- Mouthwatering food
- Variety of drinks, non alcoholic and alcoholic
- Price
- Overall vibe
1.El Topo Cantina, Warrick Farm and Bondi
If your date loves tacos (and I mean, who doesn’t?) then El Topo Cantina is THE place to go to in Sydney for the best Mexican food.
El Topo Cantina reminds me of a downtown LA or San Diego bar pop culture chic bar, with celebrities like Dolly Parton, Lana Del Ray and Tupac immortalised in Mexican-Catholic inspired artwork, black and white Western movies playing on massive tv screens on the wall and a 90’s-00’s inspired soundtrack in the background.
You can’t really go wrong with any of the meals on the El Topo Cantina menu – the burritos will leave you with a delicious food baby, you could order all the sides and have a feast or you can start with the desserts and work your way back through the menu (the apple pie taco is delicious af!). You’ll need a delicious cocktail or some tequila to wash down all of those tacos, and if you’re a tequila fan like my husband and I are, you won’t be disappointed with the selection!
Pro tip: If your date doesn’t enjoy this place just remember that life is too short not to eat good tacos.
2.Burger Frank, Camden
Ok, so my husband and my second favourite food of all time are burgers! Yes, there are a lot of spots in Sydney CBD that can cook a burger but I like big buns and I cannot lie – and Burger Franks buns are big, fluffy, and more importantly, don’t somehow mysteriously end up being smaller than the burger filling as you’re eating. It’s magic – and definitely less messy!
But burgers aren’t their only speciality – their milkshakes and fries are next level. Don’t miss out on trying their Spiced Parmesan Fries with a side of their secret mayo.
Burger Frank also deal directly with the farmers they source all their ingredients from and bake their buns in house every single day.
Pro tip: Make sure you wear your stretchy pants. You’re welcome.
3.Bistecca, Sydney CBD
Brace yourself for a hidden bar and a restaurant that only serves one kind of meat – steak! The venue has a Tuscan vibe to it, which makes sense since the place focuses on one cut of meat: the Tuscan bistecca alla Fiorentina.
Now, there are rules you have to follow when dining here, such as the no mobile phones at the dinner table rule. At first it seems a little odd having to take out your phone and put it into a wooden locker as you walk in, but I really enjoyed being present with my husband and friends and not being distracted by our phones.
The meal can end up being a little pricey depending on the size of the meat you decide to order plus the number of sides and how many delicious glasses (or bottles) of wine you have, but it is most definitely worth it.
Pro tip: Maybe hard pass on this one if your date does not enjoy a juicy cut of meat or doesn’t like to be sitting near meat. Or get a new date?
4.Firedoor, Surry Hills
My husband and I still rave about this little gem in Surry Hills. Firedoors draw card is that everything is cooked with fire, which if your partner loves to BBQ or smoke some meat, they will absolutely enjoy this place. Firedoor is also Australia’s only restaurant that is fully wood fuelled.
This place is best left for special occasions as it is on the expensive side of things.
Pro tip: Treat yourself to the 172 day aged dry rib of beef and a bottle of the 2016 Simha ‘Lionhear Amphora’ Pinor Noir.
5.Mjolner, Redfern
Live out your Viking and Norse mythology dreams at Mjolner. This place is very impressive the moment you walk in with Norse inspired décor and staff that are dressed as if they are extras on the TV show Vikings and The Last Kingdom.
The whole vibe of this place and the mouth watering food will ensure that you and your date (or group of friends) have the best night.
Pro tip: Become a real Viking and order a few shots and drinks in the horn drinking glass.
6.Mac Street Diner, Liverpool
This is a low key restaurant that serves a punch with their meals. Mac Street Diner serves Italian-Modern Australian inspired dishes including a fun take on the a chicken schnitzel and authentic Italian pizza. We ordered garlic bread pizza as an entrée and almost made the rookie mistake of filling up on “bread” before dinner because it was that good (the dough was so soft and yummy!).
The atmosphere is funky, the services is friendly and the meals are amazing (and well priced!).
Pro tip: Grab an uber and enjoy the cocktails!
7.Café Sydney, Circular Quay
Located on the top floor of the historic Customs House in Circular Quay, Café Sydney offers unrivalled views of Sydney Harbour, delicious food and an impressive wine list. My husband and I were given a voucher to celebrate our engagement and it was the perfect setting for such a special occasion.
The evening was quite expensive (you can expect to spend a hundred or several hundred dollars here!) but it was very much worth every cent.
Pro tip: treat yourself to that expensive bottle of wine. You won’t regret it!
8.Priscillas, Erskinville
Hands down, the most fun dinner experience I have had in Sydney! First of all, the agave Broccoli is tasty AF (we ordered 3 plates!), the atmosphere is electric, and the ladies entertaining the crowd are both hilarious and talented! ( I’m also jealous they can dance better in heels than me!).
Pro tip: Do yourself a favour and book a table on a Friday or Saturday night, order 3 (or 10) plates of Broccoli plus some meat as a side, and spend the entire night dancing and singing with some of the best people in Sydney.
What are some of your favourite restaurants for a date night where you live?
Until next time dear reader, keep on exploring and remain inspired.
Much love,
Lara X
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Rosè Nomad 
Great post 🙂
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