Sydney's Best New Restaurant & Bar Openings Right Now
- Apr 21
- 8 min read
Updated April 2026
Looking for the best new restaurants in Sydney? From show-stopping dining rooms in the CBD to quietly confident neighbourhood spots in Newtown, Darlinghurst and the Eastern Suburbs, these are the places shaping how the city is eating and drinking this season.
Whether you’re chasing steak and martinis, underground Italian, wine-first bars, fire-led Levantine cooking or soft serve down a laneway, this is your edit of what’s actually worth visiting.
Best new restaurants in Sydney you need to try
The Palomar
Paddington
A London favourite has opened its first outpost in Sydney, landing inside the 25hours Hotel on Oxford Street. With Mitch Orr behind the kitchen, it brings a mix of Southern European, North African and Levantine influences into a space that feels polished but still full of energy.
The menu is built around the grill, with seafood, meats and vegetables paired with bold, herb-driven sauces and designed to share. It’s confident, well-paced and already one of the more talked about openings in the city, backed by a wine list that moves between Mediterranean regions and local producers.
Besa
Bondi
From the team behind Aalia and Nour, Besa is a new Spanish spot in Bondi bringing a slice of Spain to Sydney, built around the energy of a proper tapas bar, plates arriving quickly, wine being poured constantly, and a room that fills early and holds its pace.
Inside, it’s all deep red tones and curved banquettes, with a menu that moves from sharp, seafood-led small plates into heavier, more traditional dishes for the table. Spanish wines lead, with cocktails alongside.
Sushi Oe
Sydney Fish Market | Glebe
Chef Toshihiko Oe has moved his quietly revered omakase from Cammeray to a new eight-seat counter at the Sydney Fish Market. It remains one of the most precise sushi experiences in the country, with each piece prepared and served directly in front of you, in line with traditional omakase.
Expect a tightly paced progression of around 25–30 courses, with a focus on seasonality, technique and conversation. Bookings are now online, but seats remain limited, and still among the hardest to secure in Sydney.
Razz Room
Sydney CBD
Razz Room is a new underground bar on York Street, built around daiquiris, disco and live music, drawing from pre-gloss 1970s New York and the kind of clubs that came into their own later in the night.
Split across two levels, upstairs works as an easy entry point for a drink, while downstairs a sunken dancefloor takes over, with DJs and live sets running into the early hours. Daiquiris are the focus, from classic to more playful riffs, alongside a short late-night menu that leans nostalgic. It’s a really good night in the Sydney CBD.
Check out our video on Razz Room.
Caravin Deux
Potts Point
A few doors down from Caravin, this is the smaller, walk-in version tucked into a narrow Potts Point laneway. It leans into that true European wine bar feeling, music up, low light, and a room that fills quickly.
Seating is limited, but that’s part of the fun. The wine list has a natural tilt, with a short cocktail list and sharp, shareable plates. Come early for the window, or squeeze in where you can and stay for a few.
Piqu
Newtown
On King Street, Piqu is a new Southeast Asian diner from Jihwan Choi and Nicola D’Angela, bringing a Thai-leaning menu built on sharp, spicy and tangy flavours. It’s technique-driven but keeps things loose, with a focus on dishes that land with impact.
Expect flavour-forward plates that move from fresh and citrusy to deeper, more spiced mains. The space is small and easy to miss, but already one of the more interesting openings along the strip.
Pasta Shop
Potts Point
Paola Toppi brings a piece of Sydney dining history back in a more relaxed setting, with Pasta Shop, a compact Potts Point spot where everything sits under $30. At the centre is her mother’s spaghetti Machiavelli, a long-standing favourite, now joined by a tight list of pastas including rigatoni alla vodka, gnocchi gorgonzola and lasagne, alongside simple sides and classic desserts.
It’s designed to feel easy and accessible, without cutting corners on ingredients. The drinks list keeps things just as straightforward, with Italian wines, Sardinian beer, pre-batched cocktails and BYO, making it the kind of place you can return to often.
Ard
Stanmore
Ard brings Christiana Daaboul’s cult, plant-based bakes into a permanent Stanmore space, after building a following through markets and online. The set-up is centred around the kitchen and spills out onto the street, with people standing around in the sun, coffee in hand.
The menu leans Lebanese, with cakes, buns and pastries that feel both generous and precise. It looks like a Pinterest board brought to life, beautifully finished bakes, from pistachio-heavy cakes to baklava layers and sesame sweets, alongside a short, thoughtful drinks list.
Las Palmas
Manly
On West Esplanade, Las Palmas is a garden bar and taqueria just steps from the wharf. Open-air, palms overhead, music playing, it moves from daytime drinks to evenings without much effort.
The menu leans coastal Mexican, built for sharing, ceviche, tostadas, grilled corn, then a run of tacos worth ordering a few of. Margaritas, tequila and mezcal cover drinks. It’s an easy, sunlit spot that works just as well for a quick stop as it does for a longer catch-up.
Jinius
Dawes Point
From Tenacious Bakehouse alum Yeongjin Park, Jinius is a light-filled spot by the harbour near Walsh Bay, centred around his Korean-inspired sourdough. Made using koji, the bread has a soft texture and subtle sweetness, and carries through a menu that feels thoughtful but easy.
The “eggs in hell” are a standout, served with spiced tomato, labneh and anchovies, alongside a strong line-up of pastries, from cheese-filled doughnuts to a well-executed Portuguese tart.
Grill Americano
Sydney CBD
The Sydney outpost of the Melbourne favourite, built around a 30-metre marble bar and a steak-led menu with 15 cuts on offer.
Backed by an enormous wine list that caters to everything from casual glasses to truly special bottles. Finish with the iconic tiramisù Americano, scooped tableside.
Flaminia
Circular Quay
From the team behind Pilu, Flaminia brings Italy’s port-side spirit to Sydney’s harbour. A seafood-led menu anchored by a beautiful crudo bar, where simplicity and precision do the talking.
It’s a quiet nod to heritage, done in a setting that feels unmistakably special.
Osteria Luna
Sydney CBD
An underground Italian dining room with velvet booths, marble tables and a distinctly old-school feel. The menu stays close to the classics, from vodka sauce pasta and brown butter ravioli to kingfish crudo and caprese made tableside. Martinis and amaro flow as vinyl, jazz and late-night sets carry the room from dinner into after dark.
Sakura House
Sydney CBD
From the Waratah team, this walk-in only basement izakaya is built for late nights and spontaneous dinners. Playful street-style plates like karaage, katsu prawns and gyoza land alongside a serious Japanese whisky list.
Lemon sours, highballs and seasonal cocktails keep the energy up long after dark.
Claret Club
Darlinghurst
A Stanley Street wine bar made for serious drinking, with 30 wines by the glass pulled from an exceptional cellar.
The food is European-leaning and built to match, from simple bar snacks downstairs to a more refined menu upstairs. It has quickly become a new favourite for locals.
Aambra
Rose Bay
Set inside a restored former church, Aambra is a dramatic yet warm space built for long, shared meals. The cooking is fire-led and generous, drawing on Levantine flavours with a refined, modern touch.
Between the garden setting, striking interiors and expressive drinks, it feels like a destination without losing its sense of ease.
Bistro Bondi
Bondi
A neighbourhood Euro-bistro from the team behind Lox In A Box, bringing classic continental energy to Warners Avenue. The menu is built for sharing, think chicken liver pâté, latkes with anchovy and comté, and charred prawns in café de Paris butter.
Backed by a strong wine list and playful cocktails, it’s polished but relaxed, and exactly what Bondi’s been ready for.
Joe’s Tavern
Newtown
A 30-seat, New York–inspired tavern where the classics are taken seriously and nothing is overworked. Devilled eggs, cold seafood, steaks and the 50/50 burger set the tone, with a menu that also makes room for offal and whole-animal cooking. Cocktails stick to the originals, Martinis, Manhattans, Mint Juleps, and desserts lean into old-school favourites like the Knickerbocker Glory.
South End
Newtown
At the southern end of King Street, South End is a beautifully run neighbourhood bistro led by Hussein Sarhan (Fred’s) and Alex Tong (Ester), with a tight, confident menu that’s all about flavour and restraint.
The wine list is superb and globally minded, the room feels warm and considered, but it’s the service that really sets it apart. Polished, generous and genuinely welcoming, it’s the kind of place that already feels essential to the area.
Everyday Creamery
Newtown
A low-key soft serve spot tucked behind Tokyo Lamington, focused on getting the classics right. Think vanilla, chocolate, strawberry and matcha, plus affogatos and matcha-gatos. A perfect summer spot for an ice-cream pick-me-up, tucked away in a quiet little laneway.
Other Smash'd Syd guides to check out:
Corner 75
Randwick
Once a humble Hungarian restaurant known mostly to locals, Corner 75 has been brought back to life by Jean-Paul El Tom (Baba’s Place) and Daniel Puskas (Sixpenny).
The room still feels familiar with tiled floors, timber walls, printed plates, memories on the walls, and old-school glassware, but the menu’s had a reset. Goulash, schnitzel and semolina dumplings are still here, now done with finesse. Eastern European wines pour alongside, and the warmth that defined the original hasn’t gone anywhere.
Corner 75 is less a new opening than a preservation project, a continuation of Hungarian-Australian migrant culture, communicated through food, service, and space.
Berta’s Deli
Marrickville
A small deli with big heart, serving generous sandwiches built on fresh Turkish bread layered with house pickles, cold cuts, sharp sauces, as well as veggie options.
The menu’s short but stacked, think roast broccolini with muhammara, garlic sauce and pickled cucumber, or mortadella with stracciatella and pistachio. Everything’s served on silver plates, and nothing’s trying too hard. Just good sandwiches done properly.
Bar DEMO
Newtown
A modern wine bar from bartenders Claudia Morgan and Olly Churcher, inspired by the kind of late-night spots you'd find in Berlin or Paris. It’s walk-in only, open late, and built for people who care about good wine, good company and good music.
The 60-bottle list is grouped by vibe, not varietal, with rotating pours, limited drops, and plenty under $100. Cocktails are short and seasonal: freezer Martinis at -15°C, two-sip coladas, and spicy bourbon-mezcal signatures. Even though there is no kitchen, the snacks are spot on with charcuterie from LP’s and Pino’s, anchovies, and Chappy’s chips.
Vinyl only, played start to finish on a hi-fi system from Translate Sound. A bar made by bartenders, for anyone who just wants one more glass and a good reason to stay for another.
Caness
Paddington
From the team behind Shaffa, Caness is your new neighbourhood go-to — a Middle Eastern tapas. The format is casual, small plates served as they’re ready and designed to be shared.
The menu goes back to basics, reimagining bold Middle Eastern and Mediterranean flavours in playful Spanish-style small plates. Think lamb brioche sliders, mushroom shawarma, chicken skewers with mojo verde, ouzo prawns with feta, and sabich layered with tahini and amba, all designed to hit the table hot off the grill.
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