The Sitchu Awards 2025 Finalists – New South Wales

After an incredible wave of nominations from our readers, the results are in — the finalists for the very first Sitchu Awards have been revealed. These are the venues, businesses, and neighbourhood favourites across New South Wales that you told us make life that little bit more extraordinary.

From romantic restaurants to artisan bakeries, boutique wellness havens to foodie escapes, this is your chance to celebrate the very best of local living — the places and people who make NSW shine.

Now it’s time to cast your vote for the winners in each category. By voting and supporting your favourites, you will go in the running to win *$1,000 cash.

The Categories & Nominees

Best Date Night Venue

• Letra House (Sydney CBD)
• Nico (Cammeray)
• Pellegrino 2000 (Surry Hills)
• Rocker (North Bondi)
• TOKI Bistro & Bar (North Sydney)

Best Deli or Sandwich Spot

• Fred’s Providore (Cronulla)
• Norma’s Deli (Manly)
• Raineri’s Continental Delicatessen (Five Dock)
• Salumerie (Multiple Locations)
• South Dowling Sandwiches (Multiple Locations)

Best Bakery

• A.P Bakery (Multiple Locations)
• Baker Bleu (Double Bay)
• Flour (Caringbah South)
• Lune Croissanterie (Multiple Locations)
• Maggio’s (Multiple Locations)

Best Neighbourhood Bar

• Bar Copains (Surry Hills)
• Dear Sainte Éloise (Potts Point)
• Earl’s Juke Joint (Newtown)
• Folly’s Bar & Bistro (Cammeray)
• Rocker (North Bondi)

Best Region For a Weekend Escape

• Blue Mountains
• Hunter Valley
• Orange
• Shoalhaven
• Southern Highlands

Best New Restaurant Opening of 2025

• Bessie’s & Alma’s (Surry Hills)
• Cibaria (Manly)
• Grandfather’s (Sydney CBD)
• Neptune’s Grotto (Sydney CBD)
• Olympus (Redfern)

Best Coffee Spot

• Algorithm (Multiple Locations)
• Diggy Doo’s Coffee (Sydney CBD)
• Double or Nothing (Tyalgum)
• Flour (Caringbah South)
• Primary Coffee Roasters (Potts Point)

Best Small Local Business – Lifestyle, Beauty, Fashion, Wellness

• Better Read Than Dead (Newtown)
• If The Florist (Maroubra)
• Peggy Concept Store (Avalon)
• Slow House (Bondi)
• (S)MER (Bondi)

Best Foodie Suburb

• Burwood
• Marrickville
• Newtown
• Potts Point
• Surry Hills

Voting has now closed, thank you for taking part! Winners will be revealed on 12 November. Subscribe to our newsletter or follow us on Instagram to be the first to know.

*Terms and conditions apply, view them here.