Subscribe 
Best Lunch in Sydney: Our Favourite Spots to Linger
We've got you covered with a curated list of the hottest contenders for Sydney's best lunch spots.
Sydney’s best long lunches span the whole city, from Bar Allora’s Milan-style plates in the CBD to mimi’s clifftop seafood in Coogee and Bathers’ Pavilion’s French-inspired menu on Balmoral Beach. Nothing beats a long, leisurely lunch with friends, it’s a time-honoured tradition that involves three essential elements, mouth-watering food, refreshing cocktails and the joy of engaging conversation, with delicious views a very welcome addition.
Whether you’re after a quick midweek bite near the office or a wine-soaked afternoon that runs into the evening, Sydney’s lunch scene caters seamlessly to gatherings of all sizes, making it the ideal canvas for unforgettable moments with your crew. This guide covers our favourite tables region by region, from the Inner West to the Sutherland Shire, so let this curated list guide you on your way.
In This Guide:
Best Lunch: Inner West
Continental Deli
Smack bang in the centre of one of our favourite streets in Sydney, Newtown’s vibrant Australia Street, lies Continental Deli. Giving big Italian New York deli energy, you can dine in the sun out on the pavement, enjoy deli sandwiches in the bustling bar area or feast on larger dishes upstairs in the nautical-inspired bistro. Expect to indulge in premium tinned seafood, cheese and charcuterie alongside Continental’s iconic canned cocktails and desserts.
Suburb: Newtown
Price Guide: $$
Cuisine: Charcuterie
Best For: Outdoor dining, group dining, solo dining, locals
Need To Know: Multiple dining formats on site, pavement seating, bar area, or upstairs bistro.
The Cottage
Balmain locals continues to flock to The Cottage Balmain, where relaxed neighbourhood charm meets polished café fare. Set inside a light-filled heritage cottage, the menu leans fresh, seasonal and crowd-pleasing — the kind of easy, sun-dappled lunch spot that people return to on repeat.
Suburb: Balmain
Price Guide: $$
Cuisine: Cafe
Best For: Long lunch, breakfast, locals, outdoor dining
Best Lunch: CBD
Shell House
Shell House Sydney seamlessly combines the best of old and new in a meticulously restored 1930s clock tower building. The aesthetics are top-notch, from the dishes themselves to the thoughtfully designed interiors by Anna Hewett which we’re sure your lunch gang will appreciate.
The menu showcases an inventive blend of Mediterranean and French flavours, perfect for a lingering lunch. We recommend starting with fresh Sydney rock oysters or the caviar-topped steak tartare.
Sitchu Tip: Have a drink at Sky Bar first before heading to either the dining room or the terrace.
Suburb: Sydney CBD
Price Guide: $$
Cuisine: Mediterranean
Best For: Special occasion, date night, cocktail lovers, waterfront
Need To Know: Visit Sky Bar before the dining room or terrace, per your Sitchu Tip.
Bar Allora
The new kid on the block, Bar Allora is serving up a traditional Italian lunch every weekday, in the heart of Sydney’s CBD. Serving up dishes inspired by the hustle and bustle of Milan, Bar Allora is authentic, fun and undeniably delicious.
From the team that blessed Sydney with Maybe Sammy, you already know it’s not just the food that packs a punch – their cocktail menu speaks for itself. Whether you’re popping in from the office for a mid-week bite, or a slow lunch in the city – Bar Allora is serving up some of the best Italian in Sydney.
Suburb: Sydney CBD
Price Guide: $$
Cuisine: Italian
Best For: Business lunch, date night, cocktail lovers, long lunch
Palazzo Salato
From the good people who brought us Love Tilly Devine and Ragazzi, Palazzo Salato is one of our favourite haunts for long lunching. The 120-seat venue is brimming with kitchen space, which means an even wider variety of unique hand-shaped pasta, grilled meats and more. Diners have the choice of the walk-in-only bar and the dining room, with interiors inspired by traditional Italian trattorias (that’s a relaxed Italian eatery to you and I). A 500-strong wine list rounds out the offering.
Suburb: Sydney CBD
Price Guide: $$
Cuisine: Italian
Best For: Group dining, wine lovers, long lunch
Need To Know: 120-seat venue with walk-in-only bar plus a bookable dining room. 500-strong wine list.
NOUR
A popular spot on Crown Street’s foodie trail, NOUR is perfectly placed for a mid-shop stop. The menu creatively pulls out the traditional flavours of Lebanon in dishes that will keep you intrigued throughout the meal.
The interiors are just as gorgeous with a contemporary fit-out with glass doors opening out onto a terrace.
Suburb: Surry Hills
Price Guide: $$
Cuisine: Middle Eastern
Best For: Quick bite, date night, group dining
CANVAS
Aside from having one of the most enviable views in Sydney, CANVAS is also host to an exciting new approach to dining. Each season they introduce a new ‘in-residence’ chef who will contribute to the restaurant’s dynamic and ever-revolving menu.
Suburb: Sydney (MCA)
Price Guide: $$
Cuisine: Modern Australian
Best For: Special occasion, waterfront
Need To Know: Menu rotates seasonally with a new guest chef each season.
The Apollo
If you have a penchant for saganaki cheese and charred calamari, then The Apollo is the lunch spot for you. Their take on Mediterranean flavours (with a strong focus on Greek food), along with a smattering of dishes cooked over wood and charcoal, is out of this world. To get the most out of your experience, opt for ‘The Full Greek’ that showcases The Apollo’s best of the best. For just $70 per person, you will be beyond satisfied with the eight-dish banquet – think baked saganaki cheese, tangy Greek salad and slow-cooked lamb shoulder slathered in creamy tzatziki – all perfect dishes to linger over. Plus, for just $5 extra per person you can add ouzo – which is the properly Greek thing to do!
Suburb: Potts Point
Price Guide: $$
Cuisine: Mediterranean
Best For: Group dining, wine lovers, long lunch
Need To Know: Ouzo add-on available for an extra $5pp.
Ester
Such an impeccable wine list as that found at Ester in Chippendale is perfect for enjoying over a long lunch. Yet still, the food is the star of the show here. A seasonal menu celebrates the best Australian ingredients with providence at the fore. Whilst the food is undoubtedly elevated, no dish is off limits. Think blood sausage sangas side-by-side with wagyu scotch fillet and BBQ blue mackerel.
Suburb: Chippendale
Price Guide: Not stated, confirm
Cuisine: Modern Australian
Best For: Wine lovers, special occasion
Best Lunch: Eastern Suburbs
Mimi’s
Set over the waves, mimi’s is one of the best spots for lunch in Sydney for both the views and the exquisite culinary offering.
Simplicity and constrained elegance permeate through the food offering with skilful craftsmanship underpinning the quality seafood, meat and vegetables that are served up.
Amid the chic, calm interiors, enjoy a drop from the 600-strong wine list to ensure your meal is perfectly accompanied. Save this one for the weekend as you won’t want to be heading back to the office afterwards.
Suburb: Coogee
Price Guide: $$
Cuisine: Seafood
Best For: Special occasion, waterfront, wine lovers, group dining
Totti’s
This modern Italian venue serves up hand-crafted pasta, meats and classic Italian cocktails in a relaxed setting. What more could you want from a lunch with the girls?
Totti’s menu is fun, simple and delicious, suited to all ages and designed to share, built around Italian-style flatbread, cooked to order and accompanied by small plates of local and house-made charcuterie, Italian cheese and seasonal fruits.
Drinks are simple, retro-Italian-inspired crowd pleasers, while the wine list focuses on small boutique wineries and organic drops with an Italian twist.
Suburb: Various Totti’s locations (Bondi, Rozelle, CBD)
Price Guide: $$
Cuisine: Italian
Best For: Group dining, locals, budget-friendly
Need To Know: Share-style format built around Italian flatbread.
North Bondi Fish
There’s nothing that screams ‘Sydney’ more than sparkling sea views and North Bondi Fish delivers. It also ticks all the right boxes for a ladies’ lunch in Sydney: a deck that soaks up the sun, a fresh and balanced menu (which, naturally, is all about seafood), and a huge selection of rosé.
The interior is bright and airy, and the clientele is hip yet relaxed – so you and your crew will fit right in.
Suburb: North Bondi
Price Guide: $$
Cuisine: Seafood
Best For: Waterfront, group dining, wine lovers
Table Manners (Image Credit: Jennifer Soo)
Table Manners
Whilst Bronte was a dreamy suburb before, the opening of Table Manners has elevated its status even further. A neighbourhood restaurant and bar with a European influence, you can expect approachable dishes and a relaxed atmosphere. As hospitality hero Alex Cameron’s first solo venture, it’s clear that a lot of love has gone into this opening. Head Chef Luke Churchill (ex Parlar, Oncore by Clare Smyth) is behind the menu which includes highlights like tuna belly toast, Hervey Bay scallops with nduja butter and macadamia and lemon polenta madeleines. Paired with a 400-bottle wine list (with 30 by the glass!) and sleek interiors, it’s the perfect backdrop to your long lunch snaps.
Suburb: Bronte
Price Guide: $$
Cuisine: Modern Australian
Best For: Date night, special occasion, wine lovers
Need To Know: 400-bottle wine list, 30 available by the glass.
Best Lunch: Northern Beaches
Cibaria
Embracing European style dining, Cibaria in Manly has cemented itself as a staple of the Northern Beaches. Serving up long lunches that will transport you straight to Italy and aperitivos for the ultimate Euro experience.
Boasting a private event space and set menus – whether you’re getting a group together or going for a more intimate experience, Cibaria is perfect for whatever you’re planning.
Suburb: Manly
Price Guide: $$
Cuisine: Italian
Best For: Group dining, long lunch, special occasion
Need To Know: Private event space available, set menus offered.
Best Lunch: North Shore
Bathers’ Pavilion
A beachside restaurant-slash-café-slash-bar, Bathers’ Pavilion is seemingly made for leisurely lunches with the girls. For a more casual affair, the café’s lunch menu offers Mediterranean-style food in a chic, yet colourful, setting.
The restaurant takes it up a notch for lunch with its French-inspired cuisine, degustation menu and extensive wine list. The best part is both venues come complete with uninterrupted views of Balmoral Beach and a cosy fireplace for the cooler months.
Suburb: Mosman
Price Guide: $$
Cuisine: French
Best For: Waterfront, special occasion, date night, group dining
Need To Know: Two dining formats on site, casual café or the more formal restaurant with degustation menu.
Nico
Neighbourhood favourite Nico is quietly nailing the art of the long lunch. The Euro-leaning menu champions produce-driven, polished and crowd-pleasing plates, all served in a warm, softly styled space that feels equal parts relaxed and refined. Settle in because this is definitely one to linger over.
Suburb: Cammeray
Price Guide: $$
Cuisine: Modern Australian
Best For: Long lunch, locals, date night
Best Lunch: Western Sydney
MISC.
Tucked away in Parramatta Park, MISC. is well-known in the area for offering the sought-after lunchtime trifecta: An Instagrammable space and sunny courtyard, incredible share-style menu and a drinks list you’ll adore.
While it’s easy to load up on their famous puffy flatbread, don’t miss out on other menu gems like a dry-aged ribeye. MISC.’s food is best enjoyed the way they’ve structured the menu: Order a bit of this, a bit of that; maybe a bit more and a bit on the side.
Suburb: Parramatta
Price Guide: $$
Cuisine: Modern Australian
Best For: Group dining, outdoor dining, wine lovers
Need To Know: Share-style menu, best ordered as several smaller dishes.
IFTAR
Western Sydney favourite Iftar is a go-to for generous, flavour-packed lunches in Merrylands. Expect hearty Middle Eastern plates, fresh-from-the-grill meats and share-friendly spreads that don’t hold back on portion or punch. It’s fuss-free, reliably good and oh so satisfying, making it perfect for when only a proper feast will do.
Suburb: Merrylands
Price Guide: $$
Cuisine: Middle Eastern
Best For: Group dining, budget-friendly, locals
Best Lunch: Sutherland Shire
Bobby’s
Bobby’s ticks all the long lunch boxes: delicious views, yummy and fresh food, killer cocktails and cute interiors. Start your catch-up with brioche prawn rolls, Cantabrian anchovies on toast and ocean trout crudo before moving on to some substantial Mediterranean plates that you’ll love lingering over. As for drinks, the focus is on Mediterranean wines and light and fresh cocktails.
Suburb: Cronulla
Price Guide: $$
Cuisine: Mediterranean
Best For: Waterfront, group dining, cocktail lovers, long lunch
Call Me Mamma
Cronulla’s coastal dining scene has had a chic Italian moment at Call Me Mamma. Equal parts stylish and soulful, the airy, design-forward space sets the tone for long, leisurely lunches. Come for the house-made pastas, stay for the signature puffed bread — golden, airy and made for tearing straight into.
Suburb: Cronulla
Price Guide: $$
Cuisine: Italian
Best For: Date night, long lunch, locals
Frequently Asked Questions about Sydney’s Best Lunch
For a genuinely leisurely afternoon, mimi’s in Coogee is hard to beat, with sweeping ocean views and a seasonal menu built around quality seafood and produce. Palazzo Salato in the CBD is another strong option for groups who want to settle in, with a 500-strong wine list and a wide range of hand-shaped pasta. Both venues are designed for lingering rather than a quick turnaround, so book ahead, particularly on weekends, and expect the meal to run for a few hours.
Bar Allora is a strong choice for a business lunch, serving traditional Italian food from the team behind Maybe Sammy every weekday in the heart of the CBD. Shell House is another excellent option, set inside a restored 1930s clock tower with a Mediterranean and French menu suited to a more polished sitting. Both are walkable from most CBD offices and comfortably handle a midweek meeting over food.
Cibaria in Manly and Dunes Palm Beach are the standout picks for a Northern Beaches lunch. Cibaria brings European-style dining and long lunches with a genuine Italian feel, while Dunes Palm Beach offers alfresco, barefoot dining right on the sand at Palm Beach. Both suit a relaxed midday sitting rather than a quick bite, and Dunes in particular is worth the drive for the setting alone.
For larger gatherings, Palazzo Salato’s 120-seat CBD venue is built for groups, with plenty of kitchen space behind a wide pasta and grilled meat menu. Totti’s, with locations across Bondi, Rozelle and the CBD, is another reliable group pick thanks to its share-style format built around flatbread and small plates. Both are well suited to bookings of six or more.
Bathers’ Pavilion in Mosman and North Bondi Fish are two of the strongest waterfront lunch options in Sydney. Bathers’ Pavilion overlooks Balmoral Beach and offers both a casual café menu and a more elevated French-inspired restaurant experience. North Bondi Fish sits right on the sand at North Bondi, with a seafood-led menu and a deck built for soaking up the view over a long afternoon.
Looking for more fun things to do in Sydney? The best lunch in Sydney is just the start. From bottomless brunches to cute date night venues, our city has endless inspiration.
