The Express Trail: 12 Must-Visit Sydney Restaurants & Bars to Book at this American Express delicious. Month Out

We’ve partnered with American Express delicious. Month Out to bring you The Express Trail, a curated guide to the diverse and delicious Sydney venues participating in this month-long food festival.

Just before winter well and truly arrives, celebrate the local dining scene throughout the month of May with the start of foodie festival American Express delicious. Month Out. Bringing together Sydney’s best restaurants, bars, chefs and mixologists, this month-long festival will set taste buds alight with an enviable calendar of events comprised of masterclasses, exclusive deals, one-off events, and bespoke menu offerings.

And with American Express giving Card Members up to $25 back per Card via a 20% credit per transaction at participating businesses*, there’s no excuse not to sample your way through these sensational eateries.

From iconic fine dining to cool street eats, these are all the places we’ve added to our culinary hitlist in May.

Shell House

This chic and ritzy venue is home to not one but four amazing new Sydney venues: Menzies Bar, Sky Bar, Clocktower and Dining Room and Terrace. Each of these venues offers up a unique interior and menu so patrons can choose their own adventure.

Menzies Bar offers a lavish bistro menu, warm lighting and leather interiors and lush vibes. Sky Bar offers up panoramic views and equally stunning cocktails. The Dining Room and Terrace is light-filled, modern and home to a seafood-centric dinner menu. And the Clocktower, is fittingly located in the building’s historic clocktower with all venues connected by an architecturally impressive staircase. In this one-of-a-kind-bar you can expect old-warm charm and grandeur, from the luxe fit-out to the classic cocktail list.

Which one will you check out first?

Special event: On Sunday 1st May, 6pm-10pm, head to Shell House for the Sunday Supper Club. At ground-floor Menzies Bar ($130 per person) indulge in an arrival cocktail before enjoying a delicious multi-course menu. For an elevated experience, Shell House Dining Room & Terrace ($200 per person) will host a supper with a specially curated shared menu that you will fall in love with.

*Provision of the special event is at the restaurant's discretion and is subject to availability.

37 Margaret Street, Sydney

Saké Restaurant & Bar, Double Bay

Being one of Australia’s most awarded Japanese restaurants, dining at Saké Restaurant & Bar is a culinary experience that delves into Japanese culture through creative and inspired dishes and an expertly curated drinks offering. They know their clientele well, offering a fine dining experience upon each visit. 

From the iconic popcorn shrimp and classic hiramasa, to the inventive tacos and moreish Moreton Bay bug tempura, there is so much to taste and experience with every meal. Whether you are after an express lunch, group dinner or romantic date night venue, Saké delivers.

33 Cross Street, Double Bay

Hinchcliff House

Looking for a multi-venue dining destination that will suit all your friend's tastes? Bring them to Hinchcliff House to experience four-levels of high-end drinking and dining. Start your morning with takeaway coffee and pastries from Grana. Their pain au chocolat is like a little bite of heaven, trust us! At night you can expect house-made pastas and fresh seafood as well as their famous Grana tiramisu. The pink-hued Lana has an epic set menu with rich drink pairings. If you’re keen to keep the party going, head down to the basement and Apollonia, named after The Godfather’s ill-fated bride and home to an epic cocktail list.

Special event: For Mother’s Day this year, spoil the special woman in your life to a Brunch Date at Hinchcliff House’s Grana. On Saturday 7^th May at 9am-11am or 12pm-2pm, you can book in a luxe three-course brunch ($85 per person) that included a cocktail on arrival and bottomless wine.

*Provision of the special event is at the restaurant's discretion and is subject to availability.

5-7 Young Street, Sydney

Maybe Sammy

With an award-winning bartending team, you can expect exceptional hotel bar-style service, interiors influenced by 1950s Hollywood and Vegas glamour, and a cocktail list that oozes elegance.

The Hollywood Regency-meets-Palm Springs design screams 1950s elegance; think classic mid-century design with a splash of extravagance. Their signature cocktails are modern interpretations of classics delivered with theatrical flair, and the vintage Champagnes make their mark on the wine list alongside an international assortment of tasty blends. When it comes to food, their curated menu of bar snacks like charcuterie, gourmet sandwiches and cheese will hit the spot.

Maybe Sammy has got it all.

Special offer: In collaboration with Australian Cocktail Month, Maybe Sammy are offering three exclusive cocktails for the month of May. Sip on the Up, Up and Away ($14) featuring Glenfiddich 12 Whisky, the Stand up and Fight ($14) featuring Hickson Road Australian Dry Gin and the low-alcohol Bee-Bom ($10) featuring Lyre's Dry London Spirit.

*Provision of the special offer is at the restaurant's discretion and is subject to availability.

115 Harrington Street, The Rocks

Lotus Double Bay & The Galeries

Lotus consistently deliver high-quality contemporary Chinese cuisine, and create memorable dining experiences. Lotus Double Bay and The Galeries are renowned for their chic yet traditional Chinese fare. When it comes to the menu, seafood is the star, and you can expect to spend a lot of time perusing the list of traditional and creative dumplings.

Special offer: When you dine on the $79 or $99 banquet at either Lotus Double Bay or Lotus The Galeries from Tuesday to Thursday during the month of May, you will receive a complimentary bottle of sparkling Tropo Blanc de Blanc, Adelaide Hills, SA.

*Provision of the special offer is at the restaurant's discretion and is subject to availability.

Lotus Double Bay: Intercontinental Hotel, Shop 3/ 33 Cross Street, Double Bay

Lotus The Galeries: The Galeries, Level 1, 500 George Street, Sydney

Bar 83

Sitting pretty on Level 83 of the iconic Sydney Tower, this retro-futuristic watering hole takes its style cues from The Jetsons. Modern, sleek, and chic, Bar 83 is all about the sky-high views, beautiful interiors, and bold cocktails. When it comes to the food menu expect delicate morsels of fine dining cuisine, like wagyu beef tataki, Hervey Bay scallops and Siberian caviar.

Special offer: Experience Sydney’s sunset like never before with Bar 83’s special sunset table packages. The three packages (from $120) which cater to two people, are two-hour experiences that include beautiful drinks and food, and are available during sunset hours.

*Provision of the special offer is at the restaurant's discretion and is subject to availability.

Westfield Sydney (Located between Pitt & Castlereagh Streets, entry via Level 4 Westfield Sydney)

Firedoor

In the back streets of Surry Hills in a heritage-listed building, Firedoor has a well-earned reputation for their woodfired cooking. Here, everything is cooked over wood coals - they burn a collection of different woods to create coals that bring out the food's natural flavours. Firedoor serves up Australia’s first fully fire-powered menu. Every dish is cooked to order, and the chefs choose a wood that will best bring out its flavours, like native barks, chestnut, and cherry. Trust us, you’re in for a real treat here.

Special event: On Sunday 29^th May from 1pm, chef and owner Lennox Hastie takes diners behind the scenes and hosts an intimate masterclass and dining experience at Firedoor ($695 per person). See how Lennox brings together quality produce and fire to create his truly one-of-a-kind dining experience, while enjoying multiple courses and drink pairings. Better still, you will take home a copy of his book Finding Fire.

*Provision of the special event is at the restaurant's discretion and is subject to availability.

23-33 Mary Street, Surry Hills

Tayim Restaurant & Bar

Blending stunning sandstone interiors with modern Middle Eastern cuisine, Tayim brings a touch of the exotic to the heart of The Rocks in Sydney. Forming part of the boutique Harbour Rocks Hotel, this Middle Eastern gem features a mouth-watering menu of traditional regional dishes with a modern twist, each plate packed with flavour, character, and soul.

Special offer: Tayim Restaurant & Bar are offering an early bird dining special and happy hour from 5:30pm to 6:30pm, Tuesdays to Saturdays, throughout the month of May. The Tayim tasting plate ($35 per person) highlights Middle Eastern cuisine from executive chef Leron Ben Avraham, including kofta, shawarma, a selection of dips, pita bread and more. And for happy hour, diners can enjoy 2-for-1 cocktails (maximum of two cocktails per person).

*Provision of the special offer is at the restaurant's discretion and is subject to availability.

Nurses Walk, The Rocks

Botanic House

Just moments away from the hustle and bustle of the CBD, the Royal Botanic Gardens is home to the ultimate dining destination, Botanic House. Bringing together beautiful, leafy surrounds, stunning interiors and a modern Asian menu designed by celebrity chef Luke Nguyen, diners are in for a real treat. Upstairs is for boozy brunches and long lunches (think Vietnamese red curry and traditional dumplings), and downstairs at Farm Cove Eatery it’s all about casual, takeaway eats.

Special offer: During American Express delicious. Month Out to bring you The Express Trail, a curated guide to the diverse and delicious Sydney venues participating in this month-long food festival. elevate your dining experience with Botanic House’s deluxe dining packages from $125pp. Available for lunch and dinner, the nine-course tasting menu by Luke Nguyen package includes a welcome cocktail, tea and coffee, and your choice of one bottle of wine for lunch or matching wines for dinner.

*Provision of the special offer is at the restaurant's discretion and is subject to availability.

The Royal Botanic Garden Sydney, Mrs Macquarie’s Road, Sydney

The Butler

One of the shining stars on Potts Point’s foodie scene, The Butler is a perfect place to settle in for the afternoon. With high ceilings, botanical wallpaper and wicker furniture, the restaurant has a chic French colonial vibe. But its pièce de résistance is its lush terrace, which has panoramic views of the Sydney skyline. The menu is made up of small and large share plates, and the cocktail list is impressive, to say the least. Our advice? Opt for a late lunch, so you’re there to watch the sun go down.

Special event: Exclusively for American Express delicious. Month Out to, Juanita's Cantina is popping up at The Butler each Thursday from 4pm-9pm. Diners will indulge in authentic Mexican street food curated by head chef Amber Doig and get handsy with their menu of tostadas, while washing down the feast a perfectly paired agave cocktail.

*Provision of the special event is at the restaurant's discretion and is subject to availability.

123 Victoria Street, Potts Point

Bopp & Tone

Bopp & Tone boasts a sprawling, seductive restaurant that comes dripping in dark timber furnishings, heavy marble surfaces, crystal chandeliers and mustard-hued velvet banquettes that make for a truly romantic dinner date. But it’s not just about romance, with its buzzing atmosphere and small crowds congregating around the bar, Bopp & Tone is geared up for everyone to enjoy, no matter the occasion. So, you can grab your best gang or indulge in dinner à deux.

Food is modern Australian with a Mediterranean twist, with many of the dishes cooked to perfection on the in-house wood grill or charcoal oven, to give it that wonderfully chargrilled, smoky aroma. Fresh, seasonal dishes feature on the moreish menu, and there’s a strong focus on seafood and cooked meats.

Special offer: The Bopp & Tone team want you to indulge in a curated four-course seafood shared menu ($180 per person). Highlighting the best in produce of the sea, with each course you will discover the wonders of NSW’s Sapphire Coast.

*Provision of the special offer is at the restaurant's discretion and is subject to availability.

60 Carrington Street, Sydney

Nour

A Lebanese restaurant, but not as you know it. A popular spot-on Crown Street’s foodie trail, Nour creatively pulls out the traditional flavours of Lebanon in dishes that will keep you Insta-happy throughout the meal. The interiors are just as gorgeous, a contemporary fit-out with glass doors opening out onto a terrace. When it comes to the menu, you'll want to try a bit of everything and for libations, their signature cocktails hit the spot

Special offer: Throughout May, Nour’s head chef Luca Lonati will be serving up a special menu that fuses Sicilian and Arabic cuisine in a modern and exciting way, with nods to the history of the Arabic influence on Sicilian food. Alongside this, you can sample an aperitif and digestif specially crafted by ESCA Group’s bar manager Mark Anderson, in collaboration with Gruppo Campari using the Sicilian liquor Amaro Averna.

*Provision of the special offer is at the restaurant's discretion and is subject to availability.

3/490 Crown Street, Surry Hills

*Offer must be saved to eligible American Express® Card first. Limited Offer. Offer ends 31 May 2022. Excl, T&Cs apply.

Ready to fire up the group chat, unlock the best offers and events, and eat your way through Sydney’s magnificent hospitality scene this May? Plan your month out by perusing the full line up of restaurants, bars, and cafes in your neighbourhood at American Express delicious. Month Out. Heading interstate? Check out Melbourne's sensational offering, explore Brisbane’s bustling nightlife, and check out some of Adelaide’s best seafood and wine bars as the city joins the food festival for the first time.