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Best Lunch in Sydney: Where To Go For a Delicious Feast

Grab the girls, these are the hottest spots in town serving up the best lunch in Sydney.

Mimi's

Nothing beats a long, leisurely lunch with friends at one of Sydney’s buzzing restaurants. It’s a time-honoured tradition that involves three essential elements: mouth-watering food, refreshing cocktails, and the joy of engaging conversations.

Sydney's lunch scene caters seamlessly to gatherings of all sizes, making it the ideal canvas for unforgettable moments with your crew.

If you're feeling overwhelmed by the abundance of choices, fear not. We've got you covered with a curated list of some of the hottest contenders providing the best lunch in Sydney, presented in no particular order.

Hurry, there's no better time than now to make a date with your best girls!

Bistro Nido

Bistro Nido

When in the mood for a sumptuous lunch in Sydney, locals know to head to Bistro Nido, a delightful fusion of French and Japanese cuisines.

Tucked away in Regent Place, this 40-seater restaurant, part of the renowned Devon Hospitality Group, blends the timeless charm of a French bistro with Japanese ingenuity. "Nido," meaning "twice-cooked" in Japanese, signifies the extra mile they take for quality, both in ambience and on your plate. 

Take your premium dining experience to a whole new level by pairing your exquisite small plates and large share dishes with a classic French wine or one of their enticing aperitifs.

501 George Street, Sydney

Babylon Rooftop

Babylon Rooftop

Stepping into Babylon is like taking a delicious journey through the flavours of Turkey, a heartfelt tribute to the cherished memories of street vendors expertly crafting fresh, handcrafted hummus and more.

But don’t worry, a lunch in this Sydney eatery won’t break the bank. They've got your back with an affordable midday feast that doesn't skimp on flavour, as well as premium tasting menus for the days you arrive extra hungry.

Level 7 Rooftop, Westfield Pitt Street Mall, 188 Pitt Street, CBD

Beau

Beau

For a memorable lunch experience in Sydney, Beau is the go-to spot. Nestled in the heart of the city, this gem - born from the creators of NOMAD - knows its way around the art of midday feasting.

Two distinct sections make up Beau's personality —Beau & Dough, the sunny bakery-cafe, and Beau Bar, the sultry wine bar further down the lane.

A long lunch will find you making your way to Beau Bar, where you can feast on fresh seafood platters that pair well with your drink of choice from the extensive beverage list. Don't miss the 300 wines - many of them Australian - and inventive cocktails. 

1 Fracks Lane, Surry Hills

mimi's

Mimi's 

Set over the waves, mimi's celebrates the coastline and stands out as one of the best spots for lunch in Sydney.

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, diners can savour delicacies and choose a drop from the 600-strong wine list to ensure your meal is perfectly accompanied. Chablis, anyone? 

130a Beach Street, Coogee 

Totti’s

Totti’s  

This modern Italian venue serves up hand-crafted pasta, meats and classic Italian cocktails in a relaxed setting, making Totti's the perfect place for Sunday lunch with the girls.

The 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.

Bondi, Rozelle, CBD

The Boathouse Rose Bay

The Boathouse Rose Bay 

Want to wine and dine with a view? Book a table at The Boathouse Rose Bay. This popular Eastern Suburbs venue is perched right on the water, offering sweeping views of Sydney Harbour.

On the menu, there’s fresh seafood aplenty – such as crab, oysters, scallops and prawns – which is quite fitting with its sweeping bay views, don’t you think? 

594 New South Head Road, Rose Bay 

Kiln

Kiln, Ace Hotel 

Sydney’s coolest new hotel opened an even cooler rooftop restaurant that's become quite the spot for a long lunch in town.

Situated 18 stories high at the crown of the Ace Hotel, Kiln is a contemporary Australian restaurant that draws inspiration from Japan and Southeast Asia. Come for the view, stay for the food (or vice versa) because this sky-high restaurant is not one to miss as one of the best lunch spots in Sydney. 

53 Foy Lane, Sydney 

Bert's Bar & Brasserie

Bert's Bar & Brasserie 

Sitting pretty on the grounds of Merivale’s The Newport, Bert's Bar & Brasserie is an upscale and tranquil bar and brasserie. The premium wine list and European-inspired menu pay homage to the opulent hotel dining of the 1930s.

With beautiful views of Pittwater and grand vintage-styled interiors, Bert’s is the perfect buzzy spot for a girls’ long lunch in Sydney. 

2 Kalinya Street, Newport 

Otto Ristorante

Otto Ristorante 

Ideally located on the Finger Wharf at Woolloomooloo with stunning views, Otto Ristorante has a menu that changes seasonally - but you can always count on a blend of modern Italian flavours with fresh, local produce.

Call ahead to ask for a table on the outdoor terrace, and if you have the time, linger over the six-course degustation menu and matching wines for a lunch you won't soon forget.

8/6 Cowper Wharf Road, Woolloomooloo 

The Butler

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, original sandstone walls and indoor plants of every type and texture, this restaurant is an eclectic oasis.

The piece de resistance is its lush terrace, which offers a panoramic view 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 and snap some glowing golden-hour selfies while you're at it. 

123 Victoria Street, Potts Point 

NOUR

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 with a contemporary fit-out with glass doors opening out onto a terrace. 

3/490 Crown Street, Surry Hills 

Bathers Pavilion

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 breakfast, lunch and dinner menu offers Mediterranean-style food in a chic, yet colourful, setting.

The restaurant takes it up a notch for lunch and dinner 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. 

4 The Esplanade, Mosman 

North Bondi Fish

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. 

120 Ramsgate Avenue, North Bondi 

Chiswick

Chiswick 

Sydney’s most beautiful garden restaurant is a magnet for ladies’ lunches and family celebrations. Honestly, it’s hard to think of a better place to spend a sunny afternoon. Looks aside, the food is incredible.

For groups of 8 or more, Chiswick offers shared menus made up of seasonal plates and the signature slow-cooked lamb, which comes from Matt Moran’s family farm. 

65 Ocean Street, Woollahra 

Little Pearl

Little Pearl 

Local favourite Little Pearl is an all-day dining destination that has hawker-style share plates, Asian-inspired brunch dishes, bold cocktails and easy-drinking wines.

Across the road from the iconic Manly Beach, the venue is a trendy oasis and the perfect beachside spot for a relaxed Sunday lunch in Sydney with your besties. 

8/13 South Steyne, Manly 

The Winery

The Winery 

Playful and pretty, The Winery is a wine bar-slash-restaurant with a serious cool factor: it takes up a whole laneway in Surry Hills.

There are a few areas to choose from: the upstairs dining area, the main bar downstairs, and the garden outside, but we’d recommend upstairs if you have a large group.

The Winery’s wine list, as you can imagine, is extensive, with lots of tongue-in-cheek descriptions like “mysterious reds” and “unpronounceable whites.”

When it’s time to order food, you can opt for share plates or heartier main meals. For lunch in Sydney, this one is definitely up there.  

285A Crown Street, Surry Hills 

The Grounds of Alexandria

The Grounds of Alexandria 

A firm Sydney lunch favourite since opening, The Grounds of Alexandria has gone from strength to strength. This destination restaurant and café has a paddock-to-plate approach and will have you munching down on the likes of buttermilk pancakes, omelettes and toasted crumpets, or tempting you with a hearty brekkie burger.

There is also a bakery churning out all kinds of delicious bread, muffins, cakes and tarts. Get down early to snag yourself a seat as this popular joint fills up fast. 

Building 7A, 2 Huntley Street, Alexandria 

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.  

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