Venere Travel Blog - It's our business where you sleep!

There was a time, long ago, when Sydney and Australia more generally were famous, even among the English, as being very dull places to eat. Thankfully this has changed drastically and Sydney now has a huge variety of food available to compete with Los Angeles, another great pacific basin melting pot. Here are my suggestions of the best restaurants in Sydney, if you disagree or think I have missed a good one then please leave a comment below.

Photo by Ed Yourdon

Yukis at the Quay is one of my favourite restaurants in Sydney but mainly for the view and my personal memories. The Japanese food can probably be bettered, the service is very attentive but slightly cold and the view is reflected in the prices. However, the dining experience, at night with the harbour lit up in front of you and the excellent food whisked to your plate, is glamorous, romantic and truly unforgettable. It can get very popular so prospective diners are advised to book ahead where possible.

Graze aims to be on the very cutting edge of cuisine which, of course, means it is about a year out of date for the real connoisseurs but is still a wacky experience for most diners such as me. Poms will probably best understand the food as similar to the experiments launched by Heston Blumenthal at the Fat Duck, with lots of Nitrogen and unexpectedly complementary combinations. Visitors should take with them an open mind and revel in what is still a novel dining experience for most.

Bloodwood has, as well as a fantastic name, a great fusion menu of the kind that is common enough in Sydney, but is pulled off with more panache and flair than in many other venues in the surrounding areas put together. Bloodwood is not aimed at pretentious types but rather has the feel of a local diner, which is what it is, but a very good one. The food is designed to share which makes for a great atmosphere, the place is very popular with large groups so perhaps not a great venue for an intimate date but fantastic for a bunch of friends.

Steel Bar and Grill is a fantastic dining experience, but not one for anyone with a dislike of pretention as it drips from every pore of this hugely trendy and self-proclaimed ‘sophisticated’ venue. The decor is full of brushed steel, I presume that’s where the name comes from, and it does look great. Visitors will want to dress up just a bit as most people do or have come straight from work. The meat on the menu is succulent and divine although some of the side dishes fell a little flat. Reservations at peak times are a must as it gets very full, although if you want to pop in during the day you should be fine.

Hotels in Sydney

Y Hotel City South
Average Price: €66
Average Rating: 6.0

Travelodge Hotel Sydney
Average Price: €76
Average Rating: 8.1

Chatswood Inn
Average Price: €61