7 of Sydney’s Best Waterfront Dining Spots
If there are two things we know this city excels in serving up – food and views. And lucky for us, we’re spoiled for choice for spots and sites which deliver both.
Whether you’re looking to celebrate a special harbourside moment with a loved one or catch up with friends over sunset cocktails, our Harbour City is home to an impressive array of incredible waterside dining and drinking venues, old and new.
We’ve rounded up some of our favourites within walking distance in and around Pyrmont, Darling Harbour and Barangaroo, so all you need to do is choose which one to book, get your camera ready to capture sensational food and views in one shot, and enjoy the experience.
1. Sala Dining, Pyrmont
One of Sydney’s newest Italian restaurants, Sala Dining is sure to wow with its panoramic views and front row seats to the spectacle that is the harbour. Perched on the edge of Jones Bay Wharf overlooking the water across to the Sydney Opera House, Sala offers a delectable dining and drinking experience like no other. The talented team combines fresh Australian seafood classics with modern Italian flavours to create a delicious menu of memorable dishes to enjoy while soaking in the views.
2. Smoke Bar, Barangaroo
An ode to the trendy rooftops on the California coast in America, Smoke Bar at Barangaroo House is the perfect spot to enjoy sunset cocktails or a leisurely, high-end bar snack while watching the glistening waters of Sydney Harbour sparkle away before your eyes. Stacked on top of new Rekodo Restaurant & Vinyl Bar, you can spend the night on the rooftop or make your way across the venue’s various levels for a progressive dining experience, taking in live music and a program of rotating arts and cultural events changing on a weekly basis.
3. Revy Food and Wine
History lovers will be happy to know that the restoration of heritage-listed venues into hospitality venues continues to live on. Set within walls that tell stories of a 105-year-old past, is the newly opened casual dining restaurant Revy Food and Wine. With a harbourside setting and a large selection of dishes from classic breakfast items, indulgent sharing portions for lunch and dinner, and a cocktail list to enjoy by the harbour – this is not one to miss.
4. Lumi Dining, Pyrmont
It’s hard to pass this one by, especially when seeking out a spot to celebrate a special occasion. Lumi is well-known for its intricate and creative Italian-Japanese fusion degustation menu by celebrated chef Federico Zanellato (of ELE and Lode Pies) and a wonderful wine list perfect for pairing your night away with. And of course, the restaurant’s location on the edge of the wharf means water gently lapping and views to gaze out into, while cosying up in the moody setting ideal for date nights and intimate celebrations.
5. Lotus, Barangaroo
If dumplings are your love language, you’ll fall in love with this dumplings-with-a-view offering in buzzy Barangaroo. Set on the restaurant strip of Barangaroo’s eat street, Lotus is a modern Chinese restaurant with a strong seafood-focused menu, combining traditional Chinese flavours and Australian elements. Sample delicious parcels of joy courtesy of Lotus’ dumpling master, while watching ferries meander by on the harbour.
Photography: Jiwon Kim for Broadsheet
6. Zebra Lounge, Pyrmont
With its enviable position on the harbour by lush Pirrama Park, Zebra Lounge is a favourite haunt of Pyrmont locals, loved for its chilled vibes and open-air indoor/outdoor seating. Tuck into the cafe’s bistro-style modern Australian menu and a casual glass or two of wine while taking in the serene scene of the harbour, often dotted with kayakers exploring the waterway stretching between Sydney Harbour Bridge and Anzac Bridge.
7. Ploos, Circular Quay
A rendezvous in Sydney isn’t complete without a sighting of the iconic Sydney Opera House, from near or far. But best to make it near, and what better way to do so than with a scenic ferry ride across the harbour from Pyrmont Wharf to Circular Quay, combined with a dining experience at new Mediterranean restaurant, Ploos. Located in the newly-restored heritage-listed warehouses of Campbell’s Cove, this waterfront beauty draws inspiration from the Aegean Islands, so expect lounging sofas, bespoke cocktails and a Greek-inspired menu from the godfather of Greek cuisine in Sydney, chef Peter Conistis. Oh, and uninterrupted views of our white-sailed neighbour.
Image courtesy: https://forfoodssake.net/
Whether you’re choosing the first one that catches your eye or you’re off to a food trip excursion, why not make a night of your waterfront dining experience and stay at Aiden Darling Harbour? Plan your adventure and view our current packages and offers here.