Sydney’s 10 Best Fine Dining Restaurants in the CBD
From fine-dining institutions to bold new openings, these are the best restaurants in Sydney’s CBD right now.
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Sydney’s dining scene is more exciting than ever, with a mix of world-class chefs, inventive menus, and breathtaking locations. Whether you’re after a multi-course tasting experience or a sleek spot for a power lunch, these 10 restaurants define the best of Sydney’s CBD.
1. Quay – Modern Australian
📍 Overseas Passenger Terminal, The Rocks
A Sydney institution, Quay continues to set the benchmark for fine dining with its innovative tasting menus, stunning harbour views, and Peter Gilmore’s signature creations, such as the White Coral dessert.
2. Oncore by Clare Smyth – Contemporary European
📍 Crown Sydney, Barangaroo
The first Australian outpost of three-Michelin-starred Clare Smyth, Oncore delivers refined yet approachable dishes with an emphasis on sustainability, all set against the backdrop of Sydney Harbour.
3. Bennelong – Modern Australian
📍 Sydney Opera House, Circular Quay
Housed in the iconic Opera House, Bennelong offers a sophisticated take on Australian cuisine. Its menu highlights the best local produce in an architecturally stunning setting.
4. Hubert – French Bistro
📍 15 Bligh Street, Sydney
A subterranean slice of Paris in the heart of the CBD, Hubert charms with candlelit tables, a lively jazz soundtrack, and decadent French classics like duck à l’orange and steak frites.
5. Aria – Modern Australian
📍 1 Macquarie Street, Circular Quay
With Matt Moran at the helm, Aria is a longtime favourite for pre-theatre dining and special occasions, serving elegant, seasonal dishes with spectacular views of the Harbour Bridge.
6. A’Mare – Italian Fine Dining
📍 Crown Sydney, Barangaroo
For old-school Italian glamour, A’Mare is the place to be. Expect tableside mozzarella service, hand-rolled pasta, and a lavish setting reminiscent of an Italian grand hotel.
7. Firedoor – Woodfire Cooking
📍 23-33 Mary Street, Surry Hills (CBD fringe)
Chef and owner Lennox Hastie’s Firedoor is a must-visit for meat lovers. Here, everything—yes, everything—is cooked over fire, from aged rib-eye steaks to ember-roasted vegetables.
8. Rockpool Bar & Grill – Classic Steakhouse
📍 66 Hunter Street, Sydney
A high-end power dining staple, Rockpool serves some of the country’s best dry-aged steaks, impeccable seafood, and a deep wine list curated for connoisseurs.
9. Kiln – Contemporary Australian
📍 Ace Hotel, 47 Wentworth Avenue, Sydney
One of Sydney’s most talked-about newer openings, Kiln blends inventive Aussie flavours with a relaxed rooftop atmosphere. It offers standout dishes like fermented potato bread and charcoal-roasted seafood.
10. Shell House Dining Room & Terrace – European-Inspired Brasserie
📍 37 Margaret Street, Sydney
With its grand heritage interiors and sun-drenched rooftop terrace, Shell House offers a polished yet lively dining experience. The menu is focused on fresh, coastal flavours.
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Four one-off Cullinan commissions draw on the design language of yachting, blending marine craftsmanship with Rolls-Royce’s signature bespoke detailing.
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Rolls-Royce has revealed a new series of bespoke Cullinan motor cars inspired by the world of yachting, with four individually commissioned vehicles reflecting the materials, movement and design codes of life at sea.
Presented at Goodwood in the UK, the Cullinan Yachting collection comprises four one-off vehicles themed around the cardinal directions, North, South, East and West, each expressed through distinct exterior finishes and interior detailing.
The commissions lean heavily into maritime influence, a space Rolls-Royce says is closely aligned with its global client base.
Each vehicle features marine-grade teak, hand-painted fascia artwork inspired by the wake of a tender cutting through water, and intricate marquetry compass motifs made from more than 40 individual pieces of wood veneer.
Hand-painted elements have become an increasingly sought-after feature among Rolls-Royce clients, with the brand employing dedicated artisans to develop bespoke interior compositions.
For the Cullinan Yachting series, the painted wake effect required months of experimentation to achieve a natural sense of movement.
Inside, the vehicles are finished in Arctic White and Navy Blue leather, with hand-stitched detailing designed to echo the structure of nautical ropework. A signature Rolls-Royce Starlight
Headliner has also been reimagined, with fibre-optic constellations arranged to reflect Mediterranean wind patterns.
Each car’s exterior colour has been developed to align with its directional theme, ranging from lighter blue tones evoking northern waters to deeper hues referencing warmer southern seas and storm-lit horizons.
Rolls-Royce said the collection reflects a longstanding relationship between the marque and the world of yachting, dating back to its co-founder Charles Rolls, whose family owned a steam yacht and travelled extensively through the Mediterranean.
The release underscores the growing demand for highly personalised vehicles among ultra-high-net-worth buyers, with Rolls-Royce increasingly positioning its cars as part of a broader luxury lifestyle that extends beyond the road.
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