Sydney offers up a plethora of outdoor dining spaces to enjoy an alfresco meal. Whether it’s a spectacular harbour view or a panorama of one of the city’s sandy beaches you’re after, here are some great outdoor dining options with memorable vistas:
Kepos Street Kitchen, Redfern
On a street corner in Redfern, you can sit outside at Kepos Street Kitchen in the dappled sunlight, enjoying modern Middle Eastern cuisine. Try the delicious breakfast falafel with hummus, tomato, boiled egg and pickled chilli then pop inside to browse the deli fridge and collect fresh, local produce to cook at home. Chef and owner Michael Rantissi was born in Tel Aviv and trained in French cuisine – his menu reflects the Israeli street food of his childhood with a modern, elegant twist.
In The Rocks
The Glenmore Hotel boasts picture-perfect views of Sydney Harbour and the Sydney Opera House from Cumberland Street in The Rocks, one of the first sites to be settled in the city. Atop this historic and popular watering hole, you’ll find an expansive open dining area with postcard-worthy panoramas. At Hotel Palisade on top of a steep hill in neighbouring Millers Point, the rooftop cocktail bar Henry Deane combines expansive views of the Sydney Harbour Bridge and beyond with fine modern Australian dishes.
Coogee Pavilion, Coogee
For spectacular sunset drinks with the cool crowd, make your way to Coogee, a 20-minute drive from the city centre in the eastern suburbs. Here you’ll find the rooftop of beachside Coogee Pavilion is perfect for socialising in the sun. The rooftop space is an expansive summerhouse-style bar with lots of cane chairs, greenery and a panoramic view of the beach and Wylie’s Baths rock pool. The heritage building is a former aquarium and swimming baths dating back to around 1887, featuring a ground-floor bar, tapas bar Una Más, cocktail bar Will’s and fine-dining restaurant Mimi’s.
Nielsen Park, Vaucluse
One of the prettiest places for brunch in Sydney is The Nielsen Kiosk, overlooking Shark Beach in Nielsen Park, a 20-minute drive from the city centre in the eastern suburbs. It’s places like this that make Sydney so unique: a harbour beach, fringed by bushland, so close to the city. The wooden pavilion dates to 1914 and houses a quaint kiosk with outdoor tables taking in those views, along with an Italian-inspired restaurant serving a seasonal menu of local produce.
In Barangaroo
With more than 30 restaurants, Barangaroo is one of Sydney’s most lively dining precincts, right in the city centre. The jewel in the crown is Barangaroo House, an award-winning three-level architectural gem clad in charcoaled timber with a sophisticated rooftop bar, Smoke, overlooking the harbour. Along Wulugul Walk there’s a strip of waterfront restaurants with a range of dining options to choose from. Experience a taste of Turkey at Anason, The Meat & Wine Co. for African-inspired flavours, or Ume Burger for a quirky Japanese burger mash-up.
The Boathouse, Palm Beach
Perched on Pittwater in Palm Beach, an hour’s drive north of Sydney, The Boathouse Palm Beach offers seaside views and a nautical vibe. It’s a beautiful spot for coffee, brunch or a cold seafood platter with Sydney rock oysters and tiger prawns to share. Walk along the beach or hike up to Barrenjoey Lighthouse while you’re there, to enjoy the spectacular view.
The Empire Lounge, Rose Bay
This glamourous waterside bar and dining spot in Rose Bay, a 15-minute drive from the city centre, is also the departure lounge for Sydney Seaplanes. At Empire Lounge, sip a bellini and dine on fresh seafood looking out over the water, or combine your Empire Lounge experience with a scenic flight around Sydney or up to Jonah’s at Whale Beach, around 40km to the north of the city, for lunch.
The Gantry, Walsh Bay
Nestled in the historic Walsh Bay arts precinct under the shadows of the Sydney Harbour Bridge, The Gantry restaurant is a creative fine-dining experience in the Pier One Sydney Harbour hotel. You can sip a botanical cocktail at the hotel’s Bar One on the pier and then enjoy freshly foraged ingredients from an innovative, award-winning menu while taking in relaxing views of Sydney Harbour and the wharves.
Glass Island
This must-do floating bar experience on Sydney Harbour has all the luxury of a chic bar setting with on-the-water views. Cruise under the Sydney Harbour Bridge as you sit back and relax with an inventive cocktail and colourful grazing board. Glass Island is a seated cruising experience with three entertainment levels, tables and VIP booths. Guests are collected from King Street Wharf in Darling Harbour, with most cruises departing at 1pm and returning by 4.30pm on Saturdays and Sundays.
For more information on dining in Sydney go to www.sydney.com.
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