The best restaurants in Paddington

Josh Niland is a genius, but you probably already know that. For years, he has been practising nose-to-tail magic, showing the world the limitless possibilities with creatures of the sea, whether that’s transforming fish eyes into velvety ice-cream, or giving beef and pork a run for their money with his legendary yellowfin tuna and swordfish bacon cheeseburger. He proves it yet again at Saint Peter 2.0, a project five-and-a-half-years in the making by Niland and his wife, Julie. The fine dining restaurant has found its forever home in Paddington's Grand National Hotel.

Time Out tip: At night, Saint Peter offers a nine-course set menu, though you can order off the à la carte menu in the day. Don't have a booking? Head to Saint Peter Bar and enjoy a Martini with excellent seafood snacks.

Walking into Ursula’s Paddington feels like stepping into an elegant terrace home, adorned with warm caramel tones, vibrant blues and statement lampshades that probably cost more than a month’s rent. The two-storey restaurant is by formidable chef Phil Woods and his wife, Lis Davies, and over the past three years, it has quietly and confidently cemented itself as one of Sydney’s finest diners. Lunch here isn’t cheap, but neither are those Maison Balzac glasses you’re drinking from.

Time Out tip: Be sure to order the luscious Moreton Bay bug pasta, twirled with a I've-died-and-gone-to-heaven crustacean butter – it’s one of the city’s most delicious dishes.

Behind the little linen curtains and dark timber façade of this Oxford Street spot you’ll find a dining experience so warm and inviting it feels like you’ve gone back in time to Julia Child’s kitchen. Perched up at one of the two marble-topped counters in Fred’s open kitchen, you could almost be at a friend’s house for dinner, except your friend is insanely wealthy and possesses two commercial stoves, a domed wood-fired oven and a double-wide hearth with twin fires burning merrily in its grates.

Time Out tip: Feel like an after-dinner cocktail? Head to the basement where you'll find top-notch bar, Charlie Parker's.

You probably just popped your head in for a cheeky glass of vino on your way home. But, once the aroma of shellfish, garlic, and chilli in the tangled thicket of spaghettini hits you, you may as well relinquish your evening plans – and your budget for that matter. The only way out of a night of incredible wines and Italianish food at 10 William Street is through it. The ultimate First World Problem. 

Time Out tip: The warm pretzel served with heavily whipped bottarga is still one of Sydney's greatest snacks, even after all these years

Brought to you by Bosko Vujovic, the guy who made Arthur’s Pizza the Sydney icon it was, Love Supreme has the same jazzy, zany character and social club feel. Love Supreme uses organic produce as far as possible and also does a gluten-free base for people who can't stomach wheat. It's always busy (don't go if you're in a mad rush) and extremely fun. The long marble table at the back is great for big parties. 

Opportunity doesn’t necessarily knock. Sometimes it pours you a glass of wine and says, “We’ve got a space upstairs you should see.” This is how Porcine, the beautiful French garret-style restaurant on Oxford Street, came to be, perched on the first floor above the aqua-blue façade of natural wine shop P&V Wine and Liquor. And while you savour the last bits of a crème brûlée or a chocolate mousse, you’ll already be wondering how quickly your budget and blood glucose levels will let you return.

Il Baretto is a long-standing Italian restaurant serving authentic fare since 1999. In 2020, it moved from its original home in Surry Hills to Paddington, inside the Paddo Inn. The menu, written on butcher’s paper and hung on the wall, includes dishes such as burrata with ox heart tomato, black olives and basil oil; fried calamari and tiger prawns with sage with lemon and caper butter; and spaghetti alle vongole with garlic, cherry tomatoes and parsley. It’s all bellissimo.

Time Out tip: Next time you’re in Orange, be sure to hit up sister venue Fiorini’s. 

Love eats, beats and booze? Same. Then head to Paddington’s funky cocktail lounge and plant-based Italian palace, Bootleg Social Lounge, formerly known as Bootleg Italian, What's on the menu? Fresh pasta made daily, including their signature vodka rigatoni with chilli and parmesan. You’ll also find Napoli-style flatbreads, crumbed and fried olives stuffed with ‘ricotta’, herbed ‘meatballs’ in a bright and well-seasoned sugo, and a light-as-a-cloud tiramisu for dessert.

Time Out tip: If you’re a fan of the Negroni, check out sibling venue Frankie Cadillac in Surry Hills. The team makes everything from scratch, including their own gin and sweet and dry vermouth – and the Negronis are excellent.

Owned by the same Southern Italian family behind high-end Italian diner Cipri next door, Barbetta is a slice of the sweet Italian life found in the backstreets of Paddington. The room is like a Fellini set in full colour, with long banks of windows coyly shaded in oatmeal linen half-curtains, chipped brick walls, a picture rail of San Pellegrino bottles, and the requisite wall of Italian pantry staples and smallgoods. The cheery eatery is open for breakfast and lunch daily, and for dinner Thursday to Saturday.

The sun is shining, the music is pumping and the wine is flowing at P&V Wine & Liquor Merchants – one of the best places to spend a Saturday arvo in Sydney if you want to check the pulse of Paddington. While this is first and foremost an excellent bottle shop and wine bar, the share plates are also well worth their salt. Whether you’re after a cosy spot for a date night or a catch-up with a friend over delicious food and vino, P&V is the place to be.

Tequila Mockingbird is the 100-seat, two-story terrace on Heeley Street. Downstairs there’s an eight-seat bar plus standing room if you just want a drink and something salty to keep your other hand busy. There’s a dining room that opens out to a little courtyard and garden, while upstairs you'll find more seating and another bar. But the trump card is the little retractable roof that lets in the afternoon sun on a beautiful day for a few select guests. This is prime territory for a ceviche taco and a Tequila Mockingbird, the house cocktail that mixes Don Julio Blanco, elderflower liqueur, muddled cucumber and jalapeños, lemon juice and agave nectar with a spice salt rim. Think of it like a gentle riff on a Margarita.

The Paddington is a schmicked-up pub opposite the Paddington United Church on Oxford Street. Crowd favourites include the lobster roll with spicy mayo, crisp fried chicken, heirloom tomato with stracchino curd, basil and olives, and burrata with prosciutto and pickled pear. But really, everyone is here for the Bannockburn free-range chicken: a juicy bird with sticky, golden-brown skin. It’s served with well-seasoned fries, gravy, and salad, turning an average evening into a delicious one.

Yes, technically, this little neighbourhood restaurant is in Woollahra. But only just. So to that I say: tomayto, tomahto (San Marzano-style), and I’ve added it to the list. I Maccheroni is by chef and owner Marcello Farioli, whose CV spans 10 William Street, Fratelli Paradiso, Otto and more. A small and cosy diner with crisp white tablecloths, warm service and brilliant Italian bowls, it’s the kind of place for romantic date nights and dinners with your mum – AKA the best kinds of nights.

Izy Aki has found its new home in Saint Peter’s former digs on Oxford Street in Paddington. The pared-back, brick-walled space is the perfect canvas for chef Darren Templeman’s inventive Japanese-inspired dishes. The team offers five- and ten-course omakase-style dining options. Pair it with a couple of glasses of sake, and you’ve got yourself a great night out.

If you’re after a casual pub meal, this watering hole, found on the backstreets of Paddington, should do the trick. The menu features all the classics – burgers, steaks, fish and chips – and you can wash it down with a cold beer (there are 24 on tap). 

Time Out tip: Get around the daily specials, including $20 chicken schnittys on Wednesday evenings.

Chef and restaurateur Armando Percuoco came to Australia in 1972 and brought serious, authentic Italian cooking with him, and he still stalks the floor today. He’s all about keeping dishes pared back, and letting flavours speak for themselves. To take full advantage of the food here, stick to the entrees and pasta, and share them.

The old Bellevue used to be a solid spot for a cold beer when you weren't feeling the fusty comfort of the Lord Dudley, but didn't want to dress up for the Centennial. But now this reliable old pub has had a makeover. The bar menu is keep things classy with cheese boards, and for a substantial feed they're sticking to the classics – a burger, fish and chips, and steak frites.