The best waterfront restaurants in Sydney

After more than 30 years of serving delicious, honest food with a side of blissful joy, Bondi’s sea-salt-sprayed jewel shines brighter than ever. Enjoy a three-course home-style meal made using seasonal produce, right on North Bondi Beach. Sean's is as good as it gets in our books.

Time Out tip: Go for the roast chook – it’s legendary for good reason. Plus, Sean's is BYO (with a corkage fee), so bring a couple of your fave bottles.

Chiosco by Ormeggio is one of Sydney’s best gems. Not only is the Italian diner literally on the water, and delicious, it’s also the kind of place you can go to with swimmers underneath your shorts, where service comes with a big smile and lots of “ciao!”s, and you really do forget about the time.

Time Out tip: It's also BYO, baby.

Is there a better seat in Sydney for lunch than Icebergs Dining Room and Bar? Yes, flash-diner Quay is up there, and so too is Bennelong in Sydney's favourite house. But when the sun is shining, we want to be at Icebergs, living the life of the rich and famous, albeit for a few sun-soaked, sea salt-sprayed glorious hours. Sure, those million-dollar views will cost you, but we can't take cash to our graves, can we?

Time Out tip: Don't have that much cash to splash? Head to the bar (they don't take bookings), order a cocktail and drink up those views.

This spot is tucked away right around the bend from beautiful Manly Beach – and trust us when we say it's well worth the scenic walk. Come for brekkie, lunch or drinks, but whatever you do, just come.

Time Out Tip: The Boathouse frequently has an epic happy hour – right now it's $10 drinks, Monday to Friday, 4-6pm. See you there!

The first thing that hits you when you visit Pilu, the only Sardinian restaurant in Sydney, is the glorious view. The restaurant is in a huge old weatherboard house looking out over the beach at Freshwater. In winter, catch the whales migrating. In summer, watch as locals take to the sea. Make sure to order ahead for the incredible platter of golden, crisp-skinned suckling pig and rosemary potatoes, brought to you by the much-loved chef Giovanni Pilu.

Time Out tip: If you're looking for something more casual, right next door to Pilu you'll find Pilu Baretto – a café by day, wine bar by night.

The ocean views are an obvious reason to visit Bobbys, the restaurant that's docked at the waterfront in South Cronulla. But locals are beelining for Bobbys for more than its blessed location. For starters, the beachfront restaurant embodies the beach club spirit of Ibiza, emphasising fun Euro vacay vibes while also conjuring up its very own version of contemporary Cronulla cool.

Time Out tip: Bobbys' fish burger is top-notch.

Canvas, a fine dining restaurant with a bold concept at an accessible price point, is now open on level four of Sydney’s MCA in The Rocks, having taken over from the beloved rooftop café. You can now get a two-course menu for $85 per person or a three-course meal for $100 per person. And all with a side of Opera House and Harbour Bridge views. How good is that?!

Time Out tip: Canvas aims to push boundaries – just like the artworks below – by offering a Sydney-first dining concept. Every six months, a new chef will take up residency with the freedom to create a brand-new menu, available at lunchtime only. Right now, that person is Josh Raine, the former executive chef of award-collecting Tetsuya’s from 2018 until this year. And his menu rocks.

If a long, boozy lunch is what you're after – one where wine is poured with a smile, dishes appear and disappear like magic, and you forget about the time – Bathers' Pavilion is your spot. And with views that good, why would anyone be in a hurry?

Time Out Tip: Former Sixpenny and Shell House chef Aaron Ward took over the reins as executive chef at Bathers’ this year, changing up the menu with exciting additions. If it’s been a while between visits, now’s a good time.

Mimi’s, like it’s northern sibling Bert’s in Newport, is a thing of beauty. It takes up the majority of the second floor of the Coogee Pavilion and you will not look out of place if you get your hair done just to eat dinner here. Repurpose a wad of cash from your future travel funds and use it to treat yourself here instead.

Time Out tip: Right next door to Mimi's is where you'll find casual cocktail bar Will's, home to one of Sydney's best burgers.

Restaurant and bar St Siandra brings year-round summer vibes to Mosman; so much so that the Mediterranean-inspired venue is situated on a white-sand private beach (yes, really), overlooking the turquoise waters of the Spit. Spend the afternoon watching yachts glide by with Spritzes on tap, and eating seafood prepared by head chef Sam McCallum (formerly of two-hatted Nomad). How's that for la bella vita?

Time Out tip: Cocktails wise, our pick is The Flying Cloud, a fun and fruity drink made with Malfy Gin Rosa, Aperol, citrus and fresh watermelon, and topped with fairy floss and edible flowers. Order that.

This year marks 25 years of Aria, chef Matt Moran's stellar fine diner by Sydney Harbour. There's lots to like, from the floor-to-ceiling glass windows that let you take in one of the city's best views to the seasonal, flawless food and top-notch wine service. Dining at Aria feels like a reading a love note to Sydney – and it's one we're keen to read for another 25 years.

Time Out tip: Going to a show? Book in at Aria for the pre-theatre option, where you can enjoy either a two- or three-course delicious meal.

The Shire is heating up with the opening of Benny’s, a relaxed waterfront restaurant overlooking Gunnamatta Bay, joining recent arrivals like Pino's Vino e Cucina al Mare and Bobbys. RJ Lines, the former chef of Summer Hill’s now-closed, award-winning restaurant One Penny Red, is behind the Mediterranean-and-Australian-inspired menu. Lines is focused on letting the fresh produce shine, promising straightforward, delicious dishes that keep people coming back.

Time Out tip: Benny's also serves takeaway fish and chips and gelato, best enjoyed sitting on the grass out the front in the sun.

Berowra Waters Inn is special. You can feel it as you approach the restaurant by water, surrounded by bushland and singing birds, jumping fish and the odd bullshark. There is no other restaurant like this in Sydney.

Time Out tip: You can only reach Berowra Waters Inn by water, but the good news is that the team offers complimentary boat transfers. Or you can call up your rich mate – whatever works.

“By God, this is a beautiful place to eat a meal.” The thought is almost certain to strike at some point as you dine under the dominating, post-Brutalist arches of executive chef Peter Gilmore's restaurant inside the Opera House sails. And that’ll be before you even see the food.

Time Out tip: One of Sydney's best-kept secrets is the Bennelong Bar, where you can experience one of city's icons at a lower price point.

Owners House Made Hospitality (also Apollonia, Lana) have bagged one of the most iconic venues in town. The heritage-listed Bondi Pavilion, which has stood since the establishment of municipal surf sheds on the site in 1911, is fresh from a multi-million-dollar restoration, which thankfully maintains its recognisable Spanish-style roofing and archways. Its sprawling 900-square-metre spot at the beach’s centrepoint gives Promenade Bondi Beach an unrivalled location and makes it the largest beachside restaurant in Australia.

Time Out tip: Swing by the Beach Bar Monday to Friday 3-6pm for $15 pizzas – all you need to do is mention 'Pink Dolphin' (lol) to your server.

Quay, Sydney's finest restaurant, is obviously on this list. In terms of waterfront views – and exceptional dining experiences – it takes the cake. You will just need to save up your pocket money beforehand, though.

Time Out tip: There is not a bad time to dine at Quay, so whether you come for a sun-dappled lunch, or a romantic dinner, you'll be stoked.

Lunch at Bert’s is as close as we can ever get to actually living the jazz age in all its glory. There’s not a dining room that compares to the soft-focus beauty that Merivale have achieved in the final instalment of the Newport’s renewal. Now although we can’t afford the $2 million price tag on a Newport residence, an afternoon of café society luxury can be yours, and it’s not as expensive as you might think to get it. Of course, it’s not cheap either – it costs money to create the illusion that you’ve gone back in time and risen several social classes. But hey, it’s very worth it. 

Time Out tip: The Newport, found down below Bert's, is an ace spot for a Sunday sesh – be sure to order a couple of the puffy, charred wood-fired pizzas with your Spritzes. 

Combine panoramic water views (bonus points for additional city skyline), seafood, fresh pasta, a sunny deck and a cheeky bevvy and the result is the Platonic ideal of a perfect Sydney day. And it’s an accessible reality at Manly Pavilion. The dining room housed in the 1930's bathing pavilion facing Manly Cove and looking out to the heads and all the way back to the CBD skyscrapers, could not be better located if it tried.

Time Out tip: Manly Pavilion is one of the first places you pass if you’re trekking from the Spit along the coastal walk – we can think of worse places to refuel.

With grid-worthy views, a sparkling ocean and fresh share plates, does it get much better than Ripples Chowder Bay? This Mosman restaurant has been loved by locals and tourists alike for years – and after a visit here you'll soon see why. Find out more here.

Time Out tip: Can't make it to Chowder Bay? No worries. There's also a Ripples in Little Manly, which goes down a treat.

A seaplane departure lounge may not be your first port of call when you’re looking to book in a long lunch in Sydney’s east – but then again, Quay sits above Circular Quay’s Overseas Passenger Terminal so why shouldn’t Lyne Park’s Empire Lounge be a lunch spot worth its salt, too? For views out over the glittering waters of Rose Bay, this glass-walled eatery jutting out over the water affords you the most fresh seafood and stunning views.

Time Out tip: Feel like a coffee? Hit up the Empire Cafe Coffee Truck, located 100 metres from Rose Bay Wharf. 

Make the most of Sydney's sunshine at waterfront spot, Pier Bar. Located smack-bang on the water along the historic Pier One in Walsh Bay, Pier Bar offers gorgeous views of Sydney Harbour plus a prime spot to watch the flaming orange sunset with a cocktail in hand. Drawing inspiration from the rich marine history of Pier One – which was built in 1912 as a seafood and entertainment heaven – Pier Bar serves fruity cocktails and seafood as fresh as if it were just plucked from the sea.

Time Out tip: In need of a staycation? Pier One is one of our fave hotels in Sydney.

Outside on the street, away from the Star, Pyrmont feels like a bit of a No Man’s Land for a fancy dinner out. But that was until LuMi Bar and Dining came along, the restaurant from ex-head chef of Ormeggio at the Spit, Federico Zanellato. It’s right on the wharf opposite the casino, and because of its positioning and huge glass walls, it feels as if you’re floating on the harbour, surrounded as you are by water.

Time Out tip: LuMi has one of Sydney's best degustations – if you've got a super-special occasion coming up, come here.

With its bustling crowds and postcard-worthy location, Italian diner Otto is the ultimate spot for a very Sydney long lunch. When the sun's shining, there are few nicer places to be.

Time Out tip: This waterfront destination offers incontrovertible proof that you don’t need eggs, cheese and meat to make stylish Italian fare pop – they offer full vegan and veggo menus alongside the usual suspects (but look, we're also fans of the lobster pasta).

Cafe Sydney has some of the best views in the city. The huge balcony juts straight over Circular Quay with a bird's-eye view of the Harbour Bridge, Opera House and Sydney ferries choofing their way across the sparkling blue water. If you're in full impress-your-mates mode, order a seafood platter with a selection of yabbies, bugs, crab, marron and prawns. You won't regret it.

Time Out tip: If you're hosting visitors and want to impress, Cafe Sydney's food (and views) should do the trick.

Situated along the sandstone Campbells Cove in The Rocks, pan-Asian restaurant Luna Lu is home to quintessential Sydney Harbour views. The fit-out of the 160-seat restaurant is stylish and sophisticated, featuring moody black marble tables, blue suede chairs, and hand-crafted ceramics. Diners can take a seat in the open-yet-covered space, allowing you to enjoy fresh air while sitting outside regardless of the weather conditions.

Time Out tip: With cocktail masterclasses, whisky tastings, dumpling making, traditional tea ceremonies and weekend high-tea experiences, there are plenty of reasons to visit Luna Lu sooner rather than later.

There’s not many “best of” lists that Ormeggio at the Spit hasn’t graced during its 15 years at the D’Alboro Marina in Middle Harbour. The Italian fine diner is one of the city’s top long lunch spots and has the kind of waterfront views residents pay tens of millions to enjoy.

Time Out tip: Got a pesco mate? Bring them here – Ormeggio at The Spit's menu features only seafood and plants. 

Located right on the Lavender Bay foreshore, the harbourside Sails on Lavender Bay restaurant has been offering guests grid-worthy views of the Harbour Bridge and glittering harbour for more than 40 years. Now, after a massive French Riviera-inspired glow-up, the Sydney dining institution has reopened, and we’ve got to say, she’s looking schmick.

Time Out tip: The fit-out is gorgeous. Think: a joyous clash of textures, prints and colours, stylish furniture and elegant touches, resulting in a coastal-European look. We reckon your mum or nan would love it.

With an amazing view over Rose Bay and an exceptional wine list, Catalina specialise in seafood but also do some pretty gutsy French classics like pig's head with sauce gribiche. They even have their own sushi chef who'll slice you a piece of fish faster than you can say mushi mushi. Say hi to the friendly pelicans for us.

Time Out tip: Catalina celebrated 30 years this year. Why not celebrate your next birthday here?

This Woolloomooloo finger wharf hot spot is the go-to for ladies' long lunches, water views and shareable pan-Asian cuisine. The three banquet menu options are great for groups, so book a big table and order up a bunch of dishes that trot through Beijing (Peking duck pancakes), Bali (cobia yellow curry), Bangkok (crisp pork belly with chilli caramel and prik nam pla) and Sydney (salt and pepper king prawns with toasted chilli and garlic). 

Time Out tip: Go for the banquet menu – it's excellent.

Often it’s great food that a restaurant has going for it. And other times, it’s all about the location and the view. And every now and then you stumble upon a spot that combines the best of both – and the result is pretty great. Enter Kingsleys Woolloomooloo, a steak and seafood restaurant located right on the wharf at Woolloomooloo by the sparkling harbour.

Time Out tip: To kick things off, go for the freshly shucked Sydney rock oysters and the dry-aged Wagyu steak tartare, paired with a glass (or bottle) of bubbles.