Water views, seafood and welcoming hospitality are just the starting point for these waterfront restaurants in Sydney!
Sydneysiders love to relish in waterfront dining experiences. Whether they specialise in gastronomic seafood banquets, has a vibrant atmosphere or can creatively concoct some crafty cocktails. With water views at their forefront, now has never been a better time to visit these top waterside restaurants in Sydney with the warmer months right around the corner.
So whether you’ve got a special occasion coming up or a relaxed catch up with friends, celebrate the season with a visit to one of the best waterfront restaurants in Sydney of 2024!
Photographed by Tobias Rowles. Image via Destination NSW.
Bennelong
One of our personal favourites, Bennelong is a benchmark for fine dining in Sydney from one of Australia’s most renowned chefs, Peter Gilmore. Located in Sydney’s most iconic harbourside space, the Sydney Opera House, Bennelong boasts a show-stopping venue with a definitively Australian menu which exceeds the very high expectations placed upon it. A new hybrid of affordable fine dining, the food at Bennelong is modern, beautiful and a celebration of Australian local produce. One of the best fine dining waterfront restaurants in Sydney, check out Bennelong for a five-star dining experience!
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Catalina Rose Bay
No list of Sydney’s best waterfront restaurants would be complete without the famed Catalina Rose Bay. Overlooking Bellamy Beach and Rose Bay, Catalina is renowned for its spectacular seafood selection and polished furnishings. Operating for the past 29 years and counting, Catalina has certainly built its reputation when it comes to luxury, Australian dining. With a standout menu brought to life by head chef Alan O’Keeffe, highlights include the Yellow Fin Tuna Tartare, Black River Caviar Churros, the Pan-Fried Snapper and, let’s not forget, their carefully crafted cocktails that help wash it all down.
Photographed by Steve Woodburn. Image supplied.
Harbourfront Seafood Restaurant
Overlooking Sydney Harbour and sitting what almost feels like a touch away from the Sydney Harbour Bridge, Harbourfront Seafood Restaurant Sydney encapsulates the beauty of what this magical city has to offer in a combination of fine dining fare, amazing produce and a venue that lets the important things do the talking. Featuring original sandstone walls that date back to 1799, Harbourfront Seafood Restaurant Sydney furnishes tables with crisp, white linen tablecloths to ensure that the seafood-heavy dishes make a splash on your space.
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love.fish
Meet love.fish: one of the best waterfront seafood restaurants in Sydney! Overlooking Sydney’s famed Barangaroo waterfront, you’ll be served the best of seafood cuisine in a casual dining setting – from sensational sashimi, to panko crumbed fish cakes, salmon fillets, and even grilled swordfish. Designed to share or have separately, love.fish’s menu brings quality Australian seafood that is both sustainable and earth-friendly, because they know we only have one planet. Also, if you want fancy, check out their specialty cocktails!
Photographed by Tobias Rowles. Image via Destination NSW.
LuMi Bar and Dining
Drawing inspiration from Italian food and interweaving masterful Japanese influences, LuMi Bar and Dining takes fine dining to a whole new level by bringing together two incredibly different cuisines for one cohesive experience. The menu is ever-changing due to seasonal availability, but the seven-course degustation always impresses. If you consider yourself an oenophile, we recommend also taking advantage of the wine flight designed to match seamlessly with each of the dishes paired by expert sommelier, Michela. If you’re looking for one of the best waterside restaurants in Sydney, this is it.
Photographed by Jem Cresswell. Image via Destination NSW.
Mimi's
Sydney’s second favourite beach, Coogee, also hosts a revered seafood restaurant called Mimi’s. It’s under the hospitality conglomerate Merivale, so you know it’s in good hands. Expect dishes like blacklip abalone that’s charcoal roasted and served with brown butter, baby capers and lemon thyme; or live mud crab, salt baked with fennel pollen mayonnaise, roasted garlic butter and salted brioche. Plus, to shake up your night, Mimi’s also offers caviar bumps served with frozen vodka. An exceptional experience, we do also recommend saving room for dessert!
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Ormeggio at The Spit
Seafood meets Italian cuisine at Ormeggio near The Spit Bridge. Think Tasmanian spanner crab mixed in squid ink tagliolini and seasoned with chili and parsley; or Ormeggio’s signature ‘bottoni’ pasta served cold, filled with marinated tomato and topped with New South Wales yellowfin tuna crudo. Their delectable seafood range also comes with a soothing view of the marina, all the way out to Sailors Bay. It’s the perfect place to end up after your Manly to Spit Bridge walk, so be sure to pack nice clothes to change into.
Photographed by Clark Douglas. Image via Unsplash.
OTTO Ristorante
Brother to the famous OTTO Brisbane, OTTO Ristorante in Sydney celebrates people, places and, of course, outstanding Italian cuisine. Located on Cowper Wharf in Woolloomooloo and looking out to Elizabeth Bay, OTTO brings a touch of vibrancy and glamour to Sydney’s dining scene. The menu is unashamedly simple — modern Italian celebrating regional produce, taking inspiration from the southern regions of Italy. One of the best Italian waterside restaurants in Sydney you must visit in 2024.
Photographed by Jem Cresswell. Image via Destination NSW.
Pilu at Freshwater
Welcome to Pilu at Freshwater, one of the best restaurants with water views in Sydney! Overlooking out onto Freshwater Beach, with glass windows wrapping around the main dining room of Pilu, every visit you’re promised optimal views of crashing waves, sun-kissed surfers and locals wandering by. Sourcing only local, seasonal ingredients alongside high quality products from Italy, highlights include the Squid Ink Spaghetti with mussels and cuttlefish, the free-range slow-roasted Maialetto suckling pig and the Chris Bolton Coral trout, Crudo e Melone. If you’d prefer to take a break from the formal dining experience, head down to their beach kiosk that serves panini. Yum!
Photographed by Rebecca Magro. Image supplied to Hunter and Bligh.
6HEAD
With front-row views to the Sydney Harbour Bridge and Opera House, 6HEAD is the hottest addition to our guide to the best steak restaurants in Sydney. Titled as a premium steakhouse in Sydney, 6HEAD serves up just that. Led by Sean Hall, 6HEAD’s menu features a divine combination of gastronomic creations including their Lobster Mac & Cheese ($22) and Char-Grilled Quail ($45). As for steak frites, you’ll find seven cuts that pairs seamlessly with their five housemade sauces. This is one steak restaurant that’s a must-try for any Sydneysider.
Start your day right with this guide to the 8 Best Brunch Spots on Sydney’s Northern Beaches. Fancy a cold beer and classic pub fare? Check out our list of the Best Beer Gardens in Sydney for this weekend!
