Planar
Darling Dr, Darling Harbour, 2000
Mon – Sun 7am to late
(02) 9212 6789
Website

Darling Harbour’s newest bar and restaurant provides more than just a front-row seat to one of Sydney’s finest waterfront destinations.

Opening its doors to Sydneysiders in 2018, Planar is Darling Harbour’s new favourite foodie haven for a relaxing dining or bar experience that boasts undisturbed views of the surrounding precinct and harbour.

Planar’s modern Australian cuisine has been drawing in crowds from opening to closing time since it’s beginning. Encapsulating a culinary journey through five continents with an eclectic mixture of worldwide cocktail favourites, Planar also hosts invigorating masterclasses and of course, provides the best views of the precinct, regardless of where you sit.

This Mediterranean-inspired oasis pays tribute to its neighbouring International Convention Centre and its geometric shapes. Designed as a sensory-driven venue, Planar has embellished this transitional dining space with white-washed walls, a European seaside atmosphere and large alfresco dining terrace. Inside, guests will be pleased with the Scandi-inspired seating that’s paired with slick charcoal furnishings, a circular gas-fire pit and a traditional Italian stone-baked pizza oven, which is their focal point.

After guests are seated, they’ll be amazed by the extensive list of drink options with wine, beer and spirits available. Although the wine menu is sourced from Australian wineries, guests will also notice the heavy New Zealand influence throughout their white and red wine selections. After watching bartenders burn, steam, shake and serve their wild concoctions, a visit to Planar is not complete without trying some of their notable favourites including their invigorating gin & tonic options as well as their Berries Smoked Negroni ($20) using a concoction of dry ice to create a magical drinking experience.

To start your culinary journey at Planar, we recommend their Stone-Baked Trio Dips ($19) which is comprised of freshly made green hummus, eggplant with beetroot and semi-dried tomato served with warm stone-baked bread. Embracing the waterfront venue, Planar also shucks and serves a beautifully fresh range of oysters including Kilpatrick ($3.50 each) which pairs perfectly with an Aperitivetto that’s topped with Amaretto di Saronno, Aperol, Montenegro, orange and lemon juice, sugar syrup and egg white – Planar’s take on an amaretto sour.

After a short break of enjoying the blissful atmosphere, guests are invited to begin working their way through the delicious options on their menu. A standout in our experience was by far the Seafood Platter for two ($109), one of their signature dishes. Served on a near-metre-long wooden platter, every inch was dressed in a fresh compilation of seafood. The platter consists of ocean king prawns, both natural and Kilpatrick oysters, a warm red sauce mussel dish, octopus served on top of crispy beer battered chips, deliciously grilled salmon with an exotic yoghurt sauce, and a seafood platter staple, battered fish. Served with a side of salad, by this point we were coming near to our food coma.

If seafood isn’t your first preference, we would most definitely recommend their sorpressa stone-baked pizza ($27). With the dough made fresh to order by their Napoli born chef, Andrea, Planar’s sorpressa balances out a perfect mix of a tomato base to hot salami, broccolini and mozzarella.

To finish your evening (because there’s always room for dessert) give their gluten friendly Chocolate Dome ($12) a try, which encases a smooth chocolate mousse with a vanilla insert over a chocolate sable that’s then covered in a pristine chocolate mirror glaze – (you won’t regret it). Otherwise, Planar’s Rose Raspberry & Almond Square ($12) or Nutella pizza ($20) would most certainly be our next picks.

Overall, Planar is the perfect Darling Harbour getaway for anything from breakfast through to dinner. An oasis for those who enjoy delectable cocktails after work or as a topper between meals, Planar elegantly combines a Mediterranean atmosphere with their lounge-style seating as well as creativity and invigorating taste in each of the meals served and cocktails shaken or stirred.