Sydney's Summer Dining Hit List

There's a lot to be said for a summer in Sydney. The warmer months offer exciting sporting events, internationally acclaimed performances, majestic beaches, unlimited shopping, heaps of family fun and of course the world's most spectacular fireworks display. The outdoor markets are plentiful, the harbour ferries are flowing and there's Christmas entertainment to be enjoyed by all. Sydney is most certainly the place to be in summer, but for us, it's all about the season's dining experiences.

Summer dining is fun dining, and in Sydney, there are endless options for exciting food and drink experiences. You could take a picnic to enjoy at Paddington's Moonlight Cinema. You could pick up some prawns before heading to Cronulla Beach. Or you could dine at any one of these Good Food Gift Card partners, which love nothing better than to embrace the spirit of summer.

Gastro Park

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Gastro Park is a playground for gastronomy right in the heart of Potts Point. It's a place where chef Grant and his team are constantly inspired to produce new and exciting dishes to best suit the season. The large rounded windows make the most of the summer sun, and the rooftop garden is an oasis that transforms the busy city into a private botanical wonderland. As for the food, the 7- and 10-course tasting menus are so popular that Saturday nights are reserved entirely to this style of dining. Dishes include seared lobster with coconut, sorrel, apple and kaffir, and robata pineapple, yuzu ice cream and buttermilk.

Opera Bar

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There's nowhere more iconic in Sydney than the Opera Bar, which lies at the base of the famous Sydney Opera House steps. Described as "the best beer garden in the world", the Opera Bar is open 7 days a week, with live music every evening. For the ultimate summer share plate, the Seafood Platter is one not to be missed, consisting of Yamba prawns, Noosa spanner crab, South Australian lobster, Moreton Bay bugs, and Hervey Bay scallops. If it's raw food you crave, you'll love the newly opened Raw Bar, which focuses on light, fresh flavours from natural, uncultivated and locally sourced produce.

Popolo

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Popolo in Italian means people, and that's exactly what this Rushcutter Bay restaurant is designed for. The team at Popolo are passionate about all aspects of hospitality, and the food philosophy embodies the diversity of the Italian regions surrounding the Tyrrhenian Sea. The food is authentic, simple, and includes a wide range of pastas, meats, seafood and pizzas.

Customs House Bar

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Situated in the leafy suburb of Macquarie Park, just a stone's throw away from Circular Quay, lies 160 years of history. One of Sydney's oldest pubs is now one of Sydney's newest dining hot spots, thanks to a sun-drenched beer garden complete with rustic furniture, beautiful hanging gardens, hedges, white picket fences and communal tables. It's the perfect place for friends and colleagues to meet in summer and Executive Chef Hemant Dadlani has taken onboard the new refurbishment and created an exciting and fresh gastro-pub menu while still remaining true to the expected hearty meals.

Meat District Co.

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Meat District Co. aims to re-awaken the senses and bring a new kind of dining to the streets of Sydney. Located in King Street Wharf, Meat District Co. have created a menu based on an enticing blend of old-school and contemporary style cooking techniques, and summer favourites include sweet summer corn with chilli, lime and truffle parmesan, and the mouthwatering grilled chicken burger with mixed greens, pesto and gorgonzola.

Kobe Jones

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Also located on King Street Wharf is Kobe Jones Sydney, which offers Japanese like you've never tasted it before. The vibrant menu takes traditional Japanese techniques and gives it a Californian spin and the food is based on the philosophy that it should be shared to be enjoyed. The menu is split into sections, from rolls and tobanyaki to signature dishes, small plates, hot rocks, sushi and sashimi. There's also a Teppanyaki experience for those looking for interactive dining with a touch of spectacle.

Aubergine

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In just four short years, Aubergine has become a firm favourite amongst the locals of Sydney's Northern Beaches, with the beachfront location providing the ideal setting for summer dining. Offering panoramic views over Dee Why Beach and the Pacific Ocean, the food beautifully combines European and Mediterranean flavours. The mix of the delightful setting and fresh, wholesome food makes Aubergine one not to miss. Open breakfast, lunch and dinner, you can enjoy good food here any time of the day.

Casa Ristorante Italiano

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You may not expect to find authentic Italian food on the popular King Street Wharf, but that's exactly what you'll find at Casa Ristorante Italiano. Everything on the menu is made fresh and uses traditional Italian methods, and the spectacular waterfront views create a dining experience to remember. You'll be thankful for the breeze of the water too on a hot summer's day.

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Mireille Kilgour

Mireille Kilgour

Mireille Kilgour has been an entrepreneur for 35 years in the hospitality sector. French born, she has been an accomplished business owner and operator for a number of Sydney venues. Leading the industry with high profile institutions such as Lamrock Café Bondi, she has endless passion for the industry, and now has the pleasure of supporting restaurants to fill their tables with the new Good Food Gift Card program.