10 Sydney Restaurants with Waterside Views

There's nothing quite like enjoying a meal alongside a stunning water view.  

And Sydney has many restaurants that fit the bill – restaurants that show off the city at its finest, with the added bonus of delicious meals to engage your other senses while you gaze over the horizon.

Whether it's at one of the city's many beaches, along the famous harbour or by a lake, having lunch or dinner at a waterfront restaurant is an ideal way to enjoy the sights of Sydney.

Here are 10 of Sydney's best restaurants with a view.

1. Aki's, Woolloomooloo

Aki's is an Indian restaurant run by the Mahadevan family with great personal charm. It offers skyline and waterside views, as well as a chic and stylish indoor dining room with light bulb chandeliers and black leather seats. You can also dine on the second level or outdoors. The food is creatively put together, managing to be both gutsy and sophisticated. Baingan jaipuri (fried crispy eggplant chips in a spicy besan crust) is served in a paper cone, where the lamb martaban is baked slowly in a clay pot – its bread seal broken at the table for the diners' delight.

2. Banjo Paterson Cottage Restaurant, Gladesville

Banjo Paterson Cottage Restaurant is a fine dining restaurant offering Modern Australian cuisine. It's set in a lovely sandstone building that dates back to the 1830s, showcasing a mix of modernity and antiquity with its contemporary bar alongside an open fireplace. The restaurant is also surrounded by gorgeous landscaped gardens that overlook the water, which you can see through floor-to-ceiling windows. You can also enjoy your meal in the spacious, enclosed verandahs.

3. Bennelong, Sydney

Bennelong is run by Peter Gilmore, one of the most celebrated chefs in Australia. Guests will be greeted with a high quality Modern Australian menu that's full of flavour and diversity, and includes creative seafood dishes and great Aussie wine. You'll find Bennelong nestled in the Sydney Opera House in a golden bronze dining room with views of Sydney's city skyline and harbour waters. There are multiple levels providing a variety of dining options, such as The Restaurant, Cured and Cultured, The Bar, The Kitchen Table, and Pre-Theatre Dining.

4. Blackbird Café, Sydney

Blackbird Café is situated on the balcony level at Cockle Bay Wharf, overlooking Darling Harbour. The café is all about style with splashes of gold and floor-to-ceiling windows where you can view the water and city lights outside. The menu caters for everyone's tastes: from Aussie steak and popular Italian food like pizza, to the aromatic flavours of Asia, and vegetarian/vegan dishes. Not hungry? Relax and unwind with one of their signature cocktails.

5. Café Birkenhead, Drummoyne

The waterfront backdrop outside pairs with beautiful interiors at Café Birkenhead, with fresh produce sitting on shelves against a mirrored backsplash. Head there for breakfast to enjoy fresh orange juice and coffee, eggs cooked as you like, and homemade toasted sourdough bread, or pop in for lunch and try their delicious sandwiches, salads, and pastas. They also have a wide range of cocktails, spirits, wine, and beer. As you dine, you can take in the water views towards North Sydney between the window curtains while a live band plays.

6. Icebergs Dining Room and Bar, Bondi Beach

Icebergs Dining Room and Bar sits on the cliffs of South Bondi, where you can enjoy panoramic views of the most iconic beach in the world. Inspired by Maurice Terzini's Italian heritage, the menu focuses on regional Italian cuisine and changes regularly to celebrate seasonal flavours. The Dining Room is the beating heart of the restaurant; both intimate and elegant with the seats and walls reflecting the colours of the sea and sand outside.

7. Kobe Jones, Sydney

Kobe Jones offers waterfront dining on King Street Wharf at Darling Harbour. Here you can experience Japanese food like you've never had it before – with a Californian twist. Try their creative seafood dishes as you take in the spectacular harbour views from inside or on the all-weather balcony. The restaurant boasts stylish interiors with red seats and ambient lighting that lend an intimate or romantic atmosphere. There are also semi-private areas for groups, functions, and special events.

8. Opera Bar, Sydney

Opera Bar is one of Sydney's iconic establishments, offering unparalleled views of the Opera House, Sydney Harbour Bridge, and the wonderful city skyline. Whether you're out to dine, on your way to a show or just out for a drink, it provides the perfect setting for all types of occasions. You can sit on padded seats indoors, surrounded by wooden tables and counters, and leafy green plants. You can also drink or dine outdoors, day or night, and listen to live music on weekend evenings. The bar's food, wine, and cocktail menu is varied, including fruits, salads, cheeses, nachos, meat, and seafood.

9. Ormeggio at The Spit, Mosman

Ormeggio at The Spit overlooks Middle Harbour and Pearl Bay, where you can see the boats moored at the wharf or watch them sail across the water. Executive Chef Alessandro Pavoni and his team make use of both new and traditional cooking techniques, along with the finest produce, to deliver some of the best Contemporary Italian dishes. You can also order seafood or vegan dishes as you dine indoors or outdoors beneath blue umbrella shades. There are also comfy seats and curtain dividers for privacy or an intimate gathering.

10. Otto Ristorante, Woolloomooloo

Otto Ristorante is located on Cowper Wharf, Woolloomooloo. Breath in the sensational harbourside views as you dine inside or out. The restaurant offers Modern Italian cuisine by reinventing the flavours of Italy in stylish new forms, including pasta, seafood, and dessert. Otto Ristorante has garnered local and international acclaim for its ambience and style, with splashes of yellow, wine bottles lining the walls, and comfy cushions and seating options.

Dining with a view

Looking for a spot where the view is just as perfect as the food? Dining by the water gives your meal that extra special touch. If you have a friend who'd enjoy dining at one of these waterfront restaurants in Sydney, a Good Food Gift Card will let them have their pick of the bunch!

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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.

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