Sharing an intimate meal has always had a timeless charm to it and lucky for Sydney romantics, there are plenty of restaurants in the city that not only offer excellent food but also a lovely ambience to make the night extra cosy and memorable for you and your date. Here’s our list of the most romantic restaurants in Sydney if you’re in the mood for love, from fine dining options to more affordable dinner ideas.
1. Restaurant Hubert
Live jazz music, French food, an extensive selection of wines and dim lighting is what you’ll get at Restaurant Hubert. Popular for its moody, romantic setting – seriously, it’s perhaps the most romantic restaurant in the CBD – if you want to experience a true Parisian dining experience in Sydney, you’ll want to snag a table here stat. As for the menu, expect caviar, oysters, gnocchi, rich pasta and heaps of French delicacies. Dessert includes Hubert’s Gâteau au Chocolat and Crème Caramel. Check out everything that’s on offer here.
📍 15 Bligh Street, Sydney NSW 2000
2. Bennelong
Easily one of Sydney’s most iconic establishments as well as one of its most romantic restaurants, Bennelong is housed inside the Sydney Opera House and is a true bucket list experience. While it can set you back by at least $600 – $1000 for two people, it promises a dining experience second to none. Think flawless presentation, spectacular venue and views and an unrivalled intimate setting. If you have the funds, it’s a tres romantic fine dining spot in Sydney
📍 Bennelong Point, Sydney NSW 2000
3. Alberto’s Lounge
The Italian sister to Restaurant Hubert, Alberto’s Lounge does a few things remarkably well; authentic Italian food, an upbeat atmosphere and a stacked wine list are amongst them. Tucked away in a little corner of Surry Hills, it also has a hidden charm to it that gives it a distinctive quality. The menu includes classics like rigatoni amatriciana and spaghetti marinara. Check out the full list here.
📍 17-19 Alberta Street, Sydney NSW 2000
4. Mimi’s
When it comes to coastal fine dining, Mimi’s takes the cake. It presents Sydney’s finest seafood with exceptional décor and water views for days. If you’re after a romantic night out, Mimi’s promises an elegant dining experience that will sweep your partner off their feet. Diners can opt for the coral trout tartare, yuzu kosho, finger lime and sorrel, or grilled octopus with skordalia, salter Meyer lemon and silver skin cucumber. Check out their full menu here.
📍 130a Beach Street, Coogee NSW 2034
5. Altitude Restaurant
Float in the sky, quite literally, with Altitude Restaurant’s exclusive dining experience on the 36th floor of the Shangri-La Hotel. The award-winning restaurant offers a fantastic bird’s eye view of Sydney along with a carefully curated menu and exceptional service. The menu includes an à la carte lunch menu, a high tea on weekdays and weekends and a separate dinner and brunch menu. Get the details here.
📍 176 Cumberland Street, The Rocks NSW 2000
6. Saké Restaurant
Love Japanese food? Looking for a romantic dining experience? Can’t resist a good cocktail? You’ll want to make your way to Saké for all of the above and then some. The vibe is relaxed and cosy with excellent food to boot right from hiramasa kingfish to delicious sushi, and you won’t pay Bennelong prices here (we’d still budget $100 a head, though). Find your nearest location here.
7. Aria
Aria offers an unparalleled dining experience, blending exceptional Australian cuisine from the creative mind of Matt Moran and excellent service with views to die for. With a clear view of the Sydney Opera House and a wine selection second to none, Aria is a permanent fixture in the best fine dining restaurants in the city. While it may burn a hole in your pocket, that experience can’t be beat amongst Sydney’s romantic restaurants.
📍 1 Macquarie Street, Sydney NSW 2000
8. Quay
Quay is synonymous with fine dining in Sydney (regular watchers of Masterchef Australia should be pretty familiar with head honcho Peter Gilmore and his lovingly-crafted dishes). You can indulge in exceptional flavours with its extensive six-course menu featuring oyster caviar and Mud crab with fresh bamboo and golden umami broth or bone marrow noodles. The food is complimented beautifully with the Opera House on one side and the Harbour Bridge on another.
📍 Upper Level Overseas Passenger Terminal, The Rocks NSW 2000
9. Icebergs Dining Room & Bar
Dining at Icebergs is a Sydney staple, but it pulls double duty as one of the city’s best romantic restaurants. The Italian restaurant features classics with a contemporary twist and promises a good time with sprawling Bondi Beach views for days. Get your hands on their agnolotti, pecorino custard and Tasmanian black truffle and round it off with a scrumptious dessert of whipped stracciatella, lemon myrtle granita and alpine strawberry. Find their full menu here.
📍 1 Notts Avenue, Bondi Beach NSW 2026
10. Bar 83 at Sydney Tower
Located on the 83rd floor of the Sydney Tower, Bar 83 stands tall above the rest of the city’s romantic restaurants, quite literally. The futuristic cocktail bar promises funky, retro vibes with brilliant cocktails and whiskies. Also on offer is upbeat live music and stunning views of the city, especially at night. As for the dishes, you can expect a classic menu with a modern twist. Get your hands on the classic lobster roll or dig into the shaved coral trout. You can also share a premium cheese platter because what says romance better than sharing food, right?
📍 Westfield Sydney, Level 4/108 Market Street, Sydney NSW 2000
11. A Tavola
There’s something about a crisp white tablecloth and candles that just screams ‘date night’. A Darlinghurst staple since 2007, A Tavola offers this, plus a menu of handmade pasta and small plates that delights the palate. Get the focaccia if it’s available, and for bigger gatherings, the restaurant’s communal marble table evokes the feeling of dining with the extended family at nonna’s house.
📍 348 Victoria Street, Darlinghurst NSW 2010
12. L’Heritage
Commanding views across Sydney Harbour from its perch on Chowder Bay, L’Heritage is a ravishingly rustic spot with a mouthwatering menu of French dishes. Chef Julien Audibert takes inspiration from the bistros of Paris, which makes mains like whole lobster with garlic parsley butter & hand cut French fries, and duck leg confit with an orange jus a must order. Don’t forget to peruse the restaurant’s excellent wine list, and if you can snag a window seat looking out across the water, you have the ideal date night ahead of you.
📍 7b Chowder Bay Road, Mosman NSW 2088
13. St Siandra
If you’re hoping to keep your date nights to, say, under $100 per head, St Siandra stands out as an excellent romantic restaurant at the more affordable end of the date night spectrum. The sunny, Mediterranean vibes will conjure images of a holiday on the Amalfi coast, and dishes like spaghetti with garlic, chilli oil, and king prawns, or lamb shoulder with broccoli gremolata, pomegranate, and za’atar offer luxurious food on a sensible budget.
📍 75 Lower Parriwi Road, The Spit, Mosman, NSW 2088