Craving a getaway without the nightmarish plane turbulence, jet lag, and never being able to find your passport? We have the solution.
Sydney’s bars and restaurants are packed with cuisines from across the globe, ready to welcome you on a worldwide vacation in your own city. From Japan to France, you’ll find the best drinks, dishes, and some new favourite restaurants… Just keep reading!
I Maccheroni
Woollahra
Ah, the love affair that never ends: Aussies and Italian cuisine. I Maccheroni honours the scrumptious traditional Italian dishes we all know and love, blending them with seasonally inspired offerings. Set inside a luxe, European-inspired venue complete with striped blinds and planter boxes beneath the windows, take your seat and take in the colourful artworks scattered along the walls.
A fair warning: this is a dangerous menu, and you will not want to be leaving your party alone with your meal… because it might not be there when you return. Where every dish is a good choice, our recommendations are the Buratta or Tigelle Flatbread to begin, and their viral Spaghettoni Cacio E Pepe in a cheese wheel as your main. (Pro Tip: This is a great one to snap a pic of as proof you’ve left the house!) Leave room though! With Ricotta Tiramisu or Limoncello Cheesecake for dessert among other delectable options, you can’t skip these.
Bad Mama
Surry Hills
This Japanese-Taiwanese restaurant is self-described as “where Taiwan meets Japan on the set of Blade Runner”. Infused with neon lighting, cherry blossoms cascading from the ceiling and a little red Mercedes as their centerpiece, not only is Bad Mama a great name, it’s also a delicious restaurant, and your next getaway!
Kick things off with the Bad Mama Oysters, served with yuzu, grapefruit, ponzu, dill and salmon roe, and push on with Bad Mama’s Dumplings with a choice of having them steamed or served in a spicy broth. Want to stretch your taste buds and try something new? The Popcorn Fish or Duck Pancakes are divine, or you can take on 750g of Buffalo Wings (maybe invite some friends for that one). For dessert, the Egg Custard Buns or Green Tea Cheesecake are not-to-be-missed!
L’Heritage
Mosman
Take a detour to the south of France, right by the water (okay, it’s actually Chowder Bay, but who could tell?) and devour your next favourite meal at this traditional bistro. Make yourself part of the luxurious furniture here at L’Heritage, and take in the beautiful ocean views, or turn your gaze inward and notice the wood-panelled walls, stylish chandeliers and the vintage mirrors.
Those with true savoir faire know that going to a French restaurant without sampling Escargot is a real faux pas, and these ones might just leave you craving snails. Drenched in garlic and parsley butter, with baguette slices to soak up the rest, they’re absolutely worth a try. For those who stick to the status quo, the Twice Baked Gruyère and Caramelised Onion Soufflé is universally adored and certain to impress. For main, the Bouillabaise is also a fan favourite, chock-full of goodness with bisque soup, mussels, prawns, salmon, barramundi and scallops.
Bibo Wine Bar
Double Bay
A rooftop bar serving up Mediterranean and Portuguese cuisine? Yes please! The best of both worlds collide here at Bibo Rooftop Bar! Step into the warmly illuminated first level, complete with walls of wine bottles and unique artworks, and then ascend to the rooftop with its snug couch seating and open-air design, allowing you to catch the breeze and the sunshine.
The showstopper here is the Baked Camembert with Honey and Truffle, an entrée oozing with class and deliciousness. Paired with their Jamon and Mushroom Croquette, you can rest assured you’re starting your meal right. Finally, the Vanella Burrata with fennel and blood orange is a surprising and refreshing take on the dish, creating a zing for the senses. Inspired by the seasons, the restaurant menu is always being updated and changed, so keep an eye out for the new additions!
Mille Vini
Surry Hills
Ready to end up exactly where we started? Allow us to bring you back to Rome in the heart of Surry Hills, where Mille Vini is the next Italian restaurant waiting to capture your heart. And let’s face it, who doesn’t want two trips to Italy? The walls are lined with plush velvet seating, the bar is a dark, rich marble and the space is dimly illuminated to set the scene.
In a fusion of Aussie and Italian flavours, our starter choice is their Sydney Rock Oyster, served with sturgeon caviar. The 24-hr Simmered Australian Beef Cheek is a can’t-go-wrong choice, winning over our hearts and the hearts of Mille Vini’s regulars. With a killer Tiramisu to wrap up the night, what more could you ask for?
These spots will have you flitting across the globe and back again, so why wait? Who needs a real vacation? (I’m only kidding, we all do, but this is great in the meantime!) Bon appetit, meshiagare and bon appetito!
