Best Lunch in Sydney: Where To Go For a Delicious Feast

Nothing beats a long, leisurely lunch with friends at one of Sydney’s buzzing restaurants. It’s a time-honoured tradition that involves three essential elements: mouth-watering food, refreshing cocktails, and the joy of engaging conversation.

Sydney's lunch scene caters seamlessly to gatherings of all sizes, making it the ideal canvas for unforgettable moments with your crew.

If you're feeling overwhelmed by the abundance of choices, fear not. We've got you covered with a curated list of some of the hottest contenders providing the best lunch in Sydney, presented in no particular order.

Hurry, there's no better time than now to make a date with your best girls!

Shell House

Shell House Sydney seamlessly combines the best of old and new in a meticulously restored 1930s clock tower building. You can evidently see this at The Dining Room and Terrace on the ninth floor, thoughtfully designed by Anna Hewett. Aesthetics? Tick.

The menu showcases an inventive blend of Mediterranean and French flavours, perfect for an indulgent lunch. Start with fresh Sydney rock oysters or try the caviar-topped steak tartare. 

37 Margaret Street, Sydney 

NOUR 

A Lebanese restaurant, but not as you know it. A popular spot on Crown Street’s foodie trail, NOUR creatively pulls out the traditional flavours of Lebanon in dishes that will keep you insta-happy throughout the meal.

The interiors are just as gorgeous with a contemporary fit-out with glass doors opening out onto a terrace. 

3/490 Crown Street, Surry Hills 

Longshore

If it's a seafood long lunch you're after, don't go past this hatted spot. The subtle coastal-inspired decor and lengthy wine lists are two huge drawcards but it's the menu that has stolen our hearts.

The Longshore offering consists of a chef's tasting menu alongside an experimental 10-course snack menu and curated bar menu so depending on what kind of lunch you're after, you can expect options. Look forward to the likes of raw Tasmanian scallops with mandarin koshu and makrut lime and Paroo red kangaroo tartare with salted muntries. Be sure to keep that dessert chamber open as there is plenty for you to sample.

5 Kensington Street, Chippendale

Mr. Wong

Mr. Wong. is a Cantonese extravaganza that somehow pulls off the cosy vibe in its 240-seater setup. Dim lighting and moody jazz make it feel intimate, while masterminds in the kitchen add fancy twists to your fave Cantonese delights.

With an 80-dish menu, be ready to make some tough choices…

3 Bridge Street, Sydney

Mimi's 

Set over the waves, mimi's celebrates the coastline and stands out as one of the best spots for lunch in Sydney.

Simplicity and constrained elegance permeate through the food offering with skilful craftsmanship underpinning the quality seafood, meat and vegetables that are served up. 

Amid the chic, calm interiors, diners can savour delicacies and choose a drop from the 600-strong wine list to ensure your meal is perfectly accompanied. Chablis, anyone? 

130a Beach Street, Coogee 

Totti’s  

This modern Italian venue serves up hand-crafted pasta, meats and classic Italian cocktails in a relaxed setting, making Totti's the perfect place for Sunday lunch with the girls.

The menu is fun, simple and delicious, suited to all ages and designed to share, built around Italian-style flatbread, cooked to order and accompanied by small plates of local and house-made charcuterie, Italian cheese and seasonal fruits.

Drinks are simple, retro-Italian-inspired crowd pleasers, while the wine list focuses on small boutique wineries and organic drops with an Italian twist.

Bondi, Rozelle, CBD

North Bondi Fish 

There’s nothing that screams ‘Sydney’ more than sparkling sea views and North Bondi Fish delivers. It also ticks all the right boxes for a ladies' lunch in Sydney: a deck that soaks up the sun, a fresh and balanced menu (which, naturally, is all about seafood), and a huge selection of rosé.

The interior is bright and airy, and the clientele is hip yet relaxed – so you and your crew will fit right in. 

120 Ramsgate Avenue, North Bondi 

The Boathouse Rose Bay 

Want to wine and dine with a view? Book a table at The Boathouse Rose Bay. This popular Eastern Suburbs venue is perched right on the water, offering sweeping views of Sydney Harbour.

On the menu, there’s fresh seafood aplenty – such as crab, oysters, scallops and prawns – which is quite fitting with its sweeping bay views, don’t you think? 

594 New South Head Road, Rose Bay 

Dunes Palm Beach

Sitting atop Sydney's iconic Palm Beach, Dunes Palm Beach is Bringing a touch of the Mediterranean to the iconic Palm Beach, Dunes is surrounded by beautiful parklands that open out onto that famous stretch of sand. This alfresco-style restaurant and kiosk more than capitalise on its idyllic location - making it the perfect destination for a long lunch. With a minimalist, white-washed aesthetic and laid-back, beach-friendly take on informal all-day dining (shoes optional) and concertina windows opening onto a decked terrace it's relaxed fine dining at its best. With a seasonal, Mediterranean-inspired menu drawing on the freshest produce and a focus on seafood, you can be assured you're in good hands.

1193 Barrenjoey Road, Palm Beach

Bathers’ Pavilion 

A beachside restaurant-slash-café-slash-bar, Bathers’ Pavilion is seemingly made for leisurely lunches with the girls. For a more casual affair, the café’s lunch menu offers Mediterranean-style food in a chic, yet colourful, setting.

The restaurant takes it up a notch for lunch with its French-inspired cuisine, degustation menu and extensive wine list. The best part is both venues come complete with uninterrupted views of Balmoral Beach and a cosy fireplace for the cooler months. 

4 The Esplanade, Mosman 

Looking for more fun things to do in Sydney? The best lunch in Sydney is just the start. From bottomless brunches to cute date night venues, our city has endless inspiration.