08 Feb 2023
During the course of 2022, we asked some of our favourite hospo people for their tips on the best places to go in Sydney and beyond.
They didn’t disappoint, so here are some of their hot recommendations on where to go for everything from the best cocktail bars and top coffee haunts to must-try Australian restaurant experiences and their favourite places for breakfast and brunch.
Italians love a good espresso. Where do you go for a good coffee?
“Mecca Coffee in Alexandria when I’m not having coffee from my own machine at home or from one of our restaurants: A Tavola, Flour Eggs Water and Palle.”
Read the full story: Eugenio Maiale tells us where to get the best Italian cakes, excellent porchetta, and more
Related stories: New Sydney restaurant Palle rolls into town
Book it now: Palle, A Tavola or Flour Eggs Water
The last guest has left the restaurant, where are you off to for a late night drink or snack?
“Depends on the mood and feel at the time. If I want something a bit on the bougie side I’ll head to Bopp and Tone for steak or seafood. If I’m after something quick and easy you can find me at Din Tai Fung, devouring dumplings by the bowl full. Otherwise Cho Cho San just down the road. That miso eggplant and their hibachi grilled prawns are on point.”
Read the full story: Amber Doig reveals her favourite place to unwind in Sydney, where she goes food shopping, and more
Amber’s restaurant: The Butler
What’s your favourite French restaurant in Sydney?
“L’Héritage in Chowder Bay, close to Mosman. L’Heritage because the chef is French, Julien [Audibert-Lebon] is from Paris and I do find his cuisine very genuine, very simple, not overplayed for tourists but very tasty, and it does feel, not like my mum’s, because my mum’s is always way better, but it does remind me of many good places I have been in France. It is French, it is not mixed with an Australian influence. And the décor is brilliant, simple, elegant, so French-y, so chic, that kind of thing. Not overdone, just well done. I wouldn’t just go anywhere for the sake of eating French because I can cook it at home, so it has to be very good.”
Read the full story: Marianne Poirey on the best places for French cheese in Sydney, where she would take her French family for dinner, and more
Book it now: Four Frogs Crêperie
Where would you go with friends for dinner?
“I’d take my friends to Nour for contemporary Middle Eastern cuisine. The food, drinks, and overall atmosphere is great for having a friendly get-together.”
Read the full story: Jad Nehmetallah shares his favourite bakery, date night hang out, and more
Related stories: All-day diner Misc. opens in Parramatta Park
Jad’s restaurant: Misc.
What’s your favourite cocktail and where’s the best place to get it?
“I love a classic gin martini, perched at Hubert’s bar top with the jazz band playing. It’s very hard to beat.”
Read the full story: Mark Anderson reveals his favourite Sydney brunch spot, the best bar in the world, and more
Mark’s restaurant: Esca
What Australian restaurants are on your must-try list?
“We travel a lot so I’m fortunate enough to get to eat at a lot of these places. In Sydney, Aria is always stunning, I love Aria. It’s a bit of a stalwart – that is, it’s been around for a really long time, but for good reason, it’s always delicious.
When we were in the Hunter Valley for a job a couple of weeks ago we went to a place called EXP. and that was outstanding. Probably one of the top dining experiences I’ve had in the last decade. It’s super small, with a really young crew, such a knowledgeable sommelier and the food is just stunning. Everyone said ‘go to Muse‘, so we ate at Muse too, and that was stunning, but EXP. just blew me away. I can’t recommend it enough, I’ve been telling everyone about it. That’s on the go-back-to list.”
Read the full story: Andrew Ballard tells us where to get the best coffee on the Mornington Peninsula, why Melbourne is such a great food city, and more
Andrew’s restaurant: Provenance by Andrew Ballard
If you could eat anywhere in the world right now, where would it be?
“Without a doubt, Restaurant Gordon Ramsay. He was an essential chef in my foundational days, and he is a large part of why I chose to focus my career on fine dining. By reading his autobiographies, from Humble Pie to Boiling Point, his passion spoke to me about how there’s a drive to get the entire food experience perfect. A close second is Geranium, a three Michelin star spot out in Denmark. They do fantastic stuff there that showcases the beautiful Nordic produce.”
Read the full story: Matthew Ng on his favourite Melbourne restaurants, where to go after service, and more
Matthew’s restaurant: Young’s Wine Rooms
Your best of 2022 After Service address book:
Mecca Coffee: 26 Bourke Rd, Alexandria NSW 2015
A Tavola: 348 Victoria Street, Darlinghurst NSW 2010 (also Bondi Beach)
Flour Eggs Water: Shop 3 355 Crown Street, Surry Hills NSW 2010 (also Tramsheds)
Palle: Tramsheds, 1 Dalgal Way, Forest Lodge NSW 2037
Bopp and Tone: 60 Carrington St, Sydney NSW 2000
Din Tai Fung: Shop 11.04, Level 1/644 George St, Sydney NSW 2000
Cho Cho San: 73 Macleay St, Potts Point NSW 2011
L’Héritage: 7b Chowder Bay Rd, Mosman NSW 2088
Nour: 3/490 Crown St, Surry Hills NSW 2010
Restaurant Hubert: 15 Bligh St, Sydney NSW 2000
Aria Restaurant Sydney: 1 Macquarie St, Sydney NSW 2000
EXP. Restaurant: 2188 Broke Rd, Pokolbin NSW 2320
Muse: 2450 Broke Rd, Pokolbin NSW 2320
Restaurant Gordon Ramsay: 68 Royal Hospital Rd, London SW3 4HP United Kingdom
Geranium: Per Henrik Lings Allé 4, 8. Sal, 2100 København Denmark