A new wave of multi-venue dining destinations is reshaping how, and where, the denizens of Australia’s harbor city gather to eat and drink.

*Left to right:* Textile-inspired cocktails await at Tailor Room, an intimate venue within Sydney’s The Collective; looking into Tailor Room. (Photos: Steven Woodburn)

The Collective

Hunter St. Hospitality, the group behind some of Sydney’s most innovative dining spots, has upped its presence in the city’s oldest neighborhood with The Collective, set among the 19th-century sand stone buildings of The Rocks. Joining established restaurants Saké and The Cut Bar & Grill are three new connected venues that showcase Hunter St.’s forward-thinking culinary philosophy: The Dining Room, The Garden, and Tailor Room. The first—a refit of old nightclub The Argyle—offers caviar service, oysters, and premium cuts of meat, while The Garden, dotted with potted plants and olive trees, has a relaxed alfresco vibe that runs from breakfast through to nightcaps under the stars. An intimate space once used to store textiles, the 20-seat Tailor Room serves sartorially inspired cocktails—try the Corduroy, muddling whisky, quince liqueur, honey, and spice.
thecollectiverocks.com.au

Prefecture 48 occupies the historic Foley Brothers building; a kaiseki course at Prefecture 48’s Garafu restaurant. — *Left to right:* Prefecture 48 occupies the historic Foley Brothers building; a *kaiseki* course at Prefecture 48’s Garafu restaurant. (Courtesy of Prefecture 48)

Prefecture 48

A short walk from Darling Harbour—long one of Sydney’s liveliest dining and hotel precincts—Prefecture 48 unites no less than six expressions of Japanese cuisine across the three-level, heritage listed Foley Brothers building. Here, Melbourne design firms Bates Smart and Studio Ongarato have joined forces to evoke a different facet of Japan’s culture and foodie heritage in each space. That might mean color and whimsy at patisserie Dear Florence, or an izakaya ambiance inside Ibushi, where skewers sizzle on a binchotan grill. At Garaku, just 16 diners sample a kaiseki-style meal that showcases precise knife work, seasonal ingredients, and meticulous pacing. Even more intimate, sushi spot Omakase highlights everything from the day’s tuna catch to unagi and A5 wagyu. Five dishes up modern European fare with the same Japanese finesse, while Whisky Thief, a low-lit lounge, offers a curated range of Japanese and independent bottlings.
p48.com.au

The Sun Deck aboard Solaré. (Photo: Jonny Valiant)

Solaré

Thought all dining destinations were on land? In a harbor city like Sydney, it was only a matter of time before one opened on the water. A 46-meter classic superyacht recast as a floating restaurant, cocktail bar, and day club experience, Solaré operates year-round from Barangaroo, its leisurely movement through the harbor setting the tone rather than the schedule. Multicourse menus in the Dining Room begin with optional caviar service and a tableside martini trolley before segueing into seafood-leaning dishes: think royal red prawn with fin ger lime and bisque mayonnaise, raw tuna with pomelo and fennel pollen, and reginette pasta with Moreton Bay bug and crustacean butter. One level up, the Terrace channels Mediterranean beach club energy with spritzes and shared plates, while the Sun Deck adopts a yellow-and-white Italian Riviera palette, all canvas, sun loungers, bookable booths, and tables open to the breeze.
luxecruisinggroup.com.au

Island Radio at Wunderlich Lane. (Photo: Steven Woodburn)

Wunderlich Lane

The recent arrival of Wunderlich Lane has drawn diners deeper into the borderland pocket between the hip inner city suburbs of Redfern and Surry Hills. Here, newly built pedestrian laneways link a parade of bougie boutiques, restaurants, bars, and The Eve Hotel. The star of the show is arguably Olympus Dining from Jonathan Barthelmess—the chef-restaurateur behind Sydney’s perennially packed The Apollo and Cho Cho San—with a contemporary Greek menu built around grilled seafood, slow-roasted lamb, and produce-driven sharing plates. Across the lane, Island Radio works to a more casual, late-hour rhythm, its open kitchen turning out Southeast Asian flavors. Rooftop perch Lottie transports you to Mexico, serving mezcal- and tequila-spiked cocktails alongside empanadas and tostadas that hero Aussie staples like kangaroo and mud crab.
wunderlichlane.com

*Left to right:* The dining room of Soluna in the Walker Street Precinct; digging into lasagne at the same restaurant. (Courtesy of Soluna)

Walker Street Precinct

North Sydney may be known as a business district, but this dining destination gives residents a reason to linger after working hours. The trio of venues here are scaled for everyday ritual—morning coffee, late-afternoon drinks, a simple dinner prepared with good produce. At Walker Street’s core is Sol Bread + Wine, a ferment-driven bakery that transitions into a wine bar as the afternoon light slides across the counter. Up a red spiral staircase, modern Mediterranean eatery Soluna revolves around aperitivi with wood-fired pizzas and handmade pastas; the green terrazzo bar makes for a striking backdrop. The design drama continues at Genzo, a refined yet playful Japanese diner adorned with anime flourishes and a sake room; expect bites inspired by Tokyo izakayas and some of the North Shore’s most creative Asian influenced cocktails.

This article originally appeared in the December 2025/February 2026 print issue of DestinAsian magazine (“Sydney Steps Up”). Buy a single issue or subscribe here.

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