Raw Bar, Bondi
Bloody marys, light lunches and one of Sydney’s best views: this is Bondi’s original sushi bar. It’s the kind of place you drop by after a swim to order a miso soup or nasu no dengaku (fried eggplant with sweet white miso). The menu is simple and the energy is lively; this is a prime people-watching spot. For something really delicious, get the karaage chicken with aioli – it hits that perfect crunch-comfort balance that only fried chicken can seize. A great place for lunch with a friend, family or even a date.
1/136 Warners Avenue, Bondi NSW 2026, Australia; rawbar.com.au
Porcine, Paddington
Two words for this place: tasty and rich. Porcine is one of the best restaurants for birthday lunches, going-aways or a Friday off. It sits on top of wine shop P&V, in a building that was formerly a cafe called Mickey’s; now, it’s all about pork and wine. Think salty, crunchy indulgent dishes that fill you up, especially with a few bottles from downstairs (retail + $25 corkage). Interested in something lighter? Go for charcuterie, pâté en croûte and a fresh glass of wine. You’ll be just fine.
268 Oxford Street, Paddington NSW 2021, Australia; porcine.com.au
Kepos Street Kitchen, Redfern
Lunch at Kepos Street Kitchen always feels like a spring picnic (minus the prep). Tucked under the branching trees of a Redfern corner since 2012, it’s walk-in only, so come early to beat the queue. The falafel is crunchy and comforting; the Persian rice and cauliflower salads are refined yet homey, and the shakshouka might be the best in the East. There’s also a deli shopfront where you can grab hummus, falafel, whole chickens and salads. Have lunch and get some takeaway dips for afternoon mezze.
96 Kepos Street, Redfern NSW 2016, Australia; keposstreetkitchen.com.au
The Old Fitzroy Hotel, Woolloomooloo
The Old Fitz is a Sydney staple, just down the hill from Kings Cross in Woolloomooloo. The pub has stood for 165 years, and it remains one of a kind – it’s the only theatre pub in the country. Inside, you’ll find live music, running beer taps, a bistro with a gorgeous menu, and the most memorable small bite in the city: the croquette, a rectangular prism of crumbed, shredded duck heaven under Frank’s RedHot sauce. Expect hamburgers, steak frites, croquettes, fries, local wines, and lunches that could easily stretch into evening shenanigans.
129 Dowling Street, Woolloomooloo NSW 2011, Australia; oddculture.group
Bourke Street Bakery Surry Hills, Surry Hills
This is the original Bourke Street Bakery, and while there are now 21 locations around Sydney, this one is as authentic as ever. The Aussie beef pie is legendary. If it’s sold out, the beef brisket with red wine and vegetables or the vegan curry pie are solid stand-ins. One of my guilty pleasures is a whole loaf of green olive and rosemary ciabatta, an iced chai, a lazy digestive loop around the block, and a Portuguese tart to finish.
633 Bourke Street, Surry Hills NSW 2010, Australia; bourkestreetbakery.com.au
Bill & Toni’s, Darlinghurst
A Sydney institution. From the terrace coffees and biscuits in the morning to the upstairs restaurant and its red-sauced pastas, Bill & Toni’s is about as Sydney as you can get – full of Italians, Greeks, food and coffee. Besides the two pinball machines that rotate periodically, this Darlinghurst mainstay hasn’t changed much in 60 years. Artists, academics, gym junkies and locals all pass through, giving it a lively, eclectic energy. Lunch on the spaghetti and meatballs, the schnitzel or a toastie, and settle in for a simple, honest meal.
72-74 Stanley Street, Darlinghurst NSW 2010, Australia; billandtonis.com.au
Billy De Luca is a freelance writer, editor and painter. De Luca’s focus is on the arts and culture, contributing to publications including The Sydney Morning Herald, Time Out, The Travel Almanac and Monster Children magazines
