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Hatted Restaurants Sydney: A Comprehensive List

From Bennelong to The Boathouse
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The Australian Good Food Guide’s Chef Hats have been in place to reward consistent culinary excellence since 1982, with Sydney boasting the most of any other city in the country.

WATCH: Where to find the MasterChef contestants’ restaurants

Hatted restaurants are judged on six areas (ingredients, taste, presentation, technique, value and consistency) and given a score out of 20. Only a select few have received three hats – the Guide‘s highest ranking.

hatted-restaurants-sydney
(Credit: Getty)

According to the AGFG website: “These awards are the result of careful deliberation. Inspectors appointed by AGFG dine anonymously. Their reviews and the opinions of the dining public, who generously send in their comments throughout the year, determine these results.”

With that in mind, we’ve put together a full list of all the hatted restaurants in Sydney.

One Hat

68. 10 William St

https://www.instagram.com/p/CSJUh6Nn_FA/

Location: Paddington

Cuisine: Italian cuisine

Ambience: A cosy two-storey bistro with an extensive European wine list.

67. The Apollo

Location: Potts point

Cuisine: Modern Greek cuisine

Head chef: Stefano Marano

Ambience: Converted-warehouse vibe with exposed ceilings and walls, a large marble bar and oversized pillars.

66. Baccomatto Osteria

Location: Sydney

Cuisine: Italian

Head chef: Scott Williams

Ambience: A rustic Italian eatery that respects local, seasonal produce and traditional flavour combinations.

65. The Bathers’ Pavillion

Location: Mosman

Cuisine: Modern Australian

Head chef: Serge Dansereau

Ambience: 1920s building featuring seasonal Modern European cuisine and an extensive listing of wines.

64. Bistro Guillaume

Location: Sydney

Cuisine: French cuisine

Head chef: Guillaume Brahimi

Ambience: A taste of a neighbourhood bistro in Paris amongst the bustling Sydney city-scape.

63. WynoXBodega

https://www.instagram.com/p/CQAj7EoDIH3/

Location: Surry Hills

Cuisine: Modern Latin

Head chef: Ben Milgate

Ambience: Colourful open kitchen, producing imported wines and tapas dishes. 

62. Buon Ricordo

Location: Paddington

Cuisine: Italian

Head chef: David Wright

Ambience: Authentic and art-filled private dining room, complete with white linen tablecloths.

61. Catalina

Location: Rose Bay

Cuisine: Seafood

Ambience: Iconic fine-dining seafood restaurant with 360-degree water-front views.

60. Chin Chin

Location: Surry Hills

Cuisine: Asian fusion

Head chef: Ben Cooper

Ambience: Australian twist on South-Asian flavours in an uber-cool Industrial eatery.

59. China Doll

Location: Woolloomoolooo

Cuisine: Modern Asian cuisine

Head chef: Frank Shek

Ambience: Clever pan-Asian menu served in a stylish setting sea-side.

58. Cho Cho San

Location: Potts Point

Cuisine: Modern Japanese cuisine

Head chef: Nicholas Wong

Ambience: Fresh twist on Japanese cuisine in a sleek, pared-back dining room.

57. Continental Deli Bar Bistro

Location: Newtown

Cuisine: European and Mediterranean fusion

Head chef: Jesse Warkentin

Ambience: Deli and bistro kitchen specialising in plates that are perfect for sharing.

56. Cottage Point Inn

0

Location: Cottage Point

Cuisine: Australian

Head chef: Kevin Solomon

Ambience: Offers both a la carte or a seven-course tasting menu overlooking the sea.

55. The Dolphin Hotel

Location: Surry Hills

1

Cuisine: Australian

Head chef: Monty Koludrovic

Ambience: Casual dining experience with a focus on quality and seasonal produce.

54. Felix

https://www.instagram.com/p/CBNH7f9jyIB/

Location: Sydney

Cuisine: French cuisine

Head chef: Nathan Johnson

2

Ambience: Typical brasserie-style eatery channelling true Parisian décor, from the subway tiles to the French chandeliers.

53. Fratelli Paradiso

Location: Potts Point

Cuisine: Italian

Head chef: Akira Urata

Ambience: Some of Sydney’s best pasta dishes and imported wines served amongst exposed-brick walls and a blackboard menu.

52. The Gantry

3

Location: Walsh Bay

Cuisine: Australian

Head chef: Thomas Gorringe

Ambience: Freshly foraged food dished up at one of Sydney’s most historic harbour-side locations.

51. Glass Brasserie

https://www.instagram.com/p/CRAhuz7jXqq/

Location: Sydney

4

Cuisine: Modern Australian

Head chef: Luke Mangan

Ambience: Up-scale Australian wine bar featuring seasonal produce that’s cooked using worldly flavours.

50. Hartsyard

https://www.instagram.com/p/CPUjU8vhKiM/

Location: Newtown

Cuisine: Modern Australian

Head chef: Jarrod Walsh

5

Ambience: Originally a fried-chicken diner, Hartsyard has moved towards a more-refined style of dining.

49. Hotel Centennial

https://www.instagram.com/p/CD0ijKGDQq9/

Location: Woollahra

Cuisine: Modern Australian

Head chef: Tom Deadman

Ambience: Contemporary menu and seasonal produce set against sophisticated and luxe décor.

48. Izakaya Fujiyama

6

Location: Surry Hills

Cuisine: Japanese

Head chef: Kenji Maenaka

Ambience: Rows of sake and beer line the walls of this authentic-yet-laid-back Japanese pub grub eatery.

47. Jonah’s

Location: Whale Beach

7

Cuisine: Seafood

Head chef: Matteo Zamboni

Ambience: Exceptional food and wine offering in an exquisite beach-side setting. 

46. Kepos and Co.

Location: Waterloo

Cuisine: Modern Israeli

Head chef: Michael Rantissi

8

Ambience: Intimate eatery serving Middle Eastern-inspired eats.

45. Kepos Steet Kitchen

Location: Redfern

Cuisine: Modern Israeli 

Head chef: Michael Rantissi

Ambience: Light, bright café with plate-glass windows, white-washed walls, and metal bistro chairs.

44. Lankan Filling Station

9

Location: Darlinghurst

Cuisine: Sri Lankan cuisine

Head chef: O Tama Carey

Ambience: Casual restaurant and bar serving sambols alongside cocktails and natural wine.

43. LP’s Quality Meats

https://www.instagram.com/p/CRqvrAxLrLe/

Location: Chippendale

0

Cuisine: Smoked and cured meats

Head chef: Luke Powell

Ambience: Laid-back restaurant and bar featuring an extensive selection of cured and smoked meats.

42. Nomad

https://www.instagram.com/p/CSly2NLpLJM/

Location: Surry Hills

Cuisine: Modern Australian

Head chef: Jacqui Challinor

1

Ambience: Large open central kitchen and bar, showcasing Australia’s finest produce and wine.

41. Otto Ristorante

Location: Woolloomooloo

Cuisine: Italian

Head chef: Richard Ptacnik

Ambience: Traditional dishes and tasting menus overlooking the wharf.

40. Poly

2
https://www.instagram.com/p/CSiMVVjhrE3/

Location: Surry Hills

Cuisine: Asian fusion

Head chef: Mat Lindsay

Ambience: Walk-in wine bar-style eatery in the middle of Paramount House Hotel.

39. Queen Chow

Location: Enmore

3

Cuisine: Cantonese

Head chef: Patrick Friesen

Ambience: Fresh take on traditional Chinese fare, decked out with local neighbourhood nostalgia.

38. The Restaurant Pendolino

Location: Sydney

Cuisine: Italian

Head chef: Nino Zoccali

4

Ambience: Regionally-inspired Italian cuisine located in Sydney’s historic Strand Arcade.

37. Rising Sun Workshop

Location: Newtown

Cuisine: Japanese fusion

Head chef: Nick Smith

Ambience: Communal motorcycle workshop and cafe serving coffee, baked goods and Ramen.

36. Rosetta Ristorante

5

Location: The Rocks

Cuisine: Italian

Head chef: Richard Perdue

Ambience: Relaxed Italian restaurant featuring an extensive antipasti selection and delicate homemade pizza and pasta.

35. Sagra

Location: Darlinghurst

6

Cuisine: Italian cuisine

Head chef: Tony Moss

Ambience: Seasonal and relaxed fare set in the heart of Sydney.

34. Sake Restaurant and Bar

Location: Double Bay

Cuisine: Japanese cuisine

Head chef: Jungbae Cho

7

Ambience: Australia’s most dynamic and contemporary sushi restaurant, situated in the uber-luxe Intercontinental Hotel.

33. Sean’s Panorama

Location: Bondi Beach

Cuisine: Australian

Head chef: Sean Moran

Ambience: Intimate paddock-to-plate style eatery overlooking Bondi Beach.

32. Sokyo