Every year it seems more and more impossible to top the kind of restaurant calibre that exists in Sydney already, and every year the city bristles with excitement at a slew of new openings – late-night underground bars, harbourside eateries and fine dining precincts – that reinvigorate our love for food all over again.
While we're only just over the halfway point of the year of 2026, there are already a bunch of new openings to be excited about that you might have missed. Luckily, we miss nothing – whether it's a new sandwich shop in St. Peters or the reopening of a Surry Hills Australiana institution. And we've rounded up the best new restaurants opening in Sydney this year, below.
Spezia (CBD)
View this post on Instagram
Opened: September 22, 2026
Spezia is the latest addition to Capella, helmed by three Michelin-starred chef Jae Bang. The menu is Italian, with a Silk Road flair – think spaghetti chitarra with blue swimmer crab bisque, anise, fresh chili, and prawn tartare.
Tenjo (Redfern)
View this post on Instagram
Opening: November 2026
The rooftop at the Eve Hotel will become home to a new Japanese Izakaya this November, courtesy of the team behind Olympus, The Apollo and Cho Cho San. Tenjo borrows its name from the Japanese word for ceiling – fitting, considering venue is positioned on the rooftop, with a retractable glass roof.
Baptiste (Redfern)
View this post on Instagram
Opening: November 2026
The Eve Hotel will also welcome Baptiste come November. This space is also now in the hands of the team behind Olympus, The Apollo and Cho Cho San, and is set to become a neighbourhood French bistro.
The Heritage Room (CBD)
View this post on Instagram
Opened: September 2026
Tucked away at 25 Martin Place, The Heritage Room is a new wine bar from the team behind Rovollo. Inspired by the old-world enotecas of Italy, the intimate, dimly-lit room pairs a Tuscan-leaning wine list with handmade pasta, oysters, cured meats and cheeses.
Sandwhich (St Peters)
View this post on Instagram
Opened: July 2026
Created by two ex-Neptune's Grotto chefs, St. Peters' newest Indonesian-inspired sando spot features a compact menu inclusive of black sesame banana bread, fish tartare burgers and glazed nanban chicken sandwiches.
La Buvette (Potts Point)
View this post on Instagram
Opened: August 2026
The Potts Point institution is being resurrected by the team behind Bar Copains. The teeny neighbourhood French wine bar (with room for just 10 inside and a few more outside), located on Challis Ave, will feature a menu of classic bistro dishes (like terrines, buttered baguettes and rock oysters), alongside a curated wine list.
Arthur’s (Surry Hills)
View this post on Instagram
Opened: July 2026
The reopening of Arthur's has been the talk of the town lately, and its new iteration has swapped its degustation format for an à la carte menu that's decidedly more relaxed. Come for the happy hour featuring $10 cocktails and stay for the menu with an unbridled commitment to exclusively Aussie produce.
Lo Presti’s (Redfern)
View this post on Instagram
Opened: July 2026
Two Baba's Place alumni have opened their newest 50-seat restaurant in Redfern this winter, serving up Mediterranean-ish dishes with a hint of Italian and Moroccan flavours. Menu highlights include steamed zucchini and braised leeks with goat’s curd, and a grilled pork chop in a bed of white wine and coriander sauce, complete with local pippies.
Bronte Road Fish (North Bondi)
View this post on Instagram
Opened: August 2026
Waverley's uber-popular Bronte Road Fish has opened a new locale in North Bondi (taking over the old Bondi’s Best space). The new space is smaller in size but focuses on a takeway menu that's perfect for heading to the beach with. Of course, all the original menu faves are being carried over though, including their classic crumbed fish burger and bluefin tuna smash burger, plenty of dipping sauces, mushy peas, scallops, side salads and of course, those all-important chippies.
Winnie's (Circular Quay)
View this post on Instagram
Opened: August 2026
The Sydney Opera House's new all-day waterfront dining destination is inspired by the legacy of pioneering pianist Winifred Atwell, whose 1964 performance for construction workers became part of the landmark's history before it officially opened. Designed as a relaxed harbourside café, bar and restaurant, the menu featuring dishes such as Blue Swimmer crab omelette, chicken and sweetcorn congee, king prawn conchiglie and house-made pastries, alongside Australian botanical cocktails and a curated selection of NSW wines and beers.
Riva (Rose Bay)
View this post on Instagram
Opened: August 2026
Perched on the water in Rose Bay is Riva. The new waterfront restaurant centres its menu around handmade pasta, fresh seafood and seasonal produce, with dishes like WA lobster spaghetti and ravioli del plin alongside a sprawling Italian wines list.
All'Antico Vinaio (Circular Quay)
View this post on Instagram
Opened: July 2026
Straight from the family-run original in Florence, the famed sandwich shop has thrust open the doors to its first Australian locale this winter. Lines are to be expeced, but worth the wait for one of their stacked Schiacciata flatbread sandwiches, complete with imported cheeses, deli meats and even a Sydney-exclusive sando made from Wagyu bresaola.
Bar Bruno (CBD)
View this post on Instagram
Opened: late May 2026
Bar Bruno is the kind of all-day Italian spot you'll want to settle into, whether it's for a morning coffee and house-made pastry or a long lunch over standout seafood, crudo and generous mains in its lofty warehouse-style dining room. Don't leave without ordering the Grasshopper cocktail made with Mapo's fior di latte gelato, while the thoughtfully curated Italian-leaning wine list and neighbouring Razz Room make it an easy destination to linger well into the evening.
CÀ PHÊ MAI (Double Bay)
View this post on Instagram
Opened: early June 2026
Double Bay's newest 30-seat restaurant and wine bar combines Vietnamese favourites with Australian cafe sensibilities. Here you can get breakfast, lunch and dinner – open from 7am-5pm Sunday - Tuesday, and 7am-10pm Wednesday - Saturday. The menu features standouts like toasted banana bread with Vietnamese coffee butter, miniature fish burgers, bánh mì and fresh vermicelli canteen bowls. There's also a perfectly paired wine list of 80 bottles – including the odd find from further afield, including a Vietnamese sparkling rice wine from Sông Cái.
Sugo (Bexley North)
View this post on Instagram
Opened: April 2026
Sugo has quickly become one of Sydney's most talked-about neighbourhood restaurants, bringing handmade pasta, generous Italian comfort food and an effortlessly cool atmosphere to Bexley North from the team behind Self Raised. Opened by siblings Sal Sennan, Amani and Hussein Rachid, the intimate pasta bar pairs retro-inspired interiors with standout dishes like conchiglie and cotoletta.
Piqu (Newtown)
View this post on Instagram
Piqu proves that sometimes less really is more. The understated 35-seat Newtown restaurant strips back the fit-out so there's nothing to distract from its vibrant, Thai-inspired cooking – like buttermilk roti and green mango and watermelon salad – where punchy flavours and clever technique do all the talking.
Trattoria Da Orazio (Rushcutters Bay)
View this post on Instagram
Opened: 17 July 2026
Chef Orazio D'Elia has opened Trattoria Da Orazio in Rushcutters Bay, returning to the former Popolo site where he first established his reputation in Sydney's dining scene. The 80-seat restaurant will celebrate regional Italian cooking through a traditional trattoria menu, an Italy-focused wine list featuring 100 bottles, and interiors that pay homage to D'Elia's heritage, including a family heirloom dining table and a custom charcoal grill at the heart of the kitchen.
Fishnets (Bronte)
View this post on Instagram
Opened: mid-June 2026
Just steps from sister venue Table Manners, Fishnets is bringing Japanese technique to Bronte with a neighbourhood-first attitude, thanks to chef Sanghyeop Kim (formerly of Sokyo's omakase team). The menu spans everything from pristine nigiri to half-kilo tuna katsu and A5 Japanese wagyu. Come for the impeccably executed seafood and stay for the moody interiors, Japanese whisky cocktails and art-filled dining room.
Arthur (Surry Hills)
View this post on Instagram
While not technically new, Surry Hills' beloved Arthur is being reopened after taking some time to rebuilt from the ground-up. Luckily, the wait isn't long – the fine diner will have its doors back open in July, and with a à la carte menu (yes, they are doing away with the set-menu-only format). There will also be alfresco tables for maximising afternoons in the sunshine, and walk-ins will be encouraged.
Tera Bar (Surry Hills)
View this post on Instagram
Opened: soft opened early May 2026
The newest joint in Surry Hills is this neighbourhood wine and sake bar from chef Takahiro Teramoto and his wife, Wanaka Teramoto. Of course, there's a sake-focused drinks list and a menu that combines Aussie produce with both a French and Japanese essence – think potato mochi, Wagyu tartare and spatchcock fricassée.
Pizza Studio Tamaki (CBD)
View this post on Instagram
Opened: 16 May 2026
Tsubasa Tamaki's signature Tamaki pizza features a 30-hour fermented dough, smoked mozzarella, pecorino romano, basil and whole cherry tomatoes. It's become Tokyo's cult Neapolitan pizza, and now, it's opened its doors to a new location at 259 George St, Sydney. The new restaurant is also his largest, with 78 seats.
Lo Presti’s (Redfern)
View this post on Instagram
Opening: July 2026
A former Baba's Place head chef is opening a new 50-seater spot on the corner of Redfern and Elizabeth Streets called Lo Presti's. The menu is expected to have a strong Greek and broadly Mediterranean influence (think crudités, seafood and braised vegetables), and the atmostphere, casual-leaning. If you're itching for a taste, the duo at its helm are popping up at Bar Demo on Sunday 28 June from 4-8pm, where you can try iterations of their upcoming dishes, and even a cocktail straight off menu.
Itadakimasu Onigiri & Bar (Darlinghurst)
View this post on Instagram
Opened: February 2026
Sandoitchi's new neighbour is a made-to-order onigiri bar that seats only six, but which dishes up the Japanese lunch favourites while still warm. They also do snacks and more generous set menus (think katsu fish and miso soup) for those hoping to sit down. A not-to-be-missed menu items is their salt and vinegar karaage. They also do a great Hojicha or Matcha latte too. Or you could opt for sake, beer and cocktails a little later in the day.
Temu Kangen (Haymarket)
View this post on Instagram
Opened: 18 January 2026
Here you'll find cuisine from across the Indonesian archipelago like nasi kapau, char kway teow or nasi kuning iga bakar. You'll find golden towers of turmeric rice, deep fried vegetable fritters (Bakwan Sayur) and even a range of bubble teas that cater to those with a sweet tooth. The restaurant is halal and on Uber Eats (in case you want to have your feast at home).
Aori (King Street Wharf, CBD)
View this post on Instagram
Opened: 9 February 2026
AORI is the latest dining destination from the team behind some of Sydney’s most respected contemporary restaurants, Alegre and Callao. The new 240 seat waterfront dining venue features roaming steak trolleys (that allows guests to select premium cuts without leaving your seat), a raw bar and sushi offering from world-class chefs, tableside cocktails and a resident DJ booth. There's also a lounge, alfresco balcony dining and semi-private and private dining rooms inspired by the intimacy of a ryokan.
Kim’s Bop (Glebe)
View this post on Instagram
Opened: April 2026
Kim's Bop is a 16-seat Glebe neighbourhood gem from chef Byungjae Kim and partner Emily Tarran, who transformed their much-loved Sydney market stall into a permanent home. The menu showcases homestyle Korean cooking that goes far beyond barbecue and fried chicken. Don't leave without ordering the signature kimchi and perilla seed udon.
The James at The Langham Sydney (Millers Point)
View this post on Instagram
Opened: late February 2026
The James, contemporary British restaurant, will soon be opening at The Langham, Sydney, introducing a refined dining experience that honours the hotel’s heritage. Led by Head Chef Sam Tuchband, whose menu is shaped by his time in London, the restaurant will reimagine British comfort classics with a contemporary Australian sensibility, complemented by a wine list spanning Old World favourites, standout Australian producers and a dedicated focus on English sparkling wine.
Hamsi Taverna (Glebe)
View this post on Instagram
Opened: 19 January 2026
Located at the brand-new Sydney Fish Market precinct in Glebe, Hamsi Taverna is led by celebrity Turkish chef Somer Sivrioğlu and is an homage to Istanbul’s seaside taverns. Designed to shift from long lunches to late-night, DJ-soundtracked evenings by the water, the seafood-forward menu is built around crudo, cured, and flame-grilled dishes designed for sharing – including baked vodka sauce conchiglie with spanner crab and kadayif prawns with muhammara.
Las Palamas (Manly)
View this post on Instagram
Opened: Saturday 21 February 2026
Bringing a sun-soaked taste of coastal Mexico to Manly’s West Esplanade – just steps from Manly Wharf and a 15 minute ferry from Sydney’s CBD – this new garden bar and taqueria is set to be the locals and visitors hottest destination for tacos, margaritas, and live music from day into night. Tacos are at the heart of the experience, but the bar packs just as much of a punch, featuring tequilas and mezcals from Olmeca Altos, Código, and Del Maguey, plus a custom Las Palmas x Balter Brewing Company beer.
Bronte Road Fish (Waverley)
View this post on Instagram
Opened: Tuesday 10 February 2026
Transforming a former French bistro into a laid-back, cheffy fish and chip spot, the newly opened Bronte Road Fish serves everything from crispy fish burgers and tuna smashburgers to zingy potato scallops and Hokkaido milk soft serve.
Mary's Hot Pizza (Moore Park)
View this post on Instagram
Opened: early February 2026
Mary’s has expanded its Sydney footprint with the opening of Mary’s Hot Pizza at the Entertainment Quarter in Moore Park. The new spot is a bright, high-energy venue serving Detroit-style squares and New York–style sourdough rounds by the slice or whole. The menu pairs cult-favourite and new toppings – from stracciatella and nduja to ‘roni cups and premium local produce – with a considered drinks list of natural wines, beers and cocktails.
Sit Cafe (Marrickville)
View this post on Instagram
Opened: Saturday 28 February
The famed Baba's Place team are opening a brand-new cafe called, simply, Sit, in Marrickville. The venue is community-driven and with a focus on seasonal ingredients (they even ferment their own yogurt and cream). The menu features Greek and Levantine classics with a spin – think Spanakopita omelettes and Greek yogurt with honey and walnuts.
Ard Bakery (Stanmore)
View this post on Instagram
Opening: 28 January 2026
You may know Christiana from her cake-making adventures over on @ardsydney_ – but the baker has recently soft-launched her own outpost in Stanmore (set to officially open on 28 January). Here, you'll find freshly whisked matchas and baked treats from cakes and cookies to cinnamon buns. And of course, it's entirely plant-based, so your vegan friends can enjoy them too.
Sydney Fish Market (Glebe)
View this post on Instagram
Opened: 19 January 2026
The new $836 million Sydney Fish Market is reopening in Glebe, adjacent to its former home on Blackwattle Bay. It now hosts more than 40 retailers, including restaurants Little Red, Stitch Coffee, Tavira Bakehouse and Touch Wood among others. There's also a Sydney Seafood School where you can take cooking classes, and more than 19 fresh seafood wholesalers on site.
