Best Sydney Winter Restaurants, Bars and Events 2026
Sydney’s food and bar scene doesn’t hibernate in winter. June through August brings a strong round of new openings — Italian-American grandeur arriving in the CBD, a pasta bar in Potts Point built on 40 years of recipes, and a beachside Italian at Brighton-Le-Sands worth the trip south. Regional day trips are well catered for too, with a new focaccia cafe in Leura and a Hunter Valley restaurant opening its doors to the public for the first time.
On the events side, Chiswick’s six-week Lasagne Series brings a different guest chef to Woollahra every Sunday evening from mid-June, with Matt Moran, Tom Gorringe and David Coumont among those stepping into the kitchen. Truffle season delivers one of regional Australia’s most distinctive dinners to Orange in July, the Good Food and Wine Show takes over the ICC for three days in June. The Apollo’s Gin & Jazz long lunch runs every month through September, and Tilda’s woodfire series continues every Saturday.
We’ll keep updating this guide as more openings and events are confirmed through June and July.
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New Restaurants and Bars
Pasta Shop – Potts Point
Paola Toppi — the chef behind Sydney institution Machiavelli and Bar M — has opened a 35-seat pasta bar on the corner of Bayswater Road and Ward Avenue, and the pitch is straightforward: the same recipes, better prices, no white tablecloths. The room is casual — walnut timber tables, terracotta directors’ chairs, lemon trees in the courtyard.
There are 11 pastas on the menu, all under $30, including the 40-year-old spaghetti Machiavelli, fusilli crab, spicy rigatoni alla vodka, gnocchi gorgonzola and a classic lasagne. House-made focaccia, polpette con sugo, salads and classic desserts round it out. The drinks list covers a monthly rotating Italian wine selection, Maybe Sammy negronis and margaritas ready to pour, Sardinian beer and Italian soft drinks. BYO is also available.
When: Lunch Thursday to Sunday 11:30am to 3pm; dinner Wednesday to Sunday 5pm to 9pm
Where: 37 Bayswater Road, Potts Point
Cost: All pastas under $30 l No reservations required.
Benetti’s – Brighton-Le-Sands
The Brighton Hotel’s new Italian restaurant sits along The Grand Parade, with a format built around sharing and staying longer than planned. The kitchen is led by Puglia-born head chef Mariocristian Carella, with fresh pasta made daily on an imported Italian pasta machine and pizzas cooked in a wood-fired Marana Forni oven.
Pasta highlights include chitarra allo scoglio with mussels, clams, prawns and calamari, and spaghetti with king prawns, garlic, chilli and heirloom cherry tomatoes. Pizzas run from classics through to The Benetti — tomato, mozzarella, nduja, hot honey, gorgonzola and basil. Larger plates cover veal Milanese, snapper acqua pazza and an Italian seafood stew. Tiramisu is served tableside.
For a quicker visit, a dedicated takeaway window faces The Grand Parade — useful if you’re coming off the beach.
The drinks list leans into aperitivo hour, with a Negroni for Two built on Never Never Oyster Shell Gin, Campari and dry vermouth among the signatures.
When: Monday to Sunday, 12pm to midnight
Where: 2 Princess Street, Brighton-Le-Sands
Jude’s – Potts Point
A new basement bar under Penny’s Hotel on Bayswater Road opened this week — 30 seats, no bookings, Thursday to Saturday only.
The cocktail list was put together by Matthew Cridge, who spent time building the wine program at Bibo Wine Bar in Double Bay. The Hey Jude is the signature is a Belvedere vodka, lychee, lemon and chilli, somewhere between a lychee martini and a spicy margarita. The Smokin’ Paps arrives on a smoking board before being poured into the glass — Jack Daniel’s Honey, Sazerac Rye and orange bitters. The Vesper Blush is a liquid nitrogen-chilled martini riff with Tanqueray gin, Grey Goose and Lillet Rosé.
Food is snack-style — truffle fries, baked camembert with sourdough and hot honey, charcuterie, cheese plates, battered artichoke hearts with nduja aioli. Crème brûlée for $10 if you want something sweet.
When: Thursday to Saturday from 5pm, walk-ins only
Where: Basement, Penny’s Hotel, 15 Bayswater Road, Potts Point
Vito’s – Sydney CBD (Opening August 2026)
The team behind Morrison’s Oyster Bar and Grill and Whalebridge are opening their most ambitious venue yet in August, inside the heritage-listed Burns Philp Building at 11 Bridge Street.
The room is the drawcard, 170 seats across a central dining floor with raised alcoves, grand booths, 21-foot heritage ceilings, original wrought iron columns, polished marble bars and burgundy leather banquettes. It’s been designed to feel permanent rather than fashionable.
The kitchen is led by Michael Fox, former Good Food Guide Young Chef of the Year and previously chef de cuisine at Carbone Hong Kong. The menu draws from Italian-American cooking, orecchiette with crab and green garlic butter, prawn and scallop agnolotti, scampi crudo and Black Onyx porterhouse steaks over a custom grill.
Open midday until late, seven days.
When: Opening August 2026 l midday until late, seven days.
Where: 11 Bridge Street, Sydney CBD
Limited Events: Book Now
These are the time-sensitive experiences for winter 2026. Some are already open, others sell out fast — we’ve listed them in date order so you can plan ahead.
Good Food and Wine Show – ICC Sydney
Three days at the ICC covering food, wine, cooking demonstrations and ticketed masterclasses. The show floor has producers, limited-edition products and tastings across all three days. Live demonstrations in the Good Food Kitchen feature Miguel Maestre, Kirsten Tibballs and Brendan Pang across the weekend.
Premium options include the Singapore Airlines VIP Lounge — priority entry, five beverages, a curated lunch by chef Andrew Ballard and front-row kitchen seats — and a 45-minute RIEDEL wine glass masterclass hosted by Candice Butka, which includes a take-home set of four Veloce glasses valued at $280 and show entry on Saturday.
VIP and masterclass tickets sell out fast.
When: Friday 19 to Sunday 21 June 2026
Where: ICC Sydney, Darling Harbour
Cost: from $49.95
Chiswick Lasagne Series – Woollahra
Every Sunday evening from 14 June to 19 July, Chiswick runs a six-week lasagne series with a different guest chef each week. Matt Moran opens the series on 14 June with a braised beef cheek lasagne, and the lineup from there covers pumpkin, truffle and fior di latte from David Coumont (North Bondi Fish), wonton lasagne with chilli crisp (Moran again), crab and prawn lasagne from Hamish Ingham, Wagyu beef and pine mushroom from Tom Gorringe (Aria), and wood-fired duck ragu with stracciatella to close from Chiswick’s own Quan Nguyen.
The $55pp set menu includes the lasagne of the week, garlic and herb focaccia, a seasonal salad and tiramisu. Two wines are available alongside — a vino rosso and vino bianco — by the glass, carafe or bottle.
Each menu of offered for one night only. Bookings recommended.
When: Every Sunday from 14 June to 19 July 2026, evenings
Where: Chiswick, Woollahra
Cost: $55pp
Paddo Nights Inn – Paddo Inn, Paddington
After selling out Tarot & Tannin three times in 2025, Paddo Inn has turned its experiential evenings into a monthly Monday night series. Each $60pp event pairs three wines and Italian bites from il Baretto with an expert-led experience.
Tarot & Tannin returns on 1 June with reader Ginny Shearer — an introduction to tarot alongside three wines and canapés. These sell out. Book early.
When: 1 June 2026, 7pm
Where: Paddo Inn, 338 Oxford Street, Paddington l Cost: $60pp
Dal Mare alla Città – Gowings, QT Sydney
Gowings executive chef James Kidman hosts a one-night-only Italian dinner in June, with Danny Russo (SALA Dining) and Richard Ptacnik (Otto Ristorante) joining him in the kitchen.
The four-course shared menu moves between coastal and city Italian — handmade pasta, chargrilled steak over open flame, seafood crudo and shellfish. Campari cocktails on arrival, paired wines throughout, and a Braulio amaro trolley to close. These are chefs who have worked alongside each other for more than 20 years, and the format is built around that familiarity rather than formality.
When: Wednesday 24 June 2026
Where: Gowings, QT Sydney, 49 Market Street, Sydney CBD
Cost: $170pp, inclusive of four courses and paired wines
Indigenous Degustation – Midden, Sydney Opera House
Midden at the Sydney Opera House runs two evenings of a six-course indigenous degustation in June, built around native Australian ingredients and matched Yarra Valley and Heathcote wines throughout.
The menu opens with Sydney rock oysters with finger lime and sea greens oil, smoked emu on wattle seed crisp, and native herb damper. From there: lightly cured kingfish with aniseed myrtle and bush tomato vinaigrette, crispy skin Humpty Doo barramundi with blue gum smoked pumpkin and lemon myrtle butter, and native herb rubbed kangaroo fillet with Davidson’s plum jus, pickled quandong and crispy saltbush. Dessert is a river mint buttermilk pannacotta with Illawarra plum confit and macadamia crumb, followed by an indigenous tea selection.
Several courses are gluten free. The arrival drink is an Este Cuvee NV from the Yarra Valley.
When: Monday 22 and Tuesday 23 June 2026, 6:30pm
Where: Midden, Western Broadwalk, Sydney Opera House
Cost: $220pp
Borrodell Black Tie and Gumboot Truffle Hunt & Dinner – Orange
Now in its 19th year, this Orange estate event has built a following for good reason. Guests arrive in black tie, swap their shoes for decorated gumboots, and head into Australia’s oldest mainland truffle oak plantings with trained dogs to unearth Black Périgord truffles. What comes out of the ground goes straight into the kitchen.
This year’s guest chef is Mitch Orr — formerly of Kiln at Ace Hotel Sydney and ACME — who will build a multi-course truffle menu around the day’s harvest, matched with Borrodell museum wines, some cellared back to 2005. The evening includes live music, homemade mulled cider on arrival and a charity auction. Prizes for best decorated gumboots are taken seriously.
When: Saturday 11 July 2026
Where: Borrodell Estate, Orange NSW
Cost: TBC
Monthly Series
High Cheese – Sheraton Grand Sydney Hyde Park
Will Studd, one of the world’s better-known cheese experts, has collaborated with Sheraton Grand Sydney Hyde Park on a Friday afternoon cheese experience launching 5 June. It’s built like a high tea but cheese leads throughout.
The menu covers whipped galotyri crostini, fried halloumi, a signature cheese course of Roquefort, Brillat Savarin and Manchego, Basque cheesecake and baked camembert scones. Wine pairing available for an additional $20 for two.
When: Every Friday from 5 June, 11am to 4pm
Where: The Gallery, Sheraton Grand Sydney Hyde Park
Cost: $75pp, optional wine pairing $20 for two
Gin & Jazz – The Apollo, Potts Point
The Apollo’s popular Sunday long lunch series continues through winter, running the last Sunday of every month through September. It’s one of Sydney’s better long lunch formats — four hours of Greek feasting, live jazz and Four Pillars cocktails without feeling rushed.
The $95pp Gin & Jazz menu includes a Four Pillars welcome cocktail alongside the restaurant’s Greek feasting menu — or dine à la carte if you’d prefer. Live jazz from Arthur Washington & Band and Soundcliff Jazz Trio runs from midday through to 4pm.
When: Last Sunday of the month through September 2026, 12pm to 4pm
Where: The Apollo, 44 Macleay Street, Potts Point
Cost: $95pp Gin & Jazz menu; à la carte also available
Tilda – Fire & Wine
One-hatted Tilda’s Saturday evening series continues through winter, built around its woodfire grill and a 1,000-bottle wine list.
The menu is seasonal, woodfire oysters with finger lime and wasabi, Kinross Station lamb rack with miso-charred eggplant, with wines selected by in-house sommelier Paul Sadler. Minimum two guests.
When: Every Saturday from 5pm
Where: Tilda, Sofitel Sydney Wentworth, 61-101 Phillip Street, Sydney CBD
Cost: $99pp, optional wine pairings available
Winter Menus
Rivareno Gelato – Barangaroo
Rivareno’s winter menu is back until the end of August, adding warmth to what is otherwise a cold-weather gelato visit.
Freshly made crepes paired with gelato are the centrepiece, alongside rich chocolate brownies, brioche filled with gelato, affogato and Rivareno’s Italian hot chocolate.
When: Available now until end of August
Where: Rivareno Gelato, Barangaroo
Cost: Crepes $13, hot chocolate shot $5, Hot chocolate regular $7.50, hot chocolate
Affogato $11
Dopa Donburi – Winter Menu
Dopa’s winter menu adds fragrant sencha teas — Peach Sencha and Lemon Strawberry Sencha, served hot or cold — alongside a Winter Apple dessert gyoza.
The Chef Special menu, launched in late April, continues with two premium teishoku sets: the Wagyu & Foie Gras Teishoku (Australian Wagyu 9+ with foie gras and braised onion) and the Nagoya Unagi Teishoku (grilled freshwater eel with teriyaki glaze, soft egg and dashi stock).
When: Available now
Where: Dopa Donburi, multiple Sydney locations including Darling Square and 180 George Street
Worth Knowing About
IFTAR – Merrylands
After a successful Ramadan nights series, IFTAR has made after-dark dining permanent. The long-table share format works for groups and families.
The spread covers burning cheese for tearing, sambousek cigars with spiced sumac lamb and pomegranate molasses, lamb shish, chickpea fatteh and woodfired bread. The mansaf rice — slow-braised lamb shoulder over fragrant spiced rice with toasted almonds and garlic cucumber yoghurt — is worth ordering for the table.
When: Daytime Monday to Sunday 9am to 2pm; evenings Monday to Sunday 7:30pm to 9:30pm
Where: IFTAR, Main Lane, Merrylands
Regional New Openings
Little Sista – Leura, Blue Mountains
The family behind Cafe Leura has opened a focaccia-first cafe on Megalong Street, and it’s worth factoring into your next Blue Mountains day trip or winter weekend.
Focaccias are made daily and built to be substantial. The Everything She Wants stacks prosciutto, mortadella, sopressa, ham, mozzarella, pesto, sundried tomatoes and rocket. The Grecko goes with slow-cooked lamb, tzatziki, semi-dried tomato, feta and peppers. Gluten free options are available. Sweet treats arrive in cans — tiramisu and stone fruit cheesecake — alongside iced lattes, matchas and fresh juice.
The space seats 16 inside and 8 outside, with a vinyl collection on the walls and a Rega Planar 6 spinning from open to close. It feels more like a lounge room than a cafe, which is either a selling point or a warning depending on how much you need to get done.
When: Monday to Sunday, 8am to 4pm
Where: 4/130-138 Megalong Street, Leura NSW l About 90 minutes from Sydney CBD.
Fusion Restaurant, Elysia Wellness Retreat -Hunter Valley
Previously available only to retreat guests, Elysia’s Fusion Restaurant has opened its doors to the public from 18 May. The setting suits a long lunch — sweeping Hunter Valley views, a menu endorsed by the retreat’s on-site naturopath, and local wines poured alongside.
The menu is built around seasonal wholefood cooking with herbs from the estate garden. Entrees include calamari and shell pasta salad with parsley and citrus, and a zucchini and sweet potato loaf with pumpkin polenta wedge and romesco. Mains run to kataifi-wrapped lamb puttanesca with lemon yoghurt, and baked Russet potato gnocchi with sugo finto mascarpone gratinée. Desserts include matcha mint slice and avocado and dark chocolate mousse with red berry compote. Several dishes are gluten free or dairy free. Adults only.
Through May and June, order an entree and dessert and receive a complimentary dessert.
When: Lunch daily, 12pm to 3pm
Where: 165 Thompsons Road, Pokolbin NSW l About two hours from Sydney CBD. Bookings via elysiaretreat.com.au/restaurant.
Plan Your Winter
Quick links to help you plan:
- Dining deals and specials
- Happy hours across Sydney
- Sydney events calendar for June, July and August
