Sydney comes to life in summer with longer days, warmer nights, and a lively alfresco dining scene. From lively alfresco group hangouts serving fresh beers and pizzas, spectacular rooftops for cocktails at sunset and romantic date night gems, the best outdoor restaurants in Sydney await.
Pick between a boozy rooftop brunch, an elegant harbourside lunch, a sunny sake courtyard, a romantic waterfront dinner, and so much more.
Read on for the best outdoor restaurants in Sydney for stellar meals and drinks, and book your spot on OpenTable.
The best outdoor restaurants in Sydney to book right now – read on for a guide
For one of the most iconic seaside restaurants in Sydney – visit Doyles on the Beach in Watsons Bay
Watsons Bay is home to one of Sydney’s most iconic seaside restaurants, Doyles on the Beach. The seafood cafe sits on the edge of the sand, in a building that was built in 1885. Doyle’s famous fish and chips are fried golden in beer batter and served with chips or garden salad, and restaurateur Alice Doyle’s plum sauce. There’s also a plant-based fish alternative on the menu, plus more hot and cold seafood options, and desserts. Follow up your meal with a refreshing cocktail or a draught beer in Doyle’s large, open-air garden bar.
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For one of the best outdoor restaurants in Sydney with a sake courtyard – don’t miss Zushi in Surry Hills
Zushi is Surry Hill’s favourite neighbourhood sushi bar serving fresh rolls, sashimi, and izakaya-inspired dishes. Grab a seat in the beautiful outdoor sake courtyard for lunchtime bowls and bentos in the sun or a tasting menu dinner date under the stars. Expect sashimi tacos, cauliflower karaage, tiger rolls, and prawn tempura, along with yuzu sake and Japanese botanical cocktails, including the lychee orange blossom mojito. For an outdoor waterfront meal, grab a table at the Barangaroo harbourside outpost.
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For stunning waterside views – book at OTTO Sydney in Woolloomooloo
OTTO is one of Sydney’s most renowned fine-dining institutions with picturesque and shaded alfresco seating on the Finger Wharf at Woolloomooloo. The restaurant’s modern Italian menu is rooted in the classics serving dishes such as Moreton Bay bug saffron linguine, Sydney rock oysters, mafaldine in spicy lamb ragù and goat’s cheese, and local, wood-grilled John Dory. OTTO’s fine dining experience is enhanced by its extensive wine list and the wharf’s waterside views. The restaurant has remained an inner-city favourite since 2000s.
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For an alfresco date night in a garden oasis – try The Potting Shed in Alexandria
The Potting Shed is the place to be for seasonal dining, kid-friendly activities, and year-round greenery. Plant yourself in lush plant-filled courtyard to enjoy a produce-driven menu and a tipple in the rustic garden oasis. The menu features fresh salads, such as one with roast peaches, crispy chickpeas and hummus, seafood starters, like tuna and prawn ceviche on tostadas and braised beef arepas with chimichurri and guacamole, plus local, grain-fed steaks. Go with a group to feast on a shareable menu for $75 per person, or surprise your date with a romantic table setting complete with candles and roses.
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For wood-fired pizzas and cocktails on the roof – don’t miss Rooftop at The Light Brigade in Woollahra
Take in spectacular views of Sydney’s skyline from The Light Brigade’s recently refreshed rooftop terrace. Sitting 83 metres above sea level on the fourth floor of Woollahra’s historic art deco pub, it’s the best place in the east to soak up the sunshine with an alfresco meal. The full pub menu is ideal for sharing with dishes such as wood-fired pizzas, summery cocktails, and beers on tap. Go with your mates and stop by the pool table, enjoy music nights and grab a signature housemade lemon curd doughnut to end your night with a bang.
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For a sunny lunch at a historical terrace with sea views – visit Hotel Ravesis in Bondi Beach
In the heart of Sydney’s famous Bondi Beach is Hotel Ravesis, a historic building and an icon of coastal hospitality. Expansive terraces wrap around an elegant dining room with uninterrupted views of the beach. Pick from a Mediterranean selection of seafood and meat dishes, including fish sandwich, prawn cocktail, lamb skewers, and Sydney rock oysters shucked to order. There’s also a Middle Eastern falafel bowl with eggplant caviar, hand-rolled crab pasta, and coastal cocktails. Housemade carafes of strawberry spritz promise a good night for large groups.
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For one of the best outdoor restaurants in Sydney for an izakaya experience – book at Tento in Surry Hills
Tucked in a laneway off Bourke Street, Tento is Surry Hill’s newest courtyard cafe. Everything is handmade, including the pottery cups, ramen bowls, and the Japanese menus. Tento specialises in ochazuka, a traditional rice dish with green tea poured over it. The dish is served here with salmon, sashimi snapper, and aburi scallop, or nimono mushrooms (vegan). There’s also ramen, and cauliflower and chicken kaarage or wagyu steak, alongside black sesame lattes and Seven Miles coffee.
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For a Cantonese banquet with a group – try China Diner in Double Bay and Bondi Beach
With a stylish interior inspired by 1930s Shanghai, China Diner in Double Bay and Bondi Beach represents a contemporary approach to Cantonese food. Be amongst the buzz and energy of the alfresco terrace in summer with sake or a fruity cocktail in hand. For dinner, order China Diner’s pork xiao long bao, and chicken and sesame ‘chiko’ spring rolls, plus a selection of larger share plates, including vegan steamed silken tofu and five spice duck pancakes.
📍 Double Bay — Check Availability
📍 Bondi Beach — Check Availability
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For tapas and Spanish wine with stunning waterfront views – book a table at BORN by Tapavino in Barangaroo
BORN by Tapavino not only impresses with contemporary Spanish food but spectacular waterfront views of Sydney Harbour as well. With its sister restaurants Tapavino and Balcon, it’s the third restaurant from the acclaimed Tapavino group and is inspired by tapas bars along the Mediterranean coast and Barcelona’s El Born neighbourhood. The menu features a selection of cured meats, cheeses, and tapas, including coca (fried flat bread) with potato, spinach, and caramelised onion, and Galician-style octopus with kindler potatoes. There are Spanish wines to match, best enjoyed in BORN’s outdoor seating on the Barangaroo foreshore.
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For top-notch seafood platters by the sea – visit The Boatshed La Perouse in La Perouse
The Boatshed sits on prime Sydney real estate at La Perouse with panoramic ocean views and breezy waterfront seating. Indulge in the restaurant’s top-notch seafood as you watch the waves from the spacious outdoor deck with a cocktail or freshly squeezed juice. Expect dishes such as lobster mornay, cream prawn linguine, pots of mussels, and seafood platters for one, two, or four. This relaxed, coastal dining experience is ideal for families, and there’s a dedicated menu for the little ones starting with fairy floss pancakes in the morning, linguine napolitana, or calamari and chips from midday.
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For an alfresco Brazilian barbecue feast – try Braza Churrascaria in Darling Harbour
Located in buzzy Darling Harbour, the brazilian steakhouse Braza Churrascaria is a meat lover’s heaven. At the restaurant, passadores (meat carvers) go from table to table serving more than 20 types of barbecued meats straight to diners’ plates, including pork belly, beef sirloin, lamb rump, and prawns. Vegetarians are catered for, too, with halloumi and pineapple skewers, plus a range of Brazilian entrees and sides. The undercover seating out front is the place to grab a seat on a balmy afternoon and sample Brazil’s national alcoholic beverage cachaça, or a batida cocktail with the diner’s choice of fruits and spirit.
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Melissa Woodley is a Sydney-based food and drink writer. Follow her food adventures in Sydney and beyond on Instagram @sporkdiaries.
