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    Cafe Sydney

    4.1 (196 reviews)
    PriceyCafes, Australian
    Open 12:00 pm - 11:00 PM

    Cafe Sydney Photos

    CAFE SYDNEY ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Classy
    Moderate noise
    Good for groups
    Outdoor seating

    Recommended Reviews - Cafe Sydney

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    Incredible views
    Greg T.

    Cafe Sydney was definately one of my finest dining experiences in Sydney. We stopped by for lunch, and it was fabulous! Service was impeccable, the view of the harbor incredible, the drinks/wine menu extensive, and the food imaginative and delicious. Located on the 5th floor of the old Customs House (now a library) Cafe Sydney overlooks Sydney Bay and the Bridge. Reservations recommended, we managed to get a table at lunch. It filled up quickly, and is obviously very popular with the business crowd. My wife has food allergies, and the wait staff made sure the cook staff could accomadate them. Everything we tried was wonderfully prepared and presented...and delicious! Prices were surprisingly reasonable for the quality and craftsmanship of the dishes.

    $56 Beef Tenderloin
    Trent N.

    Cafe Sydney, 6Head, Bennelong, & Maybe Sammy (for drinks) have to be the 4 places you must go in Sydney if you are even remotely a foodie. I absolutely loved me some Cafe Sydney. The view is impeccable. The restaurant is beautiful. I love the view of Circular Quay. Up first, the $23 espresso martini! Perfect! Get yourself one if you like espresso martinis! Up next, $17 broccolini probably the worst of the items we tried, but still an 8/10. Then, the $18 brussel sprouts. They were amazing. Had a really different taste to them, nothing like I've ever had anywhere. 9.5/10. Only wish they were slightly more charred. For main courses, $56 beef tenderloin, roasted oyster mushroom, peppercorn sauce. Freaking amazing. 10/10. There is a Happy Hour here on Wednesdays and Thursdays from 5pm-7pm. $2 Sydney rock oysters, $14 classic cocktails, $10 local wines.

    Rob B.

    It's the total package, but getting a reservation can take years as I can attest. I think on retrospect, a walk in is better than trying to make a real reservation. The food is good but it's not 5 star, but the view is. Even a marginal table is fortunate. It's a total magical experience even with good but not exceptional food.

    Matt U.

    Well, I had never heard of this place before a friend recommended it, it's a spot that will not soon be forgotten! Café Sydney sits a top an old building near Sydney Harbour, overlooking one of the most iconic inlets in the world. It's a top-notch place. That is well worth checking out if you have the time. We were able to get a reservation on the patio on what turned out to be an absolutely spectacular night. If you have the opportunity to dine out there when it's nice, the experience is unparallel! The cocktail selection, wine list, and food selection are distinctively, upscale, and creative. It's very seafood, focused, as you would expect, and left very little to be desired. The staff were all very friendly, aside from a waitress who seemed to not love that we had our kids dining with us, everybody was very nice. We were seated promptly, our beverages and food came out quickly, and everything was exactly as we hoped. If you have the opportunity to dine here, you should absolutely take it. We booked reservations, something like three months ahead of time, so it's definitely something you need to plan for, and wallet will be a relatively expensive dinner, it's 100% worth it!

    Kitchen staff
    Debra R.

    We were looking for a good restaurant a short walk from our Intercontinental Hotel since it was rainy, and Yelpers raved about this place. We have to agree, five star dining with upscale professional service, a great wine list and an eclectic menu with innovative offerings. Located on the 5th floor of the customs house, now the city library, on a clear day the views of the bridge from the outside seats would be stunning. On a rainy day with everyone seated inside noise level was high due to the locals and business people filling the place, obviously very popular rain or shine. We arrived just before noon and were lucky to get a table. Reservations are a good idea. My allergy issues were handled well, with a quick check on the items I ordered to make sure they were okay, rather than trying to list items I could eat. I started with twice cooked Gruyere souffle, quince, watermelon radish, pomegranate, burnt apple puree, all fresh ingredients with a wonderful blend of flavors. Their dutch cream potato gnocchi, stracciatella, cavolo nero, zucchini, basil, lemon butter sauce came in a large portion, and was very rich and tasty. Their appertifs are reasonably priced, service great, and we will definitely eat here again.

    Vacation in Sydney
    Karyn P.

    Great food... Great views...Great staff Will be posting more as we travel along Looking for Sushi now

    Skip B.

    Came here for our first ever night in Sydney, which happened to be our 20th Anniversary. The Terrace View was stunning. Sit on the Terrace...it's a must and one of the best views in Sydney. The food was spectacular. My wife ordered the Snapper and I ordered the filet. We shared them so we both had "Surf N Turf". Both were great. Instead of a "side" we ordered a main dish of the Gnocchi in a cheese/cream sauce. Good thing we skipped the starters...we ate 3 mains shared between the two of us for our meal. The wine selection was extensive, but the wine team made sure we got the perfect bottle for our meal. Ben our waiter was simply the best. The whole team was beyond Top Notch and here, the whole team works seamlessly to insure the best possible experience. They took care of everything to make sure our 20th anniversary dinner was incredible and memorable. If I could give the service 6 Stars out of 5, I would. From the moment we walked off the elevator into the restaurant until the moment we left...everything was as good as it gets.

    Sidney Harper Bridge

    We visited Café Sydney right before the Christmas holidays, and this was our second time--so naturally we wondered if lightning could strike twice. It absolutely did. It was a perfect Sydney evening: ideal weather, clear visibility, and--by some stroke of luck--the same terrace table we had on our first visit, facing the Sydney Harbour Bridge. The view is nothing short of spectacular. Café Sydney has a buzz and a sexy, energetic vibe that immediately draws you in. While the food is very good, it's almost secondary to the overall experience. We started with the Sydney rock oysters--fresh, clean, and beautifully presented. For mains, the tenderloin was scrumptious, paired with a lovely sauce. We also tried the salmon with curry sauce, which was good, though I would have happily ordered the tenderloin again. Our waiter was clearly busy and in high demand, but he remained pleasant and did his best throughout the evening. This restaurant has an undeniable energy that keeps pulling you back. One tip: they seat you promptly when you arrive, and if you want a great table during peak season, book at least six weeks in advance. Here's hoping lightning strikes a third time--we'll definitely be back.

    View from our table.
    James W.

    Had a center view from the balcony at Cafe Sydney, what an experience. And for anyone who's vegan, they also have a completely separate plant based menu which has loads of options, we tried all 3 of the small vegan entrees which were exceptional, the main meal was off the chart and we had two of their vegan desserts. If you're looking for a fine dining experience by the harbor and this is it! For anyone looking for plant based options, you will be well taken care of.

    The view from a balcony table. Even on a hot 32 degree day it was the coolest place to be.

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    Great ambience, delicious food and awesome wines. Great friendly and informed service.

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    1 year ago

    Wonderful experience! So glad they had room for us during our stay in Sydney! Food was amazing as well as service and ambience.

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    Page 2 of 5

    Cafe Sydney Reviews in Other Languages

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    Ground Control Cafe

    Ground Control Cafe

    4.0(25 reviews)
    0.1 kmSydney
    $

    This is Major Tom to... No! I won't go down that road, let's try another route. Like the dumbbell…read morewielding moustachioed man of strength at the circus this cold drip coffee connoisseur delights and astounds the crowd as he goes about his daily grind. First impressions count, and GC had me at hello... That 'tash, is to curling what.... Curling is to the winter olympics. Awesome sauce! I fully expect moustache rides will be on the menu if business ever hits the skids. Alas, despite the gleeful charm of the curly coifed one, nothing short of an excellent coffee with character was going to make the all important lasting impression on me and sadly in that area GC disappoints. I gave GC the Soy Latte test and the Long Black test and it just doesn't measure up to other coffee in the area. I like strong coffee with complexity and GC just doesn't have that. It's not the worst but it is very weak despite using the same La Marzocco espresso machine (that Barista's rave about for ease of use) as other places in the area. The service at GC however is very good and to some people that's first priority. So if you aren't too fussy about your coffee and are looking for a smile and a spring in your step from an energetic soul then get your morning fix at GC, and start the day on a happy note.

    Nice little coffee shop right underneath Circular Quay Train Station, at the opposite side to the…read moreferry wharfs. Grab a coffee in your BYO Cup and run for the next train or ferry Or if you have time, take your coffee up to the Cahill Expressway Lookout and relax while enjoying your coffee with a great view over the Quay!

    Photos
    Ground Control Cafe
    Ground Control Cafe
    Ground Control Cafe

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    The Grounds of The City

    The Grounds of The City

    4.0(80 reviews)
    1.2 kmSydney
    $$

    Nice spot but where do I begin? I'm always torn when coming to a place but not fully experiencing…read moreit. This place was recommended to us by a local family friend. We came in thinking it was just a coffee shop, but it's essentially a restaurant that also has a focus on coffee. They have a full bar and a window to the outside where you can order just coffee and tea to go. As for the interior it's dimly lit and sort of has romantic date night vibes. We essentially only ordered coffee and one person ordered a cake slice. The lychee cake was pretty good per my aunt. A couple people ordered the Coco Loco, which is basically an espresso martini on steroids with Nutella and something like a Ferrero Rocher. I ordered a latte and their Affogato. The latte was very smooth and BI is arguably one of the best I've ever had. Is the Affogato a cheat code because they use like a tiramisu ice cream? You could argue that case. You can also buy their blends of coffee beans, subject to availability. While the latte was very smooth, I can't say it was mind blowing but it was still pretty good.

    First time in Australia experiencing the culture and culinary experiences. Please take that into…read moreconsideration when reading this. I also reserve 4 and 5 star reviews for exceptional service with unforgettable dining experiences. The ambience is intimate but also noisy. I will say the coffee here and in Australia in general is some of the best coffee I've ever had. I ordered (2) espresso martinis, pancakes, and the sirloin steak breakfast with a side hashbrown. My pancakes were stone cold but I will say the aesthetics on it made it edible. The pistachio butter cream was to die for. My steak was ok ; for the price I simply just wanted more. I could be wrong but I doubt it was even 6oz. If you have this place on your radar be sure to make reservations. This goes for almost every restaurant in Sydney. My server was Cassie who was very personable and even gave us tips on what to watch out for dining in Sydney.

    Photos
    The Grounds of The City
    The Grounds of The City - Strawberry chiffon cake  Great to stop and enjoy for afternoon tea

    Strawberry chiffon cake Great to stop and enjoy for afternoon tea

    The Grounds of The City - Outside

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    Outside

    Cafe Sydney - cafes - Updated June 2026

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