Unaccommodating and lame Wouldn't seat us in the area overlooking the harbor b/c they said they were setting up for dinner at 4:00 Tattooed host in a t-shirt doesn't have a clue about customer service read more

Had my mum's 83rd birthday lunch with 20 people outside on a hot Saturday afternoon 8th Jan. For a large group I was pleasantly surprised to find a menu with 4 choices each for entree, main and dessert. The food was delicious, the service was excellent! They brought fans for each guest to use & promptly refilled our water to keep us hydrated. The whole experience was great from start to finish. Shoutout to Nicole who was our main server. She was friendly, attentive & a joy to chat with throughout the event. Well done! read more

What can I say but wow. Cafe Sydney is one of the best restaurants I've been to in years! The food is beyond amazing and is so delicious and fresh! I had salmon for entree, pork belly for main and the cheese cake for desert and everything was sublime. The restaurant has such a good view of the harbour and the Sydney harbour bridge. Would be an amazing view at evening and nights. I can't fathom how flavoursome everything was. The staff were friendly, the toilets and bathroom were superb and just a overall great experience. A few thing to note though, the stress is formal-casual, not really suited for kids and families. It is also very busy, so booking is almost a must, and it is fairly expensive - but honestly it's worth every cent. I wouldn't go regularly because of its price and how busy it can get, but definitely on special occasion and every time I come to Sydney, this is a must. Definitely one of the highlights of my trip and I highly recommend. read more

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We made a reservation here about a month ahead of time. The view here is amazing! The service was just ok. Someone in our group went to look for the restroom and the staff wouldn't show him where it was until he pointed out where our table was... Rude! The food was ok. I really enjoyed the spinach and goat cheese naan. read more

Cafe Sydney - Swordfish - Cafes Near Me - Circular Quay, NSW

Rich, our waiter... impeccable service!The food, the ambience, the service and to cater for our 3 daughters under 6... Amazing!The girls said that Cafe Sydney is their new fave restaurant now. read more

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Awesome in the rain! This beautiful restaurant with amazing views of Sydney Harbour is a must. We dined outside on the patio in the rain under umbrellas and it was worth it! The service and food were excellent even in the rain! read more

Cafe Sydney - Outside, restaurant on the top! - Cafes Near Me - Circular Quay, NSW

So good - we wouldn't miss having a meal here when in Sydney! Great food, amazing service and fantastic location.

The experience at Cafe Sydney is always good, which explains why we keep coming back. Our favourite restaurant in Sydney, by a long margin.

Pssst! Did you know that Cafe Sydney has a secret vegan menu? No way?! Ya hu! Ask for it when you call them to book your next table. There are two entrees, two mains and a desert. I had the fresh fig and walnut salad, the lentil and eggplant stack and the fresh fruit and sorbet desert, and they were amazing! So next time you want some place special to woo your lovely vegan date, or you happen to be out on the town with Brad Pitt, Toby Maguire, or Abbie Cornish, Cafe Sydney might be just the place to impress :) read more

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Phenomenal! This was by far the BEST dining experience I had during my visit to Sydney. Cafe Sydney sets the bar extremely high for service, atmosphere (best restaurant with a view), and food. We were awe struck as we entered the main dining area. The view of the harbour bridge and surrounding area was stunning. I couldn't help but to immediately begin photographing the outside scenery; it was just magical. I dream of returning...soon! For our entrees we started with the garlic naan, crab cakes and morton bay bugs. Our server was spot on in describing these delicacies as similar to lobster in taste. They were very good. My sister was in absolute heaven over the garlic naan and crab cake. We went with the Barramundi and Red Snapper for our main dishes. Both were delicious, but as I expected, the Baramundi blew me away; it was so fresh and very thoughtfully prepared. read more

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This place is a lie! It isn't a cafe at all! Though if it's based on its breathtaking view, I suppose it is an eponym so the name is fitting. Found on the fifth floor of Customs House, Cafe Sydney is sleek, sexy, classy, and tasty all rolled into one. When you walk into Customs House you're greeted with a miniature model of Sydney seen underneath your feet through the glass...it makes you wish you could break through and play Godzilla. Disclaimer: If you want to eat here, book fast and book early. I came here this past Friday and booked 5 weeks in advance for and outdoor Dinner for 2...at 8:30pm...because the earlier times were all taken. When you take the lift to the 5th floor you're greeted by friendly and knowledgeable staff who promptly seat you. The ambience is great, not too loud and not too dark, just the right tone of romantic. Once you sit outside you peer into the Harbour and hope that the food delivers as well as the view...and it does. For starters we ordered plain naan, 1/2 dozen Pacific rock oysters and classically deboned quail with prosciutto, buffalo mozzarella, broad bean, cavolo nero, gnocchi, sage butter, and mains of duck. For mains we ordered confit duck leg, duck pie, roasted root vegetable, sour cherry, jus and crispy pressed Berkshire pork, pork loin, morcilla sausage, butternut pumpkin, jus. Did someone say YUM? If not, I'll say it, cause YUM!!! I was initially a little cut about paying so much for the rock oysters but whatever, they were GOOD. With just a little bit of lemon and caramelised cabernet vinegar, you were good to go. The naan was a great mix of buttery and fluffy, and the quail was double D licious. When it came to the duck pie, they weren't kidding...it's a small meat pie stuffed with duck that's just as good as it sounds. The duck was tender and juicy, with the sour cherry giving it a great mix of sweet and sour to offset the savoury taste. The pork was tender with fatty bits of goodness all over with a crispy kick. I also had no idea butternut pumpkin could taste so good. One of the best meals I've had in Sydney, you can't go wrong here...unless it rains (which it did,) but even then they were quick to cover us with a patio umbrella and when it got too rainy they offered to move us indoors with the quickness. Excellent, excellent place. read more

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Cafe Sydney was amazing! I came here a few months ago for my birthday and it was great! We were seated outside with a beautiful view of the Sydney Opera House. Although it was a bit chilly outside, they had blankets and heaters, making the experience very enjoyable! We started out by getting the seafood platter which was incredible! I got to try so many new things which all tasted so fresh. It was huge, so I would recommend ordering this with a group to share. Next, we ordered a few dishes to all share. We got garlic naan, swordfish, gnocchi, and a salad. Everything was delicious! For dessert, we got the dessert trio, as well as the lava cake (a special) and it was all outstanding! Overall, I had an amazing experience at Cafe Sydney. I would definitely recommend coming here if you're visiting Sydney or for special occasions. It is pricey, but the food and the atmosphere are incredible and unique. read more

Cafe Sydney - Dessert trio! - Cafes Near Me - Circular Quay, NSW

This place has to get four stars just on Real Estate alone. Perched in a building overlooking the opera house and The Bridge, its pretty spectacular. So places like this typically don't try too hard on service or food quality, but I think they go the extra mile to make your experience with Café Sydney extraordinary. We had some very tasty apps and entrees, then moved over to the Lounge for some more libations. Spent a good 3 1/2 hours there. When in Sydney, you could do a lot worse then find yourself here. Did not feel too much like a tourist being there, the staff was very gracious and friendly, which I will say in many Sydney restaurants is surprisingly uncommon. They have the total package here, I highly recommend. read more

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The quality of the food and service was exceptional. We have had a wonderful evening with our friends. I would like to thank the host who was extremely helpful and knowledgeable. The food was just right and delicious. read more

We've been to a lot of amazing restaurants. This is definitely one of our favourites. We had a view to die for, and to top it off, the food was even better!!! Great service throughout the night as well which made the experience all the more. Such a memorable meal. Highly recommend!! read more

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We really enjoyed our experience at Café Sydney. The view of the harbour is amazing, and I would recommend going on a sunny day to enjoy the view of the bridge and the water. The staff here are lovely too - there are people who greet you at the door, show you to your table and take your orders promptly, giving good recommendations as well. I really enjoyed the atmosphere inside also. Can be a bit busy, but that's just because it's such a good restaurant! The dishes were also delicious and presented beautifully. The only downfall is that it is a little bit expensive, but is great for an occasion! Would recommend the confit duck leg, the king salmon and the dessert platter. read more

Came here recently for a friends birthday and am already making plans to return. From the moment I walked in I was greeted and taken to the table by a lovely staff member. The service at this place is like nothing I have ever experienced before, The staff were constantly making sure our glasses were not empty and that everything was to our liking. The food was out of this world!!! I had the Ricotta Gnocchi With Jerusalem Artichoke, Mushroom, Pea, Burnt Sage Butter and Pecorino, I am a Gnocchi lover and this was easily the best Gnocchi dish I have ever had! so tasty and cooked beautifully. For dessert I had the Salted Caramel Hazelnut, Dulce De Leche Slice, Churros, Chocolate Ice Cream which was divine!!! the Hazelnut slice was so rich and decadent and the Churros was beautiful!! I will never be able to eat San Churros again after eating the Churros here they are that good. We were lucky to be given a table on the balcony overlooking the Harbour Bridge and as there is no air conditioner outside they gave each us our own little fold up fan which we were then able to take home with us which I thought was lovely. I cannot recommend this place enough read more

Cafe Sydney - Cafes Near Me - Circular Quay, NSW

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Another six years later update. Still one of my favorite restaurants anywhere. Their reservation system is a bit strange. We wanted a Sunday mid-afternoon reservation for two. We were told we could book for 2:30, with the suggestion we come in at 2:00, have a drink at the bar, and we'll get "the first available." Hmmm, a bit odd to me. We arrived at 1:45 with plans for bar time. instead we were immediately taken to a wonderful table on the balcony. So much for having to wait. As we always do we had the seafood platter (its one of the pictures on my Yelp profile). Its an obscene variety of every great shellfish for which Australia is famous. Yabbies, prawns, mud bugs, oysters, everything. Delicious as always with some plain naan to accompany it - and wine, of course. The view of Circular Quay, with an ocean liner being towed out, the ferries leaving and arriving, all the actitivy and the bridge and the Opera House right in front of us - it can't be beat. And, once again, great service. read more

Fantastic night! Menu was interesting, food was soooo tasty... made my little vegetarian heart flutter. The service was next level. Couldn't decide on the wine- no problem, I'll send over the sommelie. Bone dry white from Greece... perfect! Sydney Harbour to view. Love the place we live! Made better by this cafe. read more

Was the most amazing food, view , experience and service. Thanks to Ben our host and all the wait staff Food was absolutely amazing. From the moment we sat down , Ben come over and mentioned the menu without prompt to my wife as has gluten alergies. We were gob smacked. Food was absolutely amazing and pricing was great for the quality and experience. Definitely will be going back. Thank you for making our 28 yr anniversary experience so memorable and unforgettable Mark and Tracey read more

A very cool place Cafe Sydney, fancy, elegant and cheek. I liked having lunch here it was delicious. Great for dates and just catching up with friends. My food was delicious but I've heard anything you get here is! read more

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Always impeccable service, the view stunning as the the sunlight faded and the food was delicious! The lamb appetiser was perfectly cooked and the whole NZ flounder was full of flavour accompanied with must have duck fat potatoes! The salted caramel for dessert was a perfect finish and the oysters fresh and mouthwateringly creamy. read more

I would give zero stars if could. Tried to come here with my bf, but they wouldn't seat us guess they don't like Americans. Lol.

Sydney's finest place to dine. Modern international cuisine. Great service, wine and food. Breathtaking views of the Harbor Bridge and Circular Quay. Doesn't get any better! read more

Cafe Sydney - Cafes Near Me - Circular Quay, NSW

This review is not based on the view or the vibe or the food. It's based on an extraordinarily ugly intimation made out loud and directed to those at our table by the restaurant's manager on duty this evening. Two Grammy Award-winning stars of tomorrow night's headline performance at Domain Park for the Sydney Festival were sitting opposite me (the show's producer) and a mutual friend of ours who lives in Sydney. We'd all just arrived from the US yesterday and had rehearsal today. We were tired. One of us in particular (one of our star performing artists) could barely keep her eyes open while waiting for our main courses to be served. Suddenly a manager of Cafe Sydney walked right up to our table, and leaning down next to our friend's chair next to me says (I'm paraphrasing) "I'm sorry for intruding, but [alluding directly to our exhausted colleague and friend] your it's against the rules to sit at your table here with your eyes closed... there are intoxication issues here in Australia, and we have to be very careful about how we are perceived by our patrons". I looked at him as if he was crazy, asking him "what did you just say?" Our nearly sleeping companion grinned to herself, but barely stirred. The other two sort of didn't know how to react. He left after a very awkward moment. We couldn't believe what had just happened, but pretty much moved on to our dinners and other chat. But about ten minutes later I spotted the manager walking by, and I getting his attention, I asked to speak with him. He motioned for me to step aside from the tables (naturally). I told him that his insinuation - either that our friend was drunk, or some other "darker" allusion - was one of the most stupid and insulting things we'd ever run across in our travels around the world. I told him he should think before he opens his mouth, and consider the facts of a situation concerning people he knows nothing about. He apologized and asked what he could do. I told him it was too late, and that we don't want a reduction or an apology - but to let him know that he not only thoroughly mishandled a situation, but that he wrongly created a situation that did not exist. I hope that the Cafe Sydney's ownership reads this, because he should be fired immediately. I had no interest in insinuating anything of my own adding to his own ugly accusation. But it didn't escape my attention that he directed his comment to one of the two dark-skinned people at our table. This is my third visit to Sydney, and individual jerks are everywhere in the world, so I will not use this incident to make any sorry statement about Australians. This one individual in a position of very moderate authority said the wrong thing to the wrong people. He was fortunate - someone else might have slugged him on the spot. read more

Cafe Sydney has legions of loyal fans and generally great reviews. I headed along with some colleagues with high expectations... unfortunately it was a bit of a disappointment. The restaurant is huge, with tightly spaced tables inside the dining room and out on the balcony. At 6:30pm on a Friday evening it was packed. Although the interior design is beautiful, the hard surfaces made the place extremely loud. With only 4 people around our small table we could barely hear each other. The staff seemed flustered and generally confused. Despite there being dozens of floor staff, we waited almost half an hour to have our orders taken. The food was good, not amazing. Overpriced for what it was. I suppose you are paying premium for the real estate considering the spectacular view across the Harbor. The most disappointing part of the experience was being told that we should hurry up with our dessert because we had to be out in 10 minutes. Then the same aggressive waiter standing over us watching us finish our meal and shoving the bill in our lap. I understand that there are 2 seatings, but if your customers are paying $100++ a head, you manage your service better! Don't leave your customers waiting for 30 minutes before taking orders and then harass them over time frames that you messed up in the first place. read more

As good as always! This place never disappoints! Came here on a beautiful sunny Sunday and sat out on the terrace. We only had a 2hr 15 min seating, but that was ample time to sit and enjoy the food and the view. The star of the meal was 'Salted Caramel, chocolate, peanut tart with banana fritter and chocolate ice cream'. The wait staff were extremely helpful and friendly, especially when it came to choosing from the extensive cocktail menu! Lovely experience- hopefully will be back soon. read more

Cafe Sydney is the Brad Pitt of restaurants. For me, this means: expensive - 100% of the time. awesome view - 90% of the time (the shoulder-length locks are a no-go, but we still love you Brad). delivery and execution - 60%, maybe 70% of the time; your individual mileage will vary based on your choices and the vagaries of your specific visit. After 3 visits, what I can say is that where Cafe Sydney trumps everyone else is its quintessential Sydney harbor view. A direct sightline of the Harbor Bridge and North Sydney that, on a sunny day or clear night, is the stuff of dreams. If the weather is nice, heed my advice: gents, open up those billfolds and ladies, lift up those skirts. Do whatever you need to do to the host to secure a seat on Cafe Sydney's patio, as there's no better guarantee of a WINNING dining experience. Make the special request if you're booking ahead (which you probably need to do far in advance for an evening dinner, as they book up fast). The food and service, on the other hand, are like Pitt's filmography. Well-intentioned, and often succeeding, but still too many misses to be a truly reliable contender for Top Model in Sydney's fine dining scene. The Fight Clubs: I have had dishes here truly soar, including a salad of super-fresh moreton bay bug, prawns and avocado puree ($27) that just clicked; and one of their mainstays on the menu, perfectly cooked Tandoori roasted Tasmanian trout with chickpea marsala, spinach bhaji (fried spinach fritters) and a sweet raita yogurt ($39). Their naans (admittedly pricey at $2.5-$3.5) are delicious and baked to order in a massive tandoor in their open kitchen that is impossible to miss. My favorite is the goat cheese and spinach, but if you go with a group, you can ask for a mixed assortment of the breads. Mr. & Mrs. Smiths: I have also had dishes that were fine but not exceptional, like a somewhat-dry duck leg confit ($39) paired with a fig sauce that was overly sweet and an upside down pineapple cake ($19) that lacked moisture but was well-caramelized on top. Ocean's Twelves: And then there were the misses, like seared scallops ($30) with a porcini-truffle butter that came with tasteless scallops the size of 10-cent coins and tasted nothing like porcini or truffle, or duck-fat potatoes ($9) that didn't taste like duck fat was used at all and could have used a few more minutes of browning for crispness and better taste. Troys: Service, though well-meaning, falters occasionally too, especially when they are busy. A forgotten coffee order on one visit, an odd lack of familiarity with the menu on another, and a general slowness that extends meals beyond the comfort zone to flagging down the waiter for the check. Overall, there are more Sevens than Twelves here, but you're still paying a hefty fee to gamble. It's no Money Ball, that's for sure. P.S. - they offer free CS caps to keep the sun out of your eyes, and for yours to keep as souvenirs. read more

Loved my lunch here. We had our office Xmas party here and went with the 3 course menu for $98 per head. Great choices for entree, main and dessert. Everyone raved about their choices ad I must say I was extremely happy with mine. I'm a seafood fan so had the scallop as entree which was beautifully cooked. Soft and perfectly cooked with the corn purée was an excellent combination. My main was the tandoori spiced ocean trout which was beautifully cooked - medium rare. With the side of green beans and chat potatoes I was stuffed by the end of the this but I still had room for the mango coconut sago dessert!! The other dishes looked fantastic as well - everyone rolled out at the end of a satisfying meal. read more

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I've returned here under sufferance, and the service has not improved. It's abominable. Countless young ladies clad in black, carrying on as if they're old money, standing around doing absolutely nothing. Trying to get service in the bar to buy overpriced cocktails is virtually impossible. Upon crash tackling a waiter we finally get served. But then they never came around to collect us as promised to escort us to our booked table. That turned out to be a blessing in disguise, as I was able to convince the group after our drinks to go somewhere else, thereby avoiding the overrated food. read more

I have been to a lot of work dinners in my life. Some have been tedious, some I have struggled to keep my eyes open after a 36 hour flight to the other side of the world, but every so often they have been extraordinary. And that was the case with Cafe Sydney. From the moment we exited the elevator we felt like we were somewhere special. Which did not diminish in the least when we were ushered on to the terrace to the most spectacular, fall head over heels in love with Sydney view. The only word my colleagues could get out of me for the next 5 minutes was 'wow', I was totally bedazzled. We were a big group so tried quite a few dishes, although there were some clear winners in the ordering stakes. Oysters and scallops for starters, salmon and beef tenderloin for mains and pavlova and salted caramel for desserts. I ordered the scallops with white sausage, bacon, apple and cider caramel. Nice dish but the white sausage was a bit bland and uninteresting - it really didn't add to the dish for me. I would have liked something with a bit more texture and flavour like boudin noir. The beef tenderloin, however, was a total winner. Absolutely perfect and consistent for everyone that ordered it. The desserts were also excellent. I loved this restaurant and would recommend it for anyone with a special occasion to celebrate, or with visitors to Sydney to entertain. Fabulous. read more

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What a treat to be taken to Cafe Sydney on our first visit to the city. Located atop the historic Customs House with an outdoor terrace and a view of the harbour that just can't be beat. Add to that an exquisite menu with an impressive and Australian focused wine list (indicating organic and vegan-friendly choices) and friendly and attentive service, and you have yourself a recipe for a memorable meal. The tandoori roasted king salmon was perfectly prepared. Everyone raved about their meals. There are a number of vegan options as well, though seafood is their forte here. A bit upscale, but you won't be turned away for wearing jeans (as long as you don't look like a sloppy jalopy). This is a special place that I'd be happy to find my way back to again. Reservations highly recommended for lunch and dinner alike. read more

Ate here over the weekend. Had a table outside, creating the perfect romantic setting. Attentive service. We started with Champagne and some of the most beautiful oysters I've ever had. Wagyu Tatar, and Scallops with Truffle Gnocchi were amazing. The mains were a bit lacking.. Pork three ways was average, and my steak was under cooked. The meal was saved by fantastic desserts, and a 30 year old sherry. read more

Waited 6 months for a reservation and were seated behind a pole! I booked our table in March this year requesting an amazing table with a view. I was told that the next available was Saturday 9th September so I booked this immediately. I then called again last Thursday to confirm a great table overlooking the harbour. I was told that I was the 4th booking for that day so our request would be accommodated. Having waited 6 months for a reservation with a request of a table with a view we were so disappointed I cannot explain. read more

I only go to Australia once and this company doesn't fail to disappoint... recommend not wasting your time here. Reservations can be overbooked if someone booked the seat longer back. read more

This is the third time I've been here for a dine. As always, the food was delightful and worth every penny. The cocktails were just as good as was the wine and our personal waiter. I have nothing but praise for this establishment as it's always been consistantly good in it's food, service and ambience. You really can't ask for more with a resturant! read more

What a lovely evening. A work colleague and I were recommended this place and it was spot-on. We had cocktails in the cocktail "area" and those were great (although we had a strange experience with the waitstaff where he thought my colleague had ordered two drinks for herself). For dinner we were seated at a table with a great view of the city and harbor and then gorged ourselves on seafood. Great location. Great views. It gets crowded. It would be a nice place for a date as well if you can score a table with a view. read more

So there's a couple of things that drive my 3 star rating... Service - impeccable, uber-friendly, almost to the point where you wonder if they are serious or just effing with you. But in all seriousness, great great staff, always on top of their game! Location - what can I say: stellar. We were a party of four, sitting outside with a perfect view on Harbor Bridge. Beautiful. Food - well... It was definitely good but not kock-you-out-of-your-socks amazing (esp for the price). We had a wild combo, ranging from swordfish to steak to risotto. All good but not great. It was like with each of them the final, last little touch was missing. Great presentation and decent sizes, but a little "mpf" short at the end. Dessert was phenomenal I have to say though. Definitely a great place for a date, birthday etc. read more

I love Sydney Rock oysters - their intense and distinct flavour really hits the spot. Unfortunately one of our dozen did not smell pleasant and was heading toward being off. We notified the waitress who promptly returned with two oysters to replace the one she took away - no extra charge! Cocktails are very good - I described what I was in the mood for and the bartender came up with a conconction that was exactly what I wanted. read more

Oh Café Sydney...where do I start?! From the amazing menu, delightfully presented dishes, prompt service and gorgeous views, there was barely a thing I could fault. I was able to walk in and get a table for a weekday lunch during a stopover, and we were fortunate enough to be seated on the balcony with the view of the Harbour Bridge right next to us. All our food was impeccably presented with beautiful flavours. My only comment/question on the food would be the coconut sorbet with the chocolate praline dessert - I enjoyed it, since I love sorbet and ice-cream, but it seemed a little bit of a random match and I think the dish would have been just as delicious without it. Café Sydney is a tad on the pricey side, but you get what you pay for and I thought it was well worth the money. I didn't enjoy trying to navigate the incredibly dim toilet cubicle, but I'm still giving it 5 stars. Thanks to the Sydney Yelpers for the recommendation! read more

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