The 10 Best Restaurants In The Rocks, Sydney

Head to the upper level of the Overseas Passenger Terminal for some of the best modern Australian cuisine you’ll find anywhere in the Harbour City. Feast on Executive Chef Peter Gilmore’s envelope-pushing menu with a side serving of water views, including panoramic views of both the Sydney Opera House and the Sydney Harbour Bridge that match the upscale dishes on offer.

Saké has pocketed award after award for its contemporary Japanese cuisine, with an à la carte menu as well as a generous banquet option, making the most of fresh seasonal ingredients. This high-end establishment is found at five locations around Sydney, Melbourne, and Brisbane, but this buzzing split-level dining room on Argyle St is perhaps its most atmospheric.

This trendy Australian restaurant lays claim to being the pioneer of the wood-fired grill in Sydney, proud of the Argentine barbecue that produces much of the menu. Soak up the ambience of Argyle St and Kendall Ln in this converted bond warehouse in the heart of the historic precinct, pull up a seat at the 10-metre-long (32 feet) alfresco dining table, then enjoy some of the creations coming out of the open kitchen.

Located in an old cellar, this steakhouse takes its meat seriously. The Cut is named partly for its location next to The Rocks’ historic sandstone tunnel, the Argyle Cut, and partly for its finger-licking selection of premium cuts of prime Australian beef, and generates an intimate, sophisticated atmosphere that’s half New York steakhouse, half speakeasy bar.

One of The Rocks’ several historic watering holes, this pub began life on George St in 1824 before a plague outbreak in 1900 forced the government to tear down the building, and made the licensees shift their business to a site on nearby Cumberland St where the Australian Heritage Hotel remains today. The Australian Hotel also offers some of the best pub grub in the neighbourhood — don’t miss the ‘Coat of Arms’ pizza featuring kangaroo and emu meat for a patriotic meal.

The sandstone architecture of The Rocks isn’t what you’d typically associate with exotic Thai cuisine, but it provides a unique backdrop for Wild Ginger’s Southeast Asian restaurant and bar. The Wild Ginger philosophy is “beauty in simplicity”, perfectly balancing sweet, salty, sour, and creamy, as well as offering a lengthy list of vegetarian and vegan options for non-meat eaters.

Occupying the space that used to be filled by Neil Perry’s iconic Rockpool, William Blue Dining offers fine dining on a budget. The 60-seat restaurant is run by vocational students who are learning the hands-on skills needed to run an upscale hospitality business, meaning diners can feast on a classy three-course menu prepared by chefs in training for only $43, or a range of affordable dishes off the à la carte menu.

This Rocks institution isn’t fine dining, but their buttermilk pancakes are renowned throughout Sydney. Pancakes On The Rocks first opened way back in 1975 and dishes up some of the city’s premier pancake desserts 24 hours a day, as well as a savoury menu of pizzas, steaks, and seafood, in a large and laid-back dining space on Hickson Rd.

If you’re looking for authentic Italian fare in The Rocks, look no further than Appetito, which serves up traditional Italiano right down to the red and white checkered tablecloths. The sandstone walls and friendly service at this George St restaurant provide the perfect accompaniment to the classic Italian menu, which offers a wide range of traditional pastas and wood-fired pizzas.