Where to eat

Where to eat

Even though we haven’t lived in Sydney for a while, there are a few trusted restaurants and cafes that never fail.

Thai Pothong King St, Newtown. I think this will always be my most coveted Thai restaurant. Newtown in general is one of my all time favourite places for eating and a spot of shopping.

Longrain Commonwealth St, Surry Hills. Apparently the site of Sydney’s first caipiroska, this place allows for lots of funky people watching. The food is pretty good too. But you’ll have to wait for hours to be seated; you’re better off just ordering a bar plate. In fact, most places in Surry Hills are terrific; the Dolphin Hotel being just one example.

Darling St, Balmain is a wonderful spot for weekend brunch and a stroll. I love the arancini balls at Bar Contessa. There are also plenty of dinner options. Blue Ginger was always a great place. And there are some wonderful pubs: the London Hotel, Town Hall. If you’re up for it, you should wander around the streets and perhaps even down to the water. A fabulous place.

It goes without saying that there are plenty of terrific places in Leichhardt. I prefer the ‘other’ end of Norton St, away from Parramatta Rd, past Marion St. Bar Italia is still a golden oldie, but I’d only stop there for the gelato.

Manta Finger Wharf, Woolloomoolloo. Great seafood, gorgeous views. And if we’re talking seafood, everybody loves Doyles at Watson’s Bay, if nothing else than for the ferry trip there.

Cockle Bay (near Darling Harbour) is also an excellent place to find lots of great new restaurants.

People always talk about the Golden Century restaurant in Chinatown. It’s been going for yonks and apparently there are always huge queues, so it must be pretty darned good.

If it’s fine dining you’re after, then why not try the two Sydney restaurants that featured in the world’s top 50 restaurants 2006? Tetsuya’s came in at number 5, whilst Rockpool made the bigtime at number 30.

And yep, if you haven’t guessed already, I’m a bit of a fan of the inner west