Sydney's food scene really comes to life once the sun goes down and the neon glow of skyscrapers light up the hidden laneways, parks and tables overlooking the tranquil harbour. One of the biggest challenges is narrowing down the options with a smorgasbord of international cuisines, rooftop bars, market stalls and food trucks to head out and discover! Our list of Top 10 night time eats in Sydney has something for everyone's taste buds, budgets and style of dining. From picnics in Hyde Park to romantic sunsets across the Sydney skyline, your next night time foodie experience starts right here!
Sydney Food Trucks
With over 35 food trucks; Sydney is sorted when it comes to a variety of night time eats on the go. Download the Sydney Food Trucks App where you can track the trucks schedules, making it easy to locate who is serving up when and where. Some of the longest serving and must try trucks include Agapé Organic Food Truck famous for dishing up sustainable and organic street food like their spelt rollers and Cantina Movil known for their creative and flavoursome take on Mexican food. Track a truck, grab a bite to eat and choose your own city backdrop by night for a truly "Sydney-esque" dining experience.
The Glenmore
Home to some of the best views of the Sydney skyline, The Glenmore is one of the best rooftop bars where you can enjoy a panoramic view of the city, a crafty cocktail and a pub-style bite to eat under the stars. The bistro style menu has all the classics covered with flame grilled steaks, salads, bar snacks and towering burgers. An insiders tip : get in early before the sun goes down, nab a table and watch one of the most scenic sunsets across the harbour as the lights come on and the day soon becomes the night.
Kingsleys Woolloomooloo
Kingsley’s Woolloomooloo is a dining experience that encapsulates all the best bits of Sydney and brings it to the table. Located on the very end of the iconic Woolloomooloo Wharf, during the warmer months, grab an outside table overlooking the lush Botanical Gardens and the glorious Sydney skyline dancing in the reflective bay. You can smell the sizzling flame grilled signature steaks before they hit the table, filling the air with a rustic smokiness. Sydney Rock Oysters are served with Asian inspired dressings and the mud crab is a must try - served straight from the wok with Singapore chilli sauce.
Sydney Chinatown Markets
If you love your dim sum and steaming bowls of ramen, head down to Chinatown in Sydney's Haymarket and explore the The Chinatown Night Market that takes place every Friday evening. Held on Dixon Street under the dancing red lanterns and fairy lights that string between the trees, you will be able to graze your way from Singapore to Saigon with everything from sushi to satays, yum cha and the crowd favourite pho. Close to public transport, this is a relaxing way to taste your way through Asia without the airfare!
Frankie's Pizza by the Slice
Everyone who has ever stayed out way past their bedtime, bleary eyed and craving a good slice of pizza at 2am has been acquainted with Frankie's. Head down the stairs to the dimly lit, mysterious basement where the walls are adorned with band posters and flicker of candles burning all around. Grab a piece of the piping hot pizza served by the slice straight from the oven (try the STUGOTS-Sausage, mushrooms, tomato and truffle oil) and perfectly complemented with one of the many craft beers poured from the tap and served in a plastic cup. Open till 3am, seven days a week this is a grungy Sydney food experience filled with pinball machines, live bands playing and of course signature slices of pizza!
Mary's CBD
Kicking off the whole burger craze in Sydney is the original master of burgers, Mary's CBD on Castlereagh Street. Mary's only offers take away which makes a great excuse to pack the picnic rug and make it a burger in the park adventure! After ordering their signature Mary's Burger of grass-fed beef, cheese, tomato, lettuce and Mary's Sauce and some of their fried to perfection chicken for good measure - head to nearby Hyde Park where you can dine under the glow of Centrepoint Tower to one side and St Mary's Cathedral to the other. A unique dining experience of burgers, park land and the night sky.
Opera Bar
Sip under the sails of Sydney's iconic architectural muse, the Opera House, at Opera Bar. There is rarely a night when you won't find a buzzing crowd of locals and tourists soaking in this most spectacular cityscape of the Opera House, Sydney Harbour Bridge and its reflective harbour. If you're feeling peckish, then the charcuterie board is an ideal lighter meal option, while serious feast's of modern Australian grilled goods are also on the menu. If wine is your weapon of choice, then you’re sorted as their impressive cellar has a selection that stretches from Australia to right across the globe.
Woolwich Pier Hotel
Famous for their Sunday roasts and summer sessions on the verandah and the lawn, Woolwich Pier Hotel is a hop, skip and a jump from the CBD located on Sydney's Lower North Shore. Looking back over the city skyline, during a sunset, this is the place you want to be, with a glass of wine in one hand, and a plate full of comforting pub grub. There is no surprise why the hotel has won the award of NSW's best pub several times, bringing together the best views, pub feasts of shared plates, meats served straight from the grill, seasonally inspired seafood mains and blackboard specials all served in a relaxed, laid-back fashion.
Anason Turkish Restaurant
The first restaurant to open its doors on the newly established hub of Sydney's dining and shopping scene, Anason at Barangaroo is a fusion of exciting Turkish flavours made for Sydney! If you are looking for a dining adventure to share with a group of friends, that shows off Sydney Harbour, is contemporary and full of countless share style dishes of marinated seafood, meze style tasting plates and meats which have been slow cooked for hours, then Anason is the place for you. Cheery and welcoming, the atmosphere feels like a family dining table set in one of the most fashionable locations in Sydney.