The food was excellent. We had ocean trout ceviche and in its own way, it was at the level of the ceviche we enjoyed on an excursion to La Paz Mexico where we enjoyed the Captain's mother's homemade ceviche after snorkeling with whale sharks and sea lions on Seagull Beach. The entire staff we interacted with were pleasant and passionate about the foods offered. This will be our must return spot every time we visit Sydney. read more

Cafe Sydney - Harbor Bridge and part of the Opera House - Cafes Near Me - Circular Quay, NSW

Came to Cafe Sydney on two separate occasions in May 2024 (catching up on old reviews). We came once for a group buyout dinner and then later in the week for a regular dinner reservation. The restaurant is shared with other floors of various tenants in the Customs House building. The restaurant had a gorgeous view of the Sydney Harbour Bridge which is probably the best part of this place! The staff was a bit rude and inattentive both evenings. The food was plated beautifully and good but not the best meal I had while visiting Australia for sure. We got the Morton Bay Bug which I had been hearing about nonstop during my work trip but it was a bit disappointing. Overall, not sure if the restaurant is worth the hype in terms of food, service, and value but it definitely does make up for it a bit with the amazing view! read more

See all

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. read more

See all

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. read more

See all

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. read more

Cafe Sydney - Cafes Near Me - Circular Quay, NSW

See all

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! read more

See all

What a beautiful setting for a special meal! Highly recommend! Service was wonderful and you can't beat the ambience. Sit outdoors!

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. read more

See all

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

Cafe Sydney - Vacation in Sydney - Cafes Near Me - Circular Quay, NSW

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. read more

Cafe Sydney - Sidney Harper Bridge - Cafes Near Me - Circular Quay, NSW

See all

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. read more

See all

It doesn't get any better than this! Absolutely Superb! Food, Service and the view were all phenomenal! One of the best dinning experiences we have ever had. Highly recommend! read more

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. read more

See all

I would like to thank all the team for a wonderful evening dining at Cafe Sydney. My husband and I were celebrating our 40th wedding anniversary and the service received from the staff was professional, attentive and friendly as they went out of their way to make the occasion an evening to remember. The food was delicious and well presented and the views...what can I say, we were sat in the terrace overlooking the harbour. read more

Our main waiter Zac was brilliant! Zac engaged with us throughout the nearly 3hrs my partner & I were at your venue, Zac kept his communication professional, his contact with us prompt, however, did not smother us, Zac explained wines & meals perfectly which made our experience wonderful. My partner celebrated her birthday in style at a classy venue and serviced by your exceptional staff. Well Done Cafe Sydney!!! Phil & Sienna read more

Lovely dinner at cafe Sydney, the service was incredible. The food and drinks were lovely. A nice experience was had. I highly recommend cafe Sydney for a great dinner and experience. read more

I heard a lot about this place including a Deion the states who lived in Australia. Unfortunately The food was definitely a solid three stars. It was just average. NOTHING stood out as being special. I then deducted a star because we felt very rushed. I then deducted a star because they actually asked us to leave. Apparently reservations end at a certain time so they can make another seating. So as soon as we finished dessert they said we needed to move to the bar. I've NEVER had that happen, especially after we spent $750 for a table of four. I thought it was extremely rude and inappropriate. Certainly they can figure out a better way to-- every other place has. I also deducted a star because it is hard to find and no signs are posted. View is terrific. read more

Great view and ambience. Ask for the balcony. Oysters are world class and every entree we had was great. Highly recommend and when we come back, that's where we are coming. read more

Always outstanding. Save it for special occasions - even if the occasion is just that it's today. Wonderful service, beautiful food. Always somewhere we try to get in when we come to Sydney xxx read more

Cafe Sydney - The view from a balcony table. Even on a hot 32 degree day it was the coolest place to be. - Cafes Near Me - Circular Quay, NSW

I'm kind of neutral on the restaurant. Nothing was bad, it just didn't really stand out--but the view was absolutely spectacular.

We all enjoyed our day so much at Cafe Sydney. The food was exquisite and the service given to us by our waiter Fokun ..... was exceptional and personable! We will definitely return." read more

Service, ambiance and food were spectacular. Highly recommended for special occasions.

Great service What a great idea Golen Hour is nice nibbles and wines awesome wait persons Tim especially looked after me and a big thank you to all the awesome staff at Cafe Sydney read more

Keep the wonderful staff you have and the food was amazing! And of course the view !! So proud to live in Sydney

I am not a lover of things that crawl about or live in coastal ocean floors, but the birthday girl certainly is. I chose the Soufle entre and the Duck fat potatoes and more. In a word, "Superb!" We took some more photos of us at CS and the sensational setting to add to our portfolio and confirm the lovely ambiance for our friends. Loscooks, Brisbane read more

A very fine meal and evening as always. Service excellent, and I hope our very competent and friendly waiter got the tip we left for him at the front desk read more

Everything was alright. I ordered the barramundi, my partner ordering the tandoori salmon. The barramundi was flakey and soft, and that where my praise ends. It lacked salt and the trout roe butter that could've given the fish a little flavor was there purely for show. The tandoori salmon was a bit better with the seasoning adding sweet and spicy. For appetizers, we ordered garlic, spiced onion, and plain naan as well as the tuna salmon tartare. all of which were pretty underwhelming. Not the typically fluffy and aromatic naan you'd get at an Indian restaurant. The tartare came with a fried rice cracker that was clearly stale indicated by rubber bites. The service was standard. At times it did seem like our server was nowhere to be found when needed. We also received the wrong appetizer order initially even after doublechecking our orders. It was a busier, seemingly upscale restaurant that focused on selling their fine dining plating. It is reservation only and intended to be a bit dressier. The view of the Sydney Harbor Bridge was breathtaking from the balcony where we were sitting. Cafe Sydney is definitely the place to take your tourist friends for a beautiful outlook, but I wouldn't rave about the food. read more

The service was prompt and efficient. The food scrumptious AS ALWAYS! Ambience perfect, we got an amazing table. View of the harbour not compromised Drinks, on par with other restaurants read more

Brough 3 overseas friends as a highlight of their day with me and their visit overall. They were totally blown away by the setting on the balcony overlooking the Quay and the bridge. The experience was well supported by excellent food and attentive service. Definitely a place to come for a special occasion. read more

Do not recommend the gnocchi wife and grandson ordered it and it was pretty tasteless and when it was served I thought they had ordered an entre. Other meals nothing special read more

Incredible service, great views and delicious food! The team delivered and made our anniversary extra special! Thank you to the team at Sydney Cafe for a memorable evening. read more

Cafe Sydney - Pork cutlet - Cafes Near Me - Circular Quay, NSW

See all

fabulous views overlooking Sydney Harbour bridge make this restaurant really special. The food is very good with a good variety of fish dishes. The waiting staff were excellent - most friendly and helpful. They arranged for us to have dessert and a glass of wine on the terrace when a table became free so we could experience the view and ambience. read more

Exceptional service, wonderful attentive staff makes a true experience. Food, cocktails exceptional, able to mix very good off menu perfect classic cocktails read more

Everything was perfect! We went here at the end of our Australia trip and I can't say enough how great everything was. Our server was super knowledgeable and attentive, our food and drinks were amazing and you can't beat the view. If you're able to sit on the terrace - do it. read more

Booking early pays off. I did so more than a month out and we had a front table on the terrace with a fabulous view of the harbor, bridge, and Opera House. The menu offers an array of choices. Our appetizer beef carpaccio was outstanding and more than enough for two. The barramundi was cooked to perfection. My swordfish was so tender I never touched it with a knife. The sourdough roll was not great and the only downside of the meal. Service was perfectly paced and not intrusive. Yes, this is a VERY busy place. But the noise was inside, not on our terrace. I highly recommend Cafe Sydney for your special dinner. Just remember my advice on booking well ahead for the terrace! read more

I feel that I am often fairly critical of paid experiences. It isn't often that I really can't find even a small item to be critical. My expectation is places with fantastic views generally suffer from poor food or poor service as these are taken for granted. This wasn't the case here.The only thing that you could have done to make it better was to make the meal free :) We had a really nice evening. read more

We were celebrating our anniversary with our two young children. The table had a beautiful view, the staff members were all very friendly and helpful and the food was all amazing. We can't recommend it enough, just perfect! read more

Everything was excellent -- from how easy it was to make a reservation, to the cleanliness of the restaurant and restrooms, the beautiful presentation and taste of the food, the friendly service, and even the atmosphere created by the other guests.It was my first time visiting Sydney, and I'm so glad I chose this restaurant. It truly became one of the most memorable parts of my trip.Thank you for the unforgettable experience!Wishing your restaurant continued success in the future. read more

We had a great Sunday lunch at Cafe Sydney, the 3 course menu, sides and extras were superb, and thank you for moving our booking to the terrace. read more

Our waiter, Jack, was excellent. Not hanging around, but there when we needed him, and attentive to our wine glasses and their repsective levels of wine - this is critical! ;-)Hard to beat the view, and it was gorgeous day with the sun beaming on the harbour (rare in winter '25). Fabulous, all around! read more