The Resy Guide to The Best Restaurants in Potts Point

This tribute to Tel Aviv and its surrounding regions from owners Kirk and Nick Mathews Bowden (Bistro Rex) and chef Ben Sears riffs on the latter’s time at Paper Bird and New York’s Momofuku Ko, with dishes like miso-marinated flounder and an outstanding hummus and smoked egg dish winning plaudits. An affordable wine list is a joy to dive into, and a gilda with salmon pastrami is all-but-essential to kick off a meal here. As well as a gorgeously-appointed dining room and a bar for drinks, there’s plenty of seating on the patio, too — perfect as the weather heats up.

With people-watching opportunities almost as good as its oysters and foie gras, this upscale French brasserie is worth visiting for its incredible wine list as much as its Franco-European cuisine and knowingly bouji interior. The list showcases French, Australian and New Zealand drops, celebrating small and sustainable wineries alongside a selection of rare aged wines. In addition to a la carte and takeaway menus, there’s a dedicated vegan menu, a group set menu, and even a cake menu.

Celebrating its 21^st anniversary this year, this beloved neighbourhood café and trattoria (and sister restaurant to the acclaimed 10 William Street) is an integral part of the local landscape, with regulars equally likely to drop in for a coffee or spritz, a glass of red from the Italian and natural-leaning wine list, or a full blown dinner. Everything from the food, design, and service is a knowing celebration of all things Italian, and the neighbourhood is richer for it. Don’t miss the spaghetti scampi and tiramisu.

This intimate 30-seat wine bar and restaurant is perpetually busy, often with heavy waitlists (so set that Notify), but the reward is always worth the effort. While its signature dish – pasta cacio e pepe twirled in a hefty wheel of Parmiggiano Reggiano – draws plenty of diners, classic dishes like vitello tonnato, seared octopus, and slow-cooked beef cheek with roasted baby potatoes could star in their own right.

With an impressive array of light, crowd-pleasing dishes and drinks – from six-hour beef barbacoa, vegan cauliflower ceviche tostadas, and plenty of seafood – this laid-back Mexican restaurant from the Barrio Cellar team has something for everyone. A spacious balcony and ample room indoors mean there’s plenty of room to get around, and $55 set menus make ordering a doddle – there’s even a vegetarian menu with mushroom tacos and huitlacoche enchiladas if you’re skipping the meat. Walk-ins welcome, but reservations recommended.

Fei Jai (literally ‘fat boy’) in Potts Point made its name serving upscale Cantonese comfort classics in a sleek, intimate space perfect for a hip local crowd. Weekends are perfect for a buzzy, convivial yum cha with friends and cocktails, especially if you manage to snag one of the tables outside.

Potts Point now has its very own laid-back Mexican diner. Sonora comes courtesy of the same owners of the excellent Taqiza and Carbon, serving upscale riffs on Mexican dishes (with a particular focus on tacos) accompanied with the spirit du jour, mezcal, sourced from boutique distilleries. There’s also bottomless brunch at the weekends and a patio for the afternoons when only a beer and wagyu-embellished taco will do.

An oasis tucked away in a Kings Cross alleyway, this laid-back cafe focuses on the kind of homestyle dishes we’d be happy to have every day, each with a creative twist that embodies the restaurant’s playful approach to dining. House-cured bacon and corn cakes are a favourite with locals, and five-spice meatloaf cosies up nicely with the straightforward pleasures of the kitchen’s fruit tarts — a speciality. Hit it at the weekend for a relaxed dinner with cocktails and live music, all served in a picturesque courtyard.