The Resy Guide to Sydney’s Best Restaurants for Dining Outdoors

Located just a few blocks back from Avalon beach, this coastal Mexican hot spot has outdoor tables that are ideal for kicking back at with a jalapeno Margarita. Add in punchy achiote jackfruit tacos and banging Cali fish burritos to channel a summer holiday state of mind on any given day of the week.

This Redfern corner spot sees a young gun team with excellent resumes running this neighbourhood restaurant-meets-bar. Here, the focus is on modern Australian dishes with an Italian bent, which might look like white anchovy and cannellini bean-topped crostini with sprigs of dill, or freshly extruded spaghetti with prawns and fermented chilli.

Shade yourself under blue and white woven umbrellas and kick back at this Palm Beach beach bungalow restaurant. The surrounds here look like they’ve been pulled straight from the pages of a luxe homes magazine – plants, flowers and fruit bowls styled to the nines – while the menu beholds lobster rolls, grilled king ora salmon, and seafood pasta.

Bill Granger’s bright Bondi outpost is open day-to-night, a place to drop by for those honeycomb butter pancakes; maybe a nicely crumbed chicken schnitzel with a Bloody Mary at lunch; or black Angus rib-eye steak with miso butter in the evening. Whatever meal you arrive for, the light timber chairs that line Hall Street are a great place to sit and take it all in.

This much-loved Bondi restaurant (also known simply as the Tratt) has been serving locals of the 2026 for 34 years. Italian staples of pizza and pasta are the main order here, be it a diavola pizza with smoked scamorza and hot pepperoni; or a tangle of spaghetti jazzed up with blue swimmer crab meat, cuttlefish, broccoli rabe, garlic and chilli.

The breezy North Bondi marisqueria (seafood restaurant) is small inside but if you nab one of the orange and white chairs outside, you’ll be living your best Bondi life. While overlooking the big blue, snack on blue swimmer crab tostadas, moreish tuna ceviche and texturally delightful tacos.

This alfresco disco diner makes the most of its prime Taylors Square location, with plenty of colourful tables spilling out onto the sidewalk. Rather than being underpinned by a single cuisine, chef Xinyi Lim’s menu may include zippy escabeche mussels with tomato flakes and hunks of sourdough, or gently seasoned young leeks with folds of mortadella and green tomatoes. It’s low on fuss and high on vibes.

With a sprawling outdoor dining area that takes its cues from a tropical bar (think sand underfoot, palm frond-lined brollies and bamboo finishes) the Cook at Kurnell offers a vacation-like getaway in this beachside Southern suburb. It’s also dog and family-friendly, with pooches allowed outside and a kid’s play area too.

Taking you from coffee to cocktails, this relaxed Northern Beaches restaurant and bar sees its outdoor tables taking in views of pretty Dee Why beach. Book in for a bottomless long lunch, local’s pasta and wine nights, or a Sunday roast.

With freshly painted white tables, festoon lighting above, flowering magnolia trees and wide umbrellas, this Palm Beach eatery’s outdoor area channels a Hamptons look all with a uniquely Northern Beaches feel. Concertina doors further bring the outdoors inside, and just shucked oysters, tiger prawns served on ice, and saltbush calamari are all ideal eats for the Palm Beach location.

If you like your outdoor dining with a NYC or Melbourne edge, this obscured laneway Mexican restaurant is the ticket. Tables line Temperance Lane, while wagyu licked by flames comes with porcini and mulato pepper-spiked butter; ironbark grilled chicken with mole and toasted sesame is also a must-try.

It’s the smooth hummus with a smoked egg and burnt butter that’s gotten everyone talking about this Potts Point restaurant, but it’s chef Ben Sears’ clever takes on Israeli food that keep people coming back. The likes of salmon pastrami and olive gildas; roasted cauliflower with halloumi, burnt honey and za’atar; or crisp falafels can all be enjoyed from the terrace front outside.

If outdoor yum cha sounds like a good shout, this elegant Chalice Street dumpling house is the one. On weekends, the yum cha set menu takes over, or you can order up xiao long bao; Singapore noodles with curry oil, egg, sprouts and zucchini; and crunchy sesame prawn toast.

This Italian mainstay has almost reached institution-level thanks to its restrained but always hard-hitting menu. The outdoor tables will let you take in the sunshine while snacking on salumi and buffalo mozzarella, followed by spaghettini with scampi and a bright cherry tomato-studded bisque.

Glebe Point Road is packed out with plenty of restaurants, but you’ll have to travel right down the end to find one of its best. Maybe it’s Hiramasa kingfish crudo served with crunchy apple, and zippy herb oil; or a country-style chicken liver pate that will catch your eye, but whatever you order from the European-influenced bistro menu can be best enjoyed outside, overlooking the leafy end of Glebe.

Bondi doesn’t have much in the way of Greek restaurants, which is in part what makes Ikaria stand out. Along with its plum Campbell Parade position, the Mediterranean bites – including sizzling saganaki with honey and oregano; and unctuous lamb shoulder – at this taverna channels a little bit of the Aegean to Bondi beach.

This Wentworth Point diner overlooks the Parramatta River, bringing burgers, salads and sandwiches all bayside. The all-day breakfast means you can enjoy classics like eggs benedict and nourishing acai bowls at any time, and the outdoor tables make the most of its waterside location.

The wooden deck out the back of the Longy is an ideal place to grab a freshly pulled schooner and dry-aged ribeye steak. Being one of the area’s few pubs means it’s always worth booking ahead to ensure you can nab a table with ease.

This small but personality-filled pub in Surry Hills sees tables taking up residence on the cornerside, so you can kick back and watch the well-dressed creatives of Surry Hills wander by. Add in an interesting mix of beer taps and old school pub charm and it’s an easy-going destination for imbibing and dining in the neighbourhood.

This wholesome eatery’s sunshine-filled courtyard is primed for nourishing brunches, a lunch bowl joined by organic wine or just a coffee. Along with pasture-raised meats and veggie-lead lunches, Ruby’s is also home to five worm farms and a veggie patch.

Sean Moran has built his name over 25-plus years, becoming one of Bondi and Australia’s most beloved chefs, thanks largely to Sean’s Panaroma, his honest, unfussy, but always excellent beachside diner. With some of Sydney’s most astute waitstaff and excellent produce sourced from Moran’s own farm in Bilpin, there’s a reason Sean’s is still one of Sydney’s most talked-about restaurants and will be for years to come.

This spiffy Japanese spot set just back from Manly beach dials up the fun with left-of-centre takes on izakaya and sushi snacks. This may mean cheeseburger gyoza; or a ‘fish and chip’ sushi roll with kingfish, asparagus, avocado, tartare sauce and crunchy potato batter, which can be enjoyed from bar seats set up outside.

This multi-level tapas bar may be in the more touristy end of town, but its outdoor seating along Bulletin Place feels both intrepid and intimate. Channel Spanish laneway vibe and work your way through croquettes, jamon, patatas bravas and albondigas.

The Ducks’ Rosebery outpost sees both a chilled alfresco area surrounded by olive trees and grapevines, alongside a sprawling warehouse-like interior. Most of the menu is cooked in the wood-fired oven or two charcoal pits, ensuring there’s smoke, char and plenty of flavour in veggies and meat alike.

This locally beloved dinner takes in views of Cronulla beach and promenade from its alfresco verandah. Chef James Metcalfe serves up thoughtful, produce-led plates, which may include marinated tuna with an umami-forward smoked oyster dressing, or confit trout with sweet corn risotto.

The ‘Corn is a pitch-perfect pub with Sydney style, thanks to its epic bone-in schnitzels, fuss-free but flavourful drinks line-up, dartboards, an occasional dancefloor and more. Out the back, a quaint beer garden seals the deal, where picnic tables are the hottest seats in town on a sunny Sunday afternoon.

This fiery north shore yakitori spot specialises in flame-kissed meat and veggies on sticks. While the heady waft of charcoal smoke hits you inside, Yurripi’s outdoor seating lets you enjoy a set grill-your-own menu, to recreate the Japanese omatsuri (an outdoor festival) feels.