Book a Restaurant for Father's Day 2022

There's no ideal restaurant to celebrate Father’s Day. Your dad could be a stereotypical steak-loving bloke, or a vegetarian. He could be a wine connoisseur or a guy who likes nothing better than to put away three schooners at lunch. Whatever kind of dad you have, Father's Day is uncomfortably close (Sunday September 4), which means it's time to get booking.

We've assembled a diverse list of bookable restaurants, with an emphasis on quieter, more classic spots where the family won't have to yell to make conversation. Stick to the top dozen entries if you're keen to splash out and make your dad feel special. Look further down if you're after a more relaxed, communal environment, such as a pizzeria, neighbourhood bistro or pub.

Quay

Restaurant

The standard-setter for fine dining in Sydney. Executive chef Peter Gilmore is tireless in his pursuit of what’s interesting, new and Australian. His backyard is peppered with test plantations of rare vegetables, he works with local ceramicists on custom crockery and he’s a leading advocate for native produce. The restaurant’s theatrical tasting menus show off all this and more, bolstered by some of the city’s best harbour views.

Overseas Passenger Terminal The Rocks, Sydney

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The Gantry

Restaurant

Enjoy artful, surprising degustations at this understated diner. Inside it's all about sleek dark timbers – but it's the outdoor drinking and dining that really shines. A table outside by the water on a warm day is the ideal setting for a long, spritzy lunch.

11 Hickson Road, Sydney

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Sunset Sabi

Restaurant

Wild cocktails and unique Japanese flavours from the team at Chica Bonita.

26-28 Pittwater Road, Manly

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Monopole

Restaurant

The CBD has some of the best cocktail bars in the world, but there’s a surprising lack of venues with a focus on vino. Since moving from its original Potts Point location, Monopole, with its clever mix of snacking and thoughtful drinks list, has changed that.

16-20 Curtin Place, Sydney

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Chiosco by Ormeggio

Restaurant

The casual counterpart to Alessandro Pavoni's celebrated Italian restaurant, Ormeggio at the Spit. The food and service are just as excellent, but the atmosphere and dishes here are a little more relaxed.

The Jetty, The Spit Marina, Spit Road, Mosman

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Macleay St Bistro

Restaurant

You'll find this Potts Point fixture at the Paris end of Macleay Street. That location, combined with a stately exterior and a menu boasting French bistro classics, makes for truly transportive dining. Expect steak frites, salmon tartare, oysters and a tight list of French and Aussie wines.

A 73 Macleay Street, Potts Point

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Continental Deli Bar and Bistro

Bar

Relax with "Mar-tinnies" and tinned seafood.

210 Australia Street, Newtown

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The Dolphin Hotel

Restaurant

This Surry Hills pub got a shake-up in 2020 – but it’s still one of Sydney’s best all-in-one wine bars, restaurants and boozers.

412 Crown Street, Surry Hills

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Gavroche Chippendale

Restaurant

An update on the classic French bistro, this inner-city spot combines nostalgia with plenty of modern swagger. Expect a menu of Gallic standards, and a lengthy wine list spanning French and Australian regions.

2-10 Kensington Street, Chippendale

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Dhakshin

Restaurant

This is South Indian with heart and soul in Crows Nest.

320 Pacific Highway, Crows Nest

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The Greens

Cafe

A breezy garden cafe and bar with ball-droppingly magnificent views.

50 Ridge Street, North Sydney

Babylon

Restaurant

A 1200-square-metre rooftop bar and restaurant which rules over Pitt Street Mall.

Level 7, Westfield Pitt Street Mall 188 Pitt Street (Enter via Castlereagh Street lift), Sydney

Alberto’s Lounge

Restaurant

Italian cuisine with a subtle Australian accent, matched with a wine list that bounces effortlessly between Italy’s Piedmont region and the Adelaide Hills. The Swillhouse group’s modern-day interpretation of a cool ’70s restaurant is everything we’ve come to expect from one the city’s best operators.

17-19 Alberta Street, Sydney

Bistrot 916

Restaurant

Chef Dan Pepperell and his dream have brought a new wave of French dining to Potts Point. On the menu, it's saucisson, escargot pasta and steak frites. Plus, there's a drinks list by the Swillhouse Group's former sommelier.

22 Challis Avenue, Potts Point

Bella Brutta

Restaurant

Not quite Neapolitan, not quite New Yorker – the pizza at Bella Brutta is a style all of its own. Expect a puffy, blistered crust, a sag-proof base and a raft of creative toppings (a slice of the white clam pie with fermented chilli is a must). From the teams behind LP’s Quality Meats and Porteño.

135 King Street, Newtown