The hottest new Sydney restaurants set to open in 2025
From new outposts of already established favourites to vibey cocktail bars, these are the venues we will be heading to when they open this year.
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New Year, new restaurant!
Sydney’s hospitality scene hasn’t taken the holidays off. Instead, many venues are busy preparing to open their doors.
So what does the new year hold restaurant wise? Think vibe-y retro bars, sister venues to some of Sydney’s classics and, of course, the opening of the Sydney Fish Markets.
Here is a list of the new venues to open in 2025.
THE ESPY, MANLY
OK, OK, so this one technically launched in 2024. But considering it opened during the haze that is between Christmas and New Year, we’re calling this a 2025 open.
The Espy is from The Boathouse Group and takes up the spot of the old Manly Sea Life Aquarium at Manly Cove.
It’s a Mediterranean-inspired venue that serves up casual dining and cold beers with unobstructed views of Sydney Harbour.
LOTTIE, SURRY HILLS
Liquid & Larder are responsible for some of this city’s most successful venues, like Bistecca and The Rover.
Now they’ve been charged with the food and beverage offerings at Surry Hill’s soon to be
opened Eve Hotel.
Located inside the new Wunderlich Lane, The Eve Hotel is operated by the same people behind Brisbane’s ultra-cool The Calile Hotel.
But you don’t just have to stay at the hotel to experience the L & L hospitality.
They are set to open an all-weather, rooftop Mexican venue, Lottie. in January.
BAPTIST ST. REC. CLUB, SURRY HILLS
Everything old is cool again.
Sticking in Surry Hills’ new Wunderlich Lane, there is a new cocktail bar coming.
Baptist St Rec Club intends to channel the spirit of ’80s and ’90s Australia, with the walls covered in album covers, gig posters and pictures from ads that defined the era.
The beers are cold, the cocktails unfussy and the wine list, long.
The bar is the brainchild of House Made Hospitality, who have already opened up Island Radio in the precinct.
SYDNEY FISH MARKETS, PYRMONT
It’s been long-awaited, but the transformed Sydney Fish Markets are set to open early this year.
Some of the operators going into the area include famed chef Luke Nguyen, award-winning Cow and the Moon gelataria, and another outpost for Ho Jiak.
LOULOU MARTIN PLACE, CBD
Milson’s Point’s successful French brasserie, boulangerie and traiteur is heading into the CBD. Etymon Projects will open a second iteration of the venue to Elizabeth Street, above the Metro in February.
Loulou Martin Place is a 130-seater bistro and bar set over two levels, and has a menu inspired by the South of France.
Next door, Petit Loulou will be a kiosk-style cafe.
GOLDEN CENTURY, CROWN SYDNEY
It’s coming back!
After closing its doors three years ago, famed Sydney restaurant Golden Century is returning.
The Sussex St, late-night Chinese restaurant, which first opened in 1989, was one of covid’s biggest scalps and shut in 2021.
Now the restaurant is set to make a triumphant return in early 2025 at Crown Sydney.
BABA’S PLACE AND SIXPENNY NEW VENTURE
Details are scarce, but already we are excited about the joint venture between Stanmore’s Sixpenny and Marrickville’s Baba’s Place.
The plan is to open a Hungarian restaurant with Carley Schidegger, the former head of pastry at Merivale’s Freds, appointed head chef.
ELEVEN BARRACK, CBD
The Bentley Restaurant Group might have closed Cirrus in 2024, but this year they plan to open a new venture.
On the February 4, the group will open a classic grill, Eleven Barrack, in the heritage building at 11 Barrack Street in the CBD.
In a statement, Nick Hildebrandt, co-owner and sommelier said: “We’re excited to open Eleven Barrack in what Brent and I think is one of the most beautiful buildings in Sydney.
“We believe the dining room will have a grandeur rarely seen in Sydney, it reminds us of some of the great dining rooms throughout Europe.”
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