Sydney restaurants: Guide to the best museum and art gallery dining
Not just a feast for the senses, the Harbour City’s prestigious art galleries and historic museums also offer some of Sydney’s best fine dining options.
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CAFE SYDNEY
Many restaurants talk about how important the dining experience is but few have the advantage – and vantage – of Cafe Sydney, beautifully situated on the top floor of Customs House, heritage-listed museum space dating back to 1854, that was once the epicentre of Australia’s maritime trade and the first point of call for optimistic travellers looking to make their way in the lucky country.
Gone are the days when Sydney was known as the wool capital of the world, now replaced with regular exhibitions curated from the amazing City of Sydney Archives.
When you walk in, make sure you look down before looking up because there, under a glass floor, is a scale model of Sydney from CBD to city fringe.
From there, take the elevators to highest level where the doors open up to Cafe Sydney, an icon in its own right overlooking two other Sydney icons, the Sydney Harbour Bridge and Sydney Opera House.
In this casually elegant restaurant, renowned Executive Chef James Kidman takes care to create a menu that mirrors the restaurant’s lofty heights while reflecting the best of Australian products, including Humpty Doo Barramundi, Sydney rock oysters, Moreton Bay bugs, Wagyu beef and pork belly.
His passion for seasonal produce sources from local suppliers is no more apparent than during truffle season when he curates a specific menu featuring black truffles from the Canberra region. Complimenting it all is an award-winning wine list, featuring established and boutique Australian wineries along with a strong cocktail list.
For the more casually inclined, opt for Quay in the forecourt, a popular spot for after-work drinks.
— Customs House, 5th floor, 31 Alfred St, Circular Quay; cafesydney.com
CHISWICK AT THE GALLERY
Creating and presenting amazing food is an art form and there is no better place to satiate all the senses than Chiswick at the Gallery.
Located inside Art Gallery New South Wales, a museum that is considered one of the most beautiful in the world, it’s rather fitting that the featured restaurant, Chiswick is from one of Australia’s noted culinary creatives, Matt Moran, award-winning restaurateur, author and TV personality.
He takes inspiration (and ingredients) from the onsite garden preparing such dishes as grilled barramundi with freshly- picked broad beans, cherry tomatoes, snap peas and coastal succulents.
Other influences include the art exhibits themselves such as with the Archibald Dining Menu, inspired by the prize-winning artists.
Brindley says: “We worked with three Archibald finalists to create dishes inspired by their unique experiences such as Tianli Zu’s love of Australian seafood (grilled barramundi) and Jane Guthleben’s love of chocolate (Valrhona chocolate mousse.”
For those after a quick bite, there’s also a cafe on the lower level that serves light meals, snacks, sweets and coffee with a great view of Woolloomooloo Finger Wharves.
— Art Gallery of NSW, Art Gallery Rd, The Domain; chiswickatthegallery.com.au
CAFE AT LEWERS
In the mid-1950s, artists Margo and Gerald Lewers built a home complete with studio on the banks of the Nepean River.
They wanted a quiet spot to pursue their artistic endeavours, him as sculptor and her mainly as a painter, but their place soon became a social hub with elaborate parties full of spirited conversations, attended by forerunners of Australia’s modern art movement.
The Lewers wanted the creative essence of their home to live on so it was bequeathed to Penrith Council and reopened as the Penrith Regional Gallery featuring eclectic exhibitions and an artist in residence.
The well-manicured gardens, that once hosted those elaborate parties, is now a cafe with delicious food befitting of its setting.
Cafe at Lewers is clearly one of Penrith’s best kept secret – until now. Nestled into the heritage gardens of the gallery, cafe owner Steve Grant oversees a menu that is fresh, seasonal and sourced from local producers.
Think mango and berry waffles with white chocolate and coconut crumb, spiced yoghurt mascarpone or crackling pork belly with Jerusalem artichoke puree, roast potato, chimichurri and charred onion.
And in keeping with the Lewers’ joie de vie, on Fridays, Steve also hosts Sips and Sounds, relaxing summer evenings with a tapas menu, local musicians and a tipple or two.
— Penrith Regional Gallery, 86 River Rd, Emu Plains; penrithregionalgallery.com.au
JARDIN ST JAMES
For many, coffee can be a religion with devotees wilfully bowing to the gods of java so it’s only fitting that Jardin St James has taken up residence in the forecourt of Sydney’s oldest church, St James Anglican.
At the entrance, unobtrusively located off Macquarie St, adjacent to the King St Courts, is a bespoke coffee cart that serve sup a divine cuppa of The Little Marionette coffee along with a variety of housemade pastries.
It’s the abbreviated version of the French-inspired cafe by Sydney Restaurant Group (Ormeggio, Aqua, Lumi, Ripples) that occupies the surrounding garden space a (Jardin means “garden in French”) and lower alcove.
Open weekdays for breakfast and lunch, the menu focus on French classics such as sweet crepes and savoury galettes along with the Aussie favourite, bacon and egg roll.
– St James Anglican Church (Forecourt), 173 King St, Sydney; jardinstjames.com.au
GRAZE
Some of the best things in life are right there in front of you; all you have to do is look. That’s the way it is with GRAZE, a chic al fresco dining space located on the ground floor terrace of the MCA (Museum of Contemporary Art).
Here, every table has a sweeping view of Circular Quay, Sydney Opera House and out towards Sydney Harbour.
It’s not just the vantage point that make this place a star, its seasonal Mediterranean and Modern Australian menu is what brings guests back again and again.
Try their signature Bouillabaisse (for two) made with Provencal Style Market fish, blue swimmer crab, black lip mussels, king prawns and vongole, complimented of course by an impressive wine list.
At the moment, they’re open for Tuesday through Sunday for lunch, but hours look to be extended in the near future.
— MCA, Ground, 140 George St, The Rocks; grazemca.com.au
It’s rather appropriate that this four-level exhibition space is located in a former Rolls-Royce showroom in Chippendale, and like its former occupant, The White Rabbit Gallery is chic, sleek and invariably has a good story or two behind closed doors.
Home to Judith Neilson’s White Rabbit Collection, one of the largest and most significant collections of 21st-century Chinese contemporary art, the gallery actually began when the Neilsons realised they were running out of wall space at home and truly wanted to share this unique genre with the rest of Australia.
To complement, if not complete the setting, there is the street-level Chinese Teahouse that offers light bites and delights such as delicious handmade dumplings (traditional, vegetarian, gluten free and vegan).
In keeping with the aesthetics, they also serve the lovely Princess Flower Tea in which a hand-rolled Jasmine and Amaranth flowers “blooms” as hot water is poured into the clear glass teapot.
It’s a work of art all unto itself. (Wednesday-Sunday for food from 11am-3.30pm and tea until 4pm).
— 30 Balfour St, Chippendale; whiterabbitcollection.org
STURT COFFEE AT THE GALLERY
Take in the serenity of the setting with a light lunch or afternoon tea at one of the white wooden tables shaded by a canopy of tall trees.
— Sturt Gallery & Studios, Cnr Range Rd & Waverley Pde, Mittagong; sturt.nsw.edu.au
THE LIBRARY CAFE
As the oldest library in Australia, State Library of New South Wales can seem rather imposing, what with the dark wooden bookshelves that line the walls of the Mitchell Library, but there is really so much more to this place than just books (and free Wi-Fi).
As the keeper of the heritage-listed archives and research, there are some really elaborate exhibitions and even seemingly random displays of artefacts from The Collectors’ Gallery coins, medals, cutlery, teacups and convict bricks dating back to the late 1700s, not to mention all the lectures, classes, readings and more.
With all that action, you’ll certainly need to stop for a breather and fortunately, the Library Cafe has you covered. Located on the ground floor with floor to ceiling windows, this comfy cafe offers light meals such as salads and toasted sandwiches as well as other snacks.
And because you’re not in a quiet zone, it’s the perfect place to meet up with a friend and discuss your latest book over a cuppa and slice of cake.
— State Library of New South Wales, Macquarie St, Sydney; sl.nsw.gov.au
ARTS CENTRE CAFE
More than just a gallery, Campbelltown Arts Centre is a hub of culture and creativity with a large range of artist programs, public programs and educational.
Not only can you come for music and dance performances, visual arts exhibitions, and symposiums, but with their public programs, there are also classes, seminars and workshops where you can learn much of the same.
One of the best features — and probably the least well known — is the Arts Centre’s cafe, an indoor/outdoor eatery that overlooks the Japanese Gardens.
The setting is definitely made for serenity, not just with the addition of a large koi pond and trickling waterfall but with an invitation to linger over real meals rather than fast snacks.
The menu offers innovative dishes, seasonal salads and loaded sandwiches as well as great coffee and housemade baked goods. Come for the dance class and stay for the cake.
— Campbelltown Arts Centre; Art Gallery Rs, Campbelltown; artscentrecafe.com.au
WHAT’S FRESH
acre ARTARMON
Knowing what goes into your food is one things, but seeing it grown right across from your table is a whole other concept that acre Group have mastered, first with their Camperdown venue, acre Eatery, which is literally set amid pocket city farms followed by another in Melbourne and now, an expansive indoor/outdoor space adjacent to Home HQ in Artarmon.
A veritable oasis of flora and fauna, acre Artarmon includes a bakery/cafe and Italian restaurant (acre Italiano) surrounded by herb gardens, trellised-tomatoes and tiered-basil, all of which are ingredients used in every dish, pastry and gelato; from housemade pastries and croissants to the hearty regional Italians share-meals, there is truly something — and someplace — for everyone.
In addition to the eateries, there is also a children’s play area complete with chicken coop and in the near future, acre Artarmon will also be offering unique experiences including guided, tours, workshop and chef demos.
— 1 Frederick St, Artarmon; acre-camperdown.com.au
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