A solo meal can be many things: restorative, essential, peaceful. From menu items only available for individual diners to among-the-action seats, here’s a non-exhaustive list of 5 Sydney venues making solo dining a dream. 5 more will be listed tomorrow
1) Kobo – for an omakase experience
An omakase (Japanese for “I’ll leave it to you”, meaning the chef chooses and prepares your meal, often right in front of you) dining experience is almost always a great solo option. Restaurants serving omakase are often intimately fitted out, seat a handful of people and serve dishes portioned specifically for individuals. At Kobo in
Circular Quay the omakase is given a Korean twist, reflecting the regions and seasons its head chef Jacob Lee experienced when he was a kid. Each diner at Kobo can see their dishes plated right in front of them, while the chefs share stories and describe the food. Interaction with your elbow-on-elbow neighbour is encouraged.
2) VN Street Foods – for streetside Northern Vietnamese
Marrickville is one of Sydney's best suburbs to have an excellent Vietnamese meal (Bankstown and
Cabramatta are also hubs), and this well-loved locals’ spot is a great place to dine alone. The Illawarra Road eatery serves a Northern Vietnamese family meal, which would usually have many shared dishes, in the form of a $16 one-person bento box. Choose your rice, protein, vegetables, salad, pickles and soup, then pull up a stool at one of the low-lying outside tables and dig into your customised meal. Enjoy the great people watching as you eat.
3) Le Foote – for a solo date night
Date night for one is an act of self-care, and Le Foote in
The Rocks is a guaranteed night of luxury and style in the city. This part Parisian wine bar, part Mediterranean grill presents solo diners with a range of places to perch in its rabbit warren-like venue, though setting up at the bar is a great option. The bar menu is slightly different from that of the restaurant, with smaller portioned dishes and exclusive items such as potato crisps, pastas such as cavatelli with zucchini and a fish sandwich. The two-sip negronis and martinis (they’re available across the venue) are also well suited to solo diners. These petite mouthfuls mean relaxing into a cocktail or two is possible without being excessive.
Sat atop the
Crown Towers Sydney in
Barangaroo, Oncore by Clare Smith (one of the world’s most lauded chefs) offers arguably one of Sydney’s most luxurious dining experiences. Dining here will cost a pretty penny, though here solo diners can order from the same menu as those eating in a group. The ‘Classics’ set menu is $340 per person and features seven dishes plus four ‘Beginning’ snacks. While dishes are elaborate and award-winning, the opportunity to soak in views overlooking
Sydney Harbour as you dine 26 floors up is truly magical.
Native Australian ingredients are at the heart of Midden, TV personality and celebrity chef Mark Olive’s restaurant on the western boardwalk of the
Sydney Opera House. A sunny seat outside will have you looking directly at the
Sydney Harbour Bridge, a unique vantage point perfect for watching ferries glide past. Feel the breeze off the water as you enjoy a high tea of warrigal green finger sandwiches and mini kangaroo pies before a show. Alternatively, book in for a solo dinner and enjoy an Indigenous Australian grazing plate as the cityscape lights up around you.
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