Sydney's 5 most romantic restaurants

Ursulas, Paddington - Credit: Nikki To

Come away with me

Is there anything better to reignite the spark than a weekend away, just the two of you? We have plenty of ideas, from under-the-radar coastal getaways to romantic retreats immersed in nature. Plus, the best date night restaurants in Sydney and unique activities if you’re seeking something a bit different this Valentine's Day.

Romance can mean many different things when it comes to nights out. Iconic water views, intimate fine diners, cosy bistros or buzzing dining rooms with live jazz – Sydney has options for all kinds of dates.

1) For intimate luxury: Ursula’s, Paddington

Award-winning chef-owners Phil Wood and Lis Davies’ Paddington restaurant is beautiful in its simplicity, making it one of the most romantic restaurants in Sydney. Décor consists of boldly painted walls and sculptural lights, while the menu is filled with recognisable dishes – a Moreton Bay bug pasta, a roast bird, or a chocolate cake – that are done masterfully. Everything, service included, is elegant and lacking in pretention, set up for you and your date to sit back and luxuriate.

2) For a distraction-free dinner: Bistecca, CBD

How can you be present with your date if your phone is constantly buzzing and you’re trying to take pictures of everything? The solution: make it inaccessible. At CBD restaurant Bistecca, they request you leave your phone in a locker at the entrance. You will have more than each other’s company to keep you enthralled – the underground Italian bistro has an open kitchen where some of the best steaks in Sydney are cooked over flame. The service is impeccable (you may need it to digest the wine menu) and the steak is likely to be one of the best you’ve ever eaten.

3) For harbour views over lunch: The Fenwick, Balmain

The Fenwick, Balmain - Credit: The Fenwick

Picture this: a parade of peaceful yachts, the sun twinkling on the water and views of the Sydney Harbour Bridge. That’s the selling point for the tables at The Fenwick, a modern Australian restaurant (with a European slant) set in a beautifully kept 1880s former tugboat store on the water in Balmain. When you finish dining (it serves breakfast through to dinner) head upstairs to wander through the art gallery, then get a sunset ferry back to the city.

4) For an insight into the chef’s mind: Restaurant Ka, Darlinghurst

There’s a tiny, little-known restaurant hidden behind a sign-less door that seats just 10 people in Darlinghurst. Diners (and dates) overlook Zac Ng’s kitchen, who for 10 years worked in one of Sydney’s most lauded restaurants, Sepia. It’s degustation only, with Ng becoming an occasional character on your date, talking to you about the food when handing over his cuisine-bending creations or a cocktail he’s made himself.

5) For a classic date night ambience: Pino’s Vino e Cucina, Alexandria

Pino's Vino e Cucina, Alexandria

Romance abounds at Pino’s: the lighting is warm and dim; there’s funk, soul and R&B on the stereo; at the wooden, hand-carved bar they mix negronis and pour Italian wine; the fresh pastas are luscious and rich; and its set in a brick cottage so cosy it’s at odds with the grittier Alexandria location. It’s louder than the usual romantic restaurant but that doesn’t matter – it feels tailor-made for a great date night.
* Destination NSW