Restaurant Guide

Aria Sydney: Restaurant review

The game plan here has always been top-dollar cosseting, and with a splendid wine list and largely accommodating service to match, that's what you get.

Address

1 Macquarie St
Sydney, NSW

Hours

Lunch Sun-Fri noon- 2.15pm,
Sat noon-1.30pm;
Dinner Mon-Fri 5.30pm-10.30pm,
Sat 5pm-11pm,
Sun 5.30pm-10pm

Prices

3-4 courses $150-$175;
Tasting menu $210;
Weekday lunch $90-$120

First, Aria is an ambassador. There's the view straight down the barrel of the Opera House. The wine list that positions exceptional local bottles alongside international benchmarks. The menu that shows off pristine Australian produce, and a chef, Joel Bickford, set on eking the very best from them. But as much as this has always been a place that sets a bar for Australian dining, that hasn't meant standing still. Aria 2019 is a restaurant of kangaroo tartare concealed under delicate folds of beetroot, of yabbies curled in tomato broth with ribbons of jamón, of skinned snapper fried crisp and served with beach greens, finger lime and a lick of beurre blanc. Desserts – and a course of Moreton Bay bug with congee, broth, shiitake mushrooms, and silky sheet made from smoked scallop – can have a lot going on, but the flavours are clear, the presentation refined, and when things are good, they're spot on. Sure, floor staff can miss details and be distracted by shiny things, but gloss and sparkle have always held sway here. And who can argue with that view?
Phone:
(02) 9240 2255
Bookings:
Bookings recommended
Features:
  • Licensed
  • Bar
  • Wheelchair access
  • Private room
  • Impressive wine list
Accepted card types:
  • American Express
  • Eftpos
  • MasterCard
  • Visa
Chefs:
Matt Moran & Joel Bickford
This review was made independently for the Gourmet Traveller Restaurant Guide. The guide's reviewers visit unannounced and pay their way.