Dining out is one of life's great pleasures, especially when the experience takes you on a culinary journey that tantalises your taste buds and leaves you reminiscing about the flavours for days to come.

For our discerning members who appreciate the finer things in life, the Sydney Morning Herald Good Food Guide 2025 has just unveiled a treasure trove of gastronomic delights that will satisfy every palate.

In its 40th edition, the Good Food Guide has crowned a groundbreaking seafood restaurant as the crème de la crème of Sydney's vibrant dining scene.

With a menu that boasts innovative dishes such as a tuna cheeseburger, long-spined sea urchins, and oyster snacks at the bar, St Peter in Paddington has been named the Vittoria Coffee Restaurant of the Year.

The Sydney Morning Herald Good Food Guide 2025 has unveiled restaurants that will satisfy every palate. Credit: Australian Good Food Guide / Facebook

The awards ceremony, held at the iconic Sydney Opera House, celebrated the best of the best in New South Wales and the ACT, with 500 restaurants visited by the Good Food Guide's team over the past eight months.

Paul Farag from Aalia in the Sydney CBD took home the Oceania Cruises Chef of the Year award for his innovative approach to Middle Eastern cuisine, showcasing the diversity and creativity that Australian chefs bring to the table.

For those who love to be the first to try the latest hotspots, Firepop in Sydney's Enmore was named the best new restaurant.

Meanwhile, Ona Coffee in Marrickville received the accolade of cafe of the year, and Double Deuce Lounge in the Sydney CBD was celebrated as the best bar.

In a move that reflects the digital age, the Good Food Guide is embracing technology by launching a premium subscription-based app.

This digital offering is part of Nine's premium digital packages for subscribers of The Sydney Morning Herald and The Age or as a standalone subscription.

The app is a culinary companion that houses more than 900 reviews from the Herald and Age guides, along with recipes, critics' picks, and lists of the best restaurants, cafes, bars, and pubs.

Sarah Norris, Head of Food for the Sydney Morning Herald, The Age, Brisbane Times, and WAToday, emphasised the guide's commitment to evolution and diversity.

'While the Good Food Guide is the home of the hats, it continues to evolve across various price points, cuisines, styles, and suburbs, offering an annual snapshot of the most exciting, outstanding venues you need to know about,' she said.

‘With money tighter than ever for most diners, people want to know where they should spend their money and be able to trust those recommendations.’

‘The guide and the new Good Food app take the guesswork out of finding the perfect spot for you to eat, no matter what the occasion.’

The physical edition of the Good Food Guide 2025 is available for purchase at newsagents, supermarkets, and thestore.com.au for $14.95.

Key Takeaways

• St Peter in Paddington, Sydney, has been named Vittoria Coffee Restaurant of the Year by the Sydney Morning Herald Good Food Guide 2025.
• Paul Farag from Aalia is the recipient of the Oceania Cruises Chef of the Year award for his innovative Middle Eastern cuisine.
• The Good Food Guide has launched a premium subscription-based app to house digital offerings, including reviews, recipes, and critics' picks.
• The physical edition of the Good Food Guide 2025 is available for purchase, providing an annual snapshot of the most exciting and outstanding dining venues.

Have you tried these award-winning restaurants? Is your favourite restaurant on the list of winners? Share your thoughts and experiences with us in the comments below!

 

[gentlejack]

Hello people. There are places outside Sydney to eat. Ive been to country pubs that have better and cheaper food than pansy arsed Sydney eateries

 

[Suzanne rose]

Most of those restaurants are big expensive ones.

There are better restaurants in outer Sydney suburbs

I do agree on Ona Coffee in Marrickville. We have been there a few times when we have gone to the best butcher Souvlaki Boys which is in Marrickville

 

[Towing]

If you don't want to go to somewhere "flash", there is very good cafes at reasonable prices and serves are a lot larger. It's not one piece each of different vegetable with whichever meat you choose which is probably small too, some the plate is literally full. In the suburbs if you find one with some trucks parked there you can guarantee that the meals are a good size, good quality and reasonable prices. We went to one on the edge of a country town. It didn't look elegant on the outside of the building but the cafe was spotless and food freshly cooked "from scratch" We had schnitzels and they were the full width of the plates. Where I was sitting I could see in the kitchen, watch the food being cooked and the salad being made. You can't get fresher than that. When we arrived there was 3 trucks parked there. When we left there was 8 apart from ours. More than one the same "common" colour so it seemed like we had to look for ours. The truckies talk to each other and word soon spreads where the good ones and not so good ones are.

 

[Aussie all the Way]

These places maybe great But who can afford to go out anymore with all the charges they are lumping on the bill nowadays

 

[Kman]

SDC Team going to list it for us?

 

[Veggiepatch]

Hello people. There are places outside Sydney to eat. Ive been to country pubs that have better and cheaper food than pansy arsed Sydney eateries

Just like the overpriced wankeries in Melbourne's Little Collins Street and Chapel Street. The epitome of the "look at me" mob of pretentious tosspots!

 

[Kman]

Just like the overpriced wankeries in Melbourne's Little Collins Street and Chapel Street. The epitome of the "look at me" mob of pretentious tosspots!

I agree with both comments. You can travel this great country of ours and find cheapr and even better foods. And SA has the best oysters.