Everywhere good to eat in Woolloomooloo

As soon as you enter Riley St Garage, the historic art-deco warehouse will give you serious NYC Meatpacking District vibes.

Moody lighting, plush leather booths and gold gilding add 1930s glamour, while the sleek, brass island bar takes centre-stage.

The modern Australian with a Japanese twist angle of the menu can be seen in the dishes which are all designed for sharing. The crispy pork knuckle with tamari soy and seeded mustard is a real crowd pleaser as are the lemon sole tempura and salmon sashimi.

Meat lovers should not pass up the opportunity to try the slow-cooked lamb shoulder either, which is fall-apart tender.

For a bite of NYC’s big apple in the harbour city, Riley St Garage has you covered.

Dish Cult recommends: Crispy skin snapper fillet with jalapeno butter ($35)

Manta is an absolute must-try-before-you die seafood holy-grail in Sydney, not to mention one of the city’s iconic restaurants.

With its elegant interiors, breath-taking views of the harbour and a menu which highlights sustainability, the high-quality, local seafood does all the talking.

Shucked oysters are ideal for starting the night off right, followed by an entree of fried southern calamari with black garlic aioli or perhaps juicy seared scallops. A main of Cone Bay barramundi served with pea, asparagus, pancetta and farro will have your tastebuds exploding with delight.

For the odd one out in your school of fish who isn’t a seafood fan (there’s always one!), the beef eye fillet with smoked eggplant and king brown mushroom is a winner.

Dish Cult recommends: Glacier 51 toothfish with Dutch carrot, leek, piquillo pepper and harissa ($74)

Every Sydney suburb has “the local”, that old faithful where the locals gather for a feed, a cold beer and a yarn. In Woolloomooloo, that pub is The Tilbury but the “feed” is a little more elevated than you’d expect.

Step out the back into one of Sydney’s best beer gardens. Stretch out on the long wooden tables shaded by fragrant frangipani and olive trees. Order from a menu of Gastropub dishes, including the stand-out smoked heirloom tomatoes with shiso pesto, vannella burrata and fried bread, and wash it down with an ice-cold schooner.

Alternatively, head straight for the mains. Go for the Wagyu beef burger dolloped with house BBQ mayo and served with fries, or for something lighter, the tacos, which can be filled with crispy hoki, cajun grilled chicken or mushrooms.

Just be sure to remember the golden rule and leave room for dessert, especially the Basque cheesecake.

Dish Cult recommends: The Tilbury lobster roll ($35)

It’s easy to see why Asian-inspired China Doll is a staple of Sydney’s restaurant scene.

With its prime position on Finger Wharf, the space is upscale and elegant, and the views are multi-million dollar breath-taking. It’s the perfect spot for a long lunch with the girls, sipping on Asian-inspired cocktails (we recommend the Shanghai hustle!) and catching up with your nearest and dearest.

Head chef Frank Shek draws his menu inspiration from several cuisines across Asia to create dishes that will knock your socks off, including the duck pancakes, steamed dumplings and crispy wontons. The Penang curry packs a punch too.

Get your friends together and book a table at China Doll – you won’t regret it.

Dish Cult recommends: Pork belly with chilli caramel ($40)

Do you believe in life after steak? You’ll think you’ve died and gone to meat-lovers heaven at
Kingsleys.

Experts in primo cuts, this Woolloomooloo eatery, with its chuck tail, eye fillet, Wagyu rump, black Angus sirloin and t-bone, is a carnivore’s dream. It’s all here and all cooked with a God-tier sear.

For those who really mean business, the ginormous 1.2kg tomahawk steak will be sure to satisfy the beast within. Make no mis-steak, just arrive with an empty stomach.

Crustacean connoisseurs are not ignored either with squid ink pasta vongole, roast barramundi with tomato capers and, for those looking for real extravagance, southern rock lobster served with lemon and garlic butter.

All in all, Kingsleys Woolloomooloo is hard to beat. You’ll be mooing for more!

Dish Cult recommends: Kingsley’s Angus beef burger ($27)