Guide to romantic dining spots in Sydney for your special date

This moody love-at-first-sight inspired nook is a chic underground cocktail bar that’s as dramatic as it is romantic. A relatively new entry in the game, this dimly lit spot is all rounded marbled tables, dark wooden pillars, and brass and gold trimmings.

If a cheeky drink is what you’re after for the night, their cocktail menu here is divided into 16 different chapters (based on the Apollonia love story) and includes 16 unique creations that you’re sure to love. For bites to go with your sips, peruse their ever-changing Italian drinking food menu with a rotation of small plates featuring local charcuterie, yellowfin tuna tartare, and burrata in olive oil.

Oh, and their Love at First Sight cocktail, is an obvious and satisfying choice at Apollonia’s.

Another recent addition to a sterling lineup is Beckett’s, a stunning mid-century New York-esque bistro that’s set to become one of the most glam Glebe Point venues around.

Channelling classic New York and European wine bars, you’re in good hands here with esteemed bartender Charlie Ainsbury, sommelier Sasha Siljanovic (ex-NOMAD), and Chef Jeff Schroeter (previously of Bayswater Brasserie). The seasonal menu here capitalises on three decades of experience and fresh produce to craft a mod-European repertoire of dijon roasted black opal wagyu rump and Maremma duck breast.

Beckett’s bouillabaisse dish gets a big tick of approval from us!

Italian fare gets the royal treatment here and makes Big Poppa’s perfect for casual dates soundtracked by low hip-hop beats and a romantic candlelit vibe.

Open till 3 am, this late-night joint is award-winning and a crowd favourite for good reason from their deep wine list featuring cocktails and Italian wines, to their selection of elevated Italian with lamb ragu hand-cut pappardelle, pollo e ceci chicken, and striploin steak tagliata. Great for a post-movie dinner or as a prelude to a night out on the town, eating and drinking is always good but is made great at Big Poppa’s.

A love letter to Tokyo, Sake is a modern contemporary Japanese resto mixing up traditional washoku with modern touches.

Gorgeous Japanese-style artwork line the walls with wooden flooring and moody red-tinted lighting playing the finishing touches. Treat your date to a chef’s omakase – a quintessentially Japanese dining experience where each dish is the chef’s choice or pt for a starter of popcorn shrimp or roasted scallops before digging in to mains of miso chicken served with king oyster mushrooms and basil ponzu and teriyaki lamb chops. Flavours here are playful yet sticks to their roots, and the result is incredible.

Check out Sake’s miso glazed glacier 51 toothfish while you’re there.

Alberto’s turns Italian fun with a buzzy, vibey space that’s energetic and a local favourite for being synonymous with excellent pasta. Make it an old school date night to remember with top-tier pasta and signature cocktails.

Gelato and ricotta are made daily with fresh made noodles as the base for their heavenly pasta. Split a bowl of rigatoni with braised pork belly with your date, or grab linguine with parmigiano reggiano to devour on your own (no one will blame you, trust me).

Dish Cult recommends their burrata with eggplant scapece. Simply yummy.

Aria needs no introduction – after all, it’s the restaurant that basically redefined Sydney’s fine-dining scene.

Their pristine tasting menu is a degustation experience like no other, with every dish artfully plated and masterfully executed. A sprawling front-row view of the Opera House and a tasteful waitstaff contribute to the makings of an unforgettable date night. Dress fancy and take on the town, just don’t forget to wash it down with a glass of their featured wine.

Feeling fancy? Aria’s $190 four-course dinner menu will hit the right notes with you and your date’s tastebuds.

Love, Tilly Devine is the classy, hole-in-the-wall type beat that brings another level of intimacy to catching dinner and drinks on a date. Tables for two here are the norm, and the air wafts with misty-eyed romantic nostalgia, setting the scene for an encore date.

The menu is seasonal, changes often, and is fully trained on making the most of quality produce. You’ll find small plates like mortadella, prosciutto and burrata, while larger plates include gigli with pork & fennel ragu, and kingfish served with confit potato and sage burnt butter.