Say no to socks and jocks! Book a great Sydney restaurant this Father’s Day

For the arty dad…

If your dad’s into art, then book a Father’s Day lunch at The Fenwick, housed in an 1880s historic stone building in Balmain East.

While it has the kind of sweeping views of Sydney Harbour and the Sydney Harbour Bridge that you’d expect from this part of town, The Fenwick also plays host to an art gallery which features the work of local and international artists. These exhibitions change regularly and the artwork is for sale, so you can eat and take care of his present all at the same time.

For Father’s Day, the team here are offering a three course set menu with a choice of dishes and sides. We are looking forward to the cured Angus beef, spaghetti cacio e pepe with lime zest and baked apple tartlet with vanilla ice cream to finish.

Dish Cult’s top pick: Three course set menu lunch ($115 per adult, $55 per child)

Book it here

For the dad that dreams of Paris…

Pymble might not be Paris, but at Brasserie l’Entrecôte it’s easy to forget so if your dad has travel on the mind, this is the perfect restaurant.

This Father’s Day, Brasserie is hosting a three course lunch which will consist of grilled wild tiger prawns with lobster butter, French mullet roe, celeriac and apple remoulade followed by duck breast ballotine stuffed with foie gras, shiitake duxelles, duck jus and a spinach timbale, with
Yuzu apple dome for dessert.

It seems dad might just find Paris down the Pacific Highway after all.

Dish Cult’s top pick: Father’s Day set menu ($100 per adult)

Book it here

For the dad that loves a good view…

With Chowder Bay in view, dad can enjoy a pint and a sensational three course Father’s Day lunch while enjoying Ripples’ historic marine setting.

The menu has a Modern Australian slant and after starting with handmade focaccia and mixed marinated olives, you can choose from the entrees, mains and desserts. We are going to go for the chicken liver pate, followed by the lamb rump and then the chocolate mousse for dessert.

Ripples is also offering breakfast and dinner menus for Father’s Day so if it suits dad to go early or late, you will be able to accommodate him here.

Dish Cult’s top pick: Three course set menu lunch ($115 per adult, $55 per child)

Book it here

For the dad who’s a meat lover…

The team at this King Street Wharf steakhouse are all about quality: 100% natural, grass-fed, Aussie-sourced and hormone-free beef. The premium assortment of prime Australian meat comes directly from local farms. They only work with sustainability-minded producers – and you really can taste the difference.

For meat addicts, there’s plenty of focus on quantity, too. Think towering skewers of juicy cuts (listed on the menu as ‘hooks’), whole racks of ribs glazed in BBQ sauce, and hefty burgers galore.

Aside from the Insta-worthy meat dishes, Meat District Co. is simply an exquisite venue for dining out. Boasting gorgeous views over Darling Harbour and with plenty of room over two floors and the sun-dappled balcony, here’s a Sydney restaurant your meat lover dad will remember.

Dish Cult’s top pick: Ribs and sirloin combo ($62)

Book it here

For the dad who appreciates the finer things in life…

Take an award-winning chef’s dream restaurant in a heritage-listed site and envelop it in the serene atmosphere of a Japanese garden, and you have Tetsuya’s.

If it sounds picturesque, that’s because it is. The fine dining institution in the heart of Sydney is artful in all its aspects, from the stately paintings on the walls to Tetsuya Wakada’s inspiring culinary preparations.

The world-acclaimed chef serves a degustation menu combining elements of Japanese philosophy and classic French techniques. The result is food that highlights natural, seasonal flavours with a unique fusion of influences. In short: pure heaven in your mouth.

And if your dad’s a grape lover, you’re in the right place. Tetsuya’s wine list is one of the best – and most comprehensive – in Sydney.

Let the sensory journey begin…

Dish Cult’s top pick: Five-course degustation ($190pp)

Book it here

For the live music loving dad…

Cheese. New Orleans soul food. Live jazz. Some of Sydney’s best cocktails. Chairs so comfy you could take a nap (though you won’t want to lest you miss all the fun). Intrigued yet? The Swinging Cat is where it’s at.

Inspired by the whimsy and magic of New Orleans, this underground bar’s creative bartenders and lively, high-spirited atmosphere are well worth experiencing. If your dad’s the type to prefer endless comfort snacks, drinks and live music through midnight over a sit-down meal, then forget your traditional Sunday family luncheon. Bring him here the night before instead!

But don’t get so caught up you forget to order a sazerac. The classic whisky-based New Orleans cocktail is what The Swinging Cat folks do best. As the Cajun expression goes: Laissez les bon temps rouler! (“Let the good times roll!”)

Dish Cult’s top pick: NOLA style toasted sandwich with smoked pastrami, raclette, caramelised onion and mustard ($18.5)

Book it here

For the dad who’s a green thumb…

There aren’t many spots more beautiful – or green – in Sydney’s concrete jungle than the Royal Botanic Gardens. If your dad’s the type to appreciate the scenery over a long walk, a sit-down meal at Botanic House makes for an ideal pit stop.

Relish the bright, fragrant flavours of modern Asian cuisine from acclaimed chef Luke Nguyen upstairs, with stunning views over the lake and gardens. Or – if your dad’s not too fussed about doing fancy, there’s a more casual option downstairs at Farm Cove Eatery.

The grab-and-go family packs are perfect if other folks (and kiddies) are in tow. They’re stuffed with finger-licking yum BBQ chickens, mixed sandwiches, Wagyu burgers and freezer-cold cans of lager.

Dish Cult’s top pick: Set sharing menu ($99pp)

Book it now

For the dad that loves a bit of fishing…

A hop, skip and a jump away from the beach in Manly, The Herring Room is a seafood restaurant for the worldly.

Traversing Sri Lankan, Thai, Peruvian, Japanese and European cuisines, the menu celebrates a diverse preparation of oceanic fare – and it’s a great deal more exciting than your standard fish and chips.

Try local prawns sautéed with Spanish chorizo, a wild mushroom and porcini risotto with rainbow trout from the Snowy Mountains, or juicy WA scallops. If your dad can’t decide and wants to try the whole lot, why not opt for the seafood platter for two?

Alternatively, there’s a beautifully designed degustation menu for you to sink your teeth into – matching wines optional.

Dish Cult’s top pick: Seared QLD Moreton Bay bugs with South Indian curry and paratha ($38)

For the dad that loves a classic pint…

It’s a bar. It’s a restaurant. It’s an institution in the historic Rocks precinct. It also happens to be Sydney’s oldest continually licensed hotel, and home to Australia’s oldest pub brewery.

If your dad’s a history buff – or simply just loves a good beer, the Lord Nelson Brewery Hotel makes a unique venue to celebrate Father’s Day. Established in 1841, the Sydney landmark is famous for its award-winning 100% natural ales, delicious pork pies and ploughman’s lunches, and stunning old-world architecture.

Head upstairs if you’re after a slightly more refined vibe. Here, you can enjoy fresh, local produce and an award-winning wine list in the unique environment of convict-quarried sandstone surrounds.

Dish Cult’s top pick: Chilli crab lobster spaghettini ($35)

For dads that like it spicy…

There’s table black pepper spice and there’s tongue-exploding, flaming red spice. If your dad prefers the latter, book a table at Spice Temple ASAP. They do hot-hot very well here.

The Szechuan house crafts characterful dishes and yum cha snacks from regional China, plus a range of inventive cocktails for washing all that spicy, salty deliciousness down with ease. Your plush, dimly lit dining space is the image of Asian-style elegance, with crimson-hued carpets to match the lighting, and minimal furnishings.

A banquet-style menu offers you the chance to try out a multitude of dishes over the course of your meal: cold cuts, steamed eggplant, Jiangxi-style flathead, Wuxi pork ribs, tea smoked duck, lucky money dumplings and more.

Don’t skip dessert: the chocolate and caramelised peanut parfait is the perfect post-meal palate soother.

Dish Cult’s top pick: Spice fried chicken wings with heaven facing chillies ($34)