Nowhere Does Date Night Like Sydney Does Date Night

Rave reviews and status as a hatted restaurant have solidified Nomad’s position as one of the city’s most acclaimed spots. Set in a sprawling industrial-chic warehouse, this elegant restaurant is poised to be your new ace of spades. Stepping into the contemporary dining room on any given weekend, you’re sure to find it packed with diners dressed to impress.

Nomad boasts an extensive house-cured charcuterie selection, a testament to their love for fresh produce. Expect dishes bursting with Moroccan and Middle Eastern-inspired flavour, from the barbecued spatchcock with harissa, to their unassuming staple flatbread: charred and sprinkled with za’atar, hummus, and cumin brown-butter.

The name of the game here is sustainability; locally sourced produce transformed into unpretentious, beautifully plated dishes perfect for sharing. Toast your date with Nomad’s selection of bespoke cocktails, or a white from Victoria’s Yarra Valley – one of the many bottles on their Australian-led wine list. End the night on a high note with their creamy olive oil ice-cream sandwich; a flavour bomb of pastry, sesame sugar, pistachio and brown sugar crumble.

Set on the first floor of the swanky QT Hotel, those with an aversion to hotel restaurants risk missing out on Gowings Bar & Grill – a hip restaurant with big plans to kick the stereotype to the curb. Gowings is an easy pick for those yearning for a spot that’s humming with life; the atmosphere here feels almost electric, and the waitstaff whiz about with confident charisma.

Gowings delivers in spades on vibe and energy – and we haven’t even talked about the food yet. The chefs here aim to please: try your hand at the perfectly seared scotch fillet, served with smoked bone marrow butter, or if fish is what you’re after; the fennel crusted yellowfin tuna steak melds flavour with texture. Wash the night down with glasses from their curated wine list, and life tastes all the sweeter.

The Bentley boys are back in the game – if they ever really left. Helmed by award-winning owners Savage and Hildebrant of Bentley Restaurant and Bar, Monopole (a cleverly French-inspired name meaning ‘one vineyard’) is peak Sydney dining with stunning food and clever wines; an infallible recipe for success.

Having recently ventured into Sydney’s CBD from Potts Point, Monopole is the ultimate buzzy, date night venue for those hankering for a casually classy culinary experience cut from the fine-dining cloth without any of the exorbitant prices. The crowd here is a happy blend of post-work office-goers, hardcore foodies, and glam-heeled couples. Hildebrant (one of Australia’s most renowned sommeliers) hand-curated their wine list that features over 500 rare boutique wines.

Dishes on the contemporary European menu flirt with reimagined French flavours, serving up the likes of steamed barramundi with ham hock broth and pickled rainbow chard, and mouth-watering orecchiette pasta served with pangrattato, mushroom butter, and egg yolk.