Sydney’s perfect first date restaurants

Keep things chill but classy on your first date at one of Sydney’s best Italian restaurants, Da Mario in Roseberry.

This is the kind of pizza place you wish was your local and you’ll find classic Neapolitan thin crust pizza judiciously topped with excellent quality ingredients. It’s so authentic that it was the first Australian pizza to be accredited by the Associazione Verace Pizza Napoletana. They’re the people that make sure you’re making your pizza just like they do in Naples, and they don’t accept anything but the best.

You can drop that into your conversation with your date, but only if you think it will impress them. If they’re not into pizza there’s arancini, burrata and calamari, for those that want to share entrees, and a sexy pasta menu with our fave – the Moreton Bay bug-heavy linguine mare. We think someone not seduced by that isn’t worth seducing!

Dish Cult’s top pick: Linguine mare – Moreton Bay bug and prawn meat, zucchini, tomato, garlic and chilli ($35)

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Not quite ready for a fine dining dinner but really want to show your date that you know what it means to eat and drink (and live!) well? Menzies Bar & Bistro at Sydney’s historic Shell House is the place for you!

Inspired by the grand European bistro tradition, this stunning bar and bistro is a must-try for Sydney’s potential love birds. Pair a classy cocktail with a share plate or two and who knows what could happen? We loved the spicy Sicilian margarita, featuring limoncello along with tequila, which went so perfectly with a plate of fritto misto, a tumble of fried prawns, calamari and ling.

Martini hour is a sure bet – take your date between 4pm and 6pm, indulge in a martini made with shards cut from a huge countertop ice block, and supplement with a freshly made lobster roll. How could you help but fall in love?

Dish Cult’s top pick: Fritto misto – prawns, calamari and ling with lemon and aioli ($24)

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SILY, a cosy modern CBD spot, is the perfect place to get to know your date over casual rounds of drinks and great snack foods. Welcoming loyal patrons with oodles of old-school charm, the scene here is relaxed and intimate, channelling early 90s speakeasy vibes.

With live music, a sprawling outdoor courtyard, and hanging fairy lights, there’s no better place to grab baked camembert and gourmet toasties to split. There are also a fair few veggie options, signature cocktails and a huge wine list on offer, so the menu will keep you talking, even if you run out of things to say.

Dish Cult’s top pick: Naked nachos ($16)

Japanese date night is date night done right. Tucked away in buzzy Potts Point lies Chaco Bar, and yes, while you might have paid a visit to Darlinghurst’s Chaco Ramen for (duh) ramen, bring your date to this industrial-chic theatrical spot for authentic Japanese yakitori.

The space features a fiery open kitchen, so if you’re at all worried about impending awkwardness on your date, grab a bar seat so any silence will be filled with gushing over the skill and precision of the chefs working the robata grill. The yakitori skewers here are not to be missed, especially those made with pork belly and Wagyu hanger. Order away, and top it off with gyoza dumplings and plenty of sake.

Dish Cult’s top pick: Bangalow sweet pork belly yakitori ($7.50)

If you’re after a more upscale candlelit dinner vibe, Kittyhawk exudes old-world luxury and has plenty of round tables for two, leather booths with French windows and dim intimate lighting.

The menu here is French with a modern twist. So expect everything from tuna crudo and duck liver to steak tartare and lamb backstrap with pea puree. A favourite with locals, get in quick for a good table and enjoy a night of high-spirited waitstaff, vibey ambience and romance in spades.

Dish Cult’s top pick: Duck liver pate, cornichons and Tawny Port jelly ($18)

An eclectic blend of neighbourhood bar and elegant modernity, Dead Ringer features a seasonal menu and an ever-evolving wine list. The space is all minimalistic colours, tasteful art, and warm wooden tables, perfect for a relaxed but still impressive first date.

Food here is plated so charmingly you’ll almost feel bad eating it, and you can grab imaginative cocktails that make the already good food taste even better. Hearty share plates, personable service and chill intimate vibes make it a date spot like no other. Oh and don’t leave without trying the octopus with fermented potatoes and house-made gnocchi, because that would be foolish.

Dish Cult’s top pick: House-made gnocchi with cauliflower, pecorino and almonds ($34)

If you’ve scored a date with someone who’s really into good food (aka a keeper), this hatted establishment, a favourite of Sydney’s off-duty chefs, will impress them.

Ester is all about the produce and a seasonal menu that features refreshingly creative, stripped back dishes. Try the miso marinated Murray cod with pil pil or pig ear crackling with pickled rosella if you don’t believe us. And what of the ambience? Arched entrances, round hanging lights, and displayed bottles of wine all contribute to the classy, romantic vibe. Simply put: your date will love it.

Dish Cult’s top pick: Moreton Bay bug, salt and pepper sauce ($75)

There are no two ways about it: Catalina is straight-up iconic. If you’re looking to pull out all the stops for a snazzy night out, this waterfront institution is the place you want to go. Fine dining at one of the best seafood restaurants in town is a sure-fire way to impress any date.

The waitstaff here don suits and are pre-disposed to helping you and your date indulge in a romantic white-tableclothed dinner watching the sun go down on glistening Rose Bay. Be warned though, the pan-fried king prawns with chilli, garlic and tarragon butter might just make you fight with your date over who gets the last bite.

Dish Cult’s top pick: Pan-fried king prawns with chilli, garlic, tarragon butter and sourdough toast (part of $140 pp three course set menu)