The Best Hatted Restaurants in Sydney

While The Star is a jeweled crown of elegant restaurants, Sokyo comes out on top. Securing two hats on its belt, the cuisine here is Australian-Japanese fusion helmed by acclaimed chef Chase Kojima.

Dishes are sophisticated, and the dining experience is upper-class and sultry. Developed with the finest seasonal produce, the menu here is a seamless blend of old-world and contemporary-hip (like scallop ravioli), paying homage to Japanese heritage and tradition.

Dish Cult recommends: The $45 Hokkaido scallop ravioli with scampi butter, wakame and menma

Sixpenny may be an unassuming corner restaurant in a suburban area, but don’t be fooled– this Modern Australian fine diner is one of Sydney’s few three-hatted establishments.

Their ever-changing degustation menu offers clever and creative dishes that warrant (many) return trips.

Service is top-notch; expect a parade of dishes brought to your table by the chefs themselves. With intimate ambiance, brilliant food, and a ‘cookie jar’ dessert to relive your childhood, we’re sold.

Dish Cult recommends: The $195 tasting menu

This spot is (literally) straight-up fire. Firedoor is renowned for serving no-frills, locally sourced produce with a subtle smokiness achieved by cooking with none other than fire.

Allowing the ingredients to speak for themselves is key here. 200-day aged rib-eye steak is cooked with immaculate timing, sparsely seasoned, and served with scarcely a decoration in sight. The result? Mouthfuls of tender meat and bursting flavour. That’s two hats well earned.

Dish Cult recommends: The $155 Five-course Chef’s Menu

When a spot is a known haunt of chefs on their off days, chances are it’s the real deal. Scoring two hat status, Ester is reimagined fine-dining.

Dishes are approachable, with food served refreshingly stripped back and refined. Their ever-evolving menu includes flawlessly executed dishes like lobster ‘sangas’ and buffalo curd pie with sesame sambal.

Overall, Ester’s is a laidback venue perfect to catch up with food-loving friends or host a business lunch.

Dish Cult recommends: The $25 Buffalo Curd Pie with sesame sambal

If your date is craving Japanese, Cho Cho San is your best bet for Izakaya that’s fine-dining worthy. The atmosphere here is kept casual and fun, with an award-winning interior and two hats to cinch the deal.

Dedicated to bringing Tokyo to your doorstep, dishes here are classic Japanese with a twist– rich and presented with friendly finesse. Order a couple to share and you’ll get a taste of what all the buzz is about. As a bonus, get their green tea soft serve to go.

Dish Cult recommends: The $33 Prawns with kombu butter

Rustic, homely, and wholesome are just some of the words that might pop into your head stepping into two-hat Fred’s that’s fine-dining by way of friendly farm-to-fork plates.

Here you’re invited to watch a play-by-play of the action as the kitchen and dining area intersperse– a step from regular open-plan– to form one of Sydney’s most stunning interiors.

Dishes are delightful– sustainable produce precisely cooked, thoughtfully planned, and layered with subtle haute.

Dish Cult recommends: The $82 smoked lamb shoulder with tomato kasundi and crispy onion