Quay Quarter Sydney is the energetic community hub breathing new life into once-forgotten merchant laneways and the now dubbed Quay Quarter Tower. On weekdays you’ll find office workers lining up for Marrickville Pork Roll or picking up Katsu sandwiches from Costi’s Fish and Chips. After hours, people from all walks of life flock to the lanes and tower for cocktails at Bar Mammoni, a chill night at Belles Hot Chicken, or gathering with friends for a taste of Paris at Bouillon L’Entrecote.
It doesn’t matter what time of day it is, whether it’s breakfast or after-dinner cocktails, Quay Quarter brings new meaning to all-day drinking and dining destinations. Although with so many options, we thought it best to help you narrow down all the offerings. So, here’s our guide to the best places to eat and drink in Quay Quarter Sydney.
For Breakfast
Humble
Quay Quarter Lanes
Humble is your go-to for fresh bread, pastries, and cakes if you need to pick one up for the office. Behind the helm is the team who brought us Porteno and WyNo X Bodega. Designed as a grab-n-go hole in the wall, HUMBLE is the perfect place to grab a coffee and bite to eat before heading into the office.
Mazi Espresso
Quay Quarter Tower
Visit the coffee specialists for your next caffeine fix. Newly opened Mazi Espresso knows coffee, and more importantly they know how to brew it.
Skittle Lane
Quay Quarter Lanes
Need a caffeine fix? Skittle Lane is the specialty coffee roaster the city fell in love with on King St and is now serving the same specialty roasts closer to home. The seasonal coffee menu on offer at every Skittle Lane venue is also available to purchase in 250g and 1kg packages, in case you want to bring it home.
Cali Press
Quay Quarter Tower
Specialising in cold-pressed juices, Cali Press is the go-to for a healthy breakfast or lunch. Think veggie-packed bowls, acai bowls, and gourmet sandwiches you would expect to find in Southern California.
Side Room
Quay Quarter Lanes
Tucked away in the corner is a pocket-sized health food store where you can find smoothies, acai bowls, and salads. Pick up an acai bowl for breakfast or stop in for a to-go salad at lunch.
Caffe Q’s
Quay Quarter Tower
Cafe by day, aperitivo bar by early evening, stop by for a coffee or grab a seat and enjoy a cheeky afternoon spritz. There are also small Cicchetti-style snacks to munch on if you need something to sustain you before dinner.
Deli Ziosa
Quay Quarter Tower
Sandwiches are the bread and butter of Deli Ziosa. They sling between 300-600 sandwiches daily, along with made-to-order salads, coffees, and breakfast classics. If you need to grab catering for the office, they offer impressive boxes, including cakes and parties, bacon and egg rolls, or antipasto platters.
Parla
Quay Quarter Tower
Parla is another cafe option in Quay Quarter Tower, where you can get gourmet sandwiches, salads, and a delicious breakfast. The bagels are worth a visit alone. You can dine in or take away if you’re in a rush.
For Lunch
Marrickville Pork Roll
Quay Quarter Lanes
Is there anything more iconic than picking up a pork roll for lunch? Marrickville Pork Roll is known for having some of the best banh mi in Sydney, and thanks to its new, more central location, you won’t have to travel too far to get your pork roll fix.
Belles Hot Chicken
Quay Quarter Tower
Blurring the lines between dedicated chicken joint, restaurant, and rowdy local diner, Belles’ is the go-to for all things Nashville fried chicken. The menu is packed with wings, drumsticks, tenders, and burgers, served with crispy crinkle-cut chips. Pull up a booth and settle in for a bite, or come at night when DJ decks are spinning and the lights are dim. It’s always a good time at Belles.
Costi’s Fish and Chips
Quay Quarter Tower
This Sydney institution needs no introduction. Grab a famous grilled seafood box with fresh salad, rice, or chips. The poke bowls are also a crowd-pleaser and if you’re craving a salad, they have those too.
Pappy’s Chicken
Quay Quarter Tower
Pappy’s brings simple, roast chicken to the tower, offering diners a quick grab-n-go option of chicken and chips or sandwiches made fresh daily.
Lana
Quay Quarter Lanes
Lana’s express menu, available at $69, is the ideal work lunch situation. Each diner gets three snacks, including a raw scallop and a choice of a main, which could be a succulent barramundi or striploin, which is served with two sides. You can also add a few dishes from the additions section, which includes a few great desserts.
Bouillon L’Entrecote
Quay Quarter Lanes
Slink upstairs to the Parisian dining room for a steak and frites or charcuterie plate. The elegant dining room overlooking Circular Quay is a great place to escape from work during lunch or meet up with friends and work colleagues. On Saturdays, they offer a $59 two-course, or $69 three-course menu, which is well worth it for the creme brulee alone.
Grana
Quay Quarter Lanes
Grana is your escape to Tuscany on a plate. There’s a shared menu available at $74 per person or $94 per person for the bigger shared menu. It’s great for groups, but if you’re dining alone, scour the a la carte menu for comfort meals, such as duck ragu rigatoni or pork cotoletta with pickled apple and fennel. You can’t skip the focaccia to start with.
Lotus Dumpling Bar
Quay Quarter Tower
Another name that needs no introduction is Lotus, known for its high-end casual dining experience and Chinese cuisine. Lotus Dumpling Bar, as the name suggests, serves dumplings of all kinds: soup, fried, steamed, chicken, pork, vegetable, and more. Although dumplings aren’t the only thing on the menu, expect a range of rice and noodle dishes, wok-fried seafood, and tea-smoked duck breast pancakes. It’s a great lunch or dinner option.
Londres 126
Quay Quarter Lanes
This high-energy cantina serves an authentic taste of Mexico in a surrealist, 1940s-salon-like dining room. Expect lots of Frida Kahlo paintings. There’s a set menu and an a la carte packed with delicious options, including the swordfish al pastor pinchos, which are a must-try.
Nam Nam
Quay Quarter Tower
Tuck into some classic Vietnamese street food, including Bahn Mi, Goi salad and rice paper rolls. The pho is also a crowd-pleaser and a quick, tasty lunch for office workers.
Bar Mammoni
Quay Quarter Lanes
Need something quick but still delicious? Bar Mammoni has a selection of ready-to-eat pizzas by the slice, salads, and sweet snacks for when those 3 pm cravings hit. If you manage to get an early out, they also serve beer, wine, and Italian-inspired cocktails.
For Dinner
Besuto
Quay Quarter Lanes
For a memorable dining experience, book an omakase experience at the tiny, 12-seat omakase restaurant Besuto. Located upstairs, above the lanes, diners will be locked away for two hours to enjoy a curated experience behind closed doors. Watch as chefs slice, torch, and roll sushi, nigiri, small dishes, and more right in front of your eyes. Pair the night with wine or sake for an added touch of escapism into Japan.
Bouillon L’Entrecote
Quay Quarter Lanes
As mentioned earlier, Bouillon L’Entrecote is an elegant Parisian restaurant with white tablecloths, curtain-draped windows, and surrealist art on the walls. The set lunch menu is great value for money, but dinner seems to be something a little more special. The curtains are drawn, the light is dim, and the ambience is romantic as if you were in a Parisian bistro. The menu is the same, so expect to pierce garlic-buttered escargot, pick at salty french fries, and cut into perfectly cooked cuts of steak. Add a glass of wine or two.
Lana
Quay Quarter Lanes
Lana is another restaurant you will find is just as good for dinner as it is for lunch. The dinner is moodier, with pink hues saturating the sleek dining room. The menu is the same as lunch, although the daily offerings change frequently depending on what produce is available that day. Expect beautifully plated dishes using the freshest ingredients.
Snacks and Sweets
Zini Contemporary Gelateria
Quay Quarter Lanes
If you’re ever in need of a sweet treat, Zini Gelato delivers on all accounts. The gelato is authentic, made in old-school style, just like they do in Bologna, which is where owner Matteo Zini grew up. The gelato comes from metal tubs built into the counter, the right way to serve gelato, he says. Expect to find classic flavours like tiramisu and chocolate, along with a few inventive flavours such as Blue Vanilla made with butterfly pea flowers. The salted caramel is also a winner. You can also grab some sweet treats, including pancake stacks, waffle baskets, and gelato sandwiches. They also whip up Italian-quality coffees.
Adora Handmade Chocolates
Quay Quarter Lanes
It’s hard to resist the glass case of tiny truffles and handmade chocolates lined up neatly in rows. The family-run business has been making handmade chocolates in Sydney since 1994, and given it’s still around and popular today should tell you everything you need to know about the quality and taste. They’re also known for having the best hot chocolate in Sydney.
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