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Aperitif Restaurant 9357 4729, 7 Kellett St, Kings Cross

Art Gallery Restaurant 9225 1819, Art Gallery Of NSW, The Domain, Art Gallery Rd, Sydney - A pleasant room, spaciously set, as the name suggests, in the Art Gallery of NSW. Views over Woolloomooloo and the Finger Wharf.

Ash St Cellar (02) 9240 3000, 1 Ash St, Sydney

bills 9360 9631, 433 Liverpool St, Darlinghurst - Bright, airy, stylish and quintessentially Sydney.

bills 2 (02) 9360 4762, 359 Crown St, Surry Hills - This very popular spot, the offspring of the other bills, offers similar food and a children's menu.

Bistro CBD 8297 7010, Level 1, 52 King St, Sydney - This long time success story in the city doesn't stray too far from the tries and true comfort-for-conservatives formula.

Bistro-fax 8214 0400, , Lobby level, Radisson Plaza Hotel, Pitt St & Hunter St, Sydney - Service starts at 6.30 with, with hotel guest enjoying buffet breakfast, lots of suits at lunch, then the dinner crowd moves in.

The Book Kitchen (02) 9310 1003, , 255 Devonshire St, Surry Hills

Botanic Gardens Restaurant 9241 2419, Botanic Gardens Duck Pond, Mrs Macquaries Rd, Sydney - A magical setting in the middle of the Botanic Gardens. Mod Oz cuisine at very reasonable prices.

Buzzzbar Cafe (02) 9557 9191, 349 King St, Newtown

Cantina Uno (02) 9361 6442, 152 Liverpool St, Darlinghurst

Clock Hotel (02) 9331 5333, Clock Hotel, 470 Crown St, Surry Hills - Once a workman's watering hole, now a large and airy bar, very much a meeting place for the groovy 'Surry Hills' scene

Coco Roco (02) 9279 2225, 17 Lime St King Street Wharf, Sydney

De Vine (02) 9262 6906, 30-32 Market St, Sydney - This wine bar and bistro in the CBD couples well-priced bistro dishes with a great wine list.

Dome 9284 1230, First Floor, Art House Hotel, 275 Pitt St, Sydney - A grand Victorian building beautifully restored houses the Arthouse Hotel's four bars and grand dining room, Dome.

Forbes & Burton 9356 8788, , 252 Forbes St cnr Burton St, Darlinghurst - Great breakfasts and all other meal, good prices, casual atmosphere and off Oxford location.

Georges Bar & Grill (02) 9295 5066, , King St Wharf, The Promenade, Sydney

Kables 9250 3226, , Level 2 Four Seasons Hotel Sydney, 199 George St, Sydney - Restrained and elegant surrounds and a very comfortable setting.

Macleay Street Bistro (02) 9358 4891, 73A Macleay St, Potts Point - Nothing pretentious here. White walls, black clad waiters, a few tables on the footpath, partly open kitchen with cheerful engaged chefs, and a byo licence.

Mint Cafe (02) 9319 0848, 579 Crown St, Surry Hills - Cool, stylish interior, with lots of corners to hide in, or communal table for the more social.

Mio Restaurant (02) 9519 5328, 105 King St, Newtown - Small, unpretentious Mediterranean influenced bistro with good value food.

Mission (02) 9318 0815, 3 Little Queen St, Chippendale

Mores Bar and Grill (02) 9692 0846, , NULL, 107 Glebe Point Road, Glebe

MOS Cafe 9241 3636, , Museum of Sydney, Phillip St cnr Bridge St, Sydney - This lovely and very popular cafe is well designed and friendly. In spite of Sydney's canyons of steel and stone, the setting is sunlit

Number One Wine Bar 8252 9296, , 1 Alfred Street, Circular Quay

Olivo Restaurant (02) 9280 4200, , Shop 1, 297 Harbourside Centre, Darling Harbour

Paua (02) 9319 2976, 555 Crown St, Surry Hills - This stylish little bistro seems to be selling its food at NZ (where the owners come from) prices in Sydney.

Pen Restaurant (02) 9571 7288, , 137 Pyrmont Street, Pyrmont

Soni's Newtown (02) 9565 2471, , 169 King St, Newtown

Strangers With Candy 9698 6000, 96 Kepos St, Redfern - A nice neighbourhood restaurant on a leafy corner in Redfern it has outside tables, a mixed menu and reasonable prices.

Sugaroom 9571 5055, , Shop 21, 1 Harris St, Pyrmont

Taste On Sussex Lane (02) 9299 0888, Tenancy 10 Westpac Building, 275 Kent St, Sydney

The Tearoom 9283 7279, Queen Victoria Building, 3/ 455 George St, Sydney - High in the high camp QVB is the Tearoom set in what was the Ballroom. Al the expected tearoom items plus a high quality lunch.

Time To Vino 9380 4252, 66 Stanley St, Darlinghurst

Trovata (02) 9361 4437, , NULL, 76 Stanley Street, East Sydney

Tryst Food And Wine (02) 9358 2600, 21 Elizabeth Bay Rd, Elizabeth Bay

The Victoria Room (02) 9357 4488, Level 1, 235 Victoria St, Darlinghurst

The Yellow Bistro 9357 3400, , 57 Macleay St, Potts Point - Smart bistro and attached upmarket food store. Good food and great desserts at Sydney prices.

Zinc (02) 9358 6777, 77 Macleay St, Potts Point