At The Lux Traveller, we are always on the lookout for standout dining experiences—and occasionally, we stumble upon a gem that lingers in our memory long after the last bite. Here we’d like to share some of our favourites with you, to make your search for a perfect meal easier.

1. Best Japanese Fusion Restaurant – Itō Surry Hills

I visited Itō on a recent Sydney staycation, and to say the experience was memorable would be an understatement. This stylish, two-level venue on Crown Street is unlike anything else in the city—a modern izakaya meets Italian trattoria, where each dish feels like a love letter to both cultures.

Italian-born Head Chef Erik Ortolani has crafted something extraordinary here. After years spent mastering Japanese techniques, including five years at Sydney’s famed Cho Cho San, he now fuses his passions in a way that feels effortless and completely original.

The highlight of my visit? A dish I still dream about—the signature Ravioli with Japanese dashi broth. Delicate parcels of handmade pasta, filled with silky ricotta, float gently in a clear, umami-rich broth infused with yuzu. It’s the kind of dish that silences a table. Complex yet comforting, simple yet sophisticated, it captures the heart of what Itō is all about.

Other standouts include the tuna crudo with burrata and the charcoal-grilled prawns, each dish playful but precise, never overcomplicated. The ambience is equally special—minimalist design with just the right dose of warmth and hospitality.

Itō is open for dinner seven nights a week and offers lunch Wednesday to Sunday. If you’re after an extraordinary dining experience that feels both familiar and completely new, this is the place.

The Lux Traveller loves: The ravioli—truly one of the most unforgettable dishes in Sydney.

2. Best Middle Eastern Restaurant – NOUR  

Sydney’s dining scene is rich with global influences, but every now and then, a restaurant comes along that reshapes your understanding of a cuisine you thought you knew. Nour is exactly that—a refined take on Middle Eastern dining that stays true to its roots while boldly rewriting the script.

On a recent visit to Surry Hills, I finally experienced Nour for myself, and it’s safe to say the flavours have stayed with me. The space is beautiful—soft, sun-drenched interiors, blush tones, and understated elegance—but it’s the food that leaves a lasting impression.

The menu is a playful yet respectful reinterpretation of Lebanese classics. Each dish bursts with flavour, yet nothing feels heavy or overdone. My personal standout? The Prawn Shish Barak Fatteh—delicate dumplings filled with sweet prawns, nestled in a rich yoghurt sauce with burnt butter and pine nuts. It’s the kind of dish you can’t stop thinking about days later.

The Samke Harra, a whole snapper baked with tahini, chilli, and coriander, was another highlight—perfectly balanced, fragrant, and tender to the last bite. And for those who love to start their day with something decadent, Nour’s weekend brunch is unmissable. Their take on Baalbek fried eggs, served with lamb awarma and saj flatbread, is pure comfort elevated to something memorable.

Whether you visit for a long, indulgent lunch or an evening of shared plates and Lebanese-inspired cocktails, Nour delivers an experience that feels both contemporary and soulful. It’s a celebration of tradition, but with a modern Sydney twist.

The Lux Traveller loves: The prawn fatteh—truly the dish you’ll come back for.

3. Olympus – The Best Greek Restaurant in Sydney

Last night we discovered what we’re calling Sydney’s best Greek restaurant – Olympus – and it’s hard to imagine a more perfect evening.

Tucked away in the new Wunderlich Lane precinct at the crossroads of Redfern and Surry Hills, Olympus hums with life from the moment you step in. The atmosphere is electric – the kind of place that’s already on every fashionable Sydneysider’s radar. Every table was full, conversations spilling into laughter, the air filled with the aromas of wood-fired cooking and the clink of wine glasses.

The space itself is beautiful – a modern interpretation of a Greek village taverna. Beneath a glass canopy, a 50-year-old bougainvillea blooms with neon-pink flowers, anchoring the courtyard with an effortless sense of romance. Inside, warm limestone tones, soft lighting, and handcrafted touches create an understated but theatrical backdrop.

Olympus’ wine list is a dream for lovers of Greek wines, it features both classic varieties and modern producers who are redefining Greek winemaking.

Head Chef Ozge Kalvo’s menu takes the heart of Greek village cooking and gives it a fresh, contemporary twist. We began with a bubbling dish of melted Saganaki cheese – my personal favourite – before moving to an excellent spanakopita with perfectly flaky pastry. The slow-cooked lamb was the star, melting in the mouth and deeply infused with smoky, wood-fired flavour. A classic Greek salad brought brightness and crunch to the table, and the desserts were nothing short of superb – the kind that make you wish you had room for just one more bite.

It’s rare to find a restaurant that gets everything right from day one, but Olympus delivers – from the warm service to the buzzing atmosphere, the exceptional wine list to the modern yet soulful food. Sydney has no shortage of Greek restaurants, but Olympus has set a new standard.

If you’re looking for the best Greek dining experience in the city, make a booking now – and don’t be surprised if it becomes your new favourite too.

The Lux Traveller loves: the vibey atmosphere, creative cocktails, standout Greek wines and authentic village-style dishes reimagined with a fresh twist.

4. Pilu at Freshwater – A Sardinian Escape on Sydney’s Northern Beaches

Some dining experiences become instant memories. For me, one of those moments happened at Pilu at Freshwater, where lunch somehow turned into an entire afternoon—one spent savouring Sardinian flavours while gazing over the gentle curve of Freshwater Beach.

Set in a beautiful heritage cottage overlooking the ocean, Pilu offers something very few Sydney restaurants can: the feeling of being transported somewhere else entirely. The sound of the waves, the salt in the air, the linen-draped tables—it all sets the stage for a meal that is both refined and deeply comforting.

At the helm is Chef Giovanni Pilu, whose passion for his homeland shines through in every dish. Pilu doesn’t serve the typical Italian fare you’ll find elsewhere in Sydney. Instead, he celebrates the bold, rustic flavours of Sardinia. His signature porceddu—slow-roasted suckling pig with crackling so delicate it shatters at the touch of a fork—is reason alone to visit. But there’s so much more.

I was captivated by the culurgiones, Sardinian-style ravioli filled with ricotta and mint, drizzled with olive oil and pecorino cream. Another standout was the Moreton Bay bug fregola, a clever nod to coastal Australia blended seamlessly with Pilu’s Sardinian roots.

The wine list is equally thoughtful, with crisp Vermentino and bold Cannonau reds curated to pair perfectly with the menu. And the service? Flawless yet relaxed, just as it should be when dining by the sea.

Pilu at Freshwater is not just a meal—it’s an escape. For those seeking a taste of Italy’s island life without leaving Sydney, this is a destination you’ll want to return to again and again.

The Lux Traveller loves: Long lunches that drift into sunset, with porceddu on the table and the ocean as your backdrop.