Where to eat in The Rocks, Sydney

 

We were staying at the Shangri la Hotel on Cumberland Street in the Rocks area of Sydney, all these restaurants and bars were within walking distance of the hotel.

All the restaurants & bars that we visited were laid back and casual in true Australian style, most had indoor & outdoor seating.

We found that on Thursday – Saturday the bars get really busy so it’s best to book ahead.
The menus change through the seasons so you may find other choices offered.

The Glenmore – Cumberland Street, The Rocks:
The menu has traditional dishes alongside plant based modern choices.

We recommend the Chicken Schnitzel with crispy crumb on the outside and soft juicy chicken in the middle, it came with Potato Salad & a salad garnish, but you can have fries with it.

If you just fancy a snack to go with your drink try a bowl of chips from the sides menu, they were the best we tasted!

The bar is set over several floors & also has a roof terrace with views over Sydney Harbour.

Australian Heritage bar – Cumberland Street, The Rocks:
This bar is well known for its pizzas and with good reason, they are the amazing!

Toppings include Saltwater Crocodile or Pepper Kangaroo for the more adventurous!

The menu also has a good range of traditional pub classics.
Our recommendations are The Steak Pie, which was homemade, full of meat & delicious!

The Black Angus Striploin was the tastiest & most tender steak I have eaten in a long time!

My favourite pizza was the Garlic Prawn but the Prosciutto one came a very close second!

Harts Pub – on the corner of Essex & Gloucester Street, The Rocks.
The pub is proud of its craft beer scene and only serves independent Australian owned beer on tap.
There is a good range of dishes on the menu, but the Grilled Barramundi is not to be missed!

Munich Brauhaus is a German Bierkeller on the corner of Playfair and Argyle Street, The Rocks.
As you would expect from a bierkeller it is a lively bar with music, steins, good food and a busy atmosphere.
The menu showcases many German dishes, we can recommend the Crispy Pork Knuckle which comes with creamy mash potato, sauerkraut, apple compote & beer jus and the Crackling Pork Belly which comes with the same sides and red cabbage.
Both were delicious but be warned, the portions are large!!

The Mercantile Hotel is an Irish pub on George Street, the Rocks weekend market lines the road outside the pub on Saturday & Sunday which makes it a really lively place to be….artisan market stalls, music outside the bar & good food!
We found the best Fish & Chips here and the homemade Chicken Curry was fabulous!

Zia Pina Pizzeria on George Street, The Rocks:
This is a quaint Italian restaurant with indoor & outdoor seating, it gets busy quite quickly so it’s best to book if you are planning to visit at busy times.
The Fettuccine Boscaiola was a great choice, highly recommended!
We also tried the Calzone, Lasagne & the Garlic Pizza Bread, all of which were delicious.

Breakfast
If you are looking for a reasonably priced breakfast, you should try the City Extra café in Circular Quay. The Scrambled Egg with Cheese on the most delicious grain toast was the best I’ve ever tasted! A simple dish but so easy to get wrong! This was presented really well, a large portion and very enjoyable.
The café is open 24hrs 365 days!

Harry Café de Wheels, Darling Harbour:
The original Harry’s can be found in Woolloomooloo, essentially a snack van but with a difference. Harry’s has been serving up pies & hot dogs here since the 1930’s when it served the naval yard. It was closed whilst Harry served in WW2 and reopened on his return in 1945. It can boast many a famous face stopping by to try the pies!

 

It has become an Australian icon and a must do. It has a fascinating history and although Harry sold it in 1975 it remains an icon to this day.
There are Harry’s in various locations now.
We just had to try the Tiger Pie which is a pie of your choice topped with mashed potato which is topped with mushy peas, the back of a spoon is pushed down on top & gravy is poured into the indentation.

Drinks:
We can recommend the following venues that we tried for drinks, but they also have a good choice of dishes on their food menus:

The Opera Bar on Macquarie Street, Circular Quay has the most spectacular view of the Sydney Harbour Bridge and Opera House. There is an abundance of seating outside & inside. There was often live music on the terrace. This is a great place to chill and soak up the amazing surroundings.

The Museum of Contemporary Art (MCA) on George Street, The Rocks has a rooftop café bar with amazing views of the harbour!

Endeavour Tap Rooms on Argyle Street, The Rocks is a microbrewery with an array of artisan beers, well worth a visit!

Fine Dining – is expensive in Sydney but if you are looking for a special night out and a chance to wear your best togs The Altitude Restaurant on the 36th floor of the Shangri la Hotel on Cumberland Street in The Rocks can be recommended. Its elevated location provides stunning panoramic views of the Sydney Harbour Bridge, the Opera House and Darling Harbour.
The Silver Globetrotters had the enviable experience of dining in the Altitude as guests of the Management, where our taste buds were excited by:
Starters:
Tempura Prawns with daikon, citrus mayonnaise, curry syrup, eschalot & sesame seeds

63-degree Duck Egg with cheese foam, white asparagus, roasted almonds & puffed grains

Black Focaccia

Mains:
Pan Fried Barramundi with roasted cauliflower, turnip, black garlic, macadamia nuts, lemon aspen, bottarga & sea herbs

Glass Crackling Pork Belly with foie gras, pickle rosella, grilled spring onions, fennel, anise myrtle & five spice sauce.

All the dishes we tasted were extremely well presented with impressive use of flavours resulting in a truly enjoyable culinary experience. A night to remember!

Whatever your preference there is something to suit all tastes in the Rocks!

You can read more about our trip Down Under in my other blogs:

Exploring Sydney CBD – half day

Getting Around in Sydney

On the Road Again – Kiama Blowholes NSW

Whale Watching in Sydney

On the Road Again – Down Under

On the Road Again – at the Shangri la Hotel

Chinese Garden of Friendship

One for the Motorsport fans: Bathurst 1000 at Mount Panorama

 

 

 

 

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