A taste of Sydney

Fast facts

• As one of the world's most multicultural cities, Sydney has dining experiences that span the globe.
• A strong Asian influence, perfect seafood and a laid-back lifestyle give the city's food and wine culture a flavour all its own.
• A smattering of Italian-flavoured neighbourhoods offer the full range of regional delicacies.

Why go there

Sydney offers fans of good food and wine an unforgettable and unique experience. The cultural diversity brought by the city's recent Vietnamese, Thai and Middle Eastern residents is enviable. The city's Cantonese and Mediterranean roots are deep, sturdy, and reflected by flourishing communities with unique cultural identities.

Multicultural dining 

• Immerse yourself in the city's original Chinatown, then check out its newer Chinese centres at Hurstville, Chatswood and Parramatta.
• Visit Sydney's most vibrant Vietnamese neighbourhood in Cabramatta.
• Live la dolce vita among Sydney's Italian hubs at Leichhardt, Five Dock and Haberfield.
• Try kimchi and tabletop barbequing in Koreatown, or chilli-infused snack and colourful rice-flour sweets in Thaitown, pocket-sized districts in the city.
• Delve into authentic tastes of Greece in Marrickville, Portugal in Petersham, or Spain in the city's Spanish Quarter in Goulburn Street.

Don't miss

• The buzz of neo-Cantonese teahouse stylings at Surry Hills hotspot Billy Kwong.
• Chinatown's yum cha culture or seeing Sydney's chefs come out to play at late-night favourites like the Golden Century, East Ocean and BBQ King.
• A trip to Haberfield for great produce, fresh cheeses and peerless pastries by day and the State's best pizza by night.
• Stick-muddled cocktails and innovative Thai at the perennially-cool Longrain in Surry Hills
• A Gourmet Safari walking tour around Sydney where the focus is on food, meeting chefs and local suppliers or half day gourmet tour with Ultimately Sydney. 

Events

• GUSTO is the annual flagship event of the Council of Italian Restaurants in Australia every September at the Sydney Fish Market and Sydney's best Italian restaurants.
• The Sydney International Food Festival in October 2009.
• Chinese New Year in Chinatown (February).