Darling Harbour's Top 10 Seafood Restaurants

If you can’t choose between lobster and oysters, why should you? Instead, go for Nick’s seafood platter, a $205 masterpiece that features a mountain of freshly shucked Sydney rock oysters, king prawns, blue swimmer crab, fresh lobster and much, much more. Do yourself a favour, grab a seat out front with panoramic harbour views and have your lobster cooked in garlic butter for an extra $25.

Cyren’s is a bar, grill and Sydney seafood restaurant serving fresh local produce simply in a relaxed harbourfront dining room. Their menu is full of elegant seafood feasts, but for us the highlight is a simple fish - scallops seared until golden then served in the shell with creamed leek and preserved lemon. Add an Aperol Spritz and a sunset and you’ve got the perfect afternoon lined up.

Planar is one of Sydney’s best waterfront restaurants, with an expansive, sun-drenched outdoor dining area and an epic cocktail list. For the ultimate luxury seafood experience, order a one metre long lobster stone-fired pizza, featuring a punchy tomato sauce, stringy mozzarella, chilli, garlic and, of course, super-fresh marinated lobster.

Fancy an ice cold drink, stunning views and seafood pulled fresh from the harbour? Helm Bar should be your first stop. This popular harbourfront bar is a great spot to unwind after work, pouring frosty beers and serving a half lobster paired with a beautiful beurre blanc sauce for less than $50. How good is that?

The Hyatt Regency is located on Sussex street, an area known for producing the bulk of Sydney’s sails in the early 1800s. The hotel’s restaurant Sailmaker pays homage to that history, both with its name and its luxurious seafood dishes.

Their table deals are all must-trys, especially the Sailmaker Signature Seafood Table Lunch with free-flowing sparkling wine for two hours. Or if you’re around over the long weekend, book their Easter Saturday dinner or Easter Sunday Lunch, featuring the freshest seafood and decadent Easter themed desserts.

Blue Fish used to be a tiny little cafe where owner Glen served up the freshest, most sustainable seafood he could find. Now, it’s one of Sydney’s best seafood restaurants - busy every day of the week. If you’re an oyster lover grab the marinated oyster platter, which features 40 marinated oysters in five different flavours including caviar, daikon & pear, nam jim, yuzu and fresh. Wash them down with a little organic prosecco and you’re golden.

Cafe Del Mar brings the sun soaked house music vibes of Ibiza to Darling Harbour, with local live DJs and an expansive outdoor terrace on the water’s edge. It’s a great place for a sundown cocktail and a late night dance, but it also happens to be one of Sydney’s best seafood restaurants.

Make sure you try their seafood tapas, including the incredible flash-fried calamari with saffron aioli and the mahi mahi ceviche.

Simulation Senpai is the brainchild of culinary mastermind, Chase Kojima, the executive chef of the hatted Sokyo at The Star (and former chef at a Nobu Group restaurant). He’s crafted a menu of authentic but elevated sashimi and chirashi boxes using the freshest treasures from the sea.

Our favourite is the Hosekibako sashimi box, which features 15 raw seafood cuts handpicked by Chase, which may include tuna, sea eggs, prawn and scallop. The seafood is elegantly presented with edible flowers, pickled ginger, premium wasabi and soy sauce.

Fish & Co. is a friendly little Haymarket restaurant that serves wild caught, sustainable seafood dishes. Knowing that you’re supporting local fishermen and not harming the environment makes their food taste even better.

We love their entire menu but our favourite dish has to be their moreish crispy squid tacos - fresh calamari cooked just right, wrapped in a soft tortilla with slaw, guacamole and chipotle mayo.

If you like seafood and hotpot, well, you’ll hit the jackpot at this popular Darling Square restaurant. They serve authentic Macau style hotpot with a huge choice of fresh, healthy ingredients and seven delectable broth flavours.

For the ultimate ocean feast, try their deluxe seafood platter in a lobster broth. It features a live lobster, live black lip abalone and six melt-in-your-mouth scallops.