Image credit: Macelleria
Sure, Sydney’s got some of the world’s top steak spots—the ones every tourist knows and every ‘best of’ lists names first. But sometimes, the real magic happens at the places that locals love.
From butcher restaurants where you pick your cut from the display to Italian stalwarts serving bistecca fireside, this is your insider’s list to the best-kept secrets and proof that Sydney’s steak scene cut deeper than the usual suspects.
Venues are listed in no particular order.
1. Amoretti's
Out in Abbotsbury and Narellan, Amoretti’s is where Italian family hospitality meets suburban steakhouse energy. Set amongst parklands and overlooking calm lake waters, this timber-lined gem has been packing out locals since opening—even scoring Most Outstanding Restaurant at the 2014 Fairfield City Local Business Awards less than a year after launching. The kitchen keeps it simple with locally sourced ingredients means your steak arrives without fuss but with serious flavour. The wood-oven pizzas and slow-cooked mains prove this kitchen knows its way around fire and quality meat, while the rustic courtyard setting makes it feel worlds away from your standard CBD steakhouse grind. It’s the kind of spot where you can bring the whole family, celebrate properly, and not stress about the bill.
Location: 745 Elizabeth Drive, Abbotsbury | Shop 1, 338 Camden Valley Way, Narellan
Hours: Tuesday and Wednesday 5:30 – 9pm;
Thursday to Sunday 11:30am – 2pm, 5:30 – 9pm
2. I'm Angus
Perched over Darling Harbour at Cockle Bay Wharf, I’m Angus has quietly become locals’ go-to for consistently excellent beef paired with those unbeatable harbour views. The focus is on exclusive Grainge grain-fed Angus alongside premium Reserve Australian Wagyu rump, all cooked with care and served in elegant contemporary interiors touched with opulent saffron and burgundy hues.
The lunch specials are genuinely good value and the alfresco dining lets you soak up the Sydney skyline without feeling like you’re in a tourist trap.
Location: The Promenade, Cockle Bay Wharf, Darling Harbour
Hours: Daily 11:30am-3pm; 5pm-10pm
3. Bistro Rex
Nestled in Potts Point, Bistro Rex does steak frites the way Paris intended—except with Australian Angus and a Mediterranean lightness you may not find at your typical French bistro. Chefs here have swapped heavy butter sauces for olive oil and citrusy dressings, creating a fresher, more contemporary take on bistro classics. That $39 steak frites features well-seasoned Angus sirloin served med-rare (or however you want it), pre-sliced and swimming in Café de Paris butter that’s golden, zesty perfection.
The copper-clad, honeycomb-tiled 120-seat space feels neighbourhood-friendly rather than stuffy, while the 240-strong French-focused wine list has exceptional by-the-glass options that won’t drain your wallet. There’s a reason the bistro does 300 steak frites weekly, easy.
Location: Shop 1, 50/58 Macleay St, Potts Point
Hours: Monday to Wednesday 5:30 – 10pm;
Thursday to Saturday 12 – 3pm, 5:30 – 11pm,
Sunday 12 – 8:30pm
4. Macellaria
“The butcher that cooks for you” isn’t just clever marketing—it’s what happens at Macellaria’s locations across Sydney.
Starting in Bondi and now spanning Newtown, Cronulla and beyond, owner Peter Zaidan created something genuinely unique: walk in, choose your MSA-grade beef (sourced from South Australia to Gippsland, hormone and antibiotic-free), and have it cooked to order while you wait. Alongside premium cuts like Tajima wagyu from Japan’s Hyogo prefecture, you’ll find killer burgers—the Mafioso with Parmigiano or the Vesuvio Pollo with crispy schnitzel prove this team knows how to do casual beef brilliantly. The Newtown spot on Enmore Road sits between neighbourhoods and delivers solid steak dining without the fuss or hefty price tag.
Location: 73-75 Enmore Rd, Newtown
Hours: Daily 12 – 10pm
5. El Corte
El Corte brings authentic Argentinian parrilla culture to the waterfront—and does it properly. The wood-fired parrilla grill is the heart of everything here, where chefs cook prime cuts of sustainably sourced Australian beef over flames alongside Argentinian classics like empanadas, provoleta, and house-made chimichurri.
What separates El Corte from standard steakhouses is that commitment to Argentina’s proud grilling traditions married with Australia’s exceptional beef quality. The smoky chorizo, juicy steaks and tender ribs all carry that irreplaceable open-fire flavour, while seasonal local produce keeps the menu dynamic and contemporary.
Location: Shop 2 C08, Ground Floor, ICC Sydney Darling Harbour
Hours: Daily 12 – 9:30pm
6. Blackbird Cafe
On the balcony level of Cockle Bay Wharf, Blackbird serves modern Australian fare with Darling Harbour twinkling below—and their grain-fed rib-eye and kangaroo steak rarely get the credit they deserve. What makes Blackbird a standout in the precinct is the commitment to quality local ingredients and proper cooking technique at reasonable prices. The express lunch specials (11:30am-5pm) with included house wine or beer are borderline steal territory for waterfront dining, while the weekend bottomless brunch and Saturday night DJ sessions are fire for great atmosphere.
The stonefire pizzas and burgers get all the love, but slip in for a properly cooked steak with harbour views and you’ll understand why locals keep this one quiet.
Location: Wheat Road Balcony Level 1, Cockle Bay Wharf Darling Harbour
Hours: Monday to Friday, and Sunday 9am – 9:30pm;
Saturday 9am – 10:30pm
7. Bistro Nido
Hidden in Regent Place near Town Hall, Bistro Nido brings French technique with Japanese precision to just 40 intimate seats. The name means “twice-cooked” in Japanese, signalling the extra care taken with every dish. Their steak frites features a 14-day dry-aged Wagyu tri tip or 28-day dry-aged 1.2kg rib eye on the bone, served with shoestring fries that hit perfectly. What makes this different from typical steakhouses is that Franco-Japanese fusion approach—think steak tartare with Japanese plum and red miso, or whole duck breast dry-aged for 14 days with pickled Kyoho grape.
The dark, sophisticated space feels more Parisian bistro than Sydney steakhouse, while the concise French-focused wine list keeps things approachable. It’s steak dining for people who appreciate technique, not just size.
Location: Shop 10.07/501 George St, Regent Place
Hours: Tuesday to Saturday 12 – 3pm & 5:30 – 9pm; Sunday 11am – 4pm
8. Hurricane's Grill
With locations from Bondi Beach to Circular Quay, Hurricane’s has been delivering succulent steaks and juicy ribs since 1995 using a family-secret basting sauce that’s remained unchanged for three decades. What makes Hurricane’s special is its fame for ribs, but the steak program is seriously just as good, featuring premium quality cuts basted in that signature sauce and cooked properly.
The Circular Quay location brings harbour views to the equation, while the Bondi original captures that beachside casual vibe that makes you forget you’re having a proper steak dinner. Portions are generous without being wasteful, and the service hits that sweet spot of friendly without hovering.
Multiple locations
Hours: Daily 12 – 3pm & 5 – 9:30pm;
Friday to Sunday 4 – 11pm
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