From boozy brunches to banquet dinners, book your spot at the best Middle Eastern restaurants in Sydney.
Trends in Sydney’s food scene come and go, but some have a lasting impact. Lately, Middle Eastern cuisine is taking centre stage with a wave of new venue openings championing the best of Middle Eastern eats. So, we thought we’d give you a handy guide to the best Middle Eastern restaurants in Sydney.
Sahtein, The Rocks
Lebanese dining finds a new home in The Rocks with Sahtein, bringing a generous, share-style approach to one of Sydney’s most historic precincts. Led by Executive Chef Mike Flood—whose resume spans Felix Bistro & Bar, Firedoor, Quay and London heavyweights Petrus and Maze by Gordon Ramsay—alongside Head Chef Rifat Katranci, the menu champions Lebanese flavours with confidence and restraint. Sahtein prioritises warmth over embellishment. Expect breads, dips and pickles designed to linger on the table, vibrant cold and hot mezze, and woodfire grill dishes that favour balance over excess—think lamb kafta, falafel, kibbeh nayeh and a signature slow-cooked lamb neck made for sharing. It’s Lebanese hospitality at its most inviting, grounded in tradition and delivered with effortless ease, right in The Rocks.
AALIA, CBD
AALIA has an Arabian soul that embodies refined Middle Eastern food in another light compared to ESCA Group’s sister restaurant, Nour. Executive Chef Paul Farag has a wealth of experience which has led him to detail the finest techniques on the menu at AALIA. The cocktail menu includes ingredients from the kitchen such as halva, turmeric and tamarind to complement the restaurant’s dishes. Find out more here.
BYBLOS, Bondi
Built off a passion for food, Byblos Lebanese Cuisine brings you authentic Lebanese food and a fun atmosphere in the heart of Bondi. Taking inspiration from the vibrant streets of Beirut, the menu is centred around local produce, robust spices and delicate herbs. Dine in or takeout, Byblos has a massive menu to choose from. Find out more here.
Taste of Turkey, Newtown
Found on the busy food strip of Newtown, Enmore Road. This casual spot has a lively ambience, barely any free tables and delicious traditional Turkish food. The menu is carefully crafted to showcase the best traditional Turkish cuisine, using only the freshest ingredients and time-honoured cooking techniques, from mezze and Turkish sausage to carrot baklava and Trileçe. Find out more.
Baharat, Barangaroo
Be transported to the bustling streets of Istanbul at Baharat. Group Executive Chef, Arman Uz, has curated a menu filled with snacks, heartier meals and delicious shared plates that are bursting with flavour. Indulge in traditional Turkish street food like crispy and flavourful pides and lahmacun topped with meats, veggies, herbs, and spices. Find out more here.
Shaffa, Surry Hills
Shaffa replicates the ambience of a Middle Eastern marketplace, right in the heart of Sydney’s inner city. You can watch the chefs cook over coal in the open kitchen, while they prepare a Middle Eastern feast. Find out more here.
Meze Potamia, Redfern
Bringing the rich culinary traditions of Mesopotamia to Sydney, Meze Potamia is a love letter to one of the world’s oldest civilizations. Originally opened in Leichhardt during the pandemic, this Turkish and Middle Eastern eatery has now found a new home in Redfern, continuing its journey of celebrating heritage and flavour. The menu is a reflection of time-honoured recipes, showcasing bold spices, slow-cooked meats, and vibrant meze plates, all served with warm hospitality. Inspired by the ancient marvels of Göbekli Tepe. Find out more here.
Maydonaz, CBD
Maydonaz offers a new genre of plat-predominant dining featuring an all-Turkish menu. It is inspired by the vegetable-drive fare from the Aegean Turkish coast where meat is the side-act to the main event. From the team behind Anason & Tombik, expect big things. Find out more here.
Babylon Rooftop, CBD
A list of Sydney’s best Middle Eastern restaurants wouldn’t be complete without the expansive restaurant and bar Babylon, located on Westfield Sydney’s coveted rooftop. This restaurant boasts two large bars, a wood-fired kitchen, indoor and outdoor seating, a large outdoor terrace, plus multiple private and semi-private dining spaces. As for the menu, expect dishes inspired by the flavourful Levantine cuisine of the Middle East and Eastern Mediterranean. Find out more here.
Café Levant, Greenacre
Bringing a taste of the Levant to Sydney’s west, Café Levant is a family-run spot celebrating the rich heritage of Jordan, Lebanon, Syria, and Palestine. Once a milk bar, the space now serves as a love letter to Middle Eastern culture, blending tradition with modern hospitality. Owned by Jinan Afiouny Ammoura and her family, the café’s menu is a nod to their upbringing, featuring dishes like Batata Wa Bayd (potato & eggs), savoury Kaak flatbread toasties, and the Sultan’s Board for two. Every bite is infused with nostalgia, from Lebanese za’atar to Arabic tahini. Find out more here.
Ezra, Potts Point
Ezra takes inspiration from the vibrant dining scene of Tel Aviv on Israel’s Mediterranean Coast, finding its home in a revived townhouse in the backstreets of Potts Point. The menu brings together a diverse range of flavours spanning Ashkenazi, Mediterranean and Middle Eastern Flavours, all infused with a uniquely Sydney touch. Find out more here
Henrietta, Surry Hills
Henrietta is a Middle Eastern-inspired charcoal chicken eatery in the heart of Surry Hills. As you’d expect, the hero of Henrietta’s menu is free-range charcoal chicken, infused with Middle Eastern flavours. Grab a whole or half charcoal chicken and enjoy a selection of flavourful sides, including house-made hummus, tabbouleh and fattoush salads. Find out more here
IZGARA, CBD
The infamous above Par has become IZGARA. After a short-lived stint on Baywater’s road. Co-owner and chef Efe Topuzlu reignited the flame after the effects of COVID and brought back the Turkish eatery. Izgara means grill in Turkish, and the grill here is the centrepiece of the main menu, serving delicious street food-style dishes like chargrilled peppers and lamb kofte. Find out more here
Sefa, Bondi
Sefa, a Middle Eastern haven in Sydney, was established by Utku Ayhan, a restaurateur hailing from Istanbul. Sefa has earned its reputation as a go-to spot for ancient Levantine flavours, a culinary trove from the Middle East. The menu is hearty, with a combination of traditional foods containing legumes, grains, spices and dairy. Eat your way through slow-cooked lamb, dish and flavourful spiced chicken. Complementing this are an assortment of North African dips, house-made pickles and other produce harvested from Sefa’s very own garden. Find out more here
Anason, Barangaroo
Inspired by traditional Turkish “Meyhanes,” Anason brings a slice of coastal Türkiye to the heart of the city. Stop by during the week for a relaxed waterside lunch, or in the evening for date night – We tried their honey-drizzled halloumi, delectable roast chicken perfectly garnished with yoghurt and pickles, and the unforgettable clay pot Manti. The menu is perfect for sharing, and the staff are both friendly and inviting. After dinner have a traditional Turkish tea and try their mouth-watering desserts to round it all off. Find out more here.
Jimmys Falafel, CBD
Jimmys Falafels, Merivale’s Middle Eastern eatery, bar and takeout joint on George Street. The spot is led by Head Chef Simon Zalloua’s, formerly from The Collaroy and Rockpool. The menu draws from the cuisines and cultures of Egypt, Israel and Lebanon. Jimmys offers some of the best pittas and mouth-watering harissa spiced fries until 2am, Thursday – Saturday. Find out more here
Nour, Surry Hills
Looking for a Middle Eastern menu that doesn’t play by the rules? Head to Surry Hills’ Nour restaurant to find just that. This Lebanese-inspired menu takes classic dishes and reinvents them with a creative touch, delivering an unrestricted approach to food and cocktails that are vibrant, bold and oh-so-delicious. Find out more here
Tayim, The Rocks
Located just a quick stroll from the harbour, on the narrow sandstone-lined Nurses Walk. Tayim is one of Sydney’s best Middle Eastern restaurants. With a menu that spans Middle Eastern cuisine, and Israeli fare while using sustainable Australian produce. Most of the beautifully elegant food is cooked on a two-metre barbeque that’s central to the main dining room. Find out more here
Emma’s Snack Bar, Enmore
Popular with the locals of Enmore and Stanmore. Emma’s snack bar serves traditional Lebanese dishes such as kibbeh nayeh: a raw, minced lamb dish and sambusak: half-moon pastries with minced meat. Eat in or takeout and enjoy a casual style menu with ” TV dinner ” options like the lamb box: grilled lamb skewer, salad, hummus, hand-cut garlic potato & bread. Bring your favourite bottle of wine or stay on the soft drinks and enjoy the family-style restaurant, with a side of chaos.
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