Sydney's top 50 BYO restaurants
Time Out's picks of the hottest restaurants in Sydney that let you bring your own.
A'Mews
Refined French with British touches amid the hustle and bustle of Glebe Point Rd. Corkage:$9 per bottle
Alchemy 731
It's buzzy, inexpensive, fairly straight bistro food. Corkage:Free, Tue-Thu
Almustafa
If you want something you won't find in every restaurant this side of Marrickville, order the chicken mansaf. Corkage:Free
Bathers' Pavilion
While the prices are up there with some of Sydney's more decorated restaurants, it's a popular choice with the locals. Corkage:$10 per person, Mon only
Balzac
Matt Kemp does the Franglais thing (mixing up French and British cuisine) better than anyone in town. Corkage:$12 per bottle
Bistrode
To some, Jeremy Strode's food may seem a little simple, but this stuff is real art on the plate. Corkage $10 per bottle Tue-Thu
Billy Kwong
It's crowded as hell every day of the week. Try the fried eggs with green onions and XO sauce. Corkage $8 per bottle
Bistro Ortolan
This sweet little restaurant gets plenty right with straight bistro food in stylish surrounds and smart service to boot. Corkage $10 per bottle
Blancmange
This is a great little local restaurant with inexpensive, creative food - it's somewhere you could probably afford more than once in a blue moon. Corkage $3.50 per person
Blue Eye Dragon
Go for the service as much as the food. The kooky Taiwanese mother and daughter team plate excellent pork dumplings. Corkage $3 per person
Cala Luna
This rustic Italian local on the north shore does excellent fried squid. Corkage $5 per bottle
Chinta
Drink a Tiger beer, eat the beef rendang and marvel at the obese laughing buddha taking pride of place in the middle of the room. Corkage $10 per bottle
Corinthian Rotisserie
Feeling bold? Order sheep's head - it's all about pulling the well-done brains and eyeballs out of a skull that still has teeth. Corkage $2.50 per person
Codfather
Interesting takes on surf'n'turf and hand-drawn piscine placemats make it a winner. Corkage $3 per person
The Cook's Larder
Their cakes are the go, as are their sandwiches. It's the best place to go straight after a swim at Avalon beach. Corkage $2 per person
Claude's
Stunning French food in a tiny Woollahra dining space. Corkage $20 per bottle
Darbar
Excellent Indian eats on the old Darling Mills site. Corkage $3 per person
Din Tai Fung
The secret of these world-class soup-filled dumplings is in the solid stock that melts when the dumplings are steamed. Corkage $5 per person
Eiger Swiss
It's a weird restaurant but if you're crazy for Swiss food it's well worth a look - especially for the fondue. Corkage Free
Efendy
The restaurant has just had an overhaul and now includes an exceptional Turkish tapas menu. The baklava's worth a look, too. Corkage $5 per person
Fix St James
Fantastic fresh produce combined with skilled chefs equals bonza food. Corkage $15 per bottle
Fish Face
Steve Hodges is some kind of fish genius. You couldn't get a bad piece of seafood here if you tried. Corkage $10 per bottle
Il Barretto
It's about the atmosphere and casual vibe as much as the duck ragu, here. Corkage $2 per person
Il Piave
Rozelle and Balmain have their fair share of Italian restaurants, but this one's a cut above. Corkage $8 per bottle
Jaspers
Martin Stacey (ex Glass) is heading up the kitchen in this Hunters Hill fave, dishing up the likes of twice-cooked pork belly and fried zucchini flowers. Corkage $7 per person
Kaiser Stub'n
Could this be Sydney's best schnitzel? We reckon it is. Their spinach dumplings are fantastic too. Corkage $8 per bottle
La Disfida
An authentic experience down to the stern Italian mama serving you. No self-respecting pizzeria is without one. Corkage $2.50 per bottle
La Locanda
It's a sweet little restaurant right in the heart of Bronte and a great place to go for an easy, local meal if this is your 'hood. Corkage $3
Love Supreme
It's always busy (don't go if you're in a mad rush) and extremely fun. The long marble table at the back is great for big parties. Corkage $2.50 per person
Macleay Street Bistro
Sit outside if it's a nice evening and take in the scenery (you'll see a lot of people holding handbag dogs). Corkage $7 per bottle
Mrs Top
Regular French evenings including Bouillabaisse night and chateaubriand night make this northside local a cracker. Corkage $3.50 per bottle
Maitre Karl
Go for the tarte flambe with soft, sweet onions and stay for the snails. Corkage $8 per bottle
Marque
Mark Best dabbles in the molecular dark arts but for the most part his menu is classic French that oozes sophistication. With stunning wine list and smart service, this is one to be reckoned with. Corkage $30 per bottle
Nilgiri's
The menu trips all over India with regular specials including some great goat dishes. Corkage $6 per bottle
Oscillate Wildly
Chef Dan Puskas may have left the building but he's been replaced with Est. chef Karl Firla. Check it out. Corkage $3 per person
Perama
It's the baklava ice cream and spoon sweets that keep us coming back to this Petersham Greek. Corkage $5 per bottle
Pomegranate
Fantastic Thai desserts. We're loving the pork belly with Siamese watercress. Corkage $3 per person
Red Chili 2
At this new branch of RC, the space lives up to the food, featuring plenty of the old favourites as well as a brand new set of dishes. Corkage $2 per person
Rossopomodoro
Watch the ships from one of the outside seats or sit inside a with one of their superlative pizze. Corkage Free
Sapporo
North Sydney never looked so good for raw fish. Not only is their sushi and sashimi top notch, but they also broadcast live sumo wrestling in the restaurant, so it's give and give. Corkage $5.50 per bottle
Silvas
Fantastic Portuguese for very few dollars. Eat their chicken, eat their chips. Corkage $2.50 per person
Shanghai Night
Our favourites are the salty, salty shallot pancakes and the pot sticker dumplings. Corkage Free
South
Eat the ribs and the pulled pork sambo. You could potentially get away with eating very well for not very much money. Corkage Free
Spice I Am
If you like your Thai food authentic, spicy and tasty as the day is long, you've come to the right neck of the woods. Corkage Free
Strangers with Candy
It's cosy and buzzing with table chatter. It's hard not to feel at home here under the plastic roof of the courtyard out back. Corkage $2.50 per person
Temasek
For some of the most authentic Malaysian out of Malaysia, head to Parramatta. Fantastic nasi lemak and chicken rice to be had here. Corkage $1.50 per person
Tetsuya's
If you're into your food or love the idea of being oohed, aahed and wowed through 12 courses, you've come to the right place. Corkage $25 per bottle
Tran's
Try the ban xiao (Vietnamese pancake filled with pork, prawns and fresh herbs). Corkage $2 per person
Uchi Lounge
The food's fairly priced and it's plenty of fun on a Friday night if you've got yourself a posse. Corkage $3 per person
