Make going into the office the highlight of your week with lunches from $3.70, to a hefty muffuletta sandwich and a sashimi deal at a two hatted restaurant.
With the end of the school holidays comes, for many, the dreaded return to the office. But it’s not all doom and gloom. New Sydney CBD openings and some old favourites are plating up fresh lunch specials to put the pep back in your step. From al desko sandwiches to a hatted restaurant serving sashimi and fried chicken, here are some of our favourite lunch options in the city.
Aalia Wine Room
Good Food Guide 2025 Chef of the Year Paul Farag has opened a small, but sleek sibling bar next door to two-hatted Aalia. Perch on an iridescent stool in glass-enclosed space for modern Middle Eastern snacks and a glass of wine. On the lunch menu, there’s steak frites bolstered with “cafe de Cairo” butter for $35, humming with fenugreek and harissa. A classic cheeseburger is $28, and there’s a fish shawarma of Murray cod wing with toum, pickles, zaatar lettuce and fries for $32.
33/25 Martin Place, Sydney, aaliarestaurant.com/wine-room
A.P Quay
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When the unstoppable A.P Bakery opened in Circular Quay last year, the introduction of an exclusive rotisserie made it our new CBD lunch favourite. We love its hot sandwiches including the crunchy porchetta ($24) and its take on a cubano, the Midnight in Havana toastie ($19). But if you’re looking for a real feast, the new hot boxes are the way to go. Choose between roast pork belly ($25), chicken (from $22) and Japanese pumpkin ($20) to have with rotisserie-drip potatoes, cos and fennel salad, salsa verde, lemon and horseradish cream. If you’re feeling particularly indulgent, add brown butter gravy for $2.
50 Bridge Street, Sydney, apbakery.com.au/stores-locations#a-p-quay
Petit Loulou
The French are fierce protectors of the lunch break, and with so much deliciousness to try at Loulou, it’s easy to understand why. At its mini bakery outlet inside the Martin Place Metro entrance, Loulou’s “Oh La La Lunch” includes a baguette sandwich (our favourite is the classic ham and gruyere with house-made cultured butter), a salad such as Nicoise or Caesar, and bottle of Orangina for $15.
Metro Martin Place, Corner of Hunter and Elizabeth Streets, Sydney, loulou.sydney/petit-loulou-martin-place
King Clarence
Head chef of two-hatted King Clarence, Khanh Nguyen, is serving a luxurious tray of Japanese and Korean bites for $48. There’s a sashimi platter featuring shell-shaped tamagoyaki, a hefty serving of crunchy Korean fried chicken, miso soup and a tamago kake gohan with glistening, gooey egg yolk. Up the luxe-factor with the addition of oscietra caviar.
171 Clarence Street, Sydney, bentleyrestaurantgroup.com.au/kingclarence
Da Michele Sydney
Have an Eat Pray Love moment all in the span of your lunch break at this world-famous pizzeria made famous by the Julia Roberts-led romantic travelogue. The global brand opened its first Australian outpost in the CBD late last year, and the pizza here is strictly Neapolitan style: thin and chewy with a blistered crust. In the name of tradition (and budgets), we recommend sticking to the traditional margherita, topped simply with Italian tomatoes and fior di latte for $18.
50 Pitt Street, Sydney, damichele.com.au
Otogo
Last year, this serene onigiri spot brought its range of perfectly formed rice balls from Ultimo to the CBD. Enjoy onigiri such as classic tuna mayo and teriyaki duck, that start at $3.70 and are perfect for grab and go. If you have time, sit at the long blond wood table to enjoy soba noodles from $10.40, with toppings such as karaage chicken curry or spicy pork. If you want to try a bit of everything, check out its combo sets that start from $8.90.
GF/303 Pitt Street, Sydney, onigiri-to-go.com
Temu Kangen
The team behind the ever-popular Medan Ciak are adding a splash of its signature bright orange to Haymarket with this new store. The larger, bright space hosts a large bain marie, where various dishes with rice such as beef rendang start from $14.90. But you’ll need multiple trips to make your way through the extensive menu. We love the nasi gurih pandan bakar with fragrant pandan rice and your choice of protein, and the tower of aromatic turmeric rice in the nasi kuning served with ayam bakar ($19.90) or rendang ($21.90). Grab a box of verdant pandan-flavoured kuih lapis for dessert on your way out.
33 Ultimo Road, Haymarket, instagram.com/temukangensydney
Osteria Luna
The latest venue from the team behind The Charles Brasserie is a moody basement Italian joint. Luxurious ribbons of pasta might be the go at dinner, but at lunchtime Monday to Friday, wrap your hands around its substantial muffuletta sandwich. Layers of mortadella, salami, pepperoni, provolone, Sicilian olives, capers, roasted peppers and artichokes are packed to the rafters into panini bread. Dig your teeth into it for $25 with a glass of wine, beer or soft drink.
Basement, 8 King Street, Sydney, osterialuna.sydney
Bar Allora
The Maybe Sammy crew launched this all-day Italian joint late last year, and in the red-tiled dining room, you can sip on $1.50 espresso al banco at the bar, just like they do in Italy. The “Lunch Expresso” deal includes a serving of an antipasto and the main of the day for $25. It’s available from Tuesday to Friday from 12-2pm, and has recently included gnocchi alla Norma and chicken in porchetta with sauteed cavolo nero.
Corner of George and Bond Streets, Sydney, barallora.com.au
Isabel Cant – Isabel is a social media editor for Good Food. Prior to joining Good Food, Isabel worked as a freelance journalist. She was also previously a social media producer for Endemol Shine Australia, working on MasterChef Australia and Dessert Masters.
