Sydney Food Trends 2025: Favourites from the Year that Was and Predictions for the Year to Come
Sydney's food scene is better than ever and these are the food trends helping it thrive.
Like everything in life, food is prone to rise and fall in popularity in response to pop culture, fashion and innovation in technology and, frankly, we love to see it - it keeps us on our toes. Keeping things spicy, each year we see trends sweeping the Sydney food scene with restaurants, cafes and bars twisting, shaking and jazzing up their interpretations of trending ingredients and dishes. And with Sydney's food scene buzzing more than ever, there's never been a better time to get out and sample your way through. Tantalised? Read on for the Sydney food trends that took over in 2024.
Deli & Breakfast Plates
A variation on the popular 'girl dinner' trend, deli plates offer up a little bit of everything. Think cheese, chutneys, bread, jammy eggs, olives and dips - all the good stuff. Perfect when you're not sure what you fancy!
Where to get it: Superfreak in Marrickville and Ken's Continental in Rushcutters Bay are both nailing this trend with their breakfast plates whilst Norma's in Manly offers a Greek take. If you're in the CBD head to newly opened Tessuto.
Mini Martinis (and Mini Cocktails)
Gone are the days of excess and more, more, more. The discerning Sydneysider has displayed a penchant for top-quality ingredients in reduced portion sizes. This also seems to have transferred to the arena of beverages with mini cocktails a popular item. For anyone driving or looking to lower their alcohol consumption, it's a great option. They're also a fraction of the price and look cute to boot.
Where to get it: Head to Folly's Bar & Bistro where you can score three different flavours of mini martinis at $12 a pop. They've got dry martinis, dirty martinis and Gibson martinis ready and waiting.
Fish Sandwiches
Very British, very comforting, this trend is a big hug in carb/protein form. Preferably served with fluffy white bread, lightly battered white fish and a citrusy aioli. We love to see fish making its way mainstream!
Where to get it: King Clarence have put an Asian spin on the trend with their fish finger bao. Secure a more traditional iteration at Bar Copains. Love, Tilly Devine also does a delish sardine version.
Nostalgic Bites
Nostalgia is a powerful force and when it's combined with food...well, we've got no chance of resisting. We're loving rediscovering childhood classics whether via ingredient or dish.
Where to get it: Teddy in Pott's Point is geared around the concept. We love the king prawn cocktail which is retro at its finest.
Unique Bread and Butter Options
Bread and butter has long been a pre-dinner staple but 2024 has seen an explosion in bread and butter combos. Some of our favourites have been Longshore's beer bread and White Horse's fermented honey butter.
Where to get it: Well, well, well. It's more of a question of where can't you get it. If you're looking for the best try our edit of restaurant bread here and restaurant butter here.
Sorbet
Hear us out. We're not talking about any old sorbet. We're talking about seasonal flavours served up as a refreshing alternative to a full-scale dessert. Whether drizzled in olive oil or served straight up, we love the simplicity here.
Where to get it: Percy's lemon sorbet and olive oil is the perfect finisher to their Spanish wine list and tapas. Neptune's Grotto is also serving up seasonal takes.
Tiramisu
Tiramisu was likely your least favourite dessert as a child but it's back on the scene and our developed palates are ready this time. Translated as 'pick me up' this sweet and creamy dessert does just that. But it's not just the traditional tiramisu that is thriving in Sydney in 2024 - there are a few twists floating around on this classic and - call us controversial - they may just be better than the real thing. Lemon tiramisu, we're looking at you.
Where to get it: If you're all for traditional with a flair for the dramatic, head to a'Mare where they'll serve your tiramisu tableside, straight from the tray. If it's citrus you're after, Bobby's in Cronulla and Nico in Cammeray have you covered.
If you loved this edit of food trends in Sydney and are keen to start sampling some of the best restaurants in town, be sure to check out our edits of the best pasta in Sydney and the best restaurants in the CBD.
