Bondi, Manly, and Circular Quay may be beautiful spots to get a great view of Sydney’s waterfronts, but they’re not exactly well kept secrets. Crowds of locals and tourists alike swarm to these super popular spots every weekend, making parking or finding a reservation a bit of a challenge – to put it lightly.

The good news is, however, that the Harbour City offers more waterfront venues than you can poke a stick at, and resident restaurants have banded together as part of a global initiative to stay top of mind for anyone looking to get a glimpse of the big blue. Better still, the co-op is undertaking the mammoth task of revitalising the no-brainers like Walsh Bay, Darling Harbour, King Street Wharf and Cockle Bay to offer a little something for everyone – not just the tourists taking happy snaps.

Known as the New Sydney Waterfront Co, the collective of more than a dozen restaurants spans from Darling Harbour to Pyrmont, King Street Wharf, Cockle Bay and Walsh Bay. And while there’s still plenty to come for areas like Darling Harbour – which is undergoing a major overhaul over the next few years – lesser frequented points like Jones Bay and White Bay are ready and raring to go right now.

Director Rachael Smith is excited by the challenge of rebranding the coastline around Sydney Harbour, and draws on her wealth of experience activating similar precinct co-ops around the world to bring the sparkle back to areas like Darling Harbour. 

Smith, a London native, tells delicious. “Circular Quay is always very impactful, you go past the Opera House and the Harbour Bridge – it’s got that ‘wow’ factor. However, there’s nothing stopping Sydney from having more than one postcard – that’s what we want to do with Darling Harbour. We want to see it doing more, it just needs to be championed a little bit.”

With the huge development pipeline coming to the area, as well as overhauled neighbours in Barangaroo and areas of the Rocks like the Campbell’s Store, the current and future potential for Darling Harbour is enough to sway even the most jaded Sydneysider. 

Related story: Everything you need to know about American Express delicious. Month Out in 2024

“What we want to reinforce is that the land around Sydney Harbour has always been a meeting place, for thousands of years. We’re just reminding people that the offering is expanding and becoming more exciting. We, and other bodies such as Destination NSW are trying to take people on that journey and the story of the change that’s happening there.”

And changes there are. The Darling Quarter precinct is virtually unrecognisable compared to 10 years ago. Dozens of restaurants have cropped up in lightning speed, and old faithful mega-clubs of misspent youth are on the fast track to adulthood with a million-dollar makeovers underway. 

If you haven’t hit the waterways recently, May is the perfect time to give it a crack thanks to a whole bunch of incredible American Express delicious. Month Out offers, which will give you the opportunity to visit an old favourite, or perhaps find a new haunt. Who knows, you might just like it?

Take advantage of offers by participating venues including 20 percent off all month at Sydney Seafood School, bespoke four-course dinners at BTWN by the fabulous W Hotel, or the vibrant Mecca Bah where you can get a taste of the Middle East with some very special discounts.

For the full list of The Sydney Waterfront Co head to the collective’s website here.

Related story: Drink in the views at these Sydney waterfront venues this American Express delicious. Month out