The 90s-meets-now plates at this neighbourhood fine diner in a leafy backstreet in Paddington will make you wish you were a local. Chef Phil Wood (of Rockpool and Eleven Bridge fame) has created a refined menu with enough accessibility for locals to keep returning, like a Moreton Bay bug pasta drenched in crustacean butter, or a roast Bannockburn chook with creamed corn and kombu butter. The salmon carpet and chatty service dial the charm up to an eleven. 92 Hargrave Street; ursulas.com.au

There’s nothing like sinking into a velvet banquette with a big glass of red and settling in for a night of comforting flavours. The Gidley’s smoked mussels bobbing in a buttermilk sauce flecked with maple bacon jam is the perfect launchpad for the meaty good times ahead. This is a grand American-style steakhouse after all, from the team behind fellow subterranean eatery, Bistecca. The rib-eye on the bone, chargrilled over ironbark and charcoal, is a thing of beauty, best teamed with the truffle mushroom butter and tatas. 161 King Street, Sydney; thegidley.com.au

Locals know it as ‘Sean’s’ but Sean Moran’s beachside eatery is as much a neighbourhood gem as it is a quintessential Sydney dining experience. Set across from Bondi’s world famous breaks, Sean’s has been getting the small stuff right since opening in 1993 – we’re talking a three course prix fixe that embodies the farm-to-table experience: think local prawns spiked with ginger and shallot, house-made pastas, and ethical, free-range chook with brown rice stuffing and seasonal sides. 270 Campbell Parade, North Bondi; seansbondi.com

Boasting the largest kaiseki (multi-course) dining room in Australia alongside private teppanyaki rooms, this luxe Japanese fine diner fuses traditional flavours with French flair – plus plenty of bells and whistles along the way. Take the Tasmanian lobster with beurre blanc and emulsified egg yolk, for instance, which sits next to a perfectly wobbly chawanmushi (egg custard) pimped with black truffle, sea urchin and camembert cheese. For the purists, there’s sushi and sashimi on offer, alongside wagyu and a scorpio karaage. Level 3, 5/71 Macquarie Street, Sydney; oborozuki.com.au

Potts Point isn’t short on French restaurants, but Franca brings Parisian charm to Sydney’s little Paris via classics such as duck breast à l’orange, blushing pink and cut with bitter leaves; or a textbook chicken liver parfait. Franca’s footing in the classics doesn’t prevent it from having some fun, too, so cocktails like the rock’n thyme and pornstar gimlet keep things interesting. Shop 2/81 Macleay St, Potts Point; francabrasserie.com.au

Brent Savage’s pioneering plant-based fine diner changed the vegan lay of the land in a city weaned on meat and three veg. The wine list at Yellow is equally groundbreaking, curated by co-owner and sommelier Nick Hildebrandt. Expect artful dishes like parsnip tonkatsu, cashew and finger lime emerging from the pass, or a miso sweet potato croquette. Save room for dessert, which might include ‘popcorn’ with vanilla and salted caramel. 57 Macleay St, Potts Point; bentleyrestaurantgroup.com.au/yellow

A favourite of chefs and hospitality industry insiders, Pasi Petänen’s Newtown diner leans into Finnish, Italian and mod Australian flavours in dishes like potato dumplings and XO trout, rye tacos with ox tongue and sauerkraut, and sourdough pasta tangled with pear and pecorino. Strap in and enjoy the wild ride of flavours. 131 King St, Newtown; cafepaci.com.au From 28 April to 31 May 2023, American Express Card Members can savour more receiving up to $25 back per Card, via a 20% credit per transaction* when they save the exclusive offer to their eligible Card and spend at any of the 30,000+ participating businesses. Limited to the first 75,000 Cards to save the offer. *Exclusions, T&Cs apply. To explore the full list of participating businesses, visit amex.com.au/delicious This article was made possible by American Express, in collaboration with delicious.