The second restaurant to throw open its doors in the new Wunderlich Lane precinct has come out swinging with one of Sydney’s most striking indoor-outdoor dining rooms. The domed ‘oculus’ that soars over Olympus, the new Greek restaurant from The Apollo team, opens up to the sky on fine days, all the better for picturing yourself in an Athenian square or small village plaza as you feast on woodfired legs of lamb, spanokopita and ouzo coladas under the bougainvillea in the Redfern sunshine. Wunderlich Lane, 2 Baptist St, Redfern; olympusdining.com.au

Just weeks after pivoting Chinese restaurant Song Bird into Italian fine-diner Gran Torino, Neil Perry’s Margaret Family group opened Bar Torino. Located in the former Bobbie’s site, the more casual Torino offering promises Italian-inspired cocktails and snacks, with new street seating for sunny afternoons. 24 Bay St, Double Bay; themargaretfamily.com

Sun-drenched terrace dining is always a good idea, and with the city skyline as your backdrop, this alfresco stunner is made for long lunches or sunset aperitivo. The menu by culinary director Joel Bickford champions carefully sourced produce, delivering simple, refined dishes that blend Australian provenance with a distinctly Mediterranean sensibility. Add a summer-ready cocktail list – think Sicilian and spicy watermelon margaritas, sparkling Palomas, The Lychee Club and The Bohemian – and you’ve got an outdoor dining favourite on repeat all season long. 37 Margaret St, Sydney NSW 2000; shellhouse.com.au

Sydney’s Greek restaurant boom got an aesthetic boost with the opening of Atki at Woolloomooloo Finger Wharf. The new pretty-in-pink venue from Sydney Restaurant Group takes up the space formerly inhabited by long-standing steak and seafood restaurant Manta, with the menu channeling a seaside Greek taverna with an Antipodean twist. 6 Cowper Street Wharf, Woolloomooloo; akti.com.au

Perched on the harbour with views to the bridge, you can tick off all the major harbourside landmarks over your rose jelly, pineapple and lime mocktail and wagyu bresaola with whipped ricotta. Sails is owned by the same crew behind Ormeggio on the Spit, Ripples and Aqua Dining, so they know how to get the sparkling waterfront vibe right. Everything is inside, but massive bifolding doors open and awnings pull back, so front row tables are open to the sky. 2 Henry Lawson Ave, McMahons Point; sailslavenderbay.com.

The opening of three-storey The International has transformed the plaza at 25 Martin Place, with the open-sided venue now spilling out into the fresh air. Snag a sunny yellow lounger on the piazza out front of The Wine Bar for a power lunch that may very well stretch into a sundowner, with pillowy pizzettes straight out of the imported Marana Forni pizza oven, topped with seasonal ingredients by head chef Gabriel Del Conti, paired with the 250-bottle-strong wine list and cocktails for days. Shop 805, Level 8, 25 Martin Place, Sydney; internationalsydney.com

The team behind Paddington’s Tequila Mockingbird brought fire-fuelled Argentinian dining to Balmain earlier this year with Casa Esquina. The refurbed corner building is so beautiful – with open-flame cooking in the central kitchen – it’s hard to resist sitting inside. But outside, the generous balcony shaded by two soaring camphor laurel trees and the white-washed street-front courtyard has all the vibes, and seats nearly 120 guests. During the monthly open-air asado grill session, it feels like the best place to be in the inner west. 79 Elliott St, Balmain; casaesquina.au.

The boom of crashing waves; surfers bobbing beyond the break. No, this isn’t Bondi or Freshwater, but Homebush. The long-awaited opening of URBNSURF this year made Sydney Olympic Park an improbable haunt for surfers looking for the perfect swell, and diners seeking waterside dining miles from the ocean. Level one houses a second outpost of North Sydney’s RAFI, with a seafood-heavy menu filled with bright flavours and Med influences served on the rooftop terrace and in the open-sided dining room. Downstairs at Sandy’s, fuel up post-surf on bacon and egg rolls or brekkie burritos on the casual open-air terrace. 15 Hill Rd, Homebush; rafisydney.com.au

So popular were the bench seats out front of this Darlinghurst cafe during daylight hours, the tucked-away spot now opens into the evenings, too. The bones of the sandstone building on the top end of Burton Street make for an elegant dining room, but the street seating is where it’s at. The long tables are frequently arrayed with flowers and whimsical dressings, piled with puffy buttermilk pancakes, breakfast plates and cafe classics by day; and strewn with wine glasses and share plates of crudo and rillettes; share-friendly roasted chicken and fish and simple pastas by night. 1 Burton St, Darlinghurst; theeca.com.au

Most outdoor dining restaurants in Sydney involve a restaurant with a bit of outdoor space, a handful of tables. And lucky you if you get a seat in the sun before all the other alfresco fiends. But there’s a feeling of plenty about Parramatta’s Misc, a greenhouse-like shed encompassing an all-day diner that celebrates Mediterranean flavours and turns out some of the best snacks and share-style plates around. There is LPs Quality Meats mortadella and bowls of pillowy smoked labneh topped with salsa, or a beef intercostal skewer with malt vinegar and potato cream. There is tuna tataki with potato rosti and so many things to return for again and again. The outdoor space is surrounded by trees and greenery, or you can get Misc’s help to stock supplies for picnics in the park. Little Coogee, Parramatta Park, Byrnes Avenue, Parramatta; miscparramatta.com.au.

With its beachy glam aesthetic and excellent fish and chips, matched with stellar locations, The Boathouse group has waterside dining covered. The Balmoral location is no different. Buttermilk scones with fresh cream, strawberries and jam and breakfast moves to crumbed dory burger with lettuce and pickles for lunch. This food is made for alfresco dining, so join the queue early to nab a table outside. 2 The Esplanade, Mosman; theboathousebb.com.au.

This neighbourhood rowing club is a Mosman Bay waterfront all-day diner-slash-bar treasured by locals. The century-old institution is home to a 100-seater diner with sweet terrazzo tables. Seating outside is limited so get in early for an outdoor table for breakfast or lunch. There are fish and other burgers, and buckets of prawns. It’s pleasing, punchy food, and the view is hard to beat. 3 Centenary Dr, Mosman; mosmanrowers.com.au.

North Sydney’s sun-drenched bowling and dining centre The Greens is the antidote to 2021 thus far. Bites ranges from flavoursome share platters (welcome back, social life) to hearty mains (including a butternut squash wellington and roast Murray Valley pork belly) – not to mention an enticing dessert menu, which sees the likes of a show-stopping summer fruit and prosecco trifle that’ll divert all eyes to your table. And, don’t forget to order a cocktail jug for the table (we’ll take the watermelon kegger, thanks). 50 Ridge St, North Sydney; thegreensnorthsydney.com.au.

As far as inner-city restaurants are concerned, few offer such photogenic backdrops as Opera Bar on the Sydney’s sparkling harbour. Reunite with friends over fish burgers – from an all-day menu overseen by Matt Moran – and an aptly named Harbour Mates cocktail as you watch the ferries glide over dancing waters. And, linger into the evening for late-night snacks and a front-row seat of the lights of the Harbour Bridge and Luna Park coming to life. Sydney Opera House, Lower Concourse Level, Sydney; operabar.com.au.

Perched above Hyde Park House is a rooftop that’s as flamboyant as a flamingo among a bunch of ibises and boasts no shortage of sunshine. Sit under a ruffled pink brolly and tuck into a small-plate selection of bao buns, gyoza, raw salmon tacos and more. Picture a Sydney-style take on a Japanese izakaya only with more spritz, glitz, cocktails and oodles of natural light. 47/49 William Street, Darlinghurst; hydeparkhouse.com/slims-rooftop.