Set in one of one of Sydney’s most beautiful art-deco buildings, The Unicorn combines the best of our pub past with the energy of the present. A favourite with locals and sporting crowds heading to the SCG up the road, the menu is organised into bar snacks, bar food and counter meals which play the classics – Jatz with French onion dip, Unicorn meat pie (extra for ash, greens and gravy), a Bannockburn chicken schnitzel, burgers and steaks ranging in size from daily to big and fancy. Finish with the Unicorn pav, which comes with banana cream and fresh fruit. Inside well-loved timber tables, exposed brick walls and a pool table enhance the old-school vibe, or grab a bench at one of the picnic-style tables in the leafy beer garden. Bookings recommended if dining, but walk-ins welcome if there’s room. 106 Oxford Street, Paddington; theunicornhotel.com.au.

Legendary wine importer Giorgio De Maria named his Darlinghurst enoteca after his border collie, not the Italian vino. (The border collie is named after the wine.) Seek out a bottle downstairs in the blended bar and boutique bottle shop, where natural wines in sunset shades are selected straight from the sleek industrial shelves. The upstairs restaurant venue serves a tight menu of regional Italian plates. The daily pasta options might include a Tuscan-style white ragout made from pork, duck and rooster – which play together nicely in a glossy rosemary-accented sauce. To finish, there’s affogato, made from mascarpone gelato, a shot of espresso and a dash of grappa or spirit of your choice. Bookings upstairs, walk-ins only downstairs. 239 Oxford Street, Darlinghurst; paski.com.au.

A late-night supper club plonked in the middle of Oxford St that serves up delicious Italian fare to a soundtrack of nineties R & B. On paper Big Poppa’s sounds like a right mess. But it works, as hordes of late-night revellers will attest. Named in honour of hip-hop heavyweight Biggie Smalls, expect modern Italian dishes, a huge range of gourmet cheeses sourced from as far away as The Netherlands and as close to home as the Adelaide Hills, a huge selection of hand-curated wines and non-stop hip hop music which pounds out until 3am every night of the week. 96 Oxford Street, Paddington; bigboppa.com.au.

Dinner meets disco at this new Japanese restaurant and party bar in the heart of Oxford Street. The intimate two-level venue invites diners to grab a spot downstairs and fill up on a share menu of Japanese plates designed by head chef Adam Burke, whose world travels have taken him from Nobu London to Toko Dubai and more recently to Sunset Sabi in Manly. Then it’s time to head up the stairs to the vibrant neon-lit lounge with DJ booth and party bar. 245 Oxford Street, Darlinghurst; kissuu.com.au.

This Merivale-owned eatery, under the hand of executive chef Ben Greeno, has made a rotisserie chicken and chips partnership its trademark. Of course there’s plenty more on the menu at the reimagined pub, which is focused on casual dining in sleekly styled surrounds. If only more local pubs were like this. 384 Oxford Street, Paddington; merivale.com/venues/thepaddington.

Since its purchase by Solotel Group in late 2016, this Oxford Street pub has certainly seen a change or two, and it has not just been physical. While the stylish spot remains a popular drinking den for a casual beer after work, it now offers a more refined take on the traditional pub grub menu. 338 Oxford Street, Paddington; paddoinn.com.au.

The warm staff in neutral linens; the equally embracing dining room; the farmhouse kitchen with its open fire and bowls of seasonal produce. Fred’s is a picture of bucolic bliss, and yet it sits on peak-hour Oxford St. Co-head chef Hussein Sarhan hand-delivers plates, extolling the pleasures of juicy, in-season scallops, or fresh-picked baby lettuce leaves. Sarhan’s effortless approach to tossing together seasonal ingredients plays out in meltingly tender, slow-cooked lamb shoulder with new-season celeriac and sauteed erbette spinach. Come for the warm fuzzy feeling that will stay with you well after the last bite of quince and apple frangipane tart. 380 Oxford St, Paddington; merivale.com.au/venues/freds.