For those of us who won’t be making it to the Mediterranean this year, there’s St Siandra. The room’s triangular shape, combined with the large glass windows, means just about every table gets a coveted window seat. On a sunny day, bring your sunglasses. The restaurant has a picture-perfect position, jutting out over the water. Depending on what the tide is doing, you could be dining right over Middle Harbour as you take in the view of the bobbing boats and cliffside houses built into the lush green hills of Clontarf. It’s not quite Amalfi, but about as close as we’re going to get without hopping on a plane. 75 Lower Parriwi Road, The Spit Mosman; stsiandra.com.au

Large hunks of red meat may not be the first thing that comes to mind at the mention of ‘romance’ but don’t let that fool you. The Meat & Wine Co. – with venues in the CBD, Parramatta, Bella Vista and Barangaroo – are a luxe take on African cuisine with rooms dripping in velvet and moody lighting. Stick to the starters and sides to avoid a meat coma and sip your way through the extensive and creative wine list. Check locations at the Meat & Wine Co. website; themeatandwineco.com.

Settle into a Parisian daydream of indulgent dining, with a side of seamless service. From the French accents to the sweet maillard scent of baking bread and rising cakes, Champagne cork pops and dessert trolley stacked with madeleines, canele, opera cake, frangipane tart and chocolate truffle, you could be excused for thinking you and your date are in Paris. For the ultimate romantic gesture start by ordering the signature caviar service to share, exchange a bite of the sweetbread and bay lobster vol-au-vent fora taste of the goldband snapper with scallop and caviar sauce, then finish with a selection of gelato and sorbet and two spoons. 66 King St, Sydney; thecharles.com.au.

Matt Moran’s flagship fine diner is all class. Poised on Sydney Harbour, with the grand sails of the Opera House to stage right, Aria really knows how to set the scene for a special night out. With executive chef Tom Gorringe at the helm, expect a seasonally-driven menu roving from Fraser Isle spanner crab with cucumber, kombu and nectarine to glazed wollemi duck with beetroot, mulberries and nettle to . No need to buy a bouquet, a pretty floral dessert of cherry souffle, pistachio and vanilla will make a better impression. 1 Macquarie St, Sydney; ariasydney.com.au.

If you’re after a bit of privacy, you won’t find a more secluded spot than this river restaurant, accessible only by seaplane or boat. Designed by legendary architect Glenn Murcutt, the ‘verandah on the water’ is your ultimate waterfront setting, with floor-to-wall glass louvers allowing the fresh air and sunlight to come through. Head chef and owner Brian Geraghty has put together a beautifully orchestrated menu that includes French and Japanese influences while remaining grounded in the Australian outback. 1 Calabash Point, Berowra Waters; berowrawatersinn.com.

Alessandro Pavoni brings the glamour and grandeur of Italian fine dining to the Crown. Expect classic romantic dishes like veal tonnato, carpaccio and a rock lobster-laden spaghetti for your Lady and the Tramp moment. Like many old-school establishments, A’mare also boasts trolley service, with pesto pounded at the table, and chocolate shaved onto dessert before your eyes. Crown Sydney, Level 1/1 Barangaroo Ave, Barangaroo; crownsydney.com.au/indulge/amare.

It feels a bit like you’re sitting in someone’s living room at Sixpenny and that’s half the charm of this tiny neighbourhood diner. It’s all about elevated, interesting, produce-driven fare, fine dining without pomp and pretence, where every little detail – from tasting menu to hospitality – is golden. Oysters are always a good idea, here served with a house-fermented rockmelon and black pepper vinaigrette (head chef Tony Schifilliti has a penchant for fermentation). Then there are platters of snacks: kangaroo tartare tacos, tomato tarts with beeswax-infused lemon oil, pecorino doughnuts with aged gouda. There’s snapper with cucumber, Murray cod, poached Spencer Gulf squid (served with fried broccolini and koji, deserving of its own award) and wagyu rump cap – all simple on paper, all astounding in real life. 83 Percival Rd, Stanmore; sixpenny.com.au.

Despite the name, this cosy French diner nested above natural wine shop P&V is more than a meat fest. Chef Nicholas Hill knows his way around a pig, for sure, offering up clever takes on everything from the nose to tail (literally), but he’s just as sharp with vegies, fish and other proteins. Snuggle near the fireplace in winter or grab a seat on the balcony in summer and order big off the chalkboard menu. And if the comprehensive wine list somehow doesn’t grab you, you’re free to choose a bottle from P&V (for a small corkage fee). 268 Oxford St, Paddington; porcine.com.au.

Saint Peter has been a Sydney favourite since it opened in 2016, with chef Josh Niland spinning gold out of every imaginable part of the remarkable fish he reels in from his network of catchers. But with his move from Oxford Street to the old Grand National Hotel around the corner, where he and partner Julie have opened a 14-room boutique hotel above the restaurant, Saint Peter has been promoted from one of Sydney’s best dining experiences to the ultimate romantic overnight experience. The best bit? Spend the night and you’ll score a phenomenal breakfast whipped up by the Saint Peter chefs, which you can’t sample any other way. 161 Underwood St, Paddington; saintpeter.com.au.

Maybe it’s the sultry sound the pasta makes when you slurp it, maybe it’s the smooth playlist, or maybe it’s all those times we watched Lady and the Tramp when we were kids… whatever the reason, there’s something undeniably romantic about Italian food. Pellegrino 2000 captures the cosy, candlelit vibes of an Italian trattoria, elevating classic dishes with the skill you’d expect from chefs Dan Pepperell and Mikey Clift (Clam Bar, Neptune’s Grotto). Add something playful from Andy Tyson’s sexy wine list and throw in plenty of those excellent vintage tunes, and you’ve got everything you need for your own love story. 80 Campbell St, Surry Hills; pellegrino2000.com.

What constitutes a ‘perfect romantic evening’ might be subjective, but combining the excitement of Tokyo with the romance of Paris and setting it all against panoramic views of Sydney Harbour is probably about as close to universal as you can get. Oborozuki is part kaiseki (a Japanese multi-course style of dining) experience and part teppanyaki joint, with head chef Daeun Kang blending Japanese flavours with classic French techniques on both sides. Add flashy ingredients like Kobe beef, beluga caviar, Tassie lobster, Alaskan king crab and house-made soba noodles, and you’ve got an experience we reckon it’s impossible not to love. Level 3/71 Macquarie St, Sydney; oborozuki.com.au.

Tucked beneath the shells of the Sydney Opera House, Quay’s ‘fun’ younger sister offers more than just pre-dinner meals. Whether you and your date opt for the three-course prix fix menu, the a la carte counter offering (we can’t get enough of the marron with cultured cream, finger lime and buckwheat pancakes) or simply want to sip a couple of the bar’s unmissable cocktails with a selection of snacks, executive chef Peter Gilmore and head chef Rob Cockerill bring so many fireworks and so much joy to every dish that they almost distract from the incredible views. Want to make it a real night to remember? Kick your meal off with a hit of beluga caviar and a couple of glasses of Krug. Sydney Opera House, Bennelong Point, Sydney; bennelong.com.au.

Take a stroll through Darlinghurst on even the chilliest night and you can practically feel the warmth emanating from this snug Euro-inspired wine bar. The hand-written menu changes every day with what’s in season, so depending on when you visit, you could find yourselves canoodling over an al dente risotto spiked with nettles and dotted with prawns, or staring longingly at each other while sharing a plate of classic confit duck. Our advice? Don’t skip the house-baked sourdough, because even love isn’t worth missing out on good bread. 174 Liverpool Street, Darlinghurst; barvincent.com.au.

So snug is the dining room of this beloved Surry Hills wine bar and eatery that you’ll be on first-name basis with all the other couples in the room by the end of the night. It’s a good thing too, since you’ll want to get as close as possible to every single thing on co-chefs Morgan McGlone and Nathan Sasi’s menu. There’s no fixed cuisine on offer, just great ingredients handled by a great team, paired with a great selection of wine. And while there are already plenty of classics on the menu, the creme caramel spiked with bitter, aromatic amaro makes an unmissable end to your date. Want a bit more space? The breezy tables outside are heaven on a balmy night. 67 Albion Street, Surry Hills; barcopains.com.

Beppi’s has been slinging linguini in Darlinghurst since 1956; the shelves of dusty wine bottles towering over white-clothed tables for so long that there’s a good chance this is where your grandparents fell in love. Pasta’s a big deal here, of course, but you can get just as cosy with a slab of porchetta, a plate of brandy-kissed grilled marron or a serve of the cheese-anointed eggplant parmigiana, all culminating, of course, in a shared tiramisu alla Beppi. There might be flashier red-sauce joints in town these days, but there’s a reason they say the classics never go out of style. 21 Yurong St, Darlinghurst; beppis.com.au.