The Best Restaurants in Neutral Bay to Add to Your Hit List

As any self-respecting, Sydney-dwelling food connoisseur would know, Neutral Bay on Sydney’s Lower North Shore boasts an array of restaurants offering some of the best cuisines on offer, especially when it comes to Japanese. Along the bustling Military Road, you'll find endless options while the charming backstreets are dotted with excellent eateries, too. 

Shake up your usual evening dinner plan routine by heading north of the bridge to book a table at one of Neutral Bay's best restaurants. You won’t be disappointed.

Alala’s

Taking residence along Ben Boyd's back street with direct access to the garden, Alala’s celebrates the strong feminine lineage of The Oaks’ family owners and is reminiscent of a country homestead.

Central to the kitchen is the cast iron oven, which fills the air with aromas of roasted vegetables, meats, and baked focaccia. Fresh and Euro-inspired, the menu is equal parts wholesome and indulgent. To accompany the light and whimsical menu, the drinks menu focuses on the classics, with aperitifs and bubbles leading the charge.

118 Military Road, Neutral Bay

Italian Street Kitchen Neutral Bay

The recipes at Italian Street Kitchen have trickled through generations and onto the streets of Neutral Bay. Just like in Italy, eating here is a vibrant affair and food comes from interactive food stalls. A pasta bar sits next to the wood-fired pizza station, an antipasto stand and a constantly turning spit roast. The spectacle and theatre of it all really add to the feel of an artisan Italian kitchen.

5/19-21 Grosvenor Street, Neutral Bay

SoCal

A much loved lower north-shore Mexican-themed rooftop bar and restaurant that is one of the buzziest places to dine in Neutral Bay. SoCal’s laid-back California vibe translates flawlessly into its creative cocktail list and American-inspired menu, with its very own smokehouse churning out moreish plates. Come for the food and drinks, stay for the lively atmosphere.

1 Young Street, Neutral Bay

Restaurant 16

Innovative Italian dishes with a Japanese twist are the order of the day at Restaurant 16. Opening in 2011 and run by Chef Toru Ryu, this intimate, ambient location has become a go-to destination for special nights out, like anniversaries and birthdays.

The Japanese-Italian Omakase is a must and will take you through all the best local seafood produce and flavours that are in season. Think Homemade squid ink chittara and sea urchins, homemade pasta bigoli and super fresh sashimi. 

236 Military Road, Neutral Bay

Enoteca 128

Enoteca 128 is a cosy Italian restaurant and wine bar known for its contemporary take on classic Italian cuisine. The menu is crafted with the freshest produce, offering a variety of dishes like stuzzichini, antipasti, primi, and dolci. Handmade pasta, fresh seafood, and rich meat like the eight-hour slow-cooked roast beef cheek are highlights. Each dish is paired perfectly with selections from an extensive wine list.

11 Grosvenor Lane, Neutral Bay

Izakaya Samurai

Open for lunch and dinner, Izakaya Samurai draws huge crowds in need of a delicious (and efficient) Japanese meal. The booth seating and tabletop tablets provided for speedy ordering make the experience somewhat of a novelty. If you’re worried about keeping the kids’ hands off the tablet menus, the kid's play area is the perfect distraction. While everything on the menu is delicious, you can't go wrong with the vegetable tempura, a fresh salmon avocado sushi roll, and the hot soba noodles soup.

5/197 Military Road, Neutral Bay

Manpuku

A local favourite, known for making some of the best ramen in Sydney. Manpuku is renowned for its mouthwatering selection of authentic Japanese ramen, featuring rich broths like miso and tonkatsu. The menu highlights include the signature Manpuku Ramen, topped with tender chashu pork, and the spicy Tan Tan Men, perfect for those who enjoy a kick of heat. Fresh, high-quality ingredients and perfectly cooked noodles make this a must-visit spot for ramen lovers.

197 Military Road, Neutral Bay

The Colonial

The Colonial pays homage to a period that gave rise to British-Indian gastronomy. Not your average Anglo-Indian curry house, The Colonial’s menu is a rustic and robust fusion of Eastern spices and Western cuisine. Using clay tandoors to ensure succulent and tender meat, you’ll be vying over every last skerrick of that lamb Madras on your plate.

1/19-21 Grosvenor Street, Neutral Bay

Kyushu Japanese Restaurant 

With an unwavering reputation as one of the Lower North Shore’s best Japanese restaurants, Kyushu is forever packed with families lured back by their offering of people’s favourites at reasonable prices. The teriyaki beef is always a hit and it’s impossible to go past the crunch of a prawn tempura, especially when teamed with a crisp Japanese beer. Fresh kingfish or salmon sashimi is served up on a bed of ice and the beef tataki served with garlic, ginger, chopped shallots and ponzu sauce is the starter not to miss.

9-11 Grosvenor Street, Neutral Bay

Henrys

This hatted restaurant offers laid-back luxury in a neighbourhood setting. In a cool, contemporary fit-out, you can expect rock oysters, ceviche and Wagyu galore at Henrys. With elegance and a menu of small plates designed to be shared, this is perfect for a romantic rendezvous or a convivial group dinner.

2/19-25 Grosvenor Street, Neutral Bay

Tobikiri Japanese Kitchen

A compact little restaurant that prides itself on fresh seafood and high-grade wagyu cuts, Tobikiri is the place to head for a fuss-free feed. Pan-fried pork gyoza will keep the tummy rumbles at bay while you wait for a luscious serving of chilled silken tofu or the Kara-age chicken. Japanese beer and several sakes are also on offer, ideal for washing down that gyoza.

4/48 Yeo Street, Neutral Bay

Ezzelinos Pizzeria

Everyone remembers an evening spent at Ezzelinos. The same family that established the place in 1982 is still manning the helm, delivering authentic Italian to devoted locals every evening. The Military Road eatery dishes up all the usual suspects, cooked to perfection but without the price tag. With food this good, it’s easy to see why they’ve been around so long! Our top picks would be the lasagne and the Ezzelino's supreme; both are sublime.

77 Military Road, Neutral Bay

Jugemu & Shimbashi

Elegantly chic Jugemu & Shimbashi sets itself apart with an offering of both the Jugemu Teppanyaki style of cooking and Shimbashi hand-made soba. You can choose to dine in either the vibrant modern space of the jugemu style or the calmer atmosphere of shimbashi with regular and traditional sunken tables. While the menus are separate, you are free to order from either.

246 Military Road, Neutral Bay

Loved our edit of of the best restaurants in Neutral Bay and looking for more of the best new restaurants in Sydney to road test? From edgy Chinese restaurants and festive Mexican eateries to group dining favourites and BYO gems, there are so many cool restaurants in Sydney to visit.