Celebrity chef Peter Gilmore's Bennelong restaurant lies within the first sail of the Opera House – so it's only appropriate that the dishes have a certain dramatic flair. Here he plates a sophisticated spin on Australian classics – the cherry jam lamington being one notable, sweet example – amid an elegantly minimalist dining room, where floor-to-ceiling windows – and the views beyond – take centre stage. The tiered layout allows for a great variety of dining and bar-lounging options to suit any occasion, plus the newly added The Kitchen space gives four diners front row seats at the heart of the kitchen for an 8-course tasting menu.

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Photo: Brett Stevens