When it comes to dining out, there's a time and place for wine-matching all seventeen courses. Sometimes, a gal just wants to wash down a pizza (or a burger, or a bowl of ramen) with her own damn bottle of wine. That said, Sydney's range of BYO dining options runs the gamut from cheap and cheerful to save-up-all-year destinations. Here's our pick of the best - be sure to add your own!
Pompei's
With their bubbly charred crust and classic toppings, you can spot a Pompei's pizza a mile away. The friendly Bondi joint has a decent, if small, wine list, featuring all-organic drops. But if you're so inclined, you can also bring your own.
Corkage: $8/bottle
126-130 Roscoe St, Bondi Beach
Rosso Pomodoro
Often touted as the best pizza in the Inner West (with apologies to relative newcomer, Gigi's), this Balmain stalwart serves up simple, authentic pizza - and lets you bring your own wine, to boot.
Corkage: $0
90,91/24 Buchanan St, Balmain
Via Napoli
What better to match with a metre-long surfboard of pizza than a bottle you've been saving for a special occasion - or even just one you picked up from the bottlo down the road?
Corkage: $7/bottle
141 Longueville Rd, Lane Cove
Maya Da Dhaba
There's a lot to love about this Cleveland St veteran - including its moreish range of Indian sweets - but one of the best things about it is that you can BYO wine and beer. As it should be.
Corkage: $2.50/person
431 Cleveland St, Surry Hills
Spice I Am
Fragrant with lemongrass and chilli, the always excellent dishes on offer at Spice I Am match well with crisp, light whites. And while you can choose from their substantial list, you can also BYO - for nada.
Corkage: $0
296-300 Victoria St, Darlinghurst
Mamak
Bringing a bottle of your own booze makes waiting in line for the best roti in town that little bit easier.
Corkage: $2/person
15 Goulburn St, Haymarket
Chaco Bar
Two thumbs up to Chaco Bar: the best ramen in town also comes with a BYO option.
Corkage: $15/bottle
238 Crown St, Darlinghurst
Golden Century
How many of us can honestly say we've not stopped here after a big night out for a plate of crispy shallot pancakes and a serving of pippies in delicate XO sauce? And while late night feasting at GC might be a Sydney rite of passage, try the more civilised route and eat at, well, dinner time.
Corkage: $8/person
393-399 Sussex St, Sydney
Surjit's
You know the food here must be the real deal when you spy the cricket bats - presents from visiting Indian cricketers such as Sachin Tendulkar - lining the walls. And it is. The jhinga malabari is one of the best curries we've ever eaten.
Corkage: $2.50/person
215 Parramatta Rd, Annandale
Fatima's
If you haven't had the cabbage rolls at Fatima's, have you really lived? Go for the $35 super banquet, stay for the free BYO.
Corkage: $0
296 Cleveland St, Surry Hills
Emma's Snack Bar
This is the relaxed neighbourhood restaurant we all deserve: reliably delicious, affordable food that you can pair with a bottle of your own wine. That, my friends, is Tuesday night sorted. Like, for the rest of the year.
Corkage: $4/person
59 Liberty St, Enmore
The Bach Eatery
On Tuesday and Sunday nights (as well as Sunday lunch), you can BYO to this charming Kiwi-influenced restaurant.
Corkage: $4/person
399 King St, Newtown
The Burger Shed
At Justin North's latest offering, the burgers are fresh and hot, the fries are doused in shaved parmesan and truffle oil, and the wine is BYO.
Corkage: $4/bottle
914 Military Rd, Mosman
Two Chaps
Better known as a cafe-by-day, this quietly vego joint (housed in an old industrial garage) serves up inventive homemade pasta by night, and allows BYO. Order the set menu ($55 per person) and your corkage is free.
Corkage: $4/person (free if you choose the set menu)
122 Chapel St, Marrickville
Tetsuya's
Yes, you can bring your own at Tetsuya's - but it'll cost you. If you've got a (very, very) special bottle hanging around, Tet's might be the place to crack it.
Corkage: $30 for the first bottle, $45 for subsequent bottles
529 Kent St, Sydney
One Penny Red
This isn't a BYO free-for-all, but on the last Tuesday of each month, the restaurant hosts a Raid Your Cellar night. Bring that fancy drop you've been saving and the chef will match a four-course menu.
Corkage: $75 per person for food, no corkage
2 Moonbie St, Summer Hill
Sean's Panorama
A Bondi institution, this place serves up rustic yet modern dishes overlooking one of the world's best views.
Corkage: $25/bottle
270 Campbell Parade, Bondi Beach
The Larder
Hatted restaurant Otto's more casual sibling, the Larder, serves up the same wharfside views and stellar food from the same kitchen, but with a more relaxed vibe and BYO policy.
Corkage: $8/per person
8/6 Cowper Wharf Rd, Woolloomooloo
Fix St James
This gem of a joint dishes up consistently awesome food - from a simple roasted bone marrow to a $110 t-bone your meatiest dreams are made of. And Monday to Friday, they're BYO.
Corkage: $25/bottle
111 Elizabeth St, Sydney
La Grande Bouffe
Tis the season to eat at La Grande Bouffe - we're talking rich, warming cassoulet and classic moules frites. And with BYO available Monday to Thursday, it's a weeknight winner.
Corkage: $15/bottle
758 Darling St, Rozelle
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