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Matteo Downtown.

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Where to catch up with friends for Christmas in Sydney

Group-friendly, budget-friendly, kid-friendly, veg-friendly or just plain friendly spots for festive catch-ups.

36 stories
More rebuild than revamp: The new Vicar on New Line Road.

Meet your old mates at Dural's new-look The Vicar

  • Scott Bolles
Breakfast at the Boathouse Hotel in Patonga.

Boathouse's $5m revamp: Take a road trip to Patonga

  • Scott Bolles
The signature manhattan is made to a recipe that dates back to the 1860s.

Sip a manhattan at the Sydney spin-off of NYC's Employees Only

  • Scott Bolles
Maybe Frank's Bondi Beach pop-up will serve post-swim snack-size pizzas and Aperol spritz.

Snack-sized pizzas and spritz at Maybe Frank's Bondi pop-up

  • Scott Bolles
New venture: Luke Powell from LP's Quality Meats.

Hit up Newtown's new pizza hot spot, Bella Brutta

  • Scott Bolles
Nick and Nora's, Parramatta, which is licensed for 330 punters.

Go sky high at Nick & Nora's rooftop bar in Parramatta

  • Scott Bolles
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Buffalo wings with blue cheese sauce at the Quarryman.

The Rooftop opens at The Quarryman Hotel in Pyrmont

Finally ready to be served: Ortiz sardines at the Manly Greenhouse.

Join the party at South Steyne's 400-seat Manly Greenhouse

  • Scott Bolles
New secret spot: Old Mate's Place.

Find the secret door at Old Mate's Place

  • Scott Bolles
Mixing rum-based cocktails at Brix Distillery in Surry Hills.

Brix Distillery brings rum to the limelight in Surry Hills

  • Scott Bolles
A spread at Bang Bang in Darling Square.

Meet for a casual lunch at Steam Mill Lane's Bang Bang Izakaya

  • Scott Bolles
Yellowfin tuna, lime and roasted red capsicum aioli.

Find a perch for pinchos at Mister Percy in Pyrmont

  • Scott Bolles
Green curry of organic chicken and market vegetables.

Head to Woy Woy's Lucky Bee for a taste of NYC

  • Scott Bolles
Chargrilled saltbush lamb ribs with almonds, sumac and coriander.

Slip into plush club surrounds at Lane Cove's Alcott restaurant

  • Scott Bolles
Lort cha, made with rice drop noodles, bean sprouts, spring onions and a fried egg.
14.5/20

Treat your date to Cambodian cooking at Kingdom of Rice

  • Terry Durack
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Kangaroo mortadella with olives.
14.5/20

Do the dip at Continental's CBD spin-off

  • Terry Durack
'Red' pizza fritta at Bonnie's.

Join the cool kids for pizza fritta at Bonnie's

  • Callan Boys
The classic napoletana carries no more than tomato, fior di latte, capers, olives and anchovies.
Good Food hat15/20

Take a party crowd to Matteo Downtown

  • Terry Durack
Go-to dish: Prosciutto di Parma Principe and parmigiano reggiano with carasau crispbread.
13.5/20

Take the fam to AcquaFresca by Pilu at Harbord Diggers

  • Terry Durack
Wild and native: Grilled prawns with kelp butter and sea lettuce.
14.5/20

Share a drink with the locals at Pacific Club Bondi Beach

  • Terry Durack
Skewered lamb rump with grilled flatbread and a squeeze of lemon.
14/20

Join the neighbourhood fun at Ron's Upstairs in Redfern

  • Myffy Rigby
Queen of puddings: Milk cake and coffee, chocolate mascarpone and meringue.
Good Food hat15.5/20

Find a private perch at ever-evolving bar-restaurant Poly

  • Terry Durack
Virtuoso is virtuoso: Queen Chow's dim sum platter.
14/20

Eat by numbers at Queen Chow's Manly spin-off

  • Terry Durack
The old grogram cocktail, featuring stout and house-made spiced rum.

Take a rum-fuelled Caribbean flight at The Lobo Plantation

  • Callan Boys
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Hopper set (one egg, one plain) with green pol sambol and kata sambol.
Good Food hat15/20

Try eat-with-your-hands goodness at Lankan Filling Station

  • Terry Durack
Bar Topa: "There's much in the way of dark timber, hanging jamon and paintings of Spanish men with beautiful moustaches."

Bar Topa brings tapas to Sydney CBD

  • Callan Boys
Toothfish sandwich with padron peppers and watercress.

Bentley's bar menu offers rare wines and delicious snacks

  • Callan Boys
Three sorbets - charcoal coconut, mango lychee and yuzu passionfruit.
14/20

Button your best shirt for this RSL club's flash new Asian restaurant

  • Terry Durack
Off-menu: Deep-fried prawn-stuffed Chinese doughnuts.

Late-night good times at Golden Century

  • Myffy Rigby
Unicorn Hotel

Meet your best mate at the pokie-free Unicorn

  • Callan Boys
Sweet and savoury: mini doughnuts filled with rock lobster, tom yum mayonnaise and sweetcorn and lemongrass salt.
14/20

More than just fish and chips at Cod's Gift in Dural

  • Terry Durack
The Dolphin Wine Bar

Drink deep and try a different drop at The Dolphin Wine Bar

  • Myffy Rigby
Pizza
14/20

There's something for everyone at Coogee Pavilion

  • Terry Durack
The go-to dish of kogashi miso ramen.
14/20

Dabble in the dark side at Gogyo noodle joint

  • Terry Durack
Go-to dish: Green curry with grilled fish wing, pea eggplant and baby corn.
Good Food hat15/20

Leave with your ears ringing at party palace Chin Chin

  • Terry Durack
Fun finger food: Sea urchin and orange jam sandwich at Smoke.

Catch up with colleagues at Barangaroo House

  • Callan Boys
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