Redbird Sydney

With the exterior appeal of a buzzy neighbourhood bistro and the interior detail of a sophisticated yet casual wine bar, Redbird manages to nail several briefs at once; that this is also one of Inner Sydney’s finest Chinese restaurants is very much an added bonus.

Redbird is the brainchild of celebrated hospitality couple chef Hamish Ingham and sommelier Rebecca Lines, who between them have been responsible for some of Sydney’s most esteemed casual fine dining venues over the last 15 years.

Thanks to the help of a feng shui expert during the design process, there’s a distinct sense of tranquillity – even when the restaurant is full. Aesthetic nods to Europe, with terrazzo tiles and Thonet chairs, are a great foil to excellent modern Chinese food championing the very best local ingredients.

This is a list that seamlessly marries conventional with more lo-fi styles, so there’s something for everyone. Following a short but very savvy Champagne list, white varieties are uniquely grouped by their distinctive properties: salty and savoury; mineral, and even ‘round’ for the more voluptuous styles of white wine. Italian reds get a decent look-in, as do bright and juicy reds, both domestic and abroad, but the focus is firmly on the very best of Australia and New Zealand – a testament to Rebecca’s philosophy of drinking local.