A trendy neighbourhood restaurant with a ‘good vibe’ and iconic dishes is now where you’ll officially find the best food in all of New South Wales.
It should come as no surprise to Sydneysiders that Café Paci in Newtown has been awarded the 2024 Gourmet Traveller award for best restaurant in the state.
Finnish chef Pasi Petanen has taken the city by storm with his unique and inspired take on modern Australian cuisine.
Pasi’s creations at Newtown Restaurant have also earned him a well-deserved Chef of the Year award.
This unassuming food genius first appeared on the city’s radar with a standout kitchen at a Darlinghurst venue in 2013 that left Australians wanting more.
And the Newtown location is fully booked thanks to dishes such as the potato and molasses bread, the “cult” ox tongue taco and raw snapper with chili and kumquat.
There are also “sublime” places with “deliciously fresh” handmade pasta, such as pea ravioli with lemon, sage, vermouth butter and creamy, rich burrata.
On Friday and Saturday nights you can enjoy dry-cured roast duck marinated in a sweet, sticky orange sauce that diners have called an “absolute delight.”
Café Paci in Newtown has been awarded Best Restaurant in New South Wales for 2024 by Gourmet Traveller, and Chef Pasi Petanen has also been awarded Chef of the Year 2024.
Jamon Maxim drizzled with olive oil is a classic at Café Paci
Fans especially love Pasi’s bold and playful take on gastronomy, which manages to be simple enough in its flavors to achieve complexity without being complicated.
“Café Paci is without a doubt my favourite restaurant in Sydney. I am constantly amazed by the quality of their food and service. I can honestly recommend every dish on the menu,” said one diner.
“It took me forever to get to Café Paci, but it was worth persevering. It’s one of the best in Sydney. Amazing food, spectacular flavour,” another agreed.
Frozen Moscato d’Asti with strawberries and white chocolate from Cafe Paci
The cosy neighbourhood restaurant has firmly placed Newtown on Sydney’s fine dining map.
Finnish chef Pasi Petanen has the city under his culinary spell with a unique and inspired take on modern Australian gastronomy.
“Some call it Nordic European, some say modern Australian, but I say it’s just amazing,” added a third.
One fan praised Pasi as the “Godfather” of Sydney cuisine for his Chef of the Year award: “Well deserved Pasi and I’ll ask again, what took so long?”
The Best Restaurant in Australia award went to Tasmania’s Agrarian Kitchen, whose menu features produce from its own garden.
Other Gourmet Traveller Award winners included The Lake House in Daylesford for the Readers Choice Icon Award and Melbourne fine dining institution Vue De Monde for the Best Restaurant in Victoria 2024 award.
