Harbour & Ember

★ One Good Fork 4.9  |  2 Chef's Hats

Modern Australian Dining · Sydney Harbour · Est. 2012

Harbour & Ember

Wood-fired cooking, ocean-to-table seafood and paddock-to-plate Aussie produce — served steps from the Sydney Harbour foreshore with the Opera House in view.

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2 Chef's Hats — SMH Good Food Guide ✦ One Good Fork 4.9/5 ✦ Top 10 Waterfront Restaurants — Time Out Sydney ✦ Best Seafood Restaurant NSW 2025 — Gourmet Traveller ✦ Sustainable Restaurant of the Year — Restaurant & Catering Australia ✦ Featured: MasterChef Australia 2024 ✦
12 Hickson Rd, Dawes Point, Sydney NSW 2000
Open 7 Days · Tue–Sun 11:30am–late
+61 2 8270 4600 · hello@harbourember.com.au
Waterfront · Licensed · Dog-friendly terrace
Sydney — · --:--
Inside Harbour and Ember restaurant
The Dining Room · Exposed 1908 brick arches

Our Story

Born on the harbour, cooked over flame

Founded in 2012 by Chef Matthew O'Reilly — a third-generation Sydney fisherman's son — Harbour & Ember celebrates the best of Australia: day-boat seafood from the Sydney Fish Market, grass-fed beef from the Hunter Valley, and native pantry ingredients like wattleseed, lemon myrtle and finger lime.


Our open kitchen runs on a 4-tonne red gum wood-fired grill. The menu changes with the seasons — and with whatever the boats bring in each morning. Dine on the waterfront deck with the Opera House at your elbow, or in the candle-lit dining room beneath a 100-year-old brick arch.

0Years open
0kHappy diners / yr
0Chef's Hats
4.9★Fork rating

— Chef & Founder, Matthew O'Reilly

Meet the Chef

Matthew O'Reilly

Chef Matthew O'Reilly plating in the kitchen
Matthew at the pass · open kitchen

Matthew grew up on his family's prawn trawler in Broken Bay, north of Sydney. After 12 years cooking in Melbourne, London and Tokyo, he came home to build the restaurant he always wanted: one where the fire does the work and the harbour is the only backdrop needed.

  • Head Chef & Owner since 2012 — every plate passes his pass
  • Trained under Kobe-era kaiseki masters in Tokyo and 3-hat kitchens in Melbourne
  • Judge on MasterChef Australia 2024 · Contributor, Australian Gourmet Traveller
  • Named NSW Chef of the Year 2023 — Restaurant & Catering Australia
"If it didn't swim, graze or grow within 300 km of the harbour this morning, it doesn't go on my menu tonight."

Reviews

What guests are saying

Emma
★★★★★

"The barramundi cooked over embers was the best fish I've eaten in Sydney. Watching the ferries glide past while you eat makes it unforgettable."

Emma Thompson · TripAdvisor · July 2026
Daniel
★★★★★

"Booked the private cellar for our engagement. The sommelier's Hunter Valley picks were flawless and staff treated us like family. 10/10."

Daniel & Priya · Google · June 2026
Sarah
★★★★★

"Came for a work Christmas dinner — 40 of us on the deck. The lamb shoulder and the espresso martinis disappeared fast. Already booked again."

Sarah Nguyen · OpenTable · Dec 2025
James
★★★★☆

"Spectacular views and genuinely kind service. The crudo is a must. Only wish we'd ordered the lamb shoulder for the table — next time."

James Whitfield · Zomato · March 2026

Our Promise

Good food, done right

Ocean-to-Table

Fish bought daily at 5am from the Sydney Fish Market — every species from a sustainable, MSC-certified source. No freezing, no shortcuts.

Paddock-to-Plate

Grass-fed beef from the Hunter Valley, free-range poultry from the Central Coast. 100% Australian meat, fully traceable to farm.

Zero-Waste Kitchen

Bones become stock, citrus rinds become bitters, coffee grounds become our garden compost. 98% of waste diverted from landfill.

Native & Seasonal

Wattleseed, lemon myrtle, finger lime and bush pepper from Indigenous suppliers — 80% of produce within 300 km of the kitchen.

Upcoming

Long Lunch & Fire Nights

Every Saturday 1pm: our signature 3-hour long lunch with matched wines (A$95pp). First Thursday of each month: Fire Night — a 6-course tasting menu cooked entirely over the ember grill (A$120pp). Book early — both sell out weeks ahead.

Sat Long Lunch — A$95Fire Night Tasting — A$120Kids Eat Free SundaysLive Jazz Friday 7pm

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Upcoming events & experiences

Every Saturday · 1pmLong lunch tableA$95pp

The Long Lunch

Three hours, five courses, matched wines from the cellar. A relaxed Saturday ritual on the waterfront deck with harbour views all afternoon.

Includes wineDeck seating12–3pm
Book the Long Lunch
First Thursday · 7pmFire night grillA$120pp

Fire Night Tasting

Six courses cooked entirely over the 4-tonne red gum grill — from grilled oysters to ember-roasted pineapple. Watch the fire from the chef's counter.

Chef's counter6 coursesMonthly
Book Fire Night
31 December · 8pmNew Year's Eve fireworksA$295pp

New Year's Eve Gala

Front-row seats for the 9pm family fireworks and midnight show over the Harbour Bridge. Six courses, champagne on arrival, live band till late.

Fireworks view6 coursesLive band
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Good to Know

Frequently asked questions

Strongly recommended — especially Friday and Saturday nights and any day from December to February. Walk-ins are welcome at the bar and on the terrace, and we hold 20% of deck seats for them.

Absolutely. Kids eat free on Sundays, and we have a dedicated junior menu (A$12), high chairs, and a colouring station. The terrace is the quietest spot for families.

Yes — vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free, dairy-free and halal options are marked on the menu. Tell us about allergies when booking and our chefs will handle every course separately to avoid cross-contamination.

Smart casual. Beach-to-dinner is fine — we're Sydney! No singlet straps for gentlemen after 7pm and no thongs in the dining room (the terrace is more relaxed).

Yes — full step-free access, an accessible bathroom, and lift access to the deck. On-street accessible parking is available on Hickson Rd. Let us know when booking and we'll keep a level table.

On the dog-friendly terrace, absolutely — water bowls and treats on the house. Only assistance animals are allowed in the dining room.

Free cancellation up to 24 hours before your booking. For groups of 8+ and private dining we hold a credit card and charge A$40pp for no-shows.

Reservations

Book your table

✓ Thank you! Our team will confirm your booking by phone within 2 hours.

Harbour & Ember Gift Cards From A$50 — redeemable on dining, the long lunch and events. Purchase in-house or email gifts@harbourember.com.au.

Private Dining & Events

Celebrate with us

From intimate 10-person dinners overlooking the harbour to full buy-outs of 120 guests, our events team plans every detail — menus, wine, flowers and AV.

  • Capacity Dining room 62 · Deck 78 · Private cellar 12
  • Functions Weddings, birthdays, corporate, Christmas parties
  • Catering Wood-fired menus delivered across the CBD
  • Call +61 2 8270 4600
  • Email events@harbourember.com.au

Work with us

We're hiring! Line cooks, sommeliers and floor staff wanted for our busy summer season. Send your resume to careers@harbourember.com.au.

Location

Find us at Dawes Point, Sydney

  • Address 12 Hickson Rd, Dawes Point, Sydney NSW 2000 — 4 min walk from Circular Quay
  • Transit Train: Circular Quay · Ferry: Dawes Point Wharf · Bus: 311, 324, 333
  • Parking Wilson Hickson Rd (validated up to 2 hrs), accessible spot on-site
  • Phone +61 2 8270 4600
  • Email hello@harbourember.com.au
  • Licence Fully licensed LIQN0308844 · ABN 61 249 818 552

Opening Hours

MondayClosed
Tuesday – Thursday11:30am – 10:00pm
Friday – Saturday11:30am – 11:00pm
Sunday11:30am – 9:30pm
Happy HourWed–Fri 3–5pm

Follow Us

@harbourember on Instagram

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