Izgara

On Clarence Street in the Sydney CBD, Izgara distils the bold generosity of Turkish cooking into a refined, modern experience. This intimate dining room, all sleek lines and a soft glow, channels tradition while polishing it for the city. It is the kind of place where charcoal smoke meets clean design, and where time-honoured recipes are treated with reverence and a contemporary wink.

The menu leans into sharing, beginning with meze and dips such as hummus scattered with crispy chickpeas and dukkah, warm lahmacun and stone-oven pide that arrive blistered and fragrant. From the grill, chicken shish kebab brings that beloved charcoal kiss, while Iskender layers thin-sliced striploin over crisp pita with yoghurt and tomatoes. Even the sides have swagger, from charred cabbage with feta, wild rice and blackcurrants to chips dressed in truffle oil, Grana Padano and harissa mayo. Sweet things run from flaky katmer to a playful baklava mille feuille.

To drink, a curated list running to more than 200 wines sits alongside distinctive house cocktails. Book in, share broadly, and let the charcoal do the talking.