If North Sydney was ever a true dining powerhouse, you'd have to go back a long way to pinpoint exactly when. Malcolm Fraser was prime minister and the local advertising agencies were making the most of the tax-deductible business meals of the day. But hold your chef's hats. The action is warming up again on the north side of the bridge.

So, what's changed for an area once derided as the Kowloon of Sydney dining? After years in the doldrums, new development and the influx of tech and media companies saw the first gentle waves of hospitality progress roll in just before the pandemic. 

Etymon Projects chief executive Lisa Hobbs explains development and new businesses are just part of the equation. "There's an influx of residential developments, with a lot of downsizers, and they want a restaurant downstairs. North Sydney is also close to communities like Mosman," she says.

Hobbs also points to the new Sydney metro train line, which will link North Sydney with Barangaroo and beyond from early 2024. Next year Etymon's high-end grill will open at 1 Denison Street, followed by a sprawling cluster of venues at 168 Walker Street, including a providore, bakery, LA-inspired all-day diner and Japanese eatery 12 months later.

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