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We look forward to welcoming you to Machiavelli's! Make a booking

Google Rating

4.5

Machiavelli

4.5

Blerina Dula

22:51 15 Jun 22

Absolutely superb, If you’re looking for an authentic Italian dining experience you must visit this place. The food was superb and the staff is super friendly. I would definitely go back, 5 out 5 for sure!

Kevin McDonnell

07:05 19 May 22

Do not let the drab exterior fool you, inside and downstairs is the place to experience superb Italian cuisine. Located in Clarence St its a short walk down Barrack to enjoy a great meal. Busy and a great atmosphere.

N Armstrong

03:59 19 May 22

The food has always held a tradition of quality. Very popular restaurant amongst execs. Can get busy at lunch so need a little patience as staff can become stretched however always professional

Harbour Bridge

05:18 22 Apr 22

We went back to Machiavelli last night after some time. The food was brilliant and the service was excellent. I would have loved to have given it five stars but there is one simple thing it should do. The lighting is far too bright for dinner. For such a sophisticated, historic restaurant, the bright lights destroy the ambiance and give it a food court, or even a McDonalds feel. It is the opposite to romantic. It is true that some restaurants are too dark, but surely there is a happy medium. I see others have made similar observations so I hope they can take this on board.

Sid Rev

10:56 20 Apr 22

Went here for a company dinner. It turned out to be a very happening spacious underground level place. We ordered some seafood appetisers share followed by fresh pasta dishes. Service was attentive.

Raphael Athas

11:26 10 Apr 22

Oh my god. Fantastic 5 star Italian dining experience. I didn't get what I originally wanted elsewhere in the city and had to book this as a last resort, but wow! What a great atmosphere, exquisite food, and friendly + accommodating staff. The whole night we felt like royalty! A great way to spend our 3rd year anniversary.

Briapps

13:22 25 Mar 22

Exactly what dinner should be about. Great food and friendly team. Atmosphere is perfect for a nice catch up with friends. No one is tapping you on the shoulder to remind that the 2 hour meal period is over. Yes, you can relax and enjoy your meal, wine and company of friends.

Callum Vittali-Smith

02:33 16 Mar 22

Brilliant dishes - good portion sizes. Excellent menu. Welcoming, helpful and very attentive staff (without being overbearing). Good drinks. Just a great atmosphere.

Liss H

11:41 28 Feb 22

The best Italian in Sydney by far. My fiancé is half Italian and has been looking for an authentic Italian in Sydney for years. This place is authentic, food is fresh and delicious, and service is amazing. Highly recommend this restaurant. We came for my fiancé’s birthday after a recommendation from a friend. We can’t wait to come back 🍝 🇮🇹🙌🏼

Angie Ma

09:38 21 Feb 22

This restaurant definitely one of the best Italian restaurants in Sydney. However, don’t really understand the decoration in the restaurant with all the politicians photos hanging there, I think that was a bit weird. We ordered the oysters were very fresh, the calamari was delicious. We also ordered risotto and the duck ragu, both very nice seasoned and fresh. Tiramisu and the chocolate mousse were worth to try. Definitely will be back for more mains.

Ermi Isais

03:04 16 Dec 21

If you’re looking for an authentic Italian dining experience, you’ve come to the right place. The lower ground level makes the atmosphere feel like intimate yet inviting. The red walls are lined with beautiful artwork and black and white photos of celebrities. Staff are friendly and professional. The food is cooked in a classic and traditional way. No obscure, modern twists to the original recipe, just real Italian food. Each dish is delicious and rich with flavour. Great for medium to large groups.

Alexis Howell

01:34 28 Nov 21

Cosy, personable surroundings. Delicious food, friendly, fabulous service. Just a beautiful atmosphere.

Steve Grantham

11:47 15 Nov 21

A lot of the reviews here mention the steak tartare and the algorithm will recognise this review merely for the mention of the dish. But not for what I'm about to say. That it's mince, that it's top side, that it's a dish I'm happy to have eaten once yes, but, sadly, I can't see why I'd eat it again. The waiter seasoned it at the table and it was all very fancy but I just can't help but feel it's inclusion on the menu is a bit dated, something like the menu Dustin Hoffman's character in the movie Chef insists upon. I recognise quality flavour though and the tagliatelle Machiavelli my wife had was delicious. Service was attentive. The who's who of who's eaten at this restaurant (I assume) around the walls subtly reminds me to keep my feet firmly in the middle class section of Sydney life.

ANN VIZZONE

01:21 02 Nov 21

Love this restaurant! The food is sensational, staff were outstanding & the cocktails were beautiful! Highly recommend!

Chris Parrello

21:18 12 Jun 21

An amazing experience… the best traditional Italian food! Amazing wine and champagne! Great service… thank you

Garry Crowhurst

00:45 11 May 21

Good service coupled with great food from the kitchen. Excellent wine list - a memorable evening to celebrate my wife birthday. Machiavelli is now on our list of favourites and we shall be returning soon!

Tim Hansen

01:11 29 Apr 21

Lovely food there, but the noise was dreadful. Some sound baffle panels would have made the night perfect. My ears rang for two days after dinner there. Staff are outstanding and very attentive indeed.

Niall Mad

09:46 14 Apr 21

I cannot wait to go back. The staff are amazing, not rushed when you order. The food comes out with a nice gap between. Now the food..... amazing! So fresh and great quality. The wine selection is very good by the glass. The atmosphere is fantastic!!

Severino Milazzo

00:55 13 Apr 21

Dining at Machiavelli's last night brought back very many happy memories of dining at Romano's many years ago. Last night's experience was truly amazing with the quality of the fresh produce - the John Dory was cooked to perfection with the sides of creamed spinach and potato adding to the taste and presentation. Service was excellent , white table cloths and silver service and accompanied by the ambience of photos of our poor modern day imitations of Machiavelli. The menu catered to all tastes and was wide in its coverage. One left captivated by the culinary and visual experience.

Josh Drake

06:19 08 Apr 21

Oh my god - home made pasta that melted in your mouth. Best Italian I have had in a long time. Great atmosphere and knowledgeable team.

Marcia Clarke

05:26 02 Apr 21

Great ambiance, amazing food and courteous staff. Such an amazing food and must say quite quick service. We got the food on table in about 10mins. The food was amazing.. one of the best restaurant in Sydney, I would say. It is located on Angel Pl and there is a Wilson parking just next door, so convenient

Tony

03:37 14 Mar 21

Food and service was exceptional. The best gnocchi I've had in my life! ...melts in your mouth. The beef tartare (with a nice red wine) was also incredible. Ambiance was great. Lots of historical photos. This place is a Sydney Italian restaurant icon.

MarkDavid semaan

10:03 12 Feb 21

Words don't get close to describing this place. The food was exceptional from start to finish and the service very friendly and helpful. The seafood is very fresh and the best I've had. Everything seems to be prepared fresh after ordered. You must finish the night with either the tiramisu or creme brulee, if you can't decide you won't be disappointed with both. We will be back.

Rafael Ali

16:51 01 Feb 21

We came here on a Monday night on the basis of T/A reviews and had a very nice evening. The food was very nice and the pasta servings were large enough to be a meal. The service was friendly and efficient and there were plenty of staff to look after everyone even though the restaurant was basically full. As other reviewers have mentioned, the foyer is adorned with photos of famous guests. We found this quite interesting. Inside the art is large photos of people with a political bent. There was the PM, the Treasurer but also the Packers or Murdochs and Alan Jones. It seems like the display changes over time. It may or may not be to your taste. Overall, a good night.

Javier Tye

13:44 28 Jan 21

We feel like words can not describe our experience. Everything was amazing! From the service of the staff (especially Nicole who made us feel so welcome!) , to the home made pasta, melting meat (we had duck ragout and beef cheek), the wine and dessert. The creme brulee was to die for. All exceeded our expectations in dining out. Best Italian food we have ever had!!! Thank you for such a great experience!!

Kippy Farr

06:51 16 Jan 21

The service and food at Machiavelli were both splendid! The wait staff was very attentive, but not intrusive. They were knowledgeable about the menu items and allergens, which are always a consideration for me. We were shocked that the restaurant didn't fill up the night we were there. We asked one of the locals about it and he said it was one of his favorites as well.

Sam Mete

05:28 28 Dec 20

Authentic Italian cuisine , the best. You can see why it is still going strong. Delicious food, wonderful Italian wine and atmosphere. Highly recommended.

Rona Grogan

11:51 22 Dec 20

Great place. Been going for 20 years never z bad meal yet. Great service

Hana Le

04:12 10 Dec 20

So delicious you must try. It's pricey but worth money. I ordered a homemade pasta and it is so soft, good seasoning and sauce is perfect!

Carma Moreton

18:15 06 Dec 20

Looked through the windows of this place everyday for the last 4 years as getting in the bus. Then had a work lunch here. Very impressed with the food and especially the service. Great ambiance, beautiful fresh perfectly presented and flavoursome food. Loved it. Highly recommend.

Anita Jones

17:09 06 Dec 20

william lopez

10:38 29 Nov 20

One of the best Italian restaurants in Sydney. Somewhat hidden away downstairs on Clarence St. My feet know the way though. Ah, the food. I always go for whatever is listed under the fresh pasta page, although my companion went for steak tartare. Her favourite dish of long standing apparently. Equally awesome as the seafood ravioli. nice

Stephana Djuric

23:46 23 Nov 20

We had a great dinner here to celebrate a birthday. It was very reassuring to see all the appropriate processes in place due to COVID 19 . The food was delicious and the service excellent. A great restaurant!!! Very impressed with the food and especially the service. Great ambiance, beautiful fresh perfectly presented and flavoursome food. Loved it.

Sheffield Spillane

21:23 09 Nov 20

Naomi

21:47 24 Oct 20

Amazing food brought down a notch by sneaky pricing. The best test for an Italian restaurant is their gnocchi so we ordered - and it was divine. Like eating a tiny cloud! The sauces were amazing and absolutely perfect as well. Staff were lovely and the atmosphere homely. The downside was the bill, the prices on the menu are ex GST for some reason. So your bill will have some extra zing to it. Couldn't find anything about this on their website or menu itself. I have dined in many restaurants around Australia and never ever had this before. Not even degustations or any other fine dining.

Anita Williams

14:06 20 Oct 20

Mikey Poulson

17:35 11 Oct 20

Eamonn Leighton

11:44 07 Oct 20

Food was the best Italian I've had in Sydney. Everything was sensational and wine was wonderful as well. Kind of wish they didn't have pictures of past dine in-guests (mostly politicians) on the walls, though... must-try just for the food.

Amory Winder

17:37 06 Oct 20

Alec Church

21:39 18 Sep 20

Sheree Connell

04:41 17 Sep 20

Great food and service

Bob Zhou

05:48 10 Sep 20

Food is glorious, staff attentive and not intrusive.

Jacobs Ross

05:16 01 Sep 20

Lara Goulding

21:55 29 Jul 20

Absolutely delicious food. High quality staff. I'll be back 🙂

Dino Serrao

09:44 20 Jul 20

Probably one of the best Italian cuisine in Sydney CBD. And I am an Italian fussy customer. Truest me.

Nathan Willick

12:33 18 Jul 20

5 stars, the waiters were so kind and friendly. The food and drinks were amazing I would highly recommend this place for a date for your partner!

Victor Donovic

07:05 17 Jul 20

Lived up to its reputation. Lovely meal great service. Definitely returning

Kevin N

11:53 17 Jun 20

Went here to celebrate fiance's graduation. The steak was amazing, cooked very well. The mash was a dish in itself and was bursting with flavour.

Caroline Geroyan

03:18 13 Jun 20

Love this place! The blue spanner crab pappardelle pasta is unreal! I just wish the portions were bigger when you're paying $40-$50 for a plate of pasta. You almost need to order 2 to become full ... Otherwise so so delicious and amazing.

Eric Tucker

15:37 21 May 20

Rarely di we get to dinner in the city but when we do, Machiavelli in Clarence Street is one of 3 restaurants we go to. Regretfully one of those has closed recently but Machiavelli's has been around for so long it's and establishment restaurant I think. Nothing fancy, just good Italian food that you come to expect. We had the antipasto of course and our group then had some I'd their standard mains such as the tagliatelle ragu. There's a fine selection of seafood to cover from including some market specials. Loved the wine we had Friday night but have forgotten what we chose.

Ashley Backous

05:38 07 May 20

Allen Lane

08:30 30 Mar 20

tina mclendon

11:09 15 Mar 20

claudia Pizard

10:47 14 Mar 20

Loved this place. The food here is reminiscent of the years gone by. Amazing service . I will certainly come back.

James Webster

10:33 06 Mar 20

Warm hearted, fun and super professional. My guests and I had a wonderful time. Superb food, great wine list and delightful atmosphere. The antipasto misto and zucchini flowers were memorable, actually it all was.

James Webster

10:32 06 Mar 20

Nancy Garcia

05:53 25 Jan 20

Stephen Pettitt

09:38 24 Dec 19

Love this place. Quality food and wine delivered with passion. Ideal for a business lunch.

Con Thanopoulos

13:41 06 Dec 19

Food was good. Xmas party so don't know prices. Service was good. Atmosphere was good.

Lorena Robinson

17:03 05 Dec 19

My partner and I were both in the city so we decided to have dinner at Machiavelli’s. it had been several years since either of us had been, but we had both eaten there many times over the years. I was a little concerned that the restaurant may be a little tired but that simply wasn’t the case. The decor was still unmistakably Machiavelli, with the photo portraits of politicians and business leaders on the walls, and the waiters still in their relatively formal attire. The welcome was very friendly, the staff were attentive throughout the meal, and the food was excellent. If you are looking for simple, authentic Italian food, give this place a try.

Benjamin Barker

12:25 29 Nov 19

Great food. Excellent wait staff. It's a nice authentic Italian restaurant with plenty of history! A great place for small to medium groups to get to know each other over wine and a meal.

Any Draycott

17:07 15 Nov 19

Ilona Cheema

12:47 14 Nov 19

I just been there tonight. The food was super nice, my spachcock cooked to perfection. Beautiful pasta and ragu. But the bread was cold on the table and there was no butter. But we used olive oil instead :). I read the reviews before. Someone mentioned the bread being cold too. Common guys, just serve it when people arrive, nice and warm and crusty. The service was good. I was not focused on if the waiters were smiling or not. Like some previous comments. They were good and they came wen u called them, they served our food in time. That's what matters.

Patrick Blacker

13:45 04 Nov 19

Attended an event here recently and have to say, the staff, food and setup were simply incredible, the food was plentiful and executed to a premium quality. Will definitely be considering Machiavelli for future events due to it's versatility as a space, and the stellar food, drinks and service.

megan akers

09:40 19 Oct 19

I never thought the best Italian food I’d ever have would be in Australia! Here in Sydney, on my honeymoon, from Texas.. we travel all the time and we always try the Italian food.. this is the best so far! Great service, very authentic, staff is all from Italy and very kind. Food was second to none in Australia! Must taste and experience, thought I was IN Italy 🇮🇹

Alicia Reveley

02:04 07 Oct 19

This would have to be in my top three Italian (if not of all cuisine) places to eat in Sydney. I have never not had a meal here to die for! Not being open on weekend doesn't phase me at all - good on them. I cant wait to get back there now thats its getting chilly and to have a delicious meal over bottle of red. Staff are super friendly too.

Alicia Reveley

02:04 07 Oct 19

Jon Schmidt

12:06 23 Sep 19

A very strong, classic Italian restaurant. Great menu, kitchen, staff, wine, all in genuine tradition.

Timothy Balmain

17:09 14 Sep 19

Good food, nice atmosphere, maybe a bit more than I would like to pay but was good.

Ash S

19:50 11 Sep 19

The food is amazing and the service is excellent. I thoroughly enjoyed the succulent duck ragu and the smoothness of the cocktails. Would definitely go back again.

Ash S

19:50 11 Sep 19

The food is amazing and the service is excellent. I thoroughly enjoyed the succulent duck ragu and the smoothness of the cocktails. Would definitely go back again.

Kimberley Kells

09:37 05 Sep 19

I'VE FOUND IT! THE👏BEST👏GNOCCHI👏IN👏SYDNEY👏!!! These pillows of dreamy gnocchi have the texture of mashed potato that are someway somehow just holding together! When you pop one of these bad boys into your mouth they simply melt away and you are left with the lingering flavour of gorgonzola sauce which is so rich and indulgent, it's the stuff of legends! Just wow. The very talented chefs at Machiavelli are gnocchi magicians! Well done!

Annie Jackson

18:34 03 Sep 19

I actually don't want to share this restaurant with anyone because everything is so fabulous, food, wine, atmosphere, and service. But just to honor them, I need to write something. I will make sure to go back there every time I visit Sydney. If you don't want to make a reservation, maybe going there a bit later. Otherwise, reservation is a good idea.

Leighton Tinsley

11:52 30 Aug 19

We shared zucchini flowers as an appetiser and they were absolutely melt-in-the-mouth. I had the grilled snapper as a main while my partner had the veal. My snapper was perfectly cooked and accompanied by creamed spinach and a very detailed and delicious potato dish. My partner was very happy with her veal. The service was attentive, the bread on arrival perfect. We arrived before their opening time (unusually good traffic flow!) but they were very warm and accommodating. I agree with some other diners that the photos are overdone. I had to look at ScoMo all evening and Peter Fitz on the way to the loo!

Margaret Gardiner

06:19 14 Jul 19

We have ‘long-lunched’ here several times recently with 3 courses and a lovely bottle of accompanying vino. Food superb and service absolutely attentive without intrusion..My ‘Go-To’ restaurant I decided !! Last week we wanted simply a glass of red, share an entree and a main each with fairly quick exit. I wondered how the experience would work out or if we should have decided on an option elsewhere. We were not treated any differently ... superb food and same expert service despite a much smaller bill at the end of the lunch. As I said ... my absolute Go-To Restaurant surpassing Lucio and Pendolino. Highly recommend this restaurant. MG and Noel Robinson

Victoria Vartuli

12:15 08 Jul 19

Good service for a high end Italian restaurant where the prices are quite steep for simple Italian food. We had various entrees, pasta and the minute steak, followed by desserts. Many people rate this restaurant as amazing, but they are not Italian so wouldn’t put too much credibility on their review. My mother in law’s pasta is a mile ahead of this. Simple food, nothing phenomenal and definitely didn’t think it was worth the $340 price tag for 2 people (incl. 1 beer and 1 glass wine). We can tick this place off our bucket list, but wouldn’t return.

Victoria Vartuli

12:15 08 Jul 19

Nick Wong

10:53 26 Jun 19

Authentic Italian in the CBD. The venue gives off the right vibe and makes for a decent work lunch or dinner date option. Priced well and taste on point. Suggest trying the seafood dishes.

Ben Drury

01:12 21 Jun 19

It's an upmarket Italian restaurant, with impressive desserts, a bar and high class table service. The entree was delicious, and the mains looked delicious, but the prices were quite steep. The serving size was large for the meals others were enjoying.

Ben Drury

01:12 21 Jun 19

Marc Hodgson

09:34 30 May 19

Amazing service . Very few places nail all a aspects- food flavour and value, wait times, and level of service. We came in at a quiet time but the restaurant was full very quickly and attentiveness did not change. Food was amazing. Worth every cent

Victoria Jackson

10:37 27 May 19

Ingy Dee

14:09 17 Apr 19

Came here with a couple of girlfriends and the food did not disappoint .. we were too full for dessert so we will have to go back The ambiance is great, it did get surprisingly busy on a Monday night. They got a 4 star because the service was a little lacking. Our server was not very friendly and we had to hail a few of them down to finally get our bill. That was disappointing considering how much we enjoyed the meals

foodbloggeraustralia

02:01 23 Feb 19

From the moment you walk into Machiavelli Ristorante you feel welcomed like a family member. This venue definitely ticks the boxes! From the delicious entrees, to the beautiful mains to the decadent desserts, you will definitely enjoy mouthwatering bite! Highly recommend and definitely rate it 5 stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

foodbloggeraustralia .

08:40 21 Feb 19

Ash Im

08:23 16 Nov 18

I had travelled around Italy a few times now but the best gnocchi I've had is from this lovely restaurant in Sydney CBD. The waitstaff and host are very welcoming. I'll go back in a heartbeat.

Anthony Morabito

10:43 02 Nov 18

Excellent cuisine. Very nice waiting staff. Surprisingly got a spot outside the restaurant (ticket parking). Overall very good experience.

Rachelle Sassine

22:26 10 Oct 18

WOW, Just Wow! Last night I dined in at Machiavelli Sydney for the first time and I cant believe how impressed I was. I ordered the Beautiful Zucchini flowers, Grilled Snapper with Saffron Butter Sauce and the best Ravioli I have eaten in a long time. Literally melted in my mouth with a beautiful wine to match. Also, the service was exceptional, the staff, the chef and the management really make you feel like family. Best Italian Restaurant Sydney, hands down. Remember this face, I will be back - thank you.

Kylie Bannister

06:12 08 Aug 18

This is an absolute winner. Food was extremely delicious. Good wine selection. Service is top class, fast and professional. Waitress and waiters are all very nice, always smiling.

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