It’s been a year of mixed blessings and change in Sydney, as some great, long-running restaurants closed, but in their place, another 100 culinary flowers bloomed. The city was spoiled for choice, with an incredible diversity of offerings emerging, from Icebergs Dining Room & Bar maestro Maurice Terzini breathing new life into The Dolphin in Surry Hills, to bar baron Justin Hemmes giving the Newport a major makeover, to former Nomad chef Nathan Sasi Spanish sojourn at Mercardo in the CBD.

Meanwhile, the Three Blue Ducks team took over the old Kitchen by Mike site in Rosebery’s Koskela homewares warehouse, former Quay sous chef Analiese Gregory opened the brilliant, petite and truly scrumptious Bar Brose in Darlinghurst, Morgan McGlone’s Belles Hot Chicken began to roll out across the city like KFC for hipsters, and Barangaroo and Tramsheds became dining hotspots.

With so many great new places to eat, it’s been a challenge to narrow them down, but here’s Business Insider’s top 10 for 2016.

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