Neil Perry's Rockpool has been around since 1989, but it's been getting so much press over the past year thanks to the work of head chef Phil Wood that it merits inclusion on a Heat Map. It's better than ever, most say, offering some of the best Asian-inspired fine dining in the country.

High ceilings, brick walls, a bustling vibe, and excellent oysters and steak at this new venture in the Brooklyn Hotel.

This is the latest venture from the team behind the China Doll restaurants, and yet another entry in the recent Sydney Chinese restaurant boom (Mr. Wong's, another one of them, appears in the last Sydney Heatmap). Critic Terry Durack loves it: "Most dishes I sample show enough finesse, balance and understanding of Asian flavours to impress, but also have that little something extra – a twist, an unexpected tang, an untraditional relish – that lifts them away from the everyday."

Sydney residents rejoiced when they learned that Frank Camorra had finally decided to open an outpost of his wildly popular Melbourne restaurant in their city earlier this Fall. The menu features the same satisfying tapas as at the originals, like a very Ferran Adrià air baguette with wagyu and garlic.

The four iteration of Chui Lee Luk's Claude's has earned raves since it opened its doors over the summer, revealing a casual downstairs dining room and finer one upstairs.