EAT > Porteño, Surry Hills Sydney (17/20)

In 2025, Porteno was recognised as number 20 on the world’s best steak restaurants. This is Sydney hospitality done well, Its a smart room, good food, good service and an excellent wine cellar. What’s not to love.

AMBIANCE >

Step inside Porteno and it’s Buenos Aires by way of Sydney—soccer pennants, dark wood, flickering lamps, and tiled saloon floors pulling you into another hemisphere. There’s fire—literally—anchoring the back wall, the sizzle of asado, and the hum of conversation that rises as the night picks up. Every corner feels tightly wound, equal parts theatre and throwback, with staff moving like seasoned bartenders across a smoky, sunken dining room.

EAT >

Porteno’s menu reads like a love letter to Argentinian grilling. Start with pork belly rich as memory, crispy house bread, or oozy halloumi and then dive into the mains—the Wagyu skirt steak, thick-cut and charred, is the stuff of carnivore dreams. There’s usually smoked chicken and lamb, daily specials, and a salad of fennel and herbs bright enough to wake up the whole meal. Sides—fries, seasonal roast veggies, tangy chimichurri—show care and restraint towards proper balance.

DRINK >

Porteno’s wine list leans hard into Malbec, but there’s serious depth in smaller Argentinian and South American producers. Australian and European bottles fill out the list, and cocktails hit with the right amount of punch—think bitter, smoky, and fresh. Staff know the wines and pour with confidence, whether recommending for your meal or shaking up something new from the bar.

CONCLUSION >

Porteno is a diner’s night out—a little raucous, always memorable, built for groups, grill-seekers and anybody with a taste for proper hospitality. The food delivers every bite with intent, the room hums, and the drinks reward curiosity. Pricing reflects its status among Sydney’s best, but service, steaks, and ambiance repay every cent. A ritual for birthdays, celebrations, and those who crave smoky drama.

#ALMANAKMAGAZINE

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

Image Credit | ALMANAK & Harriot

---