The Grounds of the City

4.3

3644 Reviews

$40 and under

Modern Australian

Make a reservation

2 people

Feb 16, 2025

11:30 PM

Booked 38 times today

Experiences are available.

Charming
Great for brunch
Good for special occasions

The Grounds of the City, the second outpost from the team behind The Grounds of Alexandria, is bringing soul back to the CBD with old-school service and charm. Located in the heart of the CBD and bustling with activity, The Grounds of the City is tailor-made for a marvellous time; no matter the occasion. Start your day right as our baristas expertly serve up The Grounds house-roasted espresso and filter coffees, or end it in the best possible way and cosy in with our selection of cocktails and a dinner menu that features something for everyone. You’ll find our coffee sommelier at The Barista’s Bar ready to take you through a tailored coffee experience, and our tea lady roaming the room with a trolley adorned with fresh coffee, our selection of ethically sourced teas and cakes.

Order delivery or takeout

Additional information

Dining style
Casual Elegant
Price
$40 and under
Cuisines
Modern Australian, Café
Hours of operation
Mon–Fri 7:00 am–9:30 pm Sat 8:00 am–9:30 pm Sun 8:00 am–5:00 pm
Phone number
(02) 9699 2225
Website
http://thegrounds.com.au/Spaces/the-grounds-of-the-city/
Payment options
AMEX, Mastercard, Visa
Dress code
Casual Dress
Executive chef
Paul McGrath
Catering
From client meetings to personal celebrations, our drop-off catering menu offers a selection of sweet and savoury options that can be combined to achieve the perfect offering for your occasion. To view our offering and order online, visit our website <a href="https://thegroundscatering.com.au/" target="_blank">here</a>.

Location
500 George St, Sydney, AU-NSW 2000
Neighborhood
Sydney CBD
Cross street
Park St, Sydney, AU-NSW 2000
Parking details
Sydney CBD has a range of privately owned car parks located within walking distance. Two close-by options include the Citigroup Centre Car Park located at 271 Pitt St or the Queen Victoria Building Car Park at 111 York St.
Public transit
TRAIN - Exit the train at Town Hall Station. The Grounds of the City is located on the right hand side, directly across the road from The Queen Victoria Building.BUS - Arrange a bus route to drop you at Town Hall Station, or the QVB on York St, located within walking distance from The Grounds of the City.
Additional
Beer, Cafe, Cocktails, Counter Seating, Full Bar, Happy Hour, High Tea, Late Night, Non-Smoking, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Takeout, Weekend Brunch, Wheelchair Access, Wine

Featured in

35 Sydney Restaurants to Connect In For Mother's Day

Experiences

High Tea
A$65.00 per person
Multiple dates available
Indulge in a touch of elegance! Delight in a curated selection of sweet and savoury treats, including: - Cucumber, mint and cream cheese finger tea sandwich. - Poached chicken, sun dried tomato and watercress finger sandwich. - Mushroom, truffle and mascarpone mini tartlet. - Smoked salmon rillettes on brioche toast with dill, crème fraîche and caviar. - Mini vanilla mille feuille. - Chocolate sacher-torte. - Fresh plum and almond tartlet. - Chefs selection of macarons. - Warm scone with vanilla bean mascarpone and house-made jam. - A cup of tea, coffee or juice. All items will be plated to share. The high tea menu can only be adjusted for vegetarians. For other dietary needs, or groups of 6+ people, please contact us on (02) 9699 2225.

Popular dishes

Raisin French ToastA$22.00
Caramelised figs, vanilla yoghurt
Fresh Cut Fruit SaladA$22.00
Passionfruit, vanilla yoghurt
Toasted CrumpetsA$19.00
Butter, clotted cream, wild organic honey
Housemade GranolaA$22.00
Cinnamon yoghurt, figs, banana, almonds
Chilled Overnight OatsA$20.00
Coconut yoghurt, mango, grapefruit, raspberries
Buttermilk PancakesA$24.00
Poached spring fruit salad, vanilla mascarpone
Continental BreakfastA$21.00
The Grounds mini pastry selection with condiments, vanilla bean yoghurt & fresh fruit salad

Perfect Eggs

Toasted Seedy BagelA$24.00
Whipped ricotta & feta, heirloom tomatoes, basil, lemon oil, capers
Tarte Fine Of Sauteed LeeksA$22.00
Poached eggs, hollandaise, oyster mushrooms, hazelnuts, endive
Zucchini & Spinach FrittersA$26.00
Crème fraîche, citrus-cured salmon, poached eggs, hollandaise
Eggs On ToastA$17.00
The Grounds sourdough
Big BrekkieA$27.00
Chicken chorizo, onions, fried potatoes, poached eggs, paprika, tomatoes, green chilli
Citrus Cured Salmon BenedictA$28.00
Croissant roll, poached eggs, chive, hollandise

The Classics

Lobster OmeletteA$38.00
Shimeji mushrooms, spinach, caper burnt butter
Avocado On ToastA$24.00
Grounds sourdough, poached egg, avocado, tomatoes, radish, feta, mint, lie, salsa verde
Steak 'N' EggsA$32.00
Fried eggs, sautéed onions, spinach, mushrooms, beef glaze
Brekkie BurgerA$24.00
Brioche bun, pepper jam, spinach, gruyere, cheddar, scrambled egg, port sausage, potato gems, chipotle aioli

Healthy Bowls

Breakfast SaladA$24.00
Millet, greens, cherry tomatoes, pears, avocado, poached eggs, herbed hollandaise
Brekkie Mezze BowlA$26.00
Peppers, tomatoes, feta, zucchini, cucumber, tahini, eggplant, chickpeas, avocado, herbs, hummus, fried egg, pickles, sesame bread

Sides

Streaky BaconA$6.00
AvocadoA$4.50
MushroomsA$5.50
Poached EggA$3.50
Roasted TomatoA$5.50
Italian Pork SausageA$6.50
Sourdough ToastA$3.50
Hot Smoked SalmonA$6.00

What 3,644 people are saying

Overall ratings and reviews

Reviews can only be made by diners who have eaten at this restaurant

4.3

4.3 based on recent ratings

4.3Food
4.4Service
4.5Ambience
4Value

Noise • Energetic

Loved For

Sydney
Great for brunch
Sydney
Most Booked
Sydney City
Great for brunch
Sydney City
Most Booked

Review summary

AI-generated from verified diner reviews

The Grounds of the City offers a "beautiful atmosphere" with consistently praised service and "delicious food." Guests enjoy an "amazing breakfast" and "spectacular" coffee. Although some have noted occasional service lapses and noise, the overall dining experience remains "fantastic" with a "unique vibe" and highly recommended for its brunch offerings.

3,644 Reviews

K
Kelsey
Sydney
1 review
3.0
1 review
Dined today
1. Overall 3
2. Food 3
3. Service 2
4. Ambience 2
If you’re going to the grounds for the atmosphere - nailed it! Great ambience! Once we got service, she was lovely and always made sure our water was full. Our coffee came out long after the food. Food was nice but not worth what you pay for it but I guess costs of living. Very loud and quite dark but a nice experience all the same
Is this helpful?
Y
Yunfan
Newcastle
1 review
3.0
1 review
Dined 1 day ago
1. Overall 3
2. Food 4
3. Service 2
4. Ambience 5
Great food with some subtle racism in services. You wouldn't feel it if you're Caucasian.
Is this helpful?
B
Bob
Sydney
2 reviews
3.0
2 reviews
Dined 2 days ago
1. Overall 3
2. Food 2
3. Service 4
4. Ambience 4
I dislike sitting facing a wall, so it was not a good start when I was. I ordered a steak sandwich. They provided a steak knife after the order. When it arrived it looked OK. However, when I tried to cut it into pieces to eat, there was a very tough band of grissle through the meat. I complained to the waitress. At the end of the meal I complained again as the plates were cleared. The manager came and apologised. He offered a ‘free’ desert. We did not need desert so he removed my main from the bill.
Is this helpful?
F
Fortune
Sydney
1 review
4.0
1 review
Dined 2 days ago
1. Overall 4
2. Food 5
3. Service 3
4. Ambience 4
The food was amazing! The ambiance was romantic and perfect for a Valentine’s celebration. However, the service was not the best. Our server was a bit clumsy and even told us not to raise our hands because it was busy. Overall, a great place for food and atmosphere, but service could be better.
Is this helpful?
E
Erin
NT
1 review
3.0
1 review
Dined 5 days ago
1. Overall 3
2. Food 5
3. Service 1
4. Ambience 3
Food was fantastic but service let the experience down. Made a booking so when I arrived I waited in the pre booked line. Was ignored by the host as she continued to seat people who walked up after we had arrived. Took 15mins to get a server to take a drink order.
Is this helpful?
OT
OpenTable Diner
Sydney
2 reviews
5.0
2 reviews
Dined 7 days ago
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
It’s always a pleasure to eat at Grounds if the City in George St. Service is top notch and the food is tasty and enough options to keep you coming back.
Is this helpful?
I
Isabel
Sydney
1 review
5.0
1 review
Dined 7 days ago
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
Delicious meal ( summer salad, delicious peach iced tea and lovely, huge strawberry cake)! Excellent, courteous, thoughtful service.
Is this helpful?
K
Kelly
Sydney
1 review
5.0
1 review
Dined on February 8, 2025
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
Great ambience, delicious food and attentive service. Highly recommend.
Is this helpful?
B
Bridget
Sydney
1 review
5.0
1 review
Dined on February 1, 2025
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
Amazing place! We were pleasantly greeted and promptly served once seated. The food was amazing and for the city, I think the prices are very reasonable. We will definitely be coming back 😊 I recommend booking as it is always busy.
The Grounds of the CityResponded on February 6, 2025
Thank you Bridget for leaving us such a wonderful review. We are thrilled to hear that you had fantastic experience at our restaurant. We take pride in providing our customers with a memorable dining experience, and we are delighted to hear that we hit the mark for you. We look forward to welcoming you back. Kind Regards Kishan/ Restaurant Manager
Is this helpful?
M
Maegan
Sydney
2 reviews
5.0
2 reviews
Dined on February 1, 2025
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
The best food we have ever had. The entire atmosphere was amazing, I could have sat there all night. The staff were so friendly and attentive and did I mention the food was amazing?? Cocktails were so good, it was such a beautiful experience
The Grounds of the CityResponded on February 6, 2025
Hi Maegan, Thank you for taking the time to leave such a positive review. We are thrilled that you enjoyed our food, service and atmosphere. Your compliments will be passed along to our service staff, kitchen and bar staff who will be happy to receive such positive feedback. We appreciate your support and hope to have the pleasure of serving you again in the future. Kind regards Kishan/ Restaurant Manager
Is this helpful?

FAQs

The Grounds of the City offers takeout which you can order by calling the restaurant at (02) 9699 2225.

The Grounds of the City is rated 4.3 stars by 3644 OpenTable diners.

Yes, you can generally book this restaurant by choosing the date, time and party size on OpenTable.

Make a reservation

2 people

Feb 16, 2025

11:30 PM

Booked 38 times today

Experiences are available.

Order delivery or takeout

500 George St, Sydney, AU-NSW 2000

Additional information

Cross street
Park St, Sydney, AU-NSW 2000
Neighborhood
Sydney CBD
Hours of operation
Mon–Fri 7:00 am–9:30 pm Sat 8:00 am–9:30 pm Sun 8:00 am–5:00 pm
Price
$40 and under
Cuisines
Modern Australian, Café
Dining style
Casual Elegant
Dress code
Casual Dress
Parking details
Sydney CBD has a range of privately owned car parks located within walking distance. Two close-by options include the Citigroup Centre Car Park located at 271 Pitt St or the Queen Victoria Building Car Park at 111 York St.
Public transit
TRAIN - Exit the train at Town Hall Station. The Grounds of the City is located on the right hand side, directly across the road from The Queen Victoria Building.BUS - Arrange a bus route to drop you at Town Hall Station, or the QVB on York St, located within walking distance from The Grounds of the City.
Payment options
AMEX, Mastercard, Visa
Executive chef
Paul McGrath
Additional
Beer, Cafe, Cocktails, Counter Seating, Full Bar, Happy Hour, High Tea, Late Night, Non-Smoking, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Takeout, Weekend Brunch, Wheelchair Access, Wine

Website
http://thegrounds.com.au/Spaces/the-grounds-of-the-city/
Phone number
(02) 9699 2225
Catering
From client meetings to personal celebrations, our drop-off catering menu offers a selection of sweet and savoury options that can be combined to achieve the perfect offering for your occasion. To view our offering and order online, visit our website <a href="https://thegroundscatering.com.au/" target="_blank">here</a>.

Featured in

35 Sydney Restaurants to Connect In For Mother's Day

The Grounds of the City

Make a reservation

Order delivery or takeout

Additional information

35 Sydney Restaurants to Connect In For Mother's Day

High Tea

Brekkie Burger

Lobster Omelette

Buttermilk Pancakes

Rise & Shine

Raisin French ToastA$22.00

Fresh Cut Fruit SaladA$22.00

Toasted CrumpetsA$19.00

Housemade GranolaA$22.00

Chilled Overnight OatsA$20.00

Buttermilk PancakesA$24.00

Continental BreakfastA$21.00

Perfect Eggs

Toasted Seedy BagelA$24.00

Tarte Fine Of Sauteed LeeksA$22.00

Zucchini & Spinach FrittersA$26.00

Eggs On ToastA$17.00

Big BrekkieA$27.00

Citrus Cured Salmon BenedictA$28.00

The Classics

Lobster OmeletteA$38.00

Avocado On ToastA$24.00

Steak 'N' EggsA$32.00

Brekkie BurgerA$24.00

Healthy Bowls

Breakfast SaladA$24.00

Brekkie Mezze BowlA$26.00

Sides

Streaky BaconA$6.00

AvocadoA$4.50

MushroomsA$5.50

Poached EggA$3.50

Roasted TomatoA$5.50

Italian Pork SausageA$6.50

Sourdough ToastA$3.50

Hot Smoked SalmonA$6.00

Overall ratings and reviews

Loved For

Review summary

FAQs

Does The Grounds of the City offer delivery through OpenTable or takeout?

How is The Grounds of the City restaurant rated?

Is The Grounds of the City currently accepting reservations?

Make a reservation

Order delivery or takeout

Additional information

Featured in

35 Sydney Restaurants to Connect In For Mother's Day