Does it get any better than fresh pesto made tableside and then spooned through house-made pasta?. We don't think there is. So, come and see for yourself and taste A’Mare’s epic pesto pasta, made with basil, macadamia and pine nuts, crushed in front of your eyes.

Pasta master Alessandro Pavoni gets his first spot on this list with his refined eatery a'Mare in the glitzy Crown Sydney. With serious polish and impeccable service, a’Mare caters to the luxury sensibilities of the Crown’s intended high-roller audience, and serves up some of the best pasta in Sydney. The spaghetti alla chitarra with Moreton Bay bug, garlic, anchovy, oil and chilli is a silky and indulgent seafood pasta we always go back for, the pesto trofie is finished with the macadamia pesto pounded down tableside, and the paccheri served NSW Eastern Rock lobster, fresh tomato sauce, basil, garlic and chilli is a standout.

a’Mare is Alessandro and Anna Pavoni’s no-expense-spared monument to Italian cuisine, spanning two levels and 250 seats, with tables both inside and out boasting water views. When time allows, service flirts with theatricality, rendering the grandiosity more intimate and personal. In order to enjoy it to the fullest, you’ll have to pay to play, but what you’re here for is a vision of the cucina vera that revels unapologetically in romance and luxury.

The fine diner takes Italian cooking to whole new delicious level — with some casual theatrics. Located in the striking, if controversial, Crown Casino building at Barangaroo, a’Mare is an elegant Italian restaurant offering exceptional Aussie produce paired with classic Italian ingredients. It’s a menu that whisks you off to the sunny shores of Italy and been awarded a Chef’s Hat through Good Food Guide.

Hailing from Alessandro Pavoni, the Italian mastermind behind one of Sydney’s institutions Ormeggio at the Spit, a’Mare, is taking us back to the days of paramount service and good food. The atmosphere and interior are inspired by the palazzi of old school Italy— Venice, Milan, Rome and Lake Garda. Although the real show stopper here is the food.

More striking than the view at A’Mare is the scent of fresh basil as you enter the dining room. That’s because the signature pesto alla Genovese – packed with macadamia and pine nuts – is pounded tableside in a 30-kilogram mortar. It’s finished with extra-virgin olive oil, then tossed with fresh semolina trofie pasta.

There are plenty of reasons a’Mare, seating around 200 on a sunny weekend, deserves to draw crowds. The first being it’s perhaps the purest expression of high-end classic Italian in the country. Alessandro Pavoni, who oversees more modernist cooking at Ormeggio, is clearly revelling in the concept.

A swish spot in Barangaroo, A'Mare is excellent for seafood lovers. Boasting a sleek bar, plush blue seating and botanical decor, the stunner is perfect for birthday celebrations and brunches. Expect thinly sliced sashmi and fresh risotto whipped up by chef Alessandro Pavoni.

Alessandro Pavoni (he who has guided Ormeggio at The Spit to legendary status) opened a’Mare with theatre in mind. At least in a relative sense. A return to old-school tableside prep and gregarious service brings a great sense of flair to the expensive space.

Translating to ‘by the sea’, a’Mare offers a piece of la dolce vita from its luxurious harbourside location in Barangaroo’s Crown Casino. Watch ferries come and go from the restaurant’s covered outdoor terrace while trofie al pesto is made tableside.

Local seafood takes the spotlight on this Italian-inspired menu. Chef Alessandro Pavoni promises a uniquely Sydney feel to his offering. Must-orders include swordfish cooked on charcoal or the designed-to-share Cotoletta Milanese ‘elephant ear’.