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Restaurant

Bessie's & Alma's

111-115 Albion St, Surry Hills NSW 2010, Australia

Recommended by 50 people

Updated

Find Bessie's & Alma's

111-115 Albion St, Surry Hills NSW 2010, Australia

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HoursMonday: 5:00 PM – 12:00 AM Tuesday: 5:00 PM – 12:00 AM Wednesday: 5:00 PM – 12:00 AM Thursday: 12:00 PM – 12:00 AM Friday: 12:00 PM – 12:00 AM Saturday: 12:00 PM – 12:00 AM Sunday: 12:00 PM – 12:00 AM

*Opening hours may differ during holidays.

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About Bessie's & Alma's

Tucked off Crown Street on Albion, this Surry Hills spot channels wood-fired Mediterranean energy with an open hearth in full view. Regulars gravitate toward the walk-in bar counter for shaken Palomas and small plates—like raw tuna perched on crisp hash browns and Moreton Bay bug sandwiches—while dining tables dive into charred sourdough flatbread paired with whipped cod roe, tender pipis, and spiced duck. Save room for the wood-fired Portuguese tart, pulled warm with an oozy custard center.

  • Wood-Fired Hearth & Open Kitchen: The kitchen anchors the room around a visible wood-fired hearth and oven, turning out blistered sourdough flatbreads, roasted duck, and warm custard tarts.
  • Walk-In Bar Counter for Small Plates: Walk-ins can grab counter stools for crisp cocktails and small bites, from anchovy brioche to the signature bug sandwich, without committing to the full dining room menu.
RestaurantMediterraneanRestaurantCocktail Bar

What's On at Bessie's & Alma's

Upcoming events, special menus and other reasons to plan a visit.

Why Choose Bessie's & Alma's

From open hearth cooking and walk-in cocktail snacks to intimate group gatherings, here is what sets Bessie's & Alma's apart.

  • Wood-Fired Hearth & Open Culinary Theater

    A central hearth anchors the energetic dining room, turning wood-fired flatbreads, spiced duck, and seafood into culinary theater directly visible from tables.

    Having an open-concept kitchen adds a great dynamic to the experience—it’s fantastic watching the culinary team at work.

    Calista Koh

  • Precision Cocktails & Considered Cellar

    Balanced cocktailcraft and curated pairings elevate dinners, led by standout house martinis, negronis, and attentive sommelier guidance.

    The House Martini was absolutely perfect—clean, crisp, beautifully balanced, and easily one of the best I’ve had in Sydney.

    Dan Danuson

  • Casual Walk-In Bar Counter

    Spontaneous guests can walk in without a reservation for counter seating dedicated to house cocktails and signature bite-sized snacks.

    We sat at the bar and enjoyed some small bites with a cocktail and really enjoyed.

    pia lily

  • Dedicated High-Impact Bar Snacks

    The bar counter offers a tailored, snack-centric menu featuring standouts like tuna on hash brown and bug sandwiches when dining without a full reservation.

    We ordered lots of small plates and omg every dish was so good we found we didn’t need mains to feel satisfied

    James Allen

  • Effortless Group Celebrations

    Generous, shareable multi-course plates from pipis to whole fish make celebratory birthday meals seamless and collective.

    We celebrated a friends birthday here and every dish was a hit!

    K Ly

  • Conversational Dining Acoustics

    Considered dining room acoustics ensure intimate conversation remains clear even as the lively restaurant fills to capacity.

    despite the fact that the restaurant was full you could manage to hear everyone at the table because the acoustics were considered.

    Anita Gardiner

Signature savory plates and standout snacks

  • Tuna on Hash Brown

    The tuna on hash! Omg melts in your mouth -star dish

    James Allen

  • Whipped Cod Roe and Flatbread

    The cod roe and garlic flatbread combo was also exceptional and a real highlight.

    Chiseko Yaone Pheto

  • Moreton Bay Bug Sandwich

    The bug sandwich was easily the best dish of the night, I would come back just to eat ten more of them.

    Chiseko Yaone Pheto

  • Pipis

    pipis - really tasty dish served with charred bread to mop up the delicious sauce

    L H

Other favorites

Signature cocktails, wood-fired desserts, and savory sides

  • Portuguese Tart

    Their wood-fired Portuguese tart with oozy cinnamon and vanilla custard center and the decadent salted peanut caramel parfait. Next. Level.

    Jojo

  • House Martini

    The House Martini was absolutely perfect—clean, crisp, beautifully balanced, and easily one of the best I’ve had in Sydney.

    Dan Danuson

  • Beef Fat Potatoes

    the beef fat potatoes were also incredible.

    Chiseko Yaone Pheto

  • Paloma

    Would recommend all, especially their Paloma!

    pia lily

Beyond the menu

Thoughtful hospitality touches that elevate wood-fired dining in Surry Hills

  • Portion and Order Calibration

    The waitstaff proactively calibrate ordering quantities to match exact table dynamics, guiding parties on how many plates to order for seamless sharing.

  • Hearthside Open-Kitchen Engagement

    Guests seated in the dining room get a direct, engaging view of the culinary team operating the hearth and wood-fire oven in real time.

  • Judgement-Free Takeaway Service

    Front-of-house staff willingly pack even small remaining portions without hesitation, enabling guests to take home elevated wood-fired sides.

  • Dedicated Pairing and Sommelier Guidance

    Dedicated sommelier and bar guidance pairs crisp house cocktails and curated regional wines seamlessly across multi-course meals.

Before you head over

Practical advice on seating rules, booking timing, and dietary ordering

  • Bar Seating Limits Mains

    The walk-in bar counter serves drinks and an extensive selection of small plates, but mains are strictly reserved for the dining room. If you want full-sized entrees, secure a dining table booking ahead of time.

  • Book Ahead for Prime Dining

    The lively room fills up rapidly even earlier in the week and can become quite bustling and noisy. Book in advance if you want a guaranteed table for dinners and special celebrations.

  • Confirm Dietary Details Early

    Dishes that appear plant-based may include non-vegan ingredients, and kitchen apologies can misjudge non-alcoholic preferences. Verify full ingredient details with staff when ordering strict dietary requirements.

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