5 Best Restaurants in Sydney, Cape Breton Island

Located in a conference center on the Membertou First Nation's urban reserve, this spacious dining room serves up inspired global cuisine using fresh, local ingredients with many dishes having an Indigenous twist—and you can order a prix fixe three-course First Nation menu (CA$45) that changes with the seasons. Regular menu items range from lamb chops perfectly cooked with a pistachio pesto to a delicately spiced curry paella. The food is excellent, portions generous, and the space both inside the restaurant and in corridors outside features Indigenous art and artifacts. 

This fun and funky coffee house is the perfect spot for an expertly prepared latte, fresh-baked goods, and a little conversation with the locals.

In a city where deep fryers reign supreme, this small eatery is a welcome find. The haddock is poached, the scallops seared, the prawns tossed in pesto sauce—and Flavor's flavors shine through. The menu is broad: house-made pastas are popular, as are the inventive sandwiches and all-day breakfasts. Brunch is served on Saturday, and there's a small patio in summer.

Sydney's first mayor, Walter Crowe, once lived in this Victorian home, built in the late 1800s. The restaurant, with hardwood floors, a fireplace, and high ceilings, is known for fresh seafood and hand-cut steaks, though there are lighter options such as salads, wraps, and burgers. Desserts are all house-made. Both the restaurant and the pub upstairs have large patios that overlook Sydney Harbour. There's regular live entertainment.

This cozy café is Cape Breton's first vegan eatery and serves up inventive and tasty dishes.