Katoomba Street might be quiet in the evening, but Tempus, its front window marked by a gilded banksia, is as vibrant as an inner-city bistro.

Locals and out-of-towners fill tables. A couple has a tete-a-tete over tuna carpaccio, adding reserved lemon and plum to every bite. A service dog sits at her owner’s feet, waiting for the slice of sirloin in pepper jus that never falls. Friends reach over one another, using Black Cockatoo sourdough to swipe up almond romesco and burrata.

The Katoomba bakery (head there for excellent croissants and coffee when in town) is just one of the ethical producers Tempus calls a partner, in line with its sustainability ethos. Add an Aussie-only wine list and a weekday brekkie/brunch menu, and we’ll take a Tempus for every main street in the Mountains, please.

Good Food reviews are booked anonymously and paid independently. A restaurant can’t pay for a review or inclusion in the Good Food Guide.