Sure, you could put your kitchen to the test with a long and laborious Christmas lunch, or you could head out and let some of Sydney’s best restaurants do all that hard work for you. The latter is definitely the better choice. While most shut up shop for the holiday period, many of the finest establishments in Sydney pull out all stops each year to open up on the 25th December, curating special exclusive feasts so you and your loved ones can have a nice and relaxing Christmas day minus all the preperation.
We’ve looked across Sydney and its surrounds to bring you six of our favourite Christmas Day events, all offering something different and making the most of their locations to help you see out the gift-giving occasion in the most perfect way possible.
Pier One Sydney Harbour (Walsh Bay)
In the shadow of Sydney Harbour Bridge is where you’ll find the ideal Christmas Day lunch. Head along to the five-star Pier One Sydney Harbour as they’ll be setting up the ultimate indulgent all-you-can-eat feast to pair with those picture-perfect waterfront views, filling The Water Room with traditional festive favourites, and then some.
An abundance of fresh seafood (think fresh Sydney Rock Oysters, Balmain Bugs and Blue Swimmer Crab) will be spread out across the space, right next to a live carvery station with nods to the Christmas classics with Turkey Breast and Maple Ham as well as Roast Pork and Lamb. For sides, guests will have plenty of choices across a selection of salads and sides, as well as a list of Australia beers, wines, soft drinks and juices as part of a 2.5 hour drinks package.
Of course, what would a Christmas buffet be without a range of desserts on offer. The five-star property’s luxe lunch will wrap up with a dessert spread designed to impress. They’re keeping specifics secret, but given Pier One Sydney Harbour’s reputation there’s little doubt that this will be the perfect way to wrap up a gift everyone can enjoy.
Prices for the Christmas Lunch are set at $225pp (18+); $159pp (teenager, 13-17 years old); $99pp (child, 4-7 years old); free for children under 3 years old. The buffet will start at 12:30pm in The Water Room and end at 3pm. For more information and bookings click HERE or call 02 8298 9999
11 Hickson Road, Walsh Bay NSW
Primus Hotel Sydney (CBD)
Around this time last year was when Primus Hotel Sydney opened their doors in the CBD, gifting the city a super premium hotel that’s since become a destination for both locals and visitors. The Wilmot, the hotel’s restaurant, is part of the appeal, with a very talented kitchen set to work their magic for Christmas Day lunch.
Taking place in the hotel’s grand lobby, Primus Hotel Sydney’s Christmas Day Lunch will feature several live cooking stations, set up around the art-deco space. Traditional meats such as honey glazed ham, turkey and lamb will be featured at a live carvery station, right along with a dedication seafood spread, a raw seafood bar (with fresh oyster shucking), a selection of salads and various other hot dishes. The dessert bar will feature a chocolate fountain and fairy floss as well a few other decadent treats.
A glass of Veuve Clicquot will be handed to guests on arrival while soft drinks and MODA water free-flow for the duration of the three-hour lunch. To cap it all off, the lobby will be filled with the relaxing sounds of a live band, and children will have access to a specially created kids play room with its very own Santa Claus.
The lunch will be set at $199 per person, with free entrance for one child per adult. Additional children will be charged at $50 a head. It all starts at 12pm in the lobby of Primus Hotel Sydney and wraps up at 3pm. For bookings click HERE.
339 Pitt St, Sydney NSW
The Smoking Goat (Abbotsford)
If the fam are craving a Greek feast on Christmas Day then you’ll all be well served heading along to the inner west suburb of Abbotsford for The Smoking Goat. This stunning riverside restaurant will be going all out for their Christmas Day lunch, doing all the work while guests relax to an array of traditional dishes including lamb shoulder that has been slow-roasted with lemon Greek yoghurt and smoked feta ash, a chicken souvlaki with fries, salad and tzatziki, and a medley of fresh seafood.
The lunch is between 11:30am and 3pm and will set you back $150 per adult, $70 per child. For more information and bookings click smokinggoat.com.au or call 02 9712 5503
613 Great North Road, Abbotsford NSW
Flying Fish Restaurant (Pyrmont)
Taking in those sweeping panoramic views of Sydney Harbour on Christmas Day when you head along to Flying Fish Restaurant with your loved ones. Head chef Ian Royle has made sure that the celebrated restaurant will be highlighting their best for the special day, offering guests a three-course menu that features the likes of cured ocean trout, hay smoked turkey breast, roast suckling pig and Cone Bay barramundi. Desserts wrapping up the dinner include a dark chocolate tore, nougat parfait, and a Baba rum Christmas pudding.
The set menu is priced at $220 per adult, $70 per child, and includes three courses. More information and bookings can be found HERE or by calling 02 9518 6677.
Jones Bay Wharf, Lower Deck, 19-21 Pirrama Road, Pyrmont NSW
Bathers’ Pavilion (Balmoral)
This historic beachside building will be the scene of an elaborate series of lunches on Christmas Day. They’ll be making good use of their various rooms, including the restaurant, the cafe, and their upstairs space simply titled The Room, where each of these three spaces will host a different package.
For The Restaurant, there will be the option between brunch for $125 per adult and $65 per child, kicking off at 9am and lasting until 10:30am. The premium dining space will also curate a Christmas Lunch for the afternoon with four courses for $285 per adult, and $95 per child. Elsewhere, the Cafe will offer a three-course lunch for $195 per adult, $95 per child. And finally, The Room will feature a buffet lunch for $225 per adult (including drinks) and $85 per child.
More information about each Christmas Day package can be found HERE or by calling 02 9969 5050.
The Esplanade, Balmoral NSW
Biota Dining (Bowral)
If you feel like a bit of a drive outside of Sydney then head straight to one of the state’s most consistently awarded regional restaurants, James Viles’ two-hatted Biota Dining. For Christmas they’ll be offering a set menu featuring dishes like piglet terrine with corn maize and black pepper crisp bread, an Australian seafood selection with premium produce like octopus, prawns and trout rillettes, and a main of turkey ballantine with jes gras, rye berries, mushrooms, and a side bowl of turkey stuffing. A dessert table will be set up with the likes of traditional Christmas pudding, pavlova of summer fruits, soaked milk cake and candied gingerbread cookies.
For anyone looking to make a full experience of it, the property also has 12 rooms on-site with each room designed for two and including a morning breakfast. Rates per night start from $280.
The set menu for dinner is priced at $195pp. More information and bookings can be found HERE or by calling 02 4862 2005.
18 Kangaloon Rd, Bowral NSW
Feature Image: Pier One Sydney Harbour; Credit: Jarrad Seng.
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