We hope you’re ready for the holidays because in or around Sydney this December there is going to be plenty for you to eat and drink your way into 2018. Whether you’re scouting for a party venue or looking to tuck into the special holiday menus popping up around the city and beyond, we’ve got your back. Below you’ll find just a few – six to keep things nice and simple – of the many ways you can get everyone together in or around Sydney for a good ol’ festive feast.
Holidays at the Museum
Award-winning boutique events and catering company Create Consultants have put together some excellent holiday menus and packages across three of Sydney’s most interesting locations: the Powerhouse Museum (which also has the brilliant Future Park from teamLab exhibition on at the moment), the historic Australian Museum, and the iconic Sydney Observatory.
Over at Powerhouse Museum, Create Consultants have put together a menu at the on-site MAAS Café (located next to the main entrance) that puts a sharp focus on massive end-of-year platters, designed to be shared between up to 10 people. That means huge, delicious platters of sumptuous seafood, cheese, charcuterie (or even just mixed party platters) for $60 each.
The Junction at the Powerhouse Museum is even offering some very accessible packages for any casual office parties or social gatherings planned for the holiday season. Prices at from $35pp including cocktail on arrival and roaming bites, and up to $70pp with the addition of live pop up food junctions including a paint pot candy bar and gelato bike (yes, a gelato bike).
Powerhouse Museum is located at 500 Harris St, Ultimo NSW 2007.
Then you’ve got the always stunning Australian Museum and their rooftop dining destination No. 1 William sitting pretty on level 4. Grab the fam and check out the museum’s current exhibitions then head on up to the rooftop to take in some spectacular lights, an ideal setting for a three-course festive buffet that’s priced at $45pp and features traditional holiday flavours with a glass of sparkling wine on arrival.
Australian Museum is located at 1 William St, Sydney NSW 2010.
Last but not least is Sydney Observatory, with a breathtaking hilltop marque that’s being open up to events between now and 17th December and also 30th April to 3rd June and 10th September to 16th December next year. They’ll provide prices and details upon request, but anyone planning a social engagement is well advised to get in quick – Observatory Hill, overlooking the city’s famous harbour, is rightfully one of the most sought after spots in town.
Sydney Observatory is located at 1003 Upper Fort St, Millers Point NSW 2000.
For more on what’s going on at any of these venues head to the Create Consultants website HERE.
Olleyville at Shaw Vineyard Estate
If you’re up for a little holiday road trip then you should definitely be keeping this one in mind. The highly celebrated premium family owned winery of Murrumbateman have just reopened their on-site restaurant under new management, now operating it as Olleyville at Shaw Vineyard Estate. The stunning surrounding vineyards should be more than enough to draw any festive event in, but with Create Consultants at the helm it’s truly one of the best decisions for any festive celebration in the region these holidays.
For more on what’s going on at Olleyville at Shaw Vineyard Estate head to the Create Consultants website HERE.
nel.
Surry Hills’ award-winning underground restaurant nel has got an incredibly playful Christmas menu on right now, designed by renowned Chef Nelly Robinson to be theatrical, intimate and unique. Perhaps most distinctive is an edible candle made of roast chicken-flavoured bone marrow, a “Silent Night” themed starter that slowly melts throughout the menu so diners can use servings of traditional roast chicken to scoop up the liquid. The full Christmas menu is currently being offered for $118pp (matching beverages $90pp extra) but there’s also a six-course lunch menu going on each Wednesday through Friday of this month, and you can tuck into that for $69pp.
75 Wentworth Ave, Sydney NSW 2000
www.nelrestaurant.com.au
The Nielsen
Head on up to ritzy Vaucluse on Christmas Day if you really want the family to indulge in one of the finest Christmas Day menus around. The picturesque grounds of the suburb’s national park will be a nice setting for the restaurant’s three-course set menu that’s going for $195pp ($95 for children under 12yo). The Chef has put together a nice selection of choices, including kingfish crudo with blackberries and broad beans, burrata with heirloom tomatoes and cucumber, and chicken liver pate with port, cornichons and sourdough. Yep, decadent AF.
Greycliffe Avenue, Vaucluse NSW 2030
www.thenielsen.com.au
Christmas at Sofitel Sydney Darling Harbour
As if Sydney’s newest 5-star hotel wasn’t already a big deal, they’ve gone ahead and put together their first ever Christmas dinners and they sound pretty damn good. On Christmas Eve their signature restaurant, Atelier by Sofitel, will be serving up an enormous four-course feast priced at $175pp ($75 for children) with dishes including roast duck, seared scallops, grilled wagyu rump and a dessert that they won’t be revealing until the night. Oh yeah, you get a class of Veuve – this is a five-star hotel we’re talking about.
On Christmas Day they’ll be bumping their offerings up to a five-course lunch, which includes oyster tasting, marron tail blue swimmer crab brandade, turkey roulade, confit salmon and grilled prawns, and a “celebrate dessert” with Champagne macaroons to share. That’ll be a bit pricier though, at $269pp ($75 for children), but you’ll get a nice glass of Pommery Champagne on arrival to sweeten the deal.
12 Darling Dr, Sydney NSW 2000
www.sofitelsydneydarlingharbour.com.au
Pier One Sydney Harbour
One of the city’s most stunning harbourside hotels also has the benefit of being home to the fabulous Gantry, a restaurant that has been consistently hitting the mark since it opened. With Exec. Chef Joel Bickford running the kitchen, the breezy restaurant will be putting on a five-course Christmas Day menu designed to showcase some of the country’s best produce with matching wines. Bookings are essential and the menu is priced at $299pp.
Those that don’t want to five-courser can always to go for the restaurant’s other offering, the “Christmas Luxe Lunch” – it too being only offered on Christmas Day. This one will be an all-you-can-eat buffet and three-hour drink package (including beer, wine, sparkling, soft drinks and juices) to make things nice and comprehensive, with a live carvery station and a huge selection of fine seafood including Sydney Rock Oysters, Balmain bugs, and blue swimmer crab. That’s right – all. you. can. eat. oysters. They’re even throwing in a special dessert buffet to cap it all off.
This one will be offered at 12:30pm on Christmas Day, priced at $250pp (for 13 years and over) or $195 for children.
11 Hickson Rd, Dawes Point NSW 2000
www.pieronesydneyharbour.com.au
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