Looking for a venue to host a special event? Here’s our top picks in Sydney.
A first class dining experience from the dizzy heights of the Shangri-La’s 36th floor. Altitude overlooks Sydney’s most iconic attractions – the Harbour Bridge, Opera House and Sydney Harbour.
Holds: 18
Altitude at Shangri-La Sydney
ARIA offers private dining experiences that encapsulate Sydney’s picture-perfect lifestyle with its stunning views of Sydney Harbour, an innovative and contemporary menu, extensive wine list and seamless service. The brainchild of celebrity chef Matt Moran and business partner Peter Sullivan.
Holds: 60-120
At Bathers’ Pavilion, guests enjoy stunning views of Balmoral Beach in a dining room with silver-lined walls that bring the glow of the light on the ocean indoors. Come for the sophisticated seasonal menu, rare wines and digestives; stay for the view.
Holds: 102
Bells at Killcare Boutique Hotel, Restaurant and Spa is a luxury coastal retreat that’s home to hatted Italian restaurant, Manfredi’s. Guests will dine on dishes thoughtfully prepared with estate-grown produce and locally harvested meat and seafood, while taking in views of the property’s expansive manicured gardens.
Holds: 70
Guillaume restaurant at Bennelong is nestled beneath the iconic sails of the Sydney Opera House, commanding unique views of Sydney Harbour. A number of private dining spaces are available, but all offer exquisite French cuisine, fine wine and impeccable service.
Holds: 60
Not quite Sydney, but well worth the hour and half drive to Bowral. The innovative restaurant supports local farmers and growers, with fine artisan produce transformed into exceptional dishes that are curated to showcase the beauty of the natural world.
Holds: 55
Biota Dining
With its prestigious Observatory Tower location and traditional French cuisine, Bistro Lilly offers a warm, intimate dining experience at the heart of The Rocks.
Holds: 25
Sydney Intercontinental’s beautiful 1851 Treasury Building is home to Cafe Opera, famous for its market-fresh buffet and refined a la carte menu. The hotel’s beautifully styled private dining areas offer the ultimate luxury experience.
Holds: 30
Cafe Opera at InterContinental Sydney
With its view of the Harbour Bridge from the rooftop of Customs House, Cafe Sydney offers diners the chance to experience the essence of the Harbour City. The restaurant is a regular haunt for business people and beautiful people, who flock in for the views, the fresh food and the great wines on offer.
Holds: 14
Flying Fish restaurant holds court at the end of a heritage-listed wharf, with a unique view to the Harbour Bridge through the industrial docklands of Pyrmont. It offers diners seclusion, style and a menu brimming with delicious seafood.
Holds: 30
Public Dining Room offers the ultimate beachside dining experience with views that stretch from Balmoral to Manly and beyond. The restaurant has perfected the art of casual fine dining, with a sophisticated and summery Mediterranean menu.
Holds: 30-110
Ripples at Chowder Bay is one of Sydney’s most picturesque venues, overlooking Chowder Bay at Mosman. The historical site boasts chic interior styling and the meals on the Modern Australian menu are executed with an Italian twist.
Holds: 100
Whether you’d like to wrap your lips around one of the most exclusive (and extensive) ranges of sake in Sydney or spectacular hot and cold Japanese fare by master chef Shaun Presland (of Sushi e, Teppanyaki and Nobu fame), private dining at Saké Restaurant and Bar in The Rocks is guaranteed to be a meal like no other.
Holds: 30
Perched 47 floors above the city, O Bar and Dining is one of Sydney’s most spectacular culinary experiences. The private dining room, Salon Prive, showcases breathtaking 360 degree views of Sydney Harbour and beyond, while bespoke menus and dedicated wait staff add another element of luxury.
Holds: 28
O Bar and Dining
About: Squeezed in among the eateries that line the Surry Hills strip, Toko Restaurant and Bar brings a splash of urban sophistication to traditional Japanese fare. The izakaya offers a melange of small dishes to share, complemented by a sterling sake list.
Holds: 12 to 20
Located in the Overseas Passenger Terminal, Wildfire’s views of the Harbour are spectacular but the decor of the restaurant is just as impressive. The private dining room is encased in glass, with a birds eye view of the main restaurant and the Harbour.
Holds: 45
Marque, the Surry Hills icon owned by one of Australia’s best loved chefs, Mark Best, also offers private dining rooms for its guests. Expect the wondrous French-inspired constructions that earn Marque its Chef Hats and a wine list that will please even the most discerning diner.
Holds: 14
Balla has fast become the “it” Italian dining destination for Sydney’s beautiful people. Its main dining room and private dining areas are fitted out with the swankiest decor but the star of the show is the restaurant’s spectacular harbour view.
Holds: 25
Balla at The Star
At Otto Ristorante, the famous Otto’s experience involves a spectacular view of the city skyline, a modern Italian feast and being waited on by tuxedo’d staff. Enjoy all these elements in private with the exclusive use of an intimate 100-year old wool lift that’s suspended above the restaurant.
Holds: 8-14
One of Sydney’s most impressive restaurants, dining at Rockpool Bar & Grill is even more spectacular when enjoying its meals in a completely private dining room. The restaurant is famous for its meat, but the menu ventures into seafood in spectacular style.
Holds: 6-50
Located in The Star, Black by Ezard is a Modern Australian steak and seafood restaurant with an encyclopaedic wine list and million dollar views of Sydney Harbour. Visit if you’re after a cut of meat beyond grass-fed angus and nine-plus wagyu or if you’re looking for a celebrity dining experience – Black’s private dining rooms have their own entrances.
Holds: BLACK by Ezard features two stunning and intimate private dining rooms seating 10 and 16 people.
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