Sydney venues are ramping up to host partygoers and punters next Tuesday, as we step into another Melbourne Cup day. Although this year’s Melbourne Cup looks different from the past years, you can still get dressed up and celebrate. Let’s face it, we all deserve a celebratory meal and a win this year.
Here are the best Sydney venues offering a boozy lunch, screening of the races, and more.
NOMAD
The sharing-style menu includes favourites such as wood-roasted mushroom and bone marrow empanada, Vanella burrata, fennel jam and Alto Robust extra virgin olive oil and smoked beetroot tartare, spiced chickpeas and labneh. Finish with an olive oil ice cream sandwich, halva and pistachio honey. For an extra luxe experience, add-on Sydney rock oysters at the time of your booking, half a dozen for $30 or a dozen for $60. Pair with a bottle of Andre Clouet ‘Grand Réserve’ Blanc de Noir or choose between a 2-hour beverage package ($65pp) and a 3-hour beverage package ($90pp) to enjoy unlimited pours of NOMAD by Gilbert wines, as well as sparkling wine and your choice of two beers.
Cost: $160 per person.
Book here.
North Bondi Fish
Spend the day overlooking Bondi Beach with a four-course lunch including a choice of starter, shared entree, main and dessert; while watching the race live and loud. There will also be a best-dressed competition and lucky door prizes. Lunch is available from 12 pm to 4 pm.
Cost: $140 per person
Book here.
ANASON
If you’ve got your eye on a modern Turkish feast perfect for sharing, Anason’s Melbourne Cup menu is a sure thing. Indulge in shared style dishes such as oyster, tarama, squid ink cracker and beach succulents, sea urchin on toast with bonito parfait, pickled onion and bronze fennel and southern calamari, walnut tarator and isot pepper butter. In true Melbourne Cup fashion, a glass of NV Brut, Laurent-Perrier “La Cuvée” Champagne will be poured on arrival.
Cost: $165 per person
Book here.
BóRN by Tapavino
Celebrate the Melbourne Cup with a tapas-style lunch at BóRN by TAPAVINO. Keeping with the Spanish vibes, a glass of Cava will be served on arrival. Selection of tapas includes Jamón Serrano, poached mandarin, roncai and mint, Port Lincoln sardines in escabeche and croqueta del dia. Drinks packages ranging from 1.5 hours ($39pp) to 2 hours ($49pp) and 3 hours ($69pp), including tap beer, house white, red, rose, sparkling wine and soft drinks, will be available so you and your guests can enjoy the celebrations at ease.
Cost: $135 per person.
Book here.
The Meat & Wine Co.
The Meat & Wine Co. will have you in on the Melbourne Cup action from the comfort of their premium dining areas, private rooms, and outdoor patios. This year, they’ll also be running sweepstakes and handing out prizes to their best-dressed guests, so make sure to don your finest attire for a chance to win. A wide range of set menus and beverage packages will be available to suit groups of all kinds and sizes. All set menus include a breadboard on arrival and your choice of entrees, mains, salads and desserts.
Cost: $95- $195 per person.
Book here.
Zushi
Zushi will serve up an indulgent, modern Japanese 9 course set menu to share, with complimentary edamame on arrival. Treat your group to a magnum of French bubbles from Henri Abele for $150. In line with the festivities, a sweep will be available for anyone keen for a punt. Prizes and Zushi vouchers will also be up for grabs for the best-dressed, so go all out with frocks, fascinators and suits to match.
Cost: $99 per person.
Book here.
Monopole
Monopole will be serving dishes from its new spring menu such as grilled snapper with parsley, lemon and capers and tres leche cake, preserved berries and buttermilk sorbet. A glass of NV Louis Roederer Champagne will be poured on arrival.
Cost: $120 per person.
Book here.
Franca Brasserie
Franca Potts Point will be serving up French-inspired snacks such as Oscietra caviar croque monsieur, Sydney rock oysters with mignonette and a variety of dishes such as tuna tartare, caviar, celeriac and kaffir lime and Shiro-kin Wagyu 9+ 150gr sirloin, eggplant, guindilla and PX Jus.
Cost: $145 per person.
Book here.
Cirrus Dining
Elevate your Melbourne Cup with an elegant seafood-predominant shared style menu at Cirrus Dining down at The Streets of Barangaroo. Dishes include scallop dumplings with sweet onion milk and buckwheat, rainbow trout with trout roe butter and horseradish and 300g Rangers Valley Black Tyde striploin and red wine jus. A glass of NV Louis Roederer Champagne will be poured on arrival to kick it off.
Cost: $145 per person.
Book here.
Carbon
Carbon, Mexican Woodfire Restaurant in Bondi, will offer a bottomless brunch on Melbourne Cup with 2 hours of all-you-can-eat tacos with bottomless Margaritas, Rose and Beer. Two sittings are available on Tuesday 2 November – 11 am for those who wish to sip on a pre-race margarita; and 2 pm for those who wish to watch the race live.
Cost: $100 per person.
Book here.
Bentley Restaurant + Bar
Bentley Restaurant + Bar will be offering a stellar four-course Melbourne Cup menu with a glass of NV Louis Roederer Champagne on arrival. Highlights include house-made bread with chickpea miso butter to start, Murray Cod with white asparagus and brown butter for mains and white chocolate mousse, mango and passion fruit for dessert. An optional wine pairing ($80pp) will also be available.
Cost: $140 per person.
Book here.
Aria
Celebrate the race that stops the nation harbourside at Aria. Alongside a spectacular view and impressive wine list, guests will be treated to a 4-course lunch menu with a glass of Ruinart champagne on arrival, specially designed by Aria’s new executive chef Tom Gorringe.
Cost: $250 per person.
Book here.
a’Mare
Enjoy a curated menu by a’Mare’s chef Alessandro which hero seasonal local produce elevated with Italian flair such as burrata caprese and risotto with spanner crab.
Cost: $250 per person.
Book here.
Woodcut
Take in the pristine water views as you enjoy the finest Australian produce from the à la carte or group menus at chef Ross Lusted’s Woodcut.
Cost: $220 – $285 per person.
Book here.
Harbourfront Seafood Restaurant
Enjoy a four-course set menu with an optional two-hour bottomless beverage package. The majority of the restaurant seating is outdoors so you can take in the atmosphere, the sunshine, the views plus the frivolity from event hosts, Sydney’s queens of drag Penny Tration and Tora Hymen. There will be multiple television screens to view the race as well as sweepstakes and prizes for fashion on the field.
Cost: $135 per person, or an additional $45 per person with a beverage package.
Book here.
Babylon
Enjoy a share-style set menu in the restaurant accompanied by a two-hour beverage package of bubbles, wine and beer for $129pp. Feeling fancy? Go for the optional upgrade of $15 for a glass of Louis Roederer champers on arrival. Alternatively, book a spot at the rooftop bar and for $110pp, you’ll receive a two-hour drinks package and a collection of meze dishes to share. Plus, if you get in quick, they’re offering a discount for tables of ten for $1000.
Cost: $129 per person.
Book here.
The Squire’s Landing
With views of both the Sydney Harbour Bridge and the Sydney Opera House plus one of the CBD’s biggest outdoor brewhouse gardens, The Squire’s Landing has got ‘winning’ stamped all over it. $120pp will score you a 2.5hr beverage package and canapés plus there will be prizes for best dressed and live entertainment. Doors will open from 11.30 am with the package commencing from 12 pm.
Cost: $120 per person.
Book here.
Gowings Bar & Grill
Enjoy lavish sit-down dining with three-course feasting at Gowings Bar & Grill, a Glass of G.H. Mumm champagne, and a host of entertainment including Sabrage Station.
Cost: $195 per person.
Book here.
Ni Hao Bar
Enjoy a 10-course tasting menu featuring rock oysters, tuna tartare, prawn toast, and more. You can add on a caviar bump, a live eastern rock lobster, or wagyu rib eye. There will be fun, and games, and prizes for the best dressed. The party kicks off from 12 pm until 3 pm.
Cost: $88 person.
Book here.
Flying Fish
Enjoy Sydney’s most magnificent seafood served in abundance to share with a sea-inspired feast from Flyish Fish Executive Chef Peter Robertson. Overlooking the sparkling harbour, your meal will start with a complimentary glass of Moët & Chandon alongside Appellation Oysters with Turmeric Vinaigrette, Prawn Toast and Roasted Shark Bay Scallops.
Cost: $145 per person.
Book here.
Cucina Porto
There’s no better way to celebrate the Melbourne Cup with an Italian flair of flavours, fashion and fun than with Cucina Porto’s share menu. To accompany a complimentary glass of Moët & Chandon, Executive Chef Martino Pulito has created an Alaskan Crab Bigne, Venetian Beef Carpaccio, Scallops with Passionfruit and Artichoke Mousse.
Cost: $96 per person.
Book here.
Black Bar and Grill
Offering a choice of Fresh Sydney Oysters, Kingfish Sashimi or Oxheart Tomato and Burrata Salad to pair with your complimentary glass of Moët & Chandon, the menu also includes a range of decadent mains such as Scallop Tortellini, Grilled Toothfish with Spinach and Mushroom & Leek Ash Raviolo, and a Grilled Wagyu Fillet. And, of course, there is a range of indulgent sweet treats to choose from to end your meal.
Cost: $190 per person.
Book here.
Sokyo
Kick-off your lunch with a glass of Moët & Chandon and Chase’s signature Kingfish Miso Ceviche and Salmon Tataki before moving onto Sokyo classics such as the Dengakuman Miso Glazed Toothfish, Wagyu Chucktail Flap with Japanese Chimichurri and Chef’s Selection of Sushi.
Cost: $160 per person.
Book here.
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