Sydney’s most anticipated event of the year is finally live, and restaurants and bars are curating menus and fun events for attendees.
This year’s Vivid displays are set to be the biggest yet, spanning across Sydney from Darling Harbour to Taronga Zoo. Brush up on all the must-see lights here. While the lights are free and easy to see last-minute, tables fill up so fast so it’s better to be prepared.
Here is our list of where to eat and drink while strolling around the city, marvelling at the lights, performances and music.
6Head
The Rocks
Sydney’s favourite steak restaurant on the water is hosting a three-course menu, with a cocktail on arrival and an unlimited two-hour drinks package. There will also be a digital dining experience, but with front row seats to the spectacular lights show, there’s no reason not to book. This special dinner event is available every Wednesday through Sunday night from May 27 to June 18. Book here.
Spice Temple – Lights Up for Vivid
Chippendale
Spice Temple is adding some sparkle to Sydney’s dining scene during Vivid, with a dazzling Vivid Set Menu and bar banquet menu available throughout the festival, from Friday, May 27 to Saturday, June 18.
Vivid spectators can enjoy an early reservation in Spice Temple’s main dining room from 5 pm to 6.30 pm, with a special Vivid set menu available from Tuesday to Saturday throughout the city’s festival of lights. Bookings are recommended, which you can do here.
A Vivid Bar Banquet menu is also available in the bar, from 5 pm to 6.30 pm, on a first-come, first-served basis. No bookings are available. The menu is available for a minimum of two diners, from Tuesday to Saturday.
Vivid Marquee Bar
Walsh Bay
Pier One Sydney Harbour’s Bridge Marquee will be transformed into a stunning, illuminated VIVID bar by the ‘Happiness Art Experts’ at Goldberg Aberline Studio. Guests can enjoy a drink alongside the art installation, offering incredible views of the Harbour Bridge from the comfort and style of the weather-protected Marquee. Two-hour food and beverage packages are $90 and include beer, wine and non-alcoholic drinks, plus delicious share plates and platters with views over the Harbour Bridge and Sydney Harbour.
The hotel has also unveiled a series of exclusive staycation packages for guests. Click here for more information.
The Waiting Room
Barangaroo
Relish in a luxuriously curated high tea at TWR, overlooking the stunning Sydney Harbour and Wulugal Walk. Featuring a diverse selection of bite-sized delicacies including a Swiss cheese and pastrami sandwich, quail scotch egg, crispy duck tostadas, lavender mousse, and blueberry scones. Complemented with your choice of a traditional tea or coffee pairing, or a more indulgent champagne pairing, the TWR high tea is set to elevate your Vivid experience. Available Friday to Sunday between 27th May and 17th June, starting at $85 per person.
Hickory Bar
Barangaroo
Elevate your senses with a Vivid night at Hickory Bar. Enjoy Vivid-inspired cocktails and fine bar snacks against the backdrop of Sydney Harbour’s most spectacular light show. Gin lovers can try Purple Rain, a blueberry-infused gin cocktail, whilst more adventurous drinkers can choose Light House, a refreshing combination of house limoncello and prosecco. Hickory Bar offers a unique food menu that celebrates Australian produce through the process of cooking with wood, charcoal and steam, which includes N25 Almas Caviar, Tasmanian Black Garlic Bread, Iberico Jamon, Lobster Roll, and Woodcut cold meats.
Teahouse
Barangaroo
Enjoy a luxurious expression of creativity with Teahouse’s list of Vivid inspired cocktails. There is something for everyone, with five specialty cocktails featuring an array of adventurous spirits including Lavender Gin, Hibiscus Vodka, and Tequila. Paying homage to the sensory experience of Vivid, the Teahouse Vivid cocktails feature exciting flavours such as Butterfly Pea Syrup, Blue Curacao, and Elderflower Syrup, further elevated by the stunning displays of Blue Glitters, Gold Flakes and Smoke Bubbles.
a’Mare
Barangaroo
Make it an Italian affair this Vivid and catch up with friends over drinks at the glamorous a’Mare Bar. Enjoy a bespoke Vivid cocktail creation by Bar Manager Mattia Arnaboldi accompanied by a delicious a’Mare bar snack, all served with a side of cheeky Italian charm.
ARIA x ACID.FLWRS
Circular Quay
Aria and ACID.FLWRS have come together to create a visual experience for guests for the duration of Vivid Sydney. Incredible ACID.FLWRS installations will be spotted throughout the venue, and their table settings will be changed for the month to feature snippets of the installations on the tables.
Candles will replace their familiar, long-running candle lights, and Maison Balzac vases, candle holders and candles will be present throughout the activation. There will be a limited edition Belvedere cocktail menu available for guests, and artist Domus Vim has created a tray on which staff will showcase limited edition Vivid Sydney chocolate truffles, inspired by ACID.FLWRS, which guests can choose from to finish their dining experience. Book here.
Lotus Barangaroo
Barangaroo
Awaken your senses and marvel with Lotus’ Vivid specials that play with light, colours and shapes to offer you a combination of flavours that will be music for your senses. At Lotus, expect Vivid special dumplings ($18), Singapore Crab xiao long bao dumplings, and A Starry Night cocktail ($23) —vodka infused with butterfly pea with hints of lychee and strawberry. Book here.
House of Hues at Barangaroo House
Barangaroo
Be immersed in all things light, colour and cocktails at Barangaroo House. Ignite your creativity, and curiosity and embrace change this winter as you escape the chill and heat up in House Bar. For the activation, Sydney-based designer Vincent Buret has created a House of Hues ambient mirror. The installation takes the form of a Mirobolante light hanging from the ceiling, surrounded by an LED net with triangular mirrors floating on both sides. Barangaroo House invites guests to admire the lights as they sip on delicious cocktails to stir their creativity.
Their cocktail list is also getting a glow up, with Bombay Sapphire cocktails that encompass sweet, sour and tangy citrus flavours that’ll keep you sipping all night long. Highlights include the Reviver No. Cru cocktail which comprises Bombay Premier Cru, Cointreau, Martini Bianco, citrus and prosecco, plus their Sunset Spritz consisting of Bombay Sunset gin, citrus, bergamot, bitters and Fever-Tree elderflower tonic. Spaces are limited. Book here.
Alibi Vivid Nights
Woolloomooloo
The Alibi Kitchen & Bar team has created a secret drinks menu with limited-time cocktail offers, which can only be found using a blue light. The perfect spot for pre or post Vivid drinks, guests can experience Sydney’s best Vegan cuisine and plant-based drinks, all to the tune of Under Control DJs playing every Thursday to Saturday evening over Vivid.
Guests onboard will enjoy a range of handcrafted SYP bottled cocktails, including espresso martinis, margaritas and negronis, as well as a selection of beers and wines, whilst also indulging in a decadent selection of gourmet canapes by Sydney Providore and kitchen Three Blind Mice.
- Package pricing includes static nightly rates plus a Vivid cruise ticket for two guests per room with a $100 food and beverage credit per room
- Ovolo inclusions include breakfast and social hour
- The Vivid Cruise will run daily throughout Vivid at 5:45 pm and 7:45 pm
- The luxury hotel and cruise packages range from $899 on Sunday through to Thursday and $1,079 on Friday and Saturday, including the cruise and accommodation for two people. Book here.
Sweet as Candy at Untied
Barangaroo
During Sydney’s Vivid festival, head into Untied for ‘Sweet as Candy’ ($49pp), a limited time offer featuring two hours of bottomless winter cocktails from warm classics to crowd-favourite frosé. Guests will also have access to their Sweet Treats Cart—Think fairy floss, chocolate fountains, popcorn & lots and lots of lollies. Book here.
Ovolo Cruise
Running from May 27 to June 18 2022, Ovolo Woolloomooloo offers a package including one-night accommodation for two guests and the harbour cruise, which has two departures daily. Taking in the dazzling displays of the spectacular light festival, guests can experience Vivid from a new perspective. As one of Sydney’s most iconic vessels, this unique and extraordinary experience will take guests on a 90-minute cruise passing iconic locations around the harbour, followed by celebrations back at Alibi Bar, where guests can unlock three secret cocktails. Book here.
Ivy Weekender
CBD
Over a jam-packed 10 days, Ivy will light up the dancefloor and play host to 14 massive events to warm up your winter nights, featuring weekly favourites ivy Thursdays, WAO, POOF DOOF and Lost Sundays, plus some special one-off surprises including Amnesia Ibiza and Merivale’s own Press Play. Book here.
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