Lotus Galeries combines traditional Chinese recipes with a modern Australian approach.

It is a 270-seat space overlooking the Queen Victoria Building. Floor-to-ceiling windows flood the restaurant with light during the day, while at night, the space is illuminated by the QVB’s glow. Designed by DS17 (also behind Alpha), the minimalist blue-and-white space blends Fibonacci stone surfaces with earthy ceramics and textiles. Intimate private dining rooms are available for functions; a mix of completely private and semi-public spaces is divided by a modernist atrium.

The food is simple and accessible and focuses on the team’s award-winning dumplings. The menu reflects the restaurant’s focus on sustainability and locally sourced ingredients. There is choose-your-own live lobster and mud crab xiao long bao (a fresh take on the traditional Chinese dish). Another (somewhat unexpected) option is the wallaby fillet – chosen for its tenderness and as a sustainable alternative to beef. It comes with Lotus’s signature salad, served with native Australian greens.

It also offers Lo Tea: Lotus’s answer to traditional Chinese tea, serving handmade dumplings with artisan chocolates, Asian-inspired sweets and the restaurant’s own tea.