Where To Eat and Drink Around Darling Harbour for Sydney Symphony Orchestra’s John Williams Tribute

After five sold-out concerts dedicated to John Williams in 2024, the Sydney Symphony Orchestra – together with the podcasters behind Art of the Score – return to the composer’s epic music with a sequel at ICC Sydney Theatre. Titled Episode II, the concert will include all fresh material with the same concept that enthralled audiences at Sydney Opera House last year.

Some of the best bits from Williams’s beloved music from Jurassic Park, Indiana Jones, Star Wars and more will be performed live in concert with the full power of the Orchestra. At three times the size of the Opera House Concert Hall, the ICC Sydney Theatre will showcase the music on an epic scale, enhanced by its state-of-the-art IMAG screens projecting the performance in crystal-clear high definition.

Popular Art of the Score podcasters Andrew Pogson and Dan Golding will present and guide audiences through the concert on the night, unpacking why these scores are among the most celebrated in film history.

Of course, making a night of the concert is part of the fun. Here are four venues around Darling Harbour to check out pre- and post-performance.

Afternoon drink: Batch Brewing

Batch Brewing ’s taproom in Darling Square brings the Marrickville institution into the heart of the city, with an intimate space designed for exploration. What’s available on tap is regularly updated with options that may include everything from a velvety nitro stout to a bright citrus-driven sour that was brewed for Batch’s 2025 Sourfest. The taproom also pours a small but excellent selection of wines. Conveniently located in the Makers Dozen, it’s easy to combine beer tasting with grabbing a bite to eat from one of the many food stalls scattered throughout the precinct.

1 Little Pier Street, Haymarket

Dinner: XOPP

Housed within Darling Square’s striking Exchange building, XOPP is both a continuation and a reinvention of Golden Century, the beloved late-night Chinatown institution. Its name pays homage to the famous XO pippies, which remain an essential order: pippies from the tank, wok-fried with the restaurant’s signature house-made XO sauce. The menu builds out from there with other live seafood, including snow crab from Western Australia, and Cantonese-style roasted meats. The wine list is as ambitious as the cooking, with old and new world labels.

Level M, Shop 31/1 Little Pier Street, Haymarket

Dessert: Kuki

Steam Mill Lane’s Kuki is compact but inventive, specialising in cookies and soft serve. The cookies are baked in small batches to ensure they’re served warm, with flavours ranging from brown-butter choc chip to apple pie. Soft serve flavours rotate between classics such as vanilla or mango and more playful offerings like Earl Grey or chocolate hazelnut swirl. There’s a duo of very tempting sundaes, too. The Kuki Classic sees house-made salted caramel dress up a mash of brown-butter-choc-chip-cookie and vanilla soft serve, while the Soft Tiramisu Sundae layers the choc-hazelnut swirl with coffee-soaked sponge and mascarpone.

9/18 Steam Mill Lane, Haymarket

Nightcap: Zephyr

Zephyr, perched on the 12th floor of the Hyatt Regency, is one of Sydney’s more elevated spots for a late drink. The bar’s open-air terrace offers panoramic views over Darling Harbour. The drinks list is extensive, ranging from classics to cocktails created in collaboration with local distillers and brewers. There’s a notable focus on rum and gin, but those who prefer wine or beer will also find considered options. Insta-worthy cocktails are often served in unusual glassware, including ones designed for sharing. And if you’re feeling peckish post-concert, the bar offers a generous selection of snacks.

Level 12, 161 Sussex Street, Sydney

This article was produced by Broadsheet in partnership with Sydney Symphony Orchestra. The Music of John Williams – Episode II with the Art of the Score and the Sydney Symphony Orchestra will be performed at the ICC Sydney Theatre on February 7, 2026. Get your tickets at sydneysymphony.com. This performance was produced in association with Concert Lab.