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Australian Ballet Eating & Drinking Guide

Updated 4 months ago

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Imagine it: you fight your way through the packed foyer, find your seat and settle in to enjoy the show. Just as the curtain begins to lift, your stomach gives a loud rumble. Now you remember – you skipped lunch.

Don't risk an empty stomach ruining the performance. At these spots you can catch a quick meal or snacks before the show, or take your time for a full de-brief afterwards.

  • Bennelong

    Restaurant

    Peter Gilmore has made the culinary vision that earned him accolades at Quay more approachable at the Opera House.

    Book a Table

  • Opera Bar

    Bar

    A quintessential Sydney location. This is one of the best views of Sydney harbour you'll find anywhere. And Opera Bar doesn't just coast by on its good looks: the drinks here are great, too. The hardest thing about a trip here is getting a table.

    Book a Table

  • Bopp and Tone

    Restaurant

    A whopping wood grill powers the menu at Bopp and Tone. Park in the bustling dining room or out on the leafy terrace for Mediterranean-inspired dishes and killer cocktails.

  • Mary’s Underground

    Bar

    The Mary's crew snagged the old Basement space in Circular Quay and continued its legacy as an inner-city hub for live music. They've also thrown in a burger joint with the Mary's signatures: 'burgs, fried chicken and natural vino.

  • Rockpool Bar & Grill

    Restaurant

    From its opulent art deco interior to its theatrical service, Rockpool remains one of Sydney’s premiere special occasion restaurants. It champions sustainable, grass-fed beef from Blackmore Wagyu and Cape Grim, on a menu abound with raw seafood, pasta and uncomplicated sides. The experience is enhanced by a wine list to rival any in the country.

  • Machiavelli

    Restaurant

    Part of the pantheon of Sydney’s Italian joints and the attention to detail and fresh produce is just as sharp now as it was back in 1988 (fish is still delivered twice-daily and the pastas are all house-made). CEOs and prime ministers past and present aren’t just framed on the walls – you might just catch them dining here, too.

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  • Bar Patron

    Restaurant

    Vibrant Mexican food, super-rare tequilas and million-dollar views are all on the menu at this smart harbourside diner. But to really feel like a millionaire, splash out on the signature gold leaf Margarita.

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  • Kid Kyoto

    Restaurant

    This modern riff on a Japanese izakaya is hidden down a cobbled CBD laneway. Finding it is half the fun.

  • Bistecca

    Restaurant

    Apart from sides, there's only one thing on this menu: T-bone steaks, sold by weight.

  • Tapavino

    Bar

    Eighty sherries and well-executed Spanish food to match.

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  • Mr Wong

    Restaurant

    Moody jazz, heavy wooden beams and a bank of barbeque ducks in the old Tank nightclub space. A modern Shanghai-style dumpling den from Dan Hong and Merivale.

  • Yayoi Garden

    Restaurant

    A specialist in the reliable teishoku, a set meal commonly cooked at home in Japan that involves rice, miso soup, a main dish and two smaller dishes.

  • Morrison’s

    Restaurant

    This heritage corner site has lived many lives – but its most recent one is arguably its best. Come for freshly shucked oysters from the cabinet, premium Australian steaks and a focus on local and French wine varieties.

  • Aria

    Restaurant

    This is the show-stopping star of Matt Moran’s culinary empire. The artfully-plated dishes warrant the lofty price-tags, but those generous harbour views do a lot to offset the sting. This is one of Sydney’s great try-before-you-die restaurants – a pillar of modern Australian dining.

  • The Glenmore Hotel

    Bar

    Since 1921, stunning views of the Harbour Bridge have attracted drinkers to this pub.

  • Taylor's Rooftop Bar

    Bar

    Sit under a lush green wall, cocktail in hand.

  • Kittyhawk

    Bar

    The liberation of Paris is the theme behind this polished cocktail bar from the team behind The Lobo. Settle into sophisticated surrounds for rum and rye Old Fashioneds and French-influenced dishes with modern Australian flair.

  • Bar Luca

    Restaurant

    Burgers before the ballet. Why not?

  • Long Chim

    Restaurant

    A taste of modern Bangkok courtesy of chef David Thompson, one of the world’s leading authorities on Thai cuisine.

  • Palmer & Co

    Bar

    Travel to another time at this jazzy, prohibition-themed bar. A tome-like list of spirits informs the cocktails here, mixed by a team of sharply-dressed bartenders who know their craft inside and out. To eat, it's European-influenced snacks served till late.

  • Bowery Lane

    Restaurant

    Bowery Lane is a sleek CBD spot offering shareable feasts.