The Sydney Opera House is the centre of Vivid every year, with elaborate projections splashed across the building's iconic white sails every night. Dining and drinking at Bennelong will put you right in the thick of it – and although most tables in the restaurant are booked out by now, it's worth going for a drink and a bite at the bar, which is walk-in only.

Mary’s Underground will transform into late-night Supper Club during Vivid, with a line-up of jazz, cabaret and comedy kicking off from 10pm every Friday and Saturday. You won't find a better burger this close to Circular Quay, plus the whole menu can be made vegan if you’re that way inclined.

Matt Moran’s harbourside fine-diner has teamed up with floral artist Claire Mueller to create a multi-sensory experience inspired by “the movement of the water that surrounds Aria”. Admire Mueller’s floral sculptures as you sip on limited-edition Belvedere cocktails, and dine on a special Vivid menu by head chef Tom Gorringe in full view of the Vivid lights.

Dine on two special pre-festival banquet menus from 5pm–6.30pm every night of the festival. The bar banquet for walk-ins ($59) includes vegetable dumplings and lamb pancakes; the restaurant menu for bookings ($89) comes with pork chops with soy, Hangzhou-style flathead and more.

Lotus is rolling out an $18 Singapore crab xiao long bao special and a Vivid-inspired cocktail made with vodka, butterfly pea, lychee and strawberry for the festival. It’s a solid option between Darling Harbour and Circular Quay.

The best seats in the harbour without the eye-watering price tag. Hot toddy specials are running just in time for the chilly nights ahead, along with $15 Margaritas in the lounge from 4pm–6.30pm on weekdays.

Because it's in Miller's Point, this cocktail bar atop the Hotel Palisade isn't the sort of place you can go to in the middle of a Vivid excursion. Instead, it's a before or after spot. Grab a cocktail at a window seat – the view of the Harbour Bridge from Henry Deane is one of the best you'll find.

This rum-focused cocktail bar has great drinks, but consider having dinner here, too. Service is fast, and the tight French-leaning menu has plenty of crowd-pleasers including lobster rolls, charcuterie and frites. Kittyhawk is also just near the Botanic Gardens, which is packed with installations.

Whether you’re headed to Circular Quay, Barangaroo or Darling Harbour, this slick Japanese-inspired spot is conveniently placed to access all three. So start your night here with some Izakaya-style snacks and cocktails named after '90s grunge hits.

Matt Moran's eatery inside the AGNSW is close to all the action but still feels removed from it. Book a table here if you love the collective, bustling experience of viewing outdoor art without the added pressure of finding somewhere to eat in the middle of a packed city.

Your phone might get confiscated and put away in a locker for the length of your dinner at here, which is good news for your phone's battery: it will need all the rest it can get before you spend the night using it to snap and post everything you see at Vivid. Steak is the one and only main on the menu. One style in particular: T-bone cooked over coals and served rare.

Even without Vivid in the mix, this rowdy rock‘n’roll bar in the heart of town would still be open till 3.30am every night. Cap off your festivities with a New York-inspired slice and a few craft beers here.

This chic Japanese restaurant sits practically underneath the Harbour Bridge, and serves contemporary dishes along with an encyclopaedic list of imported Japanese booze.

This Rat Pack-themed cocktail bar in The Rocks is a great spot for a few mid-Vivid Martinis. There's also a tight but tasty selection of small plates to keep you going.

Just across the road from the Harbour Bridge, this Edwardian-style pub is known for its Australian-themed "heritage" pizzas such as the half-kangaroo, half-emu Coat of Arms, and the Saltwater Crocodile.

When you get off the train at Wynyard you'll be moments away from this steak-and-cocktail-focused restaurant. It's the best way to make a running start to the evening.

This New York-style brasserie is right on George Street, close to all of the CBD's main Vivid hubs.

Get a group together and head over to this Cantonese comfort-food diner. Barbeque duck and dim sum are the perfect protein and carb fuel for heading out to battle the Vivid crowds.

It's starting to get really cold (well, for Sydney). This whisky bar in The Rocks is the place to go to if you need a few warming nips of the brown stuff mid-walk.

Right in the middle of the action, perfectly situated to access attractions in Barangaroo, Circular Quay, The Rocks or the Royal Botanic Gardens.

A Mexican basement bar with tacos, burgers and DJs. This one's a great option for late-night dining: on Fridays Barrio closes at 3am, which means you can eat and drink long after the (Vivid) lights have gone out.

Set inside an 1800s heritage building, this spacious brewpub puts an Aussie pub spin on down-home American food. The 600-litre on-site microbrewery keeps the good stuff flowing till late.

A cocktail bar with a nautical-themed cocktail list and views of Sydney's CBD from the second-storey balcony. You can get snacks here, too.

Right on the water, this building houses three venues: House Bar, Smoke and Bea. All of them provide great spots to relax and take in Barangaroo’s water-based light installations.

Sip cocktails beneath a mesmerising light installation by Sydney-based designer Vincent Buret at the handsome second-level venue inside Barangaroo House. The drinks menu has also received a glow-up, including four Vivid specials involving Bombay Sapphire gin.

This fun rooftop bar in Barangaroo is doing two hours of bottomless cocktails (including signature candy-studded frosé) every day during the festival. Also, $13 “Spritz Bombs” and $35 Mojito jugs to light up your evening.

On Wulugul Walk, serving Nashville-style spicy chicken, craft beers and natural wines from local producers.

Our pick for dining if you're heading to the attractions at Taronga Zoo. This three-in-one venue has you covered with a smart public bar, a French brasserie and a lush cocktail lounge upstairs.

Along with some of the city’s best vegan food, the Ovolo’s in-house diner is serving a secret drinks menu – which can only be seen under blue light. There are also DJs spinning from Thursday to Saturday, and if you’re staying at the hotel upstairs, you can hop on a Vivid-viewing harbour cruise that sails twice nightly.

If you’re catching a gig at Carriageworks, you may as well visit one of the country’s best bars while you’re at it. Cocktails are made using rescued ingredients otherwise destined for landfill, and the sharp menu of bar snacks is made with the same sustainable ethos.

This good-times backyard right near Carriageworks is our pick for a casual pre-show dinner. It’ll sort you out with a few drinks after the gig, too.

Unless you live around Ultimo, The Lord Wolseley Hotel isn’t the most convenient spot to visit. But if you’re en route to Darling Harbour from Central, this neighbourhood gem and its bistro, PLK, is a stop along the way. One of Sydney’s best pub feeds awaits.

This year, the Vivid Sydney Light Walk extends to the Goods Line near the University of Technology. If you’re keen to check out the university’s incredible “Paper Bag” building all lit up, you’d do well to grab a cocktail at one the city’s best gin bars while you’re in the area.