Ho, ho, ho! Forget the washing up and just enjoy the day with these top Sydney spots putting on a festive spread
For most, Christmas is the Very Best Day of the year, filled with Mariah Carey hits, fresh prawns, third helpings of pav and free-flowing booze. But the combined pressure of the extended family, sweltering heat and Everest-like dishes can really take the shine off the day. Which is why you may want to throw caution to the wind and book a table at one of Sydney's best restaurants. You and your family can enjoy a delicious feast paired with Champagne, and the very best bit – there's no washing up required on your part.
We’ve rounded up the best Christmas Day lunches and dinners to enjoy this Thursday, December 25 – all that’s left to do is book and BYO Christmas cheer. Hope you have a very merry Christmas.
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Have Christmas in the clouds – 81 levels above the city – at one of Sydney Tower’s revolving restaurants.
What’s on offer: Champagne on arrival (cheers!) followed by a five-course yum lunch filled with fresh seafood, succulent meat and seasonal vegetables. And dessert, of course.
How much: $300 per adult standard seat; $330 for a window seat; $95 per child
Live la dolce vita this Christmas with a delicious lunch at waterfront Italian diner, Ormeggio.
What’s on offer: A luxe, four-course lunch with a side of million-dollar views.
How much: $395 per adult; $150 per child
If you're not sure what to do on Christmas Day, why not spend it wining and dining by the beach at Ripples Chowder Bay in Mosman? Sounds good to us.
What’s on offer: A three-course set lunch with snacks, sides and beautiful views over Chowder Bay.
How much: $295 per adult; $95 per child
It's Christmas, with a Grecian twist. Lounge by Bondi Beach for a long festive lunch at elevated Greek eatery Etheus.
What’s on offer: A delicious set menu featuring Greek classics, including multiple dips, share plates, fresh salads and sizzling seafood, all served with a side of salty ocean views.
How much: $299 per adult; $99 per child aged 12 and younger.
Spend Christmas Day wining and dining by the water at sunny and delicious Italian restaurant, Otto, located along Woolloomooloo Wharf.
What’s on offer: Two Christmas Day options. Enjoy a four-course lunch by the water with a glass of Champagne on arrival in the main restaurant, or head upstairs for a semi-private dining experience for groups of 10 to 14. Feeling thirsty? An optional drinks package is also available.
How much: $395 per adult for four-course meal with assaggi in main restaurant, $120 per child. A children’s menu available on request.
Twist away from Western roasts and classic Christmas puds. This fresh Chinese-inspired Christmas lunch menu is designed by esteemed Chef Victor Long at the beautiful and new Lee Ho Fook diner inside a heritage building in the CBD.
What’s on offer: A shareable feast-style menu that features big bold flavours, local Aussie produce and Chinese inspiration. Expect XO sauces, char siu glazed ham and peking duck pancakes, plus a whole lot more.
How much: $190 per adult; $50 per child aged 4 to 12.
Top chef Sean Connolly has crafted a special Xmas Day feast at CBD diner Gowings Bar and Grill.
What’s on offer: Delicious things like antipasti with cured meats and cheese, roast duck with a cherry sauce and duck fat potatoes, and a pistachio and raspberry tiramisu for dessert. Want to go all out? Add on freshly shucked oysters and a lobby, ’cos why not?
How much: $289 per adult; $100 per child
If you can’t treat yourself on Christmas, when can you? This year, book your festive meal at the CBD’s grand diner, The Charles.
What’s on offer: A three-course Charles-style feast.
How much: $195 per adult; $75 per child
Enjoy a fresh, vibrant and flavour-packed Christmas Day feast at Delta Rue, one of four new venues now open in the recently revamped Sofitel Sydney Wentworth.
What’s on offer: A top-notch buffet featuring Aussie seafood, glazed ham, turkey, fresh salads, dessert and more. Plus, groovy live music.
How much: $249 per adult; $99 per child
Ammos, a dreamy new waterfront Greek diner in Brighton-Le-Sands, is open and ready to go this Christmas.
What’s on offer: A seriously good spread. Think: a seafood platter with all the hits, golden spanakopitakia, twice-cooked duck, slow-roasted lamb shoulder, their take on Xmas pudding and more. Yamas!
How much: $275 per adult; $100 per child under age of 12
You'll have a joyeux Noël at Loulou Bistro in Milsons Point or at their newest location in Martin Place.
What’s on offer: A three-course French-leaning joyful Christmas lunch. That looks like: fresh bread with butter and charcuterie, grilled fish and caramelised lamb with golden potatoes and beans, and peaches and cream for dessert. Yum.
How much: $195 per adult; $50 per child. 2.5 hours dining time applies.
If you want spectacle with your delicious Christmas Day lunch, then waterfront restaurant Woodcut is the place to be.
What’s on offer: A four-course Christmas-themed menu including some seriously good seafood, meat and vegetables.
How much: $390 per adult; $130 per child
This Christmas, why not throw caution to the wind and book a table at one of Sydney’s finest diners? Chef Peter Gilmore has created a special Christmas Day menu that’s sure to impress your crew.
What’s on offer: A glass of Champagne on arrival, followed by an exquisite five-course long lunch. All paired with stunning views of the Harbour Bridge and Sydney Opera House.
How much: $550 per adult
Looking to shake things up this year? Make a booking at Barangaroo’s waterfront modern restaurant, Anason, and feast on a spread of Turkish-inspired dishes.
What’s on offer: Their regular menu, featuring Middle Eastern favourites.
How much: $195 per adult, $95 per child under age of 14.
If a grand, Italian-inspired Christmas tickles your fancy this year, consider booking in at the Crown’s fine diner, A'Mare.
What’s on offer: Choose from the full à la carte or experience menu. We recommend the fresh tableside pesto pasta and creamy tiramisu for dessert.
How much: $295 per adult, $60 per child aged 12 and under.
Head to The Winery in Surry Hills on Christmas Day and enjoy a joyful and festive Christmas lunch.
What’s on offer: A glass of Champagne on arrival, followed by a three-course shared-style Christmas set menu.
How much: $185 per adult; $50 per child
Ho, ho ho! Pullman Sydney Hyde Park is open for lunch and dinner this Christmas.
What’s on offer: A go-all-out seafood buffet plus a two-hour drinks package.
How much: $239 per adult; $140 per child aged 6-12, free for kids under 6.
Pasture of Kirribilli and sibling venue Pasture of Balmoral will both be open for Christmas Day lunch this year.
What’s on offer: A five-course Xmas Day feast. Enjoy fresh oysters, cured salmon carpaccio and grilled king prawns, as well as turkey, slow-roasted lamb shoulder and fresh sides. End with pavlova or honey coconut panna cotta. There's also a cracking vegetarian menu on offer.
How much: $190 per adult including one beverage of choice; $75 per child under age 10.
Staying in or close to the CBD this holiday season? Have lunch at W Sydney’s flagship restaurant, Btwn (it’s a play on the word ‘between’).
What’s on offer: Australian seafood alongside share-style mains, a festive dessert spread and a two-and-a-half-hour drinks package. Keep your eyes peeled for their mysteriously named 'dessert pod'.
How much: Adults and 12+, $365 per person, kids aged 4-12, $165 per person, kids under age 3 eat free.
Mosman's most scenic pavilion is open for your Chrissy breakfast AND lunch this year. What better way to celebrate the day than with these perfect views?
What’s on offer: For brekky, you get fruit, coffee, a main and pastries and a 1 hour and 45 minute sitting time, while for lunch you're in for a three course feast + bread, and 2 hours of dining.
How much: Breakfast is $95 for kids under 10, and $160 per adult. Lunch is $170 for kids under 10, and $390 per adult.
An all-you-can-eat Christmas buffet that you don't have to cook yourself? Novotel Sydney in Parramatta is where this paradise is at.
What’s on offer: An epic spread of Christmas-style, all-you-can-eat foods, including traditional roasts carved to order, fresh seasonal salads, delicious desserts and a soft-serve station where you can create your own festive cone moment.
How much: $239 per adult, $119 per teen (13-17 years) and $89 per kid (5-12 years).
A very fancy, very elevated lunch and dinner offering. This is for the festive seekers who want to go all out this Christmas.
What’s on offer: A grand feast designed by culinary director Sarah Briegel. You get the choice of nine open kitchens that each offer up amazing food from different international cuisines. It's a global Christmas journey, where the food is first class.
How much: Lunch costs $540 per adult. Dinner costs $350 per adult. Kids aged 4-12 eat half price, kids under 4 eat free.
There's few beachside locations as special as Pilu in Freshwater, and their luxurious festive lunch is about as Australian Christmas coded as you can possibly get.
What’s on offer: An amazing four-course feast that includes Rockcliff crab salad, WA beef tenderloin and a cherry, white chocolate and candied fruit pavolva. Kids get a special and refined menu all of their own too.
How much: $350 per adult, $165 per child.
An affordable, warm Italian feast for the whole family on Christmas Day that you can find at all their Manly, Entertainment Quarter and Darling Harbour locations.
What’s on offer: An Italian extravaganza of share plates, designed for the whole family. Expect a 12-hour braised lamb shoulder, maple and orange glazed Christmas ham and a whole lot of cheese, plus lots more.
How much: $95 per adult and $19 per kid, for the kid's menu.
An Italian-inspired seafood extravaganza by the water at Pyrmont.
What’s on offer: A big, fresh seafood-centric Christmas lunch with an extensive set of wines. Got dietary requirements? They're happy to adapt.
How much: $245 per adult.
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