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A mother and daughter sit at Opera Bar, the Harbour Bridge in the background, drinking Champagne
Photograph: Opera Bar

The best Mother's Day meals in Sydney to celebrate

Take the stress out of Mum's day with these elegant set menus

Written by
Elizabeth McDonald
,
Alice Ellis
&
Caitlyn Todoroski
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Sunday, May 14, 2023: Mother's Day. The one day of the year that mum's are supposed to be recognised for all their hard work. Is one day really enough? Probably not, but we'll save that gripe for another time. 

The day should be filled with love and laughter but for many – particularly restaurant waitstaff – it comes with a pang of dread. Most of us know that going to lunch with the family can be a stressful affair, particularly if you've forgotten to make a reservation, Dad's freaking out at the price of wine these days and Mum's insisting no one make a fuss.

Which is why it's so handy that a bunch of Sydney's top restaurants have taken the guesswork out of the affair by offering extra-special tasting menus – so all you have to do is show up and avoid talking about politics while they take care of the rest.

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The best Mother's Day menus in Sydney

  • Restaurants
  • Woollahra
  • price 2 of 4

Head chef Taylor Cullen's spesh Mum's Day menu that will take you and your family on a culinary journey through Chiswick’s kitchen garden, with a mix of old favourites and fresh seasonal dishes. Get things started with a cocktail on arrival and experience Chiswick’s Mother's Day sharing menu.

How much: $175 per adult; $50 per child (aged under 13)

  • Restaurants
  • Surry Hills

Take your pick from their range of Mother's Day 'Feed Me Menus'. The lower end features a a selection of Chin Chin favourites. Want to go all out? The $150 menu with dishes like the 500g rib eye on the bone with nam jim jaew will earn you some serious brownie points. To keep things bubbly, Piper-Heidsieck Champagne and Mother’s Day cocktails will be pouring all day. Plus, mums and mother figures will receive a complimentary gift from Ashley & Co.

How much: $88, $110, $135 or $150 per person (apparently a 10% surcharge applies on Sundays)

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  • Travel
  • The Rocks

There are various ways to spoil Mum at the Four Seasons Hotel Sydney this Mother's Day. There's a Champagne three-course lunch buffet at Mode Kitchen & Bar, where all mums will also receive a Camilla coin purse valued at $70.

How much: $120 per person including a glass of Champagne and the gift

Or you can enjoy a special afternoon tea served in their usually private Lounge 32 (which is on for a whole week). The afternoon tea will feature hand-crafted delicacies created by executive pastry chef, Quentin Zerr, housemade scones, as well as savoury treats (an egg and white truffle sandwich, tiger prawn brioche, and tomato and stracciatella tart). Pair with tea and coffees or add a glass of champagne.

How much: $99 per adult ($119 to include Champagne); children's high tea for $59

  • Restaurants

Executive chef Luke Mangan will be putting on a specially curated, five-course brunch, including hiramasa kingfish sashimi with nam jim, coconut yoghurt, kaffir lime and coriander; soft polenta with organic poached egg, shitake, truffle dressing and pecorino; barbecue king prawns with corn salsa and spiced aioli; and seared and poached beef fillet with pumpkin puree and madeira sauce – that's all before dessert.

How much: $145 per adult; $45 per child

 

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  • Restaurants
  • Middle Eastern
  • The Rocks

Venture to The Rocks for a lively Mediterranean Mother's Day lunch. The three-course event begins with a meal made best for sharing; the humble mezze platter is followed by your choice between red snapper, lamb kofta, short rib tagine and chicken shawarma. Finish up with a crispy, cheesy knafeh and enjoy the live music. 

How much: $139 per adult; $25 per child (aged under 12)

  • Restaurants
  • Sydney
  • price 3 of 4

Give your Mum an unforgettable day with ridic views of the Sydney Opera House and a six-course lunch menu created by executive chef Tom Gorringe. Start with a glass of Champagne on arrival and go from there.

How much: $290 per adult; $70 per child (aged under 12)

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  • Bars
  • Sydney
  • price 2 of 4

A delicious brunch served up with some of Sydney's best views at a surprisingly affordable price tag... On Mother's Day you can get a selection of share dishes and desserts (with a complimentary glass of prosecco on arrival) for just $65 a head at Opera Bar. Seatings are available at 11am, 1.30 and 4pm.

How much: $65 per adult, $18 per child (aged under 12)

  • Restaurants
  • Italian
  • Sydney
  • price 1 of 4

Okay, Fratelli Fresh aren't putting on a Mother's Day lunch special per se, but this deal was too good not to include on the list. Slurp on a dozen oysters and wash the delightful salty brine down with a Bombay citron pressé spritz for only $19. 

How much: $19 for a dozen oysters and a spritz

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  • Restaurants
  • Bars
  • Newtown

 If your mum's a foodie, she'll love this leisurely Sunday spread. Start with a complimentary Spritz on arrival, and the beer bread house-baked sourdough with "odd cultured" butter, and follow with delish bits like crudités with fava bean hummus; and koji roasted chicken with togarashi and chicken fat congee.  

How much: $95 per person with optional add-ons like a bouquet from their neighbours at the Flower Room; $30 per child (aged under 12)

  • 3 out of 5 stars
  • Restaurants
  • Bondi North
  • price 2 of 4
  • Recommended

Treat Mum to a three-course lunch or dinner (bookings essential) with a side of beachfront views. Their three-course lunch or dinner features the freshest selection of sashimi, lobster ravioli, ora king salmon and lot's more ocean treats. DJs hit the decks from 2 to 5pm, followed by live music from 5.30 to 8.30pm. 

How much: $125 per adult; $40 per child (aged 12 and under)

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  • Restaurants
  • Bondi Beach

Bondi's sprawling new venue is putting on a Mother's Day menu that screams beachside feast. Get ready to loosen your belt after perusing a seafood platter, lemon-chilli pasta and charcoal roasted lamb neck. Mums can also look forward to a glass of Champagne and a gift from Bondi Wash. 

How much: $99 per person; $145 per person (lobster add-on)  

  • Restaurants
  • French
  • Woollahra
  • price 2 of 4

If you want to get a bit fancy for Mother's Day lunch, take your pick of three decadent courses from Bistro Moncur's a la carte menu, curated by head chef Tom Deadman. If you want to go all out, there will be plenty of Bollinger flowing throughout the day.

How much: $140 per person

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  • Restaurants
  • Barangaroo

For a Mother's Day your mama won't forget, just walking into Woodcut is an experience in itself. The absolutely glamourous venue have devised a Mother's Day menu with a focus on spectacle. By spectacle, we mean a glob of caviar that Woodcut claim is the "rarest of them all" and reserved for Tsar". Well, if it's good enough for a king, it'll be good enough for mum! 

How much: a la carte. Prices vary

Gowings Bar and Grill
  • Restaurants
  • Sydney
  • price 2 of 4

The building's history has been brought back to life with the Gowings Bar and Grill, a European style brasserie inside the QT hotel serving up seafood, steaks, woodfired meats and rotisserie fowl. Time your visit for Friday at lunch so you can enjoy the pinot and suckling pig special. Meet for pre-dinner cocktails at Gilt Lounge.

Gowings are firing up the grill especially for their Festa Della Mamma lunch. It's a melange of gorgeous Mediterranean flavours and quality grilled meat so expect a fall-off-the-bone braised lamb shoulder and crispy whole baked salmon. 

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  • Restaurants
  • Mediterranean
  • Mosman

How can you surprise the mum who already has everything? Bring her to a luxe Mediterranean Mother's Day feast by boat. After a grand wharf-access entry St Siandra are offering two 4-course menus, both complete with a tipple to start. If you're more inclined towards a share-style array, opt for the brunch menu. For a grander feed, the lunch set menu is for you. 

How much: $79 per person (brunch); $159 per person (lunch); $70 per child (lunch). Optional add ons like caviar and creme fraiche crumpets ($110) or a bottle of Laurent Perrier Champagne ($99)

 

  • Restaurants
  • Australian
  • North Sydney

Sunny, lush and elegant is the mood at Rafi this Mother's Day. Their four-course seasonal menu really explores all that Rafi has to offer: the first course alone includes three different bites of sourdough pita, crispy chickpea hommus and chilli-tomato tuna. Expect just as much adventure in the following courses that dabble in lobster, spiced eggplant and sirloin with a marble score of 5+. 

How much: $150 per person

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  • 4 out of 5 stars
  • Bars
  • Darlinghurst
  • Recommended

Treat mum with none other than a free glass of Mumm Champagne at this bustling rooftop garden bar. The banquet menu has a little bit of everything so you can dig into some truffle mac and cheese and beef sirloin while gazing out across Sydneytown. 

How much: $65 per person

  • 4 out of 5 stars
  • Restaurants
  • Middle Eastern
  • Sydney
  • price 2 of 4
  • Recommended

Babylon's opulent touches and intimate dining room make for a lovely atmosphere to treat your mother dearest. The Mother's Day menu is a collection of this Middle Eastern restaurant's specialty dishes. Enjoy the babaganosh, harissa calamari, and woodfired chicken before strapping in for the dessert showstopper: Turkish coffee ice cream. 

How much: $99 per person

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  • Hotels
  • Sydney

Capella are hosting not one, but two sittings of a luscious Mother's Day high tea in the foyer of their newly-opened luxury hotel. Bask in the creativity of the Netherlands-hailing flower installation titled 'Meadow' while you nibble on spanner crab brioche and salted caramel and wattleseed mascarpone eclair. 

How much: $105 per person

 

  • Restaurants
  • Chinese
  • The Rocks

Luna Lu are pulling out all the stops for your choice of three different banquets complete with their signature cocktail, a sustainable curated menu of modern Asian dishes, and a glass of rosé. Did we mention you'll be enjoying your meal alongside some pretty spesh views of Sydney Harbour?

How much: $130 per person (three-course); $160 per person (four-course); $180 per person (four-course). Optional add-ons like lobster noodles (80 per person) or caviar ($120-$180)

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  • Bars
  • Darling Harbour
  • price 2 of 4

Celebrate mum at Rekōdo in Barangaroo House. There's actually no set menu, so you can play it your way. To give you an idea of what you'll be up for: you can order the kingfish monaka for $9; steamed pipis for $30; Japanese-style dory with kombu kinegar and salad for $48; and an ice-cream sandwich with yuzu and persimmon for $16.

  • Bars
  • Breweries
  • The Rocks
  • price 1 of 4

Floor to ceiling windows will give mum an incredible view of the Sydney Opera House and Harbour Bridge while she digs in to a two or three course menu. There is such a wide range of eats that you'll have trouble choosing. Feel like mushroom arancini and wood fired rump rump? Or perhaps some pork belly and prawn linguine?

How much: $80 per person (two-course); $100 (three-course)

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  • Bars
  • Breweries
  • Eveleigh

Taking on the town with your fur baby for Mother's Day? Bring your pup along to BrewDog for lunch and score a free dog treat and polaroid together. So it goes that every mother thinks her child is the cutest – you can put your bias to the test with BrewDog's 'Cutest Pup' competition and snag a $100 voucher. 

How much: lunch a la carte. Free treat and polaroid

  • Restaurants
  • Mediterranean
  • Redfern

Dig into homestyle dishes this Mother's Day without having to do the homestyle prep. The share-style Mediterranean menu will be an ode to the Sofia family heritage, and features locally sourced produce, elevated further by the venue’s grill. Look forward to warm sourdough bread, chargrilled cauliflower and slow cooked lamb ribs. 

How much: $110 per person

 

 

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  • Restaurants
  • Australian
  • Mosman

Take your animal-loving mother for a wander around a zoo in the morning, past the lions and tigers and bears (oh my!) and stroll to a fine-dining restaurant with stellar views afterwards. Me-Gal's Mother's Day menu picks and chooses some of the establishment's most popular dishes for a scrumptious lunch. Even the kiddos will get a slice of luxury with a children's menu that includes zucchini and ricotta ravioli and grilled chicken scallopini. 

How much: From $140 per adult; $60 per child

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The Gantry Restaurant and Bar
  • Restaurants
  • Modern Australian
  • Dawes Point

This four-course lunch comes in at one of the pricier ones on the list but, hey, your mum deserves the world, right? The waterside venue is serving a specially selected menu complete with a complimentary glass of Laurent Perrier Champagne on arrival.

How much: $400 for two (including wine pairings)

  • Hotels
  • Sydney

What's better than a Mother's Day brunch? A champagne Mother's day brunch. This four hour extravaganza will see you through with bottomless Thiénot x Penfolds Champagne Brut Rosé, unlimited seafood and live music. Talk about a treat.

How much: $200 per adult; $99.50 per child 

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  • Restaurants
  • Sydney

If you love your mum to the moon and back, a meal at the heights of the Sydney Tower (formerly Centrepoint Tower) might be the closest you can get to showing it. The revolving fine dining restaurant affords you 360 degree views of Sydney, from the Blue Mountains to the sea and their Mother's Day menu spares no expenses with oysters, succulent pork belly and handmade chocolates. 

How much: $190 per adult; $50 per child (aged under 12)

  • Hotels
  • Sydney

If your mum loves herself a glass of Champers here and there, she'll be like a kid in a candy store with this bottomless bubbles high tea at the Crowne Plaza in Darling Harbour. Expect the usual delectable high tea culprits: scones with clotted cream and jam, macarons and quiche. 

How much: $99.55 per adult, $42.61 per child (aged under 13)

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  • Bars
  • Pubs
  • Woolloomooloo
  • price 2 of 4

Find a lavish a la carte menu fit for a queen at Woolloomooloo’s favourite pub and brasserie, the Old Fitz. On their new French-bistro inspired menu, expect vibrant beetroot and roquefort salads, chicken & tarragon terrine, and a real treat: the Old Fitz Sunday roast that is specially prepared during the colder months.

How much: Dishes ranging from $6-$34.

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