15 epic restaurants for Christmas lunch in Sydney

Average bill: A$74 

What about having a Christmas lunch at the most stunning steakhouse located in a 1936 Art Deco building? Rockpool Bar & Grill's interiors impress guests with their 8-meter-high ceilings and Egyptian-style marble-clad heptagonal columns. If you plan to spend Christmas Eve with more than 12 people, you can book a private dining room here. But do it in advance, as the season is very busy.

The cuisine is also at a high level. The place serves beef from the wood-fired grill, wagyu and ribeye steaks, and seafood from the country’s best producers. In addition to it, you’ll definitely enjoy house-made pork sausages, farm duck with burnt mango, and lamb chops and cutlets with mint jelly. Dessert lovers should try the local favorites, Tim Tams and passionfruit Pavlova. The restaurant’s sommelier staff will assist you in selecting the ideal beverage from a long list with over 3,000 wines, all types of spirits, and a variety of bottled beers.

Average bill: A$41  – A$79

This romantic restaurant in the Sydney CBD draws visitors not only for its excellent French cuisine, but also for its welcoming ambience and live jazz performances. Dimmed lights, a vintage-style interior, photos on the walls, and an old grand piano in front of the red curtain give a wonderful opportunity to spend Christmas in the atmosphere of early 20th-century Paris.

Gourmet travelers will appreciate genuine Chateaubriand steak, wagyu tartare, escargots with XO butter, confit ocean trout, and Australian rock lobster. The desserts also have a Parisian touch. Crème caramel, mille-feuille, and ginger clafoutis will brighten any sweet tooth's day. And do not forget about the wine! The list includes classic and character wines with the focus on France, though there are some Australian, Italian, and Spanish versions on offer. Come here for good food, top-notch beverages, nice music, and a charming Parisian atmosphere in the very heart of Australia.

Average bill: A$260

If you're a longtime fan of fine dining and prefer both Japanese and French cuisine, then Tetsuya’s is the right choice for your Christmas dinner in Sydney. The place is the brainchild of Chef Tetsuya Wakuda, whose contribution to the culinary world was highly honored with two Michelin stars. In 2000, Tetsuya renovated a heritage-listed site at 529 Kent Street to create his dream restaurant. The facade and interiors of the new building acquired a vibrant Japanese flair. Now, you cannot help but admire its dining areas with panoramic windows overlooking a beautiful Japanese garden.

The chef's cuisine is no less exquisite.  His menu is a perfect fusion of traditional Japanese cuisine and a classical French approach. You can choose from a variety of seafood specialties, such as Patagonian toothfish with asparagus and sweet miso, or kingfish with rock melon and shiso vinegar. If you‘d rather have meat, try sweet pork with sugarloaf cabbage or a wagyu steak with young oyster mushroom, nettle, and sansho. True gourmands will appreciate the degustation menu, which includes the chef's best delicacies: Hokkaido scallops with seaweed crumble and tomato consommé, and confit of Tasmanian ocean trout with a salad of apples and witlof. 

Make sure to have a memorable lunch at this legendary restaurant this year, as its location will change in August 2023 due to the redevelopment of the current site.

Average bill: A$41 - A$80

For an extraordinary taste of Australian seafood, go to Saint Peter Restaurant, located in Paddington, an inner-city area of Sydney. The place does not serve trivial salmon or trout dishes, which can be found at almost any seafood eatery. Chef Josh Niland will surprise you with a variety of less-known fish species and his sustainable “fin-to-scale” approach to cooking.

This is most likely the only restaurant in the world where you can eat fish parts you had no idea existed. You’ll be able to taste mirror dory eyeball chips, sea urchin crumpets, grouper head terrine, and crumbed garfish. Culinary arts connoisseurs would love the Wallis Lake blue swimmer crab soup, a blue mackerel coronation sandwich, Murray cod chorizo, and Chef’s signature dishes of yellowfin tuna, wild kingfish, or black flathead. The menu always changes and is a true example of culinary magic.

There is also a good choice of oysters, including those from Moonlight Flat Oysters at Batemans Bay. This oyster farm has long been a benchmark for oyster quality in Australia. Its owner, Steve Feletti, uses French finishing processes to give each of his oyster varieties a unique flavor. Their romantic names cannot help but inspire a desire to taste sweet Moonlight Kiss or buttery Clair de Lune. By the way, if you are looking for a Christmas gift, the restaurant offers digital gift cards—a good way to share your exciting culinary experience with friends and loved ones!

Average bill: A$15 - A$37

After a visit to the Sea Life Aquarium, the Wild Life Zoo, or any other Sydney attraction in the center, take a short walk to Botswana Butchery for lunch. This is one of the most popular places due to its good prices, delicious food, and very convenient location. The eatery has New Zealand roots and acquaints both residents and tourists with the traditional cuisine of Australia and New Zealand. Discover the unique flavors of the local food by ordering pan-roasted pink snapper, caramelized free-range pork belly, or twice-cooked parmesan souffle.

During Christmas, the restaurant serves a special seasonal menu. The hit of this year is a slow-cooked lamb shoulder, which is worth trying. But if you are after seafood, you can order fish, freshly shucked oysters, whole southern rock lobster, and even Siberian Imperial caviar. Your kids will undoubtedly appreciate the options on the children's menu: the battered flathead, shoestring fries, and the double-patty Botswana Butchery Burger. Don’t forget about desserts. Tonka bean crème brûlée, chocolate jaffa mousse cake with candied cumquats, and mango sorbet with coconut feuilletine are among a small but very appealing selection. The wine list includes over 1,000 names, with a good choice of Australian and New Zealand brands.

Average bill: A$150

Housed beneath the smallest "sail" of the Sydney Opera House, Bennelong offers an exciting opportunity to celebrate Christmas at an iconic Australian location. You will be impressed by the restaurant's superb cuisine, gorgeous interiors with soft lighting, and mesmerizing views of Sydney. The menu is as iconic as the place itself, as it is the creation of renowned Australian chef Peter Gilmore, who is also Executive Chef at Quay, another legendary Sydney restaurant. Under Gilmore's guidance, the two places were repeatedly awarded stars from Gourmet Traveler’s Australian Restaurant Guide and chef hats from the Australian Good Food Guide. Gilmore also frequently appears on the cooking reality show Masterchef Australia, where his "Snow Egg" dessert was once named one of the most difficult challenges.

At Bennelong, guests are offered a refined three-course à la carte menu across all three dining levels of the venue. Almost all the products are produced in Australia, so you'll be able to order such hits as Maremma pasture-raised duck and John Dory with asparagus. Make sure to try the pavlova and cherry jam lamington, two of the best sweets ever to originate in Australia and New Zealand. Bennelong's selection of wines is fantastic. This is proven by three awards and a nomination in Australia’s Wine List of the Year Awards for 2022.

Average bill: A$51 - A$190

Looking for a fine-dining restaurant with the greatest harbor view for Christmas or New Year’s Eve? Then Aria is an ideal place for you. Since its opening in 1999, the restaurant has received 36 stars from Gourmet Traveler’s Australian Restaurant Guide and 35 chef hats from the Australian Good Food Guide.

The menu is crafted by Australia’s most renowned chef, Matt Moran, and Executive Chef Tom Gorringe. It offers a good choice of seafood, including scallops, octopus, oysters, crabs, tuna, john dory, and cod. Vegetarians will enjoy the asparagus with brown butter and shiitake, the koshihikari stuffed cabbage with tomato, pine nuts, and Geraldton wax, and the creamed royal blue potato mash. And if you're after meat dishes, you won’t be disappointed by the choice either. Rangers Valley beef tartare, glazed Wollemi duck, and Eugowra quail are quintessential gourmet extravaganzas. When it is time for dessert, try a cherry soufflé with pistachios and vanilla or a signature delicacy of raspberries, elderflowers, strawberries, and chu.  All the dishes are beautifully served and bring not only gastronomic but also aesthetic pleasure. The world-class wine and cocktail list is stunning. Have a glass of white currant wine or a smoked margarita while watching the New Year’s fireworks.

Average bill: A$37 - A$74

The Christmas and New Year’s holidays will be remembered for a long time if you choose O Bar and Dining for your lunch or dinner. The restaurant is located on level 47 of Sydney’s iconic Australia Square Tower and allows its guests spectacular views of the harbor. Chefs Michael Moor and Jason Dean do their best to impress guests with outstanding seasonal flavors.

Vegans will be offered a menu with good options for each course, from an appetizer to a dessert. Undisputed favorites are a peach and tomato salad and organic golden barley risotto. Those who prefer meat dishes will definitely appreciate pan-roasted queen snapper fillet, spice-crusted Hampshire lamb rump, and a ribeye steak on the bone. Seafood is also available and includes such specialties as oscietra caviar, Scull Island prawns, and creel-caught local lobster.

In addition to a restaurant, you can visit a revolving cocktail bar with 360-degree views. Do try the Sydney spritz, and do not forget about seasonal favorites like the spiced mango mojito, honeydew gimlet, and berry bee. A list of wines and spirits is so long that it can satisfy even the most demanding guest.

Average bill: A$200 - A$270

Quay is a fine-dining restaurant that is more than just a lunch spot; it is a top tourist attraction. It is located in the Overseas Passenger Terminal of Sydney Harbor, and its panoramic windows offer a breathtaking view of the Harbor Bridge and the Opera House. On New Year’s Eve, the restaurant provides a miraculous chance to watch world-famous fireworks while enjoying live music, indulgent meals, and plenty of drinks. The price level is rather high, but the views, service, and food are worth the money.

Quay serves contemporary Australian cuisine and offers 6- and 8-course menus, as well as a very good wine list that includes both local and international brands. You’ll find many signature dishes here: the Xo, Xo salad of scallop, squid, and shiitake, or the confit pig jowl with smoked trotter broth. Do try the famous Snow Egg dessert: a meringue with ice cream inside, served on a bed of fruit fool and granita. Another restaurant’s specialty is Chef Peter Gilmore’s eight-textured chocolate cake. The bar menu will also satisfy any taste with its rich selections of spirits and cocktails, both classical and signature ones.

Average bill: A$73 - A$150 

After a visit to Darling Harbor, take a 20-minute walk via the Chinese Garden of Friendship to have an epic lunch at Nomad. Located in Surry Hills, an inner-city district of Sydney, Nomad attracts lots of locals and tourists with its relaxed atmosphere, friendly service, and unique cuisine. It is a place where you’ll always feel at home and where you’ll definitely come back. Isn't that what we long for at Christmas?

Food is cooked with fire and smoke, according to the culinary traditions of Spain, Morocco, and the Middle East. Start with Nomad’s famous charcuterie selections, continue with a date-glazed wagyu tongue or whole lamb shoulder, and finish with strawberry clafoutis. Seafood lovers can choose between wood-roasted octopus, smoked kingfish rillettes, smoked sardines, and Sydney rock oysters. The menu has a variety of vegetarian options, such as BBQ Roman beans with charred spring onion vinaigrette or shaved cabbage with barberries, shanklish, and soft herbscan. And wood-roasted maple pumpkin with chili-burnt butter and macadamia nuts will please even the most discriminating palates. 

The choice of beverages is also rich and includes non-alcoholic options, craft beer and cider, spirits, aperitifs, and cocktails. You'll also be offered a good selection of Australian and international wines, as well as a collection of premium Pinot Noir and Chardonnay from different countries. 

Average bill: A$15 - A$37  

While in Sydney, take the opportunity to eat at the best Thai food restaurant in the city. It is not by chance that Thai Pothong has been voted the best Thai restaurant four years in a row. Located in Sydney’s Newtown district, the eatery attracts people with its impeccable service, warm atmosphere, affordable prices, and authentic Thai recipes.

Come and help yourself to such popular dishes as tom yum soup, marinated baby octopus, or chicken spring rolls. In addition to a standard menu, the restaurant offers gluten-free, vegetarian, and children’s options. The cocktail menu features timeless classics such as the Mai Tai, Pina Colada, and Negroni. Those who prefer wine will be able to choose from a long list of local and international names, including Australian Peel Estate Verdelho, New Zealand’s Spy Valley Chardonnay, and the world-famous Veuve Clicquot from France.

The interior of Thai Pothong is so bright and festive that it seems to have been created for joyful Christmas celebrations. Besides, there is a handicraft shop inside where you can buy Christmas gifts exclusively imported for Thai Pothong. After the renovation, the place can welcome over 500 guests at a time, so whenever you come, you’ll always be offered a table for a lovely lunch with your friends or family.

Average bill: A$15 - A$37

The Fortune of War is the city’s oldest heritage-listed pub, located in the Rocks district, not far from Circular Quay, the Sydney Harbor Bridge, and the Sydney Opera House. The pub dates back to 1828, and since that year, it has never closed its doors. Though the interior has been extensively renovated, it still has an old-town feel. The tiled bar counter with a massive wooden canopy that resembles grandma's sideboard, a beamed ceiling, and dim lighting take you back in time to 19th-century Sydney. These days, the pub is open seven days a week, providing locals and travelers with warm service, nice food, good Australian beer, and live music in the evenings.

The classical pub menu includes such typical hits as burgers, steaks, fish and chips, and schnitzel. Vegetarians are offered sumac-spiced hummus, roasted potatoes with garlic butter and herbs, nachos, and a mushroom burger. There is a special menu for kids with three options: pasta Napoletana, fish and chips, and a half-size schnitzel. As for the drinks, there are about 15 beers on tap and a long list of wines. For the guests’ convenience, food can be ordered right from the bar. This epic pub is the best place to unwind with friends after a long day at work, after a walk around the city's attractions, or on special occasions like Christmas and New Year's Eve.

Average bill: A$16 - A$33

If you are a fan of Italian food, go to Cucina Porto for the best pizzas and pastas in Sydney. In addition to a spacious general venue, the restaurant has private dining rooms for group celebrations on Christmas, New Year's Eve, and other special events. The restaurant’s menu is the result of Executive Chef Martino Pulito’s childhood memories of Puglia and his family feasts. He tried to recreate the recipes of his homeland to delight restaurant guests with the best Italian flavors.

You’ll find linguini with mussels and prawns, pistachio-and-basil pesto gnocchetti, and pepperoni, capricciosa, and margherita pizzas in a pasta and pizza list. For the second course, order crumbed veal or beef tagliata. A true hit is stone-baked bread paired with 22-month-aged Parma prosciutto. And, of course, one should not forget about Italian classical sweets like tiramisu, ricotta cake, and chocolate tartufino.

Kids will appreciate spaghetti Bolognese, crumbed chicken, mini pizzas, and other options on a special menu for children. And at the end, raise a glass of wine or another drink from a long bar menu list to a merry Christmas and a happy New Year!

Average bill: A$36 - A$71

Mr. Wong is one of the best Chinese restaurants in Sydney, located not far from the Royal Botanic Garden and the Museum of Contemporary Art. If you are a devotee of Asian cuisine or just want to have a new gourmet experience in Sydney, go to Mr. Wong for lunch. The 240-seat eatery occupies two levels of an old, heritage-listed building. Its impressive interiors in an old colonial style, a spacious venue, dim lighting, and moody jazz music add special charm to this place.

The menu is also fabulous and includes about 80 dishes of Chinese, Cantonese, and Asian cuisine, with a number of vegetarian options. This abundance of choice is the result of the energy and creative flair of celebrity chef Dan Hong. Excellent dim sum, unusual faux shark fin soup, legendary Peking duck, and traditional dumplings are just a few of the highlights of the menu. You’ll be impressed by the room with the rows of barbecue ducks, which are a true specialty of Mr. Wong restaurant. Still looking for a lunch place after a walk around a beautifully decorated Christmas city? Pay a visit to Mr. Wong for a special experience and good memories of the time spent in Sydney.

Average bill: A$34 - A$240 

Glass Brasserie is a stylish and exquisitely designed restaurant and bar in the heart of Sydney. Its location in the Central Business District and stunning view of the Queen Victoria Building make it the perfect setting for a holiday meal or New Year's Eve celebration. The driving force behind the restaurant is a leading Australian restaurateur and chef, Luke Mangan, whose energy and expertise made Glass Brasserie a favorite fine-dining place in Sydney.

The menu features Australia's premium ingredients, with a focus on local and seasonal produce. The dishes are simple but very elegant, with a touch of refined creativity. Chicken liver parfait with apricot relish, duck and ginger ravioli, and pan-fried King salmon are just a few names on a long list of this haute cuisine. All grill meats are Australian-grown and are served with charred artichokes, cauliflower puree, and bordelaise sauce. The wine list is also the restaurant’s pride. It includes over 900 names that were hand-selected by Head Sommelier Mauro Bortolato. After your meal, enjoy a cup of coffee or hot chocolate with a liquorice meringue roll or an assortment of petit fours.

It is not a problem if you do not have enough time to visit all the top restaurants in Sydney during your December Christmas trip. You already know that Australia celebrates this holiday twice: the traditional one in warm December and the authentic Yulefest in cold July. Come back and enjoy all of Australia’s delicacies!