Melba’s Rooftop above Cruise Bar at Circular Quay is going full Mexican with a Don Julio tequila takeover running from 13th May through Vivid Sydney and beyond until the end of July.
This isn’t your typical themed pop-up. Chef Han Chen, 2025 AHA Metro Chef of the Year, has created a menu that treats Mexican cuisine with genuine respect, while acclaimed bartender Seine Cheung has crafted cocktails that go well beyond the expected margarita.
The food lineup includes 12-hour slow-braised pork tacos with ancho chilli and pico de gallo verde, alongside standouts like seafood ceviche with Don Julio jelly and crispy cactus with avocado crema. The cocktail menu pairs Don Julio with ingredients from the same culture that shaped tequila itself, from the Sunday Peel with mandarin oleo to a tequila espresso martini for late-night sipping.
With panoramic harbour views and front-row seats to Vivid’s light show, Melba’s becomes the perfect vantage point for sunset margaritas and late-night tacos. The takeover runs from mid-May through July at Circular Quay.
Quick Sips
- What to Eat: 12-hour slow-braised pork tacos with ancho chilli, seafood ceviche with Don Julio jelly, crispy cactus with avocado crema, potato & chorizo quesadilla, tres leches cake with Don Julio compressed pineapple
- What to Drink: Don Julio cocktails including Sunday Peel (mandarin oleo, agave, lime), 3am tequila espresso martini, Clocked Out (passionfruit, hibiscus), The Don spiced old fashioned, plus Gold Trolley service with Don Julio 1942
- When to Go: 13th May end of July 2026. Pre/Post Vivid: Wed–Thu 4pm til late, Fri–Sun 12pm til late. During Vivid (22 May–13 June): Mon–Thu 4pm til late, Fri–Sun 12pm til late
- Where: Melba’s Rooftop, above Cruise Bar & Restaurant, Circular Quay, Sydney
- Cost: Gold Trolley service $70 (50ml Don Julio 1942 with caviar bump), other pricing details not specified
- Vibe Check: Panoramic harbour views with front-row seats to Vivid’s light show, sunset margaritas, late-night tacos, premier rooftop destination above Circular Quay
