From waterfront fine dining to creative snacks and Champagne pairings, some of Sydney’s top restaurants are serving up limited-time menus that match the magic of the festival.
Whether you’re after a laidback bite before a night of exploring or a luxe experience to make the most of the Harbour’s glow, these Vivid menus promise a feast for all the senses. Here are three must-try experiences to book now.
Aria
Aria is lighting up Vivid 2025 with a playful spin on fine dining from 23rd May to 14th June. Expect elevated snacks at the Aria Snack Bar (think Wagyu smash burgers, caviar and oysters), a theatrical nitro ice cream experience churned tableside, and limited-edition pours like Dom Pérignon Luminous and Belvedere 10 martinis. Harbour views included. Bookings recommended.
Cafe Sydney
Cafe Sydney is celebrating Vivid 2025 with a sparkling sensory pairing to match the festival’s glow. From 23 May to 14 June, guests can enjoy a glass of Perrier-Jouët Blason Rosé Champagne alongside a delicate salmon roe tart for $40. Available in both The Lounge and restaurant, this limited-time offering is the perfect start (or end) to an evening of light-filled festivities—especially with those unbeatable panoramic harbour views. Pair it with a meal from executive chef Sarahjane Brown and you’ve got a front-row seat to the Vivid magic.
Henley Bar & Kitchen
Swap fine dining for fun dining at Henley’s Bar & Kitchen, where VIVID comes with a side of tacos and tequila. Their VIVID Fiesta is the ultimate pre- or post-light-show pit stop: a share-style feast for two featuring creamy guac and tortilla chips, your pick of two tacos (beef, prawn or mushroom), and two margaritas—classic or fruity (hello, spicy watermelon). All for just $49. With front-row seats to Darling Harbour’s glow, it’s laidback, lively, and packed with flavour. Available daily from 5pm throughout the festival.
Suellen Boat Vivid Cruise
Experience Vivid Sydney from the water with an intimate 60-minute cruise aboard the beautifully restored 1950s Suellen. Enjoy a curated selection of gourmet snacks and canapés crafted by Three Blind Mice, perfectly paired with stunning views of the city’s illuminated landmarks. With onboard event management and a professional photographer to capture your moments, this is a seamless way to celebrate the festival with friends or family. Kids under 12 can join for $45, including snacks and juices. Starting at $85 per person
W Sydney’s x Maybe Sammy Takeover
This Vivid Sydney, W Sydney is turning up the glow with a sensory celebration of colour, creativity and cocktails. From 23rd May to 14th June, the Living Room Bar will transform into a kaleidoscopic lounge with “Palette of Dreams”—a trio of limited-edition cocktails, each bold in flavour and hue with a distinct Japanese twist. Think creamy matcha whisky with salted foam, aromatic gin with sakura and peach, or citrusy rum with lychee umeshu and cucumber—each drink as vibrant as the lights outside. For one night only, Thursday 5th June, the festivities head sky-high with a Maybe Sammy takeover at 29/30 Rooftop Bar. From 7pm–9:30pm, guests can sip on the Monsoon Mirage, a bespoke old-fashioned served in an LED-lit box and laced with bourbon, peach wine, tangy calamansi, creamy yoghurt and chilli. The mood? Playful, punchy, and made for after dark.
Mode Bar & Kitchen
Just steps from Circular Quay, Mode Kitchen & Bar at the Four Seasons is dialling up the indulgence with a limited-edition Vivid Dreams dinner – a vibrant three-course menu ($95pp) designed to ignite the senses. From 23rd May to 14th June, settle in for bold flavour combos like burrata with green tomato salsa and roe, or yellowfin tuna with blood orange gazpacho, followed by Murray Cod with local mushrooms or Margra lamb with beetroot and goats yoghurt. And for dessert? A Tutti Frutti Flower of colourful sponge cakes and mousse that’s almost too pretty to eat.
Ripples Chowder Bay
This Vivid season, swap the city crowds for a night of waterfront elegance with Ripples Chowder Bay’s new Dine & Cruise experience. Kick things off with a luxury 45-minute cruise through Sydney Harbour, then head indoors to Ripples in Mosman for a refined four-course degustation. The menu is as creative as the lights outside—think wild mushrooms with celeriac cream and black garlic, poached Balmain bug with buttermilk and fennel, blue eye cod in a Jerusalem artichoke broth, and a rich chocolate dessert with cremeaux, soil, and sponge. With a glass of sparkling on arrival and views of the illuminated skyline, it’s the ultimate way to dine during Vivid. Happening Friday 23rd May and Friday 13th June. $195pp – book here.
