Where to eat and drink for Vivid 2024 (2024)

This year, Vivid Fire Kitchen will be taking place at The Goods Line in Ultimo.Time Out got a preview – andyou can read about the five must-try dishes here. Come on down and see the world’s most talented chefs and pitmasters cook with roaring flames using the best Aussie produce (and taste the fruits of their labour, of course). Enjoy delicious food cooked by fire, like slow-cooked brisket, charred veggies and First Nations dishes. It’s not just the food that’s hot, but the line-up, too. Vivid Fire Kitchen will feature Californian-star Shalamar Lane, Aussie culinary legend Christine Manfield, First Nations chef and restaurateur Mindy Woods, Firedoor’s Lennox Hastie, Texas-based Aussie barbecue cook Jess Pryles, Australian hospo gun John McFadden, and the Apollo Group’s Oscar Solomon. You can learn the art of cooking over fire with the live cooking demonstrations and impress at your next dinner party.Read more here.

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One of our favourite parts of Vivid Food is the collaboration between some of Sydney’s and the world’s top chefs, with the Vivid Chef Series. This year, chefs from the award-winning Fred’s, Aalia, and will all be hosting Vivid Chef Series and teaming up with Michelin-starred chefs including Max Coen, Sally Abé and Ivan Brehm. You don’t need to ask us twice. Read more here.

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Manoella Buffara, Latin America's Best Female Chef 2022, will be taking over waterfront Greek diner Ploós for an exciting two-week residency during Vivid. Renowned for her passion for sustainability and boundary-pushing Brazilian fare, in Sydney, Buffara will be spotlighting the best NSW produce with a Brazilian twist, all surrounded by the dazzling lights of Vivid. Read more here.

Culinary goddess, former Fred’s head chef and cookbook author Danielle Alvarez will be hosting twodelicious dinners under the white sails this Vivid. Held at the Opera House in the Yallamundi Rooms, Culinary Canvas will celebrate the best Australian produce, winemaking and music, with a live performance by the award-winning artist Katie Noonan. Enjoy a three-course seasonal meal curated by Alvarez paired with top-notch vino against the beautiful backdrop of Sydney Harbour. Culinary Canvas will take place on Friday June 7 and June 14 and costs$269 per person.Read more here.

The Warakirri Dining Experience isspecial First Nationsdinner that will be taking place across two evenings, May 31 and June 1, at Carriageworks as part of Vivid Food. Deep-dive into Australia’s gorgeous native foods, botanics, culture and ritual with a dinner presented by Ngemba Weilwan woman Sharon Winsor. Learn more about the world's oldest continuous living culture and about the foods we should be eating more of today. Read more here.

Taste, see, connect. Sounds good, doesn’t it? As part of Vivid Food, House Canteen at the Sydney Opera House will be throwing a series of dinners designed for light-admirers to step outside of their comfort zone, make new connections and have fun. Play Jenga with your neighbour, get thrown into the deep end (conversation wise) with prompt cards, and enjoy a yum meal featuring sushi, share plates, dumplings and desserts, all with Vivid as your background. Book here.

Carriageworks is teaming up with the social enterprise Plate It Forward to bring you tasty eats during Vivid while giving back to those in need. As part of the Vivid Food program, Plate It Forward’s Coyoacán Social will be popping up at Carriageworks, serving authentic and delicious Mexican street food – think slow-cooked beef tacos and more. Plus, for every taco purchased, a meal will be donated to a local community kitchen. Stop by before heading to Vivid or a show. Now that’s what we’re tacoing about! Read more here.

Always wanted to go to Aria but haven’t had the coin? Well, Vivid is the time to as the waterfront fine diner is hosting its very own snack bar. For $150 per person, you can saunter on in to Aria and enjoy a gamut of delicious snacks (hello, Wagyu cheeseburger), a co*cktail and a glass of wine. Oh! And the killer views of Vivid. Book here.

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Newtown’s The Midnight Special will once again be popping up in the Opera House for Vivid, transforming the Concert Hall’s Northern Foyer into Bar Subterranean. Swing on by for co*cktails by Archie Rose and an immersive space inspired by Bob Dylan’s ‘Subterranean Homesick Blues’. Entry is free. Find out more here.

A lot of fuss gets made over The Glenmore’s unbelievable harbour views, taking in the majesty of the Harbour Bridge and hooking around past the Opera House sails to the glittering CBD. To capitalise on these incredible views this Vivid,the rooftop pubwill be running co*cktail specials made withTalisker whisky. There's a Salted Caramel Apple Old Fashionedwith your name on it. Read more here.

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In terms of views and vibes this Vivid, it probably doesn't get much better than Opera Bar. And with live music, front-row seats to the lights and free entry, we reckon the harbour bar is going to go off. Plus, the team will be shaking three limited-edition colourful Vivid co*cktails, including one called Emerald Mirage (Three Cuts vodka, pomme verte liqueur, melon liqueur, pineapple, citrus soda) which sounds like a fun time indeed. Read more here.

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Found right in Circular Quay and featuring views of the Sydney Harbour Bridge and harbour, Bar Patrónis prime real estate this Vivid. It's not all about the views, however – the Mexican restaurant is putting on a show, too, offeringa three-course set menu for $49 per person, available between 5-6pm. Think guacamole, tacos and tostadas. Muy bien. Book here.

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This Vivid, the 12 venues dotted throughout Surry Hills’ Hollywood Quarter precinct will be bathed in a neon purple glow, offering killer food and drink deals, live music gigs, workshops and special cinema screenings. Highlights include $12 Margs at Tio’s, fried chicken ramen and beer for $30 at Butter, and $2 oysters at The Rover. Keen? Head to the Hollywood Quarter this Vivid and paint the town purple. Read more here.

Modern Asian restaurant Luna Lu is situated along the sandstone Campbells Cove in The Rocks. In terms of quintessential Sydney views, this is as good as it gets. This Vivid,Luna Lu is serving colourfuldynasty dumplings. Views and plump dumps? We love it. Book here.

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Sydney is brimming with restaurants and hotels with divine views. But there’s nothing quite like the vista you have from the Dining Room by James Viles, at the low-rise Park Hyatt hotel. The flash diner is putting on a two- or three-course meal for Vivid. Try the‘Crimson Spin’ dessert, which was inspired by Leonardo da Vinci’s helicopter drawings and features berries, pineapple sorbet and delicate crimson sheet drapes. Book here.

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This Vivid, Hickson House is transforming into Hickson Vivid House, complete with neon lights and glow-in-the-dark co*cktails. Conveniently located right in the Rocks, pop in to Hickson House for a drink or three before you explore the city at night. You’ll be able to get your hands on these bespoke co*cktails on Friday and Saturday evenings in Hickson House’s mezzanine High and Dry Bar, from 6-11pm. Book here.

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Take in Vivid from the sky at Aster,The InterContinental Sydney's rooftop bar found on level 32. Guests can sip on Vivid-themed co*cktails alongside a seasonal two-course menu, and take it all in. Two seatings are available: 6 and 8pm, and it costs $169 per person. You will need to book for this one, which you can do here.

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Indigenous restaurant Midden by Mark Olive, located in theSydney Opera House, is putting on specials duringVivid.Pop in for zingy lemon myrtle teriyaki chicken skewers with lemon myrtle ponzu paired with a fruity Rosella Gimlet (rosella-infused Archie Rose signature dry gin, Lillet Blanc, lemon juice, agave and lemon myrtle syrup) and stay for the views. Book here.

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Kingsleys Woolloomooloo, a steak and seafood restaurant located right on the wharf at Woolloomooloo, has created some fun and fruity drinksjust for Vivid. There's the Passionfruit Cove with Grey Goose vodka, St Germain elderflower liqueur, agave syrup, pineapple juice, lime juice and passionfruit pulp; and the Yuzu-Yindi with Grey Goose vodka, Granny Smith apple liqueur, fresh lemon juice, apple juice and yuzu puree. Head there early for top co*cktails, oysters and some of the world’s best steak, before going to Vivid. Book here.

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