This winter, Sydney’s food scene goes beyond the ordinary. From heated rooftop igloos with harbour views to hearty pub roasts that warm you from the inside out, the city’s dining landscape transforms into a playground of comfort and creativity.
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Sydney’s chefs and venues are embracing the cooler months with everything from intimate chef dinners to cosy winter menus, pop-up experiences to seasonal food celebrations. Whether you’re after a $30 Sunday roast at your local pub or a luxury igloo dining experience high above the city, winter dining in Sydney offers something for every appetite and budget. Here’s our guide to the season’s most enticing food experiences.
Major Food Festivals & Events in Winter
Good Food & Wine Show 25th Anniversary
Sydney’s favourite culinary celebration returns for its milestone 25th year, bringing together over 300 gourmet exhibitors, celebrity chefs and interactive experiences. This year’s show features a special appearance by supermodel Tyra Banks showcasing her new premium ice cream brand SmiZE & DREAM ahead of her Darling Harbour store opening.
Event Highlights:
- Chocolate Appreciation Masterclass with Kirsten Tibballs ($59)
- Cheese Lover experiences with Valérie Henbest ($89)
- VIP Lounge presented by Singapore Airlines
- Wine & Food Tasting Rooms by Wine Selectors
- Live cooking demonstrations at The Harvey Norman Kitchen
- Free palate appreciation classes at the Drinks Lab
Special Features:
- The Sonos Sound Bar cocktail masterclasses
- Australian Eggs Flip It Cooking Stage with Jane de Graaff
- Dilmah luxury tea experiences
- Cheese Corner & Good Food Village featuring 300+ exhibitors
When: 20-22 June 2025
Where: ICC Sydney, Darling Harbour
Cost: Various ticket options available at goodfoodshow.com.au/sydney
Winter Wonderland at Lady Banks Rooftop Bar
Lady Banks Rooftop in Bankstown transforms into a winter escape with private igloo lounges, fire pits, fairy lights and warming cocktails. The seasonal activation brings cosy winter dining to Southwest Sydney with bookable domes and themed events.
Private Igloo Packages:
- Couples ($100pp): Luxury shared menu including Spanner Crab Brioche, Butterflied King Prawns, Burrata, Woodfired Lamb Gozleme, plus Apple and Rhubarb Crumble. Includes 750ml bottle of Moët & Chandon or Whispering Angel Rosé
- Groups 4-10 ($50pp): Share-style menu with Three Cheese Arancini, French Onion Flatbread, Prosciutto di Parma, plus 1.5L magnums of champagne or rosé
Daily Experiences:
- Magic Hour (4pm-6pm): $15 fireside aperitifs, $10 mulled wine, $8 house beer and wine
- Bottomless Banks (weekends 12pm-3pm): $79pp for 90 minutes bottomless drinks with Mediterranean sharing menu
Special Events:
Add these to your diary and remember to book!
- Après Ski Weekend (19-22 June)
- Bastille Festival (11-13 July)
- Christmas in July (26 July)
Where: Level 10, Flinders Centre, Bankstown Sports Club 25 Restwell Street, Bankstown
When: Friday-Sunday, 13 June – 31 August
Bookings: 02 9722 9828 or online here ladybanksrooftop.com.au/winter-wonderland
The SkyCube Experience at Above 319
Above 319 atop Vibe Hotel Darling Harbour launches Sydney’s first rooftop igloo experience this winter. The heated glass cubes accommodate groups of 6-16 people and come complete with fairy lights, blankets, comfortable furniture and panoramic views of Sydney’s skyline and Darling Quarter.
Each SkyCube includes a dedicated host and transforms the rooftop bar into a cosy winter retreat perfect for special occasions or group gatherings. The transparent design means you stay warm while enjoying unobstructed harbour and city views.
Three Package Options:
- SkyCube Gathering ($55pp): 2-hour private hire with welcome cocktail, shared grazing board (calamari, charred corn, olives, flatbread) and dedicated host
- SkyCube Celebration ($75pp): 2-hour private hire with 2-hour beverage package, shared grazing board, and dedicated host
- SkyCube Luxe ($100pp): 3-hour private hire with bottomless winter cocktails, canapés (tomato arancini, lamb filo, pumpkin and goats cheese tartlets), grazing board, dessert canapés and dedicated host
Where: Above 319, Level 14, 319-325 Sussex Street, Sydney (atop Vibe Hotel Darling Harbour)
When: Wed-Thurs 4:30pm-9pm, Fri 4pm-11pm, Sat-Sun 1pm-11pm (Sun 8pm)
Group Size: 6-16 people l Bookings: Essential – book online
Sydney’s Best Winter Menus
Gowings Bar & Grill – Indulgent Winter Menu
Gowings Bar & Grill has embraced winter with a bold, indulgent seasonal menu that celebrates golden pumpkin, toasted nuts and earthy mushrooms. The new offerings focus on velvety pastas and slow-cooked ragùs designed to provide winter warmth in the heart of the city.
The menu showcases rich, seasonal ingredients transformed into comfort dishes that feel both familiar and refined. Think pasta that clings to robust sauces and vegetables that have been coaxed into their most flavourful winter forms.
Winter Menu Highlights:
- Pappardelle with venison pork ragu, horseradish, gremolata and Parmigiano Reggiano
- Charcoal pumpkin ravioli with Parmesan cream
- Beetroot carpaccio with nasturtium and stracciatella
- Classic steaks carved tableside
The tableside steak service remains a signature experience, with the theatre of carving adding warmth to winter dining. The seasonal approach extends across the menu, with each dish designed to showcase winter produce at its peak.
Where: Gowings Bar & Grill, 1 Market Street, Sydney
When: Daily lunch and dinner
Bookings: Recommended – visit gowingsbarandgrill.com.au
The Dry Dock Balmain
A historic Balmain venue reimagined, The Dry Dock Public House and Dining Room welcomes winter with a new seasonal menu from Head Chef Ben Sitton (ex-Rockpool, Felix, Uccello). The venue combines refined bistro dining with cozy pub atmosphere, featuring a heated alfresco setup perfect for winter gatherings.
Winter Menu Highlights:
- Saffron braised lamb shoulder with soft polenta and baby vegetables
- Rigatoni with pork sausage ragu and Tuscan cabbage
- King rainbow trout with parsley-macadamia crust
- Market fish with Vadouvan sauce and fioretto cauliflower
- Crispy Brussels sprouts with speck and pickled onion
Popular signatures remain, including the rare breed black Berkshire crumbed pork cutlet and Pinnacle grass-fed steak frites with café de Paris butter.
Where: The Dry Dock, Balmain
When: Open 7 days, lunch and dinner
Bookings: Recommended for The Dining Room, walk-ins welcome for Public House
Solotel Sunday Roast Returns
Thirteen Solotel pubs across Sydney bring back the classic Sunday roast for winter, offering traditional comfort food at $30 per plate. The hearty meal features tender roast beef, honey and mustard parsnips, golden roast potatoes, carrots, rainbow chard, Yorkshire pudding and rich gravy.
Perfect for wrapping up the weekend with family, friends or a solo session by the fire, the roast captures everything satisfying about traditional pub dining.
Available at 13 venues:The Albion (Parramatta), The Bank, Bridgeview (Willoughby), Camelia Grove (Alexandria), The Clock, Courthouse (Newtown), The Erko (Erskineville), Kings Cross Hotel, The Norfolk, Public House Petersham, The Sackville (Rozelle), The Golden Sheaf and The Strand.
When: Every Sunday, 1 June – 31 August (until sold out)
Cost: $30 per plate
Bookings: Recommended, walk-ins welcome
Atelier by Sofitel – Winter Menu
Sydney’s three-hat Atelier by Sofitel’s Executive Chef Sam Moore will showcase seasonal produce from local suppliers including Rangers Valley beef, Ulladulla tuna and Macedon duck breast.
This year’s new menu reflects Moore’s commitment to sustainability and local partnerships, featuring artisan producers like Jones Farm in Warragul alongside earthy root vegetables and fresh winter produce.
Winter Menu Highlights:
Entrées:
- Leek and Truffle Velouté with confit leek, black truffle and potato
- Foie Gras Parfait with house-made brioche
Mains:
- Signature Dry-aged Duck Breast with beetroot and pear jus
- Pot Roasted Cauliflower with quinoa, macadamia and parsnip crisps
Desserts by Executive Pastry Chef Ian Burch:
- Apple Calvados with caramelised baked apple pavé, calvados diplomat cream and puff pastry
- Vanilla & Chestnut Mont-Blanc with chestnut cake, vanilla cream and chestnut purée
The restaurant has held three AGFG Chef Hats consistently from 2023-2025, offering modern French cuisine with a focus on seasonal Australian ingredients.
Where: Sofitel Sydney Darling Harbour, 12 Darling Drive, Sydney
When: Open 7 days, dinner from 5:30pm
Bookings: Essential – Call 02 8388 8888, email [email protected], or book online
Miji Bar & Grill – Limited-Edition Winter Hotpot
North Sydney’s Miji Bar & Grill has launched a limited-edition winter Hotpot Set Menu that’s perfect for the cooler weather. This modern Japanese izakaya is led by Executive Head Chef Jacob Lee, who trained at Michelin-starred A Voce Columbus in New York and Korea’s renowned Mingles. His background brings a touch of fine dining to this more casual, share-style venue.
The $75 set menu is available from May to July and includes some truly premium ingredients – steamed abalone and wagyu beef sukiyaki hot pot are the stars of the show.
They’ve also revamped their lunch menu with affordable donburi (rice bowls) starting from $18 and udon options around $23. For just $5 extra, you can upgrade to a lunch set that includes miso soup, mini wafu salad and a small plate – great value for a workday lunch.
Where: T25/100 Miller St, North Sydney
When: Hotpot menu available May-July; Open Monday-Sunday 11:30am-9:30pm
Cost: Hotpot set menu $75pp, Lunch donburi from $18
Accessibility: Wheelchair accessible venue
Cafe Levant’s Dubai Chocolate Pancakes
The viral Dubai Chocolate trend has made its way to Sydney’s dessert scene, with Cafe Levant introducing their own indulgent interpretation. While global brands like Baskin-Robbins and Lindt have created their versions of this social media sensation, Cafe Levant brings something uniquely Sydney to the table.
Their Dubai Chocolate Pancakes feature house-made buttermilk pancakes layered with crispy kataifi (shredded filo pastry) mixed through pistachio cream. The stack is then generously drizzled with melted chocolate and topped with an extra helping of pistachio cream and a sprinkle of crushed pistachios for added crunch.
When: 7 days, 5:30 am–4 pm
Where: 331 Waterloo Road, Greenacre
Cost: $25 a serving
Rivareno Gelato Winter Menu
Italian gelateria Rivareno launches winter treats across five Sydney locations, proving gelato season never ends. The menu combines warm Italian comfort food with signature gelato for year-round enjoyment.
Winter Menu Highlights:
- Hot Chocolates in traditional Italian and new Bacio (hazelnut + chocolate) versions
- Affogato with coffee or hot chocolate poured over gelato
- Hot Belgian Waffles with new pistachio cream option
- Gelato-topped Brownies (new for 2025)
- Made-to-order Crepes (from 1 June)
- Warm Brioche filled with gelato
Where: Barangaroo, Bondi, Darlinghurst, Potts Point, Parramatta
When: 11am- 11.30pm l This menu is on until the end of winter
Get Mulled at Moxy Sydney Airport
Escape the winter chill at Bar Moxy with their seasonal ‘Get Mulled at Moxy’ special. This Airport hotel bar offers a warming combination of mulled wine and casual dining that’s perfect for travellers or after-work gatherings.
Offer: Available through winter
- Hot mulled wine ($12 per glass)
- Charcuterie board ($10 for one)
The bar features a cosy fireplace setting, making it an ideal spot for informal meetings or winding down after a long day.
Where: Moxy Sydney Airport, 56 Baxter Road, Mascot
One Night Only
Rice, Stirred & Served at Prefecture 48
Prefecture 48 partners with House of Suntory’s Haku Vodka for an exclusive Japanese dining journey. This one-night event combines premium martinis and hatted robata dining, offering exceptional value for a multi-part fine dining experience.
The evening begins with a Haku Martini Tasting Flight at Whisky Thief, featuring three mini martinis paired with seasonal canapés. Then enjoy a six-course fine dining experience at the newly hatted Ibushi plus a take-home dessert from Dear Florence.
When: Thursday, 3 July 2025 (Two sessions: 6pm-8pm or 7:30pm-9:30pm)
Where: Prefecture 48, 230 Sussex Street, Sydney
Cost: $125pp – includes martini flight, canapés, six-course dinner and take-home dessert
Special Occasion Dining
Luke’s Tour & Tastings at the Pylon Lookout
Why just see the sights when you can taste them too? This summer, treat yourself to an exclusive after-hours experience at the Sydney Harbour Bridge Pylon Lookout. Kick things off with a welcome cocktail and a 200-step climb that takes you 87 meters above the harbour.
Once at the top, you’ll enjoy gourmet bites and breathtaking views—an unbeatable combo! Guided by a BridgeClimb expert, you’ll dive into the rich history of the bridge while savoring the flavors brought by culinary legend, Luke Mangan’s at the Sydney Harbour Bridge Pylon.
The experience will be offered on limited dates over winter.
- Wednesday, 6th August – 6pm – NEW!
- Thursday, 7th August – 6pm – NEW!
Cooking Classes and Experiences
Ready to roll up your sleeves and get hands-on with Sydney’s culinary scene? These cooking classes and experiences not only satisfy your taste buds but also teach you the tricks of the trade. Whether you’re a budding chef or just love to learn, these sessions offer a delicious way to expand your skills and enjoy some tasty creations along the way.
Custom Martini Experience in The Rocks
Master the art of the perfect martini with the help from the team at Hickson House!
Or, sample three mini martinis in our martini flight—Classic Dry, Gimlet, and Pearl—paired with a bowl of nibbles for just $30. A delicious way to explore our signature flavours!
- Design your own martini with choice of base, tincture, and garnish
- Martini flight: Three mini martinis (Classic Dry, Gimlet, Pearl) with nibbles – $30
Where: Hickson Road Distillery, Hickson Road The Rocks
When: Every second Saturday | 2-4pm
Bottega Coco Pasta Making Class
Embark on a culinary adventure with Chef Pier Davide Maiuri, a master of Italian cuisine known for his work in Michelin Star restaurants and other top-rated venues.
In this hands-on pasta-making class, you’ll learn to create exquisite Italian dishes, including a rich veal pappardelle ragu topped with crushed pistachios and parmesan, alongside a classic buffalo margherita pizza straight from Italy’s southern coast.
After the cooking session, indulge in a shared banquet featuring your delicious creations, making for an unforgettable experience.
When: Sunday, 29 June, 27 July, 31 August 2025
Where: Bottega Coco, Shop 1 T3.01/300 Barangaroo Ave, Barangaroo
Cost: $118 per person. Book here.
Winter dining sorted
This winter, Sydney’s restaurants and bars are pulling out all the stops. Whether you’re after a quick Sunday roast or a full igloo experience, there’s something here for every mood and budget.
The best part? Most of these venues are trying to make winter dining more accessible, not less. From $30 roasts to affordable lunch sets, good food doesn’t have to break the bank.
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