While Melbourne might host Australia’s most prestigious horse race, Sydney knows how to celebrate it in style. Each November, the city’s restaurants and venues transform for an afternoon of racing tradition, exceptional food, and socialising. From harbourside fine dining to relaxed beachfront gatherings, Sydney offers Melbourne Cup experiences for every taste and budget.
Melbourne Cup is on Tuesday 4 November 2025
Whether you’re planning a corporate event or catching up with friends, you’ll find venues offering everything from intimate lunches to grand celebrations.
Most events include:
- Multi-course lunches or canapés
- Premium beverages
- Live race screening
- Entertainment and prizes
- Fashion competitions
Book early to secure your preferred venue – these events are popular with both corporate and social groups. We hope our selection of Sydney’s best Melbourne Cup lunch offerings helps you find the best one for you and your friends.
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Melb Cup Trivia: The Melbourne Cup was first run in 1861 and has been held every year since, except during the World Wars
Just remember, if you are planning to go with a bunch of friends, these events book out quickly.
Melbourne Cup Lunch near Circular Quay and The Rocks
For a picturesque Melbourne Cup lunch experience, check out some of Sydney’s stunning waterfront venues.
Here are a few top picks:
Aria
Aria’s floor-to-ceiling windows give you front-row seats to the Opera House and Harbour Bridge while you enjoy your Cup Day lunch. They’re offering two menu options – a five-course or eight-course tasting menu – both featuring their signature contemporary Australian dishes.
If you fancy making it extra special, you can add champagne to your experience. Choose from NV Dehours Grande Réserve or Ruinart Brut – both excellent options for celebrating a win (or drowning your sorrows if your horse doesn’t quite make it).
When: 12pm-4pm, Tuesday 4 November 2025
Where: 1 Macquarie Street, Sydney
Check the menu or book here
Cruise Bar & Restaurant
Cruise Bar offers two distinct Melbourne Cup experiences with spectacular harbour views:
Level 1 & 2 Restaurant
A refined spring-inspired lunch featuring:
- Fresh seafood and seasonal Australian produce
- 3-hour beverage package including Mumm Champagne & Peroni
- Live race screening
- Sweepstakes and prizes
- Post-race entertainment
Melba’s Rooftop
A vibrant harbourside celebration including:
- Premium canapé service
- 3-hour beverage package with Mumm Champagne & Peroni
- Live race coverage
- Sweepstakes and prizes
- Continued entertainment after the race
Both experiences promise an electric race-day atmosphere in one of Sydney’s most glamorous harbourside locations.
When: Tuesday 4 November 2025
Where: Overseas Passenger Terminal, Circular Quay West
Operating Hours: 11:30am – 12:00am
Jacksons on George
Celebrate Melbourne Cup at the newly renovated Jacksons on George, offering two distinct experiences in the heart of the CBD:
Rooftop Bar Experience
The open-air rooftop provides a fun atmosphere with:
- Premium all-inclusive drinks package
- Roaming canapés
- Live race screening on multiple screens
- Post-race DJ entertainment
- City views and buzzing atmosphere
Bistro George Experience
A more refined celebration featuring:
- Glass of Veuve Clicquot on arrival
- Three-course shared menu by Head Chef Steven Sinclair
- Large screen race viewing
- Elegant dining atmosphere
When: Tuesday 4 November 2025
Where: 176 George St, Sydney
Cost: Rooftop Bar $150pp, Bistro George $175pp
Melbourne Cup at the Glenmore Hotel
The Glenmore Hotel is a fun casual venue that presents a refined race day celebration featuring a carefully curated two-course menu and glass of Moët on arrival.
Menu Highlights:
- Share Entrées: Spiced pork shoulder croquette, salmon tartare with sesame soya dressing, and spiced roasted capsicum
- Alternate Drop Mains: Chermoula lamb shoulder or roasted barramundi
- Accompanied by shared sides of broccolini and seasonal greens
- Optional dessert: Passionfruit cheesecake (+$15pp)
The celebration includes lucky door prizes, best dressed awards, and TAB facilities for those wanting to place a bet. Dress to impress for this classic Rocks celebration.
When: Tuesday 4 November 2025
Where: Cumberland Street, The Rocks
Cost: $99pp including Moët on arrival
Melbourne Cup Near Darling Harbour & Barangaroo
Zephyr at the Hyatt Regency
If you’re after incredible harbour views while you watch the race, Zephyr Sky Bar sits right at the top of the Hyatt Regency. They’ve put together a pretty impressive package for Cup Day that includes everything you need for a great afternoon.
You’ll get a glass of champagne when you arrive, followed by 3.5 hours of drinks (they’re serving decent wines and beers, not the cheap stuff). The food’s worth mentioning too – expect oysters, lobster tacos and wagyu meatballs making the rounds.
They’ve set up three big screens so you won’t miss any of the action, plus there’s a DJ keeping the vibe going and prizes for the best dressed if you fancy getting competitive.
When: Tuesday 4 November, 2025 12pm-3:30pm
Where: Zephyr Sky Bar, Hyatt Regency Sydney
Cost: $199pp (18+ event) l Menu and bookings here
Smoke at Barangaroo House
Head up to Smoke on Barangaroo House’s rooftop for some of the best harbour views in the city. They’re well-known for their creative cocktails, and their Cup Day package doesn’t disappoint.
Your ticket includes a welcome drink (choose from spritz, beer or wine), plenty of roaming canapés, and access to grazing stations throughout the day. They’ll have the race playing live, and if you’re planning to make a day of it, you can book a table for after the main event. The venue opens to the public once the Cup festivities wind down, so you can stay on and enjoy the evening atmosphere.
When: Tuesday 4 November 2025
Where: Level 2, Barangaroo House, 35 Barangaroo Avenue
Cost: $240pp
House Bar at Barangaroo House
Set at water level with expansive harbour views, House Bar offers a more relaxed yet equally stylish Cup Day celebration. This indoor-outdoor venue features a spacious waterfront terrace perfect for summer socializing.
The package includes:
- Welcome drink (choice of beer, wine or spritz)
- Generous grazing stations throughout the day
- Selection of roaming canapés
- Live DJ entertainment from 11am
- Race day screening
- Relaxed open-air atmosphere
- Perfect for larger groups
When: Tuesday 4 November 2025
Where: Ground Level, Barangaroo House, 35 Barangaroo Avenue
Cost: $95pp
Bungalow 8
This harbourside favourite at King Street Wharf offers relaxed waterfront dining across two stylish levels, each with sweeping views of Darling Harbour.
Choose between two race day experiences at Bungalow 8:
- The Ground Floor Garden package featuring premium beverages and roaming canapés ($129pp)
- The upstairs Moët & Chandon Loft offering deluxe drinks and extended dining options ($169pp).
Both venues include race coverage, entertainment, and sweepstakes. Entertainment continues across both levels until late.
When: Tuesday 4 November 2025, from 12pm
Where: 3 Lime Street, Sydney
Check the menu and make a booking
Woodcut
Join Chef and owner Ross Lusted for a show-stopping Cup Day celebration at Sydney’s electric waterside venue.
This premium event includes:
- Welcome glass of champagne
- Four-course menu curated by Ross Lusted
- Live DJ entertainment
- Breathtaking floral entrance
- Live race screening
- Sweepstakes and best-dressed prizes
Optional three-hour beverage package available.
When: Tuesday 4 November 2025, 12:30pm-4:30pm
Where: Crown Sydney, Barangaroo
Cost: $240pp (food only), beverage package +$110pp l Check the menu and book
Hickory Bar at Woodcut
Experience Cup Day in Woodcut’s beautifully appointed outdoor terrace. This sophisticated cocktail-style celebration includes:
- 3-hour beverage package of selected wines and beers
- Sydney Rock Oysters and canapés curated by Chef Ross Lusted
- Live DJ entertainment
- Race screening on big screens
- Sweepstakes and best-dressed prizes
- Stunning harbour views
When: Tuesday 4 November 2025, 12pm-4:30pm
Where: Hickory Bar, Crown Sydney, Barangaroo
Cost: $120pp including food and beverages
Bottega Coco
Experience an Italian-style Cup Day celebration at Bottega Coco, featuring a generous shared banquet menu:
Three-Course Menu Highlights:
- Fresh Sydney oysters on arrival
- Antipasto: Wagyu carpaccio, pear & pecorino focaccia, yellowfin tuna tartare
- Primo: Caserecce alla marinara with seafood
- Secondi: Grass-fed dry-aged sirloin
- Dessert: Tiramisu
Optional beverage packages available:
- 2-hour package: $75pp
- 3-hour package: $90pp
Including Italian wines, Heineken beer, and soft drinks
Enjoy live entertainment, competitions, prizes, and race screening on big screens.
When: Tuesday 4 November 2025, 12pm-3:30pm
Where: Bottega Coco, Barangaroo
Cost: $125pp (food only) l Check the menu and make a booking
Cafe del Mar
Celebrate Melbourne Cup with live entertainment featuring Natalie Conway, choosing from three packages:
- a decadent four-course lunch ($199pp)
- a rooftop garden party with unlimited cocktails and canapés ($229pp)
- the VIP experience with premium beverages and exclusive access ($279pp).
The festivities continue with an official after-party from 5pm.
When: Tuesday 4 November 2025, from 12pm
Where: Café del Mar, Cockle Bay Wharf, Darling Harbour
Bookings and menu here
Callao, Barangaroo
Callao invites you to a spectacular Melbourne Cup celebration filled with racing, fashion, and incredible food. Indulge in a 4-course Nikkei feast while enjoying live race screenings, internal sweeps, and a “best dressed” competition.
For those looking to enhance their experience, Callao offers a premium beverage package featuring wines, beers, and soft drinks, with the option to upgrade to a glass of Champagne on arrival. It’s a race day event that brings the best of culinary and racing excitement together.
Dress code, dress to impress!
When: 12pm-3pm
Where: 1/100 Barangaroo Avenue Barangaroo
Cost: $129pp, Drink package $80
Woodcut
Experience the race that stops the nation at Sydney’s most electrifying waterside venue, Woodcut. Chef | Owner Ross Lusted hosts a spectacular Melbourne Cup celebration featuring an indulgent four-course lunch menu. Dress to impress and enjoy a cocktail on arrival, live DJ entertainment, and a stunning floral entrance.
Watch the races live on big screens, participate in sweepstakes, and compete for exclusive best-dressed prizes. With breathtaking harbour views as your backdrop, this show-stopping event promises to be a true highlight of the racing season.
When: Tuesday, November 5, 12pm – 4.30pm
Where: Woodcut, Sydney Harbour
Cost: $230pp (4-course menu), optional 3-hour beverage packages: – $80-$110pp
a’Mare
Indulge in an authentically Italian Melbourne Cup celebration at a’Mare. Head Chef Alessandro Pavoni presents an extravagant four-course lunch showcasing the restaurant’s commitment to family, friendship, and sensational cuisine. Dress to impress and savor a remarkable culinary experience while enjoying breathtaking harbour views.
The festivities include live music, sweepstakes, and exciting prizes for best dressed. Watch the race live on big screens as you immerse yourself in the vibrant atmosphere, complete with Italian flair. This elegant event promises a perfect blend of gourmet delights and Cup Day excitement.
When: Tuesday, November 5, 12pm – 4.30pm
Where: a’Mare, Sydney Harbour
Cost: $225 per person (includes four-course menu)
Melbourne Cup Lunch in the City Centre
Chophouse
Chophouse is pulling out all the stops this Melbourne Cup with a classic feast fit for race day. Enjoy a three-course set menu for groups of four or more, including a drink on arrival. With shared starters and desserts, and a choice of exceptional mains like eye-fillet, scotch fillet, or pan-roasted snapper, there’s something to satisfy every guest.
For those dining solo or in smaller groups, the a la carte menu is also available. Dress to impress and raise a glass to the race that stops the nation in true Chophouse style.
Where: Bligh Street Sydney
Cost: $150pp.
Olympus Dining – Surry Hills
Celebrate Melbourne Cup with Greek flair at this elegant venue adorned with bougainvillea. The menu features modern Greek specialties including tuna in filo with horseradish, roast lamb shoulder with tzatziki, and semolina cake with coffee cream.
Two packages available:
- Classic Package ($160pp): Includes welcome champagne and shared feasting menu
- Premium Package ($250pp): Adds priority tables and 3-hour premium beverage package
Live race screening, sweepstakes, prizes and DJ entertainment complete the experience.
When: From 12pm, Tuesday 4 November 2025
Where: Wunderlich Lane, 2 Baptist St, Redfern
Cost: From $160pp l View the menu or book here
The Apollo – Potts Point
Experience Cup Day the Greek way at this neighborhood favorite where the atmosphere is lively and unhurried. A shared Melbourne Cup banquet features Greek signatures from taramasalata with village bread to saganaki with honey, grilled lamb cutlets and Metaxa ice cream sandwiches.
The celebration includes a glass of Taittinger Champagne on arrival, live race screening, sweepstakes, best-dressed prizes and DJ entertainment.
When: From 12pm, Tuesday 4 November 2025
Where: 44 Macleay Street, Potts Point
Cost: $160pp, view the full menu or book here
Melbourne Cup by the Beach
North Bondi Fish
Celebrate Melbourne Cup steps from the sand at North Bondi Fish with a specially curated shared seafood lunch. The beachside celebration includes:
- Welcome NBF signature margarita
- Shared seafood lunch
- Live race screening
- Optional 2-hour beverage package ($55pp)
- Afternoon DJ entertainment from 4pm
Perfect for groups seeking a relaxed oceanfront atmosphere.
When: Tuesday 4 November 2025
Where: North Bondi Fish, 120 Ramsgate Ave, Sydney
Cost: $155pp
Felons Manly
Felons, the newly transformed Wharf Bar, is bringing the excitement of race day to life with premium Melbourne Cup lunch specials. Enjoy big screen views of the action while indulging in a 3-hour beverage package and a spectacular spread of local seafood.
With a menu boasting fresh Sydney Rock oysters, Mooloolaba king prawns, and grilled snapper, paired with Veuve Clicquot champagne, it’s a celebration of both racing and fine dining. Perfect for groups or walk-ins, this seaside venue delivers a luxurious and lively race day experience.
Where: Felons Manly Wharf
When: 12-3pm for lunch, After party 3.30-7pm
Cost: $249 per person.
Chirosco by Ormeggio
Swap trackside for waterside and watch the race on large screens while feasting on a shared menu for $120 per person, There will also be prizes for best dressed!
Where: Mosman
When: 12-4pm
Cost: $120pp | Phone: (02) 9046 7333
Coogee Pavilion Ground Floor
Spend Cup Day overlooking Coogee Beach enjoying an elegant coastal menu with a side of sea breeze. Enjoy a three-course share-style lunch curated by executive chef, Jordan Toft, alongside a glass of Chandon or Heineken on arrival.
Where: 169 Dolphin Street, Coogee
Cost: $145pp, optional bottomless packages $55
Coogee Pavilion Rooftop
Enjoy a beverage package from 12–3pm and delicious roving canapes from Jimmy’s Chicken. Catch the race on the big screen, and hang around for what’s set to be an epic after-party.
Where: 169 Dolphin Street, Coogee
Cost: $125pp
Coogee Bay Hotel
Join us for a day of racing elegance by the beach at Coogee Bay Hotel. Hosted in their open-air garden and Marra Bar & Grill, Melbourne Cup is gearing up to be the biggest yet. This year, Coogee Bay Hotel is offering race day packages that are guaranteed to impress.
You’ll indulge in a 3-course share-style menu and free-flowing 3-hour premium beverage package as you watch the race live on their giant screens.
Where: 253 Coogee Bay Rd, Coogee
Cost: $195pp
Check out these other articles on enjoying Sydney over the upcoming holiday period
- Christmas Events and Activities
- Shop Local Sydney Christmas Guide
- Choose a NYE Harbour Cruise
- New Year’s Eve Mega list
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