Sydney Spring Food Guide: From Rooftop Gardens to Long Lunches

Spring in Sydney means outdoor dining, food festivals and an excuse to explore the city’s evolving food scene. We’ve rounded up the best food experiences across the city this season, from casual street food festivals to unique dining events.

This guide focuses on events and experiences that showcase local producers and authentic food experiences, helping you discover something new while supporting local businesses.

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Special Dining Experiences this Spring

Spring in Sydney means restaurants are updating menus with seasonal produce and moving outdoors where they can. These experiences showcase what’s in season and what local producers have on offer.

Audra Morrice & Javed Khan: A Celebration of Heritage Through Food

Two of Australia’s most respected chefs share the kitchen for one night only. Chef and television personality Audra Morrice joins Delhi ‘O’ Delhi’s Javed Khan for an eight-course feast that moves through Southeast Asian, Indian and spice-route flavours using Australian seasonal produce.

The menu includes Audra’s takoyaki vadai reimagined with Lucknow spice, and a shared centrepiece of goat rendang dum biryani. Limited seats, two seatings.

When: Thursday, 3 September, 5:30pm or 7:45pm
Where: Delhi ‘O’ Delhi, 3 Erskineville Road, Newtown
Cost: $98pp or $133pp with wine pairings

Bridgey & Barrel Wine Dinners at The Bridgeview Hotel

The Bridgeview Hotel in Willoughby launches a monthly wine dinner series pairing Australian wines with three-course menus by Chef Rob. Each month features a different winery or wine expert hosting the evening, so you get the story behind the wines while you eat.

The series runs through December with confirmed dates featuring Tyrrell’s Wines (September), First Ridge (October), Audrey Wilkinson (November), and Clonakilla (December).

When: Every second Thursday at 7pm
Where: The Bridgeview Hotel, 580 Willoughby Rd, Willoughby
Cost: $89 per person l Bookings: Essential. September bookings now open

Bennelong’s New Chapter Under Rob Cockerill

Rob Cockerill has taken over as Executive Head Chef at Bennelong, following Peter Gilmore’s decade leading the kitchen. Cockerill spent 11 years as Head Chef at Bennelong and 20-plus years working in the same kitchens under Gilmore, so he knows the restaurant and its philosophy inside out.

His new menu keeps beloved signatures like the Bennelong Pavlova (inspired by the Opera House sails), Western Australian Marron with finger lime and ume, and Roasted Wollemi Duck with preserved cherries. New dishes include Coral Trout with braised leek and bergamot emulsion, chestnut and ricotta raviolo with black garlic, and pure bred Black Angus with parsley and Maitake mushrooms.

When: Lunch Friday-Sunday 12pm-2pm; Dinner Sunday-Thursday 5.30pm-8.45pm, Friday-Saturday 5.30pm-9.15pm; Bennelong Bar open Monday-Thursday 5.30pm till late, Friday-Sunday 12pm till late
Where: Sydney Opera House, Bennelong Point
Cost: Dining Room from $235 per person; Bennelong Bar in 45 at $50 per person
Bookings: Essential for Dining Room; bar walk-ins welcome

Spring High Tea Experiences

New high tea options this spring offer different takes on the traditional afternoon tea experience.

The Grand Afternoon Tea at The Fullerton Hotel Sydney

The Fullerton Hotel is offering a limited high tea menu through September featuring lobster, caviar, and truffle across nine pieces. Head Pastry Chef Jessica Timpano designed the menu to balance luxury ingredients with refinement.

Highlights include a lobster and capsicum brioche topped with caviar, roast beef with truffle and caviar, truffle mille feuille, and desserts like tonka and caramel sable. Vanilla and truffle scones come with whipped honey and jam.

You can pair the tea with TWG Tea or Vittoria Coffee, or add a flute of Chandon or Veuve Clicquot champagne.

When: Daily 12pm-4pm
Where: The Bar, The Fullerton Hotel Sydney, 1 Martin Place, Sydney
Cost: $90 per person (with tea or coffee), $102 per person (with Chandon), $112 per person (with Veuve Clicquot) Bookings: Essential

Sydney’s Best Spring Drinks

Spring brings longer days and more reasons to linger over a drink. These spots offer something different, whether that’s cocktails with a view or a late-night bar experience.

Suntory House at Sakura House

Suntory’s bar residency is back for its third year, this time taking over Sakura House in the CBD. From late July through early October, the basement izakaya transforms into Suntory House, bringing Tokyo’s after-work drinking culture to Sydney.

The focus is on Japanese drinking traditions rather than formal structure. Order Suntory cocktails and highballs, beers on tap, and izakaya-style snacks like fried chicken with smoked bonito cream, salmon temaki, and katsu sandos. The space features a vending machine stocked with Japanese snacks, merch and surprise prizes.

When: 31 July to 3 October 2026, Monday to Saturday 5pm til late (Sunday closed)
Where: Sakura House, Basement, 82-88 Elizabeth St, Sydney
Bookings: Walk-ins only

Après Harbour at Pier One Sydney Harbour

Pier One is running a winter hospitality experience built around the après-ski idea, but set on the water. S’mores Fire Cart comes to your table with flame-finished marshmallows and toppings. Fire pits and faux-fur throws keep you warm while you eat and drink by the harbour.

Wildbrumby Distillery (Australia’s highest distillery) partners on schnapps tastings and cocktails. Food includes an Alpine Sharing Board with baked vacherin, roast potatoes, and beetroot dip, plus truffle mac and cheese and Wagyu brisket loaded fries. Resident DJ plays Friday and Saturday evenings.

Schnappy Hour runs weeknights 5pm-6pm: $18 Wildbrumby cocktails and $2 oysters.

When: Daily from 8 July 2026, 3pm onwards
Where: Pier One Sydney Harbour
Cost: No entry fee; minimum spends apply for Après Lounge seating
Bookings: Recommended

One Night Only

Here are the best one-off dining events happening this spring.

Chefs in the Vines

Five chefs from across NSW are cooking live stations in the Hunter Valley for one afternoon. You move between each station watching the chef prepare a signature dish, then taste it alongside wine pours from five local wineries. Two sessions available so you can pick morning or afternoon.

Chefs include Jake Kellie (Orleana, Kingsford The Barossa), Anthony Fullerton (Circa 1876, éRemo), Thomas Heinrich (Restaurant Botanica), and Ed Butcher (Rick Stein at Bannisters Port Stephens). Dishes include wood-fired Barossa pork kebab, XO pipis, slow-cooked lamb shoulder, hibachi-grilled fremantle octopus, and casarecce pasta ragu. Wines come from Tyrrell’s, Brokenwood, Mount Pleasant, First Creek and Silkman Wines.

When: Saturday, 5 September 2026, 12pm-2pm or 2.30pm-4.30pm
Where: Spicers Guesthouse, 57 Ekerts Road, Pokolbin
Cost: $149 per person or $249 per person with plus wine pairing
Bookings: Essential

Oktoberfest in the Gardens

Sydney’s Domain transforms into a slice of Bavaria this October as Australia’s largest Oktoberfest celebration returns.

The event features massive beer halls pouring imported German beers and ciders, alongside traditional food stalls serving Bavarian specialties. Entertainment includes multiple performance stages, roving acts, carnival rides, and a silent disco.

Visitors are encouraged to dress in traditional Bavarian attire for this celebration of German food, drink and culture. Previous years have sold out, so early booking is recommended.

When: 31 October 2026
Where: The Domain
Cost: $80 approx l More: oktoberfestinthegardens.com.au

Street Food & Markets

Cambridge Markets Eat Drink Nights is Cambridge Markets’ season-long night market series running across five Sydney locations this spring and summer. Street food vendors, craft drinks, and live atmosphere are the format, with themed nights at some venues tied to seasonal celebrations.

• Kirrawee (4-5 September): The season opens here with spring energy and local crowds.
• Bankstown (12 September, 10 October, 14 November, 12 December): Four dates in Sydney’s most food-focused neighbourhood, with foot traffic that builds through the season and peaks at the December finale.
• Wentworth Point (19 September, 17 October, 21 November, 19 December): Themed nights tied to the Moon Festival, Diwali, November celebration, and Christmas Twilight, with festival-level crowds in a community setting.
• Engadine (2-3 October): A weekend takeover of the town centre where the local community turns out for both nights.
• Cronulla (4-5 December): The beachside finale with summer holiday crowds and salt-air atmosphere, historically one of the fastest sell-outs.

Cooking Classes and Experiences

Want to learn something new? These hands-on food experiences provide more than just a meal.

Plan Your Spring

From community festivals to wine events this season’s food events stretch well beyond the city centre. Whether you’re after a free street festival, a $75 cooking class or a special occasion dinner on the Harbour Bridge, there’s something for every budget. As always, check venue websites or social media for the latest details and booking information.

For more Sydney dining inspiration, check out our monthly dining deals, happy hour guide, and October, November and December event pages.

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