Celebrate your special occasions at these 11 top Sydney restaurants

Vibrant, vegetable-rich cuisine, inspired by Turkey’s Aegean coast, takes top billing at chef Somer Sivğlurio’s Maydanoz, which opened in May 2022. The Istanbul-born chef and owner, a MasterChef Turkey judge, draws on recipes from his mother, one of the first women to cook at Turkey’s meze bars. Sivğlurio’s menu takes cues from traditional special occasion dishes that diners can savor with an intimate group in a velvet banquette. Maydanoz’s festive vibes stretch to dishes such as honeyed halloumi kebabs, presented on a tiny smoky grill, and charred cabbage kebabs; both dishes are also served at Sivğlurio’s beloved Istanbul restaurant, Efendy.

Sure, OTTO has hosted big names such as Beyoncé and Taika Waititi. But guests don’t have to be celebs to celebrate here. This glamorous Italian restaurant, a wharfside institution, has delivered service that goes above and beyond since 2000. OTTO stocks private wine cellars for regulars, sends dishes out to nearby boats, and established a vegan menu decades before “plant-based” was a buzzword (prompted by a request from a regular). Head chef Richard Ptacnik serves festive dishes such as beetroot and cashew cheese ravioli and vegan meringue with passionfruit sorbet to anyone skipping animal products; for the carnivores, there are zucchini flowers stuffed with prawn and mascarpone and Shiro Kin Wagyu rump cap with Jerusalem artichokes, and citrus Hollandaise. OTTO’s long tables and various private event spaces will appeal to anyone seeking a glossy spot for hen parties, workplace farewells, and holiday lunches.

Rengaya’s timber-lined space, decked out with a dramatic chandelier, looks so modern and sleek that it’s easy to forget this yakiniku pioneer has expertly cooked Japanese food—including various grades of finely marbled Wagyu beef—over coals since 1993. The new spot, which opened in 2019, offers premium sushi topped with caviar or foie gras and lobster sashimi specials, too, ideal dishes for anniversaries, professional milestones, or any occasion calling for extravagance.

Bennelong is a sought-after spot for weddings and proposals, and it’s easy to see why. The award-winning restaurant sits in the most recognisable landmark in Australia—the Sydney Opera House. Romantic elements abound, from the harbour view and elegant service to festive flourishes, such as in-house jazz concerts. Acclaimed chef Peter Gilmore contributes to the magic with dishes that travel the world (sashimi scallops with oyster cream, snapper with cucumbers, and liquorice kombu). And of course, there’s the signature pavlova that mimics the famous architectural sails of Bennelong’s home—a worthy ending to any big night out.

In Mexico, mole, a complex sauce from Oaxaca, is a celebratory dish, served at weddings, parties, and other special occasions. At No 92, executive chef Alejandro Huerta offers his version with ceremonial tortillas, which he stamps with hibiscus-flavoured Aztec patterns. Presented with kingfish and fermented chilli or pork belly and pineapple, the dish represents his inventive take on Mexican-inspired cuisine. If you’re celebrating with friends in the courtyard, Huerta’s menu offers shareable plates such as Mexican fried chicken with burnt habanero mayo, plus chocolate mousse with corn crunch. For a more private event or party, book the salon spaces—and recruit No 92’s in-house florist to assist with stylish arrangements.

A mass of red lanterns at Canton Kitchen cast an enchanting glow over this pan-Asian restaurant at Bankstown Sports. The menu by Jason Chan (of Queen Chow, Supernormal, and China Diner) also has a transporting effect. It crosses multiple borders, offering plates such as Lao-style roast duck larb salad and Vietnamese iced coffee parfait. Chan puts fresh spins on classics—glazed pork ribs with mango salad—in addition to serving up experimental creations, like crab, prawn and shiitake dumplings, served with truffle consommé. Complete with banquet menus and live seafood selections, Canton Kitchen is a shoo-in for celebratory gatherings, including Lunar New Year soirees and birthdays.

Garfish is the spot for a long overdue get-together. The elegant seafood restaurant also has a Crows Nest spot, but the Manly location is especially celebration-friendly. It overlooks a pine-tree-lined beach, resulting in a breezy, summery backdrop, made for socialising. Gather over platters of wood-roasted shellfish, live eastern rock lobster with lemon herb butter, and chermoula Queensland king prawns. And don’t forget to toast with the aptly named elderflower yuzu “catch up” spritz.

Dean & Nancy on 22 just opened in 2022, but it was already singled out as Time Out’s Best Cocktail Bar and Australian Bartender‘s Hotel Bar of the Year. The distinctions aren’t surprising. Led by the Maybe Sammy team, Dean & Nancy on 22 contains plenty of wow factors to enhance any date night or anniversary celebration. They include the stunning, 22nd-floor view of the surrounding cityscape and playful cocktails, such as the Gherkin, which evokes London’s famous landmark, dressed with a spiral-shaped cucumber peel. The glamour extends to the menu, a mix of sleek, celebratory dishes such as prawn toast with citrus gel and chicken taco with mint sauce, crafted by acclaimed chef Alessandro Leveratto.

With its crystal chandeliers, lavishly patterned walls, and luxe fireplaces, Darley’s Restaurant feels like the setting for a dreamy period drama. In the heritage-listed Blue Mountains, this 1889 property (once the summer residence for Sir Frederick Darley), remains the “upper mountains benchmark for fine dining,” according to restaurant critic Myffy Rigby. The modern Australian menu, featuring Mandagery Creek venison tartare and dry-aged duck breast with beetroot and porcini ice cream, celebrates locally sourced ingredients. Take advantage of the fact that it’s part of the Lilianfels Blue Mountains Resort & Spa and book dinner here as part of a weekend getaway or an extra special date.

Hotel Ravesis has a perpetual, holiday-like atmosphere, thanks to its idyllic beachfront location and Mediterranean-inspired menu. Its plates, a mix of oysters, olives, octopus skewers, pork cotoletta (breaded cutlet), and hand-rolled pasta with blue swimmer crab, also channel a swinging, seaside getaway. Ravesis’s terrace is ideal for group celebrations, such as birthdays. Though it’s just as suited for a more intimate occasion, complete with a bottle of bubbly and spectacular sunset views.

As Ursula’s prepped for its opening in October 2021, it was referred to as one of the “most anticipated” launches of the year. It later hit number six on delicious. magazine’s list of 100 top restaurants in the state. Phil Wood and Lis Davies’s first solo venue, a worthy backdrop for a range of special occasions, pays tribute to Australia’s past: Golden syrup dumplings with rum, raisin, and malt cream are inspired by the Country Women’s Association; beef carpaccio with makrut lime and spiced chile dressing is an homage to the classic version served at Darcy’s, the dining institution that called this 19th-century building home for four decades. Wood’s award-winning cooking (honed at city hotspots such as Tetsuya’s, Rockpool, and Pt Leo Estate) is innovative as ever. To that, add a refreshed space, imagined by designer Brahman Perera—the custom lights resemble elegant dresses, mid-twirl. The result is a contemporary-chic restaurant with multigenerational appeal, well equipped to host family gatherings, reunions, and birthdays.