Fine dining in Sydney is an experience made better by eating with a view. When it comes to celebrating your bride to be, we think she deserves the very best – an extraordinary meal with a truly exceptional outlook and outstanding company.
There are few activities that bring people closer together than a group meal. Whether it’s the wine consumed, the bonding over sensational flavours, or just having the opportunity to really be in the moment, but you’re bound to walk away from a group dinner with a lifetime supply of memories, laughs and new friends. When you add in a beautiful view, it really just doesn’t get much better.
When it comes to dining in Sydney, it’s no secret that you’re spoiled for choice. The trick here isn’t finding somewhere beautiful to bring everyone together, it’s finding a place that everyone will still be raving about in weeks to come. To show the bride just how much she means to you, you really can’t have a meal in Sydney’s Circular Quay. Over the years of planning hen’s parties in Sydney, we’ve wined and dined at just about every restaurant Circular Quay has to offer.
Through that time, we’ve picked out some of our favourites – the ones that we just keep coming back to for more. To ensure you have an experience you’ll never forget, we’ve put together a list of our top picks. Read on to discover our top 5 restaurants in Circular Quay.
Located in the heart of Sydney, with a spectacular view of the Harbour Bridge and the opera House, Quay Restaurant’s executive chef Peter Gilmore’s innovative cooking and dining experience is one that you need to try to truly believe. This three-hatted restaurant transports you to a world filled with exquisite textures, colours and smells from the very first moment – before you even get to the tasting.
Once you take a seat at your table, you have the choice of a six or an eight course menu, which gives you the opportunity to experience the tastes of the sea in a variety of different ways. Each of these seafood dishes is paired with an indulgent wine and the banquet is finished with a selection of light and fresh desserts. It’s the type of meal that will have you walking out the door at the end of the night in a state of pure bliss.
Bennelong Restaurant and Bar is a true staple on the Circular Quay dining scene. Located in the shell of the Opera House, it goes without saying that this venue is a true masterpiece. The sky-high ceilings and ambient lighting draw attention to the glittering views of the harbour, the city skyline and beyond.
The restaurant itself is part of Gilmore’s Fink Restaurant Group, which means you’re guaranteed absolute excellence no matter what you standard. In addition, the venue and bar also offer a variety of sections to ensure you can find the perfect place for your group. The Cured and Cultured part is more relaxed, while The Circle is suited to private dining and The Table puts you straight in the middle of the buzz. The Bar is for those looking for a casual drink or snack. But all in all, it’s a winner!
With two hats and the backdrop of the Sydney Darling Harbour, you really can’t go wrong with a meal at ARIA. Matt Moran and Bruce Solomon are the faces behind this Circular Quay restaurant, and you really have to see it to believe it for yourself.
The menu brings together a seasonally rotating selection of Australian products that leaves everybody coming back for seconds and thirds. The flavours are delicate, precise and perfectly balanced, with options to suit just about every dietary requirement. With an extensive bar stocked with all your local and international favourites, it’s never been easier to make the soon-to-be-bride feel like the real woman of the hour.
Nestled in the Intercontinental Hotel, The Meat and Wine Co is one place that you certainly won’t want to miss. The combination of leather, wood and misty ambience scream special occasion from the onset – which is exactly what it is when you’re celebrating the hen! The restaurant describes itself as being ‘Afro-Centric’ dining – while also having ‘Sydney’s favourite steak’. In other words, it’s a meat lover’s dream come true.
While the approach may sound simple, the dishes are anything but that. Sophisticated presentation, flavour and an ultra innovative wine list are exactly what you can expect. When combined with the dark and mysterious atmosphere, surprisingly affordable menu, and seriously high-quality food, you can easily spend all night here.
While it may be sitting last on the list, don’t let that fool you about our love for Bekya. Located in the Gateway Building, this bustling hub is simply unmissable. The Circular Quay restaurant takes you on a Middle Eastern flavour journey, with its freshly made flatbreads, slow-cooked meats and handmade falafels.
The restaurant goes with a ‘sharing is caring’ approach and uses predominately local and fresh Australian produce. These sustainably source ingredients are paired with and infused with Middle Eastern flavours and Egyptian spices to present something that is truly remarkable. It’s a 10/10 experience, perfect for you travel-loving hen.
Give your girlfriend the royal experience she deserves with a meal at Circular Quay. While these are our top five picks in the region, we have plenty more ideas and locals-only suggestions up our sleeve. Reach out to the Wicked Hens team today to hear more.
Choose your activities and accommodation to create the ultimate hens weekend