Delicious Bites With A Side Of Lights

What’s on the menu at Vivid Sydney

Vivid Sydney will serve-up its biggest and tastiest program to date, when the lights switch on from Friday 26 May – Saturday 17 June 2017.

Destination NSW Chief Executive Officer and Executive Producer of Vivid Sydney, Sandra Chipchase said, “Vivid Sydney is a celebration of creativity and innovation that is reflected across Light, Music, Ideas and even the extensive menus on offer, which promises to cater for all tastes and budgets.

“Some of Sydney’s best food purveyors, restaurateurs, producers and suppliers will showcase the latest food trends and cooking techniques, as they offer Vivid-inspired treats to suit all visitors.”

This year, Vivid Sydney visitors will be spoilt for choice when it comes to choosing from a number of our restaurants and bars. It is recommend diners plan their evenings and book ahead to ensure they can enjoy the full culinary experiences on offer over a number of nights during the festival.

Here’s a taste of what’s on the menu:

  • For the first time at Vivid Sydney, chef and Potts Point local, Kylie Kwong will host a series of special communal dinners. ‘Kylie’s Table’ will celebrate the spirit of Billy Kwong’s mantra; Celebration, Collaboration, Community. On each Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday evening during Vivid Sydney, Kylie will personally welcome guests, and create a bespoke menu of Billy Kwong favourites including dishes that celebrate collaborations within the local community. Bookings are essential via 02 9332 3300 or enquiries@billykwong.com.au. Cost: $120 per person.
  • Martin Place will be a foodie hotspot once again as production powerhouse Motti+Smith returns with Lux Populi, to showcase one of Sydney’s hottest food trends, smoking. Porteno will lead an Argentinian menu, with meats cooked on an open fire fuelled by wood and coal. Joined by special guest chefs, Luke Powell (LP Quality Meats) and Ibrahim Kasif (Stanbuli), special Vivid Sydney-inspired specials will run each week of the Festival. James Squire Beer & Cider, Archie Rose Gin and Vodka, Cattleyard Brewing Co. Beer and Azure Wines will all be served at the bar too, letting visitors quench their thirst with some of NSW’s best beverages, whilst devouring some of the best food the city has to offer.
  • Indulgence is on the menu at The Royal Botanic Garden Sydney’s Enchanted Garden Bar and Eatery. Featuring the innovative Nel. restaurant, diners will be able to enjoy the whimsical pop-up including signature dishes of Truffle Hunt Chicken or comforting bread and butter Pudding. Visitors will be able to keep warm at the bar with a cheeky tipple of their signature G&Ts, spiced rum, Glühwein mulled wine, a molten hot chocolate or specialty coffee by Will & Co.
  • Visitors to Sydney’s hottest new dining district and Vivid Sydney precinct, Barangaroo (South) will be spoilt for choice with more than 30 restaurants, cafes and bars open during each night of the festival. Devon Café is going psychedelic with a purple haze sundae, an electric purple ube (purple yam) soft serve with leche flan and taro; Ume Burger has created a wicked Vivid Burger with signature house-made wagyu mince sauce, fries with umami salt, spicy special sauce, tomato, onion, beef patty and cheese; and glowing cocktails are on the menu at Banksii’s Belvedere light bar and Untied’s winter-themed pop-up rooftop bar. Be sure to try the Basil Dazzle and Vivid Spritz.
  • NSW’s top chefs will once again collaborate over food, music, art and design at Carriageworks’ Sydney Table for a series of bespoke dining experiences. The first lucky 100 diners will be able to feast nightly over the four nights from the 14 – 17 June, so get in quick before this one of a kind event sells out. Purchase tickets here. Cost: $200+bf
  • The Night Market will also return to Carriageworks to highlight the very best producers and chefs across Sydney and regional NSW. Curated by Lennox Hastie and inspired by the theme ‘Cooking with Fire’ the market will present guests with the ultimate fire dining experience. Purchase tickets here. Cost: $10+bf
  • Culinary and creative duo Motti + Smith have curated a glow cave of wondrous delights in the Martin Place Vivid Sydney dining precinct. Don your neons, step into the black lit box and light up your senses with glow in the dark desserts, including a glow-in-the-dark donut! Do-nut miss this.
  • The world is on offer in the heart of Chatswood at The District from authentic Asian streetfood in Hawker Lane to a light show with an Italian feast, alfresco style on The Concourse. Burger aficionados will be in heaven when they sink their teeth into Orchard Tavern’s Vivid Sydney burger filled with pig three ways served in a charcoal bun. To finish the night, Choc Pot’s decadent chocolate Vivid Sydney dessert or Passion Tree’s loaded hot chocolates will keep the taste buds entertained with a number of tantalizing flavours including campfire s’mores which will satisfy anybody’s sweet cravings. For more information: https://www.vividsydney.com/precinct/chatswood
  • While enjoying cutting edge performances and immersive theatre at Vivid KX, visitors can enjoy a number of culinary delights at The Apollo, Cho Cho San and Fratelli Paradiso. From Tuesday to Thursday The Apollo will serve an exclusive Chef’s Table menu, and Cho Cho San will offer an exclusive table of ten with a Vivid Sydney inspired menu.
  • Beneath the Sails in the Concert Hall Northern Foyers, Goodgod will debut Vivid LIVE’s first ever sustainable bar concept with the Soft Future Piano Bar. Recline into conversation and indulge in Australia’s best natural wines, slow-cooked meats and charcuterie from Events by Aria, and ambient sounds of synths, all within a zero-waste, pillowy paradise.
  • The Sydney Opera House restaurants will be pairing their exclusive winter dishes with unbeatable harbour views for Vivid Sydney visitors. Enjoy front row sights at Opera Kitchen with a glass of Tempranillo and Dukkah Lamb Cutlets for $30 or a two-course menu created by Portside Sydney’s Head Chef Lauren Murdoch for $55.
  • Westfield Sydney has something for the whole family during Vivid Sydney with a number of exclusive offers, and extended food trading hours for food retailers, most will open until 9pm on Thursday, Friday and Saturday evenings. Enjoy world-class dining options, including Ding Tai Fung, Ippudo, Fratelli Fresh and Grill’d, whilst taking in the interactive light displays of retro childhood games and toys.
  • Macleay Street Bistro celebrates 35 years with the return of Vivid KX’s Hidden Sydney and Kings Bloody Cross with 2 for 1 pre-show cocktails and a 2 course post-show lunch & dinner + a glass of wine for $50 – exclusively to ticket holders. Dinner 7 days, lunch Saturday and Sunday only. For bookings call 02 9358 4891 or reservations@macleaystbistro.com.au
  • Gourmet foodie enthusiasts will be able to enjoy the diverse, distinctive and delicious delights from some of Sydney’s best food trucks, street food vendors and artisan dessert producers at the Overseas Passenger Terminal.
  • Vivid Sydney’s wildest precinct Taronga Zoo will keep visitors well fed at the Taronga Piazza, with an additional pop up selling crowd favourites of delicious chocolate dipped fruit and warm hot beverages. Taronga Food Market and Baker Coffee Maker will also be making an appearance across the concert lawns offering a number of beverages and snacks as visitors travel along the illuminated trail of fully interactive animal lanterns.
  • American Express Card Members can indulge in a delicious meal at one of the 70 restaurants dotted throughout the precincts of Vivid Sydney and receive a dining credit with an equally tantalising offer from Dimmi. Card Members who sync their American Express Card to their Dimmi account, book a participating Dimmi restaurant and spend $50 or more on their synced American Express card will receive a $20 credit (offer limited, valid from 16 May until 30 June, T&Cs apply).

Card Members can also take a load off before walking the Vivid Light Walk, relaxing over refreshments in the American Express Invites Lounge on Level 6 at the Museum of Contemporary Art Australia. Visit the www.amex.com.au/vividsydney website for more.

Media Release: Vivid Sydney