Mark the moment with an unforgettable meal
After you’ve settled into your hotel and indulged in a spa treatment, it’s time to clink your glasses. Kick off a celebratory evening at the entertaining Maybe Sammy bar in The Rocks, where you can soak up the glamour of the Art Deco interiors while marvelling at a theatrical cocktail created by award-winning mixologists.
Ease into the evening as you sip an Opera Sunset cocktail of rum, vermouth, amaro and grapefruit bitters while gazing at the uninterrupted Sydney Harbour views from high in the sky at Blu Bar on 36, one of the city’s most iconic bars, at Shangri-La Sydney in The Rocks. Take in equally impressive harbour views 32 storeys above the city centre at newly refurbished InterContinental Sydney’s at reservations-only rooftop Aster Bar. Or start a memorable evening on the rooftop at Smoke Bar at Barangaroo House, where the sophisticated cocktails are as refreshing as the harbour views.
Savour the six-course tasting menu at Quay, in the Overseas Passenger Terminal at Circular Quay, where executive chef Peter Gilmore showcases the finest local ingredients in his inventive, nature-inspired dishes. It’s a magical dining experience that will leave you with a lasting impression. Gilmore is also the culinary genius behind Bennelong restaurant at the Sydney Opera House, where the food is equally spectacular and the cathedral-like space awe-inspiring.
Gather your inner circle in the private dining room at Cafe Sydney, on the fifth floor of the grand Customs House at Circular Quay, and take in the glorious views of the Sydney Harbour Bridge from the restaurant’s terrace. Or take a table in the main dining space for an incredible birthday dinner created by a passionate kitchen crew — order ahead to surprise the guest of honour with a bespoke celebration cake.
Don’t want the festivities to ever be over? Make a long weekend a series of indulgent experiences, starting with the decadent sunrise breakfast offered Thursday to Sunday mornings at Altitude restaurant, on the 36th floor of Shangri-La Sydney. Feast on a lobster omelette and toast the rising sun with a glass of champagne — upgrade to the caviar option and swap out the glass of Veuve Clicquot for Dom Pérignon to max out the moment.
Stretch your wings
Imbue your special occasion with a sense of adventure and hop on a seaplane to be whisked away for an epic dining experience at Jonah’s Restaurant and Boutique Hotel at Whale Beach. From the Sydney Seaplanes terminal in Rose Bay, your seaplane will thud over the waves as it gathers speed and roars off on an aerial tour of Sydney Harbour and the Northern Beaches before arriving at Jonah’s. Indulge in a delectable multi-course lunch while taking in the dazzling ocean view before taking a return seaplane ride back to the city.
Prolong your short break by turning a seaplane flight into an overnight stay. See Sydney Harbour reveal its hidden beaches from high above the waves on a Sydney by Seaplane flight from Rose Bay to Cottage Point Inn, a fine-dining waterfront restaurant hidden away in rugged Ku-ring-gai Chase National Park in Sydney’s north. Check into Cottage Point Inn’s one-bedroom apartment and soak up the views of Cowan Waters and Australia’s second-oldest national park before taking a seat at the restaurant for a glorious dinner you’ll never forget.
Make new memories
Embrace the challenge of the three-hour return journey to the summit of the iconic Sydney Harbour Bridge with BridgeClimb Sydney, climbing over a thousand steps to be rewarded with panoramic views of the harbour. Enrich the experience with an authentic connection to Sydney’s Aboriginal heritage on BridgeClimb’s Burrawa Indigenous Experience as your Indigenous Storyteller guide tells stories of the Traditional Owners of the harbour that date back tens of thousands of years.
See Sydney Harbour from a different perspective on a Gold Penfolds Dinner Cruise with Captain Cook Cruises. Relish a six-course degustation menu matched with Penfolds wines while enjoying guaranteed window seating, live music and amazing views. Take in Sydney’s beauty from all angles as the cruise loops around the harbour twice.