Vivid begins this Friday, 23 May. From subterranean dining with Nigella Lawson and intimate bridge-side dinners with Luke Mangan, to celebrated local and international restaurateurs delivering curated special menus, join us as we discover the festival’s food program.
The Vivid Chef Series is bringing a range of acclaimed international chefs to Australian shores to collaborate with Sydney restaurants. The lineup includes:
Ester x James Lowe
27 – 29 May
James Lowe, the celebrated owner and chef behind Michelin-starred Lylle’s London will join Ester’s Mat Lindsay on a wood-fired, ingredient and local produce-led menu held over three nights in Chippendale.
Eleven Barrack x Claude Bosi
10 – 11 June
For two nights only, acclaimed French chef Claude Bosi (Hibiscus Ludlow/London) will collaborate with Brent Savage (Bentley Restaurant) on a multi-course French fine dining menu, showcasing New South Wales’ best local produce.
A range of events and special menus will feature at venues across the city:
The Aria Vivid Snack Bar returns, offering a relaxed dining format with a selection of small bites and drinks. The main dining room – with its spectacular Harbour Bridge views – will offer more formal dining, alongside a nitro ice cream service.
The rooftop bar of Sydney’s InterContinental boasts not only a supreme view of the Vivid lights, but also a dream-themed tasting menu for the course of festival. ‘Dreamscapes’ will offer three tasting journeys – sweet, spicy, or adventurous – and include a cocktail, canape, shared starter and a main with matched wines.
Set within the Sydney Opera House, Bennelong is offering two experiences alongside its stunning vantage point: Vivid in the dress circle, which includes snacks and a glass of Charles Heidsieck Brut Reserve NV on arrival, followed by a three-course menu under the Opera House sails; or the Bennelong Bar experience, with four snacks designed by Executive Chef Peter Gilmore and a bespoke Vivid cocktail.
Canvas Restaurant at the Museum of Contemporary Art
The MCA commissioned Vincent Namatjira to create King Dingo as a projection for the building’s facade during Vivid 2025. Inspired by this work, the gallery’s Canvas Restaurant will host a specially crafted three-course meal drawing on native ingredients and unexpected flavour pairings.
Luke Mangan at the Sydney Harbour Bridge Pylon
Luke Mangan is hosting a series of intimate dinners nestled within the South-East Pylon of the Sydney Harbour Bridge. Set on a communal table for just 20 guests, the exclusive events include a three-course meal cooked from local, seasonal ingredients and paired with premium wines and unparalleled views of the harbour.
Mode Kitchen at the Four Seasons Sydney
Chef Marco Putzolu is hosting a three-course Vivid menu with dishes including Vannella burrata, Aquna Bay Murray Cod, and the tutti frutti flower dessert. A curated wine pairing is available from Four Seasons Sommelier Aman Vikhona.
Live music and limited-edition cocktails will be available throughout Vivid at the harbourside venue. Drink specials will include the ‘Warm & Spicy’, ‘Angel’s Share’, and ‘Piña Cortada’, alongside gelato from Ciccone & Sons.
Complimenting its range of vibrant cocktails, Pumphouse is offering guests the chance to illustrate with glow-in-the-dark paint and pens on a light up mural, with one lucky participant chosen randomly each week to win a night’s stay at the neighbouring Novotel.
Saltbush & Starlight Dining at the Sydney Opera House
Guests will dine in a secret room within the Sydney Opera House, transformed by captivating Vivid light projections. Midden’s Mark Olive designed the First Nations-inspired three-course menu, which will be paired with local wines and craft beers.
Soul Dining x Jongga
Soul Dining will present Reimagining Kimchi, a special menu created by Co-Owner and Executive Chef Daero Lee in collaboration with iconic Korean kimchi brand Jongga. The seven course tasting menu is designed for kimchi lovers, and features baked scallops with Cafe de Seoul kimchi butter, chilli oil pangrattato, and bokkeum (fried) kimchi; beef short rib with gat (mustard leaf) kimchi, puree, and potato pave; and even a purple sweet potato pastry with yeolmu (young summer radish) kimchi granita, coconut ice cream, and sesame oil for dessert.
Held on The Goods Line, a range of international and local pitmasters will cook NSW produce over fire, while sharing techniques and secrets behind the craft with the audience.
Vivid will also host a range of limited-run events, including:
Tyrrell’s: A Journey Through History at Parliament House
29 May
Fourth generation winemaker Bruce Tyrell hosts an evening of fine wine and dining. Expect Tyrrell’s finest Hunter Valley wines, including its Vat 1 Semillon and Vat 9 Shiraz, paired with a five-course menu by Vanessa Harcourt.
Paul Farag: Our Shared Dream at Refettorio OzHarvest
28 May
Aalia Executive Chef Paul Farag takes diners through a boundary-pushing Middle Eastern vegetarian menu, using produce rescued by OzHarvest.
Dreaming Skies: A Culinary Journey with Dwayne Bannon Harrison at Sydney Tower
30 May
Infinity restaurant in Sydney Tower will host an exclusive three-course menu designed by Trippas White Group Indigenous Ambassador Dwayne Bannon Harrison. The evening will also feature performances from local traditional dance groups, as the fine-dining restaurant slowly rotates and views of the city below shift and change.
Native Food Experience at Parliament House
3 June
Parliament of NSW Executive Chef Vanessa Harcourt teams up with First Nations chef Dwayne Bannon Harrison on a degustation, served in the heart of Parliament. Australian radio and television presenter Simon Marnie will host the evening.
Dream Mist at Botanic House
5 – 6 June
Celebrity chef Luke Nguyen takes guests through a three-course Vietnamese-inspired menu. Guests will receive a Dream Mist botanical perfume to take home.
Vivid Sydney Dinners at Muru Giligu Tunnel
6 – 8 June
Nigella Lawson hosts a three-course dinner in the new Martin Place Metro Muru Giligu Tunnel over three nights.
Dance of Dreams with Danielle Alvarez at the Sydney Opera House
13 – 14 June
Culinary director of events at the Sydney Opera House Danielle Alvarez will take guests on a multi-sensory dining experience. The dream-inspired tasting menu is enhanced by live contemporary dance and ethereal music.
In good news for businesses in inner Sydney, The NSW Government has extended trading hours to midnight for three Sunday nights between 25 May and 8 June, allowing hospitality venues more time to capitalise on the booming Vivid trade.
