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Seven ways to spend Melbourne Cup 2016 in Sydney

Callan Boys
Callan Boys

Kingfish jalapeno at Sake Restaurant.
Kingfish jalapeno at Sake Restaurant.Supplied

Whip out your frock, fascinator and form guide. Melbourne Cup is upon us which means it's time to pretend we know the first thing about racing and spend the first Tuesday of November suppressing enough joie de vivre to make it to 3pm with both shoes on.

Just about anywhere to ever serve a schooner and plate of chips is offering Cup Day specials. Here's our pick of the best offerings away from the field.

FOR HORSES ON THE HARBOUR

Bennelong

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Heck yeah, Charles Heidsieck​ on arrival. Not to mention four courses of chef Peter Gilmore's food and the opportunity to watch Australia's most famous race in Australia's most famous building. The Opera House fine-diner also has sweeps and best-dressed prizes for the occasion. $210 per person. Get amongst it.

Sydney Opera House, Bennelong Point Sydney, 02 9240 8000, bennelong.com.au

FOR PONIES AND PERRY

Eleven Bridge

Damn straight you want Eleven Bridge's fried chicken and kombu butter on Cup Day. And every other day for that matter. Chefs Neil Perry and Phil Wood are rocking a three-course menu (including that chook) plus canapes and champagne on arrival. $185 plus an optional $65 for matching wines if you're keen (and if Seb Crowther's pouring you should be).

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11 Bridge Street Sydney, 02 9252 1888, rockpool.com/elevenbridge

Cirrus restaurant at Barangaroo
Cirrus restaurant at Barangaroo Christopher Pearce

FOR SEAFOOD AND SWEEPS

Cirrus

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A three-litre champagne bottle is called a jeroboam and on November 1 there's three of them filled with Taittinger up for grabs at Barangaroo's new seafood-focused restaurant from Brent Savage and Nick Hildebrandt. There's also Taittinger on arrival because these things are important, and a four-course menu for $180.

23 Barangaroo Avenue, Barangaroo, 02 9220 0111, cirrusdining.com.au

FOR A PUNT AT THE PUB

The DOG Hotel

Are you the kind of racing fiend who wakes up on Cup Day champing at the bit for a punt and a pint? Yes? Then read on. The old Duke of Gloucester has an onsite TAB, 59 taps and a special Melbourne Cup opening time of 8am. I, ah, probably shouldn't encourage anyone to try and drink a middy from each tap by 3pm but I should at least mention the bistro has function packages if you're hankering for a vol-au-vent between starts.

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2 St Marks Road Randwick, 02 9398 2682, doghotel.com.au

The Newport Arms' margherita + chianti = success.
The Newport Arms' margherita + chianti = success.James Brickwood

FOR A CASUAL CUP

The Newport

The set Cup lunch at Merivale's northern beaches mega-pub has sold out, however walk-ins are still welcome for beer and pizza in the sun. No one's going to mind if you're wearing shorts. It also pays to hang out in the old boy's public bar with operators who can read The Sportsman racing guide like a fish can swim.

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2 Kalinya Street Newport, 02 9997 4900, merivale.com.au/thenewport

FOR A SUNNY SOIREE

Centennial Homestead

Centennial Homestead will be transformed into a mini-Flemington, with everything but the horses (they'll join in via the big screen), including on-site bookie, bubbles, live music and Fashions on the Field. The shared feast menu with loads of canapes - hello, provolone cheese fried popcorn - and sustainable salmon with spicy cauliflower, and braised lamb ribs with chimichurri is $95 per person, including a flute on arrival.

1 Grand Dr, Centennial Park, 02 9380 9350, centennialhomestead.com.au

Kingfish jalapeno at Sake restaurant.
Kingfish jalapeno at Sake restaurant.Supplied
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FOR RICE WINE AND RACING

Sake Restaurant & Bar The Rocks

Sydney's party-time sushi joint is serving punters a Japanese banquet including steamed prawn shumai, robata Western Australian octopus with pickled cucumber and jalapeno, and yuzu tart with vanilla rice-pudding and white chocolate. $149 sorts you out for cracking food and Veuve on arrival. TAB facilities are on hand for your Cup convenience and, because retiring home after the race is a ridiculous notion, festivities will continue late into the night at The Argyle next door.

12 Argyle Street The Rocks, 07 3015 0557, sakerestaurant.com.au

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Callan BoysCallan Boys is editor of SMH Good Food Guide, restaurant critic for Good Weekend and Good Food writer.

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