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Where to feast during Sydney Festival

Marcia Hines and iOTA, stars of Sydney Festival’s premier event Pigalle, at Gowings Bar & Grill.
Marcia Hines and iOTA, stars of Sydney Festival’s premier event Pigalle, at Gowings Bar & Grill.James Brickwood

Festivals and food go together like cabaret and sequins, like red wine and pasta. You can enjoy one without the other, of course, but in the way cool music enhances a hot summer's night, so top-notch dining has the potential to turn a great festival experience into an unforgettable one.

In the tradition of feasting, more than 20 of Sydney's best restaurants have partnered with Sydney Festival to ensure you are well fed before experiencing the spectacular performances and installations of the festival, which kicks off on January 9.

Celebrating the 2019 Festival launch at QT Sydney's Gowings Bar & Grill, the iconic Marcia Hines and cabaret legend iOTA were served seared Atlantic salmon, barbecued asparagus, tuna carpaccio, steamed blue eye with shitake mushroom, and, of course, delicious cocktails.

The duo star in Pigalle, premiering at the Festival's Magic Mirrors Spiegeltent, itself just a five-minute walk along Market Street in the CBD from QT Sydney. The bustling Gowings Bar & Grill features rotisserie ovens and grills and a market-type alley for the freshest of Australian ingredients mixed with hand-picked artisan produce. Gowings Bar & Grill's Festival "feasts" offer of barbecued asparagus and broccolini, fresh ricotta and herbs, followed by a main of seared Atlantic salmon and salad, and a glass of wine, is available for $55.QT Sydney's Gowings Bar & Grill Market Street, (entry via Level 1 of QT Sydney).

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Festival "feasts" deals include $30, $55 and a la carte options at selected restaurants in the city, Barangaroo, near Carriageworks and Riverside Theatres Parramatta. Banish your hunger with these offers.

360 Bar and Dining, high above the city in the iconic Sydney Tower, offers a unique culinary experience with sensational skyline views. Enjoy fresh seasonal dishes on a fine dining menu paired with award-winning wines, all designed to stimulate your taste and sight senses.

Festival feasts deal: One course special: Ranger's Valley MBS 3+ rump steak, Crystal Bay prawn, confit leek, native pepper hollandaise. $55. 360 Bar and Dining Sydney Tower, Level 4 Westfield

Bopp & Tone is the city's newest restaurant and bar. The Australian menu centres on honest and generous share food with Mediterranean influences, predominantly cooked on the in-house wood grill or charcoal oven. The drinks menu features popular classic cocktails tailored with Australian ingredients and Mediterranean charm, while the wine selection celebrates substance. Book from November 16.

Festival feasts deal: A selection of share dishes, served feast style. $55. Bopp & Tone, 60 Carrington Street, Sydney

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Cafe Sydney overlooks the natural majesty of the harbour and hypnotic industry of Circular Quay and The Rocks. Cafe Sydney is a landmark of Sydney dining. The kitchen's focus is proudly local, whether it's quality cuts of meat or exotic seafood, including chilled crustaceans, freshly shucked oysters and grilled ocean fish.

Festival feasts deal: A daily selection of a la carte specials. Cafe Sydney, Level 5, 31 Alfred Street, Circular Quay.

Chefs Gallery Town Hall and Parramatta From the mesmerising theatre of watching handmade noodles being stretched and dumplings rolled, to each dish placed before you, Chefs Gallery restaurants pull crowds. Menus are inspired by the sights and sounds of China and combine pan-Asian influences with contemporary flair.

Festival feasts deal: Two courses and a glass of wine. $30. Chefs Gallery, Regent Place, CBD (near Town Hall), and Westfield Parramatta.

Chophouse Parramatta boasts a premium selection of Australian beef, bold cuts and deep red wines. It proudly brings a new definition of "feast" to Sydney's west. Fanatical about produce, head chef Scott Kim and a passionate team of meat lovers bring diners a perfect steak every time.

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Festival feasts deal: Three-courses and a drink. $55. Chophouse Parramatta, 83 Macquarie Street, Parramatta.

El-Phoenician Parramatta celebrates almost 20 years of service and is a staple of Sydney's bustling restaurant scene. Serving traditional Lebanese cuisine with a fine-dining and contemporary twist, El-Phoenician delivers the flair and flavour of the Middle East in a vibrant setting, from two convenient Sydney-wide locations.

Festival feasts deal: Meat and poultry platter, glass of house red or white and baklava for dessert. $55 a person (minimum two people). El-Phoenician Parramatta, 328 Church Street, Parramatta.

Endeavour Tap Rooms is a premium brew and smokehouse in the heart of The Rocks. The dining menu offers a range of smoked meats served with vibrant salads, house-made sauces and sides. Endeavour's 600-litre brew house is on the ground floor; the beers are made with all-Australian, seasonally-harvested ingredients with no preservatives.

Festival feasts deal: Shared starters, a smoked meats board plus sides, accompanied by an Endeavour house-brewed beer. $55. Endeavour Tap Rooms, 39-43 Argyle Street, The Rocks

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INDU is a celebration of southern Indian and Sri Lankan village culture, flavours and hospitality. The menu is coastal and community-inspired and INDU prides itself on using fresh seasonal produce. No matter what you are celebrating, INDU takes diners on a journey around the subcontinent with a modern Sri Lankan-inspired menu.

Festival feasts deal: Three-course feast. $55. INDU, 350 George Street (entry via Angel Place), Sydney.

Kid Kyoto is where alternative rock meets unexpected Japanese. It is Sydney's rebellious izakaya, turning up the heat on contemporary Japanese cuisine. Inspired by the sounds of grunge, Kid Kyoto's team are heroes of modern cuisine, using fresh Australian produce. Come as you are and see how the music wrote the menu.

Festival feasts deal: Four-course feast. $55. Kid Kyoto, 17-19 Bridge Street (entry via Bridge Lane), Sydney.

Kittyhawk is where every day is Liberation Day. The menu is a fresh take on traditional French fare without sacrificing any of the deliciousness you'd expect from Parisian cuisine. When paired with their world class cocktails, varied wine list and, of course, extensive champagne selection, you'll be celebrating like it's 1944.

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Festival feasts deal: Selection of seasonal tastes from the sea and a house spritz cocktail. $55. Kittyhawk 16 Phillip Lane, Sydney

La Rosa The Strand is an elegant Roman-style wine bar and osteria. The restaurant profiles premium boutique Italian wines and shines a spotlight on artisanal age-old Roman cooking methods, with popular dishes including Roman ravioli cacio e pepe and Eyre Peninsula leather jacket with sage, lardo, cavolo nero, pine nuts and lemon burnt butter.

Festival feasts deal: Two courses and a glass of wine. $55. La Rosa The Strand, Level 2, The Strand Arcade, 193 Pitt Street, Sydney.

Madame Shanghai is an eatery and bar serving contemporary Chinese, where old school elegance and Chinoiserie decor combine to emulate 1930s Shanghai. Much of head chef Casper Xu's menu is made to share and is cooked shaokao-style (Chinese barbeque). The cocktail bar is reminiscent of a lush Shanghai garden.

Festival feasts deal: Six courses of Shanghai street food to share, accompanied by a drink. $55. Madame Shanghai, 18 College Street, Darlinghurst.

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Misfits is an eclectic, buzzing bar and dining space in Redfern. Just follow the neon lights, Twiggy mural and groovy soundtrack up the stairs to discover a melting pot of locals and visitors, all up for a good time. Misfits is what you want it to be: make it your own, seven days a week.

Festival feasts deal: Pan roasted mahi mahi, artichoke, pickled carrot and parsley, served with a glass of wine or tap beer. $30. Misfits,106 George Street, Redfern.

Portside Sydney Opera House is a front row seat by Sydney Harbour, while you wine and dine as ferries and cruise ships pass by and Sydney's famous skyline delights. With uninterrupted views from your table, enjoy a seasonal menu by Opera House executive chef Kasper Christensen and sample Portside's extensive wine and cocktail list.

Festival feasts deal: Two courses and a glass of wine. $55. Portside Sydney Opera House, Western Broadwalk, Opera House.

Rubyos Restaurant is Newtown's place to celebrate, featuring an eclectic grazing menu designed to be shared from the middle of the table. The grazing experience is modern Australian with a fusion of international flavours. All shared in true tapas style.

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Festival feasts deal: Hot and cold dishes ranging from vegan, vegetarian, seafood and meat options, accompanied by a glass of prosecco. $55. Rubyos Restaurant, 18-20 King Street, Newtown.

Seventeen, on the docks of Sydney Harbour foreshore, embodies life's small pleasures by serving a menu abundant with Australia's favourite tastes and textures, a wine list that boasts the rich heritage of our country's winemaking culture and an ambience that sets the perfect tone for all occasions.

Festival feasts deal: Three courses of signature tastes, with a glass of crisp house white or full-bodied red wine. $55. Seventeen, 17 Hickson Road, Dawes Point, Sydney.

In The Dining Room, Park Hyatt Sydney, a fine produce-driven menu complements unrivalled harbour views. Executive chef Etienne Karner's menu is inspired by his European heritage and diners will enjoy the freshest of modern cuisine made with seasonal Australian ingredients and artisan produce.

Festival feasts deal: Allow the chefs to surprise you with a two-course sharing menu. $55 a person. Valid for dinner from Monday-Friday. The Dining Room, Park Hyatt Sydney, 7 Hickson Road, The Rocks.

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The Malaya, founded by Wong Tai See in 1963, opened for business with a range of unique recipes inspired by his travels through south-east Asia as a merchant seaman. The Malaya continues to serve Sydney diners at King Street Wharf, with sweeping water views, a contemporary dining room and a range of seafood dishes to reflect its waterfront location.

Festival feasts deal: Set menu with a glass of wine, salt and pepper prawns, pork san choy bow, pepper chicken, beef rendang and asparagus kerabu. $55 a person, minimum of two diners. The Malaya 39 Lime Street, King Street Wharf, Sydney.

Toko Sydney, voted NSW Best Japanese Restaurant 2018, offers diners the chance to experience the informal style of Japanese izakaya dining. Combining Australia's world-renowned fresh produce, stunning contemporary design and a vibrant atmosphere, the Toko dining experience lasts long after diners leave.

Festival feasts deal: Pre-theatre, nine-course tasting menu. $55 a person. Toko Sydney, 490 Crown Street, Surry Hills.

Zahli Restaurant brings a modern take on traditional Lebanese food. Named after one of Lebanon's most exemplary regions, Zahle, the restaurant is about allowing diners to experience authentic Middle Eastern dining in an atmosphere that captures the true Arabian culture. Enjoy a Lebanese feast through a banquet menu or a la carte.

Festival feasts deal: Lebanese feast, includes sambousik, falafel and mixed grills. $55. Zahli Restaurant, 529 Elizabeth Street, Surry Hills.

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