Where to eat and drink in Sydney on Melbourne Cup Day 2018

Where to celebrate Melbourne Cup Day (Tuesday, November 6, 2018) in Sydney. Bookings essential for most events. Some events may sell out.

Cup Day Festival returns to Barangaroo, with waterfront restaurants, food trucks, a Mumm Champagne terrace, craft beer garden and live entertainment. Entry is free to all waterfront venues from noon until 9pm. 18s+ only.
Barangaroo waterfront, thestreetsofbarangaroo.com

Woolloomooloo's Riley Street Garage will be hosting a $155 lunch, complete with a Laurent-Perrier champagne popping station. Buy a bottle and pop the cork towards a target for your chance to win a second bottle. Live race coverage, sweepstakes, best dressed prizes and DJs.
Riley Street Garage, 55 Riley Street, Woolloomooloo, parlourgroup.com.au/rileystgarage/

Regatta in Rose Bay will be hosting a set menu for $165 with shared charcuterie, a glass of Laurent-Perrier and three courses from executive chef Logan Campbell.
Regatta, 594 New South Head Road, Rose Bay, regattarosebay.com/whats-on/2018/11/6/melbourne-cup-2018

Stay northside this year at SoCal, with a feast menu including tequila gazpacho, grilled octopus, crab tacos and grilled Morton Bay bugs. $85 per person (includes glass of GH Mumm Champagne). Two-hour beverage package $55.
SoCal, 1 Young St, Neutral Bay, socalsydney.com.au/melbourne-cup/

Join The Dolphin Hotel's Melbourne Cup Party #3 for an all-inclusive ticket including a canape menu created by chef Monty Koludrovic highlighting the best of the dining room, wine room and public bar kitchens. The four-hour drinks package features all of the hits from the wine room and public bar selected by James Hird and Lenny Opai. $150 per person.
The Dolphin Hotel, 412 Crown Street, Surry Hills, ​events@dolphinhotel.com.au

Bondi Beach Public Bar hosts their first Melbourne Cup party, kicking off at 12.30pm. Canapes by Icebergs Dining Room's Monty Koludrovic and Da Orazio's Josh Carrick, and wine and drinks by Icebergs' James Hird & The Dolphin Hotel's Lenny Opai. After party open till late. $75 per person.
Bondi Beach Public Bar, 180 Campbell Parade, Bondi Beach, moshtix.com.au

Doll up in your race day finery for an elegant afternoon on the harbour at Park Hyatt Sydney, including a flute of Veuve Clicquot on arrival and a four-course set menu. Includes best dressed prizes, sweepstakes and live race coverage. $215 per person.
Park Hyatt Sydney, 7 Hickson Road, The Rocks, phsydney.diningroom@hyatt.com

Join the buzz at Lotus Group's Lotus Galeries, Lotus Barangaroo and Fujisaki, with big screens, race day banquets, Gosset Grande Reserve Champagne on arrival (at Barangaroo and Fujisaki), best dressed prizes and sweepstakes. $79; $129; $99 per person.
Lotus Galeries, Level 1, 500 George Street, Sydney, 02 9267 3699; Lotus Barangaroo, Shop 8/9 Wulugul Walk, Barangaroo, 02 8318 3688; Fujisaki, Shop 2, 100 Barangaroo Avenue, Barangaroo, 02 9052 9188.

Mosy over to The Unicorn Hotel for all your boozy, bottomless lunch needs. Expect a banquet of fresh oysters, barbecued prawns, pumpkin salad, burnt broccoli, strawberry pav and more. $80 per person.
The Unicorn, 106 Oxford Street, Paddington, enquiries@theunicornhotel.com.au

From loud and lively revelry to long lunches with flowing drinks, Merivale is hosting more than 30 events across its venue portfolio. Oxford Street speakeasy Charlie Parker's will have roving canapes ($55) and cocktails, while Coogee Rooftop is offering drinks, DJs and dancing overlooking the beach for $55. Inner west favourite Queen Chow in Enmore has a $110 Cantonese feast, or celebrate on the northern beaches with Bert's $300pp splash-out lunch ($2000 for a table of eight or more including transfers within 45km).
Various venues, merivale.com/melbournecup

Indulge in an Italian feast and glass of Perrier-Jouet in the restaurant at new CBD hotspot Matteo Downtown for $140 or head to the bar for canapes and seasonal spritzes ($85 per person). DJs and entertainment before and after the race, sweepstakes and prizes for best dressed.
Matteo Downtown, 20 Bond Street, Sydney, matteosydney.com

You won't need to book but you will need to arrive early at Rocks newbie The Squire's Landing. Watch the race while enjoying harbour views and James Squire beers. Open from 10am.
The Squire's Landing, Overseas Passenger Terminal, The Rocks, jamessquire.com.au

Head underground at The Doss House, where $30 will win you a drink on arrival (wine, beer or Aperol spritz) plus canapes. Live telecast included.
The Doss House, 77/79 George Street, The Rocks, thedosshouse.com.au

Enjoy seven courses of classic Middle Eastern fare at Nour for $89, including prawn falafel, lamb shoulder and snapper sayadieh.
Nour, 3/490 Crown Street, Surry Hills, noursydney.com

Fratelli Fresh Darling Harbour is hosting its first lawn party with bottomless cocktails, live music and prime race viewing on outdoor TVs. From noon to 3pm, guests can enjoy unlimited beer, wine and prosecco, an outdoor Roman-style pizzeria station and roaming canapes, plus al fresco gelato and sorbet. $99 per person (or $125 including unlimited espresso martinis and Aperol spritz).
Fratelli Fresh Darling Harbour, 14 Darling Drive, Darling Harbour, fratellifresh.com.au/whats-on/melbourne-cup-lawn-party/

All Fratelli restaurants are offering a three-course set menu of classic Italian dishes ($60 per person). The add-on $29 drinks package includes two hours of house wine and beer, while $39 includes prosecco, negronis and espresso martinis.
Various venues, fratellifresh.com.au/whats-on/melbourne-cup-at-fratelli-fresh/

Don't want to schlep it to the city? Head to the five-star William Inglis Hotel at Warwick Farm racecourse to watch the race live on big screens while feasting on a buffet lunch. $75 per person (10 per cent discount for tables of 10; includes champagne).
William Inglis Hotel, 155 Governor Macquarie Drive, Warwick Farm, williaminglis.com.au

The Star has you covered for race day, from a $165 modern Japanese lunch at Sokyo to three courses for $165 at BLACK Bar & Grill.
The Star, 80 Pyrmont Road, Pyrmont, star.com.au/sydney

Head to QT Sydney's Gowings Bar & Grill for a $150 feast including kingfish ceviche, sirloin steak and caramalised pear tart tatin. Festivities will continue the next day at Gowings' $55 recovery breakfast and caviar and champagne breakfast ($350 for two to four people).
Gowings Bar & Grill, 49 Market Street, Sydney, qthotelsandresorts.com

Salt Meats Cheese at Circular Quay is offering a $35 three-course menu with antipasto, pasta, trout or porchetta and desserts. Drinks package $35 extra.
Salt Meats Cheese, Circular Quay, saltmeatscheese.com.au

Frock up and head sky high for O Bar and Dining's Melbourne Cup experience. Enjoy three courses in the restaurant for $135 or tapas in the lounge for $85.
O Bar and Dining, Australia Square, Level 47, 264 George Street, Sydney, obardining.com.au/melbourne-cup/

Head to Porteno for a glass of Pol Roger champagne and a four-course lunch from noon by chefs Ben Milgate and Elvis Abrahanowicz (plus sweep prizes, of course). $120 per person.
Porteno, 358 Cleveland Street, Surry Hills, enquiries@portenoevents.com.au

Two glasses of Laurent Perrier and a lunch banquet of signature Greek dishes are the order of the day at The Apollo. $135 per person.
The Apollo, 44 Macleay Street, Potts Point, 02 8354 0888

Not feeling it? Skip the race and chill out at Newtown Hotel instead, with a live set from local musicians and a keg from Yulli's brews. Keg proceeds go to Horse Rescue Australia. Strictly no black tie.
Newtown Hotel, 174 King Street, Newtown, facebook.com/events/1036530599882982/