Hold on to your wine glass. It’s the silly season and while that means Christmas parties, picnics and BBQs, it also means festive food! Road turkey, homemade stuffing, steamed pudding, melt in your mouth short bread, pavlova…
Now if you’re not keen to slave away over a hot stove and even if you were, you know you’d never end up looking like Blake Lively standing over her impeccably decorated table, don’t worry! There’s plenty of ways to get your festive dining fix, without the trauma and terror of roasting a big bird in the oven. From winter feasts to food coma smorgasbords, here’s our guide to Sydney’s festive dining this holiday season.
Festive Dining at Feast, Sheraton on the Park
Five star hotels are fantastic at Christmas. From the sky high Christmas trees to the elaborate decorations, it doesn’t matter that it’s the height of Summer inside Sydney’s best hotels. Sheraton on the Park’s famous Christmas lunches and dinners are back. This is the Christmas buffet to end all Christmas buffets – an absolute seafood smorgasbord (no need for that hectic trip to the seafood market), roast turkey, ham, beef, salads, sushi, mince pies, pudding, stollen. From traditional to modern Australian, it’s got anything and everything you could possibly want for Christmas.
Festive Lunch & Dinner
Until 25 December
Bookings essential for Christmas Eve and Christmas Day
From $85 per person
official website
The Grounds Winter Wonderland
For a team that’s busy all day, every day of the week, The Grounds certainly doesn’t rest on its well-styled laurels. Over two nights the week before Christmas, the Atrium will transform into a winter wonderland – expect a fairy lights, candle light, eggnog, mistletoe, snow and a few other surprises in a feast designed for the whole family. If you miss out on dinner, don’t worry, the main gardens of the Grounds will be open during the night for Santa visits, wreath making demonstrations and general Christmas merriment under the stars.
Sunday 20th, Monday 21st
Bookings essential, tickets $150 per person
The Grounds Winter Wonderland
Carriageworks Twilight Christmas Markets
No one said you had to bake everything yourself this Christmas. Cheat a little with a trip to Carriageworks for the annual Twilight Christmas Markets. Make a beeline for the markets straight after work because the plum puddings and other Christmas treats always draw a crowd. With plenty of providores and artisans showcasing their wares, it’s also the spot for any last minute Christmas shopping.
4 – 9pm, Wednesday 23 December
Carriageworks
245 Wilson St Eveleigh
Giant gingerbread at the Shangri-La Hotel Sydney
If you’ve got a serious sweet tooth, Christmas is like, well, Christmas. Be warned, a trip to Shangri La Sydney’s lobby will make your mouth water. The grand entrance is currently home to Sydney’s biggest gingerbread house. Chef Anna Polyviou does nothing by halves so her giant, life-size house is a sight to behold. You can’t take the 1,500kg of gingerbread home but the miniature versions being sold on site are almost too cute to eat. Almost. Take one home and sit it on the table as a Christmas day centerpiece. Stock up on pudding, nougat, macarons and other Christmas treats while you’re there.
Shangri-La Hotel
176 Cumberland St, Sydney
official website
