Aria is once again celebrating Vivid with a line-up of limited-time food and drink offerings, all set against the glowing backdrop of Sydney Harbour. The Aria Snack Bar returns to the Bar and Wharf Room, serving a relaxed, share-style menu with dishes like Sydney rock oysters, mushroom and truffle tarts, wagyu smash burgers, and an indulgent ice cream sundae with sherry caramel and pecans. In the dining room, guests can experience a nitro ice cream course, churned tableside and topped with luxe additions like Pedro Ximénez caramel and miso banana. It’s included in the eight-course menu and available as an add-on to others. To sip, Aria is pouring 2015 Dom Pérignon ‘Luminous’ by the glass and serving a Vivid-exclusive Belvedere 10 martini with Junmai sake and garnishes prepared tableside. ariasydney.com.au/vivid

Bennelong is offering two ways to experience Vivid Sydney from inside the Opera House. For a full evening out, the Dress Circle experience ($285pp) includes snacks and a glass of Charles Heidsieck Brut Reserve NV on arrival, followed by a three-course choice menu by executive chef Peter Gilmore. Located on the upper level beneath the sails, it offers sweeping views of the Harbour Bridge and light installations beyond. For a more relaxed option, Bennelong Bar is serving a $65pp package featuring four snacks and the Dream Theatre cocktail – a vibrant blend of Summer Berry gin, smoked rum, guava and glowing Vivid pearls. bennelong.com.au/vivid-at-bennelong-2025

Quay’s location offers one of the best vantage points in the city for Vivid – with floor-to-ceiling views across Circular Quay, the Opera House and the Harbour Bridge. To mark the occasion, they’re serving Spectrum, a Vivid-inspired cocktail that blends Tanqueray No. Ten gin, umeshu, Pavan, chamomile, honey, saffron and a milk wash – designed to shift in colour as you sip. Available during the festival, it’s a simple way to add a touch of Vivid to your evening, whether you’re dining in or stopping by the bar for a pre-show drink. quay.com.au

Hacienda’s weekday Dream Hour offers a front-row seat to the changing sky – and a colourful cocktail to match. From 4–6pm, Monday to Friday, a selection of vibrant Vivid-inspired cocktails like Strawberry Fields Forever, Yellow Mellow and Dreams are available for $25 each. After 6pm, a $60 minimum spend applies per person, making it a good excuse to settle in as the foreshore begins to glow. With floor-to-ceiling windows and sweeping harbour views, it’s a scenic and fuss-free way to ease into an evening out during the festival. pullmanquaygrandsydneyharbour.com/offers/vivid-dream-hour-at-hacienda

Rise above the crowds and experience Vivid Sydney from one of the city’s most spectacular vantage points at Aster, 32 levels high at InterContinental Sydney. For $169 per person, guests can choose their own flavour adventure – Sweet, Spicy or Adventurous – with each path beginning with a bespoke cocktail and canape on arrival. The evening continues with a vibrant share-style entree and main, paired with two glasses of wine. If you want to make a night (and morning) of it, InterContinental Sydney is offering a Vivid Staycation Package from $469 per night. It includes overnight accommodation, daily breakfast for two, a themed cocktail at Treasury Bar and a curated goodie bag with a festival map and treats – all just steps from the glowing action. asterbar.com.au/vivid-sydney-2025

Rose Bay icon Catalina has unveiled its new Vivid Takeaway Boxes – a reimagining of the popular hampers that proved a hit during lockdown. Designed for those who want to experience Vivid their own way, these elevated picnic boxes are perfect for enjoying on a boat, at a harbourside lookout or from your own rooftop – away from the crowds, but still part of the magic. Each box is crafted by Catalina’s chefs using premium seasonal ingredients, with three options available: the Deluxe Seafood Box ($295), Seafood Picnic ($155), and Antipasto Picnic ($155). Just pre-order with 24 hours’ notice, pick up your favourite bottle of wine, and your winter’s night picnic is sorted. catalinarosebay.com.au

As part of the Vivid Chef Series program, Claude Bosi of London’s Josephine restaurant will be cooking with Elven Barrack’s Brent Savage. The six course menu will feature Claude’s signature camembert soufflé with winter black truffle, while Brent will deliver duck liver choux au craquelin and a wagyu consommé and soft poached quail egg tart. It’s here for a good time, not a long time – lunch and dinner services on June 10 and 11, with 80 seats for each service. It’s $185 for lunch, $285 for dinner and there are two wine pairings available – $90 or $180 for the premium pairing.vividsydney.com/event/food/eleven-barrack-x-claude-bosi-vivid-chef-series

Perched high above Circular Quay, Cafe Sydney boasts one of the best spots to soak in the Vivid atmosphere. For those who want to enjoy the lightshow without committing to dinner, Cafe Sydney is offering a glass of Perrier-Jouët Blason Rosé Champagne paired with a delicate salmon roe tart – along with that priceless view – for $40. Available from May 23 to June 14 in both The Lounge and the restaurant. cafesydney.com

Get your skates on for this immersive retro-futuristic roller disco diner. Feast on plant-based cuisine from Melbourne’s vegan chef extraordinaire Shannon Martinez (Smith & Daughters), paired with innovative cocktails crafted from locally foraged ingredients by Trolley’d founder Byron Woolfrey. The 350-square-metre activation features a 1979 Shorts 330 aircraft as its centrepiece, with roller-skating wait staff delivering food and drinks while DJs spin vinyl-only sets. It’s a multi-sensory experience combining food, drink, music and light in a dreamlike setting. At Tumbalong Boulevarde, Darling Harbour from May 23-June 14, from $18, vividsydney.com/event/food/neon-dreams

One of the wonderful things about Vivid is that it caters to everyone. Want a night out but can’t afford a multi course feast? Head to the new Forecourt Food Village at the Sydney Opera House for one of the best seats in town and a tasty, affordable feed. La Cubanita is a pop-up led by Opera House Events culinary director, Danielle Alvarez, with food that celebrates her Cuban roots; fried fish and pulled pork sandwiches and Caribbean-style sweet potato fries. Opera House Events executive chef, Jimmy Ryu has curated K-town Bites; fried chicken, crispy Gochujang cauliflower and sweet potato noodles. Open from 5pm during Vivid, with free entry. sydneyoperahouse.com/vivid-live/eat-drink