The Midnight Special, one of the best bars at Vivid Sydney, sees the inner-west institution take over the Sydney Opera House Concert Hall foyer from 22 May to 2 June. Expect vinyl, DJs, and a seriously funky drinks list featuring Australian wines, Pommery Champagne and the ‘Hot for Tequila’ cocktail. When hunger strikes, get a little fancy with a truffle three-cheese toastie and chase it with a coupla hot dogs. sydneyoperahouse.com

Zephyr Sky Bar is one of the best bars in Sydney for views over Darling Harbour during Vivid. Pull up a perch to enjoy limited-edition Vivid cocktails on Level 12 of Hyatt Regency Sydney, which has a front-row seat to Vivid Drone Show, Star-Bound, lighting up the sky over Cockle Bay and Darling Harbour between 7.30pm and 9.30pm. Downstairs, Jackalberry Bar and Restaurant also has a range of limited-edition cocktails. Staying the night in Sydney during Vivid 2026? Check out the Savour Sip Stay Package which includes breakfast for two, a complimentary cocktail at Jackalberry and a late checkout. 161 Sussex St, Sydney; zephyrbarsydney.com

Wet, Cold + Delicious: The Tuna Dinner is one very good reason to clear your calendar on 26 May. Shell House’s dining room hosts the five-course bluefin tuna feast built around sustainably sourced fish presented both raw and cooked, with culinary director Joel Bickford and head chef Jarrod Walsh at the pass. Seafood tsar John Susman and Toshihiko Oe of Sushi Oesushi host proceedings while sushi expert Narito Ishii breaks down a live tuna with a Japanese fish market-style auction as the centrepiece. One of the best Vivid Sydney food experiences worth paying for as sustainability takes centre stage. From $295pp. Shell House, Sydney CBD; vividsydney.com

Opened just weeks before Vivid Sydney 2026, The Oriana is one of the most exciting new harbourfront venues to land at Circular Quay in years. Four levels and four different experiences are on offer here, from walk-in oysters and tiger prawn rolls in the Beer Garden to the Vivid Set Menu on Level 2, where Hokkaido scallops, Murray River cod and lobster tagliatelle come with uninterrupted views of the illuminated harbour. Live music and DJs run throughout the festival. Sample the delights of the Martini Trolley before rolling back out into Vivid. Overseas Passenger Terminal, Circular Quay; orianasydney.com.au

Expect the unexpected when dining out during Vivid Sydney 2026. First Nations chef Mark Olive leads Saltbush & Starlight, an exclusive Sydney Opera House tour followed by a series of three-course dinners using native ingredients between 22 May and 13 June ($290 per person). On 30 May, the heritage-listed Strand Arcade opens after hours for chef Nino Zoccali’s long-table celebration of NSW Icons of Land and Sea, hosted by broadcaster Simon Marnie ($325 per person). And from 2-5 June, ARLO Communal transforms The Mint into Dream Feast, a three-course dinner with live projections and a commissioned soundtrack drawn from an archive spanning 200 years ($250 per person). vividsydney.com

Luke Nguyen’s Vivid Sydney 2026 dining experience begins before you’ve even sat down: guests arrive by tuk-tuk, disembarking beneath a Moreton Bay Fig strung with glowing red lanterns in Royal Botanic Garden Sydney. Inside Botanic House, Nguyen’s banquet pairs ancient Vietnamese culinary traditions with modern technique and the finest NSW Asian producers and artisans, while dragon dancers and musicians orchestrate a soundtrack of Vietnamese folk with contemporary beats. It’s theatrical, transportive and one of the most joyful experiences of Vivid Sydney 2026. From $275 per person. Botanic House, Royal Botanic Garden; vividsydney.com

The most ambitious food program in Vivid Sydney’s history pairs acclaimed regional chefs with some of Sydney’s finest restaurants in a celebration of NSW produce, people and place. Highlights include Mindy Woods and Danielle Alvarez opening the series at the Yallamundi Rooms on 22 and 23 May ($275 per person), followed by Frank Fawkner of Hunter Valley’s EXP joining Alessandro Pavoni at A’Mare for lunch on 24 May ($175 per person). Ben Devlin and Lennox Hastie cook together at a Pipit x Firedoor pop-up on 25 and 26 May ($295 per person) and Yotam Ottolenghi headlines on 29 and 30 May with tickets at $340 per person. vividsydney.com

Altitude is hard to top when it comes to boasting one of the best views of Vivid. Perched above The Rocks, Shangri-La Sydney’s flagship dining room frames the illuminated Opera House and Harbour Bridge, a bit of theatre that will help you spark conversation with your dinner date in case things get awks. The five-course Vivid Chef’s signature Menu ($195 per person) runs nightly from 22 May to 13 June, with optional wine pairings from $85 per person. It’s both dinner and a show. 176 Cumberland St, The Rocks; shangri-la.com

Positioned directly beneath the Opera House sails, transformed nightly by Yann Nguema’s Opera Mundi projection, Opera Bar puts you in the beating heart of the festival’s most iconic stretch of harbour. Watch the Vivid Light Walk come alive across Circular Quay and settle in for bar bites and a show. This is prime real estate. For the full Vivid Sydney date night, time your visit around Vivid Live events at Sydney Opera House such as London-based jazz-hip-hop luminary Alfa Mist on 26 May followed by visionary LA producer Flying Lotus on 27 May, then walk back to Opera Bar for a nightcap. It’s where the best Vivid Sydney nights begin and end. Sydney Opera House, Lower Concourse Level, Sydney; operabar.com.au

Positioned on the Circular Quay boardwalk between the Sydney Opera House and Sydney Harbour Bridge, this French bistro and bar is so absurdly close to the action the festival’s installations may well light your table. During this year’s Vivid Sydney, which includes the pillars Lights, Music, Minds, Food, you can enjoy a shared menu at $75 per person, featuring a twice-baked Comté soufflé, grilled John Dory and Wagyu sirloin. Full à la carte is also available. Walk-ins are welcome at the Whalebridge, one of the best waterfront restaurants in Sydney. 8 & 10 East Circular Quay; sundayco.com

Aster is one of Sydney’s best rooftop bars year-round. During Vivid Sydney, InterContinental Sydney’s venue’s status goes sky high. This year’s Golden Age experience includes three acts: Champagne and a seasonal bite to open, followed by a choice of premium Australian wine or a signature cocktail paired with an elevated main. Choose between closing acts of either a classic sgroppino ($159 per person) or tableside caviar service with a mini martini ($199 per person). The 270-degree harbour views from Aster take in Sydney Opera House, Sydney Harbour Bridge and Vivid Light Walk, three of the best things to see during Vivid. Date night sorted. Level 32, 118 Macquarie St; asterbar.com.au

The easiest answer to where to eat during Vivid Sydney 2026 is Barangaroo. The Streets of Barangaroo has every budget covered, with installations like the River of Fire nearby. Untied’s Vivid Pit Stop menu serves three share plates and two cocktails for $85 per person from 4.30pm daily; Winghaus keeps families fed with a $75 pack covering burgers, fries, drinks and kids’ soft serves for four. A short walk along the waterfront, Barangaroo Reserve transforms into the Vivid Fire Kitchen, where 60-plus chefs cook over open flames on the Stargazer Lawn from 6pm to 11pm. For a full rundown, read our guide to the best things to see and do at Vivid Sydney 2026. Barangaroo Ave, Barangaroo; thestreetsofbarangaroo.com

Want to avoid the crowds at Vivid Sydney 2026? Retreat to Lavender Bay where the views of the Sydney Opera House and Harbour Bridge from Sydney’s Lower North Shore are postcard-perfect. Take the ferry from Circular Quay to McMahon’s Point to enjoy the five-course Vivid-inspired tasting menu for Vivid Opening Night (22 May from 6pm) for $155 per person, or the six-course Vivid Tasting Menu ($185 per person) for the duration of the festival. Three experiential cocktails are available throughout the festival and matching wines are also an option. Bookings from noon. 2 Henry Lawson Avenue, McMahons Point; srghospitality.com.au

One of the most coveted dinner reservations for Vivid Sydney 2026 has a departure point rather than a street address. Sydney’s luxury superyacht The Jackson hosts a five-course degustation paired with Penfolds wines during a 3.5-hour harbour cruise on 23 May and 30 May with Sydney Symphony Orchestra musicians performing live. Uninterrupted views of Sydney Opera House, Circular Quay and the city skyline make this one of Sydney’s most spectacular date night experiences. With only 200 guests per night, it’s one of the most exclusive things to do during Vivid 2026. From $350 per person. King Street Wharf 1; thejackson.com.au

Interstate visitors planning a Vivid Sydney trip in 2026 would do well to base themselves at Hilton Sydney, where the Park & Stay package (from $420) bundles an overnight stay with 24-hour valet parking on George St. Steps away, Sydney Town Hall, one of the key CBD venues for Vivid Sydney 2026, is home to the Creative Trailblazers series featuring names from film, design and culture. Before heading out, stop into Glass Brasserie for a Vivid wine-tasting flight where five pours arrive paired with premium cheese for $60 per person. No booking required. It’s one of the best places for pre-Vivid drinks in the CBD. 488 George St, Sydney; glassbrasserie.com.au