Go all-in on a lavish set menu or keep it casual with a la carte at these Good Food-approved restaurants open on Christmas Day.
Whether you’re the one stuffing the turkey, picking up the wine, making a salad or helping to clean up afterwards, few people escape Christmas Day without having to do a chore. Except, of course, those with the good sense to eat out. With everyone who normally queues for a table staying at home, the rest of us can finally slip into the restaurant we’ve been trying to visit all year.
From traditional roasts to Filipino suckling pig and slippery prawn noodles, here are the best Christmas feasts in Sydney. (Be quick – reservations are filling up fast).
A proper roast lunch at Continental Deli
Arguably even better than a ham plate is Continental Deli’s charcuterie spread of cured meats and cheeses. The Newtown restaurant will be serving it on Christmas Day, alongside a glazed ham terrine, roast pork with buttered potatoes and whisky glazed carrots, and a Christmas pudding crafted by the Good Food Guide’s Chef of the Year Lauren Eldridge. They’re even doing a canned version to take home.
Details: $150 per person for a four-course shared set menu. Open for lunch from noon to 6pm, last bookings at 3.30pm.
210 Australia Street, Newtown; paisanoanddaughters.com.au
Yum cha at Royal Palace Seafood
This bustling Haymarket restaurant will be serving its full yum cha service on Christmas Day, making sure everyone gets their favourites – from delicate har gau dumplings and siu mai to cheung fun rice rolls.
Details: Yum cha is available from 10am to 3pm, while the regular a la carte menu runs from 11am-11pm.
393-399 Sussex Street, Haymarket, royalpalace.au
An Italian Christmas at Flaminia
Two-hatted Pilu at Freshwater may already be fully booked, but its new sibling restaurant Flaminia – now open in the Pullman Quay Grand on Sydney Harbour – still has seats available. The Italian Christmas menu features saffron maccheroncini with lobster, a Black Angus tenderloin with duchess potatoes, and a panettone pudding to finish.
Details: $350 per adult and $200 per child for a four-course menu. Open for lunch from 11.30am to 3.15pm.
61 Macquarie Street, Sydney; flaminia.com.au
A luxurious spread at Woodcut
Woodcut is sparing no expense for its Christmas menu, which starts with N25 Oscietra caviar and spanner crab tarts, followed by a cold seafood stand, pot-roasted Western rock lobster, double-smoked ham with maple glaze, and meringues with mango. For dinner, it’s the regular la carte menu for bookings under 10, and a set menu for over 10.
Details: The Christmas lunch set menu is priced at $390 per adult, and kids 12 years and under can dine from the Woodchippers kids’ menu. Open for lunch from noon-2pm and dinner from 5.45-8.30pm.
Crown Sydney, 1 Barangaroo Avenue, Barangaroo, crownsydney.com.au
Roast turkey and beers at BrewDog South Eveleigh
BrewDog in South Eveleigh will be open on Christmas Day for a cheeky beer before the in-laws arrive, or for a full English-style lunch with the family. The three-course menu includes a prawn cocktail, roast turkey with all the trimming (or pumpkin Wellington), and a passionfruit pavlova roulade.
Details: $149 per person for a three-course set menu and drink on arrival. Open for lunch, with walk-ins from noon or booked sittings at noon and 3pm.
Bay 1 Locomotive, Workshops South, Eveleigh, brewdogsoutheveleigh.com.au
At Italian feast for the family at Cibaria Manly
This northern beaches restaurant has its own gelateria – now that’s something you won’t get at home. Cibaria Manly’s Christmas menu has an Italian bent, from poached king prawn salad, lobster conchiglie, premium Tajima wagyu sirloin and Amalfi lemon tart. The venue will be open every day throughout Christmas and New Year.
Details: $320 per adult or $100 per child under 12 years. Open normal trading hours with a set menu for lunch and an a la carte menu for dinner.
55 North Steyne, Manly, cibariamanly.au
A Chinese banquet at Lee Ho Fook
Ham is a must on Christmas Day – even better when it’s lacquered in char siu and tucked into fluffy gua bao buns. The recently two-hatted Lee Ho Fook has put together a Chinese menu with festive flavours, from Crystal Bay prawns in garlic soy dressing, ora king salmon on rice wafers and Angus Porterhouse with a Hong Kong black pepper sauce. Dessert is a red fruit trifle with rose tea and vanilla cream.
Details: Adults $195 per person and children 4-12 years $50 per person. Open from noon-3pm.
Level 1/203 Castlereagh Street, Sydney, leehofook.com.au
A fine-dining experience at LuMi Dining
The twinkling pendants at LuMi Dining are enough to put anyone in a festive mood. The two-hatted restaurant led by chef Federico Zanellato and head sommelier Michela Boncagni will open for lunch on Christmas Day, with both the tasting menu and omakase experience available.
Details: The LuMi tasting menu is priced at $265 and the omakase menu is priced at $350 per person. Open from noon-2pm.
56 Pirrama Road, Pyrmont, lumidining.com
Lechon suckling pig (to take away) from Takam
Though Takam isn’t open on Christmas Day, you can still enjoy its signature cebu lechon, which is available for takeaway. The whole suckling pig serves 4-6 people and comes with crab rice, mignonette salad, pickles, and accompaniments.
Details: Pre-order before December 10 for pickup on December 24. The suckling pig lechon meal is priced at $398.
324 Victoria Street, Darlinghurst, takam.au
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Erina Starkey – Erina is the Good Food App Editor for The Sydney Morning Herald and The Age. Previously, Erina held a number of editing roles at delicious.com.au and writing roles at Broadsheet and Concrete Playground.
