Best culinary events and experiences at Vivid Food 2025

Vivid Food celebrates Sydney’s culinary excellence with world-class chefs and one-of-a-kind experiences. Here are our top events from this year’s series

Sydney’s world-famous festival of creativity, innovation, technology and light is back for 2025 and this year’s culinary offering has caught our eye. Namely, the appearance of British television chef and food writer Nigella Lawson.

Vivid Sydney returns for its 15th anniversary this year and is bigger and better than ever. Five connecting zones have been introduced this year and will encompass four themes: Light, Music, Ideas and Food. The light installations may be the most eye-catching, but foodies can look forward to a packed program. Here are some of the highlights:

Vivid Sydney Dinners with Nigella Lawson

It’s the event everyone’s talking about. For three nights, everyone’s favourite seductive chef will host exclusive dining experiences beneath the city. Nigella Lawson invites diners to enjoy canapés and a three-course feast that celebrates the vibrancy of New South Wales’ food scene. The menu will feature locally sourced produce, right down to the paired premium wine.

As if the experience wasn’t special enough, the evening will take place in the Muru Giligu Tunnel in the Martin Place Metro Station. Meaning “Path of Light” in Sydney language, it provides an impressive backdrop for the evening, fusing art, light and live music. This event marks a first, with no event ever being staged in the new underground landmark before.

Visitors cram themselves into Sydney in summer, but for me the magical time is in winter, during Vivid Sydney! And having loved it for years, it is the hugest thrill to be part of the Vivid Food program this year. I’ll be curating an exclusive menu for the three Vivid Sydney Dinners, and it is simply a dream come true. I mean, you know me: there can never be too many fairy lights! See you there!

– Nigella Lawson

Where: Muru Giligu Tunnel, Martin Place.
When: June 6-8, 6:30pm-10:30pm.
Price: From $340 per person; tickets must be booked together in order to sit together.

Vivid Fire Kitchen

It fires up Sydney’s foodies every year and the flames are back and hotter than ever. This year they’re turning up the heat with Fire & Spice, a bold new celebration of spice-driven cuisines that will appear alongside flame-seared favourites. Wander through the flame-lit space at The Goods Line in Haymarket and watch the world’s best pitmasters, chefs and barbecue experts work their magic over open flames.

At a new space that takes over the exclusively pedestrianised Maryanne Street, find respite in the heat of the action at Spice Lounge. Here you can kick back by fire pits, sample spice-laden treats and soak in the atmosphere of fire drums.

Where: The Goods Line in Haymarket and Maryanne Street.
When: May 23 until June 14.
Price: Free to attend, though some charges may apply inside.

Dreamscapes at Aster

The theme of this year’s Vivid Sydney festival is “Dream” and Aster at InterContinental Sydney has risen to the challenge. Visitors to the rooftop bar will be able to indulge in one of three dream-themed tasting journeys: Sweet, Spicy or Adventurous.

Each experience will include a curated cocktail, paired canapé, a starter designed to share and a main dish paired with wines. Between courses, diners can peer out of the floor-to-ceiling windows at Aster, enjoying sky-high views of the Vivid Sydney Light Walk below.

Where: Aster, InterContinental Sydney, Level 32/117 Macquarie Street.
When: May 23 until June 14, 6pm-10pm.
Price: From $169 per person.

Dream Mist at Botanic House

Set in the green oasis of Royal Botanic Garden Sydney, Botanic House is a beautiful multi-level restaurant with wraparound verandas and an elegant upstairs venue managed by chef, restaurateur, TV presenter and former MasterChef judge Luke Nguyen. For Vivid Food, Nguyen has created a three-course Vietnamese-inspired menu, blending bold flavours with personal storytelling and botanical scent.

Upon arrival, guests will be invited to write their dreams on red ribbons which they will then tie onto an interactive wishing tree. As for the mist element of the evening? Botanic House will be draped in a light mist and diners will walk away with a Dream Mist botanical perfume to remember the night.

Where: Botanic House, Royal Botanic Garden Sydney, 1 Mrs Macquaries Road.
When: June 5 & 6, 6:30pm-9:30pm.
Price: From $269 per person.

Carriageworks Night Market

The legendary Night Market is back and it’s big, bold and delicious. Sydney’s next generation of culinary stars from the city’s top bars and restaurants will step into the spotlight, serving up a dish or drink entirely of their own making. Head to Carriageworks for this one-night event that will bring incredible food, killer cocktails, live music and a People’s Choice Award to Darlington.

Where: Carriageworks, 245 Wilson Street, Eveleigh.
When: Friday, May 30.
Price: $18.

Luke’s Vivid Table at the Pylon Lookout

Renowned Australian chef and restaurateur Luke Mangan has teamed up with BridgeClimb to host nine dazzling dinners 87 metres above the Sydney Harbour. Tucked within the south-east pylon of the Sydney Harbour Bridge, an exclusive 20-person dining table sets the scene for a unique and intimate experience.

To begin the evening, guests will be taken on a tour of the BridgeClimb Pylon Museum before ascending the 200 steps to the Lookout. Once at the top, pre-dinner canapés and a glass of Champagne will be served before diners take their seats at the table. The main event, of course, will be Mangan’s three-course menu which will showcase seasonal and locally sourced NSW ingredients. Each dish will be paired with premium wines.

Where: BridgeClimb Pylon Lookout & Museum, Sydney Harbour Bridge, The Rocks.
When: May 27-29, June 03-05 and June 10-12. 5:30pm-9:15pm.
Price: From $395; bookings of two minimum.

Native Food Experience

Step inside one of Sydney’s most iconic buildings, Parliament House, for a one-of-a-kind celebration of more than 60,000 years of First Nations culture. Parliament of NSW Executive chef, Vanessa Harcourt, is renowned for her dedication to native Australian ingredients. For one night only, she has teamed up with First Nations chef Dwayne Bannon-Harrison, a proud Yuin-Ngarrigu-Gunai-Yorta Yorta man, to create a delicious and thought-provoking menu.

Each dish tells a story of country, culture and community, using rainforest fruits and desert botanicals through to native seafood and game meats—some ingredients have even been sourced directly from Parliament’s own Native Food Garden. Diners are invited to connect with Australia’s oldest living culture through an evening of delicious food, storytelling, live music and performances.

Where: NSW Parliament House, 6 Macquarie Street.
When: Tuesday, June 3, 6pm-8pm.
Price: $160.

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FAQs

How do I book tickets?

The full Vivid Sydney 2025 program can be found at vividsydney.com.au.

For Vivid Food, visit vividsydney.com.au/food where you can find the full program of events and experiences. There are 33 listed events to choose from, with many free to enjoy. Several do require tickets though. Book soon to avoid disappointment as events sell-out quickly.

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Read more

• Vivid Sydney’s 15th anniversary program announced
• Vivid Live: Sigur Ros, Portishead and more expected
• Over 75% of Vivid Sydney’s program will be completely free this year