Sydney Eat Street: Where to celebrate the Melbourne Cup
DON’T worry if you can’t make it to Flemington for the Melbourne Cup, the Harbour City has you — and your stomach — well and truly covered. Here’s our guide on where to eat during the big race day.
Eat Street
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DON’T worry if you can’t make it to Flemington for the Melbourne Cup, the Harbour City has you — and your stomach — well and truly covered. Here’s our guide on where to eat during the big race day.
Take a tour of the area’s best eateries right here with The Sunday Telegraph’s Eat Street. Are you hungry for more inspiration? Follow us on Instagram.
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BIBO
The footpath is busy with women strolling arm in arm in elegant ensembles and dapper lads with their casual swagger.
“It’s like nothing I’ve ever seen,” says Bibo co-owner Jonathan Mallet with a delightful smile, noting that in his home country of France there isn’t anything like this; not just the races but also the way people dress up and celebrate the day adding “there’s a wonderful energy around it”.
While the day may be light-hearted, preparing the menu is serious business but one that Jonathan and chef/co-owner Jose Silva are prepared to tackle after years at Guillaume (Bennelong) — Jose as Head Chef and Jonathan as the venue’s manager.
Bibo’s menu reflects Jose’ Portuguese heritage combined with Mediterranean influences. With such bold and complex flavours, pairing wines would be a challenge, but this is where ex-Rockpool Bar & Grill sommelier Louella Mathews and for The Melbourne Cup Day menu she has opted to serve with a glass of NV Ayala “Brut Majeur’ Champagne, or the Portuguese Super Bock Lager if beer is more to your liking.
To start, Jonathan explains that the first six dishes such as the Hiramasa kingfish with blood orange and cumquat are served cold to accommodate those guests who can’t arrive till later.
After that, comes the magnificent lamb shoulder followed Jose’s renowned Sweet Belem Portuguese Tarts as well as the decadent and addictive — Bolo de Bolocha, what Jonathan describes as something like Portuguese tiramisu but with dulce de leche.
While it’s tough to compete with the menu, a big contender will be the grand prize on the day — a hat from the queen of racing millinery, Nerida Winter.
Of course, somewhere in between, eyes will have to turn from plates to the big screen and catch the main race. Then you can go back to dessert. ($110pp)
— 7 Bay St, Double Bay
ALL HANDS BREWING HOUSE
Most everywhere in Sydney, specially prepared three-course meals share the table with buckets of sparkling wine and champagne flute, but at this microbrewery along King Street Wharf, beer is the day’s clear winner.
Not just any beer though, as head brewer Sam Clayman has created a rosy Melbourne Cup inspired strawberry Berliner Weisse dubbed the “Friend in Hand”.
It’s made with 400kg of strawberries that Sam and his crew hand-cut more than 10 hours, making it not only a refreshing alternative to the ever-present bottles of bubbles but a big win for farmers affected by recent events.
Plus, it’s the perfect accompaniment for head chef Michael Acevedo’s Cup Day menu with includes a seafood tasting plate to start following your choice of main dish from selections that include duck confit, Togarashi spiced eggplant steak with Goma puree; slow-cooked chicken supreme; and roasted barramundi.
It doesn’t stop there as you can kick on till late with music and bespoke brews.
— 22 The Promenade, King Street Wharf
THE STREETS OF BARANGAROO’S CUP DAY FESTIVAL
Whether you’re after a sit-down lunch or a stand-up party, you can’t beat the festivities down at Barangaroo where from 12.30pm to 9pm, the placid promenade will transform into a hub of activity with the second annual Cup Day Festival.
Ease into a lounge chair at the G.H. Mumm Champagne Terrace and raise a glass to the Mumm ambassador performing the regal sabrage ritual or hang out at the craft beer garden for chill tunes and big screens.
Along the way, there’ll be plenty of pop-up food stalls including pulled pork or beef brisket burgers from Eat Art Truck and German sausages from Berlin Bangers.
Additionally, chef Marcus Andrew and the innovative gents at foodie-favourite Devon Cafe have created a limited number of two sweet concoctions just for Melbourne Cup: The Champagne and Strawberry Shower cronut made with champagne cream, macerated strawberries, white chocolate glaze, freeze-dried berries and gold leaf and a chocolate variant with salted caramel popcorn.
However, if a set menu is more to your liking, many of the waterfront restaurants and bars have Melbourne Cup day packages, which at love.fish include “Fashions on the Field” competitions and heaps of other prizes. The race will be televised around the precinct with TAB facilities throughout.
— Wulugul Walk, Barangaroo
OPERA BAR
For those after a quintessentially Sydney setting to catch the renowned race that stops the nation, it’s only fitting to enjoy the day at the foot of two other Australian icons: the Harbour Bridge and Opera House.
Grab a table and soak up the spring sun as you enjoy a 10- piece canape package including delicious arancini balls and their famous oysters. Sip on their signature Rosé Spritz or try Opera Bar’s own wines and ale.
There’ll be heaps of entertainment as well with live music, prizes and of course multiple large screens throughout the venue to catch the trackside action.
— Lower Concourse, Sydney Opera House
THE DOLPHIN HOTEL
It’s all fair game at The Dolphin Hotel for this year’s Melbourne Cup as the party takes over the whole place with servers traversing the Dining Room, Wine Room and Public Bar with a selection of canapés and pizzas along with a four-hour beverage package.
The menu, created by Monty Koludrovic is a “celebration of Dolphin’s foods”, with elements being chosen from the three respective kitchens including favourites such as the milk roll with porchetta and fermented chilli aioli; triple cheese croquettes and the phenomenal mushroom and sausage pizza.
There will, of course, be freshly shucked oysters and as noted by sous chef, Sarah Atton, oysters and fascinators seem to just go hand-in-hand. To keep things moving well into the evening owner, Maurice Terzini has ensured there’ll be plenty of tunes featuring some of Sydney’s finest DJs. ($150pp)
— 412 Crown St, Surry Hills
MUST TRY
KINGFISH CEVICHE
While all eyes will be on the races in Melbourne, head chef Jacqui Challinor prefers to keep it local — at least when it comes to sourcing ingredients for the Mediterranean influenced menu of this inner- city cellar door.
Come race day, book in for an eight-course feast, (starting off with a glass of bubbles on arrival), where you can watch the big one while savouring such popular picks as the kingfish ceviche with avocado, finger limes and coriander cracker followed by wood roasted rainbow trout, BBQ lamb and desserts. ($120pp)
— Nomad Restaurant; 16 Foster St, Surry Hills
BLOODY MARY PRAWN COCKTAIL
Take the festivities outside at this Melbourne Cup Garden Party, starting with a glass of Moët on arrival.
At this Balmain local, you’ll enjoy gourmet canape selections such as mini-Wagyu cheeseburgers; ocean trout gravlax and Bloody Mary prawn cocktails plus a three-hour drinks package with select wine and tap beers. ($90pp)
Or, if you take your races sitting down, there is also a two-course lunch in the restaurant. ($70pp)
— East Village Hotel Balmain; 82 Darling St, Balmain
CEVICHE
Under the shade of mature fig trees and directly across from the tranquil shores of Shark Beach is a white federation style venue that once served as a kiosk for visitors to Nielsen Park. It’s since been lovingly renovated, complete with the original lead glass windows and wrap around veranda, to include the smart casual dining options, The Nielsen.
It’s a lovely setting to enjoy a Melbourne Cup long lunch with dishes inspired by the coastal regions of Italy including the popular ceviche enhanced with seasonal ingredients.
On the day, there’ll be a three-course set menu along with best-dressed prizes, sweepstakes and large screens to catch the big race. ($95pp)
The Nielsen; Greycliffe Ave, Nielsen Park, Vaucluse
CRUMBED ZUCCHINI FLOWERS
For those who prefer a slightly more subdued approach to the day, this established Italian eatery in the quieter realms of Sydney suburbs could suit.
Swap the hordes of revellers for a hilltop view of the Harbour Bridge where you’ll enjoy a three-course course choice menu with such dishes as Ranger Valley veal medallion, baked Sardinian style Berkshire pork belly plus the more-ish crumbed zucchini flowers with quarto fromage and anchovies.
Live coverage of the race, sweepstakes and best-dressed competition as well. ($85pp)
— Cucinetta; 103 Woolwich Rd, Woolwich
CAULIFLOWER FRITTI
Even if you Uber it, it’ll be a longer walk to the entrance of the eatery than it is for the chef to travel the mere 8m to the on-site farm where chef Gareth Howard sources everything from Tuscan kale to edible flowers for the seasonal dishes on the tasty menu.
And if it’s not available from the pocket farm, he’ll source it as locally as possible. Come Cup Day, there’ll be two packages to choose from — a three-course long luncheon in Acre Eatery featuring such mains as pan-fried Cone Bay barramundi and chargrilled grass-fed sirloin ($99pp) or the Garden Party with a 3-hour drinks package and share platters including the rustic cauliflower fritti with poppy seeds, toasted almonds and spiced fruit marmalade ($79pp).
Add to all that, mystery prizes, best-dressed fashion parade, live music and screening of the race and you’re sure to have a winner of a day.
— Acre Eatery; 31A Mallet St, Camperdown