Patricia

Hi, We will be staying in Sydney over Christmas and need some help looking for a hotel/venue which does a Christmas lunch function. Any suggestions/recommendations in the central city area would be appreciated. Thanks.

Daneille

Hi Patricia, without being too specific most of the big hotels will have traditional Christmas lunches (ie. The Park Hystt, the Sheraton on the (Hyde) Park) but they will be pricey and you will need to book SOON!! For something really unique why not try a cruise on the harbour (the food won't be great but the views will make up for everything). Alternatively get yourself some fantastic Australian seafood and get yourself to one of the harbourside parks with a picnic rug and some good champagne - unbeatable if the weather is good.

Patricia

Hi Daneille, Thanks for the ideas, we guessed the bigger hotels would do something but where to start really. We were over 3 years ago at Xmas and went to a buffet at the Park Royal Darling Harbour (now I believe Crowne Plaza) food was fine but we thought it was just their normal lunchtime buffet, no Christmas atmosphere at all.
The only hotel I have found advertising Christmas on the internet is the Avillon, have emailed them, but will try your suggestions. I like the sound of the harbour cruise but we are two couples and I'm the only one to like the idea!!!
Thanks for your help.

Daneille

Just a suggestion - forget the Avillion. The hotel is in a "dodgy" part of town - between Haymarket and the cinema district and there will be no view from their dining room.

The Park Hyatt at Circular Quay/The Rocks are advertising Christmas Lunch on their website:-

christmas 2004
lunch and dinner - $195.00 per person / $150.00 for children under 12 years old
three course menu includes a glass of champagne on arrival and a xmas bon bon
additional beverages charged on consumption
limited a la carte menu available in little kitchen for dinner
lunch served from 12:00 pm - 3:00 pm
dinner served from 6:00 pm - 10:00 pm

Perhaps you could contact them for more info re what they'll be serving etc.

margo_oz

A couple of years ago, we had lunch at the Regent, now the Four Seasons.

The meal was good, but not brilliant, there was no view at all, (inside restaurant!), and it was quite expensive.

I haven't seen any of the restaurants advertising their Christmas lunch specials yet, but they should be around soon - I'll keep an eye out!

Patricia

Daneille, thanks for the info on the Park Hyatt, will contact them but you are right the prices do seem high, also taken on board your comments re the Avillon.
Margo_oz, we know the Regent,or Four Points as it is now, will email them. Appreciate it if you could keep an eye open for any advertising. Thanks to you both.

ozgal

Patricia, here are a few to try http://www.bestrestaurants.com.au/sp...asp?eventID=39.

There are a range of prices, but generally it is very expensive to go out for a Christmas meal in Sydney - I think the kitchen and waiting staff receive high penalty rates - maybe 2 1/2 times the usual rate?

I hope you have a wonderful Christmas day here with your friends.

Patricia

We had almost decided to something completely different a book a harbour cruise when I received en email from Rydges Jamison Hotel with a good price for Xmas lunch, far less than Hyatt, Four Seasons, Shangri-la etc. Any thoughts on this hotel. Thanks.

Peteralan

It may be ok but it is nowhere in the same class as the Hyatt, Four Seasons etc which would explain why it is cheaper.Are you wanting a view and about how much do you want to spend?

margo_oz

Patricia et al

Here's the Christmas lunch list from the recent Sydney Morning Herald:

Customs House Cafe
3 courses $150
9251 8683

Forty One
4 courses $175
92212500

Four Points by Sheraton, Corn Exchange
Seafood buffet and hot carvery $100
9290 4816

Four Seasons Kables Restaurant
5 courses $195
9250 3306

Intercontinental Hotel
Treasury Room
5 courses $180
James Cook Ballroom buffet with seafood $155
9240 1386

Liquidity, Rozelle
3 courses $85
9810 3433

Marriott Sydney Harbour Hotel
Buffet $135
9259 7000

Observatory Hotel Galileo Restaurant
7 courses $265
9256 2222

Quay
Degustation $245
9251 5600

Radisson Plaza Hotel
Bilsons Restaurant
5 courses $300
Bistro Fax
3 courses $78
8214 0000

Shangri-La Hotel
Cafe Mix -
Seafood buffet $155
Blu Horizons / Altitude
5 courses $195
9250 6000

Sheraton on the Park
Botanic Brasserie
Hot carvery, seafood $180
Tea Lounge
Hot carvery and seafood $240 for 2
9286 6000

Sofitel Wentworth, Bistro Garden Court
Seafood buffet $160

Stamford Circular Quay - Bar and Elizabeth Room
Seafood buffet and roasts $120
Dining Room - 4 courses $110
9252 4600

Stamford Plaza (Double Bay)
Baygrill - Degustation $140
Winstons Lounge - Buffet $120
9362 4455

Grace Hotel Brasserie
Seafood buffet $120
9272 6888

Sebel Pier One
Seafood, roasts - $155
8298 9973

Westin - Mosaic restaurant
3 courses, $185
8223 1111

The Wharf, Walsh Bay
3 courses $185
9250 1761

All these (with one exception) are per head, and do not include drinks (sometimes there is a glass of bubbly to begin)

This covers all the main hotels and top restaurants that are offering lunch.

Of course, to call any of these, you need to put +612 in front of the numbers.

Bon appetit!

Kiwi_acct

Hi There,

Just a suggestion from accross the ditch. But if the weather at Christmas in Sydney is like the weather you are having now i.e. hot and sunny, why not head to Coles (Or some other Supermarket) on Christmas eve. Pick up a cooked Chook and a pottle of Coleslaw along with some nice french bread and a bottle (Or two) of good Aussie wine. On christmas day take the cooked chook out of the minibar along with the now nicely chilled wine. (Remember to take the complementary wine knife from the minibar) and head to one of Sydney's fantastic beaches. Bondi (where you can hang out with all the others enjoying their beach Chritmas lunch) or my choice would be Manly (Do the ferries run on Christmas day?). What better way to have a truely Australian Christmas rather than eating overdone turkey at overdone prices in an anonymous hotel somewhere.

I know on this side of the ditch that we are having a BBQ with nice Crayfish, Scallops and maybe some seared lamb and cold ham (as oppossed to baking along with the turkey in an overly hot kitchen).

Just my 2 cents worth.

Cheers and have a Merry Christmas

Steve

margo_oz

Jeez, Steve

Do you want the tourists to do what the regular Australians do all the time. Mango, chook and bubbly on the beach is the go!

How on earth will those overpriced hotels and restaurants make any money, if you suggest people do that?

pat_woolford

Patricia, not that there's anything wrong with chook, but if you feel the need for something more festive, go to David Jones food hall in Market St, Sydney or the nearest butcher and get a Steggles Turkey Royale. No fat, no bone, no cooking, just moist delicious meat.