The Best Private Dining Rooms in Sydney
Looking to celebrate a birthday, host a work lunch or simply feel like a VIP for the night? The 20 best private dining spaces in Sydney will have what you're after.
The Best Private Dining Rooms in Sydney
Looking to celebrate a birthday, host a work lunch or simply feel like a VIP for the night? The 20 best private dining spaces in Sydney will have what you're after.
Sometimes, you just want your own space at a restaurant or bar, especially if you're celebrating — that's when you hunt for the best private dining rooms in Sydney. Within these secluded parts of the venue, you can be as loud as you like (or escape all the noise of the public areas), order from bespoke menus, control the room's tunes and sometimes even have access to a private bar and bartender.
Whether it's your best mate's surprise birthday, your annual Christmas party, or you're, say, Drake and would like to damn well enjoy your Australian tour dinner in peace, these venues have the best private dining rooms in Sydney — ready to go whenever needed.
Recommended reads:
The Best Restaurants in Sydney
The Best Bars in Sydney
The Best Wine Bars in Sydney
The Best Pubs in Sydney
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The grass is always greener on the other side, especially inside Aria chef Matt Moran’s glasshouse-inspired Woollahra space — Chiswick. The restaurant is known for creating thoughtfully sustainable dishes made with produce grown on-site, within the lush gardens that surround the building.
And if you’re after one of the best views of the gardens, try booking the sun-drenched private dining room that holds up to 40 people for a sit-down lunch or dinner. Guests will munch on contemporary Australian dishes, sip on local wines and wander around the gardens in between courses. It’s fabulous anytime of year, but is particularly special in spring when the garden is in full bloom.
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The word institution gets thrown around a lot when it comes to restaurants in Sydney — especially when talking about old-school Italian restaurants. But, nowhere quite lives up to the moniker more than Darlinghurst’s famed Beppi’s. This spot has been serving up delicious Italian fare for over 67 years, and boasts a huge private dining room down in its wine cellar.
Surrounded by a collection of vintage Australian wines, your group will feast on classic Italian eats and sample some of the vinos that clad the walls. Up to 30 people can dine down in the main cellar, while there are an additional three rooms down in the same space that can be booked separately, holding six to ten people in each.
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Out of all three Sake Restaurant and Bars in Sydney, the Manly location has to be our favourite. Each excels in serving up luxe Japanese fare, but this spot boasts incredible waterfront views that are unmatched by the other branches. It also has a few private dining rooms for bigger groups.
The four semi-private spaces lie in the centre of the restaurant — holding up to 10 guests in each — but these aren’t entirely private. There’s no extra cost for booking for these spaces and there’s no minimum spend. For those who want total privacy and more space, there’s a larger private dining room that holds 22 diners. If you want to nab this spot, you simply need to hit the minimum spend of $1,500. Sake and sushi all round!
Image: Tom Ferguson.
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Perched on absolute prime cliff frontage at Bondi’s southern end, the Icebergs Dining Room and Bar delivers five-star luxury for both your eyes and tastebuds. As you soak up those sweeping, multimillion-dollar views, feast on a two-hatted menu, driven by fresh produce and inspired by regional Italian cuisine.
If you’re planning a special event then be sure to book the newly opened Pacific Dining Room. Awash with blue and overlooking the sea, this is the perfect place for a special catch-up with the besties. With a private bar and separate staff, they’re able to cater for any kind of event, allowing you to kick back and relax while you’re eyes are firmly fixed on the horizon.
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Quay might just be the most well-known fine-dining restaurant in Sydney (or Australia, for that matter). Head Chef Peter Gilmore is famous for his appearances on Masterchef and the restaurant has one of the best views in the city — overlooking both the Sydney Opera House and Sydney Harbour Bridge.
And its private dining rooms take advantage of these views in the most magnificent ways. Our favourite is the Upper Tower, covered in glass windows that wrap around the entire room. It holds up to 20 guests and unsurprisingly requires you to spend a whole heap on your meal — the minimum spend starts at $4,000 and goes up to $8,000. Best save this private dining room in Sydney for an extraordinarily special occasion.
Image: Nikki To.
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When the Chin Chin team was first planning to set up shop in Sydney, they specifically searched for a building that could be transformed to cater for all kinds of private events. And they surely succeeded with their Commonwealth Street location. On its lower ground, there are three huge event spaces that can be booked for just about any kind of function.
The largest private dining room holds up to 66 people seated and 80 standing while the smallest is for intimate gatherings — holding just 14 people for a sit-down lunch or dinner. There’s also one event space that has its own private bar, seating up to 30 people. Hosting a larger affair? You can combine all these rooms together for a luxe wedding, runway show or epic birthday party.
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Back in 2018, Chatswood scored a big infusion of contemporary Chinese flavour in elegant newcomer Mama Mulan. Located in The Concourse, the 180-seater made quite the impression, with its restaurant, bar and private dining areas boasting striking interiors by creative agency DS17.
If you’re coming for a special event, be sure to book one of the best private dining rooms in Sydney. With polished floorboards, floor-to-ceiling linen curtains and a curved, steel-grey interior, the room is sophisticated and fun, elegant without being overbearing. It can seat 15 guests and you’ll have your own waiter for the night — sit back, relax with wine in hand and let the Mama Mulan team take care of everything.
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After a private dining room on Sydney’s North Shore? The luxe gastropub Park House is going to be your best bet. There are a heap of event and private dining spaces at this haunt — allowing you to host various kinds of functions.
First off, there’s the sunroom that’s capable of fitting 80 people for a cocktail party or 30 for a sit-down meal. The large sun lounge, front yard and garden spaces can be hired out for much bigger events — holding well over 100 guests each. After something a bit cosier? Try out the fireplace room equipped with couches, plush armchairs and a working fireplace. Dining tables can also be placed inside for those wanting intimate meals here. You’re spoilt for choice at Park House.
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Take the lift in Westfield Sydney up to level seven and you’ll find this massive 1200-square-metre Middle Eastern restaurant and bar where an impressive calibre of hospitality vets are waiting to wine and dine you. It has a cool 800-person capacity and a bustling kitchen producing hearty food inspired by the street eats of Turkey, Israel, Lebanon, Cyprus and Egypt.
And with so much space, there are private dining options aplenty. For small gatherings, there are a heap of intimate booths that hold four to six people, sectioned off by heavy velvet curtains. The Larsa Room is a more luxe experience, holding up to 20 people, and our favourite private dining space has to be the Lantern Room. Sitting beneath a ceiling full of white lanterns on the rooftop, this space can be used for either big group meals or cocktail events. The city views from this spot are also a big win.
Image: Steven Woodburn.
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While Golden Century may have shut its doors, its legacy lives on through XOPP. Located in Darling Square’s Exchange Building, the expansive restaurant is serving up a heap of Golden Century favourites, including the pipis in XO sauce, a dish that’s so revered that even David Chang called it “the best dish in the world”.
Either dine on these contemporary Chinese eats within the main curved dining room overlooking the square or hide away in one of the best private dining rooms in Sydney. These hold from 20–60 diners, boasting total privacy and the same views of the surrounding area through floor to ceiling windows. We also love the fact that these guys provide big round dining tables with lazy susans, so you can feast on all the shared plates together.
Image: Steven Woodburn.
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Mimi’s on the middle floor of Coogee Pavilion is an homage to the idyllic coastal location and is guided by an Australian-accented take on modern Mediterranean cuisine. It’s also the most luxe restaurant in the building, serving up fresh seafood, top-quality meats and market-fresh vegetables grilled on the kitchen’s josper. The 600-strong wine list is made for lovers of French drops.
Turn up the dial on the lavish dining experience by booking out its private dining room at the end of the restaurant. The intimate space holds up to 18 diners who get to try dishes from bespoke shared menus dreamt up by Executive Chef Jordan Toft (Bert’s, Bar Topa). It’s one of the best private dining rooms in Sydney, but there’s only one. Be sure to book well in advance.
Image: Steven Woodburn.
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With more than 50 dishes on Spice Temple’s menu, this long-standing Sydney venue pushes Chinese cuisine in new directions without losing traditional flavours. It’s a must-visit for any lover of contemporary Chinese cuisine.
And if you’re coming with a group, be sure to try and book the Eastern dining room. This private space is equipped for 50 guests and designed to resemble a jewellery box — it’s one of the most unique private dining rooms on this list. There’s also a more intimate 12-seater room, decorated with hundreds of beads on the walls and a striking light installation above the dining table.
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Back in 2022, a new venue from Sydney hospitality giant Merivale arrived in its Ivy precinct. MuMu was the latest venture from beloved local chef Dan Hong (Ms G’s, Mr Wong), serving up southeast Asian street food-inspired dishes to the masses. Like its neighbour, Bar Totti’s, MuMu is hugely popular. So, if you’re going with a group, booking the private dining space is a good way to ensure you get a spot.
Hidden away in the corner of the restaurant, the are two adjoining rooms that can be opened to make one big space that holds 32 guests and are full of character and colour. Either keep it simple and just come to feast on the extensive banquet menu, or get the in-house styling team and florists to decorate this private dining room for your event.
Image: Jiwon Kim.
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Located in the striking, if controversial, Crown Casino building at Barangaroo, a’Mare is an elegant Italian restaurant offering exceptional Aussie produce paired with classic Italian ingredients. It’s a menu that whisks you off to the sunny shores of Italy and has been awarded a Chef’s Hat. That’s thanks to acclaimed chef Alessandro Pavoni, who calls on his memories of his native Italy to conjure up dishes that inspire and delight.
The main dining room is impressive, as are the views over the water, but The Library private dining room is our favourite area. Decked out with ornate carpets and a chandelier, this is a glamorous space that feels like the good room at your Nonna’s house. It is located above the main bar and looks out over the water so that you can party with a view.
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An era of omakase has well and truly arrived in the Sydney CBD. From the picturesque Bay Nine in The Rocks to tiny 12-seat Besuto at Quay Quarter, the luxuriously indulgent and precisely-prepared multi-course experiences have well and truly entered the mainstream. Joining the suite of Japanese restaurants offering omakase in Sydney is TOKO Restaurant, that also boasts a mighty glam private dining space for big groups.
A long dining table that holds up to 16 people lies in the centre of the room, beneath two ornate feathery chandeliers. Plush curtains and recessed lighting also help set the mood for a lavish private dining experience. A two-hour seating requires a minimum spend of $1,500–$2,200 depending on the day and time of the booking.
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Located in the former Flying Fish site at the end of Jones Bay Wharf, and headed up by Executive Chef Danny Russo, Sala delivers fresh takes on Italian classics and plenty of seafood in a 160-seat space. Head Sommelier Rocco Pezzullo has also curated a predominantly Italian wine list that’s sure to pair well with your tortellini, and Bar Manager Behzad Vaziri’s cocktail menu specialises in Italian classics (there’s a full range of negronis). Basically, this joint is made for a proper treat-yourself dinner party.
That’s especially true when you take the two private dining spaces into account. The Sala Privata room holds up to 30 seated guests, has views of the harbour and is set up with audio and visual tech to help with those having business meetings (or embarrassing photo slideshows for birthdays). The smaller Alas Galleria room holds 20 seated guests and is significantly more intimate.
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Following Bondi Pavilion’s massive seven-year transformation, the team behind Circular Quay’s luxurious multi-level venue Hinchcliff House has set up shop with its multi-dimensional venue Promenade. This luxurious all-day cafe, restaurant and bar brings Lana‘s affection for ethically sourced seafood right to the beach. It’s a huge win for the area.
As is the The Grotto private dining room that looks out over Bondi Beach — through the pavilion archways. It holds up to 12 people around one large table and can be easily booked directly through he reservations portal. That makes things super easy, as a lot of venues require special bookings to be made over phone.
Image: Jiwon Kim.
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One part glam, one part retro and one part mixologist’s fantasy, The Roosevelt is an irresistible mix that has long made it one of the eastern suburb’s most in-demand cocktail destinations. The acclaimed team from Eau de Vie has created a cocktail bar that is at once classic and an homage to cocktail culture from the 30s and 40s, and at the same time thoroughly modern with a cocktail menu as cutting edge as they come.
And while it may be hard to pull yourself away from the lively atmosphere of the main bar, the private poker room is set up to host a whole series of events. Yes, 12 people can set up shop for a night of poker, but you can also hire it out for intimate dinners, cocktail tastings and whisky masterclasses. This is what makes it one of the best private dining rooms in Sydney.
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Within the walls of Buon Ricordo, as if in Italy, that constant flow of chatter removes the need for music. The huge painting on the wall also transports you to Europe, with giant unfurling flower petals that resemble radicchio leaves. The sun streaming through the curtains leaves only a silhouetted hint of the plants outside. It’s easy to imagine a rolling Tuscan landscape extending beyond them. It’s escapism at its finest.
It’s also where you’ll find some of the best Italian food in Sydney — focusing on refining the classic dishes without trying to reinvent the cuisine. And our favorite place to try all of this is down in the private wine cellar that holds up to ten guests. It’s ideal for an intimate group event, but those who need more space can also book out the larger function room upstairs that holds up to 60 people. When booking these rooms, you can also build your own set menu and get the team to create special wine pairings.
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One underground restaurant dedicated to steak wasn’t quite enough for Bistecca‘s James Bradey and Warren Burns. The Liquid and Larder directors and minds behind The Wild Rover and Grandma’s Bar also opened The Gidley — an opulent basement restaurant inspired by old-school New York and London steakhouses — and we are all too glad they did.
Taking inspiration from supper clubs and steakhouses, the menu heroes one dish: the Riverine black angus rib eye. Here, it’s done three ways: chargrilled on the bone, a classic prime rib roast in either English cut or Gidley cut and a hard-to-come-by spinalis steak. Either take one of Sydney’s best steaks in the main underground dining room or book out one of the private spaces hidden down a winding maze of corridors. There’s an eight-seat poker den and a 20-seater for larger functions — take you pick.
Image: Dominic Loneragan.
Top images: Quay Restaurant by Nikki To.
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