The Sydney Festival 2016 Eats Guide

Our city's biggest summer celebration of local and international talent has finally arrived – and you've managed to bag tickets! Good start, compadre. But as any regular arts-goer knows, finding pre- or post-show eats is a tricky business. That's why we've chosen our top places near the main Sydney Festival venues, so whether you're heading to Carriageworks for About An Hour, Enmore Theatre for Mexrissey or Riverside Theatre for Birdman, we've got your nosh needs covered.

IF YOU'RE HEADING TO... THE SPIEGELTENTS, CITY RECITAL HALL OR SYDNEY TOWN HALL

Festival Village
For another year, Sydney Festival is setting up the beloved Festival Village in Hyde Park, stretching along College Street past the Archibald Fountain and housing the Spiegeltent, Magic Mirror Spiegeltent and all your festival food and drink needs. Food vendors have your voracious stomach's needs completely covered from 12pm (check out these ridiculous Messina creations). Yes, the gelato gods are once again gifting us with the goods for the duration of the 20-day festival, creating a seven-piece menu of stupidly creative (and delicious) ice creamery — dubbed Il Carnivale di Gelato Messina.

Mary's CBD
Mary's has brought its signature burgers (plus some deliciously thick new inventions) over from Newtown. Located on Castlereagh Street, Mary's CBD has two floors, with the upper level functioning as a production space, while downstairs is the kitchen and takeaway counter. The menu features the same burgers we know and love from Newtown. Add to that the new chicken burger, super crispy French fries, and thickshakes. Did someone say smoked maple?

Indu
Seeing a show in Angel Place? Take a turn before China Lane. From here, head through a small door, and follow your nose down a few flights of dimly lit stairs. Indu, which takes its inspiration from the southern coastal regions of India, is owned by doctor, philanthropist and all-round hero Sam Prince. Indu's menu is refreshing, totally innovative and surprisingly light — a far cry from the heavy Indian curries that characterise most Indian restaurants in the city.

China Lane
Underneath an art installation nest of bird cages in Angel Lane, China Lane is a mix of suits, trendy young things checking out the CBD's hidden laneway escape, and daters. If you've seen any of director Wong Kar-wai's movies, you'll get the idea – moody lighting, a modern sense of decor mixed with '50s Hong Kong glamour, and general snappiness. Japanese sashimi rubs up against Chinese, Vietnamese and Thai on the menu, showing head chef Ben Haywood's dexterity with Pan Asian cuisine.

Mordeo
Offering the best of Southern European cuisine, Mordeo brings a little piece of the Mediterranean to the inner city. Owner and executive chef Nicholas Aspros worked alongside head chef Marc Gehret to curate an innovative collection of fresh, produce-driven dishes, focusing on the vibrant flavours of Greece, Italy and Spain and ranging from tapas to generous share plates, woodfired meats and pizza.

IF YOU'RE HEADING TO... THE OPERA HOUSE OR ROSLYN PACKER THEATRE

Opera Bar
D'uh. Pop by this revamped icon, given brand new life by Matt Moran last year. Equip yourself with a refreshing pomegranate and mint Sydney Sling ($18) and head outside to the sun-drenched deck where you and 699 other people can now find a seat.

Bennelong
Peter Gilmore has ditched the fancy, fiddly techniques he's famous for (see: Snow Egg) and created an informal menu with approachable prices at the opera house. Bennelong has five different dining options to choose from. There's The Bar and The Circle for drinks and nibbles; Cured and Cultured, the casual dining option; The Restaurant, the main event; and The Kitchen, six VIP seats in the kitchen for a behind-the-scenes experience. Try the theatre dining option.

Walsh Bay Kitchen
Walsh Bay Kitchen, within the Roslyn Packer Theatre, sits on the burgeoning food strip of Hickson Road. The space is slick with off-Broadway style: think parquetry floors and leather banquettes. The recessed lightboxes seem a nod to stage lights, casting dress circle moodiness. If mirth and merriment bars a thousand harms and lengthens life, there isn't a better reason to catch an end-of-season show and dig in here. Check out their Fast Festival Feast.

The Morrison Bar and Oyster Room
Perch yourself on the bar and you can watch the action right before your eyes as Morrison's oyster maestros shuck your Pacific, Angassi or Rock oysters to order. Alternatively, opt for the Fast Festival Feast menu, and graze your way through a tasting plate, a main and side to share with a glass of wine each for $30pp.

Hotel Palisade & Henry Deane
Standing proud in Millers Point, the Hotel Palisade forms a unique and improbable part of Sydney's foreshore history; when it was built a century ago, it was the city's highest building. Now been revived with a smart new maritime design by Sibella Court, Hotel Palisade serves up pub food that avoids the familiar schnitzels and steak sandwiches and opts instead for snacks like creamy chicken liver pate with a sweet Young Henrys cider jelly ($12) or a beef brisket sanga ($18) with a mug of salt and vinegar chips. Venture upstairs for the swanky Henry Deane rooftop bar, with some of the best views in the whole city.

The Glenmore
The much loved local's-style pub remains on ground level, but as you head up the stairs towards the first level and rooftop terrace, you can see just how much this oldie has been spruced up. It has one of the best views of the Harbour Bridge and the Opera House, along with some great pub food.

IF YOU'RE HEADING TO... CARRIAGEWORKS

Cornerstone at Carriageworks
You're there, it's there, what more do you want? We love the colossal monster ferns hanging from cranes, the Edison bulbs burning seductively like lanterns along a lakeside dock, and the option of outdoor seating. The bar food menu is solid and served fast.

The Animal at Newtown Hotel
The Animal restaurant unites Newtown's Greek migrant history with its colourful, trendy present. It's unfussy, friendly and reasonably priced. The main lure is whole animals cooked on the spit, making up a medley of daily specials.

Raven's Eye
Named after the mobster hangout in the 1997 film Donnie Brasko, Raven's Eye is Newtown's first Italo-American diner. Welcome to the family, cue Italian hand gestures. Established by the wise guys behind the Henrietta Supper Club and Bondi's Neighbourhood, Raven's Eye is a casual bar and ristorante that serves hefty bowls of mama's meatballs, handmade ravioli and ice-cream sandwiches.

Redfern Continental
Redfern's day-to-night European diner is just a short walk from Carriageworks. Birthed by the guys who brought you Arcadia Liquors (just across the road on Regent), Redfern Continental really is a little bit of everything: the perfect neighbour in a suburb fast becoming an eclectic hub of food and drink in Sydney.

IF YOU'RE HEADING TO... ENMORE THEATRE

Hartsyard
There's no denying Hartsyard's heritage; it's palpably American in taste, substance and style. As soon as you push open the glass door, the smell of hickory smoked pork greets you with open arms. Salvaged timber and industrial lighting, utility and charm, Hartsyard sits at the intersection of bustling farmhouse kitchen and buzzing late-night diner. A visit wouldn't be complete without feasting on their fried chicken, served with buttermilk biscuits and sausage gravy ($29) just like they do in the South Carolina low country. Just remember that you won't be able to enjoy KFC in the same way ever again.

Lentil as Anything
Who said you can't make friends with salad? The not-for-profit vegan chain Lentil as Anything has quickly become the darling of King Street. No need to book, just turn up for amazing food and an atmosphere that can't be beat. As 30 percent of the ingredients are donated from food rescue operations, the menu changes often so you'll need to ask your waiter what's on offer. If you swing by on a Friday or Saturday night, head upstairs for a tasty tonic in their new Lentil on the Rocks mocktail bar.

Rosso Antico Pizza Bar
Perfect pizzas have arrived on Enmore Road. Ever since Gigi switched to their plant-based menu and stopped serving bases adorned with dairy delights, inner west cheese fiends have been looking for a new place to get their pizza slice fix. Now that Rosso Antico has opened it's doors, they're in luck. The simple menu reflects the pared back space — antipasto, pizza and pasta — while the drinks menu is a little more extensive, showcasing a selection of international and locally sourced beers and wines (though it's hard to pass up the trusty Aperol Spritz or the Rosso Antico).

Secret Garden Bar
Right next to the Enmore Theatre you'll find Secret Garden, a lush, green sanctuary with overflowing hanging baskets above, field-ploughing paraphernalia to the side (courtesy of owner Ashleigh Cavagnino's grandmother) and outside-furniture-style chez lounges connecting tables along the main wall. As food goes, currently Secret Garden serves just one type of dish: the gluten-free Columbian cornmeal snack widely known as arepas. And, quite frankly, they serve it good.

IF YOU'RE HEADING TO... PARRAMATTA/RIVERSIDE THEATRES

El-Phoenician
There may be cheaper Lebanese options along Parramatta's Church Street, but you're unlikely to find better quality than at El-Phoenician. Known for its generous servings and loud groups, this local institution is offering festivalgoers a Fast Festival Feast menu of all your favourites. If you'd like some belly dancing on the side, head there on a weekend.

The Emporium
While this dual-level food and wine mecca from the guys behind the Coffee Emporium franchise isn't set to open til January 15, the new venture promises great things for festivalgoers and Parramatta locals alike. With a Mediterranean-inspired menu designed by chef Leon Volk and an international wine list, The Emporium hopes to the raise the bar of the area's main eats street. Don't go past the Fast Festival Feast menu.

Sabu
This contemporary Japanese restaurant and sake bar sports a sleek fitout and a prime position in the Eat Street district of Parramatta. The menu ranges from sushi, sashimi to robata, with cocktails, sake and sake flights on offer. Sabu is known to exhibit local artists and often surprises guests with live performances, so if you're looking for a culture-infused dinner spot to relax in ahead of your SydFest adventures, this is your go-to.

IF YOU'RE HEADING TO... THE STAR

PizzAperta
Located at the entrance to Star City , this openair pizzeria offers you a better place to spend your dough. With stone-milled flour from Padova, olive oil from Tuscany and a pizza oven from Naples, PizzAperta was created by Stefano Manfredi, the Australian godfather of Italian cuisine, and it's backed by an impressive Neapolitan woodfire oven (a Stefano Ferrara M130 for all you buffs out there). The outdoor venue has piazza seating (aka Pirrama Road footpath) or you can people-watch from a sleek timber bench bar — a particularly enjoyable sport with the casino entrance nearby.

BLACK by Ezard
Set within luxurious surrounds, BLACK by ezard is the Star's steak in shining armour. A favourite amongst the casino's high rolling gamblers, BLACK is a beef fiend's haven. Chef Teage Ezard plates up American grill-inspired steaks and a considered seafood menu, offering diners variety in choice. Check out their Fast Festival Feast.

Balla
Balla's Milanese cuisine is fresh and seasonal served with a side of harbourside view overlooking Jones Bay Wharf. This Milanese 'osteria' (translating as 'traditional restaurant'), is headed up by chef Gabriele Taddeucci (ex Ucello and then Beresford). Fast Festival Feasts are value for money here.

By the Concrete Playground team.