Sydney's Open for Lunch Is Setting Up Dining Pop-Ups Around the City for a Big Day of Food and Booze

Moseying along George Street can involve many things. Rushing to get the train at Town Hall, weaving in and out of QVB or The Galeries, trying to avoid throngs of people doing the same thing — they're all on the list. But on Friday, December 3, the stretch between Market and Park streets will host a huge three-course lunch, serving 600 people right there on the pavement.

The literally sprawling al fresco midday meal is fittingly called George Street Long Lunch, with Chat Thai's Palisa Anderson, Kitchen by Mike's Mike McEnearney, Glass Brasserie's Luke Mangan and Continental Delicatessen's Michael Nicolian all whipping up dishes. It'll also come with a soundtrack, thanks to George Ellis Orchestra featuring Josh Pyke, as well as the Hot Potato Band.

If you're wondering why Sydneysiders are being asked to sit down for lunch in the middle of the city street, it's part of a day-long series of dining pop-ups around town that's been dubbed Sydney's Open for Lunch. Aiming to give the city's hospitality sector a boost, the overarching event is all about long-table lunches, other dining and drinking activations, and just spending a day out of the house as Sydney recovers from this year's lengthy lockdown.

While the George Street lunch is one of the event's big drawcards, Sydney's Open for Lunch will span across the city — through the CBD, Chinatown, Barangaroo and Parramatta. At the latter, a Parramatta Long Lunch will take place at Parramatta Square, catering for 400 people. There, Ruse Bar and Brasserie, Ciccia Bella and Lilymu will serve up a three-course meal, while Winston Surfshirt, Milan Ring and Nardean will keep diners entertained.

Kitti Gould

Other events include South Eveleigh's own pop-up, complete with a menu curated by Kylie Kwong; her new eatery, Lucky Kwong, is located in the precinct. Re's Matt Whiley will be on cocktail duty, and you can expect to pair hokkien noodles and five-spiced tofu salad with tipples made with surplus whole fruit, gin, whole mango, ancho chilli and more. The event runs from 10am–10pm, and there'll also be a dance floor — with a mirror ball, and The Original Roman vs Boogie Fingers, Levins vs Joyride, Ayabatonye, Deepa and Tyson Koh on the decks.

In the YCK Laneways precinct around York, Clarence and Kent streets in the CBD, the Prince of York will host a 125-seat lunch on Barrack Street — serving up modern-Australian fare with Japanese influences — while plenty of bars will do their own midday spread. Since I Left You will have a three-course option called A Taste of Kent Street, with each course provided by a nearby restaurant, while Esteban is doing a Mexican-inspired feast. And, the likes of Sammy Junior, Spawn Point, Stitch Bar, The Swinging Cat, The Lobo, Uncle Ming's, Grandma's Bar and Redoak Boutique Beer Cafe will all host live music.

While there's clearly a middle-of-the-day focus in Sydney's Open for Lunch's moniker, the festivities in South Eveleigh and YCK Laneways will both run right through until the evening.

Sydney's Open for Lunch is part of the New South Wales Government's CBDs Revitalisation Program, with NSW Premier Dominic Perrottet advising that the event will signal "to the world that Sydney is open for business and that our world-renowned lifestyle is returning."

"We know the last few months have been tough; this event is a chance to revive the spirit of our city by bringing people together to enjoy some of our most talented chefs and performers," the Premier continued.

Sydney's Open for Lunch will take place across Sydney on Friday, December 3. For further details, head to the event's website — and to buy tickets, head to Ticketek.

Top image: Destination NSW.