Skip to main content

Where to eat and drink at Vivid LIVE

26 May – 17 June 2023

A psychedelic Bob Dylan-inspired pop-up bar, fried chicken ramen, neon-lit harbourside dining and outdoor food trucks. There’s plenty of ways to eat and drink your way around the Sydney Opera House during this year’s Vivid LIVE (26 May – 17 June).

Bar Subterranean by The Midnight Special26 May – 4 June

The creative team behind Newtown’s The Midnight Special will once again transform the Opera House’s spectacular Concert Hall Northern Foyer with Bar Subterranean. Inspired by Bob Dylan’s song ‘Subterranean Homesick Blues’, the lavish, plush-decked lounge is free, open to the public and the perfect spot for a tipple before or after a Vivid LIVE concert, or as a pitstop on the Vivid Sydney Light Walk.

Aromatic mulled wine, Red Centre Negronis and Rosella Sour cocktails from Opera House partner Archie Rose will complement snacks and shared plates including a decadent truffled cheese toastie and cosy fennel pork sausage rolls.

Open nightly from 6pm until late, from 26 May to 4 June. Closing times may vary each night.

Vivid LIVE tickets are not required for entry. All are welcome, with entry via the western external steps of the Opera House or via the Concert Hall.

DJs

Fri 26 May & Fri 4 Jun, 8pm- 12pm
Cristian

Cristian is the bass player in the iconic Sydney band Low Life who will be performing this year for Vivid Live.  When he isn't playing music he is a collector/enthusiast. Cristian has DJ’d around Sydney and Melbourne for the past 20 years. He'll be playing a mix of psychedelic inspired records from the 60s through to today. Butthole Surfers, 13th Floor Elevators, Savage Republic, Meat Puppets, Neu! and The Golden Dawn to name a few. 

 

Sat 27 May, 8pm-12pm
King O.P.P

King O.P.P. AKA Owen Penglis put on his first soul night as a teen at Sydney's notorious Taxi Club, and hasn't looked back since.

These days you can find him spinning 45s across Australia - anywhere with turntables, a dancefloor, and hopefully a shop nearby with a few dusty crates of 45s.

In his spare time he's probably touring with cult garage band Straight Arrows, co-presenting his 2SER radio show 'Psychedelic Sundae', producing records for some of the coolest bands in the country, or remastering some of the 60s 45s of his dreams for the reissue market.

 

Sat 3 Jun, 8pm -12pm
Boonge & Rusty’s Psychedelic Record Party

He’s the drummer in rock n roll reprobates You Am I, she’s a highly respected travel writer and journalist. They’ve been married for over 20 years and have spent much of that time travelling the world looking for fun records, mostly from the 60s and 70s. Whether it’s digging in an attic on the outskirts of Ho Chi Minh City or an exclusive invite only meeting with a prestigious record dealer in the Hollywood Hills, they usually come away with a bagful of amazing records you’ve most likely never heard before. When not elbow deep in boxes of hard to find wax, you’ll find them in the inner west of Sydney with their two sheepdogs Mable and Irma. Expect to hear mid-century psychedelic sounds from rock to soul to country and beyond and they’ll spin everything from beloved classics to some of the obscurest sounds on the planet in one mind expanding vinyl selection!

 

Sun 4 Jun, 8pm-12pm
DJ Violet Vimana

Violet Vimana will transcend you through soulful selections exploring collectable sounds vibing from soul through to disco while mixing in a variety of genres. 

Dance your way as she digs through eclectic sounds especially for Bar Subterranean specialising in psychedelic music from 70’s afro, soul, funk thru to futuristic. Progressive & modern soul to tripped out disco and anything else that makes the soul sing. 

Violet is an enthusiast record collector, music curator and a music lover on all spectrums… 

She has made dance floors glisten around Naam, Eora & Kathmandu. She looks forward to bringing some unique sounds for this year's Vivid Live Festival. 

NEON RAMEN by Butter x Archie Rose 27 May – 17 June 2023

Surry Hills’ fried chicken icon Butter and award-winning distillery Archie Rose will present NEON RAMEN, launching in the Opera House’s Yallamundi Rooms for a limited-time only from 27 May until 17 June. The menu will spotlight Butter’s famed fried chicken served atop steaming hot ramen with a special themed glaze, burgers (shroom for vegetarians) and tenders coated in an Archie Rose glaze and paired with golden, crispy fries. Hot cinnamon donuts round out the menu as a perfect post-dinner treat.

Serving up the cocktail menu is Opera House partner Archie Rose with their native-inspired range including the Espresso Martinique, Eucalypt Mule and Seaside Spritz. G.H. Mumm champagne is also available for a more indulgent palate.

In true Butter fashion, sneakers will adorn the walls of the northern broadwalk eatery while local DJs will be on deck for nightly entertainment against the backdrop of a glowing Sydney Harbour.

Open Friday to Sunday from 5pm until 10:30pm, from 27 May to 17 June. Bookings are highly recommended, with some space reserved for walk-ins.

Reservations

Bookings are highly recommended, with some space reserved for walk-ins.

Make a reservation

Taste and Sound of Sydney by Opera Bar 27 May – 17 June 2023

Sights, sounds, sips and snacks. Inspired by Vivid Sydney’s 2023 creative theme – ‘Vivid Sydney, Naturally’ – Taste and Sound of Sydney at Opera Bar will celebrate the natural beauty of the harbour city with food inspired by the land and sea, and specially-curated cocktails.

A produce-driven menu features Sydney rock oysters with finger lime, scallop crudo with jalapeno, citrus and sea succulents and poached quince with pepperberry goat’s cheese and buckwheat crisp.

Live music on Opera Bar’s in-the-round stage will feature burgeoning musicians Thandi Phoenix, Charley, Barley Passable and Djanaba.

Open daily from 11am until late, from 26 May to 17 June. Bookings for Taste and Sound of Sydney are not available.

Neon Harbour by House Canteen 26 May – 17 June 2023

Family-friendly dining destination House Canteen will come alive with Neon Harbour, a mesmerising LED glass-blown light installation by artist Carla O’Brien featuring life-size sculptures of underwater animals.

The waterside eatery located right next door to its neighbour Opera Bar, will serve up three special cocktails and its signature sushi donut, featuring freshly-sourced sustainable seafood.

Open daily from 7:30am until late, from 26 May to 17 June. Bookings for Neon Harbour are not available.

Outdoor food trucks on the Forecourt26 May – 17 June 2023

As the sun sets and the city lights up, outdoor food trucks will also be on the Opera House Forecourt to feed hungry festival-goers. A variety of snacks and small plates can be enjoyed alfresco including gozleme, German-style sausages, schnitzel burgers, wraps or coffee and gelato. Vegan and vegetarian options will be available.

Open Thursday to Sunday from 5pm until 10pm, from 26 May to 17 June. Bookings not required.

Other information

12 Jun 2023 Contemporary Music

Ella Mai

Grammy-award-winning British R&B star Ella Mai returns to the Sydney Opera House for a night of lush grooves and old-school soul.

Arlo Parks wearing a striped knitted sweater, sitting on the ground against a dark purple wall.
20 Jul 2023 Contemporary Music

Arlo Parks

Acclaimed singer-songwriter, Mercury Music Prize winner and reluctant voice of a generation, Arlo Parks returns to Australia with her indelibly dreamy and sensual soul – and a hotly anticipated new album.

9 Oct 2023 Classical Music

The Academy of St Martin in the Fields

The Academy of St Martin in the Fields punches above its weight in the music that made its name and now you can hear this celebrated ensemble with Joshua Bell in the renewed acoustic of the Concert Hall.