Cup Day is back at Cockle Bay Wharf, so find your favourite race day attire and get your nine closest friends together for an afternoon of laughs, drinks and dining. Our waterfront venues are hosting race day luncheons from 11:30am so you can enjoy the occasion under the Sydney sun. We’ve picked our standout items from the incredible menus below.

Nick’s Seafood Restaurant
Nick’s Seafood Restaurant is bringing the Cup to the water’s edge, with their race day event taking over the promenade. Their four-course experience is packed full of Sydney’s freshest seafood, you can view the full menu here, available for booking from 11:30am.

On arrival you can enjoy a seafood selection of an oyster with caviar, smoked salmon dip, taramasalata & sourdough. For your entrée, we recommend the Alaskan King Crab Salad with mango, avocado and a lime vinaigrette. These delicate flavours create the perfect appetiser for the main course to follow. We’ve got our hearts set on Nick’s signature Baby Lobster Mornay, served with a snow pea, sprout, baby corn & cherry tomato salad and a citrus dressing. Complete the feast with a Bailey’s Crème Brulee, served with almond and chocolate biscotti.

Throughout the meal you can choose from a selection of premium domestic and imported wines, beer and cocktails. Our top selections complement the delicious seafood, the Cloudy Bay Sauvignon Blanc from Marlborough, NZ and the Chandon NV Brut from Victoria’s Yarra Valley. The full drinks list can be found on the menu and is available for three hours from the time of booking. 

Lunch: $125pp
Drinks Package: $70pp
P: 1300 989 989 
E: [email protected]

Café Del Mar Sydney
Café Del Mar is kicking off the festivities with a five-course lunch on the Cockle Bay Wharf terrace. Overlooking Darling Harbour, this Mediterranean inspired venue is known across Sydney as a Melbourne Cup must. You can see the full menu here - we’re excited already!

On arrival, you’ll enjoy a glass of premium Mumm Grand Cordon French Champagne, setting the standard of luxury from the start. Once seated, service begins with the decadent entrées. We’ve chosen the tuna tataki with carrot puree, pickled cauliflower and basil oil. To prepare for the main course, you’ll enjoy a refreshing sorbet palette cleanser. After that, the star of the show takes the stage. We’re choosing the beef tenderloin cooked medium rare, with smoked potato puree, sautéed snow peas, baby carrot, red wine jus, and parmesan tuile. Sides for the table include a mixed leaf salad with balsamic dressing and crushed Chat potatoes with Zaatar. Dessert is served as an alternate drop, with delightful berry cheesecakes and fluffy pavlovas gracing the table. 

Of course, no meal is complete without a selection of beverage packages. You can choose between the standard drinks package and the Mumm Grand Cordon package, both available for two hours after your arrival. The standard package has a range of house beers and wine, Aperol spritz, sangria, and sparkling wine. The premium Mumm Grand Cordon package is bottomless Champagne, premium Australian wines and house beers, plus Aperol spritz and Sangria.

Lunch: $145pp
Standard Drinks Package: $50pp
Mumm Grand Cordon Package: $75pp
P: 02 9267 6700
E: [email protected]

Blackbird Cafe
Celebrate Cup Day from the balcony at Blackbird Café. They’re hosting a three-course banquet full of your Aussie favourites, perfect for the race that stops the nation. This lunch is designed to be shared, so get your group together and mark the occasion at Darling Harbour.

To start, your table will be delivered salt and pepper squid, tomato bruschetta and prawn lollipops to share. These classic starters lead perfectly to the main course. We’ve chosen the cornfed chicken breast – chargrilled and rested on green beans and creamy mash potato, served with a side of garlic sauce. Once the mains are finished, Blackbird’s head chef will treat you to an alternate drop of his favourite desserts.

Although beverages aren’t included at Blackbird Café, we highly recommend having a look at their fantastic drinks menu. Our top selections include the Beauty Margarita with tequila, lemon juice, mango puree and Herbal Fix BEAUTY (Mango Flavour), and of course the Morgan’s Bay Brut Cuvee from South Australia.

Lunch: $85pp
P: (02) 9283 7385 
E: [email protected]

For more on Cockle Bay Wharf’s Cup Day activity, be sure to follow us on Facebook and Instagram @cocklebaywharf. To see which of our waterfront venues are open and when, check out our website.