Bennelong Restaurant and Bar is a celebration of the Sydney Opera House itself, where the drama of the architecture meets the artistry of the plate. Under the direction of Head Chef Rob Cockerill, the menu captures the essence of contemporary Australian dining, defined by a sense of place, season and story. Each dish is an elegant expression of craftsmanship, creativity and the country’s finest produce

Spanning three levels, there are five areas of dining inside Bennelong; The Main Dining Room, The Counter, The Table, The Dress Circle, and The Bennelong Bar.

Located on the ground level of Bennelong is The Main Dining Room, a beautiful area where guests enjoy our three-course choice menu while being entertained by sweeping views of Circular Quay.

Bennelong’s centre level features The Counter, with side-by-side high bar seating, offering an à la carte menu at the beautiful brass counter overlooking the Main Dining Room. The centre level also plays host to The Table, a semi-private dining area for up to 10 guests under the eastern point of the Bennelong sail.

The top tier of Bennelong features The Dress Circle, an extension of The Main Dining Room with tables offering guests unfettered views of the sails of the Sydney Opera House and the Sydney Harbour Bridge while they enjoy our three-course choice menu. The level is also home to The Bennelong Bar. With both high bar seating and low lounges, it’s the perfect place to enjoy a drink and a bite to eat, or for a nightcap after your meal.

Find out more about accessibility here.

Sometime over 200 years ago, Bennelong Point was a tidal rock island in the heart of the Gadigal lands. It has been said this was a location for Aboriginal women to congregate on the rising tide, eat shellfish by the fire and tell stories. 

Bennelong Point is recorded as the largest midden found in Australia. Sometime after British settlement, these midden shells were burned and crushed to manufacture lime required to build Government House. 

Government House soon became a center for communication between First Nations and colonists, mostly due to a man called Bennelong who befriended Governor Phillip and was the first First Nation person to live voluntarily in the settlement. 

Bennelong came from the Wangal clan on the southern side of the Parramatta River, and was married to a woman by the name of Barangaroo. Bennelong, who was a great dancer and mimic, became a figurehead for relations between First Nations and the colonists, and lived in a house built on this harbour-point. 

Bennelong Restaurant is built on a site enriched with history of communal eating and telling stories. We invite you to create your own story in one of the most recognisable buildings in the world.