Food of the House

From its earliest days, eating and drinking have been part of the cultural experience at the Opera House and now the precinct has become a dining destination in its own right. As we look back into our archives, we can see how prices and palettes have evolved over the past five decades.

One restaurant that has operated since the opening of the Opera House – albeit not usually open to the general public – is the Green Room. Located back-of-house, the Green Room features many distinct details of Peter Hall’s interiors, including the “wobbly” panels on the ceiling.

The Green Room is unique in that it allows for performers, crew and everyone working at the Opera House to mingle, have something to eat and to rest. You can enjoy breakfast in the Green Room as part of our backstage tour.

Humans are not the only visitors who recognise the Lower Concourse as a perfect spot for a meal. While seagulls have been flocking to the precinct for years, we’ve recently introduced patrol dogs so diners can enjoy their meals in peace.

Diners enjoying a meal at the Bennelong Restaurant in 1985. While the furniture and menu have changed, the expansive glass walls that provide a unique view of the Opera House and Sydney Harbour have remained constant.

The endless varieties of food that we eat – as well as the people who make it – are a growing source of fascination for audiences and visitors to the Opera House. Many eminent chefs have appeared on our stages, including Nigella Lawson in conversation with Maeve O’Meara.

Chef and child health campaigner Jamie Oliver appeared in conversation with Melissa Leong in the Concert Hall in 2023. Oliver spoke of his career, from his early days in TV on the Naked Chef to his ongoing advocacy for fresh food and cooking for children.

Bistro Mozart was located at the Box Office until 2016. The World Heritage-listing for the Opera House acknowledges the importance of the site as a performing arts venue with exceptional bars available in the foyers for visitors attending shows.

The Southern Foyer bars are the first venue bars you reach when arriving at the Concert Hall or the Joan Sutherland Theatre. These spaces are identified as hybrid Utzon/Hall spaces as they demonstrate the design of each architect.

The Northern Foyer bars of the Concert Hall and Joan Sutherland Theatre offer exceptional views across Sydney Harbour to the Harbour Bridge, North Sydney and Kirribilli. A drink in one of these bars also allows for stunning, close-up views of the glass walls.

As part of our commitment to the UN Global Goals, the Opera House is committed to reducing waste, which is why reusable cups are increasingly used at selected  foyer bars during key festivals.

After Utzon was re-engaged as design consultant to the Opera House in 1999, the foyers of the western venues were upgraded. These works opened up the space to the harbour and revised interior finishes, including the removal of carpet and furniture updates.

Today the Western Foyers feature a restaurant called Midden by Mark Olive. In his menu, Mark Olive has put together a produce-focused selection of native Australian ingredients, from wattle seed and bush honey to saltbush and succulents.

The Yallamundi Rooms opened in 2019 as a purpose-built function space on the Northern Broadwalk. Yallamundi means storyteller in the local Sydney language. The venue serves as a space for community celebrations, gatherings and performances.

The Yallamundi Rooms have hosted a variety of personal celebrations since opening, including a special series of micro-weddings on Valentine’s Day since 2022.

Weddings at the Opera House are the perfect opportunity for a couple to celebrate their commitment to each other in a unique location.

The Opera House has hosted a variety of pop-up dining options for visitors. During Vivid LIVE, the precinct is illuminated both inside and out with pop-ups that attract a diverse audience, aligning with the Opera House's ambition to be Everyone's House.

A bespoke space for the Tours Immersive Digital Experience is one of the newest venues in the Opera House. Featuring a 270-degree digital projection, it is also a unique pop-up space for intimate dinners.

Whispers by Quandamooka artist Megan Cope was installed across the Opera House site in 2023 and incorporates oyster shells collected from Opera House restaurants and elsewhere. The shells were cleaned by the community onsite and in locations across Sydney and Brisbane.