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Hours
Sun
12:00 pm - 3:30 pm
Mon
5:30 pm - 8:45 pm
Tue
5:30 pm - 8:45 pm
Wed
5:30 pm - 8:45 pm
Thu
5:30 pm - 8:45 pm
Fri
12:00 pm - 2:00 pm5:30 pm - 8:45 pm
Sat
12:00 pm - 2:00 pm5:30 pm - 8:45 pm
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This award is our highest recognition and is presented annually to those businesses that are the Best of the Best on Tripadvisor, those that earn excellent reviews from travellers and are ranked in the top 1% of properties worldwide.
Ratings and reviews
Travellers' Choice Best of the Best 2024
RATINGS
Food
Service
Value
Atmosphere
Details
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CUISINES
Australian
Special Diets
Vegetarian friendly, Vegan options, Gluten free options
Meals
Lunch, Dinner
features
Does this restaurant serve Romagna food?
Details
About
Bennelong serves to celebrate the Sydney Opera House and its extraordinary architecture by offering a culturally significant and inspiring menu showcasing a most magnificent production of Australian food and wine. We offer a 3 course menu with sides for $190 per person. Our cooking is not overly technical and tricky – it’s robust and direct – allowing the pure flavours of the ingredients to sing. We’ve enjoyed developing a whimsical dessert menu based on traditional Australian sweets, and the wine list, similarly – is a reflection of the best of Australia – without taking itself too seriously", Peter Gilmore.
CUISINES
Australian
Special Diets
Vegetarian friendly, Vegan options, Gluten free options
Meals
Lunch, Dinner
FEATURES
Reservations, Seating, Parking Available, Wheelchair Accessible, Serves Alcohol, Full Bar, Accepts Credit Cards, Table Service
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4.5
1,499 reviews
Excellent
866
Very good
334
Average
177
Poor
77
Terrible
45
Paul M
Sydney17 contributions
Dec 2019 • none
We came for dinner just because we wanted too. We were not disappointed! The food is very clever and is obviously lost on some people who have put key to screen. If you want big meals over fulll glasses of wine and a crank on the pokies after dinner ( which would clearly suit CLF422 and chalyK ) then stop in somewhere cheap on the way ti get your fill. The venue and view speak for themselves, the menu is not huge but it shouldn't be. The floor staff are on the ball to make sure the food that comes to your table does not move 1mm so that you can marvel at the skill before you dismantle it to enjoy the hours the chefs have spent, going to next level skill level. If you want somewhere very special, you want to impress, you want to walk away thinking how the F! did they do that, and you not a bill whinger... go here once..go here twice..go here 3 times! listne to wanna be food critics :)
Written 6 February 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Geoff B
Sydney233 contributions
Jan 2020 • friends
This is one of Sydney’s iconic restaurants, being set within the Sydney Opera House. As part of our birthday celebrations, both my friend from Brisbane and I decided to dine here instead of our usual Aria and The Dining Room restaurants, just to mix it up. Upon our arrival we were gleefully welcomed by the maître de. As we were early we were shown to the bar, which is located upstairs and which had an uninterrupted of Sydney Harbour and the Sydney Harbour Bridge. Later, we were shown to our table, and introduced to our waiter. At this point I must say, the service by all staff, from start to finish, were both professional, friendly and personable, of which I took particular note. The food served was well presented and tasteful, as we would expect from any restaurant of this standard. Just before dessert both my friend and I were presented with a cup cake each, with a lit candle on them, for each of our birthdays. I thought this was a very nice touch, and we both appreciated the effort. Prior to receiving the cupcakes, we had order dessert, being the ‘Chocolate cake from across the waters’. We inquired about the name of the dessert, to which the waiter advised the Chef of the Bennelong Restaurant, is also the chef at another iconic restaurant named Quay Restaurant, which was located across the harbour from the Bennelong Restaurant, and thus the name. The dessert was a combination of chocolate cake and chocolate mousse which we both enjoyed. The only thing to note prior to dining at this restaurant is the Bennelong Restaurant faces west, and thus receives the westerly sun in the afternoon. As a result it is necessary for the restaurant to lower its blinds, which obscures the iconic harbour views. Perhaps dining upon sunset or later might be a preference. The restaurant is pricey, but you would expect this of a restaurant based at the Sydney Opera House, and of fine dining standard.
Written 2 February 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Sarah Kathryn
9 contributions
Mar 2020 • couples
Great service, food and views. Pretty pricey but after all, it is the opera house! The staff is highly skilled at making you feel like the most important guest. Portion sizes are relatively small and coupled with the price, you might not want to start hangry.
Written 1 March 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
iannadge
Sans Souci50 contributions
Feb 2020 • none
You are really paying heaps for the view, which is silly because you can step outside and enjoy it for free! Food mostly tastes OK but serving sizes are unbelievably stingy, irrespective of whether its starters or mains. Barramundi main was really tiny and if it had been your local fish and chip shop, you would send it back. Alcohol prices are also ridiculous. And my creme brulee looked like it had been dropped on the kitchen floor and then just slopped back into the bowl.
So if you live in Sydney, don't waste your money or time by going here. And if you are from interstate or overseas, you will be sucked in by the view, but still leave feeling hungry and lighter in the wallet. In our case, there were 4 of us and even though we had the cheapest wine we could find, it was still $400 per head
Written 27 February 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Sydneyskye
95 contributions
July 2019 • none
Firstly the wait staff are amazing. Nothing is too much trouble. I recently had lunch there and the front desk manager ask if it was a special event. I advised it was my birthday (and a big birthday year) we were given a wonderful table at the window. I ordered the beef which arrived with three tiny pieces of beef and so thin (looked like it came from Woolworths deli area , the bernaise sauce was amazing and so was the desert, however if you were a man and got that serve of the beef for the price you pay would be very unhappy with the size of the meal. Upon leaving the front manager asked if I had a happy birthday and said yes but apparantly they were supposed to give a free something I think cake , I mentioned to him on our way out down the stairs and he was very rude and said did I want it now with a smirk on his face. Really took the shine of what was a great location. It is just the location of the restaurant. Give me Beppies any day of the week - no view but the Beppies Italian food is to die for.
Written 24 January 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
John G
Norwich47 contributions
Jan 2020 • family
Booked well in advance for a pre-show dinner and everything about the experience was perfect, from the harbour view and modern decor, to a highly original and flavoursome menu, all served by the most professional and friendly staff who had their eye on the clock for our performance time. I couldn't fault anything and even the price was a nice surprise for such excellence. It was a superb end to the week visiting my daughter who was travelling with her boyfriend and they were quite rightly very grateful for this touch of luxury after backpacking hostels and street food!
Written 21 January 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Argon19030
Sydney16 contributions
Jan 2020 • none
Booked the day before with my hotel concierge (Sydney Harbour Marriott) and upon arriving at the hotel the host was so lovely to inform us that the concierge informed that as we were flying in from Singapore and would like a table with a view of the harbour bridge they got it reserved.
The food was amazing and service was very attentive. As it was my parents first time to Sydney they were snapping so many photos that the lovely waiter/ waitress even offered to help.
The atmosphere at night was amazing and the feeling of eating under Sydney's most iconic building cannot be matched. Even eating at Aria across the street doesn't feel the same.
The chocolate cake dessert is easily the number one reason to look forward to at the end of the meal!
I would definitely recommend this location !
Written 21 January 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
GirlAboutTassie
Hobart34 contributions
Mar 2020 • none
Visiting Sydney for two evenings I was really looking forward to a meal at Bennelong. Their website stated they are open at 5.30pm. Their phone number goes to voicemail and gives no indication that they are closed. I walked to the restaurant from my hotel and the signs on both entry doors indicate they should be open as of 5.30pm. There were several other people nearby me confused that they could not get in. I waited until 6pm with no staff about I went to find somewhere else to eat. However I wasted prime 'walk-in' time at a nice restaurant on them. It's a shame they don't value their customers' time as it would have been a simple matter to put a sign on their door or a message on their phone/website/Facebook to state they were closed due to...???... very strange behaviour from this level of restaurant. Even all the staff in the opera house I asked said it should be open and they didn't understand why it was all locked up.
Written 1 March 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Jennie W
Wollongong793 contributions
Mar 2021 • friends
The setting is always lovely, regardless of poor weather and the music was background was fitting. The staff were all exemplerary and pleasant. The set 3 course menu was varied enough with the wagyu beef tender and the Lamington rich but delicious. Servings were on the small side and overall pricey, but a nice lunch with friends is priceless.
Written 21 March 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Carl P
3 contributions
Jan 2020 • couples
We dined here for our anniversary and had booked 5 months in advance for this dinner.
When we arrived we were greeted by pleasant staff and directed to a lovely table with an exquisite view.
This is where the good news stopped.
We asked for the waiters recommendations on best dishes. I had the squid shiitake noodles and my wife the scallops for entree. The noodles were no better than my local Thai restaurant and the scallops were better but a 7 at best.
For mains I had the Whiting fish which was a nice produce but cooked very blandly with no special sauce or extras.
My wife had the duck which again was a 7.
We both had the chocolate cake for dessert which was nice and probably the best of all dishes.
For $500 meal overall it did not meet our expectations- so many Sydney restaurants do much better than this, save your money and get the same view from Opera Bar!
Written 25 January 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
EmLoRu
Sydney6 contributions
Feb 2020 • business
Had an overseas visitor for business who had not been to Sydney. Amazing destination for the walk in and out despite views not being great from where we sat inside. The food was amazing (& enjoyed my vegan options). The drinks and some of the theatrics with the dry ice was considered a highlight of my guest as was the Opera House Passionfruit Meringue. Despite relaxing in, we were treated with dessert as a gesture of slower than normal service which was unexpected but very appreciated. Really a wonderful experience for my guest.
Written 16 February 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Miss Y
St. Ives13 contributions
Oct 2021 • couples
Overpriced and overrated. The food was awful. We decided to go here because of all the reviews. It was a mistake. While the ambience is beautiful and the customer service was great, there was no music on a Friday night and the set menu cost $170 pp. The entree scallops consisted of a basically a raw mashed up film of plastic on your plate. The mains were ok. John Dory was decent serving size but tasteless. And the pavlova for dessert was basically a lump of sugary whipped egg whites on your plate. Awful. The table next to us also seemed disappointed. With wine and bottled water we paid $420 for 2.
Written 26 October 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
PhotoHutt
Sydney146 contributions
Feb 2020 • friends
What an experience- the moment you walk up to the steps of the Opera House and enter this seamless restaurant under the iconic sails you are greeted with warmth and professionalism.
The Harbour Bridge is a perfect backdrop to the artistry of delectable food, which certainly takes centre stage here.
If there is one restaurant on your bucket list make it Bennelong.
Written 22 March 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Ktmg family travellers
Birmingham380 contributions
Feb 2020 • none
Brilliant place to have a pre concert meal within the 'sails' of the opera house.
We had the 2 course dinner with 2 extra veg and this came to Aus$240 (Aus$345 with wine and water) for 2 of us. Food is very nice but you are really paying for the iconic location.
Good friendly service where they make sure that you are in plenty of time for the performance
Written 20 April 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Mi B
1 contribution
Apr 2022 • none
My second time at Bennelong. Wow, what an absolute disappointment this time.
We were treated with complete disrespect by some of the staff members. The gentleman that greeted us at the entry of the restaurant was very friendly, the plating staff were very friendly. However, the ladies in blue and Sommelier were nothing short of rude. Within the 5 minutes we sat down they came to the table 4 times, one after another, to rush us on ordering wine. It is clear that we would like to chat a little given that we have not seen each other for a long time and one couple just got engaged, we were in deep conversation and they kept interrupting and actually looked annoyed when I told I need a bit more time, one of them said to me in a mocking tone: "I was told you by your friends you are the wine guy". This is all within 5 minutes of me sitting down, I have barely warmed my seat.
The dining experience itself was also very disappointing. They offered a 3 course menu, 1 Entree, 1 Main, 1 Dessert. You would think given this is fine dining with only 3 courses, portions should not be on your mind. But to our surprise the portions are absolutely tiny. None of us eat a lot, but having your main consist of 3 slices of duck is ridiculous. Only at the end did we realize their tactic is to fill you with four full slices of thick bread at the start.
We ordered a very nice wine, which I now regret, since there is only 3 courses, there simply isn't enough time for the wine to decant, it never fully opened up even at the end.
We were also rushed to leave the restaurant at the end, at 2:30pm, when half the restaurant was empty, they told us they need the table for another guest.
Our bill came to $1800, but we were treated worse than our local takeaways. Bennelong, you must be pleased with yourself that we spent so much on one meal, but bad services leave a lasting impression, you've lost yourself a repeat customer and I certainly no longer believe you deserve to be called fine dining.
Written 5 April 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
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