If you’re going to do festive season in Sydney, you may as well do it properly. This year, The Star Sydney is turning things up with Make Merry at The Star — a precinct-wide celebration that brings elevated dining, cocktails worth dressing up for, live entertainment and a headline New Year’s Eve moment together in one setting.
Across December and January, The Star’s restaurants and bars lean into what they do best: atmosphere, polish and menus designed for lingering. Think long lunches that turn into late afternoons, catch-ups that run late in gorgeous venues, end-of-year gatherings that are elevated through flavour and service.. And if you’re not quite ready to call it a night, The Star is open 24/7 — because festive season rarely sticks to a schedule.
At one of the country’s favourites, Sokyo, a refined selection of signature dishes reimagined with bold flavour, modern Japanese technique and the restaurant’s celebrated attention to detail. Starting from $49, it delivers an elevated yet approachable way to experience one of Sydney’s most consistently acclaimed dining rooms.
For those drawn to richer, more dramatic flavours, BLACK Bar & Grill is celebrating the season with a flame-driven menu built around premium cuts, pristine seafood and expert grill craftsmanship. It’s the kind of experience that invites lingering – long conversations, a great bottle of wine, and that unmistakable BLACK atmosphere.
Meanwhile, Cucina Porto is leaning into the warmth and generosity of an Italian Christmas. Its festive two-course menu begins at $39.90 and offers comforting classics and nostalgic flavours designed to be shared.
The celebrations don’t stop at the table. Throughout December, Cherry Bar transforms into a glittering Christmas-themed cocktail lounge, complete with seasonal drinks, shimmering décor and live piano sing-alongs every Saturday — ideal for pre-dinner drinks or an end-of-year catch-up that deserves a little sparkle.
All venues are open on Christmas Day, with these seasonal offers running across the entire holiday season. It’s a perfect time to gather your favourites and enjoy the best of what Sydney has to offer.
And then there’s New Year’s Eve. Sports Bar at The Star hosts one of the city’s biggest countdowns, headlined by international DJ and producer Joel Corry. Expect high-energy sets, club-style production, multiple bars and live broadcasts of Sydney’s fireworks — all without the stress of precinct hopping.
Bookings are essential across the festive program, with dining and NYE experiences available now via The Star website. Star Club members can also access exclusive discounts, plus 25% off group bookings of eight or more at BLACK Bar & Grill, Sokyo, Cucina Porto and Harvest Buffet until 31 January 2026. (Booking essential — walk-ins are not guaranteed and this is not the season to risk it).
How easy is that to sort you this Christmas and New Year.
The Star
20-80 Pyrmont St, Pyrmont NSW 2009
Sokyo
Black Bar and Grill
Cucina Porto
