Westpac OpenAir unveils ‘Festival of Food’ as part of its 2025 program
02 January 2025
The world’s most beautiful cinema, Westpac OpenAir, will reveal an exciting new summer dining experience when it returns to Sydney Harbour on 9 January 2025.
This summer, the 41 night ‘Festival of Film’ will be accompanied by a ‘Festival of Food’, curated by three of Sydney’s most renowned chefs – Luke Nguyen (Culinary Director at Botanic House, guest chef on MasterChef Australia), Danielle Alvarez (chef and culinary director of the Sydney Opera House event venues, former Head Chef at Fred’s), and Scott McComas-Williams (Group Executive Chef of Love Tilly Group, serving Fabbrica’s pastas and snacks).
Featuring a massive three-storey-high screen located in the harbour and set against a stunning backdrop that spans the Sydney Opera House, Harbour Bridge and city skyline, Westpac OpenAir has become a perennial favourite in Sydney’s arts and cultural calendar. This year, the film program will boast many of summer’s most anticipated titles, including Robbie Williams’ biopic Better Man, the all-star Conclave, and a preview screening of Bridget Jones: Mad About the Boy.
The 2025 ‘Festival of Food’ seeks to elevate the pre-screening experience to delicious heights, offering a diverse range of dining options to suit all tastes – from casual bites to refined, full-service meals. ‘Summer House Dining by Danielle Alvarez’ will offer a premium, full-service dining experience with sweeping views of the harbour, featuring a Mediterranean-inspired menu that emphasises fresh, vibrant flavours, with reserved dining and grandstand cinema seating to enhance the experience. ‘Fabbrica at Chandon Garden’ will offer a more relaxed, group-friendly atmosphere, featuring an elevated pasta bar style menu that masters the art of simplicity, also complemented by reserved dining and cinema seating; while ‘Luke Nguyen at The Point’ will be the more casual of the three dining experiences, offering a Vietnamese fusion menu with guests able to enjoy a selection of delicious bites via QR code throughout the evening, in a general admission setting.
“Since its creation in 1998, we’ve always sought to make OpenAir an exceptional and evolving experience,” enthused OpenAir Director Rob Bryant. “It’s an extremely evocative place where Sydneysiders and tourists love gathering. We’ve always believed the event should celebrate our beautiful city. Having these three great Sydney chefs join us to provide a range of wonderful dining experiences in turn elevates the entire event. We’re very excited and very proud.”
Luke Nguyen at The Point
As the more casual of the three dining experiences available throughout the Festival, The Point is an unreserved area where guests are encouraged to arrive early and secure their cinema seat. With the Hendrick’s Bar, a soundtrack provided by leading Sydney DJs and menu curated by celebrated chef Luke Nguyen, The Point is the perfect place to enjoy the full Sydney sunset experience, with guests able to order food from the comfort of their tables via QR code throughout the evening. Menu highlights include: fresh summer rolls with prawns & perilla leaf; Luke’s assorted hand-crafted dumplings; Wagyu cheeseburger spring rolls; caramelised pork belly bao; Vietnamese lemongrass beef with steamed jasmine rice and sweet fish sauce; tofu Pad Thai; and mango & coconut parfait with tapioca pearls and caramel crumble.
“Luke Nguyen at The Point really captures what summer in Sydney is all about – good food, great company, and a relaxed atmosphere. This menu is the type of food I love to eat – fresh, punchy flavours created using the best seasonal produce – perfect for a night by the harbour,” says Luke Nguyen (Culinary Director at Botanic House).
‘Luke Nguyen at The Point’ is a general admission area – with guests encouraged to arrive early and secure their cinema seat before enjoying the dining experience. Tickets will be available from 9 December via westpacopenair.com.au. Tickets: $39
Fabbrica at Chandon Garden
Nestled by the water’s edge, Fabbrica at Chandon Garden will offer a relaxed, group-friendly atmosphere with reserved dining and cinema seating. Curated by Scott McComas-Williams (executive chef, Love Tilly group), the bold pasta bar menu reflects Fabbrica’s ethos of quality and simplicity. Every detail is crafted with care – from the sourdough, a three-day labour of love made in its Rozelle bakery using beautiful flour from Wholegrain Milling in Gunnedah, to the Marrickville-made pasta, created with all-Australian ingredients like Victorian free range eggs, “00” flour from Dubbo, and Bellata Gold durum semolina, following the original Ragazzi recipe from its opening in 2019. Menu highlights include: Cantabrian anchovies on Fabbrica sourdough; zucchini flowers with ricotta and hot honey; calamari e pepe fritti; conchiglie with cavolo nero and greens; mafaldine with prawns, kombu butter, Pino’s ‘nduja and tomato; casarecce with lamb ragù and ricotta; and hazelnut tiramisu. All food is available to order via QR code to be delivered directly to tables.
“It’s the perfect setting to relax and unwind with friends before heading off to your screening. We want the entire experience to feel relaxed and inviting – fresh, delicious food and drinks that taste like summer, all enjoyed by the water. There are few better places in Sydney to spend a summer evening,” says Scott McComas-Williams, executive chef of Love Tilly group.
‘Fabbrica at Chandon Garden’ is a ticketed dining experience, with limited seating available from 6pm every night throughout the festival. Tickets will be available from 9 December via westpacopenair.com.au. Tickets: $50
Summer House Dining by Danielle Alvarez
Summer House Dining is a premium pop-up restaurant designed to elevate the Westpac OpenAir experience. Located on a raised deck with stunning views over Sydney Harbour, it offers a luxurious pre-cinema dining experience, that allows the beauty of nature in while remaining protected from the elements. Guests can unwind and enjoy full table service, before moving to their reserved grandstand seating for a night of cinema under the stars. Elevating the experience further will be an exclusive menu created by acclaimed chef, Danielle Alvarez. Renowned for her mastery of seasonal, responsibly sourced ingredients, Danielle will curate a fresh menu (3-course for $99 or 4-course for $125) that uses the best in local produce. Menu highlights include: prawn cocktail with crème fraiche and tomato and chili chutney; Yellowfin tuna crudo with green chili, coriander, ginger and pickled cucumbers; Burraduc mozzarella with summer fruit, prosciutto and basil; grilled swordfish and courgette spiedini with lemon, white beans and salsa verde; grilled and marinated skirt steak with chimichurri and fire roasted peppers; white chocolate zabaglione tiramisu; and chocolate mousse with cherries, amaro caramel, crème fraiche and candied walnuts.
“OpenAir, with its view over the harbour, is such an iconic Sydney experience and I’m thrilled to be part of it in 2025. We want guests to fully immerse themselves in the beauty of the setting while enjoying a menu that celebrates our local produce and the talented people who grow it. It’s sure to be a great night out,” says Danielle Alvarez, chef and culinary director of the Sydney Opera House event venues.
‘Summer House Dining by Danielle Alvarez’ is a ticketed dining experience, with limited seating available from 6pm every night throughout the festival. Tickets will be available from 9 December via westpacopenair.com.au. Tickets: $78
The ‘Festival of Food’ is part of Westpac OpenAir, running alongside its broader ‘Festival of Film’ program from 9 January – 18 February 2025. Tickets for Westpac OpenAir will go on sale on 9 December via westpacopenair.com.au.
