“What’s in a dream?” asks Vivid Sydney 2025, the iconic multi-artform festival of light, food and culture that returns from 23 May to 14 June. And for anyone who’s ever dreamt of Nigella Lawson, this is the year for you, with the British chef headlining the festival’s culinary program, hosting a sell-out series of dinner events in Martin Place’s Muru Giligu Tunnel. Nestled beneath the busy streets, this is the first event at Muru Giligu, and it’s set to be a celebration of fine food and local wine.
“For me, [in Sydney] the magical time is in winter,” says Lawson. “I’ll be curating an exclusive menu for the three Vivid Sydney Dinners, and it’s simply a dream come true.”
For those who have missed out on Nigella’s events, never fear: there’s plenty more on the menu. Other culinary highlights across the festival’s 23-day agenda include Refettorio OzHarvest’s Our Shared Dream, calling upon an all-star cast of talent. Neil Perry, Paul Farag, Jacqui Challinor and Gabriel Del Conti (Ragazzi, Dear Sainte Eloise, Love, Tilly Devine) will transform entirely rescued produce into four-course vegetarian menus.
At the Sydney Opera House, the Starlight & Saltbush dining experience will whisk fine-diners to a top-secret location for a three-course, First Nations-inspired dinner courtesy of Midden by Mark Olive, along with a guided tour of the harbourside icon. Also on the Opera House line-up this year is Danielle Alvarez, delivering her own dream-inspired tasting menu at the Yallamundi Rooms.
Elsewhere, the Vivid Chef Series is back and will see chefs of Michelin acclaim, Claude Bosi (Bibendum, Josephine) and James Lowe (Lyle’s), join forces with Sydney’s own hopso heavyweights for several highly anticipated evenings of collaborative fire-forward cooking. Lowe will team up with Ester’s Mat Lindsay to deliver an exclusive menu across three nights exploring the diversity of wood-fired cooking techniques, combining Ester’s bold Australiana ethos with Lowe’s precise, produce-led British style. While in the CBD, Claude Bosi will bring his intensely technical yet whimsical approach to the newly opened Eleven Barrack, working alongside Bentley Group leader Brent Savage on a French-leaning, NSW produce-driven menu.
Plus, this year’s Vivid Fire Kitchen welcomes a powerhouse line-up of talent, blending international drawcards with local stars. US-based fire-cooking expert Jess Pryles returns for her third year, alongside fellow American chef Nyesha Arrington. They’ll be joined by a stellar cast of Sydney chefs, including Oscar Solomon (The Apollo Group), Lennox Hastie (Firedoor), Paul Farag (Aalia), and Morgan McGlone (Bar Copains, Bessie’s).
Meanwhile, barbecue hotspots Ogni and Brazilian Flame will be working the grill, while social enterprise Plate It Forward will be dishing up an array of international cuisines from their Sydney-based kitchens. Food trucks Hoy Pinoy, Burn City Smokers and Pocket Rocketz add even more to the extensive line-up, though be sure to leave room for dessert: Mapo Gelato will be cooling things down with after-dinner ice-cream. A curated wine bar, featuring masterclasses by expert Mike Bennie, will showcase the best of NSW’s drops, while a special “First Nations Nights” in collaboration with Indigenous chef Mindy Woods, will offer insights into the powerful connections between Indigenous foods, storytelling and the spirit of fire.
Nearby on Mary Ann Street, a dedicated Spice Lounge looks set to be an oasis of calm amongst the action, with fire pits and lounge spaces primed for taking it all in. This year’s Night Market at Carriageworks comes courtesy of the next generation of chefs, serving up their dream dish or glass against a backdrop of live music. Meanwhile, a glitzy dream scene is set to sizzle in Surry Hills’ Hollywood Quarter, with street parties and food trails at Golden Age Cinema, Hollywood Hotel and The Soda Factory.
For the full Vivid Sydney 2025 program, head to vividsydney.com
