The Best Group Dining Venues in Sydney for a Lush Long Lunch

Are you getting the gang together for dinner or a long, leisurely lunch? You’ll need a place to fit your guests comfortably, allowing them to eat, drink, and chit-chat until their hearts are content.

Keep it intimate and opt for a private dining room, or, if you want something a little less formal (and where you’ll get more bang for your buck) we’ve whittled down the best restaurants in Sydney, from Darling Harbour to Potts Point, that don’t just accommodate groups; they thrive on them. Rowdy or refined, casual or chic, large groups or small – you’ll find a spot to suit your vibe with our pick of the best group dining in Sydney. 

Folly's Bar & Bistro 

Giving big neighbourhood-bar energy with an elevated twist, Folly's is a hot contender for your next long lunch. Aside from a terrazzo-topped bar, maroon leather banquette seating and wine-bottle-lined walls, you can expect to find a deliciously warm ambience here.

The menu boasts a little of everything including our favourite - the conchiglioni alla vodka. Groups of 10 or more are treated to a generous set menu that provides plenty of bang for your buck, and a private dining room is available for special celebrations. 

429 Miller Street, Cammeray 

Love Tilly Group

Offering a stellar lineup of venues to suit just about any event and vibe, the team behind Love Tilly Group know a thing or two about elevated group dining. Think intimate spaces doused in candlelight at Dear Sainte Eloise, cosy wine bar ambience at Love, Tilly Devine, Italian celebrations at Ragazzi Wine + Pasta and Palazzo Salato and hearty banquets to thrill the fussiest foodies at Fabbrica.

Each venue brings a unique setting and menu, options for sit-down meals, standing cocktail parties with roaming canapes, and, most importantly, drinks packages to ensure your lunch or dinner is filled with fabulous fun. 

Book online for small groups, or email venues directly for larger functions.

Il Baretto

The comforting cuisine and laidback atmosphere of one of our favourite Italian restaurants - Il Baretto - make it the perfect spot for memorable get-togethers. Located at the back of Solotel's Paddo Inn, this reincarnation retains that unpretentious, easy charm while serving their famed dishes - think pappardelle with duck ragu and hearty spaghetti alla carbonara.

The private dining room comfortably hosts 10 to 20 guests, offering a set menu adaptable to dietary needs. While it's a bummer they're no longer BYO, the expanded drinks list, featuring Italian and Australian wines is a bonus. Il Baretto stays true to its affordable, laid-back ethos, making it a diverse hub for all, just as it's been for over two decades. 

338 Oxford Street, Paddington

NOMAD

Tucked away on the quieter side of Surry Hills, NOMAD stands out as a spacious gem for special celebrations with delicious food. The place beckons with a stunning Middle Eastern vibe and a layout that suits gatherings perfectly.

Book the private dining room for up to 24 guests, or grab a long table in their main dining area and dive into their Feast menu designed for sharing. NOMAD tells a tale of culinary inspiration from adventures across Spain, Morocco, and the Middle East, all cooked with fire and smoke. We guarantee you and your mates will leave full and happy. 

16 Foster Street, Surry Hills

Mama Mulan

Mama Mulan in Chatswood puts a tastefully modern spin on the Chinese classics. Step into their chic, minimalist space, and with Yum Cha on the menu, you're in for a tradition of sharing dim sum and tea with a big group of friends.

With three private dining rooms for 4 - 25 people, big groups are their specialty and they cater to everything from corporate lunches to birthday dinners. 

Level 1, The Concourse, Chatswood

The Apollo

If you and your pals have a penchant for saganaki cheese and charred calamari, then The Apollo is the Greek restaurant you need to book. Their take on Mediterranean flavours (with a strong focus on Greek food) and a smattering of dishes cooked over wood and charcoal are out of this world. You’ll be left wishing you had a spare stomach.

To get the most out of your experience, book the Chef's Table for you and 11 of your nearest and dearest to be seated away from the main dining room and treated to an intimate (and delicious) dining service.

44 Macleay Street, Potts Point

Mimi's 

Set over the waves, Mimi's celebrates the coastline and stands out as one of the best spots for a group lunch in Sydney. Simplicity and constrained elegance permeate the food offering, with skilful craftsmanship underpinning the quality of seafood, meat, and vegetables served. 

Amid the chic, calm interiors, diners can savour delicacies and choose a drop from the 600-strong wine list to ensure your meal is perfectly accompanied. Chablis, anyone? 

130a Beach Street, Coogee 

Chin Chin

With a hat to its name, Chin Chin provides the ultimate destination for lively group dinners. Everything in this trendy Asian fusion palace is intoxicating, and their inventive take on Thai cuisine is the icing on the cake.

The menu is extensive and full of hero dishes, so save time and money by ordering the ‘Feed Me’ banquet to indulge in Chin Chin’s standouts, including the massaman curry of braised brisket, which, in our books, is essential. And, in true Chin Chin fashion, it can all be enjoyed with a range of cool cocktails with disco tunes playing on a loop. 

69 Commonwealth Street, Surry Hills

Lilymu

With a menu by Brendan Fong (Mr Wong) and a generous banquet option, it’s no surprise that Lilymu is fast becoming the go-to spot for special event group catch-ups in Parramatta.

The menu is designed to highlight the dynamic flavours of Chinese and Southeast Asian cuisines, and their popular banquet menu features kingfish ceviche, gyoza, banana leaf roasted barramundi, and curry. Be sure to check out their bottomless weekend menu too, which gives you 90 minutes of prosecco, rose and Asahi Soukai, teamed with share plates for the table.

153 Macquarie Street, Parramatta Square, Parramatta

Hugos

A Manly institution, a long lunch with your besties at Hugos is a guaranteed good time. Situated smack bang on the wharf and overlooking the harbour side of town, you can watch the sunset as you sip your margarita and tuck into your pizza.

A favourite among local and international celebrities alike, Hugos has an electric atmosphere and buzz  - especially on a stunning sunny day. The menu is brimming with fresh Italian cuisine (Sydney rock oysters, burrata, king prawns) that's perfect for sharing. 

Manly Wharf, 1 East Esplanade

Harbord Hotel Dining Room

The newest offering from this Freshwater icon is the Harbord Hotel Dining Room (formerly known as Balsa), and it knows how to deliver on every front. Good vibes? Tick. Premium location a stone's throw from Freshwater Beach? Tick. An amazing tasting menu ideal for groups? You guessed it - big tick.   

Located within the Hardbord Hilton Hotel, the venue's buzzing atmosphere means you can be as loud as you like and no one will look twice. After your meal (our top picks include the wood-fired calamari and the pork belly bites), you can mosey down to the pub's courtyard, which is always popping off. 

29 Moore Road, Freshwater

Chiswick

Sydney’s most beautiful garden restaurant is a magnet for ladies’ lunches and family celebrations. Honestly, it’s hard to think of a better place to spend a sunny afternoon. Looks aside, the food is incredible.

Groups of four or more dine on the Chiswick's Collective Group Menu ($95 per person), including seasonal plates and the signature slow-cooked lamb from Matt Moran’s family farm.

65 Ocean Street, Woollahra

Bert's Bar & Brasserie

For the fanciest of lunches (perhaps an engagement celebration?) Bert's will dazzle and delight. Sitting on the grounds of Merivale’s The Newport, Bert’s is an upscale and tranquil bar and brasserie that feels like you're dining in a coastal European hotel. 

The premium wine list and European-inspired menu pay homage to the grand hotel dining of the 1930s and will make for a truly memorable event. With beautiful views of Pittwater and grand vintage-styled interiors, Bert’s is the perfect spot for a special meal. 

2 Kalinya Street, Newport 

The Butler

One of the shining stars on Potts Point’s foodie scene, The Butler is the ultimate place to settle for the afternoon with your best mates. With high ceilings, original sandstone walls and indoor plants of every type and texture, the piece de resistance is its lush terrace, which offers a panoramic view of the Sydney skyline. The menu is small and large share plates your group can work through, and the cocktail list is impressive.

Our advice? Opt for a late lunch so you can watch the sun go down and snap some glowing golden-hour selfies while you're at it. 

123 Victoria Street, Potts Point 

Queen Chow

A Merivale star, Queen Chow in Enmore and Manly is the perfect place to hit up for Sunday brunch (especially if you and your friends had a big one the night before). Nothing beats yum cha on the weekend and dumpling king Eric Koh serves Cantonese classics like scallop, prawn and wild mushroom dumplings, crystal pumpkin, lobster and asparagus. Chow down as many as you can, but leave room for the dim sum platter and duck spring rolls.

2/167 Enmore Road, Enmore

Manly Wharf

Finished feasting with your besties at the best group dining venues in Sydney and want some dessert? Check out our edit of Sydney's best ice cream and gelato joints. Or maybe you're on the hunt for the best after-work happy hours in Sydney — we've got you covered!