Impressive private dining rooms around Australia

Upper Tower, Quay

Location: Sydney

Seated capacity: 20 guests 

Overlooking Sydney Harbour, Quay’s Upper Tower is quite possibly Sydney’s most spectacular private dining room. Boasting floor-to-ceiling windows, this space takes in views of the famous Sydney Opera House, Sydney Harbour Bridge, and the charming historic district of The Rocks. Kick off your event with a private Q&A session or masterclass with renowned chef Peter Gilmore or enlighten guests on how to navigate a wine list with the senior sommelier. Then, indulge in a four or six-course menu featuring dishes like mud crab with fresh bamboo and umami broth, paired with exceptional Australian wines and finishing with the elusive ‘white coral’ dessert.  For smaller groups, there’s an alternative private dining room which seats up to 10 guests, or larger groups can have exclusive access to The Green Room which seats up to 54 guests.  

La Vie en Rose, Smith St Bistrot

Location: Melbourne

Seated capacity: 56 guests

Respected Australian chef and restauranteur Scott Pickett recently opened the doors to Smith St Bistrot, a modern take on a classic French bistrot housed in an 1888 heritage shopfront in Melbourne’s trendy Collingwood district. This sophisticated space oozes Parisian art-deco elegance; think red leather booths, antique mirrors and a wrought iron spiral staircase ascending to the mezzanine dining area, which can be exclusively used for groups of up to 14 for a seated function or 20 guests cocktail-style. The pièce de résistance lies further up the stairs; ‘La Vie en Rose’ is an exquisitely appointed private dining room catering for up to 56 seated guests. Groups will be treated to traditional French dishes prepared in a contemporary style – think fricassée de poulet à l’estragon (braised chicken with tarragon and carrots) and filet de steak au poivre (dry-aged eye fillet with peppercorn sauce). The in-house team can work closely with organisers to craft bespoke menus, entertainment and styling for a dining experience that’s sure to impress.

sAme sAme private dining room, The Calile Hotel

Location: Brisbane

Seated capacity: 30 guests

Adjoined to the chic Calile Hotel in Fortitude Valley, sAme sAme brings a taste of South-East Asia to Brisbane. Inspired by the street food of Thailand, this stylish restaurant dishes up fragrant, flavour-packed feasts in a minimalist, modern dining room with a vibrant atmosphere. The private dining area houses three long tables of 10, tucked away from the crowds and serviced by its own dedicated floor staff. Groups can expect dishes like betel leaf with pork relish and pineapple, kingfish ceviche with green chilli, and Queensland banana prawn curry with coconut and kaffir lime, washed down with Thai-inspired cocktails, local craft beers and aromatic wines. After dinner, it’s a hop, skip and a jump back to The Calile, where guests can enjoy a restful night’s sleep on their luxurious king bed.

The Printing Room, Peppina at The Tasman

Location: Hobart 

Seated capacity: 24 guests 

Nestled within the 1840s sandstone walls of Marriot International’s The Tasman is Peppina, a contemporary Italian restaurant in Hobart serving seasonal Tasmanian produce with a side of generous Italian hospitality. The kitchen is central to the trattoria-style space, anchored by two productive olive trees and enclosed under a glass roof. Groups of up to 24 guests can delve into the building’s history by dining in the former lithograph printing room for the Lands and Survey Department of Tasmania, which features the original windows and doors, a restored fireplace, and elegant custom furnishings. The signature dining option is the Tutti a Tavola (‘Everyone at the Table’) feast, or the culinary team can tailor a bespoke dining experience. Surrounded by a collection of Tasmanian and international wines thoughtfully selected by the head sommelier, this private space is the perfect nook for groups to kick back and relish Tasmania’s outstanding food and wine.  

Wildflower private dining room, COMO The Treasury

Location: Perth 

Seated capacity: 20 guests 

An incentive program in Western Australia’s capital of Perth would be amiss without a dining experience at Wildflower, which occupies the stunning rooftop space of COMO The Treasury overlooking the Swan River. Renowned for its respectful use of native ingredients, Wildflower pays homage to the six seasons of the Noongar calendar, featuring dishes like cured snapper with finger lime and Geraldton wax, and sandalwood nut praline with milk sorbet and wattle seed. The farmer and forager-driven menu can be tailored to meet a group’s specific interests and dietaries, and the carefully curated wine list showcases an extensive collection of wines that are true to the land on which they were sustainably produced. After feasting, guests can return to one of 48 beautifully appointed rooms at COMO The Treasury and marvel at the majestically restored features of the former 19th-century State Buildings before drifting off to sleep.

The Rimini Room, Miss Moneypenny’s

Location: Gold Coast  

Seated capacity: 60 guests 

In the heart of Broadbeach, Miss Moneypenny’s is an exciting dining experience for groups visiting the Gold Coast. The sister restaurant to the wildly popular Miss Moneypenny’s Noosa, it had big shoes to fill when it opened its doors in late 2019. And fill them it did, with a stylish fit out, globally inspired Mediterranean menu and a seriously impressive cocktail offering. The restaurant’s private dining space, The Rimini Room, is available for exclusive use and boasts its own private bar and outdoor terrace. Guests will arrive by secret elevator access (how very James Bond!) and can start by brushing up on their martini-making skills with a private cocktail class hosted by the venue’s award-winning international mixologist, Ben Walsh. With a fully customisable dining experience that promises to be a far cry from ‘function food’, this venue will certainly shake - not stir - up an incentive program in Queensland’s glittering Gold Coast.

The Underground Drives, Penfolds Magill Estate

Location: Adelaide 

Seated capacity: 140 guests 

One of few wineries in the world located within the boundaries of a major city, Penfolds Magill Estate is a must-visit for incentive groups exploring the city of Adelaide. Nestled in the foothills just 15 minutes from the city, this Ultimate Winery Experiences of Australia property was established by the Penfold family in 1844. The property still houses the original family home – the heritage-listed Grange cottage – as well as the still operational Magill Estate winery, which was the birthplace of the famous Penfolds Grange shiraz. Groups can take a guided stroll through the winery and vineyard hosted by a Penfolds Ambassador before delving 20 metres underground into the drives, a series of tunnels excavated by hand at the turn of the century to create the perfect environment for cellaring wine. The drives are now used as a private dining space for groups, who can indulge in a bespoke menu surrounded by thousands of bottles of the winery’s finest drops, including a spectacular collection of Penfolds Grange magnums. Cellar 20 can accommodate an impressive 140 guests on one long table, or the adjacent tunnels can be used for an intimate gathering of 20 guests. 

Published: 30 March 2022