Image credit: The Keg Room
The holiday season is well and truly here, and there’s no better time to gather with friends and family (even colleagues!) to celebrate. Whether you’re after a full beachside blowout on Christmas Day, or an intimate New Year’s Eve evening of lowkey cheer, these venues are pulling out all the stops to guarantee you make those festive memories.
Here’s your holidaymaker’s guide to the season’s best restaurant events to book right now.
Perth, WA
1. Molly's Christmas Eve
Molly’s Irish is solid fave in Perth, and their annual Christmas Eve party is no exception. It’ll be a full day of live music (featuring Daragh Heneghan, Rosie Timmon, and John Gaughan) to carry you right into Christmas.
Creamy pints, turkey and ham are all on the menu, so consider your holiday cravings taken care of.
When: Christmas Eve 24 Dec, from 12pm
Where: 488 Beaufort Street, Highgate
2. Sunny Christmas at Sunny Social
West Aussies will be no stranger to Sunny Social’s well known parties, whether it’s their staple Sunday sessions or the oft special occasion. The venue’s Sunny Christmas party experience delivers contemporary celebrations with that effortless chill vibe, a great pick whether you’re organising an office Christmas party or rallying your mates for an end-of-year celebration.
Their regular quiz night on Wednesdays will also get the festive trivia treatment, so get booking.
When: Wed, 17 Dec from 7pm
Where: 102 Marmion Ave, Karrinyup WA
Brisbane, QLD
3. Irish Murphy's Xmas Eve
What better way to spend Christmas Eve than with proper Irish craic at the heart of Brisbane’s CBD? Irish Murphy’s is bringing the festivities straight to you with live music from The Gathering and Berst, transforming the historic pub (originally the Dunmore Arms from 1865) into a celebration you’d write home about.
With traditional Irish dishes from the kitchen, ice-cold Guinness on tap, and that unmistakable Irish hospitality, it’s a grand party.
When: Christmas Eve 24 Dec, 1 – 9pm
Where: 175 George St, Brisbane City
4. Quirkiest Queensland Christmas Party at Banana Bender Pub, QLD
Spread across three levels with celebrity caricature banana and pineapple heads adorning the walls, this former Ettamogah Pub delivers holiday parties with serious personality.
The Christmas dinner show features trivia quizzes, best dressed comps and banter backed by live music all night long—because nothing says Christmas like disco balls spinning and timeless hits filling the beer garden. With drag queen bingo on 18th December (glittery, loud, and more fun than your grams after sherries), this is festive chaos in the best possible way.
When: Thursday 18 December, 6:30pm onwards
Where: 1 Downunder Dr, Palmview QLD
Sydney, NSW
5. NYE at China Doll, NSW
Perched on Woolloomooloo’s heritage Finger Wharf with spectacular city skyline views, China Doll turns New Year’s Eve into a luxury occasion with their New Year’s Eve banquet $195pp, served alongside a glass of Perrier-Jouët ‘Grand Brut’ Champagne or beer on arrival.
The modern take on culinary traditions from China, Hong Kong, Japan and Southeast Asia means bold flavours, the blue-willow pattern adorning every plate tells the Chinese fable of eloping lovers transforming into doves—fitting symbolism for new beginnings.
When: New Years Eve 31 Dec, 6pm onwards
Where: Shop 4, 6 Cowper Wharf Road, Woolloomooloo
6. Christmas Lunch at Club Berowra, NSW
40 minutes north of Sydney, Club Berowra serves Christmas Day with proper community club warmth. Their Christmas feast ($120 adults, $40 for children under 12) brings together classic favourites with quality execution—the kind of 3-course meal where nobody’s stuck in the kitchen for hours beforehand.
With TAB facilities, gaming areas, and outdoor spaces, there’s something to keep everyone entertained between courses — in short, kids can roam, adults can relax, and everyone leaves happy.
When: Thurs 25 Dec, 12 – 3pm
Where: 997 Pacific Hwy, Berowra
7. Christmas Day Buffet at Waterfront Tavern, NSW
For a Christmas lunch with loved ones that include views overlooking the marina, Waterfront Tavern takes the stress out of this special day with a beautiful seafood buffet ($179 adults, $89 kids 2-12 years).
Perched on the water with those cool, coastal vibes, you’ll be tucking into a grazing table, fresh seafood, hot roasts from the carvery, and of course, a round of Christmas desserts or two! Hot tip: Bookings run quickly at this popular venue, so give them a call if there isn’t availability online.
When: Christmas Day 25 Dec, 12pm onwards
Where: 11 Marina Dr, Shell Cove NSW
Melbourne, VIC
8. New Year's Eve at Bang Pop
BangPop delivers NYE with a view of Melbourne’s CBD skyline and fireworks—plus the kind of fresh, fragrant Thai food and colourful cocktails that make midnight feel like just the beginning. They’re ditching the restrictive set menus in favour of their full à la carte lineup, meaning you order exactly what you want from their hawker-influenced dishes, refined salads, and exceptional curries showcasing Australian produce.
Inside seating requires a $75pp minimum spend (paid in advance, deducted from your final bill), while premium terrace seating bumps it to $175pp total—which includes $65 food minimum plus three hours of bottomless premium beverages featuring Piper Heidsieck Champagne on arrival, Thai-inspired cocktails, wines, beers and mocktails.
When: 35, S Wharf Promenade, South Wharf, VIC
Where: New Years Eve 31 Dec, 8 – 10pm
9. NYE at JUNI
In Melbourne’s theatre district on Exhibition Street, Juni brings Southeast Asian flair to NYE with sultry bar vibes and a dining room that means you won’t miss a moment of the fireworks. From 8pm, a DJ spins in the bar area—which stays open for walk-ins all night long—while the dining room projects live fireworks so you get the show without battling the crowds.
With the bold Southeast Asian menu (think share-style plates designed for grazing and conversation), and characteristic Juni energy where date nights, girls’ nights, and after-work drinks all converge into one vibrant scene, you’ll be glad you stayed in the city.
When: New Years Eve 31 Dec, from 8pm till late
Where: 136 Exhibition Street, Melbourne
Tasmania
10. NYE In The Hanging Garden, TAS
In The Hanging Garden transforms its extensive tiered beer garden into NYE party central come year’s end. Ring in the new year beneath the nave of the Cathedral, with a bunch of your favourite local DJs on deck to curate the perfect dance floor celebrations into 2026.
With live music across multiple stages, the warmth of fire pits against Hobart’s summer evening chill, and that distinctly Tassie vibe where locals and visitors celebrate together under the hanging garden, these tickets at $20 a pop are well worth it.
Note: The event is over 18 only, but you can still book a table to dine with the family inside.
When: New Years Eve 31 Dec, 5pm
Where: 112 Murray Street, Hobart
South Australia
11. Carols by Candlelight at The Bentley Pub
In Clare’s wine country, The Bentleys Hotel brings back the magic of community Christmas with Carols by Candlelight. Dinner service kicks off with live carol performances starting at 6:30pm in the bistro and beer garden—creating that cosy, candlelit atmosphere where Silent Night hits differently.
The event doubles as a fundraiser for the Clare District Lions Club, adding genuine community spirit to the evening.
When: Saturday 20 Dec, 5:30pm
Where: 191 Main North Road, Clare
Canberra, ACT
12. Christmas Day Lunch at The Boat House
The Boat House has earned its reputation as the pinnacle of Christmas Day dining in Barton. The 6-course set menu ($255 adult, $120 child) showcases exceptional contemporary cuisine with absolute waterfront views—watch the lake’s reflections shift as the day’s colours fade while working through courses that balance innovation with festive tradition.
The private parkland setting creates an enchanting atmosphere, and with limited sittings starting from 12pm, booking early is essential. It’s the Christmas Day for those who want fine dining excellence without sacrificing that warm holiday feeling.
When: Christmas Day 25 Dec, 12pm
Where: Grevillea Park, Menindee Dr, Barton
New Zealand
13. Christmas at The Keg
For the season, The Keg Room transform into a full-blown festive wonderland that will make feeling like a kid acceptable again. The lineup includes Christmas Bingo, Gingerbread House Decorating parties, Winter Hot Chocolate Experiences (ironically perfect for a Kiwi summer), Paws & Brunch Christmas parties for your four-legged mates, and Santa Paws photos for the ultimate festive pet moment.
Multiple menu options mean you can go casual with grazing platters and cocktails, traditional with the shared buffet, or customised with 2-3 course set menus.
When: Now until 24 Dec
Where: 36 Horsham Downs Road, Rototuna, Hamilton
14. All You Can Eat at Silk Road
This one’s certainly an offbeat option for a Christmas and New Year event, but if you’ve been on the road for the holidays, the all you can eat feast ($75 adults, $35 child under 13) at Silk Road — no effort required — may just be what you need to feel the season’s warmth, and right at home again.
Think sheer variety from buffalo chicken, grilled sirloin and buttered garlic prawns to a classic banana split or white chocolate mousse to cap the meal off.
When: Lunch between 11am – 3pm, dinner from 5 – 9pm.
Where: 1243 Amohia Street, Rotorua
15. Christmas in The Sun at Ambler Cafe
Hurry if you fancy a casual Christmas day at this neighbourhood fave, happening this weekend! The theme is your most outrageous Christmas gear—Santa hats, ugly sweaters, glitter, tinsel, the works—with the best outfit taking home a $50 gift voucher.
The real star of the party is the grazing table: Waiheke oysters from Te Matuku, charcuterie from L’Authentique, fresh Daily Bread loaves, French cheeses, and generous vegetarian and vegan options. It’s BYO wine or beer (grab your bottle from Pt Chev Organic Wine and flash your ticket for 10% off), with shared tables and casual festive cheer. Tickets are $25.
When: Sunday 14 Dec, 5pm onwards
Where: 181 Point Chevalier Road, Point Chevalier, Auckland
Silly season gives you enough to do. Book a demo and see how your reservation system could be doing more, from events to gift cards.
