Summer has arrived at Cruise Bar and Restaurant, and Sydney’s waterfront icon is shining brighter than ever. From a fresh seasonal menu and cocktail list to spectacular New Year’s Eve celebrations and exclusive event offers, this Circular Quay destination sets the scene for an unforgettable season by the harbour.
New Summer Menu & Cocktail List
At Cruise Bar and Restaurant, summer dining meets Sydney’s most iconic view: ferries gliding past the Opera House and light shimmering across the water. The new Summer Menu and Cocktail List celebrate the city’s coastal rhythm: vibrant, generous and unmistakably Sydney.
“When you’re cooking on the harbour, you can’t help but be inspired by it. The ferries moving across Circular Quay, the salt in the air, the light on the water,†says Head Chef Han Chen, recently named Metropolitan Chef of the Year at the 2025 AHA NSW Awards for Excellence. “This menu is about that moment. It’s about celebrating summer the Sydney way.â€
Showcasing the best of local produce and native ingredients, the menu moves effortlessly from casual bites to refined seafood and share-style dining. Think freshly shucked Royal Miyagi oysters with lemon aspen vinaigrette, grilled Skull Island king prawns with confit tomato butter, and pan-seared Humpty Doo barramundi served with bush tomato ragu and crispy saltbush. Adding an Aussie twist, playful newcomers like chicken parmy bites, Vegemite BBQ chicken wings, and a kangaroo burger with pickled pear and jalapeño bring a dash of fun. For a true showstopper, the Grande Cruise Seafood Tower stacks lobster, prawns, scallop ceviche, calamari and crisp flathead for a summer feast worth sharing.
To match, the new cocktail list captures Sydney’s golden-hour glow. Sip on a Waterside Spritz of watermelon, Davidson plum and sparkling wine, or a Salty Shores with mandarin, mango sorbet and chilli tequila. The Honey, infused with passionfruit and quandong honey, and The Calypso, blending rum, marmalade and lemongrass, round out a list that feels like summer in a glass.
Whether it’s a long lunch that drifts into sunset, a spritz at golden hour, or cocktails beneath the lights of the Opera House, Cruise Bar and Restaurant is summer at its finest. A jewel on the harbour where every view and every flavour shines.
Menu: cruisebar.com.au/bar-
Melba’s Rooftop. Now Open for Summer
The experience continues upstairs at Melba’s Rooftop, the elevated upper level of Cruise Bar and Restaurant overlooking Sydney’s most spectacular panorama. Opening for trade from 6 November, this open-air retreat captures the essence of a Sydney summer: sea breeze, skyline views and cocktails served beneath the sun.
The rooftop menu brings coastal sophistication to relaxed, share-style dining. Highlights include caviar brioche with crème fraîche, Royal Miyagi oysters with lemon aspen vinaigrette, prawn cocktail with lobster Marie Rose and salmon caviar, and barramundi sliders with bush tomato relish and lemon myrtle mayo. For grazing, guests can share charcuterie and cheese boards, black truffle parmesan fries, or the cold seafood platter stacked with lobster, oysters, prawns and scallop ceviche: a menu made for long afternoons above the water.
The cocktail list mirrors the view: bright, fresh and full of character. Standouts include the Perfect Pear (watermelon, pear cider and vodka), Melon y Jamón (rockmelon, quandong and jamón-washed tequila) and the Rosella Tropic (passionfruit and rosella-infused whisky). For those chasing something classic, Nellie’s Martini adds a rosemary twist to a timeless favourite.
Open on select days through summer, Melba’s Rooftop offers a new perspective on the Cruise Bar and Restaurant experience: relaxed, elevated and unmistakably Sydney.
Menu: cruisebar.com.au/melbas-
Cruise into 2026 with New Year’s Eve at Cruise Bar & Restaurant
Sydney’s most iconic harbourside celebration returns as Cruise Bar and Restaurant rings in 2026 with a multi-level New Year’s Eve spectacular. From the waterfront to the rooftop, every floor of the Circular Quay landmark transforms into its own world of music, flavour and fireworks, set against the city’s most famous backdrop.
As the sun sets over Sydney Harbour, guests will move from spritzes at golden hour to midnight countdowns beneath the stars. Across three vibrant levels, the night comes alive with live DJs, premium food and drinks, and front-row views of the Opera House and Harbour Bridge fireworks.
On Levels 1 and 2, the energy builds with headlining acts Felixx, Adam Holt, Ben Morris, Sydney Bardot, Sefu, Damn and Doowee, spinning the biggest anthems and R&B hits until the early hours. Guests will enjoy a curated menu of six canapés, a substantial dish, two live food stations, and a late-night hotdog bar, blending casual indulgence with party-ready flair.
For those seeking an elevated experience, Melba’s Rooftop offers a celebration under the stars, where deep house and funk sets from Veda, Adam Holt, Ben Morris, Ellie Beats and Felixx soundtrack the night. Guests can indulge in a premium spread of eight canapés, three substantial dishes, three interactive food stations, and a charcuterie station open late, alongside a three-hour beverage package (6–9pm) featuring Champagne, wines and local craft beers.
From lobster rolls and duck liver macarons to Champagne sabayon oysters and native-spiced lamb croquettes, every bite is designed for celebration. At midnight, glasses of Veuve Clicquot are raised to the sky as Sydney’s fireworks light up the harbour — the perfect finale to a night that defines summer in the city.
Tickets start from $179 for Levels 1 & 2, and $459 for Melba’s Rooftop.
Tickets are on sale now and selling fast.
