During lockdown chef Neil Perry did a smashing trade slinging takeaway burgers and fried king prawn rolls from his Double Bay diner, Margaret. But with service back to normal, the delicious casual dishes now share the menu with decidedly decadent fare. Woodfired lobster is served with sambal butter, David Blackmore wagyu steak comes with chimichurri, and Sydney Rock oysters have their own dedicated fridge. Perry came out of retirement to open Margaret, which he named for his mum.

As Ursula’s prepped for its opening in October 2021, it was referred to as one of the “most anticipated” launches of the year. It later hit number six on delicious. magazine’s list of 100 top restaurants in the state.

Dean & Nancy on 22 opened in 2022 and was already singled out as Time Out’s Best Cocktail Bar and Australian Bartender‘s Hotel Bar of the Year. The distinctions aren’t surprising. Led by the Maybe Sammy team, Dean & Nancy on 22 contains plenty of wow factors to enhance any date night or anniversary celebration. They include the stunning, 22nd-floor view of the surrounding cityscape and playful cocktails, such as the Rocketman, an edible cocktail from the brand new Above the Clouds drinks menu.

In Mexico, mole, a complex sauce from Oaxaca, is a celebratory dish, served at weddings, parties, and other special occasions. At No 92, executive chef Alejandro Huerta offers his version with ceremonial tortillas, which he stamps with hibiscus-flavoured Aztec patterns. Presented with kingfish and pickled cucumber or salt aged wagyu with pickled almonds and chips, the dish represents his inventive take on Mexican-inspired cuisine.

Hotel Ravesis has a perpetual, holiday-like atmosphere, thanks to its idyllic beachfront location and Mediterranean-inspired menu. Its plates, a mix of oysters, olives, lamb skewers, pork cotoletta (breaded cutlet), and hand-rolled pasta with blue swimmer crab, also channel a swinging, seaside getaway. Ravesis’s terrace is ideal for group celebrations, such as birthdays. Though it’s just as suited for a more intimate occasion, complete with a bottle of bubbly and spectacular sunset views.

Vibrant, vegetable-rich cuisine, inspired by Turkey’s Aegean coast, takes top billing at chef Somer Sivğlurio’s Maydanoz, which opened in May 2022. The Istanbul-born chef and owner, a MasterChef Turkey judge, draws on recipes from his mother, one of the first women to cook at Turkey’s meze bars. Sivğlurio’s menu takes cues from traditional special occasion dishes that diners can savour with an intimate group in a velvet banquette.

Rengaya’s timber-lined space, decked out with a dramatic chandelier, looks so modern and sleek that it’s easy to forget this yakiniku pioneer has expertly cooked Japanese food—including various grades of finely marbled Wagyu beef—over coals since 1993. The new spot, which opened in 2019, offers premium sushi topped with caviar or foie gras and lobster sashimi specials, too, ideal dishes for anniversaries, professional milestones, or any occasion calling for extravagance.

Garfish is the spot for a long overdue get-together. The elegant seafood restaurant also has a Crows Nest spot, but the Manly location is especially celebration-friendly. It overlooks a pine-tree-lined beach, resulting in a breezy, summery backdrop, made for socialising. Gather over platters of wood-roasted shellfish, seared scallops with grilled pork belly, and chermoula Queensland tiger prawns. And don’t forget to toast with the aptly named elderflower yuzu “catch up” spritz.