Star Casino Sydney Christmas Day
With luxurious five-star accommodation, the city’s finest restaurants, the coolest selection of bars, and a truly world-class spa and casino, The Star Sydney offers so many ways to play. So go on, indulge your passions. Watson’s Bay Hotel is a very Sydney spot to spend Christmas Day combining a small beach and harbour views. The 2020 menu features snapper, pork and turkey, with a 4-hour beverage package for Adults $299, Teens/kids (10-17 yrs) $125, under 10 free. Pilu at Freshwater is a fantastic choice for a relaxed waterfront Christmas day.
Are you after an exciting, unique or sophisticated venue for your corporate Christmas party this year? With our best picks for Christmas Party Venues in Sydney, your end of year festivities will be the talk of the office for months to come – and for all the right reasons!
Christmas parties are the hot topic of the corporate world, with many businesses opting for off-beat venues or chic three-course dinners to celebrate the silly season with their clients and colleagues in style. Gone are the days of a few fairy lights on a Christmas tree in the meeting room and a cheap, tacky pizza lunch – these days, authentic and fun group building activities and lavish cocktail parties are all the rage.
A LIST’s selection of Party Venues will help you organise your Work Christmas Party more efficiently and more effectively – taking away some of the stress from what can be a massive task! Whether you’re a small team or a global corporation, the A LIST Guide’s favourite venues cater for all sizes, themes and budgets. You’ll be able to find event planners and suppliers right on our website, along with Sydney’s best venues.
Cocktail Christmas parties
Cocktails are a sophisticated way to get your colleagues and clients to mingle, and are perfect for mid-sized businesses who are after a shorter or more informal style party. Extra activities and venues can always be added onto your itinerary after the cocktail event (for those who’d prefer to keep the party going all night long!)
The Bucket List
The Bucket List in Bondi takes a laid-back approach to your Christmas party, allowing your attendees to soak in the sun and enjoy a variety of refreshing cocktails right on Bondi Beach.
Hacienda
With cocktail packages suiting up to 150 guests, Hacienda will make sure each and every one of them sees the beautiful Sydney Harbour. An enchanting venue located in Circular Quay, Hacienda is sure to impress.
Ivy
One of Sydney’s most popular nightspots, The Ivy has become synonymous with throwing luxury events, epic parties and classy soirees. Boasting a pool and multiple levels of bars in various themes; hosting your Christmas Party at Ivy will ensure a spectacular event that all attendees will enjoy.
Marquee @ The Star
If you’re really looking to impress, look no further than Marquee at The Star Casino. With world class facilities and access to Australia’s best entertainment, this venue also features views of Sydney Harbour.
Dinner Christmas parties
After an event that is a little more formal, or perhaps needs to play doubles as a meeting and a means to celebrate the end of the year? Dinner Christmas parties are a fantastic option that allow your guests to communicate more openly, and enjoy fine cuisine over business dealings.
Bopp & Tone
Take a step back in time in the luxurious Bopp & Tone venue. Gorgeously decorated in a WWII style, Bopp & Tone has flexible spaces, banquet and dining menus. Perfect for intimate groups or events for up to 250 people.
Employees Only
A hidden bar and dining experience in the heart of Sydney’s CBD, Employees Only is for intimate teams of 30 for dining, but can host all the way up to 200 for the entire venue. With a New York style menu, Employees Only has become a world-famous name for good reason.
The Ternary
Located in Darling Harbour, The Ternary offers three different drinking and dining options, including The Grill Kitchen, The Asian Kitchen and The Wine Bar. An open style space means your guests can mingle freely whilst choosing a variety of different cuisines and refreshments.
Unique Christmas parties
Want to have your Christmas Party somewhere truly wild? Entertainment and activities all rolled into one, these unique party venues know how to have a good time.
SEA LIFE Sydney Aquarium
Sydney’s Aquarium has been a family favourite since it’s opening, and now hosts events that are fun for your employees and their families. With a range of different function options, Sea Life Sydney Aquarium has something for everybody.
All Hands Brewing House
Christmas at a Brewery? We’re in! For a truly different and unique Christmas Party, All Hands Brewing House offers a delightful experience that includes tastings, tours and delicious dining options.
Choosing the right venue for your Corporate Christmas Party
Whether you’re after something low-key or a stunning red carpet event, Sydney has some of the best and most exclusive venues that are absolutely perfect for a range of Christmas parties.
A LIST can assist you to find experienced event planners and suppliers to make your Christmas party truly memorable. Your hosts will be able to create an experience for you and your team, incorporating any activities you may have into your itinerary, such as speeches, awards, cake arrivals or special performances.
A LIST Guide takes the hassle out of planning your event…so what are you waiting for?
Check out our list of unique and memorable venues, planners and suppliers today so your next function has that true WOW factor. Be sure to check in regularly to see our featured venues and special offers from leading suppliers all across Australia.
Embrace a minimalist aesthetic this Christmas with stylist Kate Gibbs’ tips for decorating and hosting during the festive season.
Stylist, cookbook author, journalist and the granddaughter of Australian icon Margaret Fulton, Kate Gibbs is no stranger to spinning many plates at once. It’s why she’s perfected the art of minimalist table styling and is unruffled by the idea of hosting a Christmas gathering.
This year, Kate is focusing on a minimal waste approach to Christmas decorating – no single-use plastic welcome. “I think we need to be more responsible and more caring to the earth, to our own health, and teach children that waste is no longer acceptable; that we care about their futures,” says Kate.
Pre-event preparation is Kate’s standout tip for hosting during the festive season. Delegate tasks within your family, look around at the natural styling elements you have at hand and don’t forget to chill the bubbly!
“I get the glasses ready, so when people arrive the Champagne is ready to go, and put the crockery, linen and a water jug filled with mint or lime slices on the table, so the scene is set,” says Kate. “The trick is having as little as possible to do once people arrive, so the host can relax and join in.”
Kate’s DIY Christmas decorating ideas
“I am going for a natural look this year – whatever it takes not to fill the house with plastics and landfill that we don’t want to see in the house for another year,” says Kate. “Greenery always makes the table look bright, so I love picking a branch or two from the garden (Monstera Deliciosa looks great in a big vase). I’ll pick gardenias or hydrangeas too, if they’re around.”
Kate suggests ditching the single-use serviettes for linen – growing flax seeds to make linen uses much less water than cotton. Washable table styling elements will make your Christmas far more affordable and better for the environment – especially if you’re hosting multiple soirees.
Nailing the festive colour palette
Instead of the typical red, white and green festive colour palette, Kate suggests embracing a more natural look for your table styling. “Green and anything else you have that works in nature – white plates, natural linen, a little wood here or there,” she says. Small vases filled with green leaves and white plates paired with a pale grey tablecloth will make the colours of your food stand out.
“Think about textures as well as colours and let the food be the pattern. I love using hand-me-down crockery because it means something to me, and there’s nothing wrong with some intricate patterned plates that a great aunt left you to brighten up the table if you love them.”
Deceptively simple dishes
To avoid the mad shopping and cooking rush, Kate likes to plan out her cooking well in advance of Christmas Day. She tends to stick to tradition, “a glazed Australian ham using my grandmother Margaret Fulton’s recipe, a salmon gravlax that has been cured two days in advance using some Four Pillars gin and pink peppercorns – or the traditional dill and vodka”.
This year Kate’s making brioche buns for lobster rolls – with a homemade mayonnaise and watercress. “We will have loads of salads and vegetables too – we always do peas braised in chicken stock with lettuce, or petit pois a la Francaise. We’ll have creamed spinach and excellent roast potatoes, plus a few leafy green crisp salads”.
Enjoy the spirit of the season
“I’m looking forward to a long day with the entire clan together. Running around on the lawn, kids under the sprinkler, a walk along Sydney harbour foreshore, and a most excellent feast. We deserve a decent Christmas season after the year we’ve all had,” says Kate.
Star Casino Sydney Christmas Day 2019
5 tips for festive entertaining
- Avoid tacky, plastic decorations in favour of reusable and environmentally friendly materials. It’s a great way to teach kids and less environmentally conscious family members that waste is no longer acceptable – especially during the festive season!
- Prep as much of the food and drinks as possible before your guests start arriving. You deserve to enjoy the occasion as much as everyone else.
- Draw your colour palette inspiration from nature. Find flowers and leaves to clip in your backyard or around your neighbourhood – don’t annoy the neighbours, though.
- Let the food be the pattern. Use your thoughtfully prepared dishes as both nourishment and table decoration.
- If in doubt, think ‘what would Margaret Fulton do?’. Respect your ingredients, compliment the cook, always have Champagne on hand and enjoy the experience.
Star Casino Sydney Christmas Day Trips
You’ll find more of Kate’s work on her Instagram @kategibbs and website kategibbs.com