The Sydney Tower is pretty prominent in the Sydney skyline. Situated in the middle of the CBD you can see it from most places in the city, it’s not hard to miss. But despite previously living in Sydney for several months, I had never ventured up it until my recent trip.
You can actually go to an observation deck in the tower but I decided to opt for an alternative way to experience the view. You see, right at the top of this beaut is a REVOLVING restaurant. Yep, it actually revolves so patrons can have a 360 degree view of the city whilst tucking into their dinner!
I mean seriously, I had to finally give it a go. How could I not?
I had heard it was pretty pricey up there so was concious that it may not be a backpacker-budget option. But once I’d done my research, I soon realised that Sydney Tower Dining had different options depending on budget. Which is always good.
There is the 360 Bar and Dining which is a more high-end, classy kind of establishment with a la carte dining and a fancy bar. I gathered from the people I spoke to in the lift up the tower that this was a real swanky place. A couple we got chatting to were going back for their 1 year wedding anniversary because it’s where the guy proposed. So read: it’s fancy.
Luckily for me, there’s an alternative option: Sydney Tower Buffet.
Yep it’s what it says on the tin – a buffet in the Sydney Tower!
Don’t get me wrong this isn’t a place for cheap eats but for a chance to have dinner in the revolving tower, it’s a cheaper alternative to the 360 Bar and Dining experience. Definitely more accessible, you know?
So how the hell was it?
Let’s start with the view. It’s definitely better than expected with views for absolute days. I went on the last night of my Sydney trip and after exploring different corners of the city, it was a really nice experience to be able to see it all from a bird’s eye perspective!
The way the revolving thingymajig works is the exterior windows stay where they are but the room inside moves around. So the windows essentially move past you as you do a loop around the tower. But it’s not like a ride, it’s REALLY slow. It takes a full hour to go all the way around so you don’t feel ill whilst you’ve having your dinner or anything.
Although it is a bit weird when you’re walking around the restaurant. It’s really easy to get disorientated when the view keeps changing! Luckily the areas are numbered so you can find your way back!
The food is laid out all the way around the restaurant with a variety of cuisines available from Indian food to Italian to Chinese. There’s a salad bar, a seafood area and a desserts area with cheeses too. Sounds a dream right?
Well I’ve got to be honest, I didn’t massively rate the food. It wasn’t terrible or anything but I have the general opinion that when it’s a buffet, the restaurant focuses on so many different cuisines that none of them are done to perfection, you know?
But I did really like that you could try Australian meats like kangaroo, crocodile and emu chipolatas. I mean, it’s not something I’m likely to order in a restaurant so a buffet was a pretty cool opportunity to try things like this, mainly for the novelty of it when in Oz!
Nonetheless, Sydney Tower Buffet isn’t somewhere I went for the food.
The view is the main draw to this place and I thought it was really worth it. Having a beer whilst revolving around Sydney, pointing out the places we’d been to and trying to work out what each of the buildings were. I think it’s a really cool way to end a trip and I’m glad I got to go on this visit.
Head over here for more info if you’re interested.
Have you been to the Sydney Tower? What did you think?
Let me know in the comments below or tweet me @HeelsInBackpack!
Total Blogger Transparency: I accepted a complimentary meal at Sydney Tower Buffet but all thoughts and opinions expressed are my own. I wouldn’t play you like that, shorty.