Eight places to grab a great dinner before seeing SIX the Musical

Head to this slick, sophisticated restaurant for a modern interpretation of classic Japanese dishes. The pre-theatre menu delivers a tasty insight into Kazan’s wider culinary offerings, and is just $60 per person for any two courses. You can begin with miso soup and nasu dengaku (miso eggplant with green chilli and mixed nuts), and follow it up with a main dish like the tai sakamushi – sake-steamed New Zealand red snapper with ginger and shimeji soy. If you lean more to the sweet side on the taste spectrum, swap the entrée for dessert and go the chocolate fondant with coffee ice cream.

Get your fix of contemporary Middle Eastern cuisine at Aalia (which means ‘lofty’ or ‘sublime’ in Arabic) when you sample the pre-theatre fare. Start with a beer, house cocktail or glass of sparkling, and then work your way through the three-course menu. Highlights include the beef nayyeh with rhubarb and black cardamom, ummak huriyya cuttlefish with couscous or swordfish with quince and barnea olive oil. It’s $70 per person, and for an extra $15 you can add on more sides or a dessert – which you definitely should, because the turmeric sfouf with carrot ice cream and mace is out-of-this-world good.

It may be one of the pricier options on the list, but when it comes to a fancy pre-show meal with all the trimmings, no place does it better than Botswana Butchery. The two-course set menu (select an entreé to share and then pick your main) is $115 per person, and starts strong with a serving of Sonoma sourdough with miso butter and smoked salt. We then recommend the New Zealand king ora salmon, followed by the slow-roasted whole lamb shoulder. Sides for the table include duck fat potatoes, wood-grilled greens and an heirloom lettuce and herb salad with chardonnay dressing.

Still want to experience a taste of Botswana Butchery without blowing your budget? Head to the stylish rooftop bar for an affordable (and delicious) meal deal. The burger and bubbles combo is just $30 per person and includes – you guessed it! – the restaurant’s famous Botswana beef burger (a double dry-aged smashed patty with aged cheddar and a soft bun) paired with a glass of Perrier Joüet Champagne. There’s no need to book and walk-ins are welcome. Just be sure to allow 30 minutes to order and eat your meal before you dash off to the show.

You’ll feel as though you’ve been transported directly to Rome when you enter L’uva, a relaxed-yet-glamorous Italian eatery. Grab a seat at the marble bar or nab an outdoor table overlooking the bustling piazza that is Martin Place. For $50 you can indulge in two courses and a glass of wine, or for $65 per person you’ll get dessert thrown in, too. Dishes include bruschetta al pomodoro, squid-ink angel hair pasta with pippis and fennel pork sausage pangrattato or spaghetti cacio e pepe. Finish with the Espresso Martini tiramisu and there’s zero chance you’ll need some nosh until long after SIX the Musical has finished. 

For a filling pre-show feast that won’t cost a small fortune, look no further than White + Wong’s. This brand new Asian fusion restaurant has just opened up, and is renowned for its eclectic menu that puts a new spin on classic street food dishes from South East Asia. The chef’s selection royal banquet costs $55 per person, and includes a schooner of beer or a glass of house wine, plus some of the most popular menu items. We’re talking all your favourites: prawn crackers, dumplings, curries and wok-fried greens. Just bear in mind that bookings for the banquet must be made prior to 5.30pm. 

If you can’t secure a reservation at White + Wong’s, don’t stress – we’ve got another option for you. Located on the second floor of the restaurant is Sardine Bar, a fun little cocktail joint serving up light refreshments in an undercover alfresco area. Do yourself a favour and grab one of the ‘woktails’ – the Jade Slipper is made from a potent concoction of vodka, Midori, coconut syrup, pineapple juice and fresh lime. A selection of food from White + Wong’s is also available to order, including bao buns, edamame beans, kingfish sashimi and Wagyu beef dumplings.

With expansive views across Martin Place and Sydney’s cityscape, Cabana Bar provides a scenic setting to enjoy a quick bite to eat before SIX the Musical kicks off. For just $33 per person you’ll score three tacos (choose from barramundi, halloumi or pulled pork) and a Margarita. Best of all, if you’re still hungry after the show you can pop back in for some nibbles off the late-night supper menu. Available until 11pm, you can snack on everything from seasonal oysters with a cucumber mignonette to fried squid with aioli and lemon or a cheese board with fruit paste, chutney, grapes and lavosh.