Easter is like the grown-up equivalent of getting a new toy at Christmas and realising you’re missing the batteries. Everything’s closed. The streets are deserted. Phones go straight to voicemail as restaurateurs and café owners take a well deserved chocolate-filled break.
Or do they?
We’ve tracked down a bunch of places open over this Easter long weekend. in Melbourne.
Chin Chin
Surry Hills
You’ll be pleased to know that our newest mate, Chin Chin, will be open all weekend long (well, from 12pm daily) and not only are they taking bookings for groups of all sizes (yes, allllll sizes) they’re also serving up an extra special seafood feed me menu. If you’re into that kind of thing. Which you are.
The Newport
Newport
Our fave northern beaches haunt will be open all long weekend from 12pm daily. On Good Friday they’re hosting yoga on the deck (9.30am – 10.30am), there’ll be an Easter egg hunt on Sunday (1.30pm) and live entertainment every single day. Grab a jug of Pimm’s and settle in team, you can consider your plans sorted.
OTTO
Woolloomooloo
Open for lunch and dinner errry day during the long weekend, we really didn’t need another reason to hit up one of the degustations at OTTO. But fiiiine, we’ll do it.
The Naughty Milk Bar At Opera Bar
Darling Harbour
The team from Daisy’s Milkbar is taking over Opera Bar this long weekend and that means you’ll be feasting on things like trifle, banana splits, boozy Milo milkshakes and more. Plus, if you want to go all out, you can buy a ticket for the Naughty Combo ($30) which involves jaffles, sausage rolls, mac ‘n’ cheese, a cocktail AND soft serve. We know—delish. You can book here. operabar.com.au/naughtymilkbar
Gelato Messina
Forest Lodge
If there’s one thing Messina knows how to do, it’s jump on a holiday. This year, they’re serving up their special ‘YOLK’S ON US’ which involves you choosing between three special gooey yolked gelato ‘crème eggs’. They all look like the same from the outside, so it’ll be a lucky dip, whether you land on the white chocolate egg, the yellow peach and vanilla egg or the mango cheesecake egg.
Vizio Caffe E Cucina
Woolloomooloo
Three days of Easter means three different menus for this local Italian establishment. And for you, that means non-stop feasting on all things Italian deliciousness. With a $65 set menu on Friday featuring fresh seafood and a glass of vino, a special a la carte menu on Saturday, and four-course Easter lunch on Sunday, Nonna definitely approves!
The Grounds
Alexandria
Not only is The Grounds open over the entire Easter long weekend, but they’ll be jam-packed with the ultimate choc-filled, bunny-hoppin’ weekend there ever was. This year’s inspo is everything Peter Rabbit (childhood mems, amirite?!) starting with an Easter egg hunt on Saturday and the infamous cracking of the 500kg chocolate Easter Egg on Sunday. They’ll have you dreaming of chocolate for months.
Manly Wharf Hotel
Manly
Kick off the Easter weekend with all things seafood at the Good Friday seaside BBQ available for lunch and dinner (12pm-10pm) at Manly Wharf Hotel this weekend. And it defs won’t hurt to wash down those jumbo prawns with a glass (or three) of frosè before transitioning straight into Sunday sesh territory with DJ sets from Midnight Juggernaut and Jaime Doom. Doors opening at midday on Sunday and DJs hitting the decks at 3pm.
Watsons Bay Boutique Hotel
Watsons Bay
This long weekend Watsons Bay Boutique Hotel has evey age group covered. The kiddies will be all over the Easter egg hunts (happening daily), adults are in for a gourmet two-course banquet, and the kidults will want to hit up the gelato cart which will be serving up hot cross bun ice cream sandwiches (we know). Meanwhile, there’ll be DJs spinning tracks in the Beach bar daily from 1pm till later. Go on, get on this one even if only for those ice cream sandwiches.
Kingsley’s
Woolloomooloo
Open allllll Easter weekend from midday to 10pm and serving up a special Easter menu, Kingsley’s knows how to do a public holiday right. The seafood platter will only be available from Good Friday to Easter Monday and with soft-shell Alaskan crab, oysters, prawns and squid…you won’t want to miss it.
The Glenmore
The Rocks
The Easter Bunny himself will be making a special appearance at The Glenmore on both Easter Saturday and Sunday at 2pm at one of the most Instagrammable spots in Syd. And obviously, he’ll be carting along chocolate treats for the kids (and adults…?). Besides closing at 10pm on Good Friday, this rooftop bar will be open regular hours, plus there’ll be additional live music from 3pm on Easter Sunday.
Barangaroo House
Barangaroo
Sydney’s newest (and luxe) spot for lunch, dinner and dranks will be open all long weekend so you never have to be far from harbour views and a kick arse espresso martini. They’ll open the doors to Barangarro House at midday on Friday (closing at 10pm—sooner if they’re quiet) and will resume regular trading hours for the rest of the weekend.
North Bondi Fish
North Bondi
You already know this is the best place to assemble the crew on a sunny afternoon and this Easter long weekend, North Bondi Fish will be kicking on every single day. They’ll close up shop at 10pm on Friday but otherwise, it’s business as usual for these guys.
CHISWICK Woollahra
Woollahra
Long weekends were made for long lunching and delish wine, which is exactly what CHISWICK is allllll about. They’ll be serving up the goods in typical garden party style this weekend all weekend, with regular trading hours.
The Royal
Leichardt
The Royal is serving up chocolate-themed cocktails all long weekend—we’re talking Mozart chocolate crème liqueur, Frangelico and cocoa liqueur and yes, of course you should order two. Throw in a 2pm visit from the Easter bunny on Easter Sunday and you’ve got yourself a rip roaring Easter date.
The Australian Heritage Hotel
The Rocks
This Easter long weekend starts Thursday night at the Australian Heritage Hotel with live music and a cold one (you have over 130 options!). Open from 11am to midnight throughout the entire weekend, the Easter bunny will be making an appearance on Sunday too. The good times will continue through to Monday with $12 Bloody Marys alllllll day…bloody excellent.
Seabreeze Beach Hotel
South West Rocks
Hop in the car (pun totalllyyy intended) and drive to South West Rocks because Seabreeze Hotel will have their doors open all long weekend. There’ll be a visit from the Easter bunny on Saturday (5pm-6pm) and Sunday (3.30pm-4.30pm) and a good old fashioned Easter egg guessing competition to accompany the totally Insta worthy location.
Anason
Barangaroo
The taste of Turkey at Sydney’s new foodie hotspot will be open between 11:30am to 10pm all Easter weekend. From the genius behind Efendy in Balmain, Anason delivers the traditional flavours of Turkey, we’re talking ahtapot (octopus, broad bean fava, sumac pickled onion) and tandir (lamb shoulder) and you know you’re already sold.
Efendy
Balmain
Meanwhile, over the bridge, everyone’s favourite Balmain’s Turkish joint, Efendy, will be open for dinner Good Friday and for breakfast, lunch and dinner Saturday and Sunday with their classic and freakin’ delish menu. But, they’ll be closed Easter Monday—don’t show up, okay.
Devon Café
Surry Hills, Barangaroo & North Sydney
With their Surry Hills and Barangaroo joints open 8am to 3:30pm over the entire weekend, rest assured that you’ll have access to a good strong cup of coffee and your fave brunch feed to break up all that choccy egg eating at Devon. And for you lucky northerners…the North Sydney location will be open 7am-10pm Good Friday, 8am-10pm Saturday, 8am-4pm Sunday and 7am-3.30pm Monday.
Cuckoo Callay
Surry Hills & Newtown
This Newtown fave and its younger Surry Hills sibling will be serving up their delish coffee and eats all Easter weekend. Keeping things nice ‘n’ simple by sticking with all their usual opening times, Cuckoo Callay will be open for breakie, brunch and lunch, with the kitchen closing at 3pm as per usual.
Langham Hotel
Milsons Point
Pinkies out—the Langham Hotel is hosting ‘Afternoon Tea with Mr Rabbit’ from Monday 19 March until Saturday 31March, 12pm - 5:00pm. Think everything Easter combined with everything high tea like carrot macaroons and carrot and vanilla scones too. Bistro Remy will be open Easter Sunday for a buffet lunch from 12pm to 3pm, plus there’ll be plenty of activities after lunch for the kids (we had you at buffet, didn’t we?).
Acre Eatery
Camperdown
Acre Eatery isn’t just open over the long weekend; their Easter itinerary is FULL ON! Between 12pm and 3pm this Friday, grab a taste of Acre Eatery’s finest wine, seafood and some of the best produce with their pop-up market stall, plus live music on the terrace. There’ll be a lamb on spit cookin’ up on Saturday, plus a gingerbread decorating class for kids (and adults who are young at heart…). Live music and a gingerbread hunt are planned for Sunday, and will be closed Monday as per their regular hours.
The Royal Hotel
Paddington
Head to Paddo at any time this Easter weekend and boy are you in for a (chocolate) treat. Feed on a Ferrero Rocher Easter brunch between 11am and 1pm on Saturday, and you’ll be stuffing yourself with Nutella-filled hot cross buns filled. And to wash down all that chocolate-y goodness, sip on the special Easter bunny cocktail, for us.
Hotel Centennial
Woollahra
With doors open over the entire Easter weekend, you’ll be able to throw all your Easter eggs into one basket at Hotel Centennial. Between 12pm and 10pm they’ll be serving up their regular (freakin’ incredible) menu which will absolutely leave you bursting at seams.
The Apollo
Potts Point
Feast on all your favourite Greek eats at The Apollo this Easter. Open for dinner on Good Friday and regular hours on Saturday and Sunday (lunch annnnd dinner), you’ll catch us stuffing our gobs with lamb shoulder and loukoumades all damn night.
Cho Cho San
Potts Point
Closed both Good Friday and Easter Monday, Cho Cho San is opening their doors on Saturday and Sunday only this long weekend. Serving up absolutely bangin’ sashimi and pork katsu steamed buns, if you need a break from chocolate and craving Japanese, Potts Point is the place to be.
Sotto Sopra
Newport
Calling all Italian lovers (that’s everyone, right?) because Sotto Sopra is keeping that oven fired up all Easter weekend. Open for lunch and dinner every day, the Northern Beaches kids will be able to get their mitts on some fineeee food all Easter.
Looking for something to do once the Easter craze is over, check out this market coming to Sydney this April?
Image credit: Watsons Bay Boutique Hotel