Private dining rooms transform December celebrations from functional to memorable. Sydney’s premium restaurants offer spaces ranging from intimate 8-person rooms to full-floor suites accommodating 100 guests, each with distinct culinary identities and ambient appeal.
Saké Restaurant & Bar
Contemporary Japanese dining at Saké brings unexpected sophistication to Christmas celebrations. The Rocks location houses the impressive Rocks Room — a full-floor private suite with its own dedicated bar and complete AV setup. The space adapts beautifully for up to 100 guests for cocktail receptions or 70 for seated banquets.
Brand Culinary Chef Shimpei Hatanaka’s menu showcases precise Japanese technique through dishes such as Miso-glazed Glacier 51 Toothfish and Hiramasa Kingfish sashimi. The banquet-style service encourages natural interaction as successive dishes arrive at the table, keeping conversation flowing throughout the evening.
Smaller gatherings enjoy intimate alternatives. The Cherry and Blossom rooms each fit 8 guests for omakase experiences, while the Double Bay offers private rooms for 10–20 guests — ideal for eastern suburbs teams wanting to celebrate locally.
The combination of contemporary Japanese cuisine and flexible private spaces makes Saké a standout choice for teams seeking a refined alternative to traditional Christmas dining.
Rockpool Bar & Grill
Ranking #12 among the world’s best steakhouses in 2025 carries real weight. Rockpool leverages sixteen years of consistency to deliver Christmas functions that truly matter.
Private dining scales seamlessly: the Boardroom’s eight seats suit executive dinners; the Hunter Room’s 30-person capacity handles department celebrations; and the Mezzanine provides semi-private space for events that don’t require complete separation.
Executive Chef Santiago Aristizabal doesn’t chase trends — just perfection. Wood-fired Wagyu, dry-aged beef, and Sydney Rock oysters form the backbone of a menu built on excellence through repetition, not reinvention.
The Collective
Three restaurants operating within one heritage precinct create unique opportunities for progressive Christmas celebrations — The Collective multiplies the possibilities.
The Garden opens the night with alfresco drinks for up to 100 guests, where festoon lighting and heritage sandstone walls create an instant festive atmosphere. The Dining Room then accommodates 200 seated for dinner service, with restored architecture and dedicated bar facilities ensuring smooth transitions. Tailor Room completes the evening with bespoke cocktails for 20 guests in an intimate, VIP-style setting.
The true advantage appears as energy naturally builds. Groups can move between spaces or split into smaller gatherings — all without taxis, transfers, or juggling multiple venues.
Spice Temple
Spice Temple’s regional Chinese cuisine, led by Executive Chef Andy Evans, creates shared dining experiences that turn corporate obligations into genuine celebrations.
Numbing Wagyu with black bean, cumin-spiced lamb cutlets, and handmade noodles arrive as conversation starters rather than background dishes. Four newly refreshed private rooms — Silk, Spice, Pearl, and Orchid — each handle 12–24 guests depending on setup, with adjacent rooms connecting for groups of around 32.
Moody lighting and sultry interiors add a deliberately festive edge. Banquet service keeps conversation flowing instead of pausing between plated courses. For teams prioritising interaction and atmosphere over formality, Spice Temple delivers perfectly.
The Cut Bar & Grill
Privacy and atmosphere combine naturally in this underground Rocks steakhouse. The Cut delivers intimacy through architecture.
The Wine Room offers complete exclusivity for 12 guests, surrounded by views into the wine cellar. The Rocks Room expands to 22 while maintaining its refined, private feel. Full venue hire accommodates about 60 seated or 120 cocktail-style when total exclusivity is preferred.
The menu centres on bourbon-aged Blackmore Wagyu with a 9+ marble score. Instead of broad menus, The Cut focuses on doing fewer things exceptionally well. Leather interiors and historic sandstone walls need almost no decoration to feel festive.
24 York
Complete simplicity, executed flawlessly — that’s 24 York. One menu item: premium scotch fillet with tallow-fried shoestring frites and house-made sauces. This singular focus eliminates group ordering debates while maintaining high-end quality and consistency.
Group bookings integrate smoothly into the polished main restaurant near Wynyard. Full venue hire accommodates up to 250 standing or 180 seated for major celebrations. The central York Street location makes it ideal for CBD corporate teams.
Choosing Your Private Dining Space
Private dining requirements vary by group size and celebration style. Saké offers flexibility from 8-person rooms to a full-floor suite, while Rockpool’s five distinct private rooms scale from boardroom intimacy to larger departmental gatherings.
There are no compromises across these Christmas function venues in Sydney — only proven excellence, attentive service, and premium spaces that make December memorable. Reserve your private space at Saké or explore Rockpool, The Collective, Spice Temple, The Cut, and 24 York.
Frequently Asked Questions
What size private dining rooms are available at these venues?
For 8–12 guests, consider Rockpool’s Boardroom, The Cut’s Wine Room, or Saké’s Cherry and Blossom rooms. Groups of 20–30 fit well in Rockpool’s Hunter Room, Spice Temple’s private rooms, or The Cut’s Rocks Room. Larger celebrations of 50–100 are best suited to Saké’s Rocks Room or The Collective’s Dining Room.
How much should we budget for private dining?
Set menus with beverages typically range from $75–$150 per person, depending on venue tier and menu selection. Private room bookings often carry minimum spends of $4,500–$15,000, varying by capacity, date, and service period. Request a tailored quote when enquiring.
Which venues work best for corporate formality versus casual teams?
Rockpool and The Cut suit formal corporate entertaining with polished service and prestige settings. The Collective and 24 York are ideal for more relaxed team gatherings, while Saké and Spice Temple balance sophistication with festive energy.
Can private dining accommodate mixed dietary requirements?
Yes. All venues handle dietary needs with advance notice. Saké’s Japanese menu naturally includes gluten-free and pescatarian options. Banquet service at Saké and Spice Temple works especially well for varied diets, as sharing plates provide built-in flexibility.
Do we need to book the entire venue or just a private room?
Most offer both. Private rooms at Rockpool (8–30 guests), Spice Temple (12–24 per room), The Cut (12–22 guests), and Saké (8–100 depending on room) cater to different group sizes.
Full venue hire suits larger celebrations or those seeking complete exclusivity.
What AV capabilities do private dining rooms have?
Saké’s Rocks Room includes a complete AV setup for presentations or entertainment. Rockpool’s larger rooms and The Collective’s venues also support AV requirements. Confirm equipment needs — screens, microphones, or sound systems — when booking to ensure seamless setup.
*Saké Restaurant & Bar practices the responsible service of alcohol. Drink responsibly.
