Christmas and New Year in Australia: Celebrate the Italian Way in Sydney
Christmas and New Year in Australia Italian dining at Da Mario
Planning Christmas and New Year in Australia feels very different from planning the same celebration in Europe. December in Sydney means summer evenings, long lunches, end-of-year work functions, family gatherings and plenty of opportunities to share food around the table.
For people who enjoy Italian food and relaxed group dining, that creates a simple festive formula: start with shareable antipasti, move into wood-fired pizza or house-made pasta, add drinks, then finish with dessert and coffee.
At Da Mario in Rosebery, groups can plan Christmas lunches, end-of-year dinners and pre-New Year gatherings around Italian dishes designed to work naturally across the table.
This guide explains how to organise Christmas and New Year in Australia with an Italian approach, what to order, how to plan for groups and what to consider before December bookings become difficult to secure.
Quick Answer: What Is the Best Way to Plan a Christmas or New Year Dinner in Sydney?
For most groups, the easiest option is to decide on your guest list first, choose whether you want an informal shared dinner or a structured set menu, book early and keep the food simple enough for everyone to enjoy.
If you are planning a larger group, Da Mario's set menus are particularly useful because the meal structure is organised in advance. Current set-menu options are $64, $79 and $96 per person for guests aged 13 and over, while a $34 bambini menu is available for children aged 5–12. A set menu is required for groups of 15 or more, including children from five years old.
A Festive Italian Menu Plan for Christmas and New Year
| Festive Moment | Da Mario Menu Direction | Why It Works |
|---|---|---|
| Arrival and first drinks | Olive, Focaccina and Burrata Caprese | Light, shareable dishes make an easy start while everyone arrives. |
| Family Christmas lunch | Calamari, Margherita, Capricciosa and Tagliatelle al Ragu | Familiar dishes work well across different ages and tastes. |
| Work Christmas dinner | $79 or $96 set menu | A planned menu reduces ordering decisions for larger office groups. |
| New Year dinner with friends | Gamberi, Diavola, Spaghettoni Mare and the drinks list | A lively combination for an end-of-year dinner. |
| Families with children | $34 bambini menu, Patatine Fritte and Gelato | Keeps the younger guests' meal straightforward. |
| Sweet finish | Tiramisu, Panna Cotta, Gelato or Affogato | Dessert and coffee give the celebration a natural finish. |
Christmas and New Year in Australia group dinner in Sydney
Why Italian Food Fits an Australian Christmas
Traditional European Christmas food is often built around cold-weather comfort. In Sydney, December calls for a different approach. Long lunches, summer evenings and group gatherings generally work better when the meal feels social rather than overly formal.
That is why Italian food can suit Christmas and New Year in Australia particularly well. Antipasti can arrive while guests settle in, pizza can be shared across the table and pasta gives the meal enough substance without making the celebration unnecessarily complicated.
At Da Mario, useful starters from the menu include Focaccina for $15, Burrata Caprese for $23, Calamari for $24 and Arancini ai Quattro Formaggi for $18.
For the main part of the meal, groups can mix pizzas such as Margherita at $24, Diavola at $27, Capricciosa at $29 and Gamberi at $32 with pasta dishes including Tagliatelle al Ragu at $33 and Spaghettoni Mare at $38.
Planning a Work Christmas Dinner
Office Christmas dinners are usually easier when nobody has to spend the first 30 minutes deciding what everyone should order.
If you are arranging a larger end-of-year function, start by confirming your numbers and budget. Then decide whether the group needs a structured menu.
Da Mario's group bookings information is a useful starting point for teams planning an end-of-year meal.
You may also find our guide to choosing an Italian set menu for your group helpful if you are deciding between individual ordering and a pre-arranged menu.
For companies comparing different types of venues, our guide to Christmas function venue formats explains how restaurant bookings, private rooms and other event formats differ.
A Simple Work Christmas Checklist
- Confirm the number of guests.
- Set an approximate food and drinks budget.
- Ask about dietary requirements early.
- Choose between an à la carte meal and set menu.
- Confirm the booking time and duration.
- Arrange transport before the night.
- Send your team the final details several days beforehand.
If your gathering is more formal or includes clients, our guide to hosting an executive business dinner in Sydney also covers useful planning details.
Christmas and New Year in Australia Italian festive menu
Planning Christmas With Family
A family celebration usually needs more flexibility than a work dinner. Children, grandparents and different dietary preferences can all be part of the same table.
For this type of Christmas and New Year in Australia gathering, shared dishes make ordering easier.
You might start with Burrata Caprese and Calamari, add pizzas such as Margherita and Capricciosa, then include something more substantial like Tagliatelle al Ragu.
Families with children can also use the $34 bambini menu for ages 5–12. Younger diners may prefer simple options, while adults can continue with the wider menu.
When the main meal is finished, Da Mario's desserts include Tiramisu for $15, Panna Cotta for $15, Gelato from $6 per scoop and Affogato for $9.
Planning a Christmas Party Rather Than a Traditional Dinner
Not every December booking needs to look like a formal Christmas dinner.
Some groups simply want a relaxed restaurant table where friends can meet, order drinks and share food before everyone's holiday schedules become busy.
If that sounds more like your plan, the same principles used for party venues in Sydney apply: choose somewhere convenient, confirm the booking conditions and make sure the menu is suitable for the entire group.
Da Mario's events offering covers birthdays, engagements, work gatherings and other group occasions in Rosebery.
If privacy matters, you can also read our comparison of semi-private and fully private dining in Sydney before deciding what type of setting you need.
What About New Year's Celebrations?
New Year gatherings are often less formal than Christmas lunches. Friends may prefer a good dinner before heading elsewhere later in the evening, while families may choose to meet earlier and finish before the busiest part of the night.
For that kind of meal, pizza, pasta and drinks work naturally.
A New Year table could include Gamberi pizza, Diavola, Spaghettoni Mare and a selection from Da Mario's drinks list.
The main consideration is timing. New Year is one of the busiest periods on Sydney's calendar, so a spontaneous booking is much harder than it might be during an ordinary week.
The Da Mario project information confirms that the restaurant is closed on Christmas Day and New Year's Day, so festive celebrations should be planned for the surrounding dates rather than those two days.
Christmas and New Year in Australia wood-fired pizza celebration
Book Before December Gets Busy
For Christmas and New Year in Australia, waiting until the last moment creates unnecessary problems.
Restaurant availability becomes tighter, larger tables become harder to organise and coordinating everyone's schedule gets more difficult as December approaches.
For a company event, it is sensible to start the booking process as soon as your guest numbers are reasonably clear. Family and friendship groups should also avoid assuming that a large table will be available without notice.
You can use Da Mario's reservations page for regular bookings or review the group bookings information if you are organising a larger gathering.
Consider Rosebery Instead of the Sydney CBD
Many people automatically look in the CBD when planning a company Christmas dinner or end-of-year event. It is worth considering surrounding areas as well.
Da Mario is located at Shop 1/36 Morley Ave in Rosebery. The location can be practical for groups travelling from nearby areas such as Alexandria, Zetland, Green Square and Mascot, as well as guests coming from the CBD.
For people comparing different event locations, our function venues Sydney guide discusses some of the practical considerations involved in choosing a venue.
Our guide to restaurant venue hire in Sydney is also useful if your Christmas celebration is closer to a private or organised event than a standard dinner reservation.
Do Not Forget Dietary Requirements
Dietary requirements should be collected when people RSVP rather than when everyone sits down.
Da Mario marks gluten-free availability on selected dishes, and house-made gluten-free pasta can be added for $4. The current Da Mario menu should always be checked when finalising choices.
If gluten-free options are particularly important for your group, read our guide to gluten-free Italian restaurants.
Christmas Group Dining Should Be Easy for the Host Too
A common mistake is planning every detail around the guests while leaving the organiser managing the entire event throughout dinner.
A good festive booking should allow the host to sit down and enjoy the meal.
That is one reason structured group dining and set menus can work well. Once numbers, timing and dietary requirements have been confirmed, there are fewer decisions to make at the table.
If you are comparing event-focused options, our guide to a Christmas function venue in Sydney provides additional planning advice.
Christmas and New Year in Australia family dining in Rosebery
Frequently Asked Questions
When should I book a Christmas restaurant in Sydney?
For larger groups, earlier is better. Christmas work functions, family lunches and end-of-year dinners often compete for the same December dates, particularly Thursday, Friday and Saturday bookings.
Is Da Mario open on Christmas Day?
Da Mario is closed on Christmas Day, so Christmas gatherings should be planned for the surrounding dates. Always confirm current festive trading hours before finalising your booking.
Is Da Mario open on New Year's Day?
Da Mario is closed on New Year's Day. If you are planning a New Year gathering, organise your dinner before or after 1 January and confirm the restaurant's festive opening hours when booking.
Does Da Mario have set menus for Christmas groups?
Yes. Da Mario offers set menus at $64, $79 and $96 per person for guests aged 13 and over. A $34 bambini menu is available for children aged 5–12. Groups of 15 or more, including children aged five and over, use a set menu.
What Italian food works well for an Australian Christmas?
Shareable antipasti, wood-fired pizza, pasta, salads and desserts suit a Sydney summer celebration particularly well. Da Mario options include Burrata Caprese, Calamari, Margherita, Gamberi, Tagliatelle al Ragu, Spaghettoni Mare, Tiramisu and Panna Cotta. View the Da Mario menu for current choices.
Can I organise a work Christmas event at Da Mario?
Yes. Da Mario caters for work events, group dinners and other celebrations in Rosebery. Visit the events page or contact Da Mario to discuss your group.
Plan Your Festive Table at Da Mario
The best Christmas and New Year in Australia celebrations do not need to be complicated. Confirm your guest list, choose a menu style that suits the group, collect dietary requirements and book before the busiest December dates disappear.
For a Sydney celebration with an Italian approach, Da Mario offers antipasti, wood-fired pizza, pasta, set menus, drinks and desserts in Rosebery.
Explore the Da Mario menu , review the set menus , or make a reservation when your plans are ready.
Contact & Location
Da Mario
Shop 1/36 Morley Ave
Rosebery, Sydney NSW 2018
Phone: (02) 9669 2242
Email: bookatable@damario.com.au
Da Mario Next Door
The Cannery, Kiosk 6
61-71 Mentmore Ave
Rosebery, Sydney NSW 2018
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Planning a Christmas lunch, end-of-year dinner, family gathering or festive celebration in Sydney? Reserve your table at Da Mario in Rosebery.
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