Back in August 2024, the NSW Government announced that they had repealed the long-outdated ban on standing while drinking outside Sydney venues. Now, the City of Sydney is taking alfresco fun a step further, with all on-road dining fees permanently waived across the local area. That means, as summer approaches, we’ll be seeing a whole lot more alfresco dining setups on pavements and street corners around Sydney. Paris? Who needs her.
Back in November 2020, as Sydney began to emerge from its first lockdown, a program was introduced to encourage more outdoor dining across the city – with fee waivers and fast-tracked approvals designed to help businesses set up tables in the open air. According to Lord Mayor of Sydney Clover Moore AO, almost 1,000 outdoor dining applications have been approved since late 2020, creating around 13,000 square metres of alfresco dining space across the city. The main winners in all this? The patrons, arguably (you really can’t beat a glass of natural wine and a plate of salty snacks on a sun-drenched table). But the boost to businesses isn’t to be sniffed at either, with the City of Sydney estimating the on-street dining initiative has delivered a $20-million lift for hospitality venues across the city. The decision to scrap outdoor dining fees entirely is part of a broader push by the NSW Government and City of Sydney to keep supporting the industry.
“Three-quarters of participating businesses have said the boost in customer numbers meant they needed to hire more employees, with more than a third seeing a 20% increase in turnover,” said Lord Mayor Clover Moore AO, describing the real value to our city as “immeasurable.”
The removal of fees means more businesses (and more Sydneysiders) will be able to enjoy the benefits of outdoor dining – though venues will still need to apply before setting up tables in the sunshine.
“Our priority is to ensure the city continues to have thriving outdoor dining spaces while maintaining sufficient space for others, including those pushing prams or in wheelchairs.”
Businesses interested in participating in the on-road dining program or extending their current permits should apply to the City of Sydney here.
Keen for a Spritz in the sun? You’ll soon have endless options. In the meantime, these are the best beer gardens in Sydney.
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