The Oriana opened its doors on 21 May at Circular Quay, transforming the former Quay restaurant and Squire’s Landing site into a 1500-capacity, four-level dining destination. The venue spans from a casual beer garden to formal restaurant dining, all under one roof with uninterrupted harbour views.
Named after the SS Oriana, one of the first ocean liners to dock at Circular Quay in the 1960s, the venue comes from Australian Venue Co, the hospitality group behind Kingsleys Woolloomooloo and BrewDog Sydney. The transformation took just over two months after Australian Venue Co secured the lease in February.
The concept eliminates the traditional Circular Quay venue-hopping experience. Guests can start with drinks in the ground-floor beer garden, move to the pub on Level 1, dine at the 150-seat restaurant opening 22 May, or book the private Harbour Room on Level 3 for events. Each level maintains harbour views while offering different price points and formality levels.
Operations Manager Hugo Pedler said the refurbishment prioritised warmth and comfort across all four floors. “We’ve spent a significant amount of capital on doing an amazing fit-out, a big change to the space. The tones are much warmer, it feels like a much more comfortable space.”
The design uses warm timbers, bronze finishes and textured materials inspired by harbour life. New lighting, furniture, carpets and curtains create visual cohesion while preserving each level’s distinct character. The venue is fully wheelchair accessible with step-free ground floor access and lifts to all levels.
The Oriana’s restaurant focuses on seasonal New South Wales produce and seafood. The elevated menu includes chilled seafood platters with Bluefin tuna crudo, king crab, Southern rock lobster, and Hokkaido scallops with finger lime. Murray River cod with butter emulsion and lobster tagliatelle feature among the à la carte offerings.
The opening coincides with Vivid Sydney, positioning The Oriana as a festival hub with prime Harbour Bridge and Opera House sightlines. During the 23-day festival, the venue operates seven days from 5pm to 10pm with nightly live music performances. Limited-time offerings include a Four Pillars outdoor pop-up bar and a 15-minute tableside Martini Trolley experience on Level 1.
Level 3 houses The Oriana Harbour Room, a private dining and events space for corporate gatherings, weddings and milestone occasions. The flexible space overlooks Circular Quay with catering available across all venue levels.
The site previously housed two separate venues: Quay, the fine dining restaurant led by Peter Gilmore, and Squire’s Landing, a two-level microbrewery and pub. The Overseas Passenger Terminal location has served as a social gathering point for more than six decades since opening.
For Vivid Sydney visitors, restaurant bookings for Level 2 are essential to secure window seating during the festival period. The beer garden and pub levels welcome walk-ins, making them accessible for spontaneous harbour-view drinks without reservations.
The tableside Martini Trolley and Four Pillars pop-up bar operate exclusively during Vivid Sydney, ending 13 June. After the festival, The Oriana will announce regular operating hours for each level.
Quick Facts
The Oriana
The Oriana is a four-level dining destination in Circular Quay, delivering a dynamic multi-level dining concept and uninterrupted harbour views. Opened in May 2026 by Australian Venue Co, it consolidates the former Quay and Squires Landing into an integrated venue with a beer garden, pub, restaurant, and private events space.
Australian Venue Co
Australian Venue Co is the group behind the likes of Brewdog, The Winery and Cargo Bar. The hospitality group operates numerous venues across Sydney and took over the Overseas Passenger Terminal lease in February 2026 to create The Oriana.
Overseas Passenger Terminal, Circular Quay
The terminal was built to provide better accommodation for the many larger passenger ships being built after World War II which brought thousands of migrants to Australia from Europe. By the time it was completed, the move away from sea to air travel had already begun and ironically, the first ship to use the terminal was the cruise liner, SS Oriana. Now home to The Oriana dining destination.