Dine with the Dead at the Most Mysterious Halloween Banquet

Hidden deep within the historic walls of The Rocks, something extraordinary is returning this Halloween. The Dark Dinner, the Ghost Festival’s most exclusive and mysterious experience, will once again open its gates for one unforgettable night of indulgence, theatre, and fire.

On Friday, October 31, guests will step into Foundation Park, a secret, candle‑lit corner of The Rocks transformed into a gothic dining hall where the living and the dead come together for a feast like no other.

This year’s Dark Dinner will be helmed by Chef Neil Nolan from Pony Dining, one of The Rocks’ most celebrated culinary talents. Known for his mastery of open‑flame cooking and elegant Australian produce, Nolan curated a degustation menu designed to be shared, paired with fine wines and a touch of the unexpected. Each course will unfold like a chapter in a dark fairytale, from smoky aromas to delicately haunting flavours, all served under the flicker of firelight.

But what truly sets The Dark Dinner apart is the immersive theatre woven between each course. As guests dine, ghostly performers will emerge from the shadows, fire artists will dance beneath the sandstone cliffs, and the night will build towards a finale that blurs the line between dining, storytelling, and ritual.

It is not just a dinner. It is an invitation to taste the night, fear the unknown, and dine with the dead.

Tickets are $209 per person, including a full degustation menu, wine pairing, and live performances. Places are strictly limited, with only a handful of tables available for this once‑a‑year Halloween gathering.

Bookings are now open via ghostfestival.com.au, and the organisers warn: those who wait too long may find the doors have already closed.