Melbourne Cup Lunch
The race that stops a nation, eaten the Italian way. Four shared courses at La Botte D'Oro, the race live on the big screen, a sweep and a prize for best dressed. Tuesday 3 November 2026, from 12pm.
Set menu only — bookings are essential and the room fills early on Cup day.
The Day
Three minutes of racing, and the rest of the afternoon at the table. We have always thought the table was the better part.
On the first Tuesday in November the country puts down what it is doing and watches one race. Most of the day around it is lunch — and lunch is what we do.
On Tuesday 3 November the kitchen sends out four courses to the middle of the table: antipasti from the wood-fired oven and the fryer, two pastas, then a choice between a 1kg T-bone with truffle butter and gamberoni aglio e olio, and cannoli and tiramisu to finish with coffee and amaro.
The race goes up on the big screen. There is a sweep, so everyone has something to shout for, and a prize for best dressed — Cup day is the one lunch of the year where overdressing is the point.
It is set menu only. The whole room eats the same thing at the same time, which is the only way a kitchen gets every table fed before the horses jump.
$99 per person. Bookings are essential, and Cup day books out early.
Nov Melbourne Cup
from 12pm
Why Here
A race day that is really a long lunch
The Race on the Big Screen
Live, loud, and from your table — nobody has to stand at a bar to see the finish.
A Sweep and a Best-Dressed Prize
Everyone draws a horse, so everyone has something to shout for — and there is a prize for whoever dressed for it properly.
Four Courses Down the Middle
Antipasti and pasta arrive to share and keep arriving. It is the opposite of a plated function lunch.
One Price, No Surprises
$99 a head for all four courses, chosen before the day so nobody is doing arithmetic at the table.
Built for a Table of Twelve
Office, family or the whole street — for twelve or more, chef Gabriele takes the booking himself and sets the room up around you.
Since 1977
In Sydney's original Little Italy, on Marion Street in Leichhardt — ten minutes from the CBD and a world away from a marquee.
The Details
Good to Know
Frequently asked questions
Tuesday 3 November 2026 at La Botte D'Oro, 137 Marion Street, Leichhardt, from 12pm. The race is run in the afternoon and shown live on the big screen. Bookings are essential.
$99 per person for the four-course sharing menu. Drinks are ordered separately on the day.
Antipasti to share: garlic pizza with rosemary and sea salt, gnocco fritto with prosciutto, pistachio and burrata, Nonna's parmigiana di melanzane, and calamari fritti with lemon aioli. Pasta: spaghetti marinara with prawns, mussels and cherry tomatoes, and paccheri alla Norcina. Secondi: your choice of a 1kg T-bone with truffle butter or gamberoni aglio e olio, both with rocket and parmigiano salad and rosemary chips. Dolci: cannoli siciliani and a slice of tiramisu, with coffee and amaro.
No — Cup day is set menu only. The whole room eats the same thing at the same time, which is the only way the kitchen gets every table served before the race.
It is a set menu, so please tell us about allergies or dietary needs when you book — call (02) 9560 1349 or email eat@labottedoro.com.au — and we will let you know what the kitchen can do on the day.
Book online via OpenTable, email eat@labottedoro.com.au, or call (02) 9560 1349. For twelve or more, speak to chef Gabriele Franco directly on 0403 458 326 and he will set the room up around your table.
Spend the race at the table
Tuesday 3 November 2026, from 12pm · La Botte D'Oro, Leichhardt. Four shared courses for $99 per person, the race live on the big screen, a sweep and a prize for best dressed. Set menu only — and Cup day books out early.
Book a TableMelbourne Cup lunch in Leichhardt — a race day long lunch in Sydney's Inner West
Looking for a Melbourne Cup venue in Sydney that is a restaurant rather than a marquee? On Tuesday 3 November 2026, La Botte D'Oro in Leichhardt serves a four-course sharing lunch from 12pm for $99 per person, with the race live on the big screen, a sweep and a prize for best dressed. Garlic pizza, gnocco fritto with prosciutto, pistachio and burrata, Nonna's parmigiana and calamari fritti to start; spaghetti marinara and paccheri alla Norcina to follow; then your choice of a 1kg T-bone with truffle butter or gamberoni aglio e olio, with rocket and parmigiano salad and rosemary chips; and cannoli siciliani with tiramisu, coffee and amaro to finish. It is set menu only, and drinks are ordered separately.
Cup day books out early, so reserve your table via OpenTable, email eat@labottedoro.com.au or call (02) 9560 1349. Booking for twelve or more? Speak to chef Gabriele Franco directly on 0403 458 326. Explore our full menu, see what else is on at What's On, or plan a bigger celebration with private dining & functions.