A Taste of HQ is returning to Hollywood Quarter for Vivid Sydney 2026
Hollywood Quarter is closing Foster and Hunt Streets to traffic on May 30 during Vivid Sydney 2026 for A Taste of HQ: Street Eats Edition. The food event returns for 2026 after last year’s edition doubled normal weekend trade for the precinct. From 4 pm to 11 pm, chefs from Firedoor, Nel, Chin Chin, Kiln and Butter will serve everything from cult burgers and lobster rolls to late-night bites and reimagined comfort food. Minister for Jobs and Tourism Steve Kamper said, “Vivid Sydney delivers a major boost to Sydney’s visitor and night-time economies, supporting precincts like Hollywood Quarter during the typically quieter winter months. The tantalising offerings at A Taste of HQ will draw visitors to one of Sydney’s most dynamic precincts, supporting local jobs and businesses. “Events like HQ After Hours also showcase Sydney’s growing reputation as a vibrant global city with a diverse and thriving after-dark culture.” New for 2026 is Creatives’ Quarter, taking over Hunt Street with hands-on workshops, live music, street performers and pop-up creative activities including sneaker art workshops, drag-led neon life drawing, clay sculpting, face painting and caricature artists. Nine Sydney chefs The line-up reflects a cross-section of Sydney’s dining repertoire, spanning fire-led cooking and menus that celebrate spice, street culture and narrative focused dining. Lennox Hastie leads Firedoor, Australia’s first fully wood-fired restaurant, and Gildas, his Basque-inspired wine bar. Remy Davis of Bessie’s brings fire-led seasonal cooking shaped by time at Elkano, Sabor and OMA. Lakhan Bhounsie of Nomad is known for bold wood-fire cooking with Mediterranean influence and spice-driven flavour. Matthew MacLeod brings Chin Chin’s high-energy Thai and Southeast Asian approach to the street. Julian Cincotta is the co-founder of Butter Sydney, where fried chicken, hip-hop, sneakers and champagne have made it one of the city’s defining street culture venues. Michael Shafran founded Brooklyn Boy Bagels on authentic New York-style bagels and a street-level approach to hospitality. Nelly Robinson of Nel is known for immersive, narrative-led dining that blends nostalgia and seasonal Australian produce. Josh Raine of 40Res is a produce-led chef whose approach has been shaped by Michelin-starred kitchens across Europe and Australia. Isobel Whelan-Little is the Culinary Director of Ace Hotel Sydney, overseeing Kiln and Loam, known for live-fire cooking. Precinct Manager Lorraine Lock said, “We love being part of Vivid Sydney, it’s when the whole city comes alive. For us, A Taste of HQ is about bringing our venues out onto the street and showcasing the talent within this precinct. It’s local, collaborative and captures the energy of Hollywood Quarter in a way that feels open and distinctly Sydney.” Julian Cincotta, Chef and Co-founder of Butter Sydney and menu curator for A Taste of HQ: Street Eats Edition, said, “There’s an incredible concentration of talent in Hollywood Quarter, so bringing this group of chefs together was a natural fit. It’s about translating what we do in our venues to the street, giving people the chance to experience multiple venues in one place, in a format that’s fun but still grounded in serious cooking.” Minister for Transport, Minister for Music and the Night-Time Economy John Graham, added, “The Hollywood Quarter really embraces the concept of open streets, bringing its high-calibre local businesses – including some of the best chefs in Sydney – together in this free event, which already has a history of attracting a large crowd. “Last year’s event doubled normal weekend trade, proving again that the community is sold on well-managed street parties where everyone feels welcome.” The broader HQ Vivid Sydney program continues across the precinct, with late-night activations inside surrounding venues running into the early hours. A Taste of HQ: Street Eats Edition takes place Saturday, May 30, at Hollywood Quarter, Foster and Hunt Streets, Sydney. Source: Electric Collective Find more food and drink news on Crumb Wire.