OPA! Yulli's Surry Hills will transform Wednesday nights this June with a Greek-inspired vegan banquet, live bouzouki music, and Mediterranean flavours.
Winter settles differently across Surry Hills. The afternoon light fades earlier, café windows glow against the cool air, and the familiar rhythm of Crown Street takes on a slower pace. Along one of Sydney’s most character-filled strips, conversations drift from tables, coats are pulled tighter, and diners seek out places that offer warmth beyond the temperature.
This June, that warmth will arrive with a distinctly Mediterranean accent as OPA! Yulli's Surry Hills celebrates Greek Month. Across four Wednesdays, the long-established vegan restaurant will invite guests to gather around a Greek-inspired banquet while the sounds of live bouzouki music fill the room. It is an event that speaks as much to community and shared meals as it does to food itself.
For a few evenings during the heart of winter, a corner of Surry Hills will carry the spirit of a Greek taverna, bringing together tradition, conversation and the simple pleasure of eating well in good company.
OPA! Yulli's Surry Hills and the Tradition of Shared Tables
Long before menus became trends and dining experiences became carefully curated concepts, Greek food centred on the communal table. Plates arrived one after another, dishes were shared freely, and meals unfolded slowly over stories, laughter and music.
The upcoming OPA! Yulli's Surry Hills series embraces that tradition. Rather than focusing on individual orders, the evening will revolve around a banquet designed to be enjoyed collectively. Guests will move through multiple courses inspired by classic Greek flavours while remaining true to Yulli's long-standing commitment to plant-based dining.
There is something particularly fitting about this style of meal during winter. Shared plates encourage conversation. The act of passing food around a table creates small moments of connection. In a city where schedules often dictate the pace of life, these evenings will offer an opportunity to slow down.
As the bouzouki music begins and dishes arrive in sequence, the atmosphere will likely feel less like a restaurant service and more like a gathering among friends.
The Flavours Behind OPA! Yulli's Surry Hills
The menu created for OPA! Yulli's Surry Hills draws inspiration from familiar Greek ingredients while interpreting them through a modern vegan lens.
The banquet will begin with a mezze plate featuring house pickles, roasted vegetables, olives, fava, tzatziki and crispy flatbread. It is a course designed to encourage sharing from the outset, echoing the opening moments of a traditional Mediterranean feast.
From there, guests will move through a selection of vegetable-forward dishes. Lemon pepper cauliflower florets arrive alongside tzatziki, while roasted field mushrooms are paired with braised tomatoes. Charred tofu souvlaki with olive tapenade offers a plant-based interpretation of one of Greece’s most recognisable street foods.
The third course continues the journey with lentil moussaka, horta dressed in lemon juice and extra virgin olive oil, and baked zucchini accompanied by braised beans and artichoke purée.
Finally, the evening concludes with loukoumades – Greek doughnuts served with spiced syrup. Warm, sweet and comforting, they provide a fitting finish to a menu inspired by hospitality and abundance.
Importantly, the banquet remains entirely vegan, with coeliac-friendly options available, ensuring that a wide range of diners can take part in the experience.
Music and Atmosphere at OPA! Yulli's Surry Hills
Food may provide the structure for the evening, but music will shape much of its atmosphere.
Across Greece, live music has long played a role in bringing communities together. Whether in village squares, family celebrations or bustling tavernas, the sound of stringed instruments often becomes part of the memory of a meal.
During OPA! Yulli's Surry Hills, live bouzouki performances will accompany the banquet throughout the evening. The instrument’s distinctive sound carries both energy and nostalgia, capable of filling a room without overwhelming conversation.
As guests settle into their meals, the music will create a subtle bridge between Sydney and the Mediterranean. It will not transport diners to another place entirely; rather, it will introduce echoes of another culture into a familiar local setting.
That blending of influences has long been part of Sydney’s identity. The city thrives on traditions brought from elsewhere and reinterpreted through local communities. Events such as this reflect that ongoing cultural exchange.
A Winter Gathering in the Heart of Surry Hills
Part of the appeal of OPA! Yulli's Surry Hills lies in its location. Crown Street has long served as one of Sydney’s great social thoroughfares, where neighbourhood regulars, visitors and curious diners move between cafés, bars and restaurants throughout the week.
In winter, the street takes on a particular charm. Warm interiors contrast with the crisp evening air, and dining becomes less about rushing from one destination to another and more about lingering.
Throughout June, Yulli's will become one of those places where people pause. Some will arrive for the Greek-inspired menu. Others will be drawn by the music. Many will likely come for both.
As the evening progresses and conversations continue around shared plates, the event will offer a reminder that hospitality is often at its most memorable when it feels uncomplicated. Good food, live music and a welcoming room can be enough.
When guests step back onto Crown Street at the end of the night, the sounds of the bouzouki may fade behind them, but the warmth of the experience is likely to linger long after.
Event Details
Event: OPA! Yulli's Surry Hills – Greek Month
Dates: Every Wednesday in June (3, 10, 17 and 24 June)
Time: 12:00pm – 11:00pm
Location: Yulli's, 417 Crown Street, Surry Hills, Sydney
Menu: Greek-inspired vegan banquet, $48 per person
Dietary Options: 100% vegan, coeliac-friendly options available
Bookings: www.yullis.com.au | (02) 9319 6609
Official Website: https://www.yullis.com.au