Theatre at Circular Quay

 The Main Event  Opera, The Opera House
Forget dinner and a movie; if it's romance you're after look no further than Sydney's iconic Opera House. With endless balconies giving you all but 360-degree views of the harbour, and beer, wine and bubbles flowing freely from the various bars, this venue is all about glamour. As for the opera itself, what better way to quicken the heartbeat than with Donizetti's gloriously tuneful tale of doomed love, Lucia di Lammermoor? With britches, bustles and blood aplenty, this is a production that will delight aficionados and opera novices alike, and sweep you away (possibly on horseback) to the passion and intrigue of the Scottish moors.

 Eat  Guillaume at Bennelong Have a spare 45 minutes before the show? Order a glass of Champagne and Sydney's best crab sandwiches at the Bennelong Bar.

 Drink  Opera Bar For breathtaking views of Sydney Harbour, Redback beer on tap and an impressive range of cocktails, you can't beat the Opera Bar.

  While you're there...  Customs House Once the functional hub of Sydney's trade industry, this magnificent building now plays host to all manner of frivolous delights. Check out an exhibition, browse through the books in the public library upstairs, and marvel at the intricate scale model of Sydney under the glass floor in the hall. Or just curl up in the squashy armchairs and flick through the selection of international newspapers and magazines.

The Basement Sydney's ultimate venue for (late) live jazz, blues and funk - with two bars to boot.

More Sydney theatre reviews, plays and previews? Sign up to our weekly newsletter