By Marie-Antoinette Issa.
At Aster, Sydney’s sky-high rooftop bar on Level 32 of the InterContinental, dining alone is no longer lonely - it’s a celebration of self-love.
Launching just in time for World Singles Day on November 11, ‘Martini for One’ invites you to sip, savour and flirt with flavours like you’re on the most indulgent solo date imaginable. Think of it as self-love with a cocktail napkin, set against the sparkling backdrop of Sydney Harbour.
Dining alone has officially become a power move and Aster turns it into an art form. Solo diners are no longer the wallflowers - they are the VIPs, with a harbour-view table, a flight of mini Martinis and a menu designed to make every bite feel like a wink across the room. This is self-indulgence elevated, where the only person you need to impress is the one in the mirror.
The Solo Martini Hour is the ultimate flirtation ritual. Guests choose a flight of three mini Martinis that match their mood: sweet and silky Hakumai-tini is playful and charming like a first crush, nutty and rich Waxtini keeps things mysterious and complex, while the savoury Maretini teases your taste buds with sophistication.
Bright and floral Celestini and Citrustini add a burst of sunshine and flirtation. Not sure which Martini is your perfect match? An interactive online quiz works like your cheeky matchmaker, pairing you with a cocktail soulmate for an evening of unapologetic indulgence.
Of course, Martinis deserve their dance partners. Aster’s refined bites step up to the plate with all the charm of a swoon-worthy dinner date. Sydney rock oysters with finger lime caviar glisten like a secret smile, beef carpaccio with truffle mayo and potato hash offers richness that feels like slow dancing in candlelight and scallop ceviche with chilli and sesame adds a little heat and a lot of charm.
Plant-based options are equally flirtatious, with macadamia-cream cucumber bites, baba ghanoush in charcoal cones and crispy vegetable fritters with cumin coconut yoghurt proving that love and indulgence come in all forms.
Every sip, every bite, every harbour-lit glance outside the window becomes part of a solo romance that is just for you. Dining alone at Aster is playful, cheeky and thoroughly celebratory. It’s the kind of evening where you can flirt with flavours, tease your palate and revel in the joy of your own company. You might not be sharing a table, but you’ll feel like you’re on the most decadent date of the season.
Running from Wednesday, November 12 to December 21, 4 pm until close daily, ‘Martini for One’ is $70 per person and includes three mini Martinis, three matching bites and access to Aster’s virtual Martini quiz. Whether it’s a spontaneous Friday night treat, a midweek self-date, or a solo ritual for celebrating your wins, this experience makes dining alone feel like a guilty pleasure with none of the guilt.
At Aster, being single is not a status - it’s a state of indulgent sophistication. So, raise your glass, toast yourself and let Sydney Harbour witness the most delicious romance of the Summer. Spoiler alert: it stars you, your Martini and a few flirtatious bites that will have you falling in love with dinner all over again.
