Ramadan Nights Lakemba: Take your tastebuds on an island adventure

From Saturday 2 April to Sunday 1 May, Lakemba’s Haldon Street will be transformed into a global food bazaar every evening from dusk to dawn. 

Ramadan Nights Lakemba is not only about the food and festivities, but it’s also about the amazing and unique local businesses that have kept the festival alive and booming for years.  

Lakemba’s Island Dreams Cafe has been tantalising local taste buds for almost 30 years. 

Owner Alimah Bilda said Ramadan was always an important time for her business and customers.

 "Ramadan is a very special month… A holy month and one of the pillars of Islam,” Ms Bilda said. 

“During this time, we fast for a month and break fast with our families. 

“The atmosphere at Haldon Street during Ramadan is amazing. It’s a month of festivities and there is nowhere else in Sydney where you can experience this, except Lakemba.   

“If you don't come, then you're missing out big time!” 

Ms Bilda and her family come from from Cocos Keeling Island, which originates from some of Australia’s northern islands. 

 Her restaurant specialises in traditional island cooking, often cooking over a woodfire. 

“Being the only Christmas/Cocos Island cafe in Sydney is already quite unique,” Ms Bilda said.   

“The influences of my food from both islands makes it quite different. 

“I remember one time… a customer from Malaysia came and ate and afterwards she said, ‘your food is like Malaysian food but there’s something different, it’s quite unique and very nice’.”  

Ramadan Nights Lakemba is not to be missed and one to bring family and friends. 

One of Sydney’s most popular and culturally diverse events, Ramadan Nights Lakemba returns. This month-long celebration of culture, sees Lakemba’s Haldon Street transformed into a vibrant global food bazaar from dusk to dawn.  

Each evening, there’s hundreds of food vendors and stall holders. This is the ideal place for you and your friends to experience foods from around the world, and for many Muslims to break their fast.  

This Ramadan there’s only one place to experience a camel burger, knafeh, Malay food, Arabic coffee all in the one place.  

Visitors who want to avoid the crowds are encouraged to join us between Monday to Thursday. Accessible public transport is available from Lakemba Station.  

We’ve created a digital media kit for journalists to access media releases, promotional imagery, videos and other resources ahead of and during the festival.