If you’ve ever wished you could capture that perfect, glowing hour between afternoon and evening — the time when the light turns syrupy and everything feels possible — Settimo’s Sunset Club might just be your new obsession.
Hosted inside The Westin Brisbane’s Italian restaurant, Settimo by Guy Grossi, the Sunset Club experience is part of Marriott Bonvoy’s new Golden Hour, Reimagined series. It’s all about celebrating life’s milestones — birthdays, anniversaries, engagements, “just because”s — in an elevated, intimate and extremely Instagrammable way.
The Sunset Club experience at Settimo
As the afternoon sun softens into gold, your journey begins with a limoncello masterclass; a taste of Italy’s la dolce vita brought to life. A bartender leads you through the art of balancing citrus, sweetness and Italian spirits, while you sip, stir and taste along. It’s interactive, relaxed and just the right amount of boozy education.
Then comes the feast. You settle into Settimo’s signature shared dining experience, where every course is designed to be savoured together. The menu is a coastal-inspired indulgence featuring antipasto, primi, secondo, verdure and dolci, all perfectly paired with free-flowing prosecco for an authentic taste of the Amalfi Coast, right here in Brisbane.
Our visit to Settimo’s exclusive hidden dining room
When we arrived, we were ushered into a hidden nook at the back of the restaurant and it’s a space that immediately felt very members-only. In the centre sat an island bar, where a bartender was already mixing up Settimo’s famed limoncello-based cocktails. Behind him, an entire wall was devoted to wine — floor-to-ceiling shelves of bottles behind glass, like a glittering gallery of good decisions.
As we learned about the “whys and hows” of selecting Italian spirits to complement limoncello’s signature brightness, the sun dipped lower outside. Glasses clinked, laughter grew louder, and everything felt just a little softer. It’s the the exact mood Sunset Club was built for.
Then, like a scene change, the Tiffany-blue barn doors at the end of the room swung open to reveal the hidden private dining room. Cue audible gasps.
Inside, a long table glowed in warm candlelight. Vases overflowed with reds, oranges and yellows, fruits were scattered artfully among blooms, and elegant ciao bella name tags marked each place. It felt less like a hotel restaurant and more like we’d been transported to a long lunch somewhere along the Amalfi Coast.
Then came the food. So much glorious food.
We started with fresh bread and olive oil (the simplest, most perfect opener), followed by pizze frite (essentially pizza pockets but make them fancy, stuffed with cherry tomatoes, provolone and spinach). A crisp caprese salad followed, then calamari fritte with lemon wedges to squeeze over, and Crudo Di Pesce with kingfish, citrus, fennel, radish, capers.
Next came the pastas: pasta al limone, with Guy Grossi’s signature square spaghetti strands that hold sauce like they were born to do so, and then a rich beef ragu pasta. We assumed that was the main event so we went hard on the pasta course. We were wrong. Deliciously wrong.
The plates kept coming: veal scaloppini al limone with spinach (my favourite of the night) and a fish dish my friend devoured and declared “unbelievable.” Sides arrived — green beans with stracciatella and lemon oil, and duck fat potatoes roasted with garlic — and by this point, we were equal parts euphoric and defeated.
And still… dessert.
A tableside tiramisu appeared (Guy Grossi’s Nonna’s recipe) layered with sambuca and chocolate chips. Somehow, we found room. Because how do you say no to that?
By the end of the evening, we were full, glowing, and already plotting our next excuse to come back.
Settimo’s Sunset Club is more than just dinner — it’s an experience that makes the everyday feel like a milestone. A golden-hour moment to toast, connect and unwind, before slipping home (and into bed) at a very respectable hour.
WHAT: Sunset Club at Settimo
WHERE: Settimo Private Dining Room, The Westin Brisbane, 111 Mary Street, Brisbane.
WHEN: Available Tuesday–Saturday
PRICES: 8–22 guests. From $300pp. You can book into the Sunset Club at your chosen Marriott Bonvoy hotel here.
In her spare time, she likes long walks down the makeup aisle and performing in Brisbane theatre. You can follow her adventures on Instagram and TikTok @thebeautypalate.
