It is with extreme mixed emotions that today we announce that our beloved Red Lantern, the world’s most awarded Vietnamese restaurant and a cornerstone of Sydney’s dining scene, will conclude its 25-year chapter on 22nd November 2025, marking the end of a remarkable journey of food, family, and storytelling.

Red Lantern has always been more than a restaurant. Over the years it became a sanctuary of flavour, resilience, and connection, welcoming thousands of guests and earning international acclaim for its ability to combine culture, community, and culinary mastery.

Celebrate Before the Final Farewell

Far from an ending, this milestone is a chance to reflect on Red Lantern’s extraordinary legacy and to look ahead to the new ventures.

Red Lantern was never just about food. It was about identity, courage, resilience, grit, connection and family. Every guest who has dined with us has been part of our story. We’re proud to honour what we’ve built, and even more excited about what comes next.

The journey has always been about community, perseverance, and purpose:

Red Lantern has been a labour of love for almost 25 years. We’ve faced challenges that saw us fall to our knees. We also celebrated many triumphs and built something that lives on in the memories of our guests. Now we look forward to new ventures that carry the same heart.

In the months ahead, we are inviting the community to celebrate Red Lantern’s extraordinary 25-year journey together.

A Final Celebration: The Last Hurray

Our final date of service will be 22nd November 2025, and in the lead-up, we are inviting guests to return, reconnect, and savour the flavours that have defined our legacy for more than two decades.

This is not the end just yet. We still have time to celebrate together. We want as many people as possible to experience the joy of Red Lantern one more time - to laugh, to connect, and to taste the dishes that have been part of our story for over 20 years.

As part of our farewell season, Red Lantern will host a series of special events and experiences designed to honour our history of cuisine, culture, and storytelling.

The Last Hurray - Special Event
Secrets of the Red Lantern: An Intimate Evening of Storytelling, Culture & Celebration

Join us for one last hurray as we enjoy a banquet of treasured family recipes from Pauline’s award winning book Secrets of the Red Lantern paired with Pauline’s raw, unfiltered storytelling of her family’s journey from war-torn Vietnam to building one of Australia’s most iconic restaurants.

Save the date Thursday, 6 November 2025.
An intimate evening of storytelling, culture, and connection.

This event will sell out, stay tuned for more details.

What’s Next for Pauline & Mark

We will continue growing our Tiger Purrr Chai brand, and Pauline will expand her global keynote speaking career alongside her flagship program Numinous, which blends science and spirituality to help leaders reclaim calm and capacity amid the $17B burnout crisis.

Mark is looking forward to a well deserved rest after navigating this last year: a chance to decompress and refresh in order to embrace what ever the future may bring.

Our credo has always been ‘to uplift the human spirit through the alchemy of flavour, hospitality, and heart.’ That ethos carried us through for almost 25 years, and it will guide everything we do next.

An Open Invitation for the Future

While we prepare to pour our energy into new ventures, we remain open to possibilities for Red Lantern’s story to continue in new hands.

Red Lantern has always been bigger than us. If the right custodian came along who shared our values and vision, we would welcome a conversation about how the legacy might live on beyond November.

With Love and Gratitude
Pauline and Mark.

⚠️ Do you have a future reservation or event booked with us?

All reservations after 22 November 2025 will be cancelled, and any pre-authorisations will be released in the coming days.

For all functions and events booked with us, our team will be in touch soon.

If you have any questions at all during this time, please feel free to contact us at office@redlantern.com.au