For people of Islamic faith, Ramadan is the most sacred month of the year. During this time, Muslims fast from dawn to dusk. But once the sun sets, iftar begins – a fast-breaking feast that runs late into the night, bringing family and friends together to enjoy an array of rich treats and moreish morsels. To coincide with this time of year, Sydney’s popular month-long celebration Lakemba Nights is back. This year’s event will be a little different, running every Thursday to Sunday from February 27 to March 30, 2025.
What time does Lakemba Nights during Ramadan open and close?
From 6pm until 2am, Thursday through to Sunday, more than 60 local businesses will transform Lakemba’s Haldon Street into a vibrant, global food bazaar with traditional cuisine from Indonesia, Burma, Pakistan, Lebanon, the Cocos Islands, Syria and more.
It’s not only Sydney’s Muslim communities that comes together during Lakemba Nights – people of all backgrounds are welcome to flock to sample the fare of pop-up kitchens and food trucks lining Haldon Street.
What started as a single street barbeque back in 2012 has grown into what many consider one of Australia's best places to celebrate the ancient tradition, with last year's event drawing in more than one million people across the month.
What kind of food will there be?
Break fast with with roti and gentle lentil curries from the Cocos Islands; Malaysia's famously buttery grilled pastry parcels, murtabak; and haleem, the king of curries from Pakistan that features four kinds of slow-cooked pulses with tender beef topped with a fresh and fragrant sprinkling of coriander, ginger, fried onions and lemon juice.
From there you can get fresh, charry naan, camel burgers, carrot juice, jalebi (a chewy sweet treat) and knafeh (a traditional Middle Eastern cheese dessert), plus sweets, biscuits, drinks and take-home packs. The only limit is your own stomach capacity (and then some).
How to get to Lakemba Night Markets
Lakemba Nights during Ramadan comes to life on Haldon Street, Lakemba.
Unfortunately, the Bankstown to Sydenham train line is currently closed while it's being converted for the Sydney Metro, meaning you won’t be able to catch a train to Lakemba Nights like you may have done previously. There is very limited parking, along with road closures, so organisers recommend leaving the car at home and instead taking the free shuttle bus, which runs from Campsie and Roselands to Haldon Street, Lakemba. You can read more about that here.
Anything else to keep in mind?
While there’s an abundance of delicious food and a palpably festive atmosphere, keep in mind that for Muslim communities, Lakemba Nights is a significant cultural event where respect for others is key. There is no alcohol at this event, and it's important to dress modestly. Seating is limited, so be prepared to stand for a couple of hours.
If you’ve never explored this pocket of Sydney, this is a great time of year to head west. Ramadan mubarak!
