Gift Cards: how to support Aussie restaurants during the Coronavirus pandemic

NOMAD up the Road

Covid-19, a novel coronavirus, has spread around the world and continues to cause unprecedented health, social and economic crises. Experts are pleading with people to take this seriously, while many separate on the two (equally stupid) extremes of naivety/complacency, and panic/fear-mongering. Social distancing is absolutely crucial to prevent the spread of coronavirus, but as a result businesses will die.

This includes your favourite restaurants and bars, so finding ways to support these businesses online – from the safety of your home – is going to be important. One way you can support is by finding if your favourite restaurants has digitised some of its services, the most obvious being gift cards.

The idea is simple. Buy a gift card directly from the restaurant to keep some money coming into these struggling businesses while less people are heading out. Luckily, some of Australia’s favourite restaurants and bars have gift cards that can be purchased online and used at a later date. When we get through this, and we will get through this (as long as you take it seriously and practice strict social distancing, that is). Play your part.

You can also sign this petition to encourage food delivery services to cut their commission fees to make it more feasible for restaurants to survive on delivery orders. They’ve done it in America, they should do it in Australia. At the time of initial publishing, they have not.

Below we will be listing some of our favourite places offering gift cards online. Please e-mail [email protected] if your place of business isn’t listed and has a gift card offering. This will be updated regularly.

Take care, act now, and self isolate to help prevent the spread of coronavirus and our health systems getting stretched beyond limit. And watch The Juice Media’s brilliant video.

New South Wales

La Coq Healthy Rotisserie

Address: 758 Darling St, Rozelle NSW 2039

You can pick your own amount. Purchases can be made by calling (02) 98184333.

Prince of York

Address: 18 York St, Sydney NSW 2000

You can pick your own amount up to $1,000. Purchases can be made here.

North Bondi Fish

Address: 120 Ramsgate Ave, North Bondi NSW 2026

Options range from $10 to $999. You can purchase here.

Three Blue Ducks

See website for location.

Options range from $50 to $500. You can purchase here.

NOMAD

Address: 16 Foster St, Surry Hills NSW 2010 | 85 Commonwealth St, Surry Hills NSW 2010

Options range from $25 to $250. You can purchase here.

Barangaroo House

Address: 35 Barangaroo Ave, Barangaroo NSW 2000

Options range from $10 to $999. You can purchase here.

Bodhi Restaurant & Bar

Address: 2/4 College St, Sydney NSW 2000

You can choose your own amount. Purchases can be made here.

Automata

Address: 5 Kensington St, Chippendale NSW 2008

Options range from $240 to $480. You can purchase here.

A1 Canteen

Address: ground 2/10 Kensington St, Chippendale NSW 2008

You can pick your own amount. Purchases can be made here.

Aria

Address: 1 Macquarie St, Sydney NSW 2000

Options range from $10 to $999. You can purchase here.

Chiswick

Address: 65 Ocean Street, Woollahra, NSW 2025 | The Domain, Art Gallery Rd, Sydney NSW 2000

Options range from $10 to $999. You can purchase here.

Opera Bar

Address: Sydney Opera House, Macquarie St, Sydney NSW 2000

Options range from $10 to $999. You can purchase here.

Victoria

The Everleigh

Address: 158 Abercrombie St, Redfern NSW 2016

Options range from $10 to $200. You can purchase here.

Bar Margaux

Address: Basement/111 Lonsdale St, Melbourne VIC 3000

Options range from $50 to $200. You can purchase here.

South Australia

Restaurant Orana

Address: 52 Windsor Rd, Kellyville NSW 2155

Call (08) 8232 3444 to purchase.

Queensland

Three Blue Ducks

See website for locations.

Options range from $50 to $500. You can purchase here

Tasmania

Aloft Restaurant

Address: Pier one, Brooke St, Hobart TAS 7000

You can pick your own amount. Purchases are from here.

Feature image: NOMAD up the Road / Petrina Tinslay.

Chris Singh

Chris Singh is an Editor-At-Large at the AU review, loves writing about travel and hospitality, and is partial to a perfectly textured octopus. You can reach him on Instagram: @chrisdsingh.