Aria restaurant: Reddit user questions expensive water at Sydney venue

A restaurant-goer has asked why they were charged more than $10 for a bottle of still water at one of Sydney´s most exclusive fine dining spots.

The Reddit user explained they had decided to ‘splurge a bit’ and have ‘a nice dinner for a special occasion’ at chef Matt Moran´s Aria. 

The venue is a pricey waterfront eatery located in the city’s Circular Quay with views of Sydney Opera House and Harbour Bridge

The bill came to $455 in total, but user EstebanJulioRamirez queried the price of one of the items they ordered.

‘We don´t really go to these high-end restaurants often,’ they said in a post to the Sydney Reddit page.

Considering the $195 per person cost for the four course meal, the diner wanted to know whether the charge for the water was standard.  

‘I can understand the charge for sparkling but is it normal to charge $10.50 for still water at restaurants at this price point?’

The receipt shows a bottle of sparkling water also cost $10.50.

The Reddit user questioned why he was charged $10.50 for still water while paying $195 per person for a four course meal 

Other Reddit users also jumped in to advise that charging so much for bottled still water was a regular occurrence at fine dining restaurants.

‘Unfortunately fine dining places will always ask you if you want still or sparkling water,’ one user said.

‘Always ask for tap water (unless you want to pay for still/sparkling).’

Another advised: ‘Given that the receipt states that it was bottled, I imagine it was some fancy imported water that was served up in a glass bottle.’

‘I got burnt by this once, when they asked sparkling or still, I assumed the still would be free. I now know to ask for tap.’

Aria Restaurant co-owner Matt Moran is one of Australia top chefs (pictured)