Hens parties in Sydney have grown up. The bar crawl in a sash is still around, but most groups now book a villa in Palm Beach for the weekend, a rooftop in Surry Hills for cocktails, or a charter boat out of Rose Bay for the afternoon. What has not evolved as fast is the catering. The default is still overpriced canapes on a tray, or a supermarket grazing platter that photographs badly and tastes worse.
Empanadas hit every note a hens weekend cares about. They look beautiful on a grazing board, work as finger food or full dinner, cover every dietary need with one order, hold their texture on a boat or a rooftop, and photograph like a moodboard. Argentum caters hens parties from 10 to 40 plus guests across Sydney, delivered baked from our Bondi Beach kitchen or shipped frozen for you to bake on arrival.
Quick answer
Hens parties across Sydney (villa afternoons, rooftop cocktails, boat parties, boozy brunches) all suit empanada catering. Party Box (60) covers 15 to 20 hens as a full meal. Corporate Box (100) covers 25 to 33. Vegan, vegetarian, and halal options included on request. Delivered baked and warm from our Bondi Beach kitchen, or frozen with baking instructions for boats and remote venues. Lead time: 48 to 72 hours preferred.
Hens party formats and matched menus
The villa afternoon (12 to 20 hens)
Palm Beach, Whale Beach, Watsons Bay, or a rented Bondi terrace. Champagne on arrival, canape hour, sit-down dinner, dance floor later if someone brought a speaker. This is the format where empanadas do their best work.
For 15 hens as the main food category: one Party Box (60 empanadas) baked, split across all five flavours, with two chimichurri jars. Add a Chef's Box (24 empanadas) frozen for a late-night bake if the party runs long. Round it out with a cheese board, a salad, and a case of Franui for dessert.
The rooftop cocktail party (20 to 40 hens)
The rooftop format is stand-up, drink-holding, phone-photographing. Food has to be one-handed, warm without being messy, and beautiful on a passed platter. Empanadas were designed for exactly this.
For 25 hens as cocktail food: one Corporate Box (100 empanadas) baked, delivered warm in trays, plated onto rented platters by your venue or planner. Serve two empanadas per person as canapes, save the balance for the second round. Pair with chimichurri jars and cocktails. Total: approximately $499 for the box plus $24 to $48 for chimichurri jars.
The boat party (10 to 30 hens)
Boat parties are the most-requested hens format in Sydney summer. Departure from Rose Bay, King Street Wharf or Newport. Three to four hours on the water. Charter kitchen access ranges from full oven to a bar fridge and nothing else. Empanadas solve both cases: bake before boarding for the warm option, or bring frozen and bake in the charter oven mid-cruise.
For 20 hens on a three-hour charter: one Party Box (60) baked at 190 degrees Celsius for 18 to 22 minutes just before departure, wrapped in warming trays for boarding. Two chimichurri jars. If the charter has an oven, add a Family Box (40 frozen) for the second round baked mid-cruise. See our boat party catering collection for the full boat playbook.
The boozy brunch (8 to 15 hens)
Sunday brunch at someone's house. Mimosas, coffee, playlists, gift opening, more coffee. The food format is small, plentiful, and grazable through the whole morning. Empanadas suit the brunch table beautifully alongside pastries, fruit, and yoghurt.
For 12 hens at a boozy brunch: two 12-packs ($104) with a mix of Athlete (chicken, olives, capsicum), Classic (three cheeses) and Patagonia (vegan). One chimichurri jar. Total: around $116. Bake in the host oven at 190C for 22 minutes when guests start arriving. Second round baked at hour two when appetites return.
Pairing suggestions: drinks and dietary planning
Empanadas pair beautifully with everything a hens party actually drinks. Sparkling wine and Malbec are the classic Argentinian pairings, but empanadas hold their own with gin cocktails, tequila-based drinks, and Aperol spritzes. Non-alcoholic pairings that work: sparkling water with citrus, iced hibiscus tea, kombucha.
Dietary planning for a hens party is usually straightforward but worth doing early. Standard mix: 40 percent Carnivore and Athlete, 30 percent Classic , 30 percent Patagonia and Habibi Yalla. That distribution covers the vegan sister, the halal cousin, and the meat-eating maid of honour without anyone feeling like an afterthought. Confirm halal requirements when you place the order and we will build accordingly.
Practical logistics for hens party planners
| Group size | Format | Recommended order |
|---|---|---|
| 8 to 10 | Brunch or intimate dinner | Chef's Box ($85) plus chimichurri |
| 12 to 15 | Boozy brunch or villa lunch | 2 x 12-packs ($104) or Family Box ($132) |
| 15 to 20 | Villa dinner or cocktail hour | Party Box baked ($319) |
| 25 to 30 | Rooftop cocktails or full dinner | Corporate Box baked ($499) |
| 35 to 40 | Larger cocktail party | Corporate Box plus Party Box ($818) |
Ordering tips: for hens weekends over multiple days, split the order across dinner Friday, lunch Saturday, and brunch Sunday. This spreads dietary variety and keeps everything fresh. For remote venues (charter boats, Palm Beach houses, private venues without in-house kitchens), send us the address early so we can confirm access and timing.
Cross-linking: from bachelorette to wedding
A hens party is often the trial run for the wedding caterer. If Argentum works for your hens weekend, we also cater weddings across Sydney including cocktail hour, main food, and late-night snacks. See catering options for the full picture, or boat party catering for the harbour crowd.
Planning a hens weekend? Browse the catering menu, look at boat party options, or send us the date and headcount.
FAQ
Can you deliver to a Palm Beach villa on a Saturday?
Yes. Baked catering to Palm Beach requires 72 hours notice and we lock in a specific delivery window on the day. Frozen orders can go up during the week for a Saturday bake.
How do you handle dietary requirements for a hens party?
Send the ratios when you enquire. Vegan is covered by Patagonia. Vegetarian by Classic. Halal builds are available on request. We adjust the flavour mix in the box so no one is left picking around.
Can you deliver to a boat or marina?
Yes. Frozen or baked delivery to Rose Bay, King Street Wharf, Newport, Church Point, RPAYC and other Sydney marinas. Confirm the jetty details and departure time with us so we time the handover.
Can we pick up instead of paying delivery?
Yes. Two pre-arranged pickup points in Bondi Beach for frozen orders. Message us to book a collection slot.
Is a 12-pack enough for 15 hens?
Not as the main food. A 12-pack is enough for four people as a full meal or eight as light snacks. For 15 hens you want a Family Box (40) as a minimum or the Party Box (60) if empanadas are the main food.
What if kids or family attend the hens?
Kids love the Hamazing (ham and mozzarella). Add a few to the mix. If the bride's mum, aunties or older family attend, keep the flavour spread wide so everyone has something familiar.
Do you cater weekend hens events?
Yes. Baked catering runs Saturday. Sunday is available on request when we have kitchen coverage. Please book Sunday deliveries at least a week in advance.
Can I subscribe for a bridal event series (hens, kitchen tea, then wedding)?
Yes. Our subscription can be scheduled to hit specific dates. Message us with your event calendar and we will pre-plan the deliveries.
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