This April, The Star has plenty to keep you entertained, from delectable dining offerings and hotel packages to live music and comedy nights.

DINING

Month of Chocolate – all of April

This April, The Star is celebrating its love of chocolate, with its signature restaurants Balla, BLACK by ezard and Sokyo creating special menus featuring the most decadent and delicious chocolate. Choose from Italian-inspired cuisine at Balla; grilled goodness at BLACK by ezard; or Japanese fusion at Sokyo. Bookings available online at star.com.au or 1800 700 700.

Balla

Treat yourself to a delicious 4 course chocolate instilled menu for $105 per person inspired by The Star's Italian chef, Stefano Manfredi. Featuring pork and chocolate black pudding with cannellini bean puree ($19); cocoa tagliatelle with scarlet prawns, cauliflower and basil ($29); pan roasted venison lion with beetroots and chocolate crumble ($49); chocolate cappuccino ($18). Menu items can be enjoyed individually.

Available for lunch Tues - Fri and dinner Mon-Sat.

Bookings available online at star.com.au or 1800 700 700.

BLACK by ezard

Indulge in chef Teague Ezard's 3 course chocolate delight menu for $76 per person. Including hare ragout, autumn vegetables, Araguaia chocolate ($28); venison, seared lion, pear, chestnuts, juniper and caraibe chocolate jus ($48); caramelised white chocolate and coffee beignets ($14). Menu items can be enjoyed individually.

Available for lunch Fri and Sun, and dinner Tues-Sun.

Bookings available online at star.com.au or 1800 700 700.

Sokyo

Sokyo will be showcasing special menu chocolate inspired al a carte items to enjoy. Including Hokkaido scallop, white chocolate, champagne vinaigrette ($24); BBQ freshwater eel, 70% chocolate, avocado, crispy rice ($28); chocolate delice, yamamomo, vanilla yuzu ice cream ($17); Sokyo chocolate trio ($33).

Available for lunch Fri and dinner Mon-Sat.

Bookings available online at star.com.au or 1800 700 700.

$14 Choctails at Cherry & Rock Lily

Don't miss out on the heavenly $14 Choctails in Cherry and Rock Lily this month. Choose from the Toasted Marshmallow with kraken rum, cacao and fresh cream topped with marshmallow and chocolate foam in Cherry or head over to Rocky Lily for a Classic Chocolate Martini including ketel one vodka, patron XO café, caramel and chocolate.

Casual Dining Specials

Indulge in an array of chocolate delights at The Star's delicious Buffet. Good Friday, Easter Saturday, Easter Sunday, Easter Monday Lunch & Dinner special $64.90 per adult and $19.90 per child. A special seafood buffet will be available from 18 – 21 April. Make sure you visit the master patissier adrianozumbo this month and taste a range of the wonder chocolate creations on offer. Be sure to visit Fat Noodle, Food Quarter and FUEL for additional chocolate treats you simply can't ignore.

Strictly Ballroom pre-show dining – all of April

Strictly Ballroom: The Musical began previewing at Sydney Lyric at The Star on March 25, with the show officially kicking off April 12. To give theatre-goers the ultimate entertainment experience, The Star is offering a number of pre-show dining offerings at its signature restaurants Balla, BLACK by ezard and Sokyo with menus designed to get you to the show in time. Book today at star.com.au

Balla Seasonal Series - Balla

Travel to a new destination every month as chef Stefano Manfredi takes you on a region-by-region tour with menus inspired by traditional local recipes and produce. March will take you to Liguria, April to Sardegna, May to Lazio, June to Trentino, July to Abruzzo and August to Umbria. For more information visit star.com.au/balla

NIGHTLIFE

$5 happy hour at The Star - Mon to Fri, 5 til 7pm

Kick back and enjoy $5 drink specials at The Star. Every Monday to Friday between 5 – 7pm, The Star invites you to kick back with $5 Crown Lagers, house wine and spirits. Take your pick from a great line up of bars, including The Star's live music hub Rock Lily; lounge bar Cherry (Open Thurs – Sun); 24/7 Sports Bar; or the uber-cool Sokyo Lounge.

ROCK LILY

This April, The Star's live music and entertainment venue Rock Lily is bringing out the big guns, with a stellar line-up to keep you entertained all month long. Get set for an all-star musical line-up featuring Bluejuice, Samantha Jade and Jon Stevens, as well as stand-up from comedian Jacques Barrett and host Cam Knight. And remember, free entry, always.

Bluejuice – Thursday April 17, 7pm

Sydney rockers Bluejuice are back with brand a new single. The Aussie rockers have jammed their way into our hearts with songs such as Vitriol, Broken Leg and Act Yr Age, and now they're bringing their newbie, S.O.S, to the stage at Rock Lily.

Check Your Head feat. Samantha Jade – Sunday April 20, 7pm

Check Your Head is back again for the Easter Long Weekend, with X-Factor winner and Aussie darling Samantha jade headlining. Following her emergence on The X-Factor, the 26-year old favourite went on to win the competition, release her debut single and album, and has since been hard at work in the studio on her next album project. Get a sneak peek at Rock Lily on Easter Sunday.

Rock With Laughter Comedy Night - Thursday April 24

The highly-popular Rock With Laughter event returns for another side-splitting evening of stand up. April's Rock With Laughter event will be headlined by none other than Jacques Barrettt, one of the hottest comics in Australian and internationally. Jacques has been carving up stages with his brand of insightful observational and impressionistic comedy for eight years now. Funnyman Cam Knight will be returning as host for the hilarious event, with comedy-goers able to enjoy drink specials as well as a $9.50 tex mex bar menu.

Jon Stevens – Sunday April 27, 7pm

Jon Stevens' remarkable career as a singer, songwriter and performer has spanned over 20 years and reaped many achievements, including ARIA chart-topping success as the front-man of legendary Australian bands Noiseworks and INXS. This renowned musician will be gracing the stage at Rock Lily for one night only, so make sure you don't miss it.

CHERRY

$7 drink specials - every Thursday and Friday in March, 7 til 9pm

In addition to The Star's 5 – 7pm Happy Hour, guests at Cherry can carry on enjoying drink specials with $7 house wine, beer and spirits from 7 – 9pm on Thursday and Friday.

MARQUEE

Boombox Fridays – every Friday in April

Get to Marquee at the end of your working week for Boombox Fridays – plus enjoy Marquee's Friday drink specials, with $8 house spirits, wine and beer before 11pm.

I Love Salsa Night – every Wednesday in April, 7pm

Proving that is much more than just Sydney's premier nightclub, Marquee Sydney is turning up the heat every Wednesday with I Love Salsa night. Hosted by two of Sydney's best known and loved Latino DJs, Don Juan and Dante Rivera, doors open at 8pm with a free salsa lesson at 9pm. Whether you're a seasoned salsa dancer or just a latino lover there will be something for everyone with Sydney's hottest latino DJs playing nothing but the best salsa and a little bit of bachata and merengue. Plus a $250 Star gift card is up for grabs for those with the most impressive salsa moves.

Denzel Park, Saturday April 5 – 10pm til late

Hook N Sling, Saturday April 19 – 10pm til late

SPECIAL EVENTS AT THE STAR

Post-race venue of the Sydney Autumn Racing Carnival

The Star is an official partner of the Australian Turf Club for the Sydney Autumn Racing Carnival, and will be the official post-race venue of the carnival. Race-goers are invited to continue their celebrations after their day at the track on Golden Slipper Day on April 5; BMW Derby Day on April 12; Sydney Cup on April 19; and Stakes Day on April 26. The Star will be providing complimentary shuttle buses from Royal Randwick to The Star, with bars including Cherry, Rock Lily, 24/7 Sports Bar and Sokyo Lounge to choose from.

ANZAC Day, April 25

This month The Star will also embrace ANZAC day on Friday April 25th with great specials and Two-Up at not just one, but two of our bars! Join us in 24/7 Sports Bar from 11am – 7pm and Rock Lily from 3pm – 7pm with beverage and food specials from 12pm at both venues.

LIVE ENTERTAINMENT

Erykah Badu – The Star Event Centre, April 17 2014

Universally regarded as the 'Queen of Soul', Erykah Badu will grace her dedicated legion of Australian fans with a show at The Star Event Centre – Thursday 17 April, 2014. . Badu's impressive discography has dominated the charts throughout her 16-year career and garnered multiple Grammy Awards. Her 1997 debut album 'Baduizm' debuted at #2 on the Billboard charts, earning multi-platinum sales and two Grammys: Best Female R&B Vocal Performance and Best R&B Album.

For more information or enquiries, visit www.star.com.au or call 1800 700 700.