Ben Hansen

Ben Hansen is the Junior Editor at Concrete Playground. Ben is Sydney's biggest advocate — a passionate supporter of the city's hospitality and art scenes. You can catch him sipping a negroni at your local bar, barracking for the Eels at CommBank Stadium or on your radio as host of FBi Radio's Mornings every Wednesday.

Favourite restaurant in Sydney: Baba's Place. Minimal-intervention wines, inventive eats, great tunes, friendly staff and a love for all things suburban, all hidden in a Marrickville warehouse. What more could you want?

  • Ten Must-Catch Gigs at the Inaugural SXSW Sydney's Massive Music Festival
    Three people dancing and holding a mic in front of a crowd.
    A crowd watching a stage outdoors.
    Ten Must-Catch Gigs at the Inaugural SXSW Sydney's Massive Music Festival
    News

    Ten Must-Catch Gigs at the Inaugural SXSW Sydney's Massive Music Festival

    SXSW Sydney has served up an absolutely huge music lineup, so we've broken down all the must-see sets for you.

  • Second Life Markets: Melbourne — Spring Edition
    Second Life Markets: Melbourne — Spring Edition
    Second Life Markets: Melbourne — Spring Edition
    Second Life Markets: Melbourne — Spring Edition
    Second Life Markets: Melbourne — Spring Edition
    Second Life Markets: Melbourne — Spring Edition
    Event

    Second Life Markets: Melbourne — Spring Edition

    Sun, 15 Oct, 2023

    Abbotsford Convent, Abbotsford

    Pick up pre-loved and upcycled clothes from over 70 local sellers and designers at this Abbotsford Convent market.

    Buy Tickets
  • Royal Palace Seafood Restaurant
    Restaurant

    Royal Palace Seafood Restaurant

    393-399 Sussex Street, Haymarket

    Royal Palace Seafood Restaurant offers three levels of dining in the former Golden Century site, including yum cha, mango pancakes and late-night feeds.

  • The luxurious dining room at Circular Quay's Pearl
    The luxurious dining room with speckled light fixtures at Circular Quay's Pearl
    Pearl Dining
    Pearl Dining
    Prawn dumplings topped with egg cloud and roe at Pearl in Circular Quay
    Whole lobster drenched in XO sauce at Pearl in Circular Quay
    Restaurant

    Pearl Dining

    50 Bridge Street, Sydney

    Lotus Dining Group has injected a big dose of luxury into Cantonese favourites at this sleek Circular Quay diner.

  • A breezy rooftop bar with the Sydney Harbour Bridge in the background
    The facade of Sydney Place in Circular Quay with a suited city worker walking in front
    A breezy rooftop bar with the Sydney Harbour Bridge in the background
    A late of steak frites on a deep red table with a glass of wine
    A breezy rooftop bar with colourful furniture
    News

    Now Open: Martinez Terrace Is the Breezy 160-Person Rooftop Bar That's Perched Above Circular Quay

    An openair terrace with views of the Sydney Harbour Bridge, Mediterranean-inspired eats and spring-ready spritzes — say no more.

  • Mat Lindsay Menu at Two Good Co Cafe
    A fresh cauliflower, egg and upland cress salad featuring slices of crisp green apple, celery, creamy mustard, punchy paprika and topped with an apple cider vinegar dressing from Two Good Cafe Co's october menu by chef Mat Lindsay.
    A slice of burnt cheesecake for smooth, velvety goodness with balanced sweetness and a touch of smoke from Two Good Cafe Co's october menu by chef Mat Lindsay.
    A fresh cauliflower, egg and upland cress salad featuring slices of crisp green apple, celery, creamy mustard, punchy paprika and topped with an apple cider vinegar dressing from Two Good Cafe Co's october menu by chef Mat Lindsay.
    An elevated tuna melt, which packs a punch, boasting the familiar melted cheese and tuna paired with cornichons, capers and chilli sandwiched between two slices of thick white toast from Two Good Cafe Co's october menu by chef Mat Lindsay.
    A slice of burnt cheesecake for smooth, velvety goodness with balanced sweetness and a touch of smoke from Two Good Cafe Co's october menu by chef Mat Lindsay.
    Event

    Mat Lindsay Menu at Two Good Co Cafe

    Sun, 1 Oct - Tue, 31 Oct 2023

    Two Good Co. Cafe at Yirranma Place, Darlinghurst

    Ester's Mat Lindsay is in charge of the guest menu at Two Good Co's Darlinghurst cafe for the month of October.

  • Crowds leaving a panel with background screens that read SXSW 2023.
    News

    Ten Must-Catch Talks and Panels That You Don't Want to Miss at the Inaugural SXSW Sydney

    What does the executive producer of 'Bluey' think of horror movies? What's the future of Chinatown? How do you communicate the magic of music? All these and more will be answered at SXSW Sydney.

  • Soho House Sydney render
    Soho House Sydney render by Tonkin Zulaikha Greer architects
    News

    Confirmed: Soho House Is Officially Opening Its First-Ever Australian Outpost in Sydney

    Soho House is transforming a Crown Street building into a five-storey mega-venue featuring multiple indoor and outdoor dining and socialising spaces — and it's also taking over The Old Clare for SXSW Sydney.

  • The S*A*S*H Team Has Opened a New Nightclub on Oxford Street Dedicated to Big Dance Tunes
    News

    The S*A*S*H Team Has Opened a New Nightclub on Oxford Street Dedicated to Big Dance Tunes

    Carousel Bar and Ballroom will operate as a small bar two days a week before transforming into a heaving nightclub on weekends.

  • The luxurious dining room with speckled light fixtures at Circular Quay's Pearl
    Whole lobster drenched in XO sauce at Pearl in Circular Quay
    The luxurious dining room at Circular Quay's Pearl
    Prawn dumplings topped with egg cloud and roe at Pearl in Circular Quay
    News

    Now Open: Lotus Dining Group Has Unveiled Its Stunning New Circular Quay Restaurant Pearl

    Circular Quay's wave of fresh openings continues, with Pearl serving up Peking duck pancakes and lobster in XO sauce with views of the Sydney Harbour Bridge.

  • An interior shot of the booths and bar at Jolene's Sydney.
    A photo of the back bar stocked with whisky at Jolene's Sydney.
    A photo of a band performing at Jolene's Sydney.
    Bar

    Jolene's Sydney

    73 York Street, Sydney

    Swinging country tunes and one of Sydney’s biggest selections of whiskey come together at Jolene’s.

  • Sydney Gin Team Unexpected Guest Has Opened a Community-Focused Distillery Bar in Marrickville
    Sydney Gin Team Unexpected Guest Has Opened a Community-Focused Distillery Bar in Marrickville
    News

    Sydney Gin Team Unexpected Guest Has Opened a Community-Focused Distillery Bar in Marrickville

    Located in the centre of the Marrickville brewery crawl, this new gin bar is all about bright colours and community spirit.

  • Now Open: Eddy's Is the New Casual Italian Eatery Elevating Your Post-Swim Feeds in Balmoral
    Now Open: Eddy's Is the New Casual Italian Eatery Elevating Your Post-Swim Feeds in Balmoral
    News

    Now Open: Eddy's Is the New Casual Italian Eatery Elevating Your Post-Swim Feeds in Balmoral

    The neighbourhood restaurant from the Bathers' Pavilion team is taking up residence at Edwards Beach until the end of January.

  • Beer Oh Beer! 2023
    Event

    Beer Oh Beer! 2023

    Tue, 3 Oct - Sun, 22 Oct 2023

    Various Merivale venues in Sydney

    Merivale is celebrating all things beer with the return of its month-long craft brew festival.

  • BABS Pop-Up
    BABS Pop-Up
    Event

    BABS Pop-Up

    Thu, 14 Sep - Sun, 17 Dec 2023

    BABS, Enmore

    This pop-up bar and restaurant has taken over the Saga digs on Enmore Road for three months — trading sandwiches for sardines and pastries for pét-nats.

  • Three patrons rocking out and singing at The Little Guy's red neon-lit karaoke room Poppie's Karaoke
    A bottle of Doom Jucie rosé is poured at The Little Guy's red neon-lit karaoke room Poppie's Karaoke
    Two young people sing a duet in front of a neon popcorn sign at The Little Guy's red neon-lit karaoke room Poppie's Karaoke
    News

    The Little Guy Has Opened a Tiny 15-Person Karaoke Room Out the Back of Its Glebe Bar

    Swap your usual karaoke bar's vodka sunrises for craft beers, Doom Juice wines and martinis at this new Glebe Point Road haven for group sing-alongs.

  • The Royal Palace Seafood Restaurant Is the Huge New Yum Cha Restaurant in the Old Golden Century Site
    News

    The Royal Palace Seafood Restaurant Is the Huge New Yum Cha Restaurant in the Old Golden Century Site

    Stretching across three levels and open until 3am, this restaurant stars the live seafood tanks and fleet of yum cha trolleys like its predecessor.

  • White Bay Power Station Will Open to the Public for the First Time in Over 100 Years as Part of the Biennale of Sydney
    News

    White Bay Power Station Will Open to the Public for the First Time in Over 100 Years as Part of the Biennale of Sydney

    The historic power station has been transformed into an artistic, cultural and community hub which will reopen as part of the Biennale in March next year.

  • Flamin Galah Brewing Co Chippendale
    Flamin Galah Brewing Co Chippendale
    Bar

    Flamin Galah Brewing Co Chippendale

    166-170 Broadway, Chippendale

    The beloved Jervis Bay brewery has brought its award-winning XPAs, pale ales and sours to Chippendale with a beer bar in the old Hotel Broadway digs.

  • A line of clubgoers out the front of World Bar in Sydney's Kings Cross in the late 2010s
    Teapots line the roof at World Bar in Sydney's Kings Cross
    Dancers are packed into the neon light-lit rave cave at Sydney's World Bar in the 2010s
    News

    World Bar and Its Famed Teapots Are Returning for a One-Night-Only Pop-Up at Kings Cross Hotel

    The team behind the beloved nightclub will return to Kings Cross with teapots and four levels of DJs, each paying homage to a different iteration of the bar.

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