Despite every expected (and unexpected) challenge that came with 2021, Sydney’s hospitality and arts scene has returned with roaring vengeance. Across the last tumultuous year, we’ve seen a limited-time bar featuring lamb damper rolls and Zooper Dooper cocktails, which will be demolished shortly to make way for the new metro line. There’s a new must-try Catalan-inspired vermouth bar, and the latest sustainably-focused newcomer has already swiped a spot on the World’s 50 Best Bars list.
When lockdown lifted, restaurant bookings flew — and we flocked to the latest bar openings, from cosy cocktail venues toasting to friends, life, love and negronis; to sky-high drinking dens.
Everyone from institutional favourites to the newest kids on the block threw their doors open to welcome Sydney back. In return, Sydneysiders have never been more fiercely supportive of our businesses, our independent owners and our events. And, the city is better for it.
So, as this oddball year comes to a welcome close, it’s the perfect time to celebrate some of the most talented locals pushing Sydney to be a better, braver city.
We are very pleased to announce Concrete Playground’s Best of 2021 Awards. This year, we will be awarding a People’s Choice and CP Pick award in each of the following five categories:
These outstanding Sydney ventures have been handpicked by Concrete Playground for their combination of originality, innovation, creativity, approachability and sustainability. We straight-up love them.
Cast your People’s Choice votes below by 9am on Monday, December 20 (you can only vote once per category, so make those votes count). People’s Choice and Overall winners in each category will be announced after 9am on Tuesday, December 21. Please note that your vote is recorded as soon as you make your selection in each category, but that you can edit your votes right up until when voting closes.
Remember, you need to have a Concrete Playground account to cast your vote. Sign up here!
If you have any questions or feedback, hit us up at [email protected]
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LA SALUT - CLOSED
The Love, Tilly Devine and Ragazzi crew's latest venue is bringing brilliant bar food and Spanish vermouth to Redfern.
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MAIZ MEXICAN FOOD
Flavour-packed Mexican dishes, weekly tostada nights and specialty cocktails await you at this Enmore Road spot.
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CASH ONLY DINER
From the team behind Burrow Bar, this first-of-its kind Sydney restaurant is serving dishes showcasing the cuisine of regional Vietnamese city, Hue.
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BISTROT 916
The Challis Street restaurant is serving up boudin noir spring rolls, fried lamb's brains and snail pasta.
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CASA MIA OSTERIA
This inner west spot brings a fresh take on traditional Italian flavours with a passionate duo at the helm.
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LOLA'S LEVEL 1
Oysters, martinis and Mediterranean meals star at this 94-seat venue from two Sydney hospitality mainstays.
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SAMMY JUNIOR - CLOSED
Now open on King Street, it's slinging cuppas and breakfast bites by day, and sandwiches and mini cocktails in the afternoon.
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CAFE FREDA'S
The Chippendale nightclub has moved to Darlinghurst and swapped late nights and neon lights for natural wines and pastel hues.
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PASKI VINERIA POPOLARE
This two-storey wine bar in the former digs of This Must Be The Place hosts weekly wine tastings and boasts food from a former Ragazzi and 10 William Street chef.
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MARRICKVILLE SPRINGS
This sun-soaked rooftop is adorned with a neon bin chicken and serves Philter brews and frozen cocktails.
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RE - CLOSED
This South Eveleigh bar is housed in a heritage site that spent 100 years as a locomotive workshop.
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APOLLONIA
This underground cocktail bar is serving up romantic cocktails and plenty of negronis in the basement of Hinchcliff House.
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BAR SUZE - CLOSED
Surry Hills' new late-night bar is serving Swedish snacks and house-made apple wine.
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TACOS MUCHACHOS POP-UP
This Mexican street food pop-up brought some joy to a locked down Surry Hills with quesabirria tacos, packed-full burritos and boozy agua fresca.
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ABOUT TIME POP-UP BAR
Sip Frosty Fruit slushies and eat roast lamb damper rolls at this limited-time bar in Sydney's CBD before it's demolished to make room for the new metro line.
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SPLENDOUR XR
Splendour's virtual fest featured more than 50 acts, including The Killers, Khalid, Chrvches, Charlie XCX and The Avalanches.
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RITZ VIDEO STORE
Sydneysiders could borrow a DVD or VHS — or share their own — at the Randwick Ritz's lockdown lending library.
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GELATO MESSINA DRIVE-THRU AT BELLA VISTA HOTEL
Half-litre tubs of gelato and cookie pie kits flew from this north-west Sydney pop-up.
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FIREDOOR FIRESHOP
This limited-time lockdown venture by one of Sydney's best helped to raise money for OzHarvest.
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RAGAZZI AT HOME
Ragazzi delivered Sydneysiders all their favourite pasta to their homes throughout lockdown.
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SHELL HOUSE
Discover a cocktail bar in a clocktower, a ground-floor bistro and a sky-high drinking hole in this historic former hotel.
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HINCHCLIFF HOUSE
This inner-city mega venue hosts four bars and restaurants inside an 1880's sandstone wool store.
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HARBORD HOTEL
Located just steps from the beach, this Sydney pub plays into its suburb's claim as the official birthplace of surfing in Australia.
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SOUTH EVELEIGH
This new inner-city food and dining precinct boasts venues from Matt Whiley, Maurice Terzini and Kylie Kwong, an expansive food hall and pop-up art from 107 Projects.
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PHOENIX CENTRAL PARK
You'll have to be lucky to score tickets to this hidden Chippendale concert venue.
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YOURS AND OWLS 2021
What So Not, DMA's, and Tones and I all featured at NSW's first major music festival in over a year.
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HAMILTON THE MUSICAL
Don't throw away your shot to see the blockbuster, Tony Award-winning musical by Lin-Manuel Miranda.
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PARRAMATTA NIGHTS
Visitors could watch Briggs and Ruby Fields perform, hit up a roller skating rink or attend free jazz nights across Sydney's second CBD.
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SEVEN METHODS OF KILLING KYLIE JENNER
This powerful production explores the commodification of Black women in the internet era.
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SYDNEY FILM FESTIVAL 2021
After being delayed from June to August and then to November, this year's Sydney Film Festival returned with a 12-day in-cinema program.
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SANDSONG: STORIES FROM THE GREAT SANDY DESERT
Set in Walmajarri Country, this powerful performance explores the displacement and survival of First Nations people.
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SYDNEY SOLSTICE
This two-week event featured live music, an ice-skating rink and a craft beer festival.
