Nestled into a leafy corner of South Melbourne, O'Connell's has been a cornerstone of Melbourne's pub scene for over 150 years. After a rethink back in 1990, it's sometimes pegged as the city's first gastropub, pairing top-quality food and drink to earn this neighbourly spot a stellar reputation. However, the venue is ready for its next chapter with the appointment of a new head chef, Aaron Brodie. Renowned for his produce-first approach and wood-fire cooking techniques, Brodie follows a long line of acclaimed chefs to lead O'Connell's kitchen, with names like Greg Malouf, Adrian Richardson and Cath Kalka previously plying their trade. Now it's Brodie's turn, having served as head chef at Oakridge Wines in the Yarra Valley for almost a decade. Bringing fresh energy and a renewed culinary focus, a Josper charcoal grill is where much of the action will take place. Perfect for seasonal and ingredient-first cooking, Brodie has conceived several headline dishes, including woodfired king prawns with nduja butter and capers; rainbow trout with champagne sauce and caviar; and a 300g Galiciana MB3 scotch fillet, served with butterleaf salad, pickled shallots and hand-cut chips. Meanwhile, pub faves are elevated with a delicate touch, like veal schnitzel "Holstein" with Ortiz anchovy and brown butter, and a raclette-topped wagyu cheeseburger layered with house-made relish. "Our focus at O'Connell's is on dishes prepared thoughtfully, with integrity and care," says Brodie. "It's about using great ingredients and preparing them properly, always with a sense of generosity behind it. Whether it's a wagyu steak or rainbow trout, that wood-fire flavour runs through everything we do." Supported by close relationships with some of Victoria's leading makers and producers, Brodie and his back-of-house team have sourced carbon-neutral Robbins Island Wagyu and Cape Grim beef, while the Mornington Peninsula's Barragunda Estate is responsible for the seasonal vegetables. This update also extends to O'Connell's interior, though special care was taken to carry forward the character of this historic landmark. Guests can expect new lighting, artwork and furnishings to adorn its storied timber floors, heritage windows and fireplace. "We're thrilled to have Aaron leading the kitchen at O'Connell's," says Morris Hospitality Group Executive Chef, Peter Reffell. "He brings incredible culinary talent, a fresh creative energy and a genuine passion for bold flavours and seasonal produce. His approach respects O'Connell's heritage but adds a vibrant new layer to it." O'Connell's is open daily from 12pm–11pm at 407 Coventry Street, South Melbourne. Head to the website for more information. Images: Arianna Leggiero / Simon Schiff
There are more than 150 Big Things across Australia — from the five-metre high can of Tooheys New that crowns a pub in the outback town of Cobar to the controversial Big Bogan of Nyngan, 190 kilometres northwest of Dubbo. These Big Things have become something of an obsession for Australians — in 2007 Australia Post even promoted them on a series of 50-cent stamps — perhaps for the way they're uniquely Australian, silly and provide a beacon of life on seemingly endless highways through hot, dry, barren country (or, at the very least, a toilet stop). Next time you go a-road tripping, consider paying one of these fantastic gigantics a visit. Before heading on a road trip or interstate, check the relevant state's COVID-19 guidelines. [caption id="attachment_698047" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Destination NSW[/caption] BIG BANANA, COFFS HARBOUR, NSW Dream destination of many a Sydneysiding child is the Big Banana. Found in Coffs Harbour – around 5oo kilometres north of the city – it's the gateway to warmer climes and summer holidays. It's also one of Australia's oldest big things, having been built in 1964. When you're done getting a pic, go exploring the surrounding fun park, which abounds in giant slides, toboggans, ice skating opportunities and real-life bananas. [caption id="attachment_697874" align="alignnone" width="1920"] South Australia Tourism Commission[/caption] BIG LOBSTER, KINGSTON, SA One of the most painstakingly detailed of the Big Things is the Big Lobster in Kingston SE, which you'll find on the South Australian coast around 300 kilometres south of Adelaide. It was the initiative of local lobster fisherman Ian Backler, who partnered with Rob Moyse, to commission builder Paul Kelly to construct a 17-metre high spiny lobster as realistically as possible. After going onto the market in June 2017, the Big Lobster (known to locals as "Larry") was snapped up by pastoralist Tim Brinkworth. BIG MELON, CHINCHILLA, QLD Our newest Big Thing is the Big Melon, which dominates a park in Chinchilla, the melon capital of Australia, located 300 kilometres northwest of Brisbane. The Melon was the winner of a competition run by accommodation website Wotif, which asked the Australian people to vote on their favourite submission. Among the other finalists were Glen Innes' Big Kilt (NSW), Mittagong's Big Tulip (NSW) and Kingaroy's the Big Peanut (QLD). Every February, the Chinchilla Melon Festival attracts 15,000 visitors from all over the world. [caption id="attachment_698048" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Destination NSW[/caption] THE BIG BENCH, BROKEN HILL, NSW The Big Bench isn't as well-known as many of Australia's other Big Things – mainly because it's all the way out in Broken Hill. But, it's one of the most fun and photogenic. If you've ever wondered how Lilliputiens feel, take a seat. The Big Bench is 2.5 times the size of a normal bench, putting the seat around shoulder height (when you're standing next to it) and making sure your legs are a long way from the ground (when you're sitting on it). It was built in September 2002, as part of Landscapes and Backgrounds, a contemporary public art exhibition. [caption id="attachment_698050" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Tourism Australia[/caption] BIG GUITAR, TAMWORTH, NSW In 1988, country legend Slim Dusty unveiled the Big Golden Guitar, a tribute to Tamworth's obsession with country music. Every January, the town swarms with tens of thousands of folk for the Tamworth Country Music Festival, the second biggest country music festival in the world (after Nashville). The guitar's twelve golden metres of fibreglass and steel tower over the Tamworth Tourist Centre. Head inside to visit a wax museum dedicated to country music stars, a collectors museum packed with Donald Bradman memorabilia and a music shop. If you're looking for more spots to visit in Tamworth, check out our weekender's guide. [caption id="attachment_698049" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Destination NSW[/caption] BIG MERINO, GOULBURN, NSW The Big Merino's hard to miss: not only because of its enormous horns, but also because of the constant stream of vehicles veering off the Hume Highway to bathe in its woolly wonders. 15.2 metres high, 18 metres long and weighing a whopping 97 tonnes, it's one of the biggest of all the Big Things. But that didn't stop the locals moving it 800 metres in 2007, when the arrival of the Goulburn bypass threatened its popularity. Next door you'll find a gift shop peddling an array of merino apparel, from scarves and ponchos to jumpers and socks. [caption id="attachment_697955" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Wikimedia Commons[/caption] BIG PRAWN, BALLINA, NSW In 2010, the Big Prawn came close to death when the Ballina Shire Council voted in favour of its demolition. However, the public revolted and the motion was never carried out. Today, the nine-metre high crustacean towers in all its bright orange splendour outside Bunning's hardware store, who own the land over which the Big Prawn reigns and revamped it to the tune of $400,000. The original design, built in 1989, allowed you to walk inside the sculpture and climb its internals via a spiral staircase. Those days are well over, though; you'll have to settle for a photo. [caption id="attachment_698027" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Anne and David via Flickr[/caption] BIG PINEAPPLE, WOOMBYE, QLD Drive directly west of Mooloolaba on the Sunshine Coast, Queensland, and, after about 20 minutes, the Big Pineapple will loom on the horizon. Built in 1979, it's now a heritage-listed entity. Previous visitors include Charles and Lady Diana. When you're finished Big Thinging, head to the onsite wildlife zoo to meet red pandas and tuck into a pineapple-inspired feast at the cafe. [caption id="attachment_697945" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Wikimedia Commons[/caption] BIG POTATO, ROBERTSON, NSW One of the closest Big Things to Sydney is the Big Potato, in the Southern Highlands village of Robertson. We almost lost this beauty back in 2016, when a supermarket owner threatened to buy it – to destroy it and create a parking lot. However, locals Heather and Neil Tait came to the rescue. Unlike so many of the other Big Things on this list, the Big Potato is totally uncommercial. You won't see gift shops, gimmicks or ticket booths. There is, though, a picturesque park, dotted with hedges and daffodils, some of which were planted by local artist Ben Quilty. [caption id="attachment_698070" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Michael Zimmer via Flickr[/caption] BIG MANGO, BOWEN, QLD On a Monday night in February 2014, the Big Mango went missing. The theft was no mean feat, given that the colossal fruit is ten metres high and weighs in at seven tonnes. A Twitterer known as Urban Roo claimed to have found it floating off the Victorian coast, among the Twelve Apostles. However, the next morning, Bob, a local farmer, called ABC Radio to say he'd found it, hidden by tarps and branches, in a nearby paddock. A few hours later, Nando's claimed responsibility. These days, the Big Mango is back in its rightful place, beside the Bruce Highway, four kilometres south of Bowen, near Airlie Beach.
At this point, a European summer is practically a rite of passage for Aussie travellers. Every year, as the cold creeps in, we flock to the other side of the world for pebbled beaches, romantic cities, late-night vino and sun-drenched days. But the only thing better than exploring the Italian countryside or biking through Amsterdam's cobbled streets? Doing it with a cheeky 10% off your hotel stay. Thanks to our friends at Visa, you can now score a sizeable discount on some seriously dreamy locations across Europe when you book via our dedicated travel platform: Concrete Playground Trips. From Greek island luxury to the perfect Spanish villa, we've rounded up eight hotels where you'll get the most bang for your buck – and never want to leave. So read through and find your favourite, then simply use your Visa card when booking and the exclusive discount will be yours.
Wine bars from the likes of well-established restaurants are documented enough to be a trend, but what differentiates Scopri's fun younger sibling Bar Olo from the rest is the equal focus it places on food and drink. Part luxurious curtains once you step into the doorway and be transported into a warm, cosy space that can house up to 40 people and has plenty of timber finishings. The food menu isn't overly long, but there's enough on it to warrant return visits. The standout prawn tramezzini — an Italian sandwich featuring soft, crustless white bread enlivened by salsa rosa and fried tropea onion — is a must-order, as are the deceptively simple vegetable medley with bagna cauda dip. For something more decadent, try the fritto misto with chilli salt and the lasagna croquette. Mains encompass both pastas and meat dishes, with tagliatelle with osso buco ragu and agnolotti del plin sitting alongside crumbed King George whiting and saltimbocca skewers garnished with a fried sage crumb. Wine choices encased in a leather-bound booklet borrow heavily from Italy, particularly the northwestern Piemonte region, while the inventive cocktails include the Barolo Sour — an Italian take on a pisco sour — the Amaro Dacquiri and the Sangiovese Bramble. Images: Vanessa Claire Photography.
It's not often that you look at a Christmas present and you're more interested in the wrapping than what's inside. But with MECCA's Holiday 2023 artwork, this might just be the case. The Australian brand has become one of the biggest beauty retailers across Australia and New Zealand throughout its 17 year tenure, establishing itself as the place for Aussies and Kiwis to shop for high quality skin, make up, hair and fragrance products. For the past eight years, MECCA has worked with the National Gallery of Victoria in Melbourne to find an artist to create their holiday packaging, which adorns MECCA's carry bags and gift boxes throughout the silly season. The design also acts as a backdrop for MECCA's very own holiday gift sets, which include everything from Christmas crackers filled with sunscreen to tree ornaments made out of lip oil. Not only will MECCA's packaging get a makeover, the chosen artist will also have their designs shown in the National Gallery of Victoria, a huge platform for budding artists. The artist who was bestowed this honour for 2023 is Kaylene Whiskey from the Anangu Pitjantjatjara Yankunytjatjara (APY) Lands in the northwest of South Australia. To create her design, Whiskey combined pop culture references – such as the Wonder Woman-inspired figure that appears throughout her work – with her knowledge of Anangu traditions,reflecting elements of Whiskey's life in her community. With her vibrant, colourful design, Whiskey wanted to show the culture of the Anangu community and what she learnt growing up, layered with how the current generation of children from her community are growing up. Created using former tourism flyers, Whiskey shows how these two generations can exist alongside each other, illustrating Anangu traditions like hunting amidst the Australian landscape while women sing and play instruments and a superhero figure flies above. Whiskey's artwork can be summed up by a phrase she plugged herself whilst creating the design, which hits the nail on the head when it comes to the holiday season and MECCA: "Everyone together, looking so good". MECCA Holiday 2023 is now available online and in stores throughout New Zealand and Australia. Head to the MECCA website to see the full range of Whiskey's artwork.
Whether you're a lifelong Queenslander or heading north to escape the oncoming cooler months, Mooloolaba has a soon-to-open new address that might encourage you to soak up the Sunshine Coast sooner rather than later. Opening the doors in May 2026, the Avani Mooloolaba Beach Hotel is one of the most anticipated new arrivals to hit the beachfront. In large part, that's because it's the first full-service internationally branded hotel to launch regionally in more than four decades. So, if you're keen to experience what might be the most contemporary hotel on the coast — it will certainly have the freshest coat of paint — you're invited to make a booking ahead of the official opening date on Monday, May 11. Bringing an up-to-date appeal to Mooloolaba's stunning shores, the new property rises to 12 storeys, making for some impressive views from its position at the intersection of the ocean and the esplanade. All told, Avani Mooloolaba Beach Hotel will feature 180 rooms and suites, with each designed to reflect the region's coastal character. Don't stress — you won't find any tired seashell decor. Instead, the newly revealed rooms are light-filled and layered with urbane textures and materials that still capture that evocative coastal palette. Ranging from 27 to 45 square metres, there are interconnected options for families and group stays, so you can organise that annual holiday knowing there's space for everyone. What's more, the dining amenities are no second thought, featuring a selection of sophisticated options. The standout, Sully's Rooftop, offers a soaring perch for dining, with a focus on modern Australian cuisine that combines seasonal produce and local seafood to celebrate the Sunshine Coast's makers, producers and growers. Also on the 12th floor, a rooftop pool offers 180-degree views, spanning Mooloolaba Beach, Point Cartwright and the coastline beyond. No doubt the spot to spend a lazy afternoon on your next getaway. Meanwhile, Avani Mooloolaba Beach Hotel will also include a street-level lobby bar primed for morning coffee and evening cocktails, as well as a fitness studio and in-room wellbeing programming. Then, following the launch, guests can expect First Avenue Cellar & Bar to open, rounding out a brand-new way to experience the Mooloolaba coastline. Bookings are now open for Avani Mooloolaba Beach Hotel, which is expected to launch on Monday, May 11. Head to the website for more information. Like what you see? Subscribe to the Concrete Playground newsletter to get stories just like these straight to your inbox.
UPDATE: APRIL 24, 2020 — This pizzeria in Melbourne's north is serving its gluten free and vegan slices and pastas for takeaway and delivery. You can order via the website. Italian might not be the obvious choice when you're hunting for vegan or gluten-free eats, but Shop 225 is pretty keen to shake up that thought process entirely. Up in Pascoe Vale South, this neighbourhood pizzeria is dishing up a rare culinary combination: it's championing simple Italian fare, while also specialising in both vegan and gluten-free dishes. Boasting Coeliac Australia accreditation, the restaurant's got all the proper processes in place to minimise cross-contamination and ensure long-suffering diners can finally sit down to a whole menu filled with choices. A hefty range of traditional pasta dishes also includes a plethora of plant-based alternatives — from mushroom fettuccini to a rigatoni bolognese — with gluten-free casarecce, spaghetti or gnocchi interchangeable for most. And when it comes to woodfired pizzas, the options are even more bountiful, thanks to a wide-ranging lineup of vegan ingredients and Shop 225's signature coeliac-friendly bases ($4 extra). It swaps the usual wheat situation for a blend of Ardor gluten-free flour and rice, tapioca, maize, soy and pea flours. For toppings, plant-based options abound, crafted with lactose-free Local Craft cheese and vegan-friendly meat alternatives. And, of course, they haven't forgotten about the discerning dessert fiends out there either — you'll spy Nutella-loaded pizzas and calzones, creamy panna cotta and proper Sicilian cannoli, all available in both vegan and gluten-free variations. Images: Hi Sylvia Photography.
Under current COVID-19 restrictions, you can't go on a holiday (locally or overseas). But, the government has hinted travel between Australia and New Zealand may be allowed in the near future, so it's time to start dreaming. Bookmark this for when you can explore once again. With a bountiful backyard to be explored, it's high time you got out and slept in the most jaw-dropping rest stops in the South Island. You may be giving up your own bed, but you don't have to sacrifice any comfort for that natural NZ beauty at these glamping retreats. To help you find the perfect place to rest your head in the great outdoors (without getting too lo-fi), we've gathered a list of the best glamping spots in the south. Get ready for a night of luxury, trust us, you'll never sleep better. CAMP KEKERENGU, KAIKOURA Waking up at Kaikoura's Camp Kekerengu is like waking up on the edge of the earth. Perched high above the wild Clarence River, you can watch the sunrise from your bed over the expansive beaches below then enjoy sights of playful seals and whales putting on a show. The campsite is complete with outdoor baths and a kitchen with a vista to die for — you'll be moving in before you know it. Go for the full luxe experience, and head to Nin's Bin to eat some of the freshest crayfish you can get your hands on. $220 per night. LAVERICKS BAY, CHRISTCHURCH If you just want to switch off and escape, look no further than Lavericks Bay. Tucked away in the coves of the Banks Peninsula, this lavish campsite boasts wooden outdoor hot tubs and toasty wood burners for the cooler Christchurch nights. It also opens onto a private beach and backs onto rolling hills for your exploring pleasure. Fall asleep watching the stars, then hike up the hill to watch the sun rise over the ocean and feel the serenity. At a 40 minutes' drive from Akaroa and two hours from the garden city, it's a bit of a trek — but, trust us, it's worth the effort. While you're there, grab a surfboard and check out some of the remote breaks dotted around the Banks Peninsula. $210 per night. ROCKY POINT HUT, PEPIN ISLAND Just a stone's throw away from Nelson — but far enough to look back on the bay's beauty — is Rocky Point Hut on Pepin Island. Nestled on the remote tip of the picturesque farming island, the accommodation is a two-hour walk from the isolated Cable Bay beach. While that sounds long, your hard work will be rewarded with an epic vista to make you feel like the king of the land. Your throne? The outdoor hot tub with panoramic views of Tasman Bay. For the full royal treatment, forgo cooking and head to Cable Bay Cafe instead. It's a secret spot only the locals know and serves some of New Zealand's best fare. $150 per night. VALLEY VIEWS, OTAGO Deep in the heart of Mackenzie Country, you'll find a village of luxurious tents to call home. Valley Views Glamping does what it says, delivering incredible views of farm, river and mountain across the vast Waitaki Valley. The campsite sits two hours from Wanaka, giving you a chance to soak in the southern sights on your way to the comfy bed and cosy log burner that await your arrival. Bring a book, and your favourite person, you're not going to want to leave. While you're there, make tracks to Kurow Estate Winery's Cellar Door and pick up some vino to enjoy with the views. $200–$300 per night. WOODPECKER HUT Welcome to Woodpecker Hut, an oasis in the midst of the West Coast wilderness where you can kick back and let your worries subside. Designed and built by locals, the isolated cabin sits harmoniously within its natural surrounds. The hut marries luxury with nature seamlessly, so you can soak in the wooden hot tub all while you soak up a sunset. With bushwalks and beaches at your doorstep, there's plenty of adventuring to be done if you get tired of relaxing, too. If you're after even more views, take a trip just five minutes down the road to the breathtaking Pancake Rocks. $290 per night. Start planning your trip to New Zealand's south with our guide to the South Island journeys to take here.
They're words every hungry stomach likes to hear: all you can eat. And, they're words that echo a little bit louder when gyoza are involved. After all, who hasn't sat down to a plate of them, finished it quicker than they thought they would and wished someone would keep magically refilling it? We all have, and that's just what'll happen at Bosozoku on Wednesdays. It's all rather simple: you venture in after 5pm, choose from pork or vegetarian, and settle in for an hour of power. The best part? It'll cost you only $25. Usually the gyoza cost $2 each, so you'll have to eat at least 13 to get your money's worth. So come with an empty stomach.
Ever set foot in a venue and wondered, 'How?'. How did they transform the idea from a dream on a napkin into a café, bar or restaurant that gets people through the door time and time again? This is the thinking behind In Service, a new on-demand masterclass platform made for current and future hospitality owners. Created by the business solution experts Square, the free learning resource dives straight into the reality of running a hospitality business from the people who have done it themselves. From scaling to staff, marketing to menus, In Service gives you practical lessons directly from the best in the Australian hospitality industry—the ones who have built (and sustained) successful venues. It's real business owners serving up real strategies. Who's involved? A number of influential hospitality owners are offering their knowledge and experience on In Service. [caption id="attachment_1032997" align="alignleft" width="1920"] In Service[/caption] At Fabbrica, what began as a line of retail pasta kits has evolved into multiple pasta bars across Sydney. In Fabbrica's lesson, Head Chef Scott and General Manager Marlon teach business owners how to diversify their revenue and the differences between retail and restaurant operations. CHAE is a home-based intimate dining experience in Melbourne. The Korean eatery serves only six guests per session, but the exclusivity has created a wait list of thousands. Co-owners Chae and Yoora share their insights on building a community and their growth strategies. [caption id="attachment_909508" align="alignleft" width="1920"] Bar Copains[/caption] One of Sydney's most beloved wine bars, Bar Copains, has stood out in a crowded market. In his lesson, co-owner Morgan teaches why every detail counts and the mindset that has guests coming back for more. MUCHO Group, the team behind bars including Bar Planet, The Cliff Dive, Centro 86 and more, have also offered their peer-to-peer advice. General Manager, Daisy, shares their tips on service and training staff. It's not just restaurants and bars teaching their lessons. Calibrate Coffee has created an elevated brand and venue that focuses on high-end beans. Co-founder Josh shares how to build a team as well as how to create an inviting (and efficient) space. [caption id="attachment_939881" align="alignleft" width="1920"] Centro 86[/caption] As well as practical lessons on how to run a venue and team, design studios SCCO and Worktones, and Tom Mark Henry have offered their expert tips on how to design a hospitality venue and build your business's identity. Whether you're an early-stage café owner trying to find your footing or a seasoned operator looking to sharpen your team, In Service is the free platform that lets you learn from the best in the business, and all at your own pace. Square empowers local businesses to thrive by making it easier to run, manage, and grow their operations. Find out how Square can help your business grow. Sign up for free at In Service. Lead image: In Service
Melbourne will soon be home to one of the world's largest standalone beauty destinations: MECCA's flagship Bourke Street store — opening on Friday, August 8. This 4000-square-metre location spans three massive levels, with over 200 beauty brands and 80 services crammed inside. Plus, a series of in-store concepts make this a bold new chapter in experiential beauty retail. MECCA Bourke Street has taken up residency in the storied 299 Bourke Street — a 1930s heritage-listed building (most recently David Jones' menswear store) once home to the iconic Cole's Book Arcade. A fitting destination for MECCA's Bourke Street endeavour, leading architecture practice Studio McQualter was brought on board to restore the building's age-old features down to the smallest detail, from its arched windows and terrazzo flooring to the shopfront tiles. [caption id="attachment_836524" align="alignnone" width="1920"] MECCA's Sydney flagship, George Street.[/caption] "MECCA Bourke Street is the physical embodiment of our purpose — to embolden through beauty by helping people look, feel, and be their best. It reimagines what experiential retail can be, fusing creativity, culture, and collaboration to create something so much more than a store — it's the MECCA of all MECCAs," says MECCA Founder and Co-CEO, Jo Horgan. Over three times the size of MECCA George Street and more than 60 times the original MECCA Toorak Road store, this immense reopening lives up to its grand legacy. Designed as a full-day destination, guests can explore global beauty brands across multiple existing and new concepts. Explore MECCA Perfumeria's fragrance gallery guided by scent sommeliers, head to MECCA Aesthetica for advanced clinical skin treatments, or discover luxury 90-minute hair, makeup and nail treatments at MECCA Beauty Atelier. [caption id="attachment_836525" align="alignnone" width="1920"] MECCA's Sydney flagship, George Street.[/caption] The space goes beyond beauty and wellbeing, too. Opening in late 2025, there's a 200-square-metre auditorium designed to bring staff and customers together through a year-round program of educational and inspiring events. There's also Café MECCA — a suitable spot to catch your breath after roaming the shelves. Tucked into the first floor, expect a custom-made marble counter, leather banquette seating and a stunning artwork by contemporary artist Diena Georgetti. MECCA is also bringing purpose to its Bourke Street store, as the location will also act as a platform for MECCA M-POWER, championing gender equality through female-led design, purpose-driven events and over 20 artworks by women curated by Charlotte Day. You'll also be happy to know the store's innovative design features myriad health-first features, including air purification, mindful lighting and movement support. With more details revealed before the doors swing open in a month's time, this landmark MECCA store might just redefine retail beauty for good. [caption id="attachment_836523" align="alignnone" width="1920"] MECCA's Sydney flagship, George Street.[/caption] MECCA Bourke Street is expected to open on Friday, August 8, at 299 Bourke Street, Melbourne. Head to the website for more information. Top image: Hugh Davies.
Tiamo has been serving pizza, pasta and coffee on Lygon Street for more than four decades. The super-popular family-run venture is cosy and comfortable, despite spilling over into the space next door and upstairs to a second level, making it the perfect spot for a big group affair. Grab a seat inside or out on the street and settle in for a classic Italian meal featuring antipasto, salads, pasta and simple (but delicious) pizzas. There is also a selection of mains available, all authentically Italian — think veal scallopine, osso buco and eggplant parmigiana. The clientele is a mixture of students, workers and northside locals after affordable, family-friendly eats. The fact that this Carlton restaurant is BYO (with an $8 corkage fee per bottle) is but the cherry on top. Images: Tracey Ah-kee
Most of us have a local pizza spot we'd defend until our last breath (or slice). But the fact that Pascoe Vale's SHOP225 has just been named among the world's best pizzerias by the 50 Top Pizza Awards could mean you can't resist letting your tastebuds wander further afield. Launched in 2016, owners Lorenzo Tron and Roberto Davoli have built a loyal following around their pizza-making excellence. Yet what makes this particular pizza shop stand out is its steadfast dedication to gluten-free and vegan-friendly options, making a top-notch slice accessible to all. With the 50 Top Pizza Awards recognising the world's best pizzerias for their culinary excellence and superior craft, SHOP225 has been ranked fifth on the Asia-Pacific list. Now the team travels to Naples to discover where it lands on the global top 100. "We are incredibly honoured to be part of this journey," says Tron, ahead of the rankings announcement on Monday, September 8. "To be recognised on such an international platform not only shines a light on our hard work and passion but also on the quality of pizza being created here in Melbourne." SHOP225 achieved the highest spot of any Australian pizza shop, but it wasn't the only one to make the cut in 2025. In fact, ten Aussie pizzerias landed in the top 50 overall for Asia-Pacific. With locations in South Yarra and Elsternwick, 48h Pizza e Gnocchi Bar ranked 12th on this year's list, while Al Taglio from Surry Hills in Sydney reached 17th. So, what gave SHOP225 the edge over the others? According to 50 Top Pizza, the restaurant offers a "familiar environment where everyone can feel comfortable as if they were at home." Plus, the Neapolitan-style pizzas — including its flagship Zio Pino — showcase immense "attention to the dough and high-quality ingredients." SHOP225 is open Monday–Thursday from 5–9.30pm and Friday–Sunday from 12–9.30pm at 225 Melville Rd, Pascoe Vale South. Head to the website for more information. Images: HiSylvia Photography.
There's nothing quite as tranquil as a lake. There's something about the still water that forces your brain to relax — regardless of how wired you've been or for how long. Australia's massive open plains and long mountain ranges create plenty of space for lakes to form, from Western Australia's brilliant pink watery delights to Queensland's tropical swimming holes to the endless expanse of Kati Thanda–Lake Eyre. Been feeling a bit frazzled lately? It could be time to hit the road and spend a day or two beside one of these natural beauties. From pristine beaches and bountiful wine regions to alpine hideaways and bustling country towns, Australia has a wealth of places to explore at any time of year. We've partnered with Tourism Australia to help you plan your road trips, weekend detours and summer getaways so that when you're ready to hit the road you can Holiday Here This Year. Under current COVID-19 restrictions in Australia, there are restrictions on where you can go on holiday. Bookmark this for when you can explore once again. [caption id="attachment_741619" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Tourism Western Australia[/caption] HUTT LAGOON, WESTERN AUSTRALIA If you like your pink gin, flowers and homewares, you need to visit Hutt Lagoon. It's quite remote, being located on the Coral Coast, around 515 kilometres north of Perth, between Port Gregory and Kalbarri. If you're visiting on a road trip, you'll get the best views along Port Gregory Road. But do be tempted to see it from the air on a scenic flight. Hutt Lagoon's pink is always changing, with the most stunning shades usually on show at sunset. The lake gets its colour from dunaliella salina, which is an algae that produces caroteinoid. [caption id="attachment_741600" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Tourism and Events Queensland[/caption] LAKE MCKENZIE, QUEENSLAND In sore need of some sand and sun? Make tracks to Fraser Island in Queensland, to visit Lake McKenzie. This natural phenomenon is a perched lake — that is, a special kind of lake that contains rainwater. And rainwater only. Unlike most other lakes, it's sealed off from groundwater and isn't connected with any streams or rivers. On top of that, the sand in and around Lake Mckenzie is made entirely of silica. All this means it's unbelievably clear, whether you're taking a dip or enjoying the views from the shore. [caption id="attachment_741605" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Destination NSW[/caption] LAKE MUNGO, NEW SOUTH WALES Strictly speaking, Lake Mungo isn't a lake. But, it was one tens of thousands of years ago. And it's still one of the most important places to see in Australia because it's where the oldest human remains were found, being those of Mungo Man and Mungo Lady, who lived at least 40,000 years ago. If you're up for a road trip, take the 70-kilometre Mungo Track. There are also plenty of walking trails, including the ten-kilometre Zanci Pastoral Heritage Loop and a bunch of short strolls to lookouts and significant spots. [caption id="attachment_741602" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Tourism and Events Queensland[/caption] LAKE EACHAM, QUEENSLAND Around 1400 kilometres north of Brisbane lies Crater Lakes National Park and, within it, you'll find Lake Eacham. This dreamy spot — formed by a volcanic crater — is encircled completely with rainforest. Spend your time in whatever way suits you, be it swimming, fishing, hiking, picnicking or jumping in a kayak (but note that motorboats aren't allowed). Both Lake Eacham and the forest in its vicinity are part of the World Heritage-listed Wet Tropics of Queensland, which means they're protected so tread with care. [caption id="attachment_690974" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Jason Charles Hill via Tourism Tasmania[/caption] LAKE ST CLAIR, TASMANIA Lake St Clair — found in the southern section of Cradle Mountain-Lake St Clair National Park in Tassie — took two million years to form, via slow-moving glaciers. Of all the freshwater lakes in Australia, it's the deepest, at 160 metres. There are many ways to experience this watery wonder, from short walks to multi-day camping expeditions. If you like a little luxury with your wilderness experience, then a stay at Pumphouse Point or Lake St Clair Lodge might be the way to go. [caption id="attachment_741599" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Robert Blackburn via Visit Victoria[/caption] LAKE EILDON, VICTORIA Lake Eildon's claim to fame is the town of Bonnie Doon, where you'll find the Kerrigans' holiday home from 1997 film The Castle. These days, it's listed on Airbnb, so you can experience "the serenity" for yourself. But what's less known about Lake Eildon is its epic size. With 515 kilometres of shoreline, the lake is so big that it holds six times the water of Sydney Harbour. You won't run out of territory to explore, whether you spend your time kayaking around Eildon's many inlets or stick to picnicking on land. [caption id="attachment_741635" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Ockert le Roux via South Australian Tourism Commission[/caption] BLUE LAKE, SOUTH AUSTRALIA Maybe Blue Lake should be called Blues Lake. That's because it changes colour. Visit between March and November, and you'll see a deep, dark, wintry blue. Change your schedule to sometime between November and March, and you'll be met with a striking turquoise. Either way, the best way to experience it is on foot via the 3.6-kilometre walking track that follows the shore. You can also go underground on an aquifer tour. Blue Lake is just outside of Mount Gambier, in South Australia's southeast, right near the state's border with Victoria. [caption id="attachment_741624" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Jeffrey Drewitz via Destination NSW[/caption] BLUE LAKE, NEW SOUTH WALES One of the loveliest spots on the walk to the summit of Mount Kosciuszko is Blue Lake. It's a cirque lake, which means it was formed by glacial erosion during the Ice Age around 10,000 years ago. Though you can't tell when you're standing on the shore, Blue Lake is a whopping 28 metres deep. Plus, it contains the freshest water on the Australian mainland. Both the lake and the 320 hectares surrounding it were recognised as a Ramsar site in 1996, so they're protected under the Ramsar Convention on wetlands. [caption id="attachment_741634" align="alignnone" width="1920"] South Australian Tourism Commission[/caption] KATI THANDA-LAKE EYRE, SOUTH AUSTRALIA This extraordinary natural wonder is the most famous lake on this list for a few reasons. First up, it's the biggest lake in the country — at 9,500 square kilometres. Secondly, it's home to the lowest point on the Australian mainland, at 15 metres below sea level. Thirdly, when it's full of water, it's as salty as the sea. So don't arrive thirsty. Also, if you're keen to see the lake at its most dazzling, check on water levels before hitting the road. It's dry a lot of the time, with a large amount of water arriving just once every eight years. In fact, during the past 150 years, Kati Thanda-Lake Eyre has filled to capacity on only three occasions. [caption id="attachment_741617" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Tourism Western Australia[/caption] LAKE HILLIER, WESTERN AUSTRALIA Another of Western Australia's pink watery sights is Lake Hillier. When we say this lake is pink, we really mean it. We're not talking pale pastel, either — we're talking bright, brilliant, lollipop pink. And what makes the colour even more dramatic is Lake Hillier's location on Middle Island, where it's separated by a narrow strip of land from the deep blue of the Southern Ocean. To get there, you first need to get to Esperance, on Western Australia's southern coast, then catch a boat or plane. Whether you're planning to travel for a couple of nights or a couple of weeks, Holiday Here This Year and you'll be supporting Australian businesses while you explore the best of our country's diverse landscapes and attractions. Image: Hutt Lagoon via Tourism Western Australia. FYI, this story includes some affiliate links. These don't influence any of our recommendations or content, but they may make us a small commission. For more info, see Concrete Playground's editorial policy.
Soup team, assemble. The weather of your people is making an appearance once again. The heatwaves are over, the cooler temperatures are trickling in and the cravings for big ol' bowls of hot, steamy ramen in Melbourne are back. The classic Japanese dish has become a cosy, warming dish of choice here in Melbourne, with restaurants across the city serving up quality renditions ranging from the traditional to the inventive. With slurp-worthy noodles swimming in a rich, nuanced, silky broth, this soup is a surefire tastebud pleaser that'll warm those cockles in an instant. So, here's a handy list of what we reckon are the best ramen joints around town — from buzzy CBD spots, to suburban restaurants well worth the trek. Recommended reads: The Best Japanese Restaurants in Melbourne Where to Find the Best Fried Chicken in Melbourne The Best Hot Pot Spots in Melbourne The Best Cheap Eats in Melbourne The Best Bubble Tea Shops in Melbourne
Melbourne is a city of the arts, with an overwhelming love for all things creative, and it shows in the statistics. Take the big screen, Melbourne is home to over 70 cinemas, from the literal biggest in the southern hemisphere at IMAX Melbourne, right down to the charming boutique theatres in the city and suburbs that keep cinephiles from having to go far to catch a flick. Sure, moviegoing is expensive in this day and age, but in a time where art is under threat from corporate agendas and the cinema is more sacred a space than ever — it's a great time to support your local indie theatre and distributors. If you're looking to evade the multiplex and watch a movie in a cinema with character, or catch an independent film that your local Hoyts or Event Cinemas doesn't have on the showtimes, you're spoilt for choice. These cinemas around the city are charming, historic and exactly the thing you need. [caption id="attachment_1074823" align="aligncenter" width="1920"] Palace Cinemas[/caption] The Astor History often goes hand in hand with a cinema maintaining a boutique identity — and few are as historic as The Astor. Putting on the pictures since 1936 and preserving as one of just a small few single-screen repertory cinemas in the world. Meaning, The Astor keeps a tidy repertoire of classic films in its showtimes, carefully protected by owners Palace Cinemas. Inside the classic stalls and stands space, films can be projected in a mix of formats, with regular screenings of 35mm, 70mm and 4k — the latter of which is pristine even for the usually crystal clear resolution, as The Astor keeps one of the highest quality digital projectors in the entire country. And you're not limited to the snack bar for pre-movie snacks, since the Overlook Cafe and Bar (yes, like The Shining) keeps a tidy bar menu available just next door. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Thornbury Picture House (@thornbury_picturehouse) Thornsbury Picture House and Brunswick Picture House As independent goes, the Picture Houses make everything else on this list look like a chain. The original Thornsbury cinema has been family-owned and operated for almost a decade by Gus and Lou Berger, described as a cinema that's about more than just screenings, but somewhere where audiences can gather and chat about a film in an intimate 57-seat space. They recently expanded north with the Brunswick Picture House, which opened in November 2025 with the same vision. In both spaces, you'll find plenty of new arrivals and independently distributed films, plus regular special events, including its own festival: the Northern Lights Film Festival. Cinema Nova There's no discussion about boutique theatres in Melbourne without mentioning this Lygon Street icon. Cinema Nova started as a joint operation between the Longford and Valhalla cinemas, but has since grown into a 16-screen operation with its own bar, making it one of the largest independent cinemas in the southern hemisphere. That scale means Cinema Nova offers almost every kind of screening possible. Fresh same-day premieres and independent productions alike have regular places in the showtimes. There's a huge range of special events, too, with major and minor film festivals setting up shop yearly, plus regular advance screenings, marathons, double features, stage recordings, exclusive retrospectives and restorations and much more. [caption id="attachment_1074825" align="aligncenter" width="1920"] Palace Cinemas[/caption] The Kino The most convenient of all of Melbourne's boutique theatres, The Kino is a premier picturehouse in the CBD, Collins Place, more specifically. An extremely stylish cinema and part of the national Palace Cinemas family, it's a seven-screen site that puts an emphasis on premium. The prime example of that attitude is the newly installed premium recliner seats, including tables and footrests, that sort of comfort makes every movie screening better, in our opinion. The showtimes have a wide mix of premium films too, but like all Palace Cinemas, there's a certain emphasis on the independent and international, and regular event, advance and membership discounts. Sun Theatre Another of the golden oldies, the Sun has been shining since 1938, maintaining an air of Art Deco that makes these 20th century cinemas so charming. The current owners took over in 1995, after its stint as a Greek cinema in the 1960s ended with a forced closure and a prolonged period of disrepair, during which most of the original cinema fell into disrepair. But the charm survived, and now the Sun is brighter than ever. Now boasting eight distinctly styled cinemas, the Sun has a large variety of films on daily, with a healthy mix of Hollywood, Independent and Australian films in regular rotation alongside festivals, retrospectives, previews and themed screenings. Lido Cinemas The site now known as Lido Cinemas has had plenty of previous identities. First it was a catholic school, then a theatre, a dance hall, a mini golf complex and then a cinema in the late 1930s. But it wasn't done there — it had to try the whole dance thing again, then phases in dinner theatre, cabaret and then abandonment. Until Eddie and Lindy Tamir, who also own Classic and Cameo cinemas, moved in in 2013. Now, the 114-year-old building is Lido, a beloved cinema with eight screens, a rooftop cinema and a jazz room. Screenings are a mix of arthouse and blockbuster alongside festivals, themed screenings and events like a film club hosted by Zachary Ruane of comedy trio Aunty Donna. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Classic Cinema (@classiccinema) Classic Cinema Classic is being used literally in this case — being Melbourne's oldest-running theatre. Originally purchased in 1888 for a tidy sum of £5000 by owners looking to build a skating rink and clubhouse, and it would go through lifetimes of various theatres and dance halls, going through ownership changes, the great depression and fires, before entering the Classic Cinemas identity in 1971 and being acquired by its current owners in 1997. The Tamir family has renovated the theatre three times since, with it now operating with ten screens, a rooftop and a dedicated music and comedy space. Classic positions itself as not just a cinema, but a cultural precinct to film-loving Melburnians, thanks to regular film festival programming and screenings of films big and small, old and new. Coburg Drive In The concept of a drive-in cinema altogether is inherently pretty retro, but this Coburg classic lives and breathes that spirit. Since 1965, this 33-metre screen has been doing it old-school. If you're among the Gen Z who have never watched a movie in your car — drive-ins are like outdoor cinemas but with the shelter of your own automobile, and instead of Bluetooth headphones, the sound comes via a dedicated FM radio channel. Seating…or parking in this case… is on a first-in, first-served basis, so you're advised to arrive with plenty of time to secure a prime park for the movie. And have some decorum: big cars are asked to stay in the back to avoid interrupting the view. For snacks, a retro diner serves food and can deliver to your car if you order over text. [caption id="attachment_1074826" align="aligncenter" width="1920"] Palace Cinemas[/caption] Pentridge Prison Cinemas A former prison is an unconventional place to hold, well, any sort of business, but when you've got a brewery, hotel, wine bar, restaurant, wedding space and more in a former prison complex — a cinema fits right in. Introducing Pentridge Prison Cinemas, part of the Australia-spanning Palace Cinemas family. In terms of what's on offer, Pentridge's 15 auditoriums all boast Dolby Atmos sound, digital projection and fully reclining chairs complete with footrests. Luxurious, and licensed too, so if Pepsi Max doesn't cut it, you can get a stronger drink to take into your screening of Palace's mixed films and events program.
There are seemingly endless picture-perfect stays across Australia to choose from, so convincing yourself to smash that book button is often easier said than done. Yet keeping tabs on what like-minded holidaymakers are sharing on socials is one way to avoid analysis paralysis when it comes to finding a short-term stay that delivers a breathtaking experience. With this in mind, Airbnb has turned to social media to identify which stays have generated the most Instagram and TikTok engagement over the past 12 months. Resulting in a list capturing the most-loved stays on the platform, a single Aussie Airbnb made the final cut — and it's as serenity-inducing as you'd expect. That'd be Gilay Estate, a meticulously designed off-grid tiny house that calls the similarly small New South Wales town of Quirindi home. Nestled into the state's food bowl on a family farm, this wonderfully cosy Airbnb offers a charming perspective over the laidback farming region, blending contemporary comfort with the natural beauty of Liverpool Plains. When you're not tucked up next to the fireplace with a glass of wine in hand, guests are welcome to stroll the scenic grounds, unwinding amid the fresh country air. Alternatively, the surrounding paddocks and open skies can be enjoyed from the outdoor hot tub or adjacent firepit, primed for sunset cookouts that evoke a slow-living ethos. According to Airbnb, the global survey data used to create the list shows that younger travellers are using platforms like Instagram and TikTok to discover new destinations. Delving a little deeper, Airbnb says the most-loved listings often share some key characteristics, those being the chance to connect offline and feel inspired by unique surroundings. As for the rest of the most-loved list, there's no shortage of fascinating stays to explore. In the US, guests can relish a soothing escape perched right alongside Washington State's glacier-fed Cascade River. Meanwhile, an unsurprising hit on social media is Quetzalcoatl's Nest, a Javier Senosiain-designed stay that reflects Mexico's organic architecture movement. Looking for more travel inspiration? Check out Australia's best Airbnb hosts for 2025 or head to the website to see the full list.
The annual Negroni Week has levelled up. While the global celebration runs from Monday, September 22, to Sunday, September 28, this year, Australia is getting an entire Negroni Month. That's four whole weeks of celebrations featuring rooftop parties, bar takeovers, and menus dedicated to the famous apéritif made with equal parts Campari (because there's no negroni without Campari), gin, and sweet vermouth. This Negroni Month, Imbibe Magazine and Campari are joining forces with Slow Food to foster a more equitable and sustainable world of food and beverage. Donations raised during Negroni Month will help to continue Slow Food's mission of defending biological and cultural diversity. Keen to give back to charity and your tastebuds? Here are the top five Melbourne venues to sip your way through Negroni Month this September. Il Mercato Centrale Melbourne Given the negroni's Italian heritage, it makes sense that Melbourne's premier Italian food hall and market, Il Mercato Centrale Melbourne, is a cocktail hub this month. Campari is partnering with San Pellegrino to bring a curated negroni experience to the venue. Running all month, each artisan in the market will create a dish to pair with one negroni and one San Pellegrino flavour. There'll also be Negroni Masterclasses running each Thursday, plus a special negroni menu for punters to peruse. Beneath Driver Lane Beneath Driver Lane is one of Melbourne's best underground bars. Hidden down a laneway that's nestled beside the QV building, Beneath Driver Lane is inspired by New Orleans' jazz and blues scene. The hidden bar is hosting the official Negroni Month Wrap Party on Sunday, September 28. Enjoy a night of DJs and apéritifs to farewell the event for another year. Of course, their special Negroni Month menu will be available to order throughout September, so it's not goodbye just yet. Johnny's Green Room This Carlton rooftop is transforming into a negroni haven this month. Alongside the bespoke Campari-inspired menu, the headline event at this venue is 'Johnny's Sunday Service' on Sunday, September 14. You can dance to DJ, Kuzco, enjoy food by Chef Mischa Tropp, and sip on negronis as the sun sets over the city. Entry is free so head down from 12pm to enjoy. The Italian-inspired food menu at Johnny's Green Room is designed by celebrity chef and Culinary Director, Karen Martini, so you know that the woodfired pizzas, burrata and cicchetti will pair perfectly with your negroni. Republic Economica Described as South Yarra's "recession saviours", the Toorak Road venue is famous for its $9 pizza, pasta and, of course, negronis. For Negroni Month, Republic Economica are curating a negroni Specials Board, making it a must-stop if you're looking for an affordable night out. Puttanesca Osteria Located inside the historic Clifton Hotel in Kew, Puttanesca Osteria is a cosy Italian eatery that encourages long lunches and midweek pizzas. This September, head to Puttanesca Osteria for a weekly Blue's Music Session and a Negroni Menu to match. Nab a table outside to lap up the incoming spring sunshine and al fresco nibbles—with a Campari cocktail in hand. In addition to the above, several venues across the city are curating their own Negroni-focused menus over the month. Whether you're on a Carlton rooftop, tucked into a laneway bar, or enjoying a dinner that sprawls long into the night, Negroni Month is your excuse to round up the crew and celebrate the Italian apéritif. Hazel Brunetti Oro Black Pearl Molli Good Measure Smith & Daughters Abacus Nick & Nora's Please remember to drinkwise. Lead image: Steve Christo - Corbis/Corbis via Getty Image
Do you have the time to listen to Green Day live? Do you now have 'Basket Case' from the California-born band's iconic 1994 album Dookie stuck in your head? To celebrate three decades since releasing one of the records that defined the 90s, Billie Joe Armstrong, Mike Dirnt and Tré Cool are returning to Australia to play it in its entirety — and to also bust out their American Idiot album from 2004 in full as well. If you're a Green Day fan, welcome to paradise come March 2025, when the band will hit up stadiums in Sydney, Melbourne and on the Gold Coast. We hope you have the time of your life getting a blast of 90s and 00s nostalgia, complete with 'When I Come Around', 'Longview', 'She', 'Boulevard of Broken Dreams', 'Wake Me Up When September Ends', 'Holiday' and, yes, 'American Idiot' echoing through Engie Stadium, Marvel Stadium and CBUS Super Stadium. [caption id="attachment_972774" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Alice Baxley, Apple Music[/caption] While the visit is part of the group's global The Saviors Tour, which is named for their 14th studio album Saviors, they're clearly happy to keep working through their best-known tunes — and, while they aren't on either Dookie or American Idiot, 'Minority', 'Brain Stew' and 'Good Riddance (Time of Your Life)' have been on Green Day's recent setlist overseas. "We've never been more excited to unleash new music than with Saviors, a record that's meant to be rocked live, together. And we can not wait to return to Australia, it's been way too long. So let's thrash," said Green Day, announcing their Down Under visit. [caption id="attachment_972776" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Raph_PH via Flickr.[/caption] In support, also bringing the 90s and 00s to mind, fellow California-born group AFI will share the stage on Green Day's three Aussie gigs in 2025. It's currently a great time to hear beloved albums in full live in Australia, given that Green Day's tour comes just days after The Killers announced their own trip for late 2024, including playing Hot Fuss from start to finish at some gigs. [caption id="attachment_972775" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Alice Baxley[/caption] Green Day The Saviors Tour Australia 2025 Saturday, March 1, 2025 — Marvel Stadium, Melbourne Monday, March 3, 2025 — Engie Stadium, Sydney Wednesday, March 5, 2025 — CBUS Super Stadium, Gold Coast Green Day are touring Australia in March 2025, with presale tickets available from Monday, September 16 (at 1pm for the Gold Coast, 2pm for Melbourne and 3pm for Sydney) and general sales from Friday, September 20 (at 12pm Gold Coast, 1pm Melbourne and 2pm Sydney). Head to the tour website for more details. Top image: Raph_PH via Flickr.
Beverly Hills, 90210 did it. Saved by the Bell and Gossip Girl, too. If a teen-focused series is a hit, odds are that'll end up back on our screens years and even decades after it first popped up, telling new high school-set tales with a new cast for a new generation — and that's exactly what's happening with Australia's beloved Heartbreak High. Back in 2020, Netflix announced that it was bringing the series back — and now that revival is almost here. The series itself will join your streaming queue on Wednesday, September 14, and the platform keeps dropping trailers in the interim. Indeed, after the first teaser arrived at the beginning of August, the streamer has just unveiled the full sneak peek. Yes, it definitely looks like a 2020s take on the Aussie classic. Yes, this new batch of students still attend Hartley High, the fictional school that everyone watching was obsessed with when the OG version of the show first aired way back when. And yes, teenage chaos is still the main focus, including everything from friendship fights, yelling about vaginas from the top of a building and throwing dildos at walls through to a public sex map that charts who at Hartley has hooked up with who. 90s kids, prepare to feel emotional — the initial series screened for seven seasons and 210 episodes between 1994–99, and wasn't just a high school-set Aussie show; it was the high school-set Aussie show of the era. The original Heartbreak High was filled with now-familiar faces, too, including Alex Dimitriades, a pre-Home and Away Ada Nicodemou, and Avengers: Endgame and Mystery Road's Callan Mulvey as Drazic. It painted a multicultural picture of Australia that was unlike anything else on TV at the time. And, for its six-year run across two Aussie networks, the Sydney-shot show was must-see television — not bad for a series that started as a spinoff to the Claudia Karvan and Alex Dimitriades-starring 1993 movie The Heartbreak Kid. This time around, a revelation turns Hartley High student Amerie (Ayesha Madon, The Moth Effect) into a pariah, and also sparks a rift with her best pal Harper (Asher Yasbincek, How to Please a Woman). Attempting to repair her reputation, she calls on help from her new friends Quinni (Chloe Hayden, Jeremy the Dud) and Darren (first-timer James Majoos). Back when Netflix announced the cast, it described Amerie as a smart, big-hearted but loud working-class girl, and Harper as the person at Hartley that everyone is a little afraid of, including teachers. Quinni, who has autism, is "a brain trying to connect to a body and a heart", while Darren is "the warmest snarky shit-stirrer you're ever likely to meet". Other characters include Malakai (Thomas Weatherall, All My Friends Are Racist), a Bundjalung boy and basketballer who is new at Hartley High; Dusty (Josh Heuston, Thor: Love and Thunder), an insecure bass player in an indie rock band; Sasha (Gemma Chua-Tran, Mustangs FC), who has been badged "the coolest, sexiest, and chiccest lesbian at the school"; and Ca$h (Will McDonald, Home and Away), a mullet-wearing drug dealer, food delivery driver and pet duck owner. Rachel House (Hunt for the Wilderpeople, Baby Done) plays Hartley High's principal, too — and yes, Netflix is still streaming the original series, should you feel like a double dose of nostalgia. Check out the latest trailer for the new Heartbreak High below: Heartbreak High will be available to stream via Netflix on Wednesday, September 14.
Escaping is the aim of every holiday. When you temporarily swap your own four walls for somewhere further afield, your daily worries should float away. Tokyo in general is great at evoking that sensation; however, the best place in the Japanese capital for forgetting that real life exists is digital-only art gallery teamLab Borderless, where being surrounded by and immersed in art is taken literally. After being closed for a year and a half to move to a new location, this must-visit spot on any Japan itinerary has finally reopened. As at Friday, February 9, teamLab Borderless now resides at Azabudai Hills with an array of stunning works — some brand-new, some familiar, all glorious. So, if your 2024 resolutions involve seeing spectacular art and travelling, this is one of the best ways to tick both boxes. Everything from bubbles and jelly to flowers and oceans now awaits, plus waterfalls and a tea house pouring cuppas adorned with blooming flowers as well. When it initially launched in 2018, teamLab Borderless instantly became a Tokyo favourite. It was also anointed the most-visited single-artist museum in the world during its first year of operation. Expect that to happen again in central Tokyo, where it has relocated to from its past Odaiba base. Sadly, you no longer need to cross over Tokyo's gorgeous Rainbow Bridge to get there — but your eyes will have much to feast on inside. If you were lucky enough to mosey around the OG spot before the pandemic, you'll know that the Borderless experience involves vibrant, constantly moving, always-changing interactive digital art keeps that keeps glowing and rearranging before your eyes. As the name makes plain, nothing is fixed or static here. Pieces move from one space to the next, and interact with other works. Sometimes, several different projections and installations mingle together. For attendees, peering at the end results isn't merely a passive experience, with the venue encouraging patrons to "wander, explore and discover". This is a place where terms like breathtaking, kaleidoscopic and delightful are all earned, and where the art is worth a trip to Tokyo to see all by itself. Borderless 2.0 spans both evolved and brand-new artworks. Accordingly, even if you've been before at its old digs, you won't just be seeing the same things (even though they're definitely worth enjoying more than once). Standout pieces include the jaw-dropping Light Sculpture series, which cycles through an array of light formations and colours, as well as an eye-catching mirrored infinity room-style space titled Microcosmoses — although, to be fair, everything is a standout here. Among the world-premiere installations, there's also Bubble Universe: Physical Light, Bubbles of Light, Wobbling Light, and Environmental Light, which is comprised of spheres that look like soap bubbles and jelly, and moves through various colours. With Flowers and People — Megalith Crystal Formation, you can spy florals bud and blossom, then wither and decay, repeating that pattern endlessly. And thanks to Black Waves — Megalith Crystal Formation, the sea gets a nod. Attendees can also enjoy Giant Solidified Spark, which is a sphere made from rays of light — plus Wall Without a Wall, which you'll see as a wall even though nothing physical exists. For younger visitors, plus those young at heart, Sketch Ocean turns drawings into art that swims before your eyes. And after proving a hit at the original site, the tea house ensures that every time that you sip a hot beverage in future will feel flatout average — blossoming projections on your cup while you drink will do that. teamLab might be best-known for its Tokyo site, but it doesn't only operate in Japan. A second teamLab Borderless has already been open in Shanghai since 2019, and others are slated for Jeddah in Saudi Arabia and Hamburg in Germany — the former without an exact opening date, the latter slated to launch in 2025. The organisation also operates a different museum in Macao, and has its first teamLab Phenomena on the way for the Saadiyat Cultural District in Abu Dhabi, again targeting a 2024 launch. The list goes on, with teamLab's works a drawcard wherever they pop up. teamLab Borderless Tokyo: MORI Building Digital Art Museum is now open at its new location at Azabudai Hills, Garden Plaza B B1F, 1-2-4 Azabudai, Minato-ku, Tokyo — for more information, visit the museum's website. Images: teamLab, Exhibition view of teamLab Borderless: MORI Building DIGITAL ART MUSEUM, 2024, Azabudai Hills, Tokyo © teamLab, courtesy Pace Gallery.
If you're deeply enmeshed in Melbourne's electronic music scene, you would've heard or been to three-floor, Bauhaus-inspired music bar, Solace. Tucked down Croft Alley in the space that used to be the iconic Croft Institute, Solace showcases a rotating roster of local and international DJs and live acts across techno, house, deep house, breaks, jungle and electro. [caption id="attachment_1018365" align="alignnone" width="1920"] James Whiting[/caption] On the ground floor sits a bar and central DJ booth. Ascend one floor and be met by a more relaxed space with couches. The top floor is the dance floor. Just like France Soir's sister bar Le Splendide, no photos are allowed on the dancefloor in a bid to encourage customers to live in the present. Drinks encompass cocktails, beers, wines, liquors and more. Expect classic cocktails like negronis, martinis and margaritas alongside more novel offerings, like the Sichuan Spicy Margarita that contains housemade Sichuan chilli sauce and a Sichuan-dusted rim or the Caramel Slice that reads like a dessert cocktail with its Sheep Dog peanut butter whisky, coffee liqueur and sugar syrup. [caption id="attachment_1018369" align="alignnone" width="1920"] James Whiting[/caption] The wine list leans towards local, independent, low-intervention producers from the Whitlands, King Valley, Heathcote and the Barossa. Snacks are limited to Chappy's chips — you're here for the music and drinks, not food. [caption id="attachment_1018371" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Reece Calculli[/caption] Top images: James Whiting.
What had you done with your life by the time you were 22? For most of us, it didn't include training abroad, publishing a best-selling cookbook, opening multiple businesses and competing in a huge televised competition. But it is just some of what Morgan Hipworth has already achieved before even getting close to his mid-20s. The Aussie-born, French-trained pâtissier already has two Morgan Bistro sites in Melbourne selling his famed doughnuts alongside a heap of other sweet treats. In 2023, he starred in Dessert Masters, competing with some of the country's top pastry chefs. And now he's tackling the all-day dining scene in Fitzroy with his new restaurant Maven by Morgan. For this venture, Hipworth is joined by co-head chef Daniel Neytha (ex-Lona Misa), who he's worked with to create an all-day dining menu that champions both European and South American cuisines. All the Aussie brunch favourites feature on the menu from Friday–Sunday, including avo on toast, eggs benny and chilli eggs. But standing out among these options is the duck and waffle. Hipworth and Neytha put a crispy duck leg, fried egg and fermented ginger and honey glaze on top of a crunchy sweet potato waffle for those seeking a less traditional brunch dish (and you'll be well rewarded for your moxy). Come dinner time, from Tuesday–Saturday Maven By Morgan guests can get around a selection of small and large dishes made for sharing. Neytha's South American touches shine through in dishes like the slow-roasted lamb shoulder paired with roasted eggplants and a vibrant salsa verde and the market fish ceviche served with potato puree and corn salsa. More Euro-centric bites include the pork cotoletta and the pistachio and zucchini pesto pasta that comes with squash and stracciatella. Pair these with a tight selection of European and Aussie wines, some signature cocktails and a stack of spirits and beer. And this wouldn't be a Hipworth venture without banging desserts. There's a classic Basque cheesecake and roasted fig and apple frangipane tart, plus a decadent tableside-served Biscoff tiramisu. But Maven by Morgan highlights how Hipworth has no desire to be seen as purely a pastry chef. At 22, he's already looking to the future and expanding on his brand. We're intrigued to see what he's got up his sleeves for us next.
As fans of whodunnits on the page, stage and screen know, anything can and often does go wrong in sleuthing tales. Usually, however, the antics remain in the story. That's not the case in The Play That Goes Wrong, as its title indicates — and as theatre audiences have enjoyed for over a decade, watching what happens when The Cornley Polytechnic Drama Society endeavours to put on a murder-mystery, then chaos ensues. When the production premiered in 2012 in London, it not only proved a hit but won Best New Comedy at the Laurence Olivier Awards. It's also still treading the boards in the UK, making it West End's current longest-running comedy. For its first Broadway season, it also nabbed a Tony Award for Best Scenic Design of a Play. The Play That Goes Wrong has made its way Down Under before, too, but audiences will have another chance to catch it locally when it tours Australia again in 2025. Sydney Opera House is hosting the show's first — and longest — Aussie stop from Thursday, June 19–Sunday, August 3. After that, it'll play HOTA, Home of the Arts on the Gold Coast from Wednesday, August 6–Sunday, August 10 and Empire Theatre in Toowoomba from Monday, August 11–Friday, August 15. Next, the production will head back to New South Wales with a stop from Tuesday, August 19–Sunday, August 31 at Civic Theatre in Newcastle, before hitting Victoria from Wednesday, September 3–Sunday, September 21 at Athenaeum Theatre in Melbourne. The plot: when The Cornley Polytechnic Drama Society give the whodunnit genre a spin, telling the tale of a murder at a country manor and the quest to find the perpetrator, making it through the show becomes an accident-filled challenge. Since its debut over a decade ago, The Play That Goes Wrong has been seen by more than 4.2-million people worldwide — in 49 countries — and given 3500-plus performances at West End's Duchess Theatre alone. Another tidbit: also in West End, members of The Drama Society have been hit more than 125,545 times, sometimes by objects and sometimes by each other. The Play That Goes Wrong 2025 Australian Dates: Thursday, June 19–Sunday, August 3 — Sydney Opera House, Sydney Wednesday, August 6–Sunday, August 10 — HOTA, Home of the Arts, Gold Coast Monday, August 11–Friday, August 15 — Empire Theatre, Toowoomba Tuesday, August 19–Sunday, August 31 — Civic Theatre, Newcastle Wednesday, September 3–Sunday, September 21 — Athenaeum Theatre, Melbourne The Play That Goes Wrong is touring Australia from June 2025 — head to the production's website for tickets and further details. Images: original West End cast, Robert Day.
Fitzroy might be Melbourne's oldest suburb, but it's also the city's most creative. Its streets are lined with innovative contemporary galleries, trendy bars hidden behind unmarked doorways, and minimal cafes serving different versions of smashed avo. But it's the carefully curated independent boutiques and the long-running locally owned stores that add that extra something to the area. With so many places to choose from, it can be hard to know where to start. That's why we've teamed up with American Express to put together a list of places that always champion local designers and artisans — and always accept your American Express Card. From a weekend pop-up market with a constantly changing roster of talent to a lush nursery that's been providing the northside with plants for over 30 years, there's plenty of spots to shop small at.
When that big city life feels like it's getting a little bit much, there's no better antidote than to whisk yourself away for a dose of countryside. Lots of fresh air, an abundance of nature and a slower pace that's guaranteed to relax and revive. And you can find all of that just a quick hop out of the big smoke, with idyllic country cottages, wilderness huts and secluded farm retreats dotted all across the state. Places where you can wake up to nature and spend your days lounging by the fire or exploring acres of surrounding bushland. Well, we've done the hard work for you and pulled together twenty of the most unique country stays you can book right now in NSW. Choose a favourite, pack those bags and get set for a taste of rural living. Recommended Reads: The Best Places to Go Glamping in NSW The Best Tiny Houses You Can Book Around NSW The Best Hotels in Sydney The Best Places to Stay in the Blue Mountains Wilderness Hut Studio, Worrowing Heights Embrace the best of country and coast, at this secluded, self-contained cabin. It's a modern beauty, surrounded by nature and crafted from reclaimed timber. From $335 a night, sleeps two. Casa Del Casson, Smiths Lake A little slice of Mexico in the coastal village of Smiths Lake. With a wood fireplace and dense wilderness surrounds, this log cabin is endlessly cosy. From $250 a night, sleeps six. Billabong Cottage, Termeil This secluded cottage for two overlooks its own lush billabong. Enjoy a cosy fireplace, sunny verandah and complete serenity throughout. From $160 a night, sleeps two. Laguna Sanctuary, Upper Colo A Balinese-inspired cottage, bordered by a freshwater lagoon. This one's got a firepit, heated outdoor spa and sun-drenched overwater deck. From $390 a night, sleeps four. The Stables, Holgate A secluded country escape, just minutes from the beach, this modern cabin is primed for relaxing and romancing. And that bath features incredible views. From $250 a night, sleeps two. JR's Hut, Nangus Escape the world at this mountaintop eco-hut, complete with 360-degree views. It's entirely off-grid, with a fire to keep things extra snug. From $660 a night, sleeps two The Shed at Broger's End, Upper Kangaroo River This former machinery shed is now a stylish cottage, cleverly built with reclaimed materials and boasting its own outdoor pizza oven. From $600 a night, sleeps seven. Japanese Studio, Fitzroy Falls Enjoy your own private Japanese-style retreat set among the lush surrounds of Fitzroy Falls, which is on the doorstep of both national parkland and wine country. From $250 a night, sleeps two. Nearest Neighbour Cabin, Cambridge Plateau Unplug at this charming, off-grid couples' cabin, backing onto heritage-listed rainforest and rolling green acreage. It's as private and peaceful as they come. From $80 a night, sleeps three. Spiral House, Robertson This unique tiny home comes complete with alfresco tub, sweeping views and 33 acres as your private backyard. From $277 a night, sleeps two. Warramba, Glen Alice A contemporary country cottage with styling that'll make you swoon. Unplug, recharge and soak up a taste of rural life. From $805 a night, sleeps six. Romantic Guesthouse, Foxground Recapture the romance at this private studio, overlooking rolling green hills. Enjoy cosy nights around the firepit and sunny days in the infinity pool. From $514 a night, sleeps two. Strikes 2, Eurunderee Enjoy an epic outlook and serenity aplenty when you book a stay at this eco-friendly couples' cottage, set high above the Eurunderee Valley. From $357 a night, sleeps two. The Treehouse, Kangaroo Valley Nab your own treehouse paradise, overlooking the Kangaroo River. This group-friendly retreat is enveloped in nature, featuring a firepit and sun-drenched deck. From $508 a night, sleeps four. The Shearing Shed, Cowra This stylishly repurposed shearing shed makes for a dreamy couples' escape, complete with log fire and loads of farm-style charm. From $250 a night, sleeps two Black Rose Cottage, Mudgee A sweet country cottage with room for ten, this stylish retreat sits just minutes from the heart of Mudgee and is surrounded by wine country. From $375 a night, sleeps ten. Kookawood, Rydal A quaint farmhouse cottage perched high overlooking the Blue Mountains. Enjoy the cosy log fireplace and some truly breathtaking views from the outdoor bath. From $550 a night, sleeps four. Loughmore Cottage, Kangaroo Valley Load up on country-style tranquility at this revamped Irish settler's hut, complete with comfy furnishings and a library full of books. From $250 a night, sleeps two. Barrington Eco Hut, Cobark An eco-friendly tiny home that's primed for an unplugged getaway, featuring a hot shower, cosy fire pit and delightfully remote wilderness setting. From $230 a night, sleeps two. Practice Ground, Glen Davis Surrounded by the rugged cliffs of the Capertree Valley, relax and unwind in this architectural wonder nestled on a 20-acre plot of bushland. From $455 a night, sleeps four. FYI, this story includes some affiliate links. These don't influence any of our recommendations or content, but they may make us a small commission. For more info, see Concrete Playground's editorial policy. Images: courtesy of Airbnb.
It's not taken long for Heaps Normal to feel at home in Australian drinking culture. The Sydney-based non-alcoholic brewer only debuted six years ago, but it's quickly cemented itself as one of the most popular brands for inclusive drinking. It's also not the sort of brand to rest on its laurels, as its latest innovation of non-alc beer that's tap-compatible proves. To celebrate this new frontier, Heaps Normal is partnering with over 30 pubs across the country to pour the new brew for free this Friday, March 27. Now, a tap-compatible beer may not sound like an innovation, but it is for the non-alcoholic kind. To summarise, beer taps are kept at a frosty temperature (because nobody likes a warm beer), but the lower density and sugar content of non-alcoholic beers typically causes them to freeze in these conditions. Heaps Normal has cracked the code for its brand-new draught, utilising a preservative-free approach of naturally derived fibre and the 100 percent malt body of the beer to prevent freezing inside the lines and protect the liquid from contamination. "A lot of non-alcs are thin and watery by necessity," said Heaps Normal's co-founder and chief product officer Ben Holdstock. "We've always brewed with body and balance in mind, and it turns out that approach was the key to making draught work." The revolution comes just in time for a broader shift in Aussie drinking culture, indicated by a 2024 study that revealed non-alcoholic beer popularity had risen to 10 percent of total beer sales in Australia, and that the global non-alcoholic beer market is due to hit $43 billion USD in value by next year. "Jumping from the fridge to the tap, and really nailing the most traditional of Aussie swill formats, is symbolic of how far the non-alc category has matured and developed. For knock-offs, mid-week sessions and everything in between, it's a new normal for the bar," says Heaps Normal co-founder and CEO Andy Miller. Now, after testing the beer at select pubs in Sydney and Melbourne, Heaps Normal's National Bar Shout will get pubs and bars pouring 3500 schooners of the good stuff for free, you just need to visit a participating venue between 5 and 7pm this Friday, March 27. See the full list of participating venues in Victoria, New South Wales, Queensland and ACT on the Heaps Normal website. Images: supplied Like what you see? Subscribe to the Concrete Playground newsletter to get stories just like these straight to your inbox.
If you've had eyeballs on the Winter Olympics, you've almost certainly caught the fastest sport of the Games — luge. In the not-too-distant future, you'll be able to get a taste of the action on the Mornington Peninsula, with a brand-new luge ride sending daredevils hurtling through the landscape. It arrives as part of a newly approved $25-million-dollar major update to Arthurs Seat Eagle — a long-standing cable car offering sweeping views across Port Phillip Bay. Descending at a rate of knots from the mountaintop, the brand-new luge track will stretch to 1440 metres, following the natural undulations of Arthurs Seat. Yet this action-packed ride is just the beginning. The works will also include a new observation tower rising 34 metres above the green canopy. Giving visitors the chance to soak up panoramic views of the bay and surrounding landscape, the gumtree-inspired tower will also include a 10.5-metre platform for an unbeatable perspective. Next, the Arthurs Seat Eagle development will also include a new experience centre, where visitors can learn more about the coastal region's environment and cultural history. Think fascinating displays, educational programs and sensory installations designed to help everyone appreciate the area's natural beauty. What's more, the project includes a revamped cafe, complete with a new and improved outdoor terrace and additional seating. With works expected to begin soon, the project is scheduled to be ready by December 2028. And according to Planning Minister Sonya Kilkenny, the reimagined Arthurs Seat Eagle will deliver a major win for the region, creating jobs, supporting businesses and increasing tourism. However, not everyone is happy about the project's approval. Since it was first announced, local groups have fought the development, arguing a luge track was not environmentally appropriate for a state park. Responding to community concerns, changes to initial plans included shortening the track, retaining existing vegetation and ongoing consultations with Parks Victoria. Redevelopment works at Arthurs Seat Eagle are set to begin in the coming months, with completion expected by December 2028. Head to the website for more information.
Not all that long ago, the idea of getting cosy on your couch, clicking a few buttons, and having thousands of films and television shows at your fingertips seemed like something out of science fiction. Now, it's just an ordinary night — whether you're virtually gathering the gang to text along, cuddling up to your significant other or shutting the world out for some much needed me-time. Of course, given the wealth of options to choose from, there's nothing ordinary about making a date with your chosen streaming platform. The question isn't "should I watch something?" — it's "what on earth should I choose?". Hundreds of titles are added to Australia's online viewing services each and every month, all vying for a spot on your must-see list. And, so you don't spend 45 minutes scrolling and then being too tired to actually commit to anything, we're here to help. We've spent plenty of couch time watching our way through this month's latest batch — and, from the latest and greatest through to old and recent favourites, here are our picks for your streaming queue from July's haul. Brand-New Stuff You Can Watch From Start to Finish Now Fake A drive to the airport in a rideshare is one of life's mundane experiences, whether or not you're en route to a wedding, and also regardless of if you're meant to be collecting your partner and their dry-cleaned suit along the way. In Fake, this routine journey on an average Melbourne day is a masterclass in tension, a portrait of an unravelling and an unwanted realisation unfurling with no escape. With journalist Birdie Bell (Asher Keddie, The Lost Flowers of Alice Hart) sitting in the backseat as much that she's trusted melts down, it's a stunning episode of television, arriving five instalments into this eight-part Australian thriller that tells a page-to-screen and reality-to-fiction tale. Viewers spend the preceding four episodes of Fake waiting for a moment like this. For those who haven't read Stephanie Wood's memoir of the same name, charting her time dating a former architect-turned-grazier who pairs his grand romantic gestures with erratic behaviour, there's still no doubt that it's coming. It has to, and not just because series creator Anya Beyersdorf (The Twelve) and her co-scribes Jessica Tuckwell (Year Of) and Hyun Lee (Born to Spy) have Birdie's beau Joe Burt (David Wenham, Elvis) note in voiceover that she was onto him from the get-go. While Fake is a love- and lies-fuelled saga, it's also about how someone gets taken in not by the kind of narratives that Joe spins but by the emotions that they prey upon, even when their intuition tingles at the outset — and how deceptions like this, from someone manipulating others and someone fooling themselves alike, always shatter. The words "Joe, 51, grazier" on a dating app introduce the ex-property big shot to Birdie; however, everything that he utters on their first date almost halts their romance there. When the pair meet at a sleek bar, he has a business acquaintance (Yuchen Wang, White Fever) in tow and talks only of himself, grandstanding with the recognisable arrogance of someone who refuses to believe (or simply hasn't stopped once to consider) that they aren't the most-interesting person in the room. She cuts and leaves quickly, despite his insistence to the waitstaff that they'll share more wine. Then she ignores his persistent follow-ups afterwards, until she doesn't — but really should've. Fake streams via Paramount+. Read our full review. The Devil's Bath Suspense and tension, how to cultivate such a strong atmosphere of unease that it feels as if it drips from the screen, the darker side of human nature, sheer existential exasperation: writer/directors Veronika Franz and Severin Fiala know these things. The Austrian filmmakers are just as well-aware of how to make movies that crawl under your skin as much as distress does with their characters. For that sensation at its very best, see: Goodnight Mommy, their Oscar-submitted 2014 debut (which was then remade in America in 2022). The Devil's Bath earns the same description, too. The duo's first feature since 2019's Riley Keough (Under the Bridge)-starring English-language horror flick The Lodge, it needles deep as it follows new bride Agnes (Anja Plaschg, Axolotl Overkill), who is thrilled to be starting her married life to Wolf (David Scheig, Heribet), even if that joy doesn't seem completely reciprocated. Relationship disharmony bubbles at the heart of this 18th century-set film, but that's not the only force bearing down on a woman that no longer has any agency — and, soon, little hope left simmering as well. Franz and Fiala begin The Devil's Bath with a different scene of domestic struggle. They haunt their viewers from the outset, too. First up, a woman throws a baby over a waterfall, then turns herself in for punishment, knowing that she'll meet her end via decapitation. With that scene as a prologue, it hardly appears strange that Agnes is thrilled to receive a severed finger as a wedding gift — a digit that's meant to bring luck for starting a family. But nothing in the way of good fortunes spring when she's soon away from her other loved ones, left alone in a woodland cottage as Wolf works by day, stuck navigating his disinterest in the bedroom each evening and frowned upon constantly by her new mother-in-law (Maria Hofstätter, Andrea Gets a Divorce). There's history to Franz and Fiala's screenplay, which draws upon real events, and the mood of despair that seeps from returning Goodnight Mommy cinematographer Martin Gschlacht's grey-toned frames sports a can-only-be-true bite to it. There's little sunshine shed on the imagery, or on the way that people treat each other — and there's even more terror in realising that the lines between this arresting picture's vision of the past, even as set within a deeply superstitious and puritanical community, and today are far from faint. The Devil's Bath streams via Shudder and AMC+. The Imaginary Since Studio Ponoc made its feature debut in 2017 with Mary and the Witch's Flower, a question has remained: when is its next film coming? That query was answered in 2023 in Japan, and has now arrived in 2024 on streaming — and The Imaginary is a delight worth the wait. If you didn't know when sitting down to either of the company's movies that they hailed from an animation house founded by a Studio Ghibli alum, you'd guess while watching. A producer on The Tale of the Princess Kaguya and When Marnie Was There — and also The Boy and the Heron since — Yoshiaki Nishimura scripted Studio Ponoc's second picture, too. His source material is the AF Harrold-penned, Emily Gravett-illustrated British children's book that gives The Imaginary its name, just as Mary and the Witch's Flower found its story on the page as well. Prepare to be enchanted, even as viewers beyond the film's homeland get their third flick this year about imaginary friends. Not just Blumhouse horror movie Imaginary but the John Krasinski (A Quiet Place Part II)-directed IF have nothing on this, though, despite sharing more than a few plot details. This'll sound familiar, then: imaginary friends exist, but can't always be seen as children grow up and forget about their buddies. When they're no longer a kid's best friend, they dwell in their own space, eager to have a flesh-and-blood pal again. So discovers Rudger (Kokoro Terada, Tokyo Poltergeist), companion to Amanda (Rio Suzuki, Yu-Gi-Oh! Go Rush!!). He's been dreamed up, she's human, and they spend every moment of her spare time in the attic above her home — which is itself above her widowed mother's (Sakura Andô, Godzilla Minus One) closing-down bookshop — going everywhere that she can conjure up. Alas, thanks to the sinister Mr Bunting (Issei Ogata, Kotaro Lives Alone), the one exception to spying imaginaries as an adult, they're torn from each other's side. Bringing Nishimura's screenplay to life with vivid and gorgeous hand-drawn visuals, director Yoshiyuki Momose's (Ni no Kuni) feature doesn't just cast aside the other recent pictures that served up spins on a similar situation. He does that as well, of course, but also achieves what Japanese animation manages so splendidly and consistently: dives into the fantastical with a wellspring of genuine emotions. The Imaginary streams via Netflix. Omnivore What does it take to get a world-famous chef out of their kitchen? Every time that a new culinary series reaches the screen, that should be the audience's question. Why has someone so skilled in the art of cooking — a talent that they've meticulously and passionately honed for years, to great success and also to the immense benefit of grateful diners — stepped out of their favourite place and in front of the camera? In plenty of such instances, chefs remain chefs on-screen. They talk. They cook. They give viewers the lowdown on how to prepare their dishes at home. Getting René Redzepi out of Noma and onto streaming wasn't about following that well-thumbed recipe, however. Rather, in the David Attenborough- and Planet Earth-inspired Omnivore, he branches beyond the three-Michelin-starred Copenhagen eatery that's been voted the planet's best by The World's 50 Best Restaurants a whopping five times — from 2010–12, and also in 2014 and 2021 — to instead tell the tale of some of the staple ingredients that humanity wouldn't and couldn't exist without. Eight types of foodstuffs receive Omnivore's attention in its first season, starting with chilli, then moving onto tuna, salt, bananas, pigs, rice, coffee and corn. A certainty while watching, and listening to Redzepi narrate the journey: never thinking about any of these ingredients the same way again. Expect to yearn to taste different spicy meals, to visit Japan's tuna markets, to cook with the best of the best salt and to try kinds of bananas that you didn't previously know existed. Expect to gain a greater appreciation of the entire ecosystem that gets each one of the show's chosen foods to your plate — and the impact of the world's ecosystem upon them, and vice versa. Alongside Redzepi and Anthony Bourdain: Explore Parts Unknown alum Matt Goulding, filmmaker Cary Joji Fukunaga (No Time to Die, Beasts of No Nation, True Detective season one) is one of Omnivore's driving forces, and it shows visually. Also evident: the care and dedication that Redzepi has put into sharing the series' slices of life, including the intimate portraits of those involved in the production of everything from pork products to corn's many edible uses. Omnivore streams via Apple TV+. Read our interview with René Redzepi and Ben Liebmann. Abbott Elementary The Parks and Recreation comparisons were there from the start with Abbott Elementary. This Emmy- and Golden Globe-winning comedy charts the hustle and bustle at the titular underfunded school in Philadelphia, rather than a government department in Pawnee, but the similarities have always been glaring. Janine Teagues (Quinta Brunson, Miracle Workers) is the eager-beaver second-grade teacher keen to do everything she can for her students. Ava Coleman (Janelle James, Monsters at Work) is the principal content with coasting by on the bare minimum. There's even a newcomer in substitute Gregory Eddie (Tyler James Williams, The United States vs Billie Holiday), with whom sparks fly on Janine's part. It might seem a bold move to use one of the greatest-ever — warmest-ever, too — sitcoms as a template, or even just follow closely in its footsteps, but Abbott Elementary is up to the task. Those awards, which Parks and Recreation also deserved but rarely received, are well-earned by a series that is all heart, kindness and affection for one of the most-important careers there is, as well as appreciation for the obstacles facing US public-school teachers today. In its third season, Abbott Elementary knows that even a winning formula that's been proven elsewhere needs shaking up. So, it does the equivalent of Parks and Recreation sending Leslie Knope (Amy Poehler, Inside Out 2) to Washington by having Janine work for the school district to attempt to bring about change for her pupils at a higher level. It's a move that brings in the always-welcome Josh Segarra (The Big Door Prize) as her new boss, and also Keegan-Michael Key (IF) as the Superintendent that's his boss — and disrupts the status quo at the educational institution that she adores, including for her idol Barbara Howard (Sheryl Lee Ralph, Ray Donovan), plus colleagues Melissa Schemmenti (Lisa Ann Walter, The Right Mom) and Jacob Hill (Chris Perfetti, Sound of Metal). The idea that one person can and does make a difference, no matter the recognition they do or don't receive, beats strongly in this good-natured series, which Brunson created and co-writes. So does a sense of humour about grappling with whatever the day throws your way, be it professional or personal chaos. Abbott Elementary streams via Disney+. Arcadian Filmmakers love imagining the world once life as we currently know it ceases to be. Even if some scenarios no longer play like hypotheticals — anything about pandemics, obviously, a realm that Contagion perfected with prophetic skill years in advance of COVID-19 — post-apocalyptic stories help us sift through the what ifs that plague our worst nightmares about humanity's possible unravelling. Accordingly, Arcadian doesn't unfurl a unique scenario, as a family endeavours to endure 15 years after the bulk of civilisation has been eradicated. But as it fill its duration with a father and his teenage boys as they eke out as happy a life as anyone can under such circumstances, or attempt to, all while needing to avoid monsters that strike by night and fear the light, this film has a few key components that make it stand out. Director Benjamin Brewer (The Trust) taunts his characters with foes that prove a striking feat of creature design, instantly carving their own place apart from the hordes of prior movie monsters. Also, the patriarch doing whatever it takes to protect his sons is played the one and only Nicolas Cage, who continues to hop between vastly dissimilar roles in the same month in Australia that's also delivered Longlegs to cinemas. Cage's Paul could be pals with John Krasinski's Lee from A Quiet Place, although he's parenting solo in Arcadian. Giving his kids as normal a routine as one can in the circumstances is his aim. The script by producer Mike Nilon (Braven) also gives him offspring curious about their reality, and insistent critters who aren't going to leave anyone alone. While there's a little convenience to parts of the plot, Cage, plus Jaeden Martell (Barry) and Maxwell Jenkins (Dear Edward) as Paul's sons Joseph and Thomas — and also Sadie Soverall (Saltburn) as a survivor from a nearby farm that isn't fond of outsiders — all give weighty performances that convey the emotional toll of fighting for every second and deeply realising that you'll never know if your next moment will be your last. And don't discount what affecting portrayals and unnerving beasts can do when combined. It isn't easy to craft creatures that not just startle but surprise as much as Arcadian's do. Trust Cage's latest genre effort, which also brings his work in Mandy, Color Out of Space and Pig to mind, to achieve that feat. Arcadian streams via Stan. Skywalkers: A Love Story When it comes to scaling great heights on-screen, viewers often fall into two camps if they're not real-life daredevils themselves. Some appreciate the spectacular sights and stunning feats safe in the knowledge that all that they're viewing is filmed footage, even in a documentary. Some still feel the need to virtually peer through their fingers, riding the same nerve-shredding fear that'd rush over them if they were confronted with the scene IRL. Whichever is your go-to, expect one of those reactions to arise while sitting down to Skywalkers: A Love Story. The movie played Sydney Film Festival 2024 in IMAX, but seeing it on a small screen doesn't rob it of its visual impact. Russian couple Ivan Beerkus and Angela Nikolau are rooftoppers, starting out solo, first joining forces when he asked her to collaborate on a sponsored trip, then climbing higher and higher around the world — and the recordings of their gravity-defying ascents up buildings, along sky-high ledges, onto cranes on towering building sites and wherever else they can clamber up to is jaw-on-the-floor material for those who'd much rather remain on the ground. With 2018 documentary Momentum Generation about the era of surfers that Kelly Slater came up in, director Jeff Zimbalist unpacked an insular world for the masses with its main players as guides. Sharing the same credit with producer and first-time helmer Maria Bukhonina on Skywalkers: A Love Story, he takes the same approach with a different pastime. As a subtitle, A Love Story doesn't merely describe Beerkus and Nikolau's fixation with rooftopping, though, with Skywalkers laying bare their relationship from its beginning to the climb that threatens to send them on their separate ways: making it to the the tip of Merdeka 118, the Kuala Lumpur structure that reaches 678.9 metres into the heavens, ranking second on the world's largest skyscrapers list only to Dubai's Burj Khalifa. Nikolau doesn't just stand atop lofty properties, either, but busts out gymnastic and acrobatic poses, adding even more peril to their endeavours. Folks with a need to conquer such buildings aren't always worried about the legalities of their feats, making such a mission doubly tense — and giving this doco a heist-film feel as well. Beerkus and Nikolau smartly earmark the date of the 2022 World Cup final, when Argentina beat France on penalties, as their moment to go where no one had before on the just-built structure. Watching the outcome is nail-bitingly riveting. Skywalkers: A Love Story streams via Netflix. New and Returning Shows to Check Out Week by Week Sunny It doesn't matter what the weather holds for Suzie Sakamoto: with her husband and son missing when Sunny begins, the series' titular term can't apply to her days. An American in Kyoto (Rashida Jones, Silo), she's filled with grief over the potential loss of her Japanese family, anxiously awaiting any news that her spouse Masa (Hidetoshi Nishijima, Drive My Car) and their boy Zen (debutant Fares Belkheir) might've survived a plane crash. She'd prefer to do nothing except sit at home in case word comes; however, that's not considered to be mourning in the right way according to custom and also isn't appeasing her mother-in-law (Judy Ongg, Kaseifu no Mitazono). When Suzie soon has a robot for company — a homebot, an artificial-intelligence domestic helper that's an unexpected gift from Masa in this ten-part series, which adapts Colin O'Sullivan's 2018 novel The Dark Manual for the small screen — dwelling in her sorrow doesn't appear to be what he'd want in his absence, either. In this near-future vision of Japan, homebots are everywhere, aiding their humans with chores, organising tasks and plenty more — everywhere other than the Sakamoto house with its firmly anti-robot perspective, that is. Amid asking why her husband has not only sent the eponymous Sunny her way, but also why it's customised specifically to her, questions unsurprisingly spring about his true line of work. Has Suzie been married to a secret roboticist, rather than someone who designs refrigerators? What link does his job have with his disappearance? How does someone cope in such an already-traumatic situation when the person that they're possibly grieving mightn't be who they've said they are? Often with a science fiction twist, Apple TV+ can't get enough of mysteries. That truth is as engrained as the service's fondness for big-name talent, including across Severance, The Big Door Prize, Hello Tomorrow!, Silo, Monarch: Legacy of Monsters, Constellation, Sugar and Dark Matter. Thankfully, there's no content-factory feel to this lineup of shows. Sunny's closest equivalent hails from beyond the brand, bringing Charlie Brooker's Channel 4-started, now Netflix-made Black Mirror to mind, but even then it's far more interested in its characters than their relationship to technology. That said, that people and how they use tech remain the real enemy, not gadgets and advancements themselves, hums at the core of both series. Sunny streams via Apple TV+. Read our full review. Futurama Good news, everyone — yet again. Futurama keeps returning, following an initial 1999–2003 run, then another from 2008–13, with a new comeback that began in 2023 and has not just this 2024 season locked in but also two more in years to come. Across the quarter of a century so far that Matt Groening's iconic show that's not The Simpsons has been on and off the air, much has changed about life off-screen. As a result, the details that it can project onto 31st-century existence have evolved as well. Squid Game parodies and NFTs would've made zero sense during the animated comedy's past stints, for instance. But whether satirising Y2K or chatbots, Futurama has almost felt adrift from time, blowing its own TV bubble to spoof the specifics of the day in its far-flung setting while consistently retaining the same vibe. Watch an early 00s-era episode, then one from the new batch, and it seems like nothing has passed between them. That's a skill that deserves all of the appreciation. For many other series, including ones that've existed for a far shorter duration, it's the stuff that dreams are made of — and, if he were real, that only someone like Professor Hubert J Farnsworth (Billy West, Spitting Image) could've managed. Futurama's longevity is a testament to its smart writing, sharp sense of humour and a setup that can keep pinballing in all directions. Where former 20th-century pizza delivery guy Philip J Fry (also voiced by West) can venture with the Professor and the crew of the latter's Planet Express cargo company — so, also with ship captain Turanga Leela (Katey Sagal, Dead to Me); robot Bender Bending Rodríguez (John DiMaggio, Transformers: Rise of the Beasts); and fellow employees Hermes Conrad (Phil LaMarr, Craig of the Creek), Amy Wong (Lauren Tom, Dragons: The Nine Realms) and Zoidberg (also West agin) — is limited only by Groening, fellow guiding hand David X Cohen (Disenchantment) and their team's imaginations. In the latest episodes, sometimes art heists come their way. Sometimes book clubs beckon. Bender's ancestry and the Martian equivalent of bullfighting all pop up, too. Layered in each is a mile-a-minute feast of jokes and a reflection of humanity's chaos today through a highly fictitious future. Long may it continue. Futurama streams via Disney+. Time Bandits If you're a history-loving kid who adores learning about existence before you popped into the world, doesn't fit in at home or at school thanks to that fascination, and regularly has your nose buried in a book, what's your ultimate fantasy? Time Bandits first explored that idea back in 1981, and now it's back to do it again in 2024. It takes bravery to go where Monty Python members Terry Gilliam and Michael Palin first did, remaking the pair's beloved movie — which The Man Who Killed Don Quixote's Gilliam directed and The New Incomplete and Utter History of Everything's Palin co-wrote with him — decades later. Taika Waititi, Jemaine Clement and Iain Morris are three such courageous folks. Together, the trio add a television take on the family-friendly flick to TV resumes that already include Wellington Paranormal, What We Do in the Shadows, Reservation Dogs, Our Flag Means Death, Flight of the Conchords and The Inbetweeners, and do so while giving audiences a gloriously entertaining time. Forget wondering if this second spin was necessary, aka the usual line of thinking when anything earns a new look; instead, the question is why didn't it happen earlier? Again, the focus is a boy called Kevin (Kal-El Tuck, Andy and the Band). Again, his parents (Wakefield's Felicity Ward and Deadpool & Wolverine's James Dryden) don't appreciate him or his interests. And again, the past demands even more of his attention when it suddenly and unexpectedly bursts out of his wardrobe. Cue zipping between different chapters of times gone by, via a scenario that the Bill & Ted franchise clearly owes a debt to, with the eponymous group (Better Nate Than Ever's Lisa Kudrow, Shardlake's Tadhg Murphy, You Don't Know Me's Roger Jean Nsengiyumva, The Riot's Rune Temte and Guillermo del Toro's Cabinet of Curiosities' Charlyne Yi) reluctantly taking Kevin in. Waititi (Next Goal Wins) directs a few episodes, too, and appears on-screen. Clement (Avatar: The Way of Water) also does the latter. They're having a ball both in front of and behind the lens, a sense of fun that infuses every episode whether it's taking a trip to Troy, making a visit to the Mayans or dwelling in medieval times. Cue spotting more familiar faces along the way, such as Waititi regular Rachel House (Heartbreak High), Wellington Paranormal's Mike Minogue and Karen O'Leary, Next Goal Wins' Oscar Kightley, the What We Do in the Shadows movie's Jonny Brugh, Our Flag Means Death's Con O'Neill, plus Shaun Micallef (Aunty Donna's Coffee Cafe) and Ross Noble. Time Bandits streams via Apple TV+. Recent Big-Screen Gems to Watch (or Rewatch) Now That They're Streaming Perfect Days When Lou Reed's 'Perfect Day' enjoyed its initial sublime movie moment in Trainspotting, it soundtracked a descent into heroin's depths, including literally via the film's visual choices. For three decades since, that's been the tune's definitive on-screen use. Now drifts in Perfect Days, the Oscar-nominated Japan-set drama from German filmmaker Wim Wenders (Submergence). This slice-of-life movie takes its name from the song. It also places the iconic David Bowie-produced classic among the tracks listened to by toilet cleaner Hirayama (Kôji Yakusho, Vivant) as he goes about his daily routine. Fond of 60s- and 70s-era music, the Tokyo native's picks say everything about his mindset, both day by day and in his zen approach to his modest existence. 'Perfect Day' and Nina Simone's 'Feeling Good' each also sum up the feeling of watching this gorgeous ode to making the most of what you have, seeing beauty in the everyday and being in the moment. Not every tune that Hirayama pops into his van's tape deck — cassettes are still his format of choice — has the same type of title. Patti Smith's 'Redondo Beach', The Animals' 'The House of the Rising Sun', Otis Redding's '(Sittin' on) The Dock of the Bay' and The Rolling Stones' '(Walkin' Thru the) Sleepy City' also rank among his go-tos, all reflecting his mood in their own ways. If there's a wistfulness to Hirayama's music selections, it's in the manner that comes over all of us when we hark back to something that we first loved when we were younger. Perfect Days' protagonist is at peace with his life, however. Subtly layered into the film is the idea that things were once far different and more-conventionally successful, but Hirayama wasn't as content as he now is doing the rounds of the Japanese capital's public bathrooms, blasting his favourite songs between stops, eating lunch in a leafy park and photographing trees with an analogue camera. Perfect Days streams via Stan. Read our full review. Love Lies Bleeding In Love Lies Bleeding, a craggy ravine just outside a dusty New Mexico town beckons, ready to swallow sordid secrets in the dark of the desert's starry night. Tumbling into it, a car explodes in flames partway through the movie, exactly as the person pushing it in wants it to. There's the experience of watching Rose Glass' sophomore film emblazoned across the feature's very frames. After the expertly unsettling Saint Maud, the British writer/director returns with a second psychological horror, this time starring Kristen Stewart in the latest of her exceptionally chosen post-Twilight roles (see: Crimes of the Future, Spencer, Happiest Season, Lizzie, Personal Shopper, Certain Women and Clouds of Sils Maria). An 80s-set queer and sensual tale of love, lust, blood and violence, Love Lies Bleeding is as inkily alluring as the gorge that's pivotal to its plot, and as fiery as the inferno that swells from the canyon's depths. This neon-lit, synth-scored neo-noir thriller scorches, too — and burns so brightly that there's no escaping its glow. When the words "you have to see it to believe it" also grace Love Lies Bleeding — diving into gyms and in the bodybuilding world, it's no stranger to motivational statements such as "no pain no gain", "destiny is a decision" and "the body achieves what the mind believes" — they help sum up this wild cinematic ride as well. Glass co-scripts here with Weronika Tofilska (they each previously penned and helmed segments of 2015's A Moment in Horror), but her features feel like the result of specific, singular and searing visions that aren't afraid to swerve and veer boldly and committedly to weave their stories and leave an imprint. Accordingly, Love Lies Bleeding is indeed a romance, a crime flick and a revenge quest. It's about lovers on the run (Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania's Katy O'Brian pairs with Stewart) and intergenerational griminess. It rages against the machine. It's erotic, a road trip and unashamedly pulpy. It also takes the concept of strong female leads to a place that nothing else has, and you do need to witness it to fathom it. Love Lies Bleeding streams via Prime Video. Read our full review, and our interview with Rose Glass. Need a few more streaming recommendations? Check out our picks from January, February, March, April, May and June this year — and our best 15 new TV shows, returning TV shows and straight-to-streaming films of 2024's first six months. There's also our highlights from January, February, March, April, May, June, July, August, September, October, November and December 2023. And, you can also scope out our running list of standout must-stream shows from last year as well — and our best 15 new shows of 2023, 15 newcomers you might've missed, top 15 returning shows of the year, 15 best films, 15 top movies you likely didn't see, 15 best straight-to-streaming flicks and 30 movies worth catching up on over the summer. Top image: Apple TV+.
Shimbashi is one of the best-kept secrets in Melbourne's inner north. The specialty soba bar first opened in Sydney back in 1993, before it brought the Japanese staple to Melbourne in 2012. Today, traditional soba-making meets Tasmanian buckwheat noodles in Carlton North, Collingwood and Northcote — and it's all certifiably gluten-free. Chilled soba noodles, served with a dipping sauce or in a saucy salmon salad, are a refreshing summer order. When the seasons change, opt for winter warmers instead. Vegan mushroom soba noodles sit in a light vegetable broth, a chicken version is simmered with truffle mushrooms, and there's a hearty beef soba bathed in a creamy soy milk and mushroom soup. For a classic soba pairing, turn to an assortment of lightly-battered seafood and vegetable tempura. Beyond soba noodles, all three stores offer rice bowls — they're loaded with a range of toppings like chicken katsu curry and sashimi cuts — and salmon sushi rolls topped with lotus chips, available plain or seared with spicy mayo. There are also grab-and-go teriyaki salmon bento boxes for the office crowd, which are repackaged as leisurely teishoku sets and served with miso soup at the Northcote shop. Pair a selection of Japanese sakes with some izakaya-style snacks. Pop some edamame beans before a vego feast of agedashi tofu and deep-fried eggplant glazed with sweet miso sauce arrives. If you're eating meat, Japanese fried chicken is always a great shout. Some rotating dishes might be exclusive to one location, like a matcha-infused seiro set in Carlton North last year. We recommend checking the store's Instagram for updates before visiting. Images supplied Like what you see? Subscribe to the Concrete Playground newsletter to get stories just like these straight to your inbox.
If there's one spot along the coast that demands a Mediterranean restaurant with the bay views to match, it'd be Sorrento. After all, this much-loved coastal town was named after its similarly picturesque Italian counterpart in the 1860s. But now this blissful peninsula-side spot has achieved a new first — a restaurant built directly over the glistening waterfront that celebrates everything that makes the region special. Perched on pylons above Port Phillip Bay, ONDA is Sorrento's new 150-seat Med-inspired restaurant. Located within the Searoad Ferries Sorrento Terminal, the restaurant operates as a standalone destination, centred around a sun-drenched terrace and an elevated dining room that invites incredible views through floor-to-ceiling windows. Then comes the menu: breezy, simple and designed to fit the coastal vibe. Shaping the culinary direction is executive chef Mike Jaques. Bringing experience from Michelin-starred kitchens in London and the much-loved Tulip in Geelong, Jacques is joined by head chef Tobias Marks, an alum of Gingerboy, MJR Tom and Jackalope. Expect dishes made for bayside dining, including wood-fired pizzas named after local ferries, with The Lonsdale featuring calamari, mussels and prawns. Of course, there are also freshly shucked oysters with lemon and pickled shallot, and grilled calamari salad with pickled lemon and grapes. And for non-seafood cuisine, lamb rump with harissa, burrata with green tomato chutney, gnocchi alla vodka, and a 300-gram dry-aged scotch fillet are just some of the options you'll need to ponder. "Dining directly on the water changes everything," says Jaques. "You can hear the bay and you can see the movement beneath you. ONDA is about quality local and seasonal produce, in a truly unmatched space." On the drinks front, the program leans into the venue's summery atmosphere. Sitting on the deck or soaking up the views sheltered inside, you'll be sipping on local prosecco, vibrant spritzes and wines selected from across the Bellarine and Mornington regions — an appropriate lineup for a long afternoon. Says Jaques: "We want people to feel like they've stepped into a casual coastal dining room that belongs to them." Onda is now open daily from 7am–7pm at Sorrento Ferry Terminal, 10 Esplanade, Sorrento. Head to the website for more information. Like what you see? Subscribe to the Concrete Playground newsletter to get stories just like these straight to your inbox. Images: Chris McConville.
There are only a handful of soundtracks that can make millennials' hair stand on end — one of which is Harry Potter™. If you've ever wanted to hear John Williams' instantly recognisable Oscar-nominated score live, you're in luck as Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone™ In Concert is about to cast a spell over Sydney. To celebrate 25 years of witchcraft and wizardry on screen, the Sydney Symphony Orchestra is performing the entire film soundtrack live. Running across five performances from Wednesday, December 2 to Saturday, December 5, the film that began the series will be screened in high definition, while the orchestra brings John Williams' epic score to life. See the first Hogwarts letter being delivered, the beginnings of Harry, Ron and Hermione's friendship, a troll running amok, and the story that inspired a generation, all backed by an expert live orchestra. Whether you're a Potterhead yourself or are introducing the magic of the film to someone for the first time, you can expect to experience a whole new level of enchantment at the Sydney Opera House this December. Book your tickets now. Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone™ In Concert is rated PG. Please note: children aged 15 years and under must be accompanied by an adult at all times when attending concerts at the venue. All characters and elements © & ™ Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc. Publishing Rights © JKR.
Melbourne's bar culture and its music scene are friendlier than ever these days, as listening bars continue to sprout across the city. You've got beloved spots like Waxflower and Music Room ingraining themselves into our lives, not to mention newcomers like the soon-to-launch Stella's within the newly revived Saint Hotel. And now, Fitzroy has scored a music-fuelled drinking den of its own, with the arrival of Brunswick Street bar and record store Old Plates. This one's got some serious musical pedigree behind it, too, as the long-planned brainchild of Ethan Hill. Best known by the moniker DJ Manchild, Hill's been the guy behind PBS FM's The Breakdown for almost two decades, and has been spinning funk and soul records around town since his high school days. "I've wanted to do something like this forever," explains the DJ, who's also had a hand in opening other local venues with friends. "I'm bringing all my skills together with Old Plates. It's about the discovery of music for me and the customer." Here, Hill has combined his passions to create a cosy laidback joint where punters can explore his impressive, ever-growing collection of rare vinyl with a tipple in hand. It's got a comfy DIY feel, with a courtyard hidden out the back and DJ decks that play host to a rotation of local selectors Thursday through Saturday. As the owner describes it: "Like a lounge room where you can listen to records, the sound is good and the drinks are nice." Old Plates' record collection is as diverse as it is considerately curated. Though thanks to Hill's own travels and his long friendship with Nigerian artist Fela Kuti, you'll find an extra abundance of love for African tunes, spanning Ghanese soul, voodoo funk, Afrobeat and everything in between. As for the food and drinks offering, it's as laidback as the space itself. A handful of taps host brews from the likes of Bodriggy and Alchemy, while a concise yet well-travelled wine selection features a half-litre carafe in case you're settling in for a groove. And a crop of classic cocktails is backed by fun creations like a vodka-infused Strawberry Shortcake and the Spiced Rum Monty. The snack lineup's simple, yet makes all the right noises — Cuca sardines, fresh oysters, cheese platters and toasties lead the charge, or you can grab a plate laden with pastries from A1 Bakery. Find Old Plates at 384 Brunswick Street, Fitzroy. It's open 12–11pm Wednesday to Thursday, 12pm–1am Friday and Saturday, and 12–11pm Sunday. Images: Duncographic
Dua Bakehouse, situated within the Collingwood Yards precinct, is a bakery that blends Southeast Asian flavours with European pastry techniques. Since opening in early 2025, the understated yet aesthetically pleasing bakery and cafe has garnered a loyal following of locals and visitors seeking out two-toned iced drinks and the famous fluffy shokupan. This is the second venue from chef and artist Raymond Tan, whose first cafe, Raya Bakery, brings Southeast Asian sweets to the CBD. Some of Raya's most popular creations include purple ube banoffee pie, kaya butter toast cake, miso black sesame chiffon cake and a Ribena butterpond cake. Dua Bakehouse welcomes customers with a brightly lit central bar and a spacious, light and airy seating area that feels calm and grounding. The warm space encourages slow mornings, long coffee dates and quiet conversation over a coffee and cake or a more substantial meal. A daily selection of cake slices, breads and pastries greets you when you enter, and may include the likes of chocolate fudge cake, chunky cookies and Scandinavian cakes with a signature Raymond twist. For example, a classic Scandi princess cake is given a Southeast Asian makeover with pandan in everything from the chiffon to the pastry cream and the marzipan. What sets Dua apart from Raya is its specialty breads. Shiopans — buttery, salted bread rolls — come filled with a selection of savoury and sweet options ranging from Chinese pork jerky with pork floss, to miso salmon with wasabi mayo cabbage, and even a take on a croque madame. A small dine-in menu features thick slices of airy shokupan served with butter and preserves, kaya toast with a runny egg, and brûlée french toast. In keeping with the trends, you can find matcha in all forms at Dua, such as a malted matcha strawberry iced drink, a matcha banoffee cream pie, and a doughy white chocolate and matcha cookie. Dua Bakehouse also specialises in heritage cakes and festive specials, such as for the Lunar New Year or the Mid-Autumn festival. Images: Supplied.
Last year, the two distinct festivals Mould and Pinot Palooza teamed up for the first time, showcasing — as you can probably guess — the best of Australian cheese and wine. Well, the combined experience was such a hit, this crowd-pleasing duo is running it back once more, bringing together a massive celebration of fromage and fermentation. Presented by Revel, Mould x Pinot Palooza is touching down in five capital cities, including Adelaide for the first time and Sydney after an 18-month hiatus. Meanwhile, the 2026 program will also run four sessions over three days, adding Sundays to the lineup at every leg of the tour. That gives you even more opportunity to explore over 100 Australian cheeses and wines ready to be paired and savoured. On the cheese front, expect the full spectrum of flavours, from funky blues to creamy bries and plenty of stinky samples, accompanied by a huge selection of pinot. So far, the confirmed names for 2026 include festival favourites Milawa Cheese and the bold flavours of Rub-a-Dub, alongside low-intervention innovators Ohkela Wine and sustainable Victorian standouts Mulline Vintners. Beyond the cheese and wine, bars spread throughout each venue will pour top-notch beers, spirits and cocktails, while a host of food producers will be on-site offering ready-to-eat bites, pantry staples and grazing essentials. "Cheese and pinot naturally belong together, and this format gives people the freedom to explore both at their own pace, talk directly with producers, and enjoy the experience without it feeling over-programmed or precious," says Head of Revel, Jess Audus. Mould x Pinot Palooza 2026 Dates: Brisbane: Friday, May 22–Sunday, May 24 at John Reid Pavilion, RNA Showgrounds Sydney: Friday, June 12–Sunday, June 14 at The Hordern Pavilion, Moore Park Melbourne: Friday, July 3–Sunday, July 5 at Melbourne Convention & Exhibition Centre Perth: Friday, August 7–Sunday, August 9 at Silver Jubilee Pavilion, Claremont Showgrounds Adelaide: Friday, August 28–Sunday, August 30 at The Queens Theatre
Strolling down High Street in Armadale, past the fashion boutiques, upmarket cafes and bougie wine bars, an invariable sense of luxury hangs in the air. Yet the unveiling of a flagship Libertine Parfumerie will bring this essence to the fore even more. Marking a new chapter for one of Australia's leading fragrance authorities, this new store immerses a high-end selection of scents in a statement architectural expression. "When the opportunity in Armadale became available, it felt like a natural fit," says Libertine Parfumerie founder Nick Smart. "The area has a strong appreciation for quality, design and thoughtful retail experiences, which aligns beautifully with the Libertine approach to fragrance." Behind the flagship's look and feel is acclaimed interior designer Tamsin Johnson, the creative mind behind other Libertine Parfumerie locations, such as Paddington, Chatswood or Burwood in Sydney. If you've already experienced these spaces, you'd fully appreciate why she's returned once again to bring this headline-grabbing store to life. Blending European classicism and mid-century modernity, each space pays homage to olfactory-rich apothecaries. Of course, this sensory experience extends to the avant-garde makers and storied heritage brands presented inside. Here, a curated selection of personal fragrance, home scent, bath and body and design-led objects spans revered fragrance houses from around the globe, including Creed, Trudon, Amouage, Matiere Premiere, Santa Maria Novella and Xerjoff. Yet this alluring store goes beyond intoxicating scents. Libertine Parfumerie regulars will know the in-store experience is designed as a gateway into the world of fine fragrances, with masterclasses offering rare access to artisanal perfumers. Private consultations, including those for brides-to-be, invite guests to discover their signature scent through personalised journeys. If you're keen to check out the new location, there's no better time than a grand opening. Taking place from 9.30am–1.30pm on Saturday, March 21, this RSVP-only event introduces the curated fragrance collection and features complimentary madeleines, discovery goodie bags, and limited-edition luxury gift boxes with a qualifying purchase. Plus, the first 50 customers score a complimentary petite Trudon candle while stocks last. Libertine Parfumerie launches at 1023 High Street, Armadale, on Saturday, March 21, with opening hours Monday–Friday from 10am–5pm, Saturday from 9.30am–5pm and Sunday from 10am–4pm. Head to the website for more information. Like what you see? Subscribe to the Concrete Playground newsletter to get stories just like these straight to your inbox. Images: Anson Smart.
While it may be a household name in Australian aviation, Jetstar hasn't exactly made waves within the LARPing community until now. Not sure what LARPing means? To get you up to speed, it's live-action role-playing. Similar to cosplaying, it involves dressing as historical or fictional characters with a fantasy theme, but it goes a step further by encouraging participants to play the role of their character as an actor would, often partaking in a friendly duel or battle. It might sound like a big commitment to get into this community, but with the oh-so-tempting offer of winning a share in a $50,000 flights voucher on the cards, now is the best time to give it a go. 21st birthdays often involve a lot more alcohol and live music than this, but historically, a 21st birthday marks a transition into adulthood and a time when a squire can earn the honour of knighthood. Jetstar isn't subverting expectations of birthdays with ancient traditions just to have a laugh — it's taking its 'Knights of the Skies' tournament on Sunday, May 25, very seriously. To put together this contest of champions, it's partnered with Swordcraft, Australia's largest LARPing organisation, who are lending trained LARPer warriors to bolster the ranks of the competition. And since every battle needs an overseer, radio host Liam Stapleton will play host… and a wizard, too. On the day, each participant will be divided into one of two teams. The last eight participants not to be felled by a mightier opponent will get the chance to claim a share in the prize: a $50,000 flight voucher, while runners-up can claim $1,000 vouchers. To enter, all you need to do is craft a medieval costume, the more DIY the better, and share it on Instagram, tagging @jetstaraustralia and #KnightsOfTheSkies, or sharing it via Instagram DM. The field of battle is yet to be decided, but will be somewhere within the kingdom of Melbourne, so keep an eye on Jetstar's social media to find out more. Jetstar's Knights of the Skies tournament will take place at an as-of-yet undecided location on Sunday, May 25. Follow Jetstar Australia on Instagram for more information.
The State Library may be beautiful, imposing and a little cold, but don't be put off: there's warmth, comfort and productivity waiting for you in spades, especially inside Guild Cafe. Located in a part of the library that's been closed for 15 years, the cafe sprung up as part of the huge refurbishments the precinct underwent last year. Helmed by local business Almond Milk Co, the cafe is just inside the Library's new Russell Street entrance space, the Welcome Zone, where you'll also find an outpost of Readings bookshop. The short and sweet menu has classic pastries and lunch staples, such as salads and sandwiches, and lots of vegan options — including ramen with nori and pickled ginger ($6) and granola with minted coconut yoghurt ($6) Big windows make for plenty of light and large communal tables lend themselves well to remote working with just you, your laptop, and a bunch of other focused people. Plus — the folks at Guild know what they're doing when it comes to coffee (from St Ali), and an all-day filter coffee pass is available for $10 (or hot tip: try the almond milk). Images: We Are Tofu.
Private wellness and social clubs really are the pinnacle of luxury living — giving the wealthiest among us exclusive access to spaces decked out with thermal pools, hammams, saunas, coworking spaces, restaurants, fitness studios, wellbeing treatments, barbers and hairdressers, plus a whole heap of other luxe experiences. These spots are like a spa, gym, coworking space and social hang-out all wrapped up in one. The Ritz-Carlton is currently running its own, but Gurner Group's Saint Haven clubs in Collingwood and South Yarra (a Toorak location is also opening in 2025) really have the market cornered. And the team isn't done yet, with huge plans for global expansion. But before it sets sites beyond Melbourne and Australia, the team is launching its first SAINT clubs — which are meant to be a younger and more high-energy version of the Saint Haven clubs. And the very first outpost has just opened in St Kilda. On arrival, members will first enter The Portal — a sensory cube — and choose either white for relaxation mode or black for high-energy mode. The cube will then transform accordingly and set the mood for the wellness journey that follows. On the white level, you'll find a lobby bar, a coworking space, boardroom, a wholefoods eatery, and a recovery and reverse-aging treatment facility featuring infrared saunas, hyperbaric oxygen chambers and more. Everything on this floor is designed for those seeking to unwind and relax. Those looking for a high-energy experience will need to head down to the basement for the black level. Here, the lights dim and the music changes as rotating DJs play upbeat tunes. Members can hang out in The Den, which is a large sunken lounge area where members are invited to socialise or watch a movie. Here, you'll also find a truly world-class gym floor, featuring a boxing ring, The Arena — a high-octane HITT program class with huge LED screens — reformer pilates and yoga studios, and a breath work and meditation cave that makes you feel like you are outside gazing at the stars. This is some futuristic stuff. Members also have the opportunity to use WHOOP watch wearable tech that syncs with the SAINT app, giving trainers access members' health data so they can create tailored health programs. But not just any person can become a member at SAINT. First, 95% of memberships were sold before the club even opened, but the crew is also highly selective about who they let join. Members must be referred and will be put before a membership committee to vet for approval prior to memberships being accepted. Only then can you pay for the privilege to enter. Founder and Director of Gurner Group Tim Gurner shared, "Launching SAINT in St Kilda was an obvious decision - this iconic seaside suburb boasts a culture deeply rooted in wellness and social connections. It's a place where diversity thrives and the lifestyle we champion at SAINT — one that harmoniously blends health and community — truly resonates with the locals. "A key point of difference with Saint is that it will serve alcohol, signature cocktails, Kava, nootropics and legal plant-based medicines that will allow our members to have a night out at SAINT but in a measured and beautiful way. All alcohol will be organic and focused on recovery. "At SAINT, the experience is entirely yours to shape. With our innovative 'Black' and 'White' themes, every visit offers the unique opportunity to tailor your journey like never before – whether you want to unwind or hype up, you can define your path, ensuring that each moment in the club is as exhilarating as you envision it, leaving you energised and inspired." The team has also shared that it plans to open ten SAINT sites by the end of 2026 and a further 25–30 globally by 2030. So, don't worry if you can't get into St Kilda. You'll have plenty more chances to secure membership. SAINT's first site is officially open, and you can find it at 1 Wellington Street, St Kilda. For further details and to try and get memberships, you can visit the club's website.
Hotel Indigo Melbourne Little Collins stitches past and present — four restored frontages on a storied corner outside, bold colour and layered storytelling within. The mood lands somewhere between gallery and hideaway: Mondrian blues nod to the city's street signs, while monkey motifs wink at E.W. Cole's legendary Book Arcade. A sculptural spiral staircase coils up through a cathedral-like atrium, where a circular bar offers front-row seats to a three-storey "cabinet of curiosities" by artist Lisa King. The palette swings from polished brass and jewel tones to exposed heritage bones, with intimate lobby nooks, a light-filled internal courtyard and a quietly social buzz that suits both staycays and work trips. Rooms and suites keep the narrative going without skimping on comfort. Expect free Wi-Fi and Chromecast-enabled TVs, mini bars stocked with Little Lon Gin and graphic maps that mark your exact laneway location. Design touches layer history with play — terrazzo tables made from recycled Skyy Vodka bottles, brass accents and gem-like stools — and a handful of balcony rooms overlook Little Collins for golden-hour people-watching. At Hotel Indigo, you're well and truly in the thick of it — theatres, galleries and shopping at the door, trams to the NGV, the Royal Botanic Gardens and the MCG within easy reach. There's a compact fitness centre for a quick sweat, a 12-seat meeting room for private dinners or brainstorms, and direct access to the refreshed Melbourne Walk precinct below, home to a mega JD Sports and pop-culture favourite Pop Mart (and adjacent MECCA flagship). The Hotel Indigo ethos is all about embodying its neighbourhood — and here on Little Collins Street, that means heritage facades, laneway attitude and a design language that reads like a love letter to the CBD. It's character over cookie-cutter, with enough creature comforts to make lingering feel inevitable.
While it's hard to pin down an exact date for Lygon Street's rise to the pinnacle of Melbourne's hospitality scene, Carlton's most famous strip has been bustling with cuisine and culture since at least the 1950s. Yet the neighbourhood has just achieved a new first, as the opening of the Crowne Plaza Melbourne Carlton is the suburb's debut internationally branded hotel. Perched on the fringes of the CBD and surrounded by Carlton's much-loved dining and cafe scene, guests can easily explore so much of what makes Melbourne special. Overlooking Lincoln Square, several of the city's top universities, medical institutions and cultural landmarks are a short stroll away, while a handful of tram lines are set to ferry you further afield. The hotel's design pays homage to the suburb's enduring legacy, with a facade inspired by Carlton's tree-lined avenues. Then, stepping inside, guests encounter a warmly decorated timber-lined foyer, punctuated by a softly illuminated sculptural installation that elevates the space with bronze forms. Once you've checked in, the 107 guest rooms are comfortable and functional, where a modern colour palette and natural materials make for a peaceful stay. Here, the green and timber tones echo the surrounding parkland, while original artworks offer a geometric take on the people and pathways that make up Carlton's long and winding history. Standout dining awaits on the hotel's doorstep, but for times you're keen to stay in, Fico Carlton builds on the area's Italian identity. Taking its name from the Moreton Bay fig trees that frame Lincoln Square, the restaurant's executive chef, Patrick Chung, has crafted a share-style menu brimming with homemade pasta and secondi piatti such as slow-cooked beef cheek and fire-cooked barramundi. Shifting from day to night like the best Italian restaurants, Fico also brings a touch of theatre, including tableside sgroppino, featuring a bright, palate-cleansing mix of lemon gelato, prosecco and limoncello. Once dinner is complete, you'll be perfectly positioned to head to the actual theatre or join the diehard footy tragics as they head to the 'G to watch the Blues in action. Crowne Plaza Melbourne Carlton is now open at 701 Swanston St, Carlton. Head to the website for more information. Like what you see? Subscribe to the Concrete Playground newsletter to get stories just like these straight to your inbox.
Pipi's Kiosk is a hidden gem along Melbourne's generally underutilised foreshore. The picturesque restaurant, which sits unassumingly on the Albert Park waterfront adjacent to Kerferd Road Pier, is changing the way Melburnians perceive seaside dining — for the better. Self-described as a contemporary Australian Kiosk, this refined beachside diner is the work of Jordan Clay and Tom Hunter, both of whom have decades of experience in hospitality. Tom was an integral part of the original management team at Coda, which he ran for eight years, before venturing out on his own with Ôter. More recently, he was engaged as a project manager to establish Bistro Omnia, while also dedicating time to his Master of Wine studies. Jordan worked under Mark Best at Pei Modern as Sous Chef, at Ôter as Executive Chef, and as Head Chef for Andrew McConnell at Cumulus Up. Impressively, he was awarded Chef's Hats at each establishment. Jordan and Tom have distilled their years of experience and knowledge into creating the beautiful Pipi's Kiosk, named for the pipi shells that crunch beneath your feet as you walk along the white sand below. For them, it's a dining space "that looks to encapsulate the Melbourne Bistro…while sitting at the bay…A place to rest, reflect and watch the boats go by." While not strictly a seafood restaurant, given the uninterrupted views of the sparkling sea and the smell of salty ocean wafting by, it's no surprise that seafood features strongly on the menu. Snack on the likes of Sydney Rock Oysters with rhubarb mignonette, grilled calamari skewers with ink sauce, salted cod croquettes and seaweed sourdough. Pending what's seasonably available, you might try snapper crudo with Tokyo turnips, octopus with romesco sauce or John Dory, pan-seared and served with grilled sprouts and champagne cream sauce. Sip on a Pipi's Spritz, with St Felix Bitter Citrus, rhubarb, salted coconut and pét-nat, and you might forget you're not actually on vacation. Images: Supplied.
As a tourist, it's easy to get swept away by Sydney's inner-city galleries, restaurants, and bars. But just 25 kilometres south of the capital lies the Sutherland Shire — a destination known for its lush nature — including stretches of beaches (and Sydney's only beach directly accessible by train, Cronulla), as well as the Royal National Park. To learn more about the Sutherland Shire, we spoke with local restaurateur and owner of Hazel Kitchen and Bar, James Lancaster. Located within the Hazelhurst Arts Centre in Gymea (a historic cottage that transformed into an arts haven), Hazel Kitchen and Bar is a cafe-restaurant and events space showcasing the best in local produce and Sutherland Shire dining. We asked James for the best-kept secrets in the local area for you to save next time you find yourself south of the city. CP: What do you love the most about the Sutherland Shire? James: Natural beauty, beaches, forests, waterfalls, and an abundance of incredibly talented people in our community: artists, chefs, musicians, and actors. The Shire really has something for everyone to enjoy. [caption id="attachment_1078693" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Peter Harrison[/caption] CP: Why should someone make a trip to the area? James: The coast has some incredible beaches, whether you enjoy calm water swimming at Gunnamatta Bay, Boat Harbour aquatic reserve, Wattamolla Beach, or Jibbon Beach. There are so many waterfalls, wonderful swimming holes, and bushwalks for all fitness levels, making it [somewhere] everyone should explore. There's a great food scene, from casual cafes to wonderful restaurants. The nightlife is vibrant with cool bars, a funky live music scene, and an incredible depth of talent across music, theatre, and visual arts. CP: If you only had one day in the Sutherland Shire, where would you go? James: I'd start with a swim at North Cronulla, followed by breakfast up the road at Rushi. Then I'd head up to Hazelhurst Gallery to check out an exhibition, before a delicious lunch at Hazel Kitchen and Bar. Next, I'd head to the Royal National Park for an afternoon walk and a freshwater swim at Olympic Pool, just past Karloo Pools. I'd pop into Audley Dance Hall Cafe on the way to grab a great coffee and takeaway for afternoon snacks. After sunset (and listening to birds in the forest), I'd head out to Brass Monkey to listen to some live music and have a few cocktails. CP: What do you think is the Shire's best-kept secret? James: The Royal National Park. Though large and commonly known, there are many secret waterholes, trails and endless adventure. For food, my favorite secret spot is tucked down the side of the Coptic Church in Kirrawee and is almost impossible to find. In Paradise is a gem for real Napoletana style wood-fired pizza. Super thin, great ingredients, charred crust, and, if you like chilli, ask Alfonso for his harrissa sauce… it's delicious. CP: Hazel Kitchen and Bar sits within the Hazelhurst Arts Centre. What's it like having a cafe and restaurant in a location with such rich Australian art history? James: The art and artists have really taught us to be more free and flexible in what we do. The inspiration from watching the art change around us all the time is liberating. The community that participates in the Arts Centre, the studios, the exhibitions, and the wonderful gardens brings us joy. We are very blessed to a view of art on one side, a beautiful garden on the other and a kitchen making delicious food in the centre — perfect combinations really. CP: Talk to us about Hazel Kitchen and Bar: what's your top menu recommendation? James: For breaky, I love the breakfast roll with its streaky bacon. For lunch, I often eat the green goddess salad, or if I'm in more of a dining mood, I'll have a grass-fed Scotch fillet and spice-roasted cauliflower with one of our sommeliers' wines from around the world. That lunch can morph into dinner and a few cheeky cocktails. CP: What's Hazel's philosophy? James: Being a public space, we really wanted a comfortable restaurant, a place you can relax and ponder the art you've just experienced over a coffee, scones and jam, or with a martini if you've really been thought-provoked and need to deep dive. We've curated a space for breakfast, lunch, dinner, and those moments in between. The peaceful gardens and the running creek provide the perfect backdrop to the ever-changing art inside the gallery and on your palette. CP: What does the Sutherland Shire do differently from Sydney City? James: So much diversity is accessible in a relatively small area. All your senses can be ignited in a few hours, and there's always more to explore and experience. It's adventures for all your senses. Images: Supplied.
Simultaneously a wine shop and a wine bar, Public Wine Shop has been satiating the tastebuds of North Fitzroy-ians since opening at the end of 2020. Minimal intervention wines that contain organically farmed grapes and no additives are the stars of the show at Public Wine Shop. But the accompanying food is nothing to be sneezed at. [caption id="attachment_1018339" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Dominic Xavier[/caption] Squeeze into the intimate setting that can fit up to 20 people and enjoy a selection of seasonally changing, French-leaning dishes put together with produce from small, dedicated local farms. Enjoy kimbito olives — that is, olives stuffed with mini gherkins — in chilli oil. Avail yourself of neighbouring baking institution Loafer's bread with cultured butter and the add-on options of salami and cervelle de canut, a Lyonnaise fresh cheese dip. [caption id="attachment_1018338" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Dominic Xavier[/caption] Bigger dishes on the eclectic menu range from spaghetti with delicata squash and basil pistou to pork and crab wontons doused in a mushroom xo sauce and garnished with chervil. To finish, the dessert menu includes as many sweet treats as it does cheese. If you prefer to end your meal on a more savoury note, choose from the likes of Shropshire hard cow's cheese, Lombardy semi-hard cow's cheese and a Basque sheep's blue. [caption id="attachment_1018340" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Dominic Xavier[/caption] Images: Dominic Xavier.
Filling the shoes of now-closed CBD institution Ezard, is the first Melbourne outpost of Sydney's much-loved Mediterranean restaurant Nomad. Owners Rebecca and Al Yazbek have transformed the Adelphi Hotel's lower ground floor into Nomad's new 100-seat southern iteration, replicating the ethos of the original, while championing a whole new menu filled with local produce. Celebrated executive chef Jacqui Challinor has been working closely with Nomad Melbourne's new head chef Brendan Katich (Gingerboy, Ezard) to develop the eatery's signature offering, centred around house-made cheese and charcuterie (think, duck mortadella and trout basturma), and the kitchen's prized wood-fired oven. Fans will find just a handful of menu mainstays, backed by a lineup of brand new dishes, with plenty of locally-sourced meat and veggies cooked over flames among the mix. You're in for plates like baked jersey milk ricotta with ortiz anchovies and fire-roasted peppers, barbecued spatchcock finished with harissa and toum (Lebanese garlic sauce), and the dry-aged pork cutlet teamed with a salsa of golden raisins and capers. Dessert might see you tucking into wood-roasted pineapple cake elevated with yoghurt sorbet and rose el hanout. Otherwise, the $95 feasting menu features a generous parade of nine dishes to share. A sprawling wine list focuses on homegrown drops, with Victorian wineries and smaller producers given lots of love. And an extensive all-Aussie pouring list will rotate regularly, offering the chance to sample new wines with every visit, including premium creations served via Coravin. [caption id="attachment_832917" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Sharyn Cairns[/caption] Top Images: Interiors, Sharyn Cairns
Tucked between the grey high-rises of Queen Street, you'll find Keki Milkbar: a small, considered cafe that's a cosy escape from (the usual) hustle and bustle of the CBD. If you don't see Keki — although, it's hard to miss its moss green exterior — you'll certainly smell it. The space emanates a delicate sweetness not unlike the bakeries and cake shops you'd find in train stations around Japan. But it was Korea where Keki owner Hangyul 'Han' Oh first thought up the cafe. "It was in Ikseon-dong, Seoul, where I first played with the idea of opening up a cafe," Oh tells Concrete Playground. "My business partner Wookjin 'Jin' Jang and I saw a soufflé pancake cafe while travelling around this popular area in Korea, and he had a recipe up his sleeve." Together with Oh's third business partner Jacob Jeon, the well-versed hospitality trio united back in Melbourne and launched Keki. Instead of finding their own space, though — a difficult feat during a pandemic — they started serving takeaway pancakes at CBD cafe Workshop Bros after dark. To make the gravity-defying pancakes — a dish originating in Japan, but now adored all over the globe — the team whips egg whites into pancake mix to create pillowy, airy batter. They're less sweet than traditional pancakes, too, which leaves room for sugar-filled toppings. [caption id="attachment_775896" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Parker Blain[/caption] "The most important thing is the presentation," says Oh. "Our menu has six flavours and we have tried to make them as good looking as possible. We garnish delicately so every customer see just how jiggly and fluffy the pancake is." Oh's favourite flavours are strawberry ($14) and tiramisu ($14), but other offerings include matcha and red bean ($14), honey-macadamia (made with local honeycomb) and sticky salted caramel ($15) — a popular flavour among regulars. The drinks menu at Keki is almost as impressive as the pancakes. You can choose from orange and lemon, strawberry or mandarin sodas ($5.50), which are made with fresh fruit syrup and fermented for eight hours. They can be served hot, like a tea ($5), too. If you're looking for a milk-based drink, try a matcha, strawberry or chocolate latte ($5–5.50) —served hot or cold — made using a special Keki recipe. Images: Parker Blain
The idea of the bathhouse might date back to antiquity, but there's still time for innovation, as more and more spaces that combine both wellness and social benefits find a home in inner-city neighbourhoods. At the forefront of this approach is Soak Bathhouse, whose places to unplug in New South Wales, Queensland and, most recently, Victoria make restorative magic convenient. With the brand's debut Victorian spa opening in South Yarra in June 2025, the crew is now doubling the relaxation with the arrival of a second location. This time landing at Emerald Place in South Melbourne, it's delivered as a joint venture with luxury property developer, Lowe Living, moving into the ground floor of an impressive $160-million Clarendon Street project. While details of the new spa's specifics are yet to be revealed, Soak Bathhouse has signed a ten-year lease for the 459-square-metre space. Here, guests (and residents) can expect a similar experience to the South Yarra location, with South Melbourne featuring a mineral pool, cold plunge, saunas and steam room, plus verdant greenery and tranquil bathing spaces. "Bathhouse culture has always been built on connection — creating spaces where people can slow down together, have meaningful conversations, and reconnect with themselves and each other," says Soak Bathhouse CEO and co-founder Alexis Dean. "With South Melbourne, we wanted to create a place where the community can gather, build rituals, and experience wellness in a way that feels social, welcoming and part of everyday life." Set to open in August 2026, this dreamy wellness destination will help bridge the gap between work and home, serving as an idyllic place for locals and visitors alike to decompress. Meanwhile, Lowe Living's partnership with Soak Bathhouse highlights the developer's commitment to wellness-led amenities, with penthouse buyers receiving complimentary memberships and all other residents gaining discounted access. "SOAK Bathhouse was a natural fit for Lowe Living and specifically Emerald Place," says Lowe Living co-founder and managing director, Emma Lowe. "Their approach to contemporary bathing and social wellness strongly aligns with our vision of creating homes that prioritise long-term health, connection and lifestyle." Soak Bathouse is expected to open in August 2026 at Emerald Place, 182-200 Clarendon Street, South Melbourne. Head to the website for more information. Like what you see? Subscribe to the Concrete Playground newsletter to get stories just like these straight to your inbox. Images: Supplied.
In 2025, wellness is no longer confined to day spas, gyms and yoga studios. With the rise of health clubs that combine every facet of wellness under one roof, self-care is becoming as much about who you do it with as how you do it. You can now head to a holistic wellness hangout with your coworking colleagues, or flex your membership to an exclusive private club. Now, a 5000-square-foot destination in Eltham is joining the fray in October — and it's bringing a fresh take onto the scene. Gut health gets top billing here. The menu at THERAPY's 60-seater cafe and restaurant ticks all the boxes of the average wholefood joint — think plates that hit all the food groups, balance your hormone and blood sugar level, and come in all the '-free' options you can think of — but mealtime rituals keep things interesting. Between bites, sneak in treatments like hydrogen therapy and vagus nerve stimulation to leave the table not just well-fed, but also destressed and digested. Kick off the feed with an extra-virgin olive oil shot, which is great for antioxidant intake and even better for the beneficial gut bugs. For a quick stop, smoothies, fatigue-fighting adaptogen elixirs or tea blends promising more than hydration. The rest of the wellness club follows the same futuristic concept. A detailed Brain-Body diagnostic is a good idea before jumping into THERAPY's suite of tech-y therapies — think cryotherapy, infrared saunas, hydrogen lounges, hyperbaric oxygen chambers and VR pods. With psychologist sessions, EMDR therapy, cognitive training, sound healing and more, mental and spiritual wellness isn't left over either. When you're not in one of the 14 service rooms (and counting) getting pampered, sink into one of the plush lounge areas or check the board for activities. It's not all small talk here — the centre also hosts wellness circles, guest speaker events and evening book club dinners to round out the week. THERAPY is set to open in October, and you can find out more about what the wellness centre will offer via the website. Images: Supplied.
