If you haven't heard of Chin Chin, from Lucas Restaurants, then you might have been living under a rock. Its success has created the phrase 'the Chris Lucas effect', and it has people lining up out the doors each day for hours on end. Does it live up to the hype? When it comes down to it, it actually does. The jazzed-up Thai cuisine, pumping atmosphere and killer decor give these guys the name they deserve. Be warned, you have to be ready to wait. Luckily, Go Go Bar downstairs acts as a holding room, providing liquids to tide you over. Once you finally get the call to shift upstairs, the choices get difficult. The menu is extensive, and choosing only a handful of dishes is hard. The staff are great at suggesting the right way to order and are on hand to highlight their favourite dishes, but, at the end of the day, it's all pretty spot on. Start with the Chin Chin pork 'roll ups' which consists of pancakes stuffed with pulled pork, slaw and plum sauce — it's a fun, savoury twist on the beloved childhood snack. From there, grab something from the 'stir fry', 'barbecue' and 'greens' section — maybe the soft shell crab fried rice, twice-cooked beef short rib (that's been on the menu for yonks) and wok-fried brussels sprouts covered in a chilli dressing and peanuts — and one of the curries. The hot green curry of pork, apple eggplant and Thai basil or the milder massaman with kipfler potatoes are popular choices. But saying all of this, just about everything on this menu is banging. And that's what makes all the banquet options so popular. For $88 per person, everyone will go home very happy. But you can indulge a bit more with the larger set menus that go for $110 and $130 per person. In these, you'll get some of the more premium dishes (think plenty more meat and seafood). A beautiful wine list, a stunning bar and knowledgeable staff make sure the experience is a good one. Go, wait in the line — it's all an experience in itself. At the end of the day, the worst that will happen is you'll find yourself in Chin Chin's Go Go Bar.
Boilermaker House, a CBD bar dedicated to pairing and celebraiting craft beer and whisky, has recently announced that it will officially close forever on Monday, December 30. The news comes as the building's landlord has opted to redevelop the site and not renew the Speakeasy Group's lease. The laidback city spot is a unique Melbourne den built around the boilermaker — for the uninitiated, a boilermaker is an American beer cocktail consisting of a shot of whisky and a beer chaser. Ever since it opened in 2015, Boilermaker House has been a go-to spot for city workers, whisky lovers and beer fans alike. Its charcuterie and cheese boards were also no joke — great additions to a long whisky and beer session. But now, it's time to pack up the 700-plus whisky bottles and say goodbye to Boilermaker House. Owner and Operator Greg Sanderson shared, "We're incredibly proud of what we've built over these years. "Parting ways with a place that has meant so much to us — and to so many others — is incredibly difficult. We're deeply grateful to our amazing team, whose passion and dedication have been the heart of Boilermaker House. "And to our guests, especially those who've been with us since the beginning — we can't thank you enough." Punters have until the end of December to drop by for one last boilermaker in the CBD haunt or to simply down a few drams and say farewell.
Zekkai is Queen Street's newest penthouse restaurant, cocktail bar and club with sweeping views across Melbourne's skyline. In the kitchen, an ex-Nobu chef is bringing luxe Japanese dining to new heights. The new venue, which takes over the site where Blue Diamond speakeasy, a members-only jazz club, once stood, is from Lam Kai Fung (former Executive Chef of Nobu) and the promotional team behind some of Melbourne's most-loved clubs such as Bond, Trak and Ms Collins. While the rooftop venue has been given a contemporary makeover, it still pays homage to its former personality with the original grand piano remaining a centrepiece in the room — albeit now alongside a DJ booth. "Melbourne has some incredible rooftop bars, but we wanted to create something that feels truly international," says Venue Manager Warrence Moorghen, "A place you could find in New York, Tokyo or Dubai, yet still distinctly Melbourne in character." Lam Kai's menu leans luxe with dishes such as wagyu with truffle paste and mango dragon rolls. "Zekkai's menu is inspired by my journey through some of the world's top kitchens, blending Japanese precision with Melbourne's diverse palate," says Lam Kai, "Every dish is about balance, beauty, flavour and a touch of surprise." If you're looking to splash some cash, the Millionaire Margarita comes in at a whopping $115, which sees Herradura Selección Tequila finished with gold leaf and caviar. On the other extreme, happy hour offers affordable specials such as $1 gyoza, between 5 and 8 pm. The team's sky-high ambition is to create a venue where you can expect everything from elevated Japanese dining to lively sunset cocktails on the cigar terrace and a late-night party under the stars. Moorghen says, "Zekkai is about more than just dining or nightlife, it's about creating a complete experience. From our panoramic views to our curated DJ sets and premium cocktails, we've designed a venue where every visit feels unforgettable." Images: Supplied.
Restaurant space on Greville Street doesn't come along very often so when Good Company director Nick Young noticed the old Ladro TAP was for sale, he jumped at the chance. Rossi was the result. It's a big-hearted Italian-French diner powered by woodfired pizzas and plenty of Aperol Spritz. There are some big names in the kitchen, too. French-born head chef Thibault Boggio runs the show with a Michelin star under his belt, and Gaetano Cioffi draws on his Amalfi Coast heritage to work the pizza oven, churning out Napoletana classics like lobster spaghettini and diavola. No big surprises on the menu, but the food is executed well. "We want to create a hot new vibe, a happening place where people come for delicious food, a great time, and kick on for a drink. Our aim is to make Rossi the pulse of Greville Street," Nick Young said. Ladro's industrial vibe has survived the transition, but Young and the team added a virtual forest, including trees in the dining room, a courtyard bar, and a cascading green wall. Throw in some red neon, and you have Gertrude Street in a nutshell: cool, modern, cashed-up, and out for a good time. The restaurant hosts regular events and specials too, with Tuscan roasts and live music every Sunday lunch, $35 gnocchi and vino nights every Wednesday and aperitivo hour from Monday to Friday between 4 and 6pm. Check the website for the latest events. Image: Supplied
Maybe your day hasn't truly started until you've had your caffeine fix. Perhaps you like the ritual of the coffee shop experience. Or, you might just love pairing your cuppa with a cafe spread. Whichever applies, you'll have your favourite spots for a coffee — and you'll know that not all venues slinging it are created equal. According to the first-ever Top 100 Coffee Shops list, the very best place for a cuppa on the planet is Down Under. Toby's Estate Sydney flagship cafe and roastery in Chippendale in has been named the best in the world in the inaugural ranking, which made its picks based on the quality of coffee, barista experience and customer service, as well as each venue's approach to innovation, ambience and atmosphere, plus its sustainability practices, food and pastry quality, and consistency. Combined, Australia and New Zealand account for a tenth of the list, with eight other Aussie spots joining Toby's Estate, alongside one from Aotearoa. Two of those other Australian coffee shops also made the top ten: Proud Mary in Melbourne at fourth and Coffee Anthology in Brisbane at eighth. From around the globe, they were joined by Onyx Coffee Lab in the USA at second, Gota Coffee Experts in Australia in third and Tim Wendelboe in Norway at fifth — then Singapore's Apartment Coffee taking sixth place, Kawa in France at seventh, Malaysia's Story of Ono in ninth and Colombia's Tropicalia Coffee at tenth. Back to Down Under coffee havens, Veneziano Coffee Roasters in Melbourne came in at 19th, fellow Melburnian Calēre Coffee ranked 28th, Adelaide's Exchange Coffee placed 37th and Fonzie Abbott in Brisbane took 70th spot. Next came Melbourne's Vacation Coffee at 71 and Seven Seeds, also in Melbourne, at 87. Flying the flag for NZ, Rocket Coffee in Hamilton notched up 62nd place. [caption id="attachment_733568" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Proud Mary[/caption] So, in plenty of cities across Australia and Aotearoa, you've got no excuse to drink a subpar coffee. While Toby's Estate's Sydney flagship earned the list's love, it also has locations in Brisbane and Melbourne locally. "At Toby's Estate, coffee is at the heart of everything we do, and I think that's reflected in our customer's experience. Our whole team puts in an immense amount of effort to make the best coffee possible, so we're absolutely delighted to be awarded this incredible recognition," said the brand's General Manager Jody Leslie about the win. [caption id="attachment_992420" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Toby's Estate[/caption] [caption id="attachment_935274" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Fonzie Abbott[/caption] [caption id="attachment_631878" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Vacation Coffee[/caption] [caption id="attachment_918220" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Seven Seeds[/caption] [caption id="attachment_992421" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Toby's Estate[/caption] For more details about the Top 100 Coffee Shops list, head to the ranking's website.
Hidden underground bars, award-winning restaurants, dozens of standout laneway cafes and record stores — Adelaide has more than just delicious wine (although it has a lot of that, too). There are so many places to explore and experiences to be had in this history-rich city, you may struggle to fit it all into one weekend — as they say: so little time, so much to eat. But, we're here to help. We've created this comprehensive guide to the SA capital so you can spend more time drinking cocktails, and less time wandering backstreets. Adelaide is also so much more than just the CBD, too, so if you have the time, immerse yourself in the Fleurieu Peninsula, Clare Valley and the Limestone Coast. There's plenty of wine to be tasted and glamping to be done. 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 some restrictions on where you can go on a holiday. But, you can start dreaming. Bookmark this for when you can explore once again. [caption id="attachment_679115" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Africola by Andre Castellucci[/caption] EAT Once you've jumped off the plane, your first stop should be Exchange Specialty Coffee. Serving up some of the best coffee in the country, the acclaimed cafe is tucked away behind Rundle Street. Stop here for a brew — a Melbourne-roasted Brazilian with cherry notes, perhaps — and the cafe's take on a reuben sandwich, and you'll be fuelled and ready to tackle the rest of the city. Well, fuelled and prepared to eat more. While you're on the east side of town — for out-of-towners, that's down near Rundle Street and the aptly named East Terrace — stop by the French-inflected all-day eatery Hey Jupiter for escargots and baked camembert, or to the vibrant Kutchi Deli Parwana, which is located literally next door on Ebenezer Place. The latter serves up Afghani-style street food, such as toasties made with flatbread and stuffed with hummus and lamb kofta, and its signature eggplant curry. If the light begins to fade and you still find yourself east, head to Adelaide's two most-lauded restaurants: Africola and Orana. Africola, helmed by Duncan Welgemoed, is serving up North African dishes out of its woodfired oven, including peri peri chicken with chakalaka relish, pork neck and fried cauliflower. And, whatever you do, don't forget to order a round of the tea sandwiches made with hot chicken dripping. A stone's throw away is Restaurant Orana run by acclaimed chef-owner Jock Zonfrillo (yes, the one from MasterChef). Orana has a degustation-only menu, spattered with native ingredients, alongside an impeccable wine list and service — and it's well worth the cash. On the opposite side of the city, near West Terrace, restaurants are a touch more casual, more snack-driven, and where you want to head before or after drinks. Behind a neon-lit entrance on Leigh Street, you'll find mod-Asian fare cooked over fire at Shōbōsho — and its spin-off, the eight-seater yakitori bar Dr Shō. Hop one street over to Peel Street and enjoy Southeast Asian street food and natural wine at Gondola Gondola, woodfired burgers, steaks and ribs at the upstairs Bread and Bone and refined yet simple fare made from quality local ingredients at Peel St. Around the corner, Sunny's Pizza — run by a group of hospitality long-timers — does what it says on the packet: pizza. It serves them topped with traditional and untraditional ingredients — San Marzano tomatoes, pork fennel sausage, lamb and tahini — and alongside creative cocktails. It also has a disco ball, so you can stay and dance till the wee hours. [caption id="attachment_679116" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Pink Moon Saloon[/caption] DRINK Adelaide's west end doesn't just have fancy food, either, the number of bars hidden down laneways, in basements and up hard-to-find staircases rivals even Melbourne's busiest inner city streets. We suggest you start at Pink Moon Saloon, a narrow A-frame bar, which has picked up a neat collection of gongs for its drinks and design. It even has a kitchen in the back, if you want to linger over brisket or grilled haloumi. Underground — and through a hidden door — is art deco bar Maybe Mae. Located in a passage between Peel and Leigh Streets, the bar is lined with green leather banquettes and serves up seasonal cocktails alongside the tastiest complimentary bar snack in the city: curry powder-fried Nutri Grain and peanuts (trust us, it tastes better than it sounds). West end stalwarts Udaberri and Clever Little Tailor mix fun and refined cocktails with finesse, and nearby Leigh Street Wine Room is a chic new wine bar pumping out minimal intervention drops and next-level snacks. Also worth visiting on the western side is sailor-themed Hains & Co, which is lined with plenty of boating paraphernalia — and lots of rum — and Sparkke at the Whitmore, a female-run pub and brewery with a rooftop bar. [caption id="attachment_679112" align="alignnone" width="1920"] NOLA[/caption] Wander back east and Adelaide's seemingly never-ending collection of quality small bars continues. Overlooking Ebenezer Place is the multi-level Mr Goodbar. Its cocktails are strong and its vibe is inspired by the Deep South. On the opposite side of Rundle Street (well, underneath it) you'll encounter Hellbound. Fortunately, when you walk down its steps you won't enter purgatory — you'll encounter plenty of great wine curated by industry expert Mark Reginato. When you're ready to resurface, make a beeline for NOLA, a New Orleans-inspired jazz, whiskey and craft beer bar, speckled with banquettes, touches of turquoise and neon. A few metres away is Mother Vine, serving up an impressive selection of local and international wines, tapas and cheeses. It's also opposite Adelaide CBD's best bottle shop (more on that below). [caption id="attachment_679111" align="alignnone" width="1920"] 2KW by Jonathan Van de Knapp[/caption] DO 2KW is a must-visit for all Adelaide first- (second- or third-) timers. Located on the eighth storey of a historic building, it has some of the best views across the city. Its drinks and food menu are also hard to pass up — and give you more time to soak up the view. Plan in a trip to the CBD's best bottle shop, too. If we're to get technical, East End Cellars has a rep as one of the country's best bottle shops — with an impressive range of local, hard-to-find wines, spirits and craft brews. It often hosts free tastings, too, so keep on eye on the website while you're there. [caption id="attachment_679110" align="alignnone" width="1920"] The Smelly Cheese Shop[/caption] The historic Adelaide Central Markets, established in 1869, is a rite of passage for all visitors to Adelaide. Filled with hawking greengrocers, fishmongers and bratwurst-vendors, the markets are often packed — especially on weekends. Make your way through the crowd to much-loved The Smelly Cheese Shop (yes, they'll let you taste some) and Le Souk for fresh dates and racks upon racks of spices. If you need a break from eating and drinking, luckily Adelaide has another lesser-known gift hidden up its sleeve — its impressive collection of record stores. Rerun Record & Photography, hidden inside Adelaide's Market Bazaar, stocks a massive collection of retro records, alongside historic Adelaide photos and vintage cameras. Also, Streetlight Adelaide, Wolfies Records and Porthole Records are worth checking out. [caption id="attachment_679109" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Majestic Minima Hotel[/caption] SLEEP When you've finished eating, drinking and packing your bags full of vinyls, you'll want to rest your weary head — and prepare to do it all again tomorrow. If you've got the cash, splash out on the most elegant option, The Mayfair Hotel. The heritage-listed building is home to 170 luxe suites, a gym and its own rooftop bar. Slightly more affordable, but equally central, is the Majestic Rooftop Hotel and the Adina Apartment Hotel Adelaide Treasury — both located in walking distance of all the aforementioned hot spots. If you're willing to travel a touch out of the city, you can snag an eclectic art-filled room at North Adelaide's Majestic Minima Hotel for around $100 a night. 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. Top image: Pink Moon Saloon.
Do you dream of sushi? It's probably safe to say the team at Sushi Jiro does, with the launch of its 30th restaurant at The Glen. However, this is no ordinary opening, as Australia's fastest-growing sushi franchise will see its newest location adorned with Melbourne's longest sushi train, stretching a mind-blowing 67 metres. Impressive as that is, it's not the only innovation making Sushi Jiro a must-visit in the east. The Glen location will also feature Sushi Jiro's first-ever Japanese soft serve station, with all-you-can-eat dessert for $10. Featuring rotating flavours like vanilla and matcha alongside a topping station with 30 options, it's an indulgent way to round out your sushi feast. "We're beyond excited to celebrate our 30th location at The Glen. Not only is this our largest restaurant yet, but it also features Melbourne's longest sushi train, taking the immersive Sushi Jiro experience to new heights. The demand for sushi train dining experiences continues to grow across Australia, and we're thrilled to offer something special here in Melbourne," says Sushi Jiro founder and CEO Anna Kasman. As for the new store's design, Sushi Jiro hasn't missed a beat. Here, the sushi train winds its way through a space lined with sleek timber accents and cosy booth seating. With enough space for 100 guests, catching up with friends or relishing a little solo sushi time is made easy. While this location is stepping things up, the crowd-pleasing dishes remain the same, with soft-shell crab nori tacos, Himalaya Signature Rolls and Nacho Cheese Signature Tuna Rolls bringing a fresh take on this much-loved cuisine. Meanwhile, The Glen store will also serve up Sushi Jiro's Salmon Sensation series, featuring innovations like crunchy tobiko salmon and crispy salmon don. Located in the shopping centre's ground floor dining precinct, this landmark Sushi Jiro store is open daily for your sushi-feasting delight. "The Glen restaurant has been designed to offer a more spacious and immersive experience and is the perfect evolution of the Sushi Jiro brand and offering," said Kasman. Sushi Jiro The Glen is open daily from 11am–9pm at The Glen, 235 Springvale Road, Glen Waverley. Head to the website for more information.
Need an extra sweet escape? To celebrate National Donut Day, held on Friday, June 6, Donut King has teamed up with luxury hotel brand Ovolo Hotels to create the 'Hot Cinni Hotel'. This collaboration is perhaps not what you'd normally expect for such an occasion. However, it quickly becomes obvious that this promotion hasn't cut any corners when it comes to fostering suite dreams. In an immersive hotel takeover, the heritage-listed Ovolo Woolloomooloo will see two of its elegant suites transformed into cinnamon doughnut-filled luxury stays. Decked out with shimmering pink accents, cinnamon-painted walls, colourful pop art and a Donut King-inspired bed adorned with plush fabrics, the 'Hot Cinni Suite' experience is like no other. Yet this doughnut-led experience goes beyond mere design. Guests will also see the suite filled with cinnamon doughnut-inspired scents and services, from aromatic diffusers and bathroom amenities to pink art-deco glassware and deluxe towels. Best of all, an exclusive room service offering means hot cinnamon doughnuts will arrive at your door with just the push of a button. That all sounds a little bonkers, but don't think the hotel is finished yet. Donut King and Ovolo Hotels have extended the fun to other areas of the hotel, with every guest invited to get amongst the celebration. In the lobby, pink and cinnamon lighting pay homage to the humble cinnamon doughnut, while the hotel's resident mixologist has created the Cinnitini — a spice-forward cocktail. Also in the bar, discover special nibbles like Donut King cinnamon doughnuts with dulce de leche; cauliflower bites with cinnamon-laced mayo; and chicken skewers with cinnamon barbecue sauce. As for other guests who happen to book a stay at Ovolo Woolloomooloo during this limited-time activation, they're welcome to order room service doughnuts for free. Just know, bookable stays for the Hot Cinni Hotel are only available from Friday, June 6–Sunday, June 9. "Partnering with Donut King to offer our guests an undeniably exhilarating and unexpected culinary experience during their stay is a sweet deal," says James Clark, General Manager at Ovolo Sydney. "We're constantly exploring new experiences for our guests to enhance their stay, and we believe they will absolutely crave and love this limited yet delightfully sweet addition." Bookings for the Hot Cinni Hotel open from Thursday, May 29 at 9am, with stays available from Friday, June 6–Sunday, June 9. Head to the website for more information.
When head chef and co-owner Harry Dhanjal teamed up with business partner Brij Patel to create Atta in Albert Park in 2015, they set out to reframe Indian dining in Melbourne. Now, ten years later, Atta celebrates achieving their goal of being instrumental to redefining Indian cuisine and opening Melburnian's eyes to the complexities of Indian cuisine. With an elegant and sophisticated interior, featuring polished cement floors and large arched windows, Atta is the kind of Indian restaurant to enjoy fine dining without the posturing of stuffy waiters and an intimidating menu. As they say themselves, they combine fun with fine, while not slacking off on either front. Combining centuries-old recipes from all corners of India, they add subtle yet modern twists that set the place apart from the more traditional Indian restaurants that are common around Australia. There are the essentials, of course, such as tandoori chicken and pappadums, samosas and korma, but the menu is also dotted with less expected ingredients that elevate the experience. There's slow-cooked black lentils with cashew gravy and coriander butter, and a smoked tandoori cottage cheese with asparagus, daikon and wild Australian tomato gels. To celebrate the 10-year milestone, the chefs have created a special à la carte menu that showcases signature dishes from the past decade, which will be availble until December. You'll get to taste Harry's take on butter chicken with a saffron-infused cashew gravy, samosas with sweet yoghurt and tamarind chutney, lamb sous vide for eight hours, and cottage cheese dumplings finished with carrot oil, cream and almonds. The menu will also feature new celebratory dishes, including a sous vide duck with smoked cauliflower puree and tempura zucchini flower, and chicken mince seekh kebabs. With a creative wine list highlighting local Victorian drops and a fitting selection of beers, a stylish interior, and a classic yet modern menu, Atta is a true highlight among the burgeoning Indian dining scene in Melbourne. "We are all slaves to the clock," says Harry, "but at Atta, we want people to enjoy the moment — to remove the boundaries and forget about time." Images: Supplied.
Sometimes in The Whitsundays, sometimes outside the Sydney Opera House, sometimes in the rooftop carpark of a Melbourne Woolworths, thousands of people have disrobed for Spencer Tunick. The New York-based artist stages naked installations in public places that also become nude photography works. He's filled Bondi beach, Federation Square, Munich's Bavarian State Opera, a patch of the Nevada desert and many more places with folks sans clothes, too — and, in both 2023 and 2024, he's turned his attention to Brisbane as well. Tunick first hit the Sunshine State last November for a piece called TIDE by the Brisbane River, which formed part of 2023's queer arts and culture-focused Melt Festival. On a spring Saturday, more than 100 participants shed their attire for the camera by the water. Before that installation even took place, it was revealed that he'd back in 2024 for an installation now called RISING TIDE. It too is part of the same fest, and it also involves another Brisbane landmark: the Story Bridge. [caption id="attachment_973212" align="alignnone" width="1920"] TIDE, Spencer Tunick[/caption] On Sunday, October 27, 2024, the famous river crossing will welcome thousands of naked volunteers. Accordingly, it isn't just traffic that will bring the structure to a standstill this spring. For the shoot, the stretch across the water is closing to cars. If you're keen to get your kit off for the camera — and be part of history — there's no limit to the number of people who can take part. RISING TIDE is just one way to engage with Tunick's art in Brisbane this year, however. The other: the just-announced TIDE Exhibition, featuring images from his debut in the River City. It'll display at Brisbane Powerhouse from Saturday, September 28–Sunday, November 10, also falling into Melt, featuring projected video from the installation. [caption id="attachment_970675" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Brisbane, Spencer Tunick[/caption] The TIDE Exhibition marks a few firsts for Tunick as he celebrates 30 years of making his style of art, over which period he's staged more than 100 installations. This is his first-ever Australian exhibition, and it's the first time that his work will be on display for the public. The single-channel video at the heart of the TIDE Exhibition not only includes imagery from the shoot by the Brisbane River, but also stories from participants. "Creating TIDE was a very special experience, and I hope the exhibition will speak to diverse groups of people. It is a privilege to be making art that centres around the LGBTQIA+ community with all its beauty and vibrance," advised Tunick. When RISING TIDE was announced, the artist said that "the series will hopefully speak to diverse groups of people, and everyone navigating their way through the difficult challenges of our current world". "This challenging work on the Story Bridge marks the second in my two-part series in Brisbane scheduled one year apart, in 2023 then 2024. It is the first time I have ever worked on installations with the same institution for an extended two-year project. This will allow me to deeply explore the city, its light, environment and its people." [caption id="attachment_973211" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Sydney, Spencer Tunick[/caption] [caption id="attachment_973210" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Barcelona, Spencer Tunick[/caption] [caption id="attachment_926439" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Gateshead, Newcastle, England by Spencer Tunick.[/caption] [caption id="attachment_874950" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Dublin, Spencer Tunick[/caption] [caption id="attachment_926442" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Jay Cull[/caption] Spencer Tunick's TIDE exhibition displays from Saturday, September 28–Sunday, November 10 at Brisbane Powerhouse, 119 Lamington Street, New Farm. Spencer Tunick's 2024 Story Bridge installation RISING TIDE takes place on Sunday, October 27, 2024 during Melt Festival. Head to the festival website to register to take part. Top image: Spencer Tunick.
Happy Valley is appropriately named. Sitting quietly amidst the grubby hustle of Smith Street, this semi-bookshop, semi-homewares store, diverse world of curio is guaranteed to make you smile. Run by Chris Crouch, ex-owner of Polyester Records, Happy Valley is full of hand-chosen items from local designers and makers. We're talking terrariums, quality leather goods, candles, wall art, magazines and ceramics of sad little lions — all of the things you don't really need, but definitely want.
When April 1 rolls around, it's always best to approach the day's news with a sense of humour, but one of this year's best gags isn't just a joke. For April Fool's Day, Google Maps transformed into a giant online game of Where's Waldo? — and it's available to play all week. After the company's Mario Kart caper a few weeks back, and their Pac-Man April Fool's Day update a few years back as well, it's now another iconic character's turn to roam through Maps. As anyone who has leafed through the books will know — aka everyone — good ol' red-and-white jumper-wearing Waldo likes to hide in plain sight, which means that it's up to you to find him. https://twitter.com/googlemaps/status/980203086512869376 Anyone keen to play along simply needs to update their Maps app or visit the desktop version, where Waldo is waiting to be spotted. You'll first find him waving to you from the side of the screen, and then you'll work your way through the game's five levels to find him in various places around the world. If that's not enough addictive fun, you can also try to locate his friends Wenda, Woof, Wizard Whitebeard and Odlaw. Chilean snowfields, the beach at Australia's own Surfers Paradise and South Korea's Olympic Stadium are just a few of the stops on Waldo's world tour. And yes, even when he's in countries other than the US and Canada, the game still refers to him as Waldo, rather than Wally. It'll always be Where's Wally? to us, though. Via Google Maps.
A new hotel in a historic building. A name well-known Down Under opening its first-ever location beyond Australia and New Zealand. A fresh excuse to spend your next holiday in southeast Asia. These all apply to the latest venue to join the QT Hotels & Resorts chain: the just-opened QT Singapore. Maybe you've experienced the gothic charm of QT Sydney. Perhaps you've enjoyed slumbering at the site of a former cinema at QT Melbourne. At QT Gold Coast, you could've slept in rooftop cabins. Or, at QT Newcastle, you might've bunked down in a clock tower. QT Queenstown comes with alpine views, while QT Auckland heroes the harbour. Now, add staying in Singapore's Eastern Extension Telegraph building, which dates back to 1927 and is located right next to the Lau Pa Sat hawker centre, to the list. It was back in May that QT revealed that it was launching in the city-state come spring — and the brand's Singapore hotel has opened its doors on Monday, September 16, 2024. Guests can check into one of 134 rooms behind the iconic building's striking facade, which has remained the same while the interiors have undergone a complete revamp to deck it out in QT's aesthetic. The chain's look varies from hotel to hotel, but always stands out from other places to stay. Interior designer Nic Graham has done the honours, with reflecting Singapore's climate and evolution — and the building's location and heritage — the main aim of his approach to the site's decor. Think: bold colours yet delicate lighting, woven rattan and black framing featuring heavily, print works by local artist Jill Tran in public spaces and a classic-yet-contemporary vibe. The array of rooms includes junior, corner, balcony and premier suites with double ceilings. Whichever type you choose, each one features a walk-in rain shower in the ensuite bathroom, a QT Dream Bed, an iPad to control everything around the room (including the Chromecast and wireless Bose speakers) and Dyson hair products. Holidaymakers can also take advantage of the dining and drinks options onsite, such as signature bar and grill Cygnet, plus rooftop bar Rooftop by QT. The first is a Manhattan-style steakhouse with chef and restaurateur Sean Connolly leading the charge — and a place that serves up its signature dishes tableside. The second sits alongside a sky-high pool for sips and splashes with a view, goes big on cocktails made from local ingredients and peers out over the skyline. And, if you're keen on having a shindig on your getaway, private dining is also on offer. Find QT Singapore at 35 Robinson Road, Singapore — and head to the hotel's website for bookings and further details. Images: QT Hotels & Resorts.
These days, there's seemingly no end to the list of things you can have delivered to your door. Craving a midweek bottle of wine but can't be stuffed leaving the house? Jimmy Brings has your back. Fancy a fresh addition to your plant collection, dropped at your doorstep monthly? You're in capable hands with Botanic Box. Need a new jigsaw puzzle sent to your house each month, carefully selected based on your tastes? Now, there's even a service for that. Those who love spending hours creating intricate cardboard artworks can now enjoy a personalised puzzle subscription platform, thanks to the recently launched Puzzle Post. From the same minds behind book subscription service Bookabuy, the idea for this new venture spawned after owners Chris and Mel Tantchev noticed something of a jigsaw puzzle resurgence. Look around and you'll notice those little cardboard pieces are making a bit of a comeback. With Puzzle Post, you can opt for a one-off puzzle delivery or organise a three-, six- or twelve-month subscription, which'll set you back between $39–83 each time. You might want to add to your own collection or send one to your puzzle-obsessed mate as a present. The Tantchevs have been busy sourcing puzzles with a whole range of themes from over 25 categories — including cats, nostalgia, flowers, Disney and food — ranging from easy (500 pieces) to 1000-plus piece hard puzzles. By answering a few quick questions at checkout, recipients will end up with a jigsaw haul personalised just for them. And even the fiercest of jigsaw aficionados needn't worry about doubling up — Puzzle Post offers subscribers a replacement if they're sent a puzzle they already own. Puzzle Post is available for delivery across Australia.
Whether you're a steadfast homebody or someone who spends almost every night on the town, you've undoubtedly heard people talking about the death of Melbourne CBD. But is it actually true? Since COVID times, and probably before too, the debate has raged from multiple angles, with both sides of the fence unsurprisingly far from reaching a consensus. On the one hand, some argue that the CBD is now missing what made it so vibrant in the past, citing work-from-home policies, the cost-of-living crisis, retail vacancy rates, the ease of online shopping and perceptions of crime, among other issues. On the other hand, hotspots around the CBD, such as Flinders Lane and Little Collins Street, usually appear plenty busy before and after dark if you spend time seeing the sights for yourself. So, who's right? A new report published in The Age sought answers using about as unbiased a data point as one could hope for — the City of Melbourne's pedestrian foot-traffic data. Dating back to 2009, this network of sensors collects data at major waypoints throughout the CBD and beyond, with the latest figures showing that Melbourne CBD foot traffic remains about 20 percent below pre-pandemic levels. Data collected around the city's most active transport hubs clearly illustrates the problem. According to the report, weekday foot traffic at Flinders Street Station has returned to 77 percent of pre-pandemic levels, while Southern Cross Station remains at 65 percent over the same period. Interestingly, the Bourke Street Mall sensors captured significant jumps in foot traffic following MECCA's landmark opening in August 2025. Speaking to The Age, KPMG urban economist Terry Rawnsley says the biggest contributor to Melbourne's declining pedestrian numbers is work-from-home policies, with data from hubs like Southern Cross Station revealing that a significant number of workers now attend the office three days, not five, per week. While this sensor captures about 20,000 pedestrians on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays, the numbers crash to around 14,400 on Mondays and 11,700 on Fridays. That may make for tough reading for CBD-based businesses, but workers can hardly be blamed for saving themselves a time-consuming commute. So, what's the solution to attracting people back into the centre of town? The answer depends on who you ask, with nearly every political group and peak body promoting its own point-by-point plan. Read them, and an overarching theme appears: revitalised arts and culture, improved access and meaningful community engagement. Find out more about Melbourne's pedestrian foot traffic via City of Melbourne's Pedestrian Counting System.
UPDATE: APRIL 24, 2020 — Preston's Coeliac Australia-accredited bakery has pipe-your-own cannoli packs available for pickup every day. Eat Cannoli founders Kate and Dom Marzano really love their Sicilian pastries — just without gluten. The duo's Preston cafe is serving up 100 percent gluten-free fare to the masses — and it's got a Coeliac Australia accreditation to prove it, too. All cannoli are made from scratch and filled to order, going for $4.5 a pop. The menu changes often, with the original ricotta regularly featured — the deep-fried pastry shell is filled with ricotta, chocolate chips, candied orange and honey from the shop's beehive. Other fillings include Aperol spritz, lemon cheesecake, amaretto, creme brûlée and passionfruit. Shells come infused with the likes of charcoal and raspberry, too, and vegan cannoli are also available for order. But the Preston shop isn't just limited to cannoli. It also serves up other desserts like tiramisu ($6) and semi freddo sandwiches ($4.5), along with coffees by Hallelujah ($4–5) and a daily granita ($4.5). For savoury options, the duo is baking piadini in-house — an Italian-style flatbread made from a 48-hour sourdough starter. The toasted bread is used for sandwiches, including the slow-cooked beef brisket with pickles, sauerkraut and peppers; and the pumpkin and ricotta with mozzarella and rocket ($10.5 each). Add vegan cheese for two bucks. Apart from the physical cafe, Eat Cannoli is still making the festival and market rounds, too, so keep an eye out for Ivana — the team's vintage caravan — the next time you're out and about. Images: Parker Blain.
Australia's reigning gelato kings are back at it. Gelato Messina, which transformed from a single Sydney store in 2002 into a bona fide national empire, has just launched two Woolworths-exclusive flavours — and we are running, not walking, to get out hands on these ones, winter be damned. Landing now in freezers nationwide and online, the brand-new P.B. Peanut Butter Fudge & Praline and Super Flan sound exactly like the types of indulgent flavours that has seen Messina become a household name, stacked with in-house sauces and signature mix-ins. Channeling strong 'give the people what they want' energy, each of the new flavours is a riff on a beloved Messina signature. Long-time devotees might find the P.B. Peanut Butter Fudge & Praline familiar, and they wouldn't be mistaken — it's a supermarket-ready take on one of the brand's most in-demand scoop-shop specials. Each tub is a flavour bomb of creamy peanut butter gelato swirled with house-made peanut praline and rich peanut fudge. Meanwhile, Super Flan brings one of the brand's biggest fan faves to the masses: a creamy vanilla custard gelato rippled with Messina's in-house dulce de leche, made the proper Argentinian way. Each flavour comes in a 475ml pint, and joins the five Messina tub flavours lining Woolies shelves — namely, Pistachio Praline, Tiramisu, Dulce de Leche, Hazelnut Praline and Dulce de Leche, and Robert Brownie Jr. Since its October 2024 launch, the tub line has become one of the supermarket's best-selling frozen dessert lines, with over 500,000 pints already having flown off the shelves. While you're likely more concerned with what's going on inside the tub, the artwork on the front is worth a second look. The colourful characters that adorn each tub have been designed by Bondi-born, New York-based artist Jeremyville, who was also responsible for the vibrant murals in Messina's original Darlinghurst store. "Gelato Messina has always been about quality, creativity, and making people happy, and pushing the boundaries of flavour and quality," says Gelato Messina founder, Nick Palumbo. "Expanding into Woolworths has allowed us to share our passion with more Australians, while staying true to our roots." Messina's new P.B. Peanut Butter Fudge & Praline and Super Flan flavours are available now and exclusively at Woolworths, in the freezer aisle or online. For more info, head to the Messina website.
Melbourne is no stranger to a Korean barbecue restaurant. You'll find them all over the CBD and out in the burbs. We've also got all kinds of them — from affordable BYO joints and all-you-can-eat affairs to fancier varieties with top-quality cuts, there's something for every budget and occasion. CBD KBBQ spot Woo399 lands on the more premium side of things. Don't get us wrong, it's not a hushed-voiced fine-diner. There's still plenty of fun to be had over the gas-fired grills in the 104-person restaurant. We say it's more high-end because of the quality of meat that's on offer. The team sources its pure-bred wagyu from Elbow Valley in Queensland, where the cattle are fed a combination of orange pulp and locally grown grains like wheat, barley and corn. This results in outstanding meat quality, with the team sourcing plenty of cuts with a 9+ marble score. And unlike most Korean barbecue joints, you don't just choose a banquet or selection of meats from the menu. At Woo399, you make your way up to the butcher's fridge, where top-grade meat has already been sliced and packaged for you. Like what you've tried? The pre-packaged cuts are also available to take home. If you're dining in though, simply load up your basket with your chosen cuts, pay at the counter and get grilling. Each person is charged $9.99 to use the grills, and that price includes sauces, three side dishes and unlimited soft drinks. For an extra cost, you can fill out your meal with the likes of kimchi, croquettes, soup and veggies. And if you'd rather pair your KBBQ with some booze, Cass and soju are also on the menu.
At some point, we all have to realise that we just can't watch every TV show ever made. It's a sad revelation, and it mightn't feel the case after a few years spent at home more often than anyone would've liked, but it's the practical reality. So many streaming platforms to choose from, so many new series hitting each and every one of them all the time — throw in all the regular old television channels, too, and that's every TV fan's current, ongoing, never-ending dilemma. We all have gaps in our viewing as a result. And while it seems like every television program that's ever hit airwaves or the internet is always available all of the time, even the list of shows that you can watch in Australia has gaps, because we don't necessarily get access to everything the moment it lands overseas. With all of that in mind, it's been impossible to watch everything new that's hit the small screen Down Under over the past year — but summer is a great time for catching up. Here are 12 standout series that mightn't have made their way to your streaming queues yet, but you should make a date with as soon as you can. And if you've seen them already, summer is also the perfect time for a rewatch. THE SEX LIVES OF COLLEGE GIRLS Here's a great way to know whether a new TV comedy is worth watching: check whether Mindy Kaling is involved. After stealing every scene she could in The Office, then turning The Mindy Project into a smart, funny and adorable rom-com sitcom made with oh-so-much love for the genre, she just keeps adding new shows to her resume as a co-creator, writer and producer. The Sex Lives of College Girls is the latest, and quickly thrives thanks to the kind of savvy, authentic, honest and highly amusing writing that's always been a hallmark of Kaling's work. If you didn't know she was behind it going in, you'd easily guess. It also sports an immensely descriptive title, following four college freshmen — strangers to each other, but now roommates — as they navigate the move from high school to the fictional Essex College in Vermont. Because three movies currently in cinemas starring a member of Chalamet family just isn't enough (aka Dune, The French Dispatch and Don't Look Up), The Sex Lives of College Girls features his Timothée's sister Pauline (The King of Staten Island). She plays Kimberly Finkle, who heads to Essex as valedictorian of her small-town school, is more excited about the classes than the parties, but still wants to have the full college experience. And, she's thrilled to find herself rooming with aspiring comedy writer Bela Malhotra (Amrit Kaur, The D Cut), star soccer player Whitney Chase (first-timer Alyah Chanelle Scott) and the wealthy Leighton Murray (theatre star Reneé Rapp) — even if the latter in particular doesn't initially return the enthusiasm. The quartet's exploits from there navigate all the usual kinds of relatable college antics, but do so with a warm-hearted vibe, a great cast, insightful humour, and a shrewd focus on friendships and figuring out who you want to be. The first season of The Sex Lives of College Girls is available to stream via Binge. THE PURSUIT OF LOVE Bolters and stickers. They're the two labels given to women in The Pursuit of Love, a lavish, effervescent and also impeccably shrewd new three-part miniseries adaptation of Nancy Milford's 1945 novel of the same name. Befitting its source material's timing, the storyline leads into the Second World War, all as chalk-and-cheese cousins Linda Radlett (Lily James, The Dig) and Fanny Logan (Emily Beecham, Little Joe) grow from teens into women — and the former, the impulsive and passionate daughter of a Lord (Dominic West, Stateless) who doesn't believe in educating girls and hates foreigners, chases romance at all costs. Fanny narrates the story, detailing Linda's ups and downs alongside her own. Her own mother (Emily Mortimer, Relic) is purely known as "the Bolter", having left Fanny with her sister (Annabel Mullion, Patrick Melrose) as she too sought love again and again. It's a label that Linda despises when it's applied to her, though. Whether having her eyes opened to the world by her bohemian neighbour (Andrew Scott, His Dark Materials), falling for the first arrogant boy (Freddie Fox, Fanny Lye Deliver'd) she spends any real time with, or later crossing paths with a motivated Communist (James Frecheville, The Dry) and a French duke (Assaad Bouab, Call My Agent!), she does keep leaping forward, however. In contrast, Fanny literally bumps into Oxford academic (Shazad Latif, Profile) and settles into domestic bliss, all while worrying about her cousin. Mortimer also makes her directorial debut with this swiftly engaging look at well-to-do lives, and unpacking of the way women are perceived — and it's the latter, the vivid staging and cinematography, and the vibrant performances that make this a must-see. The Pursuit of Love is available to stream via Amazon Prime Video. CALLS Everyone has heard about the response that The War of the Worlds reportedly sparked back in 1938. That's when Orson Welles adapted HG Wells' novel into a radio play, and the result was so convincing that it reportedly incited panic among listeners. Watching Calls, it's easy to understand how. 'Watching' isn't exactly the right term for this mystery series, though. Like all those folks glued to their radios 83 years ago, Calls' audience is forced to listen intently. Indeed, in terms of visuals, the series only provides two types: words transcribing the conversations heard, and abstract visuals that move and shift with each sentence uttered and every suspenseful pause left lingering. Accordingly, focusing on the snippets of phone chats that tell the program's stories is what Calls is all about. Remaking the French show of the same name, and directed by Evil Dead and Don't Breathe's Fede Álvarez, something much more than a small-screen version of a story-fuelled podcast eventuates. A starry cast voices the chats — including everyone from Parks and Recreation duo Aubrey Plaza and Ben Schwartz to Wonder Woman 1984's Pedro Pascal and Zola's Riley Keough — but it's the tension and power of their words that leaves an impression. Each of the nine episodes tells a short story that eventually builds an overall picture, and getting caught up in them all is far easier than the underlying concept might initially make you think. Calls is available to stream via Apple TV+. THIS WAY UP In Britain, This Way Up didn't drop both of its seasons in the same year; however, that's how it panned out for Australian viewers. And, that's a great thing — not only because this smartly written, astute, insightful and delightfully acerbic series about London-based Irish siblings Áine (Aisling Bea, Living With Yourself) and Shona (Sharon Horgan, Catastrophe) keeps viewers hooked episode after episode, but because binging your way through it immerses you wholeheartedly in their chaotic lives and headspace. As the first season establishes, English teacher Áine is riding the ups and downs of a mental health journey that saw her spend some time receiving in-patient treatment, and has left Shona, the high-powered overachiever of the pair, perennially worried. Even as COVID-19 approaches and begins to affect their lives in the second season, that dynamic is still in place. But Áine is now embarking upon a relationship with Richard (Tobias Menzies, The Crown), the father of a French boy (Dorian Grover, The White Princess) she tutors, all while trying to hide it from her bosses and said kid. Shona is the least-fussed bride-to-be there is as she prepares to get married to her long-term boyfriend and ex-colleague Vish (Aasif Mandvi, Evil), and also navigates more than a little awkwardness with her friend and new business partner Charlotte (Indira Varma, Official Secrets). The heart of this series is the push and pull between this sisters, and how they try to weather everything that life throws their way — and it remains firmly intact across its full run so far. The first and second seasons of This Way Up are available to stream via Stan. THE NORTH WATER When ex-army surgeon Patrick Sumner (Jack O'Connell, Seberg) secures a gig on a whaling expedition to the Arctic working as the ship's doctor, he's clearly running from something. His new colleagues are instantly suspicious of his story, bloodthirsty harpooner Henry Drax (Colin Farrell, Voyagers) among them — although Captain Brownlee (Stephen Graham, Venom: Let There Be Carnage) and whaling company owner Baxter (Tom Courtenay, Summerland) are mostly just happy for his cheap services. That's the setup for The North Water, the 19th-century-set, five-part miniseries that takes to the seas, to the cold and to a brutal world, and proves grimly mesmerising with its Moby Dick-meets-Heart of Darkness vibes. Charting a survivalist tale not just of the physical kind amid all that unforgiving ice (and on those treacherous waters), but also of the emotional and mental variety as well, this is one of the most relentlessly intense shows to hit screens in 2021 — and it's also gripping from start to finish. The first episode sets the scene in a slow-burn fashion, culminating in sights so searing they're impossible to forget — and the story, as well as the vast chasm between Sumner and Drax, only grows from there. Writer/director Andrew Haigh adapts Ian McGuire's novel of the same name, but this series has the Weekend, 45 Years and Lean on Pete filmmaker's stamp all over it. He finds as much empathy here as he has throughout his stellar big-screen projects, and once again demonstrates his extraordinary eye for detail, exceptional sense of place and winning way with actors. With the latter, having O'Connell and Farrell lead the charge obviously helps. They're not only reliably phenomenal; they each put in some of their best-ever work, and their performances seethe with complexity. So does the entire miniseries, which is never willing to pose easy answers or provide straightforward interpretations when ruminating over the minutiae is much more riveting, fascinating and realistic. The North Water is available to stream via Binge. PHYSICAL On a typical early-80s day, San Diego housewife Sheila Rubin (Rose Byrne, Irresistible) will make breakfast for her professor husband Danny (Rory Scovel, I Feel Pretty), take their daughter to school, then run errands. She'll also buy three fast food meals, book into a motel, eat them all naked, then purge. Physical can be bleak — about the pain festering inside its bitterly unhappy protagonist, her constantly fraying mental health, the smile she's forced to plaster across her face as she soldiers on, and her excoriating options of herself — but it also finds a rich vein of dark comedy in Sheila's efforts to change her life through aerobics. Add the series to the list of 80s-set shows about women getting sick of being cast aside, breaking free of their societally enforced roles and jumping into something active. GLOW did it. On Becoming a God in Central Florida did, too. And now those two excellent series have a kindred spirit in this sharp, compelling and often brutally candid show. Byrne is a force to be reckoned with here, in one of her best performances in some time (and a reminder that in everything from Heartbreak High to Damages and Mrs America, she's always done well on TV). Also entrancing, engaging and difficult to forget: Physical's desperate-but-determined tone, and the way it seethes with tension beneath the spandex, sequins and sunny beach shots. The first season of Physical is available to stream via Apple TV+. MADE FOR LOVE When author Alissa Nutting penned Made for Love, no one needed to think too hard about her source of inspiration. Now bringing its tale to the small screen courtesy of the series of the same name, her story ponders one of the possible next steps in our technology-saturated lives. Hazel Green-Gogol (Cristin Milioti, Palm Springs) seems to live a lavishly and happily with her tech billionaire husband Byron (Billy Magnussen, No Time to Die). They haven't left his company's desert campus in the entire ten years they've been married, in fact. The site is designed to cater for their every desire and whim, so they shouldn't need to go anywhere else — or that's how Byron views things, at least. Then his next big idea looks set to become a reality, and Hazel decides that she can't keep up the charade. She certainly doesn't want to be implanted with a chip that'll allow Byron to see through her eyes, access her feelings and always know where she is, and she's willing to take drastic actions to escape his hold over her life. Bringing the plot to the screen herself, Nutting favours a darkly comedic and sharply satirical vibe as she follows Hazel's quest for freedom, with Made for Love filled with blisteringly accurate insights into the tech-dependence that's become a regular part of 21st century existence. That said, the series wouldn't be the gem it is without Milioti, as well as Ray Romano (The Irishman) in a scene-stealing supporting part as Hazel's father. The first season of Made for Love is available to stream via Stan. THE VIRTUES Director and screenwriter Shane Meadows has a fantastic track record, spanning everything from Dead Man's Shoes to This Is England — as well as the multiple TV shows inspired by the latter. Fellow screenwriter Jack Thorne is no stranger to working with Meadows, also thanks to the This Is England franchise; however his individual resume includes Dirt Music, Radioactive, The Secret Garden, Enola Holmes, The Eddy and His Dark Materials over just the past couple of years. So, the pair's involvement in The Virtues immediately marks it as a miniseries to watch. So does its star Stephen Graham, yet another veteran of This Is England. Here, all three combine for a four-part drama that's bleak, raw, frank and devastating — and, once you've started watching, it's also impossible to tear your eyes away from until the credits roll on the final episode. After it finishes, it's downright impossible to forget, in fact, a claim that can't be made of most television shows. Graham plays Joseph, a labourer who's barely getting by. When his ex-partner and his young son move to Australia, he hits the bottle, has a big night, and wakes up certain that he has to head back to Ireland and confront his troubled past. So starts an emotional journey that's never easy — not for a single second — but is also never anything less than astounding. The Virtues is available to stream via Stan. INVINCIBLE If you've ever shopped for a specific item on Amazon and found multiple similar versions of the same thing, then you already know what it can be like to dive into Amazon Prime Video's streaming catalogue. Many of its new additions instantly bring other shows in its catalogue to mind by sharing and mimicking elements, and Invincible follows that trend. At first, it'll have you thinking about The Boys. Next, you'll start recalling Undone. Those two series mightn't seem like a natural fit, but the combination of superheroes and existential malaise works well here. Animated like the latter, but willing to get bleak and dark with caped crusaders as the former does repeatedly, Invincible focuses on Mark Grayson (voiced by newly minted Oscar nominee Steven Yeun, Minari). The 17-year-old son of the well-known Omni-Man (J Simmons, Palm Springs), he's been waiting for his own powers to kick in — and, when they do, he's forced to grapple with exactly what that means. Among the star-studded cast, Sandra Oh (The Chair), Mark Hamill (Star Wars) and Mahershala Ali (Green Book) all lend their vocal tones. Off-screen, The Walking Dead co-creator Robert Kirkman is responsible for not only doing the same with the Invincible comic book, but with the series. What lingers most here is the mood, though, with the show at its best when it's getting contemplative and introspective with its teen protagonist. The first season of Invincible is available to stream via Amazon Prime Video. LOS ESPOOKYS It has taken almost two years for the delight that is Los Espookys to reach Australian screens — and it'll take you less than three hours to binge its six-episode first season. This HBO comedy is both worth the wait and worth devouring as quickly as possible, though. The setup: horror aficionado Renaldo (Bernardo Velasco, Museo) wants to turn his obsession into his profession, so he starts staging eerie scenarios for paying customers, enlisting his best friend Andrés (Julio Torres, Shrill), pal Úrsula (Cassandra Ciangherotti, Ready to Mingle) and the latter's sister Tati (Ana Fabrega, At Home with Amy Sedaris) to help. Torres and Fabrega co-created the show with Portlandia and Saturday Night Live's Fred Armisen, who also pops up as Renaldo's parking valet uncle. This mostly Spanish-language series only uses its biggest name sparingly, however, because its key cast members own every moment. Following the titular group's exploits as they attempt to ply their trade, and to weave it into their otherwise chaotic lives, Los Espookys always manages to be both sidesplittingly hilarious and so meticulous in its horror references that it's almost uncanny. There's nothing on-screen quite like it and, thankfully, it has already been renewed for a second season. The first season of Los Espookys is available to stream via Binge. MR MAYOR Here are five of the most glorious words you're ever likely to read: Ted Danson plays the mayor. The sitcom stalwart (see also: Cheers, Becker, Bored to Death and Curb Your Enthusiasm) has hopped from The Good Place into Mr Mayor, actually, and into the latest TV comedy created and/or produced by Tina Fey. Fans of the latter's other shows — 30 Rock, obviously, and also Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt, Great News and Girls5Eva — will know the sense of humour her series tend to work with, and it's a fabulous match for Danson. So too is Mr Mayor's setup, which sees a wealthy, clueless but amiable businessman decide he can improve a post-COVID-19 Los Angeles, and get elected. Firmly a workplace comedy, the series chronicles the ups and downs in the mayor's office as Danson's Neil Bremer tries to do a job he clearly isn't qualified for. Naturally, with the arrogance of a rich, white and otherwise successful man of a certain age, he believes otherwise. Mr Mayor is firmly an ensemble comedy as well, however, and both Holly Hunter (Succession) and Bobby Moynihan (Saturday Night Live) are comedic gems as Bremer's over-enthusiastic deputy mayor and bumbling communications director, respectively. The series is a tad less successful when it endeavours to be a family comedy, too, bringing the mayor's teenage daughter Orly (Kyla Kenedy, Speechless) into the mix. But when its gags land — and whenever Danson and Hunter share the screen, which is often — it's smart, hilarious and all-too-easy to binge. The first season of Mr Mayor is available to stream via 9Now. SPREADSHEET When Katherine Parkinson starred in The IT Crowd 15 years ago, she played a woman trying to exude a cool, calm and collected air, but constantly finding her life — and her new job in IT — hindering that aim. In Spreadsheet, her new sitcom role, Parkinson's latest character isn't attempting the same feat. Instead, freshly divorced Melbourne-based lawyer and mother-of-two Lauren has has accepted that her existence is now messy; however, having a spreadsheet to keep track of her revamped love life is meant to help. Embracing being single, and all the opportunities for casual hookups that apps now bring, she isn't looking for a relationship. She even has her colleague Alex (Rowan Witt, Adore) helping to maintain her fast-growing database of sexual options. But this clearly wouldn't be a comedy if her new status quo turned out smoothly and stress-free. As this new Australian sitcom knows and keenly relies upon, there's a breeziness to Parkinson's comic performances that hits both humorous and relatable notes. Indeed, the British actor is the key reason that Spreadsheet's eight-episode first season is so incredibly easy to binge. Whether Lauren is being introduced in the throes of pleasure in the car park outside the Palais Theatre, is getting intimate in a snake dungeon or sports an eye patch after a run-in with a cuckoo clock, Parkinson is a comedic whirlwind. In a series that approaches its 'sex in the suburbs' setup with smarts and insights, too, she's also surrounded by an impressive local cast that includes Witt, Stephen Curry (June Again), Katrina Milosevic (Wentworth) and Zahra Newman (Long Story Short). The first season of Spreadsheet is available to stream via Paramount+.
Giving Melbourne a sophisticated taste of 'new Nordic' cuisine, Freyja graces Collins Street's historic Olderfleet building, with two chefs from a Michelin-starred Norwegian restaurant in the kitchen. An innovative food offering fuses traditional Scandinavian sensibilities with contemporary techniques, brought to life by chef Jae Bang from Norway's Michelin-starred Re-naa, (also El Bulli, New York's Daniel), along with Daniel Gordon (Lee Ho Fook) and fellow Re-naa alum Aaron Caccia. The 130-seater's fitout bears similar respect for both the modern and the traditional, with slatted timber ceilings and exposed brick played against eye-catching blue marble and dramatic Mathew Gillett artworks. Descend the spiral staircase and you'll discover another subterranean dining space with seats for up to 65. On the menu, traditional practices like pickling, smoking and curing are given a reawakening, heroed alongside native ingredients and a touch of contemporary flair. Expect creations like school prawns with mustard greens and egg on cayenne smørrebrød ($16); waffles served with Yarra Valley Caviar trout roe in smoked sour cream ($38); and a custard of squid, dashi and oat finished with a bacon consommé and Tasmanian truffle ($24). Beef tartare is spiked with nasturtium, Tasmanian mountain pepper and quandong ($28); and duck breast is matched with finger lime and mostarda (a spiced fruit condiment) ($48). There's a seven-course degustation menu, too ($180). Meanwhile, sommelier Ugo Pasetti (Rockpool Group, Grossi Florentino) heads a global wine program that's heavy on organic and biodynamic drops; craft beer fans can sip Northern European favourites like Omnipollo and Lerving; and there's a rotation of inventive signature sips. Note: Freyja is currently open for dinner, but will kick off a weekday lunch service in the coming weeks. Images: Parker Blain
A former medical centre is the site for Richmond's latest cafe, Jethro Canteen. Sitting on Burnley Street near the Swan Street intersection, owners Billy and Sarah Zarbos have transformed the clinical space with ample use of exposed brick, beautiful hardwood tables softened with cushioned chairs, retro green tiles and lush plants. The pair were keen to create a progressive, yet nostalgic "extension of everyday life and family" in the old, raw, industrial building. This is especially fitting once you know the story behind Jethro Canteen's name. When Sarah was pregnant with their first child, the couple settled on the names Jethro for a boy and Gwenyth for a girl. When Gwenyth arrived the cafe naturally became Jethro — and both keep them equally busy. The whole thing is finished off with some great beats and welcoming waitstaff. Coffee is often the entry point to a café experience and Jethro is (thankfully) a rainbow latte-free zone. It's back to excellent basics here with the Shady Lane house blend and rotating single origin options provided by Wide Open Road. There's also a batch brew, cold drip, a range of specialty teas, and Prana Chai. Also on the menu — without any real fanfare, mind you — is the option of camel's milk in your latte and a roasted cricket Vietnamese salad. Entomophagy, or insect eating, isn't a new trend. It has been a 'thing' in high-end restaurants in North America and grocery stores in the Netherlands for quite some time. Hell, they even grind them up and put them in smoothies just to get that extra kick — we've just taken a little longer to embrace these protein-filled treats here in Australia. Vague recollections of reading a book in primary school called How to Eat Fried Worms abound, but food writers need to be brave — especially as they say bugs are a food of the future. So let's just say the salad is delicious. And the crickets? Well, they give an extra crunch. Head chef Paul Davies is no newcomer to the world of cooking with sustainable and ethical produce. Former co-owner and head chef at Bentleigh East's The Merchant's Guild, Paul was one of only two chefs venues in Australia to work with an urban cultivator and grow and harvest his own micro-greens. Now he's incorporating his penchant for the healthy and the good into his menu at Jethro. But it's not all lean and green — Paul also appreciates treats. There might be a super green salad, a purple kale tossed with pearl barley, roasted pumpkin and cauliflower on hummus toast, and a coconut and almond milk chia pudding, but you can also wrap your chops around dishes like the Louisiana plate with its bacon steak, chilli prawns, guacamole, poached eggs and corn remoulade on toast, and the waffles with burnt cream, roasted pear, Honey Joy crumble and cereal milk panna cotta and sigh in decadent delight at the deliciousness of it all. So whether you're feeling experimental or just want some damn fine food, Jethro Canteen will bring it. Images: Jethro Canteen and Jo Rittey.
One of Australia's most beloved craft breweries has arrived in Melbourne. Mountain Culture Beer Co. — the trailblazing Blue Mountains outfit behind the three-time GABS Hottest 100-winning Status Quo Pale Ale — has opened a handsome brewpub in Richmond, marking its first foray south of the Murray (with a Hobart outpost not too far behind, either). Set in a striking space that the team calls "one of the most beautiful venues in Melbourne", the new brewpub brings together everything Mountain Culture is known for — fresh, hop-forward beers, a food menu that delivers bold flavours without taking itself too seriously, and the same laidback vibe that have made each of its three Sydney venues a hit. And if the Murphy Street space feels familiar, you're not mistaken — it was most recently home to Fox Friday Brewing, which Mountain Culture acquired earlier this year. Beer is naturally the focus here, and you'll find Mountain Culture's full lineup pouring from the taps. Repeat visitors will be rewarded with rotating limited releases and two brand-new brews dropped every Thursday, and there's a display of takeaway tinnies to stock your home bar. If you're not on the beers, there's a tight list of wine, sparkling, classic cocktails and non-alc serves. The drinks list is complemented by a food menu of remixed pub classics, including a range of hefty sandwiches, as well as plenty of options for vegetarians, gluten-free diners and a dedicated kids' menu. The venue also boasts a hulking on-site smoker that pumps out American-style barbecue — from 16-hour brisket to lemon tahini and chimichurri-basted cauliflower — served with your choice of sides. "This was a big move for Mountain Culture," says Co-Founder and CEO DJ McCready. "We started as a humble brewpub in the Blue Mountains and expanded to Sydney, but Melbourne is quickly catching up as our biggest market. It's never lost on us that the fans we first met in Katoomba are what built this brand into what it is today, and we hope to build a community that's just as strong in Melbourne."
In 2019, three years after brewer Nic Sandery officially launched Molly Rose, the brewery scored itself this new home and taproom in the heart of Collingwood. Since then, it's been busy cementing its status as a staple of the inner north beer scene. It's a cosy, light-filled space, with a collection of shiny brewing tanks in the back, a long bar and seating in the front, and — in the wake of COVID — a roomy streetside beer garden at the entrance. From the tap list, you'll get a strong sense of the Molly Rose beer philosophy, which champions a diverse range of styles rather than just one or two. Among the lineup, expect to find plenty of approachable drops for all kinds of palates, from the citrus farmhouse ale dubbed When Life Gives You Lemons ($7/14) to a hoppy lager ($7.5/15) and the East of Kent English-style bitter ($7/14). A strong rotation of seasonal and limited-batch beers star alongside the brewery's core range, with a selection of guest brews and local wines also on offer. Or, go for something a bit different and try one of the bar's innovative beer-infused cocktails. To match, there are some elevated beer snacks, a handful of sambos and toasties, and share-friendly options like charcuterie platters and cheese plates. And you can always bank on plenty of guidance and beery know-how from the team of beer-loving experts behind the bar. Images: Amanda Santamaria
First-time visitors to Singapore have a lot on their plate with the city's cuisine, museums, attractions and parks. But dig a little deeper and you'll find a diversity of rich experiences that'll help you get under the skin of the city. Whether this is your first trip or your fifth, these off-the-radar destinations in Singapore will help you delve into the island's vibrant history. Along the way you'll explore pristine natural spots, see unique architecture, try exquisite eats and rub shoulders with locals. We've partnered with the Singapore Tourism Board to showcase some of the best hidden gems across the country. From former military enclaves and heritage neighbourhoods to beautifully repurposed spaces and island destinations, these spots will elevate your next Singapore adventure. [caption id="attachment_864395" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Lim Wei Xiang (Singapore Tourism Board)[/caption] THE RAIL CORRIDOR A shining example of Singapore's bid to be hyper-modern while honouring its history, the Rail Corridor is a 24km-long green passage through the city's heartlands. The former railway track is a classic example of Singapore's commitment to being 'a city in a garden', while allowing wildlife to move between major green spaces. Parts of the corridor are still in development, but highlights include a former quarry, the Upper Bukit Timah Truss Bridge which was built in 1932 and a wealth of parklands. Visitors can also access the revamped (but non-operational) Bukit Timah Railway station, a conserved heritage building that first opened in 1903. [caption id="attachment_864396" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Robert Sim (Flickr)[/caption] CHANGI CHAPEL AND MUSEUM This poignant museum honours the prisoners of war and civilians that were held at the notorious Changi prison camp under the Japanese Occupation of World War II in February 1942. The families of those who were once interned at the camp have donated personal items, so the museum now offers unprecedented insights into the the fall of Singapore and prisoners' daily lives. The collection highlights include a 400-page prisoner diary and replicas of the murals painted by English bombardier and artist Stanley Warren. [caption id="attachment_864411" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Tony Hisgett (Flickr)[/caption] HAW PAR VILLA Created by Aw Boon Haw and Aw Boon Par — the sibling heirs to the Tiger Balm empire — this giant theme park in Pasir Panjang houses over 1,000 statues and 150 large-scale dioramas showcasing snippets of Chinese mythology and history. Built in the 1930s, the park was meant to provide moral guidance according to Chinese traditions. Though the original building was bombed during World War II, it was rebuilt and now features the newly revamped Hell's Museum — inspired by gruesome scenes from Chinese folklore — and dioramas depicting tales like the Legend of the White Snake and Romance of the Three Kingdoms. These days, visitors can take part in a scavenger hunt through the park for Zodiac animals or do a self-guided 'Instagram walk'. [caption id="attachment_864415" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Marklin Ang (Singapore Tourism Board)[/caption] SUNGEI BULOH WETLAND RESERVE It might be a bright, modern metropolis but Singapore is home to plenty of green spaces and nature reserves, too. At Sungei Buloh, the city's first wetland reserve, you can wander through 87 hectares of rare mangroves. Along the way, you might see some of the cheeky native inhabitants which include water monitors, mud lobsters, monkeys, mudskippers, sandpipers and the odd estuarine crocodile. There are plenty of observation posts to stop at so you can take in the impressive natural grandeur of the area. And, it's far enough off the beaten path that you probably won't be rubbing shoulders with hordes of tourists. [caption id="attachment_864423" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Singapore Tourism Board[/caption] JOO CHIAT/KATONG Named for a wealthy Chinese landowner, the Joo Chiat/Katong neighbourhood was once a coconut plantation and weekend retreat for well-heeled residents. Over the 20th century, it developed into a residential enclave for middle-class, English-speaking Peranakans and Eurasians. The area retains its eclectic pre-war architecture, though the colourful heritage shophouses have been turned into charming eateries including 328 Katong Laksa, The 1925 Brewing Co., Birds of Paradise and Rumah Bebe, as well as boutiques like Cat Socrates that stock stylish homewares, decor and accessories. There are also numerous museums exploring the area's history and culture — The Intan, Katong Antique House, and Eurasian Heritage Gallery are all worth visiting. [caption id="attachment_864426" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Singapore Tourism Board[/caption] FORT CANNING Singapore is full of history but few places capture as much of the city's past as Fort Canning Park. Over the centuries, it has been the seat of 14th century Malay kings, served as the headquarters of the Far East Command Centre for the British Army and witnessed the surrender of Singapore to the Japanese in 1942. These days, the 18-hectare space boasts nine historical gardens, the boutique Hotel Fort Canning, military history attraction The Battle Box and hosts cultural events such as Shakespeare in the Park. There's also the Instagram-friendly tree tunnel, with its spiral staircase and enormous Rain Tree. [caption id="attachment_864441" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Singapore Tourism Board[/caption] THE ISLANDS Singapore might be a city-state known for its gleaming skyscrapers and modern infrastructure, but just off its shores there's an archipelago well worth exploring. St John's Island, once a designated quarantine centre for major diseases, is now a popular destination for pristine beaches and outdoor adventures, while Kusu Island (pictured above) — named for the Chinese word for tortoise — has hidden lagoons, religious monuments and quirky folklore. Another popular spot, Pulau Ubin, is a former granite quarry that draws visitors for its military history, adventure sports, 1960s vibes and the biodiverse Chek Jawa Wetlands. [caption id="attachment_864446" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Singapore Tourism Board[/caption] DEMPSEY HILL Named for Sir Miles Christopher Dempsey, a British soldier who had a decorated military career, Dempsey Hill was once an enormous nutmeg plantation called Mount Harriet and later in the 1850s became the British-run Tanglin Barracks. Since 2007, this has been a go-to dining and entertainment district. Sample Michelin-starred Peranakan dining at Candlenut, steaks and beers at Red Dot Brewhouse and local bites at Samy's Curry Restaurant. Then, browse the retail offerings at the iconic global fashion boutique Dover Street Market (pictured above), try a pottery class at Impressions Art Studio or visit Singapore's first gin distillery at Tanglin Gin. For more incredible ways to experience Singapore, head to Singapore Tourism Board's website. Top image: Yik Keat (Singapore Tourism Board)
Winter brings so many toasty delights — think crackling fires, mulled wine and cosy coats — but is there anything as blissful as soaking in your very own hot tub underneath a canopy of millions and millions of stars? We doubt it. People love a good ol' fashioned stargaze while the winter nights are clear and crisp — and regional Victoria has plenty of top-notch spots to do it from. But why not do it from the warmth of a tub in your own private retreat while surrounded by the best sights and sounds of nature? Luckily, you don't have to travel far to turn this vision into a reality, either. Across Victoria, a number of hotels, cabins and glamping tents have installed outdoor baths, so you can soak your stresses away while staring at the great cosmos above. To make it easy, we've scoured the state to find five of the most enticing. Just don't forget to pack a good book and bubbles (of both the soapy and boozy kind). 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. While regional holidays within Victoria will be allowed from May 31, some of the places mentioned below may still be closed due to COVID-19 restrictions. Please check websites before making any plans. EAGLES NEST LUXURY MOUNTAIN RETREAT, YARRA VALLEY This spacious jacuzzi, tucked away in the wilderness of the Yarra Valley, is just an hour's drive northeast of Melbourne. At this retro log cabin, you'll be relaxing in total privacy surrounded by ten acres of forest. How's that for serenity? Inside, you'll discover every winter comfort you've been dreaming of, too, from a roaring fireplace to a clawfoot bath (for when you need a break from stargazing). There are three bedrooms, each with huge windows that let in plenty of sunshine. The master bedroom, with its vaulted ceiling and king bed, is particularly spectacular. Spend all your time cosying up inside or get out and about to explore the Yarra Valley's many wineries and restaurants — think TarraWarra Estate and Innocent Bystander — plus, rainforest-ringed waterfalls. AZURE BEACH RETREAT, RYE Heading to the beach might not be your first choice in chilly weather, but think again — invigorating walks along the sand, rugged cliffs against blue seas and, best of all, no crowds. Yep, now we're talking. Plus, at the Azure Beach Retreat in the Mornington Peninsula, you can get in the water regardless of the air temperature with this outdoor spa. In between dips, you can wander around the southern tip of the peninsula that overlooks Port Phillip Bay, check out nearby seaside village of Portsea — and have lunch at Portsea Hotel — or bunker down with a book in this three-bedroom holiday home. BIG BLUE BACKYARD, MORNINGTON PENINSULA You'll also find Big Blue Backyard on the Mornington Peninsula. But, here, you'll be nearer to the wild Bass Strait. This luxurious, secluded hideaway is surrounded by bush, yet just a five-minute walk from the beach, so you may even spot a few whales. On an elevated timber deck, you'll find a hot tub encircled by candles and trees, making for some romantic stargazing. And, to make your sleepover even more decadent, get the optional 'nourish' upgrades, which include grazing platters, brekkie boxes, massages and priority passes to nearby Peninsula Hot Springs. BALGOWNIE ESTATE RETREAT, BENDIGO This clawfoot bath doesn't just come with stars — it also comes with a cellar door, restaurant and acres of rolling vineyards. You'll find it just outside the Safari Tent at Balgownie Estate Retreat, a 15-minute drive northwest of Bendigo. This tent is camping at its most luxe. It comes with a four-poster queen bed, patio, kitchenette and, most importantly for your post-soak needs, indoor heating. You can self-cater with the help of wine from the cellar door or visit the estate's restaurant for a bite of French bistro-inspired fare. And, if you can drag yourself away from this cosy tent for a little while, head into town to check out Bendigo Gallery, followed by a bar hop down Chancery Lane. [caption id="attachment_692529" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Visit Victoria[/caption] EMPEROR SAFARI, PHILLIP ISLAND Keen to get completely off the grid without going too far? Book a super-romantic stay on Phillip Island, just 90 minutes from Melbourne. Sheltered Glamping Co offers the sweet spot between decadence and sustainability with its six eco-friendly glamping tents. They all come with spacious beds, handcrafted furniture, cosy blankets, comfy seating and Bluetooth speakers and run on renewable energy and activated utility systems. The largest and most luxe of the collection is the Emperor Safari, which features a four-poster queen bed, wood fireplace, gas stovetop, private shower and barbecue — and, most importantly, an outdoor tub. You'll probably want to spend day and night soaking. But, if you do decide to head inside, there's a cute reading nook to get cosy in, or you could venture out to explore the rest of the island. 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.
Down Driver Lane (just off Little Bourke Street) is a velvet rope guiding people down a staircase. At the bottom, a door opens automatically. Slightly unnerving, slightly impressive — Beneath Driver Lane comes with a great deal of adventure. The mysterious, underground venue gets its inspiration from the Deep South — blues, whisky and rum form the bar's identity. It's the product of owner Hamish Goonetilleke's love for New Orleans and, more specifically, the bars there. The space, located in the vault of the GPO's Money Order Office, is designed by Melbourne design agency Studio Equator. It's dark, moody and sensual with warm lights and walls flush with black and white photos from various eras. With cosy private banquettes and small round tables, Beneath Driver Lane is geared for all occasions. The venue is thoroughly considered, from the food to the design and the extra touches that really make a venue memorable – including refreshment stations in the bathrooms, equipped with mints for when you've eaten too many jamón and comté croquettes ($4 each). Speaking of food, the menu is New Orleans meets Melbourne in the best way possible. Make sure you order the three-cheese toastie with whisky bechamel ($16) it's comforting and generous and will turn even the worst of moods around. The smoked octopus with chorizo, black garlic aioli and pickled chilli ($22) is another winner. When you're ordering a beverage, be prepared to read — the drinks list is long and descriptive. Spirits? There's a strong 650 of them.There are also cocktails, including the stellar Bourbon Smash ($19) — with Buffalo Trace bourbon, cranberry juice and lime — and the inventive Poetic Charmer ($19.50) with Lillet Blanc pollen syrup and chamomile bitters . Beneath Driver Lane is a welcome addition to Melbourne's CBD bar scene. Its hidden location, moody vibe, extensive spirit list and refined design create the perfect place to escape to after a hard day in the office.
Since 2019, IKEA shoppers have been able to offload their no-longer-needed furniture and do the environment a solid, all thanks to the Swedish retailer's buy-back service. And, if you've been keen to add some pre-loved wares to your home in return, you've been able to purchase other folks' unwanted goods in-person at the chain's As-Is sections. Been spending too much of the last couple of years at home, browsing online for new pieces to deck out your digs — because we've all filled plenty of time in our houses, staring at our same-old couches and rugs, during the pandemic? Still keen to opt for secondhand furniture, rather than new? From Monday, July 11, IKEA has launched its new As-Is Online Australian marketplace, letting you buy its discontinued, ex-display and pre-loved items from home. The platform has been trialled in Queensland since April, and now reaches stores nationwide. And yes, it's still linked to individual IKEA outposts, because that's where you'll need to head to collect whichever secondhand pieces you decide to buy. Here's how it works: shoppers hit up the As-Is Online platform, then scroll their way through the list of discontinued items, used wares, ex-showroom displays and products returned via IKEA's buy-back service. Once you've found something you like at a reduced amount — between 20–75 percent off the original product price — you can reserve it with a few clicks. After that, you just need to head to your selected store to complete the purchase, including picking up your new-to-you items from the brand's As-Is area. That's located just before the checkouts, which probably does mean you'll still wander the length of IKEA anyway — but at least the things you've made the trip for already have your name on them. IKEA is promoting the service as a way to save cash — which is rather handy right now thanks to inflation — and also as part of its efforts to become climate positive by 2030. Back when the buy-back regime was implemented, it was initially inspired by IKEA's findings that Aussies threw away up to 13.5 million pieces of furniture that could have been recycled, reused or repaired. To check out IKEA's new As-Is Online marketplace from Monday, July 11, head to the chain's website.
The erstwhile Power Station B in North Geelong sat vacant for nearly 50 years. Then, in 2015, it became Australia's largest street art gallery. The 3000-square-metre structure, set on a six-acre plot facing Corio Bay, features nearly 20-metre walls, staircases, windows, long-disused rooms and even old cars that have become a canvas for legal street art. There are well over 300 artworks in the space, so be sure to take your time here. Images: Julia Sansone
It's the first Cirque du Soleil show that uses a central stage, placing its action in the middle of the arena, meaning that patrons face each other while they watch. It focuses, fittingly for a circus troupe, on a clown. Corteo is the production in question, and is also already proving a hit in Australia ahead of its 2025 season's arrival — with an extra 25 performances freshly locked in due to demand. When a clown ponders its final farewell, what does it see? This show has the answer. When Corteo initially made its way to the stage in Montreal in 2005, it won over audiences by setting its acrobatic feats within a funeral procession imagined by a jester — a carnival-like parade that muses on humanity's strengths and vulnerabilities — in a space between heaven and earth. Two decades later, it's one of the troupe's most-beloved performances. Cirque du Soleil announced earlier in 2025 that it would celebrating that Corteo milestone Down Under this year — and now that a five-city tour of Australia has just gotten bigger. The production's stints at Perth Arena, Melbourne's John Cain Arena, Qudos Bank Arena in Sydney and Brisbane Entertainment Centre have all been extended by a week, albeit with shows focused around the weekend. Accordingly, Perth will now enjoy Corteo from Friday, August 8–Sunday, August 17; Melbourne between Friday, August 22–Sunday, August 31; Sydney from Thursday, September 4–Sunday, September 14; and Brisbane across Thursday, September 18–Sunday, September 28. Adelaide's dates at the Adelaide Entertainment Centre from Thursday, October 2–Sunday, October 5 remain unchanged. Over its 20 years of life so far Corteo has proven a smash, with over 12-million audience members in 30 countries on four continents seeing it so far. As its clown protagonist conjures up the festive parade that ushers him from this world, attendees witness a poetic yet playful performance — one where the acrobatics are unique, too, and where angels watch over. The show hits Australia after LUZIA was the last Cirque du Soleil production that bounded this way, kicking off in 2024 — and notching up another first, as the Montreal-based company company's debut touring show to feature rain in its acrobatic and artistic scenes. Before that, 2023 saw Cirque du Soleil bring CRYSTAL, its first-ever ice production on ice, Down Under. Cirque du Soleil's Corteo — Australia and New Zealand Tour 2025 Friday, August 8–Sunday, August 17 — Perth Arena, Perth Friday, August 22–Sunday, August 31 — John Cain Arena, Melbourne Thursday, September 4–Sunday, September 14 — Qudos Bank Arena, Sydney Thursday, September 18–Sunday, September 28 — Brisbane Entertainment Centre, Brisbane Thursday, October 2–Sunday, October 5 — Adelaide Entertainment Centre, Adelaide Cirque du Soleil's Corteo tours Australia from August 2025. For more information or to buy tickets, head to the show's website. Images: Maja Prgomet, Johan Persson and Aldo Arguello.
European holidays are back on the cards once more, though pretty soon you won't even need a passport to embark on an authentic Italian culinary adventure. Italy's famed artisan marketplace concept Mercato Centrale is heading Down Under, opening its first-ever outpost outside of the homeland right here in Melbourne. With sites in Rome, Turin and Milan, along with the original Florence location, the brand now has its sights set on Australia's food capital. It's in the process of transforming the three-storey, 3500-square-metre McPherson's building on Collins Street into a grand Italian homage to artisanal food, set to launch late-2022. Founder Umberto Montano launched the first of these sites back in 2014, setting out to deliver an artisan-led marketplace that works as a shared platform, shifting the focus away from any individual branding and onto the producers and their craft. Artisans are handpicked and work as solo operators within the market, with just one representative for each food product. And it gives smaller or emerging producers a shot at showcasing their wares without the huge overheads of opening a traditional shopfront. "Instead of trying to just profit from it all, Umberto developed this platform that creates opportunities and exposure for artisans who just love their food, that love what they're producing," explains Eddie Muto, the local hospitality expert who's spearheading Mercato Centrale's expansion into Australia. Muto knew Montano's concept would be the perfect fit for Melbourne and he's spent the past six years driving a local iteration. "People will come along and have an urban picnic if you like," Muto tells Concrete Playground, explaining how the ground floor market space will work. "They'll go and get a little bit of salumi, a little pasta, some bread. In the morning, they've got the bakery, they can have croissants and Italian pastries. And then they can order at their table for drinks." Visitors will be able to see the artisans at work making everything from fresh mozzarella to hamburgers, lending an interactive element to the experience. Mercato Centrale's lower level will also be home to the main bar, in addition to a dedicated cocktail bar and an artisan bottle shop. Of course, there'll be an espresso bar, too, with cheaper coffees for those who stand and sip their caffeine at the bar, European-style. [caption id="attachment_856980" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Mercato Centrale Milan[/caption] Meanwhile, Level Two is set to play host to a sit-down Italian restaurant filled with timber and marble; designed "to feel like home", as Muto explains. And the third floor is earmarked for an event and function space. Mercato Centrale is also positioning itself as a hub for arts and culture, so expect a jam-packed calendar of social and creative activities to come. And there'll always be live tunes to soundtrack your market adventures, from acoustic gigs to weekend DJ sets. "What we're hoping to achieve is that as soon as you step in the door, it'll be like stepping into Florence or Milan or Rome," muses Muto. "So you might walk up and ask for a panino in English and they'll respond to you in Italian!" Find Mercato Centrale Melbourne at 546 Collins Street, Melbourne, from late 2022. We'll share more info as it lands. Top Images: Mercato Centrale Rome, Milan, Turin and Florence.
Considering a road trip to the nation's capital? From feeding lions and conquering epic hikes to treating yo'self in palaces of rejuvenation, Canberra isn't short on activities that'll make any mini-break extra memorable. Of course, after visiting the city's museums and galleries and exploring the surrounding wineries and national parks, you'll need somewhere to rest your head at the end of the day. And, you'll want it to tick every box you're looking for — whether you'd prefer a plush glamping bed hidden among the vineyards or a luxurious city nest within stumbling distance of the top-notch nightlife. To help ensure you make the most of your trip to Canberra, we've found seven places to stay that'll tickle the fancy of every type of adventurer there is. Please stay up to date with the latest ACT Government health advice regarding COVID-19.
On the ground level of the HQ Group's (Arbory and Arbory Afloat) multi-storey venue HER, you'll find HER Bar — a bar that also does lunch and dinner service, rocking a gorgeously sleek fit-out for any time, day or night. Food-wise, the bar moved away from its French-inspired menu when Nada Thomas (Cecconi's, BKK) joined the team in 2023. She's brought her own contemporary European spin to the dining options, leaning into the simplicity of Italian, Spanish and French cooking while also taking cues from her Turkish heritage. Smoked cheddar and corn croquettes, crumbed prawn rolls with cocktail sauce, scallops with house-made romesco and kipfler potatoes and grilled wagyu tongue with guindilla peppers and gribriche sauce give you a sample of the snack-or-stay-all-night approach to the food. The drinks program brings a similar mix of classic meets contemporary, with an any-time-of-day cocktail list curated by HQ Group's Tom Younger, and a wine program from Marcus Ellis (Melbourne Wine Room, Mr Wolf) that mixes French and Italian makers with an eclectic lineup of local Australian wines. Big night out or working lunch? HER Bar is hoping to help you do it all. And if that doesn't suffice, you can move on up the building to its hidden cocktail bar Music Room, Thai restaurant BKK or luxe outdoor space HER Rooftop. Images: Parker Blain and Earl Carter
As the time of Euro summer approaches, many Victorians are considering the costs of how they're going to get all the way around the world in time. It's always a long journey, made all the more difficult and costly by conflict in the Middle East that is disrupting airspace around Dubai — but come Euro summer, or winter, 2027, you'll be able to get there easily, flying out of Melbourne to London. British Airways has announced that come Monday, January 11 2027, a new direct air route will open from the Victorian capital to the previously Victorian kingdom, connecting Heathrow to Melbourne via Kuala Lumpur on a new daily service. British Airways hasn't flown out of Melbourne since 2006, but as demand for UK and Europe holidays never goes out of style, the grand reunion will bring welcome convenience and connectivity for travellers going both ways. [caption id="attachment_908999" align="aligncenter" width="1920"] Unsplash[/caption] Neil Chernoff, British Airways' Chief Planning and Strategy Officer, said: "We're delighted to announce sizeable growth to our flying schedule for winter 2026, including two notable new destinations, that I am confident will prove popular with our customers." Complementing the airline's existing Sydney to London service, the route will be operated by British Airways' Boeing 787 fleet, offering seats in four cabins: World Traveller (economy), World Traveller Plus (premium economy), Club World (business class) and First. Tickets for the route are already on sale, too, with return fares going from $1960 AUD. [caption id="attachment_1087888" align="aligncenter" width="1920"] British Airways[/caption] Not only will tourists have a more direct and convenient route for an extremely popular journey (the UK is Victoria's 4th largest source of international visitors), but the new routes stand to support 2000 jobs and contribute a gross value of $190 million AUD to the Victorian economy. The new route is projected to begin at the same time as another Australia-to-UK route that sidesteps the Middle East. That will be Qantas' long-awaited Project Sunrise, a new non-stop 23-hour-long services from Sydney to London and New York that, when launched, will be the longest commercial flight in the world. The new route will utilise purpose-built A35-1000 ULR aircraft, equipped with onboard wellness offerings like hydration stations, stretching zones and exercise programs. Book tickets for the new Melbourne to London service on the British Airways website. Like what you see? Subscribe to the Concrete Playground newsletter to get stories just like these straight to your inbox.
Step right up, folks — the circus has come to town. Though it's not the kind with animals and screaming kids, but rather an extravagant circus-themed arcade bar set to boggle all the senses. Set inside a vibrant, sprawling space at The District Docklands, Archie Brothers Cirque Electriq is the latest venture from the Funlab crew (Holey Moley, Strike Bowling Bars) and sibling to the Sydney venue of the same name. And yes, it's got that same fast, fun, kid-like energy that'll have you abandoning all adult sensibilities right at the front door's red velvet drapes. Prepare for a serious sensory overload as you cruise this room, between the buttery scents from the old-school popcorn stations, the tunes emanating from the DJ booth and the hyped-up sounds of 67 different arcade games. Here, you'll find everything from dodgem cars, Mario Kart and VR experiences, to six bowling lanes and Jurassic Park shoot-out games. Try your luck nabbing a prize on one of the many claw machines, or venture behind a mysterious curtain to zap zombies and blow your mind in Thrill Ride's interactive XD motion theatre. All that gaming is sure to prove thirsty work, but Archie's bar offering holds its own, with a slew of spiked shakes and cocktails as OTT as their surrounds. Your skills on the beer pong machine can only improve after sipping one of the bubble gum-infused Circus Sours, or the Shark Tanq — a blend of gin, Red Bull, blue liqueur, coconut and orange bitters that's topped with gummy shark lollies. Meanwhile, food is American-diner-meets-theme-park, with a playful circus twist. Camp out in one of the curved booths to devour bites like the Firebreather Hotdog — loaded with beef chilli and spicy mayo — the Bullfighter Burger, rocking a beef patty, pulled pork and bacon, or the flashback-inducing potato gems, topped with cheese dust and caramelised garlic aioli. Add on a nifty condiment-filled syringe to step up the Insta-worthy factor, before heading back out to that bumper car arena. Images: Jacob Conner/Good Gravy Media and Eugene Hyland (food).
Looking for a top-quality mind-body experience? F2 Collective has landed in Brunswick East, bringing a boutique approach to pilates. Building upon the exercise's core foundations, expect an upbeat and more fitness-focused schedule that equals extra moving and shaking in every session. Founded by Janelle Williamson, she traded in her decade-long corporate gig on New York's advertising scene to follow her passion into the world of fitness. Designed in collaboration with her architect partner Aaron, F2 Collective is no stock-standard pilates experience. Together, they've shaped Janelle's dream workout studio, featuring moody, ambient lighting that removes distractions and builds self-confidence. Combined with fun-loving playlists and a disco ball in every studio, who said working out can't be fun? F2 Collective has two styles of classes: reformer pilates and mat pilates + TRX. With each offering state-of-the-art equipment and a range of exercises, expect to build strength, balance and endurance in no time. As the vibe picks up, the dimly lit space is intended to make it easier to get swept up in your workout. Alongside area-focused sessions dedicated to individual muscle groups, themed music classes take place every week, ranging from pop diva battles to soundtracked Fridays that put the disco ball through its paces. Best of all, there's a class for every fitness level, so getting started or pushing ahead with your exercise goals won't feel so intimidating. Once your workout is done, the post-class experience rises above most. There are complimentary eucalyptus-scented cooldown towels to leave you feeling refreshed, as well as herbal tea and sparkling water on the house. Plus, pristine shower facilities are stocked with Eleven body care products, while a vanity room features Dyson hair tools, perfect for early morning workouts. Situated amid the East Brunswick Village, there's also no shortage of entertainment and dining spots perfect for hanging out before or after your class. Snag a coffee and New York-style bagel at Bellboy Cafe, slide into Bridge Road Brewers for a meal or catch a classic flick at Fomo Cinemas. F2 Collective is open Monday–Thursday from 6am–8.30pm, Friday from 6am–7.30pm and Saturday–Sunday from 8am–3pm at Suite 105/6 Bluestone Way, Brunswick East. Head to the website for more information. Images: Thick Heart Films.
Croissants aren't easy to make, and no one in Australia knows that better than Kate Reid. For a decade, she's been the face of Lune Croissanterie, the bakery acclaimed by everyone from Yotam Ottolenghi (who called its flaky wares "the croissant that should act as the prototype for all others") to The New York Times (who anointed them "the finest you will find anywhere in the world"). The Melbourne-born chain's pastries didn't just luck into that effusive praise, however. Drawing upon her background as an ex-Formula 1 aerodynamicist, Reid took to the task of making the perfect croissant with scientific precision back when she changed fields. Lune's climate-controlled glass cubes, where its croissants are made and baked, have also become famous — adding even more complexity to an already-intricate pastry-creating process. After ten years spent crafting its titular treat, and also expanding the brand across Melbourne and Brisbane (plus Sydney in 2023), Lune has its croissants down to an art — and a science. Australia's pastry fiends clearly agree, spanning the chain's classic OG number through to its rotating array of monthly specials; head to any Lune location and the lines are proof enough. But Reid doesn't want croissant aficionados to only covet Lune's baked goods by heading in-store, not that anyone needs much encouragement there. Cue recipe book LUNE: Croissants All Day, All Night, which endeavours to share and demystify the croissant-making method — the butter, layers and laminating all included — across its hefty 272 pages. [caption id="attachment_871783" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Lune's Kate and Cam Reid[/caption] Reid hasn't found a croissant-making shortcut for the masses, but she has reworked Lune's greatest hits to whip up at home. "Making croissants is really hard, and there's a reason why it's normally a bakery with commercial equipment," she tells Concrete Playground, chatting while touring the country launching the book. When it came time to write the tome, the pandemic struck. Reid describes herself as "a hermit" as a result, but put the situation to good use. "It was coincidental that we ended up in a lockdown, and I was basically stuck in my kitchen at home," she explains. "I was like, 'okay, well what I'm surrounded by is what everyone who buys the book is going to be surrounded by'. So I basically rewrote the recipes from scratch with the home baker in mind." Yes, while everyone else was trying out sourdough, Reid was creating the world's next home-cooking obsession. (When Concrete Playground suggests that perhaps readers will approach Reid's recipes Julie & Julia-style, baking their way through them all from start to finish, she laughs approvingly.) If that commitment sounds like the act of a perfectionist, it is, and Reid freely uses the label to describe herself. You don't get to be an Australian who's globally renowned for a French pastry — so much so that LUNE: Croissants All Day, All Night is being snapped by up folks with bakeries in Wales and Prague, Reid advises — without being diligent and meticulous. You also don't get there without learning plenty. When Reid founded Lune, she did "honestly just want to make the best croissant". She was dedicated to that task — starting work at 5am and putting in 10–12-hours-plus a day rolling croissants up until just a couple of years ago — but didn't once dream of having "five stores around Australia, soon to add to Sydney to the mix (which we're all super-excited about), a book, 170 staff and a wine bar", as she itemises. She credits that modest initial outlook and the genuine passion behind it for Lune's success. It might seem surprising for someone clearly so detail-oriented, but she also champions discovering when to not sweat the small stuff, as she talked through in a chat about croissant dreams, cookbook essentials and the best advice she's ever received. ON STARTING LUNE TO CHASE THE PERFECT CROISSANT "The story's well known about leaving Formula 1 and coming back to Australia, and being interested in being a baker or a pastry chef. But it was going to Paris and spending the time at Du Pain et des Idées, and working exclusively in their raw pastry kitchen. Prior to that, I'd been working in cafes, and making cakes and tarts and biscuits — and while I enjoyed that, I needed something that presented far more of a technical challenge. Discovering that at a bakery in Paris, I finally felt like every single one of the receptors that I needed to be stimulated to feel fulfilled in my work were. I was working in a bakery in France where I had to speak French, and learn new techniques that are physically challenging. I came back from Paris so inspired by what I'd learnt — and then wanting to find a croissant in Melbourne that had matched what I'd been eating and making in Paris. I couldn't really find anything that came anywhere near it, so I guess that was where the idea for Lune was born." [caption id="attachment_668102" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Peter Tarasiuk.[/caption] ON SWAPPING A CHILDHOOD DREAM FOR A PASTRY-FILLED FUTURE "I think I'd turned 30 the year I started Lune. For 20 years just preceding that, I'd been laser-focused about a career in Formula 1. I'd literally planned out my retirement. I was going to be the first female technical director of an F1 team, and wanted to retire in Scotland. When I got sick and came back to Australia, the thought of planning too far ahead scared me, because planning so far ahead had put me in a pretty dark place and things hadn't panned out the way I'd thought. So Lune was a bit more of a one-step-at-a-time approach. Like, 'okay you've discovered this new thing that you love, and you've got an ideal to open a little wholesale bakery in Melbourne — let's start there'. Maybe that's been one of the keys to the success of Lune, in that I didn't have a hard and fast outcome that I needed to achieve other than continuing to hone and perfect this pastry, and therefore it has grown in quite an organic direction. The right people have come along at the right time. Cam [Reid's brother and co-owner] came along 18 months in and he's been instrumental. And Nathan [restaurateur Toleman, of Dessous, Hazel and Common Ground Project] came onboard another year or so later, and he's been instrumental as we've been growing in Victoria and interstate. And then there's the chefs that've crossed our paths over the years. We didn't even know that we were going to go to Brisbane up until two years ago, when the opportunity presented itself. I think now where we are, it's important for us to have a growth plan and a vision, but I think all of us — myself, Cameron and Nathan — are all aware that you don't know what life's going to throw at you, or what your business or you are personally going to have to face, and what challenges are going to come. And it's better to be open-minded, as doors will open when you don't expect." ON WRITING A LUNE COOKBOOK TEN YEARS ON — AND CATERING FOR ALL BAKERS "I've had experiences, not just with bakery books but cookbooks in general, where you follow a recipe to the letter in a book and somehow the end result isn't exactly what it promises to be in the photo or the inscriptions. You always blame yourself, because you're like 'well I'm not a professional chef that wrote that recipe, and I don't work in that restaurant, so I must've done something wrong'. I really wanted to write a book that, short of having me in the kitchen with you, the person who bought it and wanted to cook from it really felt like I was like coaching them through the process in a very detailed way. So, the recipes had to be achievable by a home cook. In order to do that, I discovered over probably six or seven weeks of pretty frustrating trials at home last year that I couldn't just replicate what we did at Lune, obviously, because no one in their home kitchen has all the commercial bakery equipment that we have at Lune. I make no bones about it: there's a reason that we don't make croissants at home. But I think especially over the past few years — and with thanks to people like Chad Robertson from Tartine, who's really normalised and championed more technical baking at home, especially with the understanding of making sourdough bread — people out there want a bigger challenge. Especially over the last couple of years with going in and out of lockdown, people got really savvy in their own kitchens making things that otherwise they might've just wandered down to the local bakery to get. There will be many people who read the recipes I've written and, at the start it tells you you've got to dedicate three days to it —there's managing of temperatures, and pulling batches of pastry in and out of the fridge to make sure the butter's the right consistency; it's very technical. The technical home baker will absolutely dive into the recipes. But for those people who don't want to dedicate three days of life to try to make them from home, there's a couple of chapters in the book dedicated to twice-baked recipes that are cult-classics at Lune — like our coconut pandan or the carrot cake, the mocha, the choc-chip cookie-slice bake — and then there's also a leftovers chapter. Those chapters mean that you can just walk down to your local bakery, buy half-a-dozen plain croissants, then engage with the book and cook from it in a couple of hours of cooking in the kitchen, rather than three days." ON PICKING THE RECIPES — AND PLAYING FAVOURITES "I actually compiled a list of every single special we've ever done at Lune, and the list is hundreds long. Then I looked through it, and basically went and picked out my 60 favourites. The book had to come from my heart, and I needed to make sure that there was a really lovely story behind each recipe included. I also wanted it to be a good balance of sweet and savoury, of simple and complex, and pastries that Lune customers remember from the last ten years. It'd be very hard for me to go past the traditional croissant, and just the challenge of mastering the plain croissant at home. Anyone who embarks on that recipe is going to have a great amount of satisfaction when they pull them out of the oven on day three. But in terms of what to do with the croissant pastry and be creative with it, there are so many recipes in the book. The fish pie one is genius because it uses the scraps of the scraps, so nothing needs to get thrown in the bin. And then with the kouign-amann recipe, which isn't a cult Lune recipe — it's a classic French pastry — even if you've stuffed up your lamination a bit in the raw pastry, you are going to get the most delicious pastry you've ever made at home." ON THE BEST ADVICE REID HAS EVER RECEIVED "It's probably been from Cam, my brother. I am absolutely a perfectionist, maybe to my detriment, and had Cam not come along I potentially could've gotten really stuck in the detail of perfecting the croissant — and at the expense of making a viable business. I'm a control freak as well, so it took me a long time to be able to step back and let go of control of elements that ultimately I didn't need to have control of. The advice is to let go of the things that don't matter, and let other people take hold of things, because somebody's always better at something than you are. If you can find someone that's better at it than you, it's going to be to the benefit of the business and the product, and ultimately you as well. And trusting in people. I think my biggest learning is that to grow a business, 100-percent the most important thing is to have a really good recruitment program, because to get the right people involved in your business is the only way for a business to grow and succeed." AND SOME ADVICE FOR LUNE: CROISSANTS ALL DAY, ALL NIGHT READERS "Source really good ingredients to start with, because you can't make something great from bad ingredients – you just can't. They're your foundation, your good ingredients. If you live in a really hot, humid environment and you don't have air-conditioning, it's probably going to be the most frustrating recipe of your entire life. It's really not designed for warm environments, and if you don't have the ability to control the room that you're doing the pastry in, then you're not going to have a great time. And please tag me on Instagram if you try to make it, because I'm so excited to see everyone's results. That's not advice — that's a request!" LUNE: Croissants All Day, All Night is available at Australian bookstores and online, with the hardback edition retailing for $55.
In a major win for the CBD, a Melbourne icon has just reopened with a luxe new look. Collins Arcade has long been a go-to destination for shoppers, but now, thanks to a $50 million regeneration, the much-loved arcade is back with an impressive tenant list. The reopening injects a shot of adrenaline into Collins Street in the lead-up to the Christmas season, with a lineup of fashion, food, wellness, and entertainment opening on Friday, November 14. [caption id="attachment_1046461" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Collins Arcade[/caption] Home of some of the most memorable date nights in Melbourne, Kingpin is taking up residence on the lower ground floor. Of course, you'll find a bowling alley, escape room tension, a new place to do karaoke in the CBD, arcade games, and a bar and restaurant. On the ground floor, you'll find an impressive—and totally fresh—roster of new high-end boutiques, perfect for lunchtime shopping. For accessories, jewellery and timepieces, you'll find Swatch, Mimco and TAG Heuer. You'll also find the perfect blend of high-end and high-tech fashion and outdoor brands. Take a walk through the ground floor and you'll find Tommy Hilfiger, M.J. Bale, Trenery, SABA and Politix. If you're on the hunt for things to spice up your hobby-filled weekends, Birkenstock, Kathmandu (coming soon) and 2XU will be your new CBD go to. [caption id="attachment_1046460" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Collins Arcade[/caption] When it comes to food, Collins Arcade doesn't disappoint. Japanese-inspired tea house, Attakai, is moving in to bring skilfully whisked matcha to the CBD with their urban take on a tea garden. Their neighbours are none other than South Yarra's insane surrealist patisserie, Le Yeahllow. For cakes that both look and taste one of a kind, drop by their pastry cabinet. In it, you'll find the Wonka-esque Le Mandarin, a white-chocolate and bubblegum pink balloon dog, teddy bear-shaped creations, and a rotating roster of pasties that you really do need to see to believe. Venture upstairs to level one and you'll find a totally new wellness and beauty space. The crowning jewel for beauty lovers will be the CBD's brand-new Priceline location. If you've ever admired your north side friend's nail art, chances are they've been to Time For Beauty. Make an appointment for intricate nail art designed with the latest products and trends in mind. In great news for the CBD and ASMR watchers across Melbourne, Yuki House Japanese Spa has moved in, too. The salon has already earned a reputation in Melbourne for their deeply relaxing Japanese head spas, massage, and facial treatments, and now you can find them bringing that same quality and quiet-focused salon atmosphere to the CBD. [caption id="attachment_1046478" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Collins Arcade[/caption] For hair, after 18 years of artistry, D&Y Hair Design is also moving in. Browse their Instagram and you'll find flawlessly blended balayage, ridiculously cool men's style cuts and a team filled with passion for what they do. The team here speaks multiple languages, too, so you can enjoy a chat with your stylist in your native language. Rounding out the wellness level, you'll also find Dorevitch Pathology and Piercing Hub, for impromptu piercings and fine jewellery. The wellness theme continues onto the second floor with Active Nation's newest 24/7 gym location. You'll also find one of Melbourne's most widespread coworking spaces, Waterman. Based on the new tenants, having a desk in Collins Arcade would be a dream office space. So, take a sticky beak on your next lunch break and rediscover this Melbourne icon's new look and residents. Find out more at the Collins Arcade website.
Seafood is a true treasure of Aotearoa — and there may be no better place to sample some of the freshest than in the South Island. The South doesn't tend to do fine dining, preferring informal eating spots that emphasise ingredients, comfort and making you feel well and truly looked after. The wines are some of the best in the country, and the views? Incredible. Here's your guide to finding the truly unmissable seafood experiences of Te Waipounamu (the South Island). Whether you're eating with a knife and fork or deep-diving to the bottom of a newspaper parcel sitting on a beach, it's all ka pai (great). SHARE A POT OF GREEN-LIPPED MUSSELS AT THE MUSSEL POT Havelock is a little blip on the road between Picton and Nelson in the northeastern Marlborough region — blink, and you'll nearly miss it. But clamber out of the car, stretch your legs and go for a walk around the sleepy little marina where you'll find The Mussel Pot on the main road. Marlborough produces 80 percent of New Zealand's mussel exports. You will not find fresher. The Mussel Pot's menu dedicates the majority of its repertoire to these little green-lipped marvels. Order a kilogram of fresh mussels in cream, white wine, garlic and herbs ($20.50), or coriander, ginger, chilli and coconut cream ($20.50). It also serves battered mussels ($21.50) or grilled on the half shell ($21.50) and whip up a mussel platter ($47.60) if you can't decide which way you like them. 73 Main Road, Havelock, Marlborough. [caption id="attachment_686918" align="alignnone" width="1920"] The Boatshed Cafe.[/caption] EAT OYSTERS PERCHED OVER THE SEA AT THE BOAT SHED CAFE IN NELSON The Boat Shed Cafe is a genuinely lovely eating spot in a beautiful old boat shed on the waterfront in Nelson, in the north of the South Island. It will win you over with plates of fresh food, many of which star locally caught seafood — think beautiful Bluff oysters served naturally with just a squeeze of lemon ($5.50 each) and roasted whole sand flounder with paprika and lime ($27). You can also choose the Trust the Chef banquet ($70 per person). This is food to share with people you love, watching the sun set over the sea with a cold glass of chardonnay (Neudorf is the local choice). New Zealand eating doesn't get much better than this. 350 Wakefield Quay, Nelson. [caption id="attachment_687366" align="aligncenter" width="1920"] Graeme Murray.[/caption] SHARE A CRAY BESIDE THE OCEAN (OR HAVE ONE TO YOURSELF) AT NIN'S BIN This third-generation roadside eatery has served fresh seafood from its blue and white cray caravan since 1977 and has become an icon on the drive down the east coast. Shuttered for a long time after the Kaikoura earthquake, Nin's is now back up and running. Fishing quotas mean that Nin's opening hours vary, so check its Facebook page for updates, or give 'em a call before you head in for the hot crayfish, mussels and chips in newspaper. On the days you catch it open, your heart will sing as you drive around the corner and see the steam rising from the caravan hatch and the happy patrons tucking into their feast beside the sea. State Highway 1, Half Moon Bay. EAT FISH AND CHIPS ON THE BEACH IN AKAROA A lovely day trip, Akaroa is a sleepy little French colonial town beside the sea, over the hills from Christchurch. Head out in the morning from Christchurch and wander around town, go for a swim, have a long lunch at Rona's and finish the evening eating fish and chips on the beach or on the hill overlooking the harbour. The food is simple. The experience is a classic. There's not much more to say. Every South Islander knows it, and you should partake, too. Just don't forget the rip n dip. 59 Beach Road, Akaroa. [caption id="attachment_687223" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Rodney F.[/caption] SIT DOWN AT FLEUR'S PLACE IN MOERAKI Fleur's Place feels like it has sat at the edge of the jetty in Moeraki, near Dunedin since forever. The elements of the day's menu are literally purchased off the back of the fishing boats and carried a few metres to the kitchen. At the heart of the operation is Fleur Sullivan, a chef who has a firm place in Aotearoa's food heritage. She centres the menu around local, organic produce and seafood like blue cod, John Dory, moki, bluenose, gurnard, sole, flounder, groper and crayfish. Fleur's is also one of the best spots to try local titi, or muttonbird. The wines largely come from central Otago, which is world-renowned for its pinot varieties and fruity white varietals. Take a seat and watch the seals on the foreshore, the fishing boats pottering in and out and parcels of fresh fish being brought into the restaurant or smokehouse. 169 Haven Street, on the jetty at Moeraki. Start planning your trip to New Zealand's south with our guide to the South Island journeys to take here.
Several of the CBD's busiest strips will soon be a lot more pedestrian-friendly, as the City of Melbourne has just announced a $5-million plan to make several thoroughfares more walkable, starting with Flinders Lane. As reported in The Age, the soon-to-begin works will raise the road to the same level as the footpath, while adding cobblestone sections to provide passive obstacles that slow traffic. Yet the pedestrianisation of Flinders Lane is just the beginning. Once works are completed, the council will turn its attention to the rest of Melbourne's "Little" streets: Collins, Bourke and Lonsdale. Plus, popular laneways, including Liverpool Street and Crossley Street, will become pedestrian-first. The news follows another CBD infrastructure announcement, with $2 million budgeted for decorative lighting that reenergises key areas of the city. "The little streets of Melbourne will become people-first, and we will be making the investment in infrastructure to deliver on that," said Lord Mayor Nick Reece to The Age. "It's very much designed to slow all the cars right down, make it very much a pedestrian priority zone." Meanwhile, the City of Melbourne will also trial closing specific streets to car traffic at different times of the day. As it stands, Little Collins Street is closed to traffic daily from 12-2pm. With CBD foot traffic declining in recent years, pedestrianisation is aimed at boosting retail and hospitality economic activity. "The evidence is really clear: pedestrianisation of city streets, when done well and when done in the right locations, delivers a massive economic uplift," said Reece. "That's why from New York to London to Sydney, we are seeing this happen, and Melbourne is not going to be left behind." Changes to make Flinders Lane more pedestrian-friendly are expected to be completed in 2026. Head to The Age for more information. Like what you see? Subscribe to the Concrete Playground newsletter to get stories just like these straight to your inbox.
Whether or not making movies has ever been your goal, everyone knows that some film achievements that are just the dream. Getting into SXSW is one of them. If you're from Australia, and from Sydney at that, having your first feature play at Sydney Film Festival ranks as highly. Amy Wang has now notched up both thanks to Slanted, which premiered at Austin's OG version of SXSW in March, then made its Aussie debut at SFF. Was this the dream for Wang? "100 percent. Yes. Yes. Growing up — and I went to film school here in in Sydney as well — there are those film festivals like the Cannes, the Sundances and SXSWs, where you're just like 'wow, even to just play'," she tells Concrete Playground. "I think they choose ten films or eight films to play in competition at South By. I remember that day. I had a friend who had a film that played at South By the previous year, and they had said they got their acceptance email around the beginning of December. So I just had this inkling. I was like 'if I don't get this email today' — it was a Friday — 'then it's probably a no go'. And I got it. It was so surreal for sure. Just so happy." That's how Wang discovered that she'd be unveiling her body-horror satire about a Chinese American teen's desire to be like her peers at her US high school — plus the lengths the character goes to to achieve that aim — in America. For her troubles, she took home 2025's SXSW Narrative Jury Award. Playing Sydney Film Festival is another treasured milestone. "In many ways, I am even more excited to show it in Sydney," she notes. "Growing up in Sydney, I would go to Sydney Film Festival every year since I was a teenager. So I've been to the State Theatre so many times, lined up outside. It's such a prestigious venue." Slanted's first Aussie session did indeed play at the grand venue at the heart of SFF. It's a US-set and -made film, but screening in Australia is a homecoming because its Chinese Australian writer/director has taken inspiration from her childhood experiences right here. The story of Joan Huang (Shirley Chen, Dìdi) isn't far from Wang's own growing up, when she was teased and attacked due to her race, she advises. Well, that setup has its parallels, at least. With Slanted, the filmmaker takes that trauma and transfers it into a world of prom queens and blonde obsessions, crafting a biting exploration of such a nightmare — one where Joan is convinced that the radical step that is "racial transformation surgery" is her only choice. When Joan walks her school's halls, she strolls past photos of past tiara-wearing teens, all blue-eyed and fair-haired. Her bedroom walls are filled with pictures of blonde celebrities. On her phone, she changes her own image with filters. Lightening her tresses IRL follows. Upon arriving in America with her family (Starring Jerry as Himself's Fang Du and The Afterparty's Vivian Wu) as a kid (Kristen Cui, Knock at the Cabin), she was mocked quickly, cementing the idea in her impressionable young mind that assimilating with her classmates was the ideal option. Also as a child, courtesy of her dad's job as a high-school janitor, she discovered prom queens and the adoration that the title brings. So, when a company called Ethnos slides into adolescent Joan's DMs with a proposal, securing all of her fantasies — and befriending the most-popular girl in school (Amelie Zilber, Grown-ish), too — appears closer to becoming a reality. If this sounds like a "be careful what you wish for"-esque setup, that's because it is as Slanted also works Ghostbusters: Afterlife and Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire star Mckenna Grace into its cast as Jo — and as Wang digs into the desire to belong, its costs, caucasian-centric beauty standards, white privilege and class clashes. Wang knows that this is well-populated territory in general, but "nobody had really done what I've done", she reflects. "Even around White Chicks, for example, it's still the same actors. And obviously Freaky Friday is another example of a body-swap kind of film, but with this, still it's the same person. And it's to do with race, and that's something I think that hasn't really been touched. Obviously a lot of people have been comparing the film to The Substance, which is a little similar as well in terms of themes, but still different. I think it was just the race aspect of it — the fact that it's so personal to myself — that's how I made it different and my own." Was the process of penning and helming Slanted cathartic for its guiding force? "100 percent. 100 percent. I use film and I use writing and directing to work through my own trauma, I think, and it's been deeply cathartic," Wang shares. As much of a focus is ensuring that everyone else that has ever felt like Joan does can see that others have been there. "I made this film so that people didn't feel alone," Wang continues. "And I could express a story about somebody who maybe the majority of Australians or the majority of Americans don't really think about — and to do it an entertaining way so that they are entertained, but also are made to think and reflect on themselves." Wang's path to Slanted spans studying at the American Film Institute, winning accolades for her short film work before her feature's SXSW triumph — 2017's Unnatural picked up a gong at the Cannes Lions — and diving into a sequel to a Hollywood hit. When Crazy Rich Asians 2 makes its way to cinemas, it'll do so with Wang as its writer. Netflix's From Scratch and The Brothers Sun are also on her resume so far. We chatted with Wang about her Slanted journey to date, the movie's response, having an Australian perspective on US teendom and more, including the picture's balancing act, its crucial casting, the visual approach and more. [caption id="attachment_1008985" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Amy E. Price/SXSW Conference & Festivals via Getty Images[/caption] On How the 12 Months Since Making Slanted Have Panned Out for Wang "Oh my gosh, it's been nuts. It is kind of crazy to think — like even today on my phone, you know how your iPhone sometimes gives you memories of the last couple of months? I hadn't even started shooting this time last year. So we shot June–July. I think I flew back to LA — because we shot in Atlanta — I flew back to LA in August to start post. And it's been pretty fast, when I think about it. And it was — I mean, it's still crazy. We delivered the film like three days before we premiered. I'm sure SXSW hated us with that. So it was kind of non-stop until the premiere. The night before, I couldn't sleep because I was so nervous. And then we had such a great reaction after that first screening. I thought the festival will tip you off if you win anything, but they don't. I wasn't even going to even go to the awards night. And I just rocked up in a t-shirt and jeans. Other people were dressed up in dresses and suits and everything, and me and my husband were just sat in the back. It was the most-crazy experience, and so I'm still pinching myself." On Whether Wang Expected the Type of Response That Slanted Has Been Receiving "I think I wanted for this response, and I'm really happy that that I've received it. There was definitely a part of me that was a little bit afraid. I like to push buttons with all of my films, the scripts that I write — and in a way, I do like a bit of controversy within the stuff that I do. So I think I was more afraid of that of — like would people take it the wrong way? Would people get offended? But surprisingly it's been — you always get the random Letterboxd reviews or even film critics critiquing the film, but the majority have been so amazing and supportive. I remember after my premiere at South By, when I was walking to the afterparty, there were multiple people who came up to me with tears in their eyes and just telling me about how much they related to the story. And these were Americans. I'm even more excited to see the reaction in Sydney, because, again, the film came from my own experience growing up in Sydney. And Australia, Sydney in particular, has such a huge Asian population. So I'm so interested to see how people relate to the film." [caption id="attachment_938017" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Tim Levy[/caption] On How Slanted Evolved From Wang's Childhood in Australia — and Why It Embraces the US as a Setting "The reason why I set it in America was because I moved to America in 2015 to go to film school at AFI. And I ended up staying and working in LA. And it felt, at the time when I came up with the concept, like all of my connections, my career, was really in the US. So I knew I needed to adapt the story that I had in my head to a US audience — because all the money, all of the filming crew, cast, everybody, would have been US-based. So that was really the main reason. If I had written a story that was in Australia, I wouldn't have the slightest clue how to get it made in the Australian bubble. The story is very closely based on my own life. Growing up in Sydney, I, unfortunately for a really long time — and even now to a degree, I think we're all still working towards fully embracing and accepting who we are — but as a teenager, I definitely was very, very aware that I looked very different. And I received a lot of, I wouldn't say very violent attacks, but definitely had people throw things at me, follow me around, say very, very horrible racist, just blatantly racist things to me. And it really just made me feel ashamed of my culture, what I look like, and made me want to look like the blonde surfie girls who I went to high school with, who were the always the most popular. And I remembered wanting to — I didn't grow up very wealthy, I would nag my mum to get me Billabong boardies and those types of bags to fit in a little bit more. And I'd get so ashamed over the lunches my dad would make me, because the kids would tease me about how badly they smelled and how weird they looked. I'm happy that I went through it, because it's made me who I am. And I'm just really happy that I was able to make a film that I think connects to a lot of people who have experienced very similar things — even if you're not Asian Australian. I think everybody feels in some way as an outsider." [caption id="attachment_1008986" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Gilbert Flores/SXSW Conference & Festivals via Getty Images[/caption] On Whether Having an Outsider Perspective in the US Assisted When Satirising the Prom and American High Schools "Yes, absolutely. You definitely hit the nail on the head. I feel like I was able to really satirise America because I'm not American. And growing up in Australia, growing up on American films and American TV, I think I had that separation and I was able to make fun of it. And also, I think what is cool is because I've been living here so long, to also firsthand experience the ins and outs and the intricacies of American society. I didn't, when I was in Australia, I never knew that American kids did the Pledge of Allegiance. And it was so shocking to me. I remember when I was doing research and visiting high schools in California, and they would all do the Pledge of Allegiance — and I was like 'what? What is this?'. And it just felt so bizarre. But to an American, it's what they grew up with, so they wouldn't question it." View this post on Instagram A post shared by SXSW (@sxsw) On Finding the Right Tone When You're Making a Satire with a Clear Sense of Humour, But That Comes From a Personal Place — and Is a Body-Horror Film, Coming-of-Age Movie and Family Drama as Well "I feel like it's interesting because I didn't really think too hard about — I definitely thought about the tone a lot, but in terms of weaving all of these things together, I didn't think 'ooh, I have to have some body horror in there, I have to have some satire in there'. I think the satire came organically because the initial concept was just 'oh, what if a Chinese girl turned herself into a white girl?' — and so that concept itself was so absurd and surreal that it just automatically steps into that satirical tone and zone. And then, the reason why I'm a filmmaker is because of films like Fight Club and Seven — David Fincher in particular. My favourite filmmaker is Michael Haneke. And I grew up watching a lot of Cronenberg. So I love dark material. And it just makes sense — I wanted to make a film about learning to accept who you are but in a nightmarish storyline, so it just makes sense to see the repercussions of what happens when you decide to transition into something so drastic." On the Importance of Also Digging Into Class Clashes "That's just another theme that I'm very passionate about, because I don't come from a lot of money. And both of my parents are very working class, don't have any association with the film business. And especially coming out to LA, not really having anything, going AFI — which is a great school, but really being surrounded by a lot of people who do come from a lot of money, or has a famous dad or whatever. Especially in the film industry, in Hollywood, I think, I'm constantly surrounded by people who are just wealthier. And I think that's just something that I'm very aware of. Again, I'm really happy with everything I've been through because it always informs my work, but classism and race, those are definitely things that I just am very aware of — of my own differences and of society in general, the wealth disparity, especially in America." View this post on Instagram A post shared by Shirley Chen (@shirleylchen) On the Importance of Finding the Right Joan in Shirley Chen and the Right Jo in Mckenna Grace "I found Shirley first. I watched a lot of auditions. And I'd always known of Shirley, cause I've seen her in Dìdi, I'd seen her in this great short called Krista, I think that also played the South By. And then she did Beast Beast, which is a great film as well. She just had such a naturalistic, kind of edgy vibe about her that I just loved. And I remember watching her initial audition just being like 'fantastic, I've found my person'. And then we had lunch and got to know her a little bit. So I knew I had to find Joan first. And then from Shirley, getting to know Shirley a little bit more, I figured out 'okay, this is her general vibe, this is her energy', and I needed to find someone who could match that. And I met with Mckenna — and same with Shirley, I'd seen Mckenna in obviously Ghostbusters, but I saw her in A Friend of the Family, The Handmaid's Tale. She's just an incredible young actress. We also had lunch, and she just told me how much she related to the script — and really blew me away with her interpretation. And after that meeting, I was like 'yeah, she's the one'. After I cast the two of them, we did a lot of rehearsals and body-language imitating exercises and things like that, to really make sure they feel like the same person." View this post on Instagram A post shared by Mckenna Grace (@mckennagraceful) On How Chen and Grace Worked Together to Play the Same Character — and Take That Figure on a Shared Emotional Journey "They did so much homework. I know they had shared playlists and really used music to tie themselves, the both of them, together. But I did a lot of exercises. I had Mckenna follow Shirley around, copy how Shirley ate, how she walked, how she danced — all sorts of little fun exercises I came up with. And we also figured out one thing in the movie, that both of them will squeeze their nose, and that was something that really tied it together. And that's something I used to do and my dad used to do. So I think that was a really easy tic that they both really caught onto. And sometimes even on set, I would forget and then they would add it into the scene, and I'd be like 'oh, this is amazing'. So they just they did the work. And Shirley would be on set when Mckenna would be on set, and vice versa, because we'd obviously shoot their scenes intersectionally, so that really helped as well." On Mixing Naturalism and Surrealism in the Film's Stylistic Approach "So my DP and I — my wonderful DP Ed Wu [Mother of the Bride] — we had this almost like a map that's one to ten. One was the most grounded, realistic types of films, like Fish Tank, Andrea Arnold types of films. And then on the other end of the spectrum were the Sorry to Bother You kind of way-more out-there-visually satire. And so with each scene, we'd be like 'okay, this scene, it's sitting more in the one to two', which is more the Andrea Arnold kind camp. But then some scenes, like when we're in Ethnos, definitely ventured more into that hyper-real, Being John Malkovich kind of world. So we had that communication during set, in pre-production as well. And sometimes it was hard, because there would be some scenes where it would go back and forth a little bit. The first half might be more of a one, but then the second half is a ten. So those were a little bit more difficult to really nail. But I think the music was also really big thing. Shirley Song [XO Kitty], she's a fantastic composer." On How Short Films, From Scratch, The Brothers Sun and Writing on Crazy Rich Asians 2 Helped Lead Wang to Her Feature Debut "I was never much of a writer when I got into AFI, to be totally honest. I had always wanted to direct and I went to the American Film Institute for directing. And it was my second year when I really started getting into writing, because a graduate came back and was like 'if you don't want work at Starbucks after you graduate, you're just not going to get paid to direct anything for a very long time, so you need to learn how to write'. So that advice really stuck with me. And that's kind of what I did. So I think that on the writing side, just writing for a lot of studio films — I sold scripts to Paramount and Netflix and all sorts of places. It definitely helped me craft the screenplay in the best way. And then for directing, I think it was just I really enjoyed my experience at AFI. It taught me a lot about directing. And you're just really drawing from personal experiences, and you take apart films. And I made a lot of short films back in Sydney. And all of that experience I think really contributed to making this feature." Slanted is screening at Sydney Film Festival until Sunday, June 15, 2025. Head to the fest's website for more details.
Tres a Cinco, tucked away on Hosier Lane in the CBD, is a colourful, dynamic, and welcoming Mexican cantina that attracts locals, city workers, and those seeking a taste of elevated, contemporary Mexican cuisine. Like many entrepreneurially minded people, chef Sarai Castillo was motivated during the COVID lockdowns to do something meaningful. Through her take-away packs, known as Comida Corrida, Castillo shared a taste of home-style Mexican cooking, rooted in a strong sense of place and tradition, with customers who quickly became loyal followers. The remarkable response to her cooking led to Tres a Cinco becoming a permanent venue, sitting under the MoVida umbrella. The menu showcases classic dishes — cooked with love and care and packed full of flavour — that are generous, approachable and lend themselves to a laid-back, social way of dining. Agave is at the heart of the drinks offering, with a back bar boasting over 200 agave spirits. No surprise that there is also a stellar lineup of margaritas and Latin-inspired cocktails on offer. So pop in for a quick after-work charred pineapple mezcalita or hibiscus daiquiri, and snack on chorizo and corn croquettes and prawn empanadas, or settle in for a night of Jalisco negronis and coconut margaritas and work your way through the enticing menu. Perhaps a Bloody Mary oyster shot, followed by a crab tostada and chilaquiles rojos, before sampling calamari tacos with jalapeno yoghurt sauce, and filling up on chicken enchiladas or pork meatballs in chipotle sauce. Images: Supplied.
The saying 'good things come in small packages' rings especially true for the humble dumpling. The universally adored Asian dish is happily scoffed down during everything from weekend yum cha sessions to affordable group dinners out in Chinatown. Whether you're partial to some pan-fried pork and chive dumplings, scouting out some soupy xiaolongbao, or just want some peanut chilli wontons on your chopsticks — Melbourne's dumpling game is strong, and you'll never find yourself too far from a top-notch restaurant serving up some winners. From the traditional to the contemporary, we've rounded up a list of the best dumpling joints in Melbourne to put on high rotation. Here's where to get your steamer basket fix next time the craving hits. Recommended reads: The Best Chinese Restaurants in Melbourne The Best Hot Pots in Melbourne The Best BYO Restaurants in Melbourne The Best Bubble Tea in Melbourne Tao Tao House, Hawthorn Behind a traditionally decorated facade on Glenferrie Road, Tao Tao House has been serving up top-notch Chinese fare for over a decade. With a former Flower Drum chef heading up the kitchen, this one's the real deal. The dim sum offering is expansive, with all the favourites represented — pork and prawn siu mai, prawn and chive dumplings, and soft barbecue pork buns, included, of course. Or, you can mix things up a bit with serves of the pork and peanut variety, some chilli-spiked chicken dumplings, or parcels stuffed with roast duck. Best of all, the popular yum cha service runs every day of the week. Tim Ho Wan, CBD What started life as one hole-in-the-wall eatery in Hong Kong is now a globally recognised chain, complete with Michelin-star pedigree and outposts across Australia. Here at Tim Ho Wan Bourke Street, you can bank on some world-class dumplings, with all the usual dim sum suspects executed with finesse. Purists will appreciate the likes of translucent shrimp and spinach dumplings, steamer baskets filled with plump prawn har gow and the chicken broth studded with yellow wontons. Elsewhere, fill up on classics like the baked buns oozing barbecue pork, or venture left of field for a serve of the Wasabi Salad Prawn Dumplings — crisp seafood morsels crowned with a vibrant green dressing. Din Tai Fung, CBD Taiwan's Din Tai Fung has been a staple of the Melbourne dumpling scene since its opening back in 2015. The Emporium restaurant space is bright, modern and polished, with a glass-walled dumpling kitchen offering visuals of the masters at work, to enjoy while you dine. The vibe is buzzy and service is speedy, as smartly-dressed waitstaff drop baskets and plates of dumplings to your table.The menu here champions the classics, with options like chicken and mushroom potstickers, shrimp and pork siu mai, and soupy xiao long bao. Din Tai Fung is also famed for its special releases — from Easter's chocolate-filled hot cross bao, to the animal-shaped dumplings unveiled for Lunar New Year. Hutong Dumpling Bar, CBD and Prahran This long-standing Melbourne dumpling house has been winning over fans with its home-style Chinese cooking since 2008. Now with two restaurants in its stable, HuTong remains a go-to for authentic Shanghainese eats, including a stand-out line-up of handmade dumplings - making it an easy addition to this list of the best dumplings in Melbourne. Queues are pretty much a given, but the dishes are well worth the wait — translucent crystal prawn dumplings, xiao long bao, varieties stuffed with crab meat or roast duck, Sichuan-style wontons in hot chilli sauce, and more. The best part is, this one's affordable and generous, so you can feast without spending up too big. Winner winner, dumpling dinner. Shanghai Street, CBD and Windsor Now with four outposts under its belt, Shanghai Street is a go-to for many when dumplings are on the food agenda. Here, expect a fuss-free dining experience that doesn't skimp on flavour and that'll fill your belly without draining your wallet. Lovers of the xiao long bao will find four different variations to choose from, alongside handmade dumplings stuffed with the likes of kung pao chicken, beef and cheese, and a classic pork mix — either pan-fried, boiled or finished with a rich peanut butter sesame sauce. Other dim sum heroes include dainty siu mai, pork and prawn wontons, and fluffy char siu bao. Yep, the lineup is a hefty one — you'd best bring an appetite. China Red, CBD This contemporary dumpling house comes complete with modern interiors, a touchscreen ordering system, and a kitchen offering primo views of the chefs working their magic. But despite the new-school energy, China Red's food offering is also grounded in tradition, boasting plenty of familiar flavours and time-honoured techniques. A hefty lineup of dim sum touches on all the greatest hits — prawn and chive parcels, vibrant green veggie dumplings, slurpy xiaolongbao, and chicken and prawn siu mai— alongside underrated gems like the duck meat dumplings and dolphin-shaped beauties filled with prawn. All of them are perfectly folded, artfully presented and impressively quick to land at your table. It has been one of the best dumpling spots in Melbourne for many years now, showing no signs of slowing down. Shark Fin Inn, CBD and Keysborough An oldie, but a goodie, Shark Fin Inn now has restaurants both in the inner-city and suburbia, leaving you in very good hands when that dumpling craving hits. Expect white-clothed tables, dapperly-looking waitstaff and a yum cha service with a truly devoted following of regulars. The menu is a roll-call of classics, with pork siu mai, glossy har gow, xiao long bao and vegetarian dumplings all making an appearance. Elsewhere in the lineup, you'll find pan-fried pork dumplings with a golden crust, crispy deep-fried wontons, and juicy prawn dumplings bathed in ginger broth. And that's only about one-third of the options — if you're after choices, this Melbourne dumpling restaurant is the one for you. Bowl Bowl Sichuan, Collingwood Bringing a taste of Sichuan cuisine to the heart of Smith Street, this cheerful restaurant and dumpling house has extra broad appeal — along with meat- and seafood-based classics, it's plating up a solid spread of vegan and gluten-free options. Bowl Bowl's colourful interiors have a home-spun feel, while the generous menu pays equal respect to tradition and creativity. The aptly-named volcano wontons come bathed in a vivid red chilli broth; wagyu beef dumplings are matched tomato, onion and mushrooms; and the Chitalian parcels feature a region-hopping blend of fennel and chicken. You can even round out your feast with a couple of dessert dumplings, crafted with sweet rice, black sesame, fermented rice wine and honey. Oriental Teahouse, CBD, South Yarra and Brunswick A modern Chinese teahouse with outposts on Chapel Street and in the CBD (and a takeaway outpost in Brunswick with a small outdoor dining area), Oriental Teahouse is a total haven for the local dumpling-lover. Expect stylish, contemporary interiors, working as the backdrop to a refined, yet approachable menu of yum cha classics and Shanghainese favourites. Handmade dumplings are the stars of this show, with mostly authentic creations sitting alongside a few crafty new-school offerings. You'll find crisp ginger prawn dumplings, soup-filled xiao long bao, and pork and prawn siu mai, interspersed with the likes of pulled pork Flame Thrower dumplings, and a satay peanut chicken variety spiked with Asian herbs. The team here also runs David's in Prahran — home to some of Melbourne's best dumplings as well. Dumpling Empire, Glen Waverley A location of choice for big, hearty dumpling dinners with mates, Glen Waverley's Dumpling Empire takes dumplings just as seriously as its name suggests. The kitchen's known for its classically Shanghainese dumpling lineup, all handmade in-house daily. Get slurpy with some pork xiaolongbao, order up on the chicken and prawn parcels, or take your chopsticks to the glossy green vegetarian dumplings. There's also pan-fried steamed buns, and some fiery chilli wontons with homemade spicy sesame sauce. And if you're having trouble deciding, you'll find a combo pack featuring a variety of steamed options. It's a great way to eat your way through some of the best dumplings in Melbourne. Honourable Mentions New Shanghai, Chadstone and CBD Yulongfu, CBD Ruyi, CBD Lucy Liu Kitchen & Bar, CBD Red Door Yum Cha, Windsor Borsch Vodka and Tears, Windsor Flower Drum, CBD Gingerboy, CBD Supernormal, CBD Spice Temple, Southbank Secret Kitchen, CBD Red Emperor Chinese Restaurant, CBD Top Image: David's
Since Friday, September 17, Melburnians have been able to venture ten kilometres from home under the city's current lockdown, doubling the five-kilometre rule that had been in place since the beginning of August. That change only happened just over a week ago, when 70 percent of eligible Victorians had received their first dose of a COVID-19 vaccine. But, when the state hits the 80-percent single-jabbed threshold, the travel radius is being amended again as per the new roadmap out of lockdown — so you'll soon be able to head 15 kilometres away from your house instead. Shopping for essentials? Exercising? Going outside for social interaction with your mates? From 11.59pm on Tuesday, September 28, you'll have another five kilometres to play with. That covers when you're moseying out to meet with someone you don't live with for a picnic, a walk or some other outdoor activity — including, in another just-announced change, 'contactless' pastimes such as golf and tennis. Or, if you and your friends are fully vaxxed with both doses of the COVID-19 vaccine, then up to five adults from two households, plus their dependents, are allowed to gather outdoors. So, if you're currently scrambling to find quick ways to map out your 15-kilometre zone, that's completely understandable. While you're probably quite familiar with the five-kilometre and ten-kilometre patches of land surrounding your house thanks to more than a few lockdowns over the past 18 months or so, there are a few easy ways to check out your household's government-approved travel radius now that you have more room to venture. But none have proved quite as popular as KM From Home — a website that originally launched in Ireland back in March, when that country introduced its own travel restrictions — and was jumped on by Melburnians back in August 2020. The online map is free and easy to use — simply centre it to your address, select a 15-kilometre radius and you'll see a big red or blue bubble encompassing the zone you're free to travel in under the Victorian Government's new rules. You'll find other radius apps out there as well, including the likes of Map Developers and The Age's tool. Alternatively, if you've got a Garmin watch, you can download this range warning and it'll alert you when you're closing in on a certain distance from your run's starting point. Want to check a specific cafe or shopping centre to see if it falls in your 15-kilometre zone? There's a function on the Google Maps app that allows you to measure a distance as the crow flies. On desktop, simply right click on a location on the map, select 'measure distance' and then click anywhere else on the map and it'll show you exactly how far the address is from your starting point. Under the existing rules, you can head out to exercise or for outdoor social gatherings for a maximum of four hours per day. That time limit isn't changing — but, from Tuesday, September 28, it can be done within 15 kilometres of your home. You can leave your bubble for permitted work, or if you're shopping for essentials and there are no shops in your radius. Lockdown rules in metropolitan Melbourne will ease slightly from 11.59pm on Tuesday, September 28, with exercising, shopping for essentials and outdoor gatherings within 15 kilometres of your house permitted from that point. For more information about the rules, head to the Victorian Department of Health website. Images: Km From Home
The Church Street space once home to the Great Britain Hotel has been given a new lease on life, and has been reborn as multi-faceted good times haunt, Harlow. Offering a little something for all occasions, the new-look pub now boasts a ground floor bar and dining space, a sprawling split-level beer garden and a neon-drenched basement bar that's heavy on the grunge. With room for 250, the dog-friendly courtyard comes decked out in festoon lighting and lively street art, with a separate entrance for those with four-legged mates in tow. The music offering is as diverse as the space itself, with weekend DJs rounding out a broad-ranging soundtrack through the week. More lively flavours come courtesy of the kitchen, where the focus is on cleverly rejigged pub classics. On the menu, openers might include small bites like mini crab doughnuts or duck and bacon sausage rolls, leading into supporting acts like a decadent steak sanga, loaded with barbecue sauce, swiss cheese and maple bacon. A hefty vegan burger and a smoked beer and cheese hot dog make an appearance, too, while larger groups might be lured by the barbecue option, tucking into a feast of charry treats hot off the grill. And downstairs, with its old-school music videos and low booths, the moodily lit basement bar proves an ideal setting for a cocktail offering that references the different tunes you'll hear throughout the pub each week. Sips like the California Girls — blending citrus vodka, peach liqueur, orange juice and pinot gris — bring the summery pop vibes, while the likes of Boyz-N-The-Hood, crafted with Jack Daniels, Apple Jack, Fireball and apple juice, feature in the menu's hip hop-inspired lineup.
Anyone in the arts knows that getting projects off the ground is a notoriously difficult task. From finding the time to create outside of paid work to simply keeping a roof over your head, following your dreams isn't always easy. Melbourne-based director, animator, and stop-motion specialist Sammy Lewis knows this reality all too well. "I'd been struggling to find work for most of last year and was on the verge of a career shift or at least finding a day job outside of animation," they told Concrete Playground. Over three and a half months in their studio, Sammy created Garbologist, a stop motion short film inspired by Specsavers' iconic "Should've Gone to Specsavers" ad format. Garbologist was submitted as part of Specsavers' annual competition in partnership with the leading short film festival, Flickerfest. A judging panel selected five finalists before the public voted on their favourite. The creativity and dedication of Garbologist stood out and Sammy was crowned the winner, scoring a $70K cash prize as well as a screening of their film at Flickerfest. "The prize has changed everything, and now I'll be able to focus on my own ideas full-time and hopefully develop a short film or series concept," they said of the career-changing prize money. We spoke with Sammy from the UK, where they're working at famed animation studio Aardman (the team behind Wallace and Gromit and Shaun the Sheep), to learn more about their prize-winning animated short film and what's next for the artist. Concrete Playground: Your winning entry reimagines the Specsavers ad through stop motion animation. What was the original creative spark behind Garbologist? Sammy Lewis: The idea for Garbologist came from a mix of things and is actually quite nostalgic for me. I was a truck-obsessed kid who would wait on the footpath to watch the bins get collected. My life peaked at three years old when I got to sit in the driver's seat and operate the claw. The first bin that gets collected in Garbologist is 22, which is the number of my childhood home. I also grew up with classic stop motion shows like Fireman Sam and Postman Pat and wanted to pay homage to their influence on my animation career. How did you get started in your career? A childhood obsession with plasticine turned into studying a Bachelor of Animation at The Queensland College of Art. That then led to moving from Meanjin/Brisbane to Naarm/Melbourne to find anyone else who was doing stop motion. That seems to have worked out, and I've animated on music videos, commercials, short films, kids' television and two feature films. How did you approach balancing brand storytelling and constraints with your creative voice? My whole aim for this ad was to tell a good joke, and I kept refining ideas until I thought I'd landed on a solid visual gag. Time was my biggest constraint, as stop motion is a notoriously slow process. I tried to keep things as simple as possible at every stage, but unfortunately, this meant cutting out a bin chicken character from my original draft. Tell us about the production process for this film. How long did it take, and what were the challenges? From initial idea to final export, the whole process took about three and a half months. My studio at the time was very small, and I had to fit everything on a set that was only 1.2 metres wide, and the scale of the puppets had to be about half the size of what I usually work [with]. I didn't have much of a budget and tried to recycle and reclaim as many materials as I could. 90% of Garbologist is cardboard and acrylic paint. The puppets have oven-bake clay heads with plasticine hands, the grass is made from two painted bath towels, and the garbage truck is a toy I bought second-hand and added the claw. Building all the puppets and sets took two months. Animation was two weeks and I outsourced music and sound design at the last minute so I could focus on editing and compositing. Everything is real, handmade and full of hot glue. What do you love about working with stop motion and animation? I love how stop motion and animation in general force you to collaborate or otherwise be lonely and sad and take four times longer to complete anything. I had a wonderful little crew of creatives in Lucy (Art Department), Mack (Art Department / Crochet Artist), Goldy (Colour Grade), Ryan (Sound Design/Music) and Seamus Spilsbury (Development). Check out their work. Flickerfest has long been a launching pad for emerging filmmakers. How important is this platform to you? I've been incredibly lucky to have worked on some amazing productions in my career, but it feels like I'm still searching for my own voice as a filmmaker. Flickerfest is such an important festival in providing a platform to do this, as well as opportunities like the Specsavers competition. I really hope to come back in the next few years with a film in competition. Often, creators don't want to touch commercial work for fear it's not "real" art. What do you say to these people, and what are the pros of commercial filmmaking? I understand why some people would feel that way about commercial gigs, and it can be stifling to work for brands when they give you minimal creative freedom. As a freelancer, I've never really had the luxury of picking and choosing what I work on and just try to catch the next thing that falls out of the sky. I've certainly learnt a lot from working on commercial jobs, and it's improved my communication, problem-solving and decision-making skills. What's your advice for filmmakers wanting to break into the industry? I'm not really one to give career advice, as everyone's path will be different. For me, it was finding my people, persistence and quite a bit of luck. What's next for you? What are you working on at the moment? I'm currently in the UK at Aardman, working on the new Shaun the Sheep movie, The Beast of Mossy Bottom, which is a dream come true, and after that, I'll be back to my default of making it up as I go. Image Credit: Supplied
Melbourne added to its ever-growing collection of basement drinking dens with the arrival of The Mulberry Group's Dessous. Gracing the Flinders Lane space beneath newly launched sibling Hazel in the T&G Building and joining a stable of venues that also includes Liminal and Geelong's Common Ground Project, this hideaway wine bar is one of the city's best. The same minds that first brought us The Kettle Black, Top Paddock and Higher Ground, The Mulberry Group has here created yet another inviting hospitality destination with plenty of attention to detail. Like both its recent siblings, Dessous is sporting interiors by award-winning design firm The Stella Collective. It's a warm and moody assembly of deep greens, plush velvet and dark timber — a comfy, subterranean escape you'll be in no rush to leave. Chef Dan Sawasak (Movida, Higher Ground) has pulled together a menu focused on snacking and sharing. Settle in over the likes of a pork belly sandwich with Bull-Dog sauce (a popular Japanese brand of tonkatsu sauce), a savoury comté panna cotta teamed with almonds, nettle and asparagus, or perhaps a main of skate dressed with crushed hazelnuts, jamón and warm grapes. Potatoes are done with fennel, 'nduja and crisp chicken skin, while a magical-sounding 'unicorn' doughnut stars corn custard, sea urchin (uni) and salmon roe. The drinks lineup is an extensive one, with an international wine list that caters to just about every mood and taste. A strong contingent of by-the-glass options is sure to prove a hit with the after-work crowd, while the signature cocktails are crafty and refined. Images: Jana Langhorst.
