Daily Detours for the Week of November 27

For the ultimate post-work reward, head over to the new Loaded by BL. So much more than your standard burger joint, this new venture from Bar Luca is all about customisation. You’re given a patty, and then you’re left to your own devices to customise to your heart’s desires. And you’re not limited to just burgers. BL also offers other comfort food bases like mac ‘n’ cheese, tater tots, chips, hot dogs and mozzarella patties, which you can load up with 20 different sauces and over 70 toppings. Resist the urge to gobble up your cheesy, carby creation on the spot, and, instead, take your masterpiece over to Camperdown Memorial Rest Park, where you can do some doggo spotting while you eat. We’ve even heard tales of owners letting you pat their dogs if you say nice things to them beforehand.

Image: Kimberley Low.

The iconic ‘grapes on the roof’ restaurant (otherwise known as Chinese Noodle House) has opened a new venue on Enmore Road and, like its Haymarket location, it’s all about the dumplings — and, of course, the plastic grapes hanging from the ceiling. (That special braised eggplant is pretty excellent, too.) The steamed and pan-fried goodness here comes in gigantic portions and every parcel is handmade.

Once you’ve stuffed yourself to satisfaction, head to nearby Holey Moley for a bit of late-night putting without the swarming crowds. Opt for nine or 18 holes, and get ready for a pop culture overload — every hole of this mini-golf course is themed within an inch of its life. Putt across the Simpson’s living room, through a Mouse Trap-like contraption and into the ‘nine-iron throne’. It’s as crazy — and incredible — as it sounds.

Skip the gym tonight and get your endorphin rush with a RollerFit class instead. These innovative workout sessions will see you increasing your endurance, strength and flexibility with a series of activities all done on rollerskates. It doesn’t matter if you’ve never skated in your life, or if you’re a roller derby champ. RollerFit has a class for every level teaching the basics up to the trickiest of moves. Non-member classes are $25 and you can rent skates for $5. For those with their own skates and some basic skills, the RollerFit crew also holds special RollerFit dance classes in Alexandria on Wednesdays, where you’ll be able to dance-skate it out like you’re at a roller disco circa 1975.

By Yelena Bidé and Quinn Connors.

We love an old-school Sydney pub and the Friend in Hand Hotel, with its affordable fare and charmingly quirky decor — model planes and trains, old photographs, surfboards and other oddities plaster every single bit of wall space — is a great one. This stellar pub is also home to one of the city’s longest-running comedy spots, the Mic in Hand. For just a tenner, you can chortle away all the week’s stresses courtesy of the city’s best up-and-coming comedy talent. If you’re lucky, you might even catch one of the more famous comedy stars who drop in from time to time.

The first day of the last month of the year (and the first day of summer and a Friday, no less) calls for a special celebration. Grab your mates or significant other for a night of fun around Chippendale and Surry Hills. Start at Spice Alley, a go-to spot for when you’re in the mood for the much cheaper version of a trip to Southeast Asia. This open-air courtyard takes a delicious cue from Singapore’s hawker markets, offering up a handful of exceptional food outlets. Try Hong Kong Diner for Cantonese comfort food, Alex Lee Kitchen for some classic Singaporean and Old Jim Kee for a delightful taste of Malaysia. After you’ve been properly fueled, head to karaoke institution Ding Dong Dang to belt out your favourite tunes until the wee hours of the morning. Not only are the rooms here reasonably priced, they’re also themed — the space odyssey room is a particular favourite.

Image: David Clare.

Ease into your weekend with a stroll around the Blackwattle Bay Loop, a gentle five kilometre walk that takes in the Anzac Bridge, Glebe foreshore and the Sydney Fish Markets. You’ll walk past a colourful mural that illustrates the history of Blackwattle Bay, across lush lawns perfect for picnicking and catch picture-worthy views of the CBD. Once you’ve got your endorphin dose sorted for the day, head over to Glebe Markets for lunch and a browse. Grab some nosh from one of the food stalls, before spending some time rummaging around the vintage and contemporary fashion, jewellery, artwork and homewares.

If you’ve been lusting after this Twisties burger and you live in Sydney’s northwest, today’s your last chance to give it a taste. Burger Head, the Penrith-based burger joint responsible for the monstrous creation and some all-round top burgs, has come to the end of their residence in Beaumont Hills. The same trio who run the Penrith eatery — that’s Tim Rosenstrauss (previously of the now-closed Master), Richard Borg (ex-Momofuku) and Joshua DeLuca (ex-Quay) — oversaw the Beaumont Hills incarnation. On the menu you’ll find all the tasty morsels that’ve had Penrith salivating, from the cheeseburger (Angus beef patty, onion, pickles, cheese, Burgerhead sauce, mustard mayo) to the Clucker (buttermilk fried chicken thigh, pickled onion, mayo) and — needless to say — the Twisties burger.

Personalise your next adventure via The Playmaker, driven by Mazda3.