Announcing Concrete Playground Sydney's Best of 2021 Award Winners

In a year where Kings Cross was finally freed of its legislative shackles; Sydney reopened, locked down and then reopened again; and a dystopian doll from a hit Netflix series towered over the city, it's safe to say that there were plenty of ups and downs.

Despite all of this, Sydney's hospitality and arts scene offered up new and exciting ventures from Catalonian wine bars to new citywide festivals.

We compiled a list of our favourite new venues and exciting events that made this year better during the good times and the bad as part of Concrete Playground's Best of 2021 Awards.

Now we're presenting the cream of the crop, with both a reader-voted People's Choice award and an overall CP Pick in each of these categories:

• Best New Restaurant
• Best New Bar
• Best Event
• Best New Space
• Best Lockdown Pivot

So, with no further ado, the winners for 2021 are...

BEST EVENT

CP PICK: SEVEN METHODS OF KILLING KYLIE JENNER

From Sydney theatre gems Darlinghurst Theatre Company and Green Door Theatre Company, this hilarious and whip-smart stage show explored the connection between the online and IRL, as well as the role of the internet in societal inequality.

Co-directed by Zindzi Okenyo and Bardi and Jabirr Jabirr woman Shari Sebbens (Top End Wedding, The Sapphires), starring Vivienne Awosoga and Moreblessing Maturure, and supported by an all-female production team, Seven Methods of Killing Kylie Jenner followed an argument between two friends over the eponymous influencer and her supposed 'self-made billionaire' status.

The show unpacked the commodification of Black women while charging headfirst into the modern collision of the twitterverse, your digital history and how people behave IRL. Plus, if you missed it the first time, the production is returning for a limited run at Darlinghurst Theatre Company early in 2022.

PEOPLE'S CHOICE: PARRAMATTA NIGHTS

While Parramatta's usual arts festival Parramatta Lanes was forced to cancel and move online, Parramatta Nights sprung up in its place. Finding that sweet spot between restrictions and lockdowns, the three-week festival included a heap of activities and activations for Parra locals and patrons from across Sydney who ventured to our second city for cheap gigs, tasty food and family-friendly fun.

The live music lineup took place on top of the Eat Street carpark, surrounded by the new fleet of high-rise buildings, and was absolutely stacked. On the lineup: Briggs, Ruby Fields, Triple One and The Chats, all performed for just $10 alongside a pop-up bar and a food stall from Parramatta favourite Butter.

Plus, there was free live jazz in Parramatta Square, an openair cinema showing La La Land and 10 Things I Hate About You as well as Bollywood hits Tanhaji and Street Dancer, a roller rink and carnival rides for the kids.

BEST LOCKDOWN PIVOT

CP PICK: BART MART

When Bart Jr and owner George Woodyard tried out a once-off lobster roll, they didn't anticipate the response it'd get. "I had about 50 people on Instagram message me asking if they could pre-order for next time, and so many people came by afterwards and said, 'please do it again'," Woodyard said.

Piled high with fresh WA rock lobster, NSW Clarence River king prawns, tarragon, chive and horseradish, Bart Jr's lobster rolls eventually became a regular fixture of the Redfern bar's lockdown menu, available every Friday from the restaurant's takeaway window — lovingly named Bart Mart.

While these rolls were the star of the show, there were plenty of other items to get excited about on the menu. Date-night packs, heat-at-home meals and fancy panko-crumbed market-fresh ling Fillet-O-Fishes were just some of the exciting options Bart Jr provided to bring a smile to local faces.

PEOPLE'S CHOICE: RAGAZZI AT HOME

Many of our favourite dine-in-only restaurants came up with new ways to bring their dishes into our homes during lockdown.

Delivery service Providoor helped facilitate the likes of Bistrot 916, CicciaBella and Restaurant Hubert to send restaurant-quality meals to Sydneysiders with minimal preparation required. Likewise, Sydney mainstays like Rising Sun Workshop set up their own delivery services.

A real highlight of this wave of delivered meals was Ragazzi, who provided Sydneysiders with the opportunity to indulge in some next-level pasta at home. Highlights from Ragazzi At Home included ravioli of burrata, house-made mortadella and cavatelli with cime di rappa and anchovy ragu, but the menu changed each week. Topping off the whole experience was the ability to add some luxe extras, such as a huge range of wine or a selection of fancy pantry items from Fabbrica to your order.

BEST NEW BAR

CP PICK: CAFE FREDA'S

Like much of its clientele, Freda's has grown up — but it hasn't forgotten how to have fun. After the closure of the beloved Chippendale nightclub last year, owner David Abram didn't sit on his proverbial hands for long, opening the doors to the new iteration of Freda's just months later.

As is clear from the name, Cafe Freda's isn't a nightclub. That said, it isn't really a cafe, either. It's a restaurant, neighbourhood bar and creative space. Like its predecessor, it's a haven of expression, art and music. The pastel-covered bar sits below an art gallery and hosts some of Sydney's most exciting DJs on the regular.

Unlike the OG Freda's, however, here there's a stronger focus on food and wine. The kitchen is helmed by chef Xinyi Lim, with a continually changing menu that's always driven by seasonal and locally sourced produce. Topping the whole thing off is a revolving list of some of the best natural wines on offer in Sydney.

PEOPLE'S CHOICE: APOLLONIA

Hidden underground in the basement level of new four-storey Sydney venue Hinchcliff House is Apollonia, a cocktail bar with an affinity for negronis and romance. The dimly lit bar is named after a character from The Godfather and embodies the love-stricken nature of Apollonia and protagonist Michael in the film.

Whether you're swinging by to grab a drink or heading downstairs for a nightcap after your meal at one of the building's other venues, you're going to want to start and end with the cocktail list. From wheat vodka and Italian honey liqueur creations through to the Chinoto Manhattan made with rye, pepperberry, chinito vermouth and juniper amaro, the cocktails are flavoursome and pack a punch.

If you stick around until midnight on a Friday night, you'll be treated to The Thunderbolt. This weekly tradition at Apollonia is a toast to what's important: friends, life, love and negronis.

BEST NEW RESTAURANT

CP PICK: MAIZ

Started as a family-run food stall at the Summer Hill Flour Mill Markets by brother and sister Juan Carlos Negrete and Marissa Negrete, Maiz is an all-day Mexican brunch spot.

The speciality here is the tortas, addictive fresh-baked bread rolls that come piled high with chorizo, scrambled eggs and pulled pork. Set in a beautiful openair courtyard of a historic 1830s building, Maiz sets itself apart with big, bold flavours, hefty serving sizes and a unique take on Mexican cuisine Sydney hasn't seen before.

The menu is inspired by Negrete's time living in the central region of Mexico. The neat selection of brunch options purposefully steers away from tacos and highlights other mainstays of Mexico's cuisine instead. Completing your experience at Maiz is coffee from small-batch Sydney roaster Madding Crowd Coffee, plus an array of mezcal, tequila, Mexican beers and boozy agua frescas.

PEOPLE'S CHOICE: LA SALUT

La Salut is the latest showstopping venue from the team behind Love Tilly Devine and Ragazzi. Hidden inside Redfern's overhauled Norfolk House & Hotel, the buzzy 40-seat venue boasts a sleek renovated bar space lined with imported Spanish wines.

At the helm of La Salut is Love Tilly's Matt Swieboda and Nate Hatwell, alongside Executive Chef and co-owner Scott McComas-Williams, who have crafted an exceptional drinks list and delectable bar food. You can begin the night with a selection of jamon, sliced fresh to order and served up with sourdough before you make a choice. Do you get several rounds of bites for the table or opt for large plates with even larger flavours?

Drinks-wise, the wine list is broad and dynamic, largely focusing on different regions of Spain and a good selection of quality Australian drops. And while the vino options are exciting, the price range is by no means oppressive.

BEST NEW SPACE

CP PICK: PHOENIX CENTRAL PARK

Phoenix Central Park is Sydney's stunning secret. Hidden in Chippendale, the arts and music listening space only opens to the public for select performances. Seats at these shows are almost always allocated via a ballot, so it takes a little luck to get inside.

The intricate space is the vision of philanthropist Judith Neilson AM, founder of the White Rabbit Gallery. Its curved beige walls are reminiscent of New York's Guggenheim, while the central music space is an impressive multi-level amphitheatre. When artists hit the stage, the muted beige walls are often illuminated by colourful lighting displays, transforming the venue.

If you haven't been lucky enough to find a way in, you can watch Phoenix's series of online performances, Halo. Featuring local favourites like A.Girl, Shady Nasty and Annie Hamilton, these stripped-back live shows illustrate the beauty of the space as well as the musicianship on offer.

But, there's an upcoming chance to sneak your way in IRL, with the venue set to host three upcoming performances as part of Sydney Festival — all of which are open to the public via a ticket ballot.

PEOPLE'S CHOICE: HINCHCLIFF HOUSE

Hinchcliff House is a four-storey mega venue that's overtaken the heritage Hinchcliff Wool Stores in the ever-evolving Quay Quarter. The huge standstone structure plays host to five new venues: two Italian eateries, an underground cocktail bar, a private hospitality space and an attached bakery.

While each venue brings something interesting to the table, the real marvel of Hinchcliff House is the huge wool store it sits within. At Grana, bare sandstone walls are accompanied by wooden beams, and large grain and wheat bundles are placed around the restaurant.

The space links your dining experience to the history of the building, while the menu heroes pasta and bread made in the building's mill. Or, for something completely different, head downstairs to the Peopel's Choice for Best Bar of 2021, Apollonia. Here, the lights are dimmed and soft beige tones are traded for romantic hues, leather seats and an expansive cocktail menu.

Congratulations to all the winners. Our city is a better place with you in them.