Overview
It's that time of the year again: the silly season, the month of merriment — whatever you want to call it, it's here. And we bet you're now trying to figure out where exactly you should be celebrating. To help you out, we partnered with Pernod Ricard, to wrangle up some of the best Sydney spots for ringing in the festive season. Rooftops for summer afternoons, a CBD all-day restaurant serving up top-notch Italian nosh and a 30s-themed champagne bar for the most opulent of celebrations, Sydney is the perfect summer playground.
So, crack open the bubbly, wine and dine, and catch up with mates before the year is done. It's time to get silly.
MATTEO DOWNTOWN
Matteo Downtown is a sprawling, all-day Italian eatery in the heart of the CBD — an ideal spot to enjoy the Christmas lead-up joie de vivre for the workaholics among us. With an open kitchen, large woodfire ovens, a dedicated mozzarella station, marble countertops and blazer-clad waiters, the Downtown hits the upscale yet inviting atmosphere Italians do so well. Taking its cues from the vibrant cities of Milan and Rome, the place is a flurry of activity from early morning espressos to late-night digestifs, with an impressive food offering right through.
Order a seasonal cocktail, snack on some antipasto, share (or don't share) a friarielli pizza with smoked fior di latte or enjoy the beef tartare — chopped and dressed on a tableside trolley — with schiacciata (a scrumptious Tuscan flatbread). Pair your pizza or the beef (or both) with a deep red like the St. Hugo cabernet sauvignon and you'll be feeling rightfully merry in no time.
Jiwon Kim.
NICK AND NORA'S
Inspired by Dashiell Hammett's novel The Thin Man and its characters Nick and Nora Charles, Paramatta's Nick and Nora's transports you back to Prohibition-era decadence. Atop the Crown's V building with views overlooking the city and Sydney Harbour, the opulent fit-out with art-deco accents is made for lavish celebrations. Champagne is the game here, with over 50 varietals from some of the world's most renowned houses.
Dine on fine cheeses, sip Mumm and indulge in watermelon granita-covered oysters or some of the world's best caviar; Nick and Nora's indulges your inner hedonist.
EAST VILLAGE HOTEL
Darlinghurst's three-tiered East Village Hotel has three wildly different levels to suit anyone's idea of silly season. Overlooking the city's skyline, the Terrace is a bright, breezy and laidback spot synonymous with summer soirées. The decor is simple: crisp white furniture with a touch of pink and an abundance of plants. The vibe? Coastal chill meets garden party elegance where bottles of Mumm seem called for.
Below you'll find the Athletic Club — East Village's interpretation of a sports bar. Sporting bespoke poker tables and leather Chesterfield booths, it's more of a British gentleman sports club rather than your Aussie NRL viewing hotspot. On the ground level, the public bar has more of a wine bar feel, with a strong selection of wines and a refined pub fare offering.
Kitti Gould.
TERMINUS HOTEL
After a 30-year hiatus and a major revamp, this 177-year-old pub reopened its doors earlier this year and welcomed in the 21st century. The Terminus is a homage to the Australia of yesteryear and has retained much of its heritage — the central bar with original green tiling, restored sandstone in the lower courtyard and even the pre-existing stairs.
Downstairs, Turkish-born chef Bektas Mustafa Ozcan puts his Mediterranean spin on Australian classics as well as some Turkish bar snacks to nibble on. The marble-topped Tram Bar slings up craft beers and has a lengthy, largely accessible wine list with a selection of premium drops like St Hugo cabernet sauvignon and Mumm Grand Cordon also available.
Upstairs is Vera's, the cocktail bar named after Vera Dempsey who ran the Terminus back in the 30s. The signature Terminus Sour — Chivas 12 whisky and Pernod absinthe, shaken with fresh lemon juice and house-made thyme syrup, then strained over ice – doesn't go astray.
HYDE PARK HOUSE
Hyde Park House is a four-level extravaganza with very distinctive floors. The public bar (aptly named Public Bar) is a polished, simple spot to pull up a stool around the central bar, have a chinwag and wash down some greasy pub food with a brew. On level two there's The Club Lounge, a private function area. Ascend the stairs again and you'll find the swish cocktail lounge, Jessie's, with a rotating roster of local DJs every Friday.
But it's the rooftop level, Slim's, that impresses. Ruffled pink umbrella's, city views and cacti in abundance, the atmosphere evokes a carefree spirit where spritzes, a glass of Mumm and classic cocktails with an Asian twist flow aplenty. With izakaya-style food — think sushi rolls, wasabi karaage chicken, barbecued prawns and miso eggplant — to match, it's the summer hang to ring in the festivities.
Start planning your festive hangs — Christmas will be here before you know it. And if you're entertaining at home or just having a Sunday arvo barbie down at the beach, waltz on into any Cellarbrations, The Bottle O, IGA Liquor or Big Bargain Bottleshop, grab any two Pernod products listed here and go in the draw to win a $500 travel voucher, offered every day until Christmas.