Overview
For the third year in a row, the Sydney Opera House has undergone its seasonal transformation into a Summer Playground. The official 2015 program has been announced today and heading it up is an alfresco beach bar, courtesy of The House Eatery by George.
Open from 9am till late, seven days a week, the pop-up brings a laidback, coastal vibe to the harbourside. Kick back in a low-slung cabana chair under a beach umbrella and sample the cocktail menu, which includes the rapaska (vodka, fresh raspberry and passionfruit puree, fresh cloudy apple juice, orange juice) and the San Francisco-invented Tommy's margarita (Olmeca Altos Plata tequila, fresh lime juice, agave syrup). Food-wise, the menu is of the classic, summer-inspired variety, featuring healthy salads, finger sandwiches and hearty burgers.
For a more posh option during SP, there's the Veuve Clicquot Airstream Pop-Up Bar, where you can indulge in a 2004 vintage champagne, pints of prawns, seafood platters and oysters. Meanwhile, the Opera Bar will be going troppo, with coconut cocktails, fruit-flavoured slushies and beach-hut-inspired décor. Following a recent revamp, the venue is now in the hands of the Solotel Hospitality Group, with fresh Aussie produce champion Matt Moran taking care of the menu and Goodgod’s Adam Lewis managing the live entertainment.
Get to the Summer Playground ticket kiosk at midday each day to score $25 tickets to selected Summerhouse shows. Big names on this year's lineup include Tim Minchin, Roxette and Angus and Julia Stone.
Finally, there'll be loads of family-style fun. Kids are invited to create LEGO sculptures, which will be turned into original musical compositions and broadcast in the Opera House's Western foyers, hang out in onsite sand pits and get along to more than sixty free and friendly-priced live performances.
For more info, check out the Summer Playground program here.