As the name suggests, Lounge Lovers is the place to head when your cosy spaces need a bit of a zhuzh. A company dedicated to providing beautiful homewares at affordable prices, Lounge Lovers has a team of in-house buyers that works directly with the suppliers to ensure it can continue to offer modern and luxurious decor pieces at a competitive price. Initially starting out as an online store, founder, Derek Kerr, quickly realised the demand to sit on and feel furniture before purchasing is a huge priority for people like us who aren't willing to risk being stuck an uncomfortable couch.
After a stint in Heath Ledger's hometown, this stunning exhibition is making its way east to Canberra's National Film and Sound Archive. Celebrating the Perth-born actor's charisma, exemplary career and passionate creativity, Heath Ledger: A Life in Pictures is a must-see for all Ledger fans. Put together by AGWA, the WA Museum and guest curator Allison Holland, the exhibition follows Ledger's career from his teenage years up to his final role in The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus (2009). You'll get to see costumes — including the Joker suit from The Dark Knight and the shirts he wore as Ennis del Mar in Brokeback Mountain — alongside research journals (on display for the first time) that grant an insight into how Ledger developed his roles. Also included in the show are photographic portraits by the likes of Karin Catt and Bruce Weber, Ledger's Best Supporting Actor Oscar and BAFTA, and a chronological narrative of his career — including his own experimentation with image making and creative projects as a director. Promises to be a bittersweet reminder of just how talented Ledger was, and what even greater heights he would have gone on to achieve.
It's the busiest time of year for both our calendars and our wallets. Though the silly season may feel like fun and games, it's worth remembering that December is the most important month of the year for many small business owners. This year, even more so. After so much turbulence, the 2021 festive trading season is going to be critical for the recovery of the small businesses that make our local communities so special. Between all the end-of-year parties and the excessive present buying, you're going to be doing a lot of shopping in the next few weeks. So, we've teamed up with American Express to highlight some excellent spots around Sydney to get what you need — and support a small business in the process. Whether you're looking for an out-of-the-box gift for your crazy aunt, a gripping read for your summer getaway or a next-level ham for the main event, you'll find 'em all at these stores, which all warmly welcome American Express.
It's no secret we love a swimming hole. From Sydney to Melbourne to Brisbane and even over to Perth, we spend our spare January days driving in search of a swimmable body of water, and the other seasons eagerly awaiting the ripeness of summer. And the best part is that this country is full of swimming spots unique to our sunburnt landscape, both on rugged coast and hidden inland among bush and desert rocks. Caroline Clements and Dillion Seitchick-Reardon visited a whole heap of them as 'research' for their book, Places We Swim. While the book collates handy information about 60 pools, lakes, beaches and gorges across the country, here, they detail five of the stunning spots that you should most definitely plan a road trip around before summer ends. Recommended reads: The Best Australian Beaches The Best Australian Islands to Visit Anytime of the Year The Best Glamping Spots in Australia The Best Pet-Friendly Hotels in Australia Clarence Dam, Blue Mountains, NSW Dressed in native gumtrees, the landscape here feels like true blue Australiana. Around Christmas time, the tea tree near the waterline turns white, like it's somehow snow-covered in the middle of summer. The reserve is home to two disused railway dams (that feel like lakes) built to supply water for steam engines, and is still bordered at the north side by a functioning western railway corridor. But the Crown Land area is now used mostly for public recreation such as bushwalking, rock climbing, canyoning and swimming. Swimmers are in for a treat. Huge pieces of ironstone protrude out of the water in soft shapes of all sizes, like artful, abstract sculptures. It's not the water that makes this swimming hole great, it's the rock. Some have an architectural quality, which starts to make a lot of sense when we remember we were brought here by an architect. The water is cool and deep, and we swim from a low entry point over to a large ten-metre-high wall. The drop is sheer; it's also a rite of passage for local teenagers. We're about 20 years older than most, but we take the deep plunge into the cool freshwater below, slapping the water with our feet first. In other sections there are rope swings tied to tree branches at different heights, but this is no amateur set-up. There are various jumps that range from your standard rope swing to full-on carnival trapeze, none of which should be taken lightly. If jumping isn't your thing, floating down the river in an inflatable ring might be. How far? The dam is located in the Blue Mountains, close to Lithgow — about a two-hour drive from Sydney. Little Blue Lake, Mount Gambier, South Australia The pool sits in an unassuming paddock about 15 kilometres south of Mount Gambier, looking a little lonely and out of place. It makes more sense when you learn that Baby Blue is a sinkhole, formed by the gradual collapse of an underground cave. The pool has an average depth of about 35 metres and it isn't unusual (but it is a little creepy) to see the odd diver suddenly emerge from below. In fact, this area is one of the best inland diving destinations in the world, with a Swiss-cheese network of 500 underground caves and 50 sinkholes to explore. For our purposes, however, surface swimming is just about the right speed. Sheer 10-metre limestone walls make this an iconic South Australian jump and a rite of passage among locals. Like many places, signs forbid jumping here and there are murmurs of council-enforced fines, though nobody seems too concerned. Jump at your own discretion. Alternatively, take the steps down from the carpark side of the pool to a shiny new pontoon. This makes for a more gentle entry and is an easy introduction to the cool water. A few natural terraces extend back towards the road, providing a great vantage to sit and watch, like a swimming amphitheatre. How far? The lake is located just south of Mount Gambier — about a five-hour drive from both Melbourne and Adelaide. Josephine Falls, Wooroonooran National Park, Queensland It could only be described as lust when we laid eyes on this series of tiered granite rock pools and waterfalls just south of Cairns in Wooroonooran National Park. This lush mountainous land, right on the coast, covers 75,000 hectares of the Bellenden Ker Range and forms part of the Wet Tropics World Heritage area. The range includes Mt Bartle Frere, Queensland's highest mountain (1622 metres). Josephine Falls sits at the base, with a constant flow from streams that cascade down the mountain, creating some of the cleanest waterways in the world. There are three spots to stop along this boardwalk. The first is where you get in to swim. We find people sitting and chatting in crystal clear shallow pools, while others laze on big boulders in the dappled light. The biggest rock pool has a sandy bottom and is bordered by a giant piece of slippery granite that people are queueing up at to slide down, some wearing inflatable iced strawberry doughnuts. Scrambling further up takes you to more rocky slides into smaller pools, and families splashing about and fishing for yabbies. The second stop is a deck that looks over the rock pools onto swimmers below. Continuing along the rainforest walk takes you to the third stop, a large viewing platform looking up to a flowing waterfall with a deep plunge pool. It's probably the most impressive of them all but, unfortunately, is not open to public swimming. How far? The falls are located in Tropical North Queensland — about an hour south of Cairns. Bushrangers Bay, Mornington Peninsula, Victoria This basalt coastline is quite unlike anywhere else in the area, or even the state. Volcanic black rocks emerge from clear blue water. Deep pools are filled at high tide and slowly warm throughout the day. It has a distinct look and feel, so you can imagine how our eyes popped out of our heads when we saw this secret spot featured in the 2009 film adaptation of Where the Wild Things Are. Indeed, it seems like a natural place for a wild rumpus, and you will see lots of kangaroos if you arrive early in the morning. Don't be surprised to see waves exploding onto the beach, as it is exposed to a constant barrage of swells from the south. We prefer the safety and beauty of the nearby tidal rock pools. Follow the beach east towards the rocky headlands. The most prominent feature is Elephant Rock and the best pools are distributed around its base, on the left-hand side. Water is always clear here and often a few degrees warmer than the ocean – Victoria's version of a spa bath. Remember, this is a low-tide-only spot, so take a moment to make sure that rogue waves aren't crashing into the pools before jumping in. Otherwise you may suddenly find yourself inside a washing machine or heading out to sea. How far? The bay is located on the Mornington Peninsula — about an hour and a half from Melbourne. Emma Gorge, The Kimberley, Western Australia The dramatic Emma Gorge falls pour over a 65-metre-high cliff into a large plunge pool, punctuating the end of the 1.6-kilometre hike in. The track begins at Emma Gorge Resort, and winds past the deep Turquoise Pool (also a great spot to swim, which we take note of for later) before arriving at the falls. The water is refreshingly cool, shaded by the looming cliffs for most of the day. Tourists dribble in and out, dropping piles of clothes on rocks as they stare up at the falls in awe before shocking their hot, sweaty bodies with the water's cool, pristine touch. The plunge pool is deep and wide with a rocky bottom, but the water is so clear and fresh, you could drink it. We bliss out for a few hours before making out way back along the track past Turquoise Pool, where we take another plunge. The surface water here is lit up by the sun, giving it the turquoise colours it's named for, while people gather at the fringes to cool off. A rock jump begs us to plunge from a height rather than scramble over a slippery entry. Emma Gorge is one of the most incredible places we've been, even late in the season when the water isn't flowing at its best. How far? The gorge is located just west of Kununurra — about halfway between Broome and Darwin. This is an edited extract from Places We Swim by Caroline Clements and Dillion Seitchick-Reardon, published by Hardie Grant Travel. Images: Dillon Seitchick-Reardon.
Sydney's oldest pub, the Fortune of War, reopened in May 2025, ready to receive guests again almost 200 years after it first opened. Relaunching with the new 60-seat Bistro 1828 and an expansive breakfast offering, the venue's next chapter is bound to be a bright one in its enduring history. Nestled in a heritage-listed building, two neighbouring retail stores and a bar were carefully transformed to create the new bistro, with its name serving as a nod to the year former convict Samuel Terry founded this venerable institution. While the venue was revamped, maintaining its old-world character was a vital consideration for WDS Hotels group co-owner Steve Speed. Inside, design details reflect the building's immense legacy, from beaten copper panelling to 19th-century medicine bottles and old maps. Says Speed: "We had outgrown the previous space, so by opening Bistro 1828, more people are able to enjoy the historic charm, character and sense of community that accompanies every visit to Sydney's oldest pub." From its home on the corner of George and Globe Streets, the bar offers a mix of high, table and bench seating. Slide into the Italian leather banquettes to sip down a cold brew as the sun streams in through the stained-glass windows. Then, in the main dining room, floor-to-ceiling windows and an elevated rear space provide several cosy spots to suit your mood. Meanwhile, a new open kitchen slots between these zones, significantly increasing the venue's capabilities, with an extensive breakfast offering an exciting addition. Led by Executive Chef Mark Williamson (The Woollahra Hotel), the menu spans classic and signature options, like avo on toast, eggs benedict and breakfast burgers, alongside the Fortune of War big breakfast. Plus, there's a bloody mary made with the pub's secret recipe set to give your day a boost. The venue's all-day dining menu is available to order from in the original pub, Bistro 1828 or amid the sunny al fresco area. Regulars will be happy to know that much-loved favourites like the beef and Guinness stew and the fish and chips are still on the menu, while Williamson has added fresh salads, pastas and shared starters. The Fortune of War's accommodation has also received a complete renovation, with the upstairs Russell Boutique Hotel ready for bookings. Featuring 28 rooms with unique designs, each offers a sophisticated blend of modern comforts and vintage charm, from antique furnishings to marble fireplaces. "[The Fortune of War] has been a destination watering hole for almost 200 years, and this renovation will ensure it stays that way for the next 200," says Speed.
So you've experienced another Sydney winter — not that it was even that cold; the weather was simply beautiful. But nevertheless, it's safe to say we're all ready to shed our layers and head outdoors for some quality time in the sun. Instead of sticking to your favourite beach or local park in the warmer Sydney days ahead, why not venture a little further afield into the countryside? Spanning ocean and desert, NSW boasts an abundance of local food, live music and breath-taking nature to take in. From the lush Hunter Valley vineyards to the dusty flats of Broken Hill, there are festivals and events for every taste. And it's all happening in spring, the season that isn't as hot or busy as summer. Do you need any more convincing? Without some planning, however, your next three months are going to look a little dull. To help you out, we've pulled off our winter mittens for good, and teamed up with Destination NSW to put together a handy list of top things to do with your entourage just in time for the sun to reveal its glorious face.
If you're a dinosaur fan in Sydney, life keeps finding a way to indulge your interest in prehistoric creatures. Sydney's latest: Jurassic World: The Exhibition, which roars into town with life-sized, lifelike critters, as well as a celebration of 30 years since the first Jurassic Park movie initially rampaged across the big screen. A showcase with the same name displayed in Melbourne back in 2016, but this Harbour City visit comes after stops everywhere from London, San Diego, Paris and Madrid to Seoul, Shanghai and Toronto — running from Friday, September 22, 2023–Sunday, February 18, 2024. Expect to feel like you've been transported to Isla Nublar, complete with a walk through the big-screen saga's famed gates. From there, you'll walk through themed environments featuring dinos, including a brachiosaurus, velociraptors — yes, get ready to say "clever girl" — and a Tyrannosaurus rex. Also linking in with the animated Jurassic World: Camp Cretaceous series, there'll be baby dinos, including the show's Bumpy. Sydneysiders and visitors to the New South Wales capital can get roaming, and staring at animatronic dinos, at the 3000-square-metre SuperLuna Pavilion at Sydney Showground in Sydney Olympic Park. Now, all that's left is to decide which Jurassic franchise character you want to emulate (the best choices: Laura Dern's palaeobotanist Ellie Sattler, Sam Neill's palaeontologist Alan Grant and Jeff Goldblum's mathematician Ian Malcolm, of course). And no, when Michael Crichton penned Jurassic Park in 1990, then Steven Spielberg turned it into a 1993 film, they wouldn't have expected that this'd be the result three decades — and five more movies — later.
Whether you’re sipping on an elegant cocktail, smashing a VB at the pub or prefer your drinks on fire, everyone gets the drunken munchies. The below bars and restaurants are not only cool joints in their own right, they also encourage your boozy snacking – for free. THE LITTLE GUY What: The best popcorn. Ever. When: Available all day, every day Secretly spiced popcorn flows endlessly at the iconic Glebe bar. Their commitment to craft beer, love of all things bluegrass and nightly live music gives this little bar some big personality. The small eats menu is bar-bite focused as well, but the popcorn is worth grovelling for. Not that the loveable bartenders would make you: the popcorn is passed out in endless bowlfuls. MOJO RECORD BAR What: Tasty Toobs and Cheezels When: Available all night Dan Noble and the crew have hung up their pork crackling days for some vego friendly options. When the Tasty Toobs run out, the Cheezels are poured a plenty. Apart from these cheesy, salty freebees that help stave off those craft beer munchies, Mojo has some exciting upgrades ahead: including a top secret new menu and a live music venue. More on that to come. SHADY PINES SALOON What: Wild West peanuts When: Available all night Difficult to locate and worth the alleyway confusion, Shady Pines is no fancy cocktail bar; this no-frills saloon serves the most basic and necessary of bar snacks — shelled peanuts. This adds to the real country feel, though the cowboy hat-wearing bartenders, mounted game and blasting country music certainly add to the charm. Try the signature George Dickel cocktail ($8.50) — whiskey and fresh apple juice — while you munch away. UNCLE MING'S What: Snow pea crisps When: Available all night The underground bar is serving up its own brews, whiskey on fire and colourfully named cocktails — try the Misty Mountain Manhattan ($20) or the share cocktail Wet Bush ($42). Yes, there is plenty to love about the red-lit, speakeasy-style bar, but customers come craving the complimentary snow pea crisps. The dumpling menu ($9) is worth a look too, but these little snacks are a perfect complement to the boozy atmosphere. THE WILD ROVER What: Smoked almonds When: Available all night The Safari-painted walls, array of craft beer options and $1 oyster happy hour are much loved at this Irish pub, as are the free smoked almonds that will make your mouth water and keep the beers coming. Sip your beer from a steel mug while munching away on these irresistible treats. If you’re up for a bit of craic, this is the place to be. HINKY DINKS What: Retro Popcorn When: Available all night The 1950s style bar has a mantra: "cocktails first, questions later". And those first cocktails come served with free paprika sprinkled popcorn. Popped in a retro red machine and served in blue and white county fair cups, this bar snack is best eaten with a popcorn tequila cocktail ($18 – $22). Be sure to stay for dinner — the American-inspired menu won Best Bar Food from the Australian Bar Awards. TATLER SYDNEY What: Chilli Coated Nuts When: Available all night The live music on every week, artsy lounge area and posh cocktail menu isn’t the only reason to visit this popular night club. They offer complimentary chilli coated nuts — a delicious complement to any beverage. The snack is a milder cousin to wasabi peas and is an upscale take on the standard bar snack. This is the perfect bar to extend your night after dinner at Hinky Dinks next store. BAXTER INN What: Endless bowls of Pretzels When: Available all night The ultimate spot for swanky whisky lovers, the free pretzels are a simple yet necessary accompaniment to your drink here. Gaze up at the library wall of backlit whisky bottles while the retro dressed bartenders serve up these salty snacks. There will be no shortage here — the bowls seem to appear on telepathic command. EARL'S JUKE JOINT What: Spiced snack mix When: Available all night The 'Betta Meats' bar is always sure to have great beer, a good crowd, friendly bouncers and cool bartenders. They're also always sure to serve complimentary bar snacks, whether it be a bowl of mixed nuts or a spiced snack mix. They currently have Batch Brewing Co's What-A-Melon beer in 640ml bottles ($16), perfect to share with a date over some pre-dinner snacks. TIO'S CERVECERIA What: Bag o' Popcorn When: Available all night At the Surry Hills spot for all things Mexican kitsch, you can get an entire bag of popcorn all to yourself. It's flavoured with sweet and smoked paprika, a salty snack that goes well with their margaritas and Rio Bravo cerveza — the beer sits on ice below hanging bras and an alter to a haloed dog. The full menu of Mexican favourites and the rowdy crowd add to the fun atmosphere. GIGI What: Peanuts with your Pizza When: Available all night Newtown's most popular pizza joint always comes with a queue. Luckily, it also comes with a bowl of peanuts to stave off your pizza cravings. After all, Italian restaurants should be filled with family, friends and happiness, not hangry hipsters starving for a slice. Brilliantly, Gigi’s keeps the ambiance, and the waiting, worth it with their simple bar snack. RAMBLIN' RASCAL TAVERN What: Corn Nuts When: Available all night Why pop it when you can have it fried. The little bowl of crunchy corn kernels taste great with beer, cocktails or Mary's burgers — that's right, Ramblin' Rascal now has the Newtown favourite in-house. The hidden bar and throwback decor takes you out of the CBD in more ways than one. BAKER BROS What: Classy olives When: Available Fridays from 4pm until late This espresso bar turned Friday happy hour venue emphasises good coffee, good food and good wine. Sticking true to its Italian roots and ever feeding its patrons, Baker Bros serves olives as its bar snack of choice. They also have a bar and chef's menu available, making Friday hands down the best day to visit this friendly spot. BUTTON BAR What: Indian-style peanuts When: Available all night Served in an Indian-style curry pot, the classic bar snack is made fancy at Button Bar. The dimly lit, wooden pub bar is cosy even in its packed, noisy atmosphere. The mulled wine ($9.50) and extensive spirits menu adds to this vibe. You can also get 'Pizza All Night' ($12-$16), a hard bargain to pass up. THE DOCK What: Popcorn and dancing When: Available all night (mostly) With hilarious bartenders, a fun crowd and nights full of '90s pop, this wacky Redfern joint is an ever-changing cast of characters. But the old-school dancing isn't the only freebee at this bar — you can also get free popcorn all night long. Drink, eat, dance and be merry.
Star Wars fans, prepare to punch it on down to Sydney's Powerhouse Museum in November — and prepare to come face to face with 200 original objects from the popular sci-fi franchise at Star Wars Identities: The Exhibition. You might have to wait more than 12 months until Star Wars: Episode IX reaches cinemas late next year, but you can spend your days from November 16, 2018 until June 10, 2019 perusing the items that helped make space opera movie magic happen. Coming to Australia for the first time, that includes costumes, props, models and artworks from the Lucasfilm archives, complete with a galaxy's worth of favourites — think BB-8, R2-D2 and the Millennium Falcon just for starters. Get a glimpse of Yoda, you will, circa Star Wars: Episode V — The Empire Strikes Back. You'll also feel the power-hungry menace radiate from Darth Vader's suit from Star Wars: Episode VII — Return of the Jedi. Star Wars Identities is also an interactive exhibition, with creating your own unique character also part of the experience. If you've ever felt as though you should be hanging out in a cantina somewhere on a remote planet, here's your chance to answer a heap of questions, work through a series of stations and find your inner Star Wars hero. You won't need to use the force — rather, you'll receive a smart technology bracelet and a headset to use while you're in the exhibition (but if you want to say that you're using the force or even want to give midi-chlorians some credit, no one will stop you). The Powerhouse Museum is no stranger to Star Wars shenanigans, having hosted a weekend's worth of May the Fourth fun earlier this year. For those already planning their costumes for this 90-minute experience, you're welcome to attend as Han Solo, Leia Organa, Luke Skywalker or whichever other character you'd like — but helmets and masks will need to be left in the cloak room, and you'll also need to leave your lightsabers at home.
Our society has a love affair with retro. From vintage clothing to a quirky antique find, we cannot seem to get enough. Yet no retrospective romance seems to be as durable or resonate as emphatically as our relationship with vinyl records. No matter what market you go to on the weekend, the lure of a full crate of musical treasures is irresistible, causing fingers to curiously flick through the collection before finding that gem to take home and play on your record player (that you probably bought at the same market immediately afterwards). At First Sight understands this fascination and is taking over Carriageworks on Saturday, July 20, with an enormous record fair and live music event. So whether you are an audiophile or you just have an intangible sensory relationship with those black discs, you are sure to find something at this brand new utopia for vinyl fans. To better understand this connection with vinyl, Concrete Playground asked some of the musicians performing at the event just why these musical mementos retain their aura. Amy Franz, SUPER WILD HORSES What is your favourite memory involving vinyl? I must have been about 14 and there was a boy on whom I had a debilitating crush — the kind of crush that is crushing, as happens when you're a teenager. He gave me a 7" of the Stone Roses, 'She Bangs the Drums', and at the time I felt like he was trying to tell me that I should be a drummer. We'd had a jam at my house with a whole lot of music gear I took home on loan from the school music department and I think I'd bashed something out on the half a drum kit I had. It was probably the biggest musical encouragement of my life. It took me another 12 years to get around to playing the drums. Antonia Sellbach, BEACHES Why do you think vinyl retains its popularity in the digital era? Music sounds better on vinyl. There's also the whole sense of tradition and ritual to vinyl. By having to turn over a record at the halfway point you're more connected to the whole album experience. It's the ultimate surviving format, partly because it provides a much needed counter to the digital era. Vinyl is an object, a thing. It takes up space, it's a commitment. If you truly love an album, you'll probably buy it on vinyl. And album artwork always looks better in 12"x 12". Kate Wilson, THE LAURELS What was the first vinyl you ever purchased and why? I think my first was Frenzal Rhomb's 'Sorry about the Ruse' 7" single. I still have it, although I've lost the insert. The insert was a letter from Depeche Mode's record label, (unfairly) denying Frenzal Rhomb permission to release a song based on 1981 smash hit 'Just Can't Get Enough', entitled '(How can I) Fuck the System (If I just can't get it up)' — it was included as the B-side anyway. You could get it with a blue or a green cover — I got the green one, and my friend the blue. I remember we fabricated some loose and spurious pretence to bring them not only to school, but also into the classroom, where I recall we just kind of lovingly gazed at them. Being a severe teenage dork who carried a record like a teddy bear meant incredible parties and first dates were not on the agenda for me at that time. Why do you think vinyl retains its popularity in the digital era? Trends can often be retaliatory in nature. I think vinyl is the counterpoint to the impermanence, and inability to tangibly "own" digital media. There's a healthy element of childhood nostalgia, courtesy of parent's record collections. There is also the wildly addictive sport of crate digging. Additionally the length of the LP's reign as the dominant medium, coupled with the fact that people discarded whole collections when digital took over, mean there is a hell of a lot of music out there. The abundance keeps the price low and the variety high. Record collecting is one of the greatest and most rewarding strategy games on earth! You have to be quite knowledgeable about music to derive pleasure from flicking through dusty LPs for hours on end, so I think there is a carry over to the more casual music buyer that vinyl is the format of choice for people who are seriously into music, an idea abetted by the fact it's seen by most audiophiles as the superior sound format. Ben James, SONGS What is your favourite memory involving vinyl? Buying my own record player. Listening on my brother's before that was a no go, and annoying — I could only listen at half volume so that I could still listen out for him coming home and avoid a good thrashing. Emma Ramsay, HOLY BALM Why do you think vinyl retains its popularity in the digital era? VHS has not disappeared. The technology may have been surpassed but there will always be people interested in hacking old technology in creative ways or wanting to 'experience' older technology. VHS is still in people's lounge rooms, attics, garage sales. Vinyl retains popularity in the digital era, because the analog era still exists, it has not ended per se. They co-exist. And so one informs the other, giving an extended network and experience of how we find new music, and dig up old favourites. MARTY DOYLE, At First Sight Curator and FBi Presenter What was the first vinyl you ever purchased and why? I was born in the '80s. The ideals of the time were all about the race for the latest technology, so that meant cassettes and Walkmans with Dolby Noise Reduction for me. My dad had a lot of records, but i just thought they were things he rolled 'cigarettes' on. It wasn't until i was about 12 and started listening to hip hop that I paid attention to vinyl. When i saw footage of Grandmaster Flash DJing at a Block Party, i thought it was the coolest thing ever. 2 turntables and scratching? I went straight to my dad's record collection and started digging through it and I was amazed to find all this stuff in there I had heard from hip hop samples. I think the first record I found and recognised was Boz Scaggs 'Low Down' which was sampled by Sparky D. That was really the start of my vinyl obsession. I still bump that Boz Scaggs record, it's the definition of sophisticated easy listening. Owen Penglis, STRAIGHT ARROWS What was the first vinyl you ever purchased and why? I first started buying records because they were heaps cheaper than CDs — as a 14 year old you've got plenty of time to burn digging through the $2 bin, and you'd usually come out with something you'd heard of before. I pulled out The Eagles The Long Run because I'd heard they were supposed to be good. Let me tell you, they are fucking terrible: boring cocaine country rock shit. I threw the album in the oven and learnt that not only do LPs make for unusable bowls, but there's no time for shitty music. Why do you think vinyl retains its popularity in the digital era? It smells better than CDs. At First Sight is on at Carriageworks on Saturday, July 20. The record fair is free and entry to the live music is $35.
King Street, that gloriously bustling stretch from St Peters through Newtown and beyond, has long been where it's happening in the inner west. But, it's no secret the Newtown end attracts most of the attention. The End of King, almost hidden from view if not for a couple of unassuming tables outside, is another reason why we should be exploring the less trodden paths in life. First things first: this place isn't mind-blowingly amazing, but it's always great to see a venue reinvent itself. Surrounded by retro furniture shops on one side and St Peters Station to the other, The End of King used to be known as the Tram Stop Diner. But apart from a few positive reviews online, that's about all it was known for. As 2014 became 2015, however, so too came more change: we're talking new look, new menu and, of course, new name. Previously no stunner, in comparison the fresh, pale green/blue-painted, wood-heavy fit-out is a mighty fine improvement. It's also big; organised via share tables (one fat, one thin), bar seating, a line of tables towards the rear and one very cute window spot of potted greenery, a fat hanging brass light and lots of sunlight to watch the world go by. There's also free Wi-Fi and a long, easy-incline wheelchair ramp too, which is always very nice to see. While a little rough around the edges compared to similar-style places (think Three Williams), from the cool new logo, bright smiles of the staff (the kind of staff that brings you water, sets down the menu and asks if you need a coffee all in one — my favourite) and the family-influenced philosophy printed at the top of every menu, you can tell thought has gone into the relaunch. Sipping on our Toby's Estate coffee that arrived promptly and prettily, we learn owner and chef Sal, along with brother Naggy and wife Munu, have been serving up South Nepalese inspired food to Sydneysiders for 15 years. Naturally, we ordered their grandma's original recipe aloo chop (sauteed and spiced potato cakes, $15.90) and the shakshuka ($16.90). The former are described as "the best hangover cure this side of the Irrawaddy". Crispy, carby (although not stodgy) and packing just the right amount of punch via rich, runny yolks of chilli-fried eggs, let's just say it lives up to its description. The winner of the two, hands down, was the shakshuka. It took longer to arrive, but when it did we paused just a little more: the golden eggs ($2 extra per egg) still-cooking in their rich red tomato ragu and succulent lamb kofta bath, sprinkled with vibrant green coriander, looked almost too good to eat (almost). That and it was bloody hot (as it should be). Thank heavens for the two slices of sourdough to mop up the juices: always the perfect end. While The End of King may not be perfect, it's at least ticking all the boxes when it comes to food, service and atmosphere. And really, after a morning of exploring a new part of town, what more could you ask for?
'Nduja, chestnut puree, Kakadu plum hand cream, red gum smoked salt — they're not the types of products you'd normally expect to find in a local grocer. But you can at this Surry Hills institution. The family owned store has been servicing the neighbourhood for over a decade. It prides itself on stocking gourmet varieties of some of your pantry staples, plus a few harder-to-find or rare items from local and international producers. It's only a small space on the corner of Crown and Foveaux Streets, but it certainly jams as much as possible in. You'll find everything from fresh fruit and veg, premade meals and Iggy's Bread to aisles of dry products — think pasta, sauces, tea and coffee. And in a cosy corner up the back is the deli, which stocks imported European cheeses and an impressive range of cured meats. Images: Cassandra Hannagan
The Norton Street stalwart and true icon of Sydney's Little Italy, Bar Italia, has been a tried-and-true spot for a feast since 1952. Whether you sit within the trattoria's nostalgia-laden dining room or in the courtyard out back, come on your lonesome or with a group of ten, the buzzing spot overflows with low-key, good-time vibes. There's a boundless menu, $1 corkage and strict rules — 'No skim, no soy, cash only' — accompanying efficient service, generous servings and a bright roll call of housemade gelatos. The optimal way to feast? Take your pick of the pasta menu — our rec is the penne melanzane or spaghetti cozze — with a Bar Italia salad and spinach arancini alongside. Deliziosa! Pizza highlights at Sydney's bar Italia include the Etna with pepperoni, bacon, Spanish onions, capsicum, garlic and chilli, or the vegetarian plus with artichokes, sun-dried tomatoes, capsicum, olives, Spanish onions, eggplants and garlic. Appears in: The Best Italian Restaurants in Sydney for 2023
Market City is adding a new food hub to its offering, launching eight Asian eateries as part of the new 1909 Dining Precinct on its third floor. The precinct will open in stages, beginning with the unveiling of Australia's second Mr Meng Chongqing Gourmet outpost today, Thursday, March 8. Cheeky If You Are The One host Meng Fei is swiftly expanding his noodle franchise since opening in Melbourne in mid-2017. Sydney patrons can expect the chongqing spicy noodles and signature deep fried spring rolls on offer. This might seem a little weird, but Grandpa Meng is actually a Kim K-level celeb in China thanks to his shenanigans on the cult dating show and already has a string of noodles shops to his name. The remaining seven restaurants will all be open by mid-2018. They'll range from casual takeaway joints to full-on dining rooms, like the 200-seater that will house the first Australian site for Macau's popular hot pot chain, Dolar Shop. The other eateries will be Kogi, a Korean barbecue restaurant specialising in soju-marinated meats; YAYOI Japanese Teishoku, offering up set meals like wagyu beef hot pots and grilled eel on rice; Chinese eatery Beijing Impressions; and sushi train Fugetsu. Two additional restaurants are yet to be announced. The precinct's design is focused around a communal lounge area, with each restaurant boasting a custom fit-out. Jin Wu Koon, a Sydney-based dragon and lion dance team, will perform an official blessing ritual in the space today, which is meant to bring luck, fortune and prosperity. "We are excited to be evolving our offer to deliver an elevated day-to-night food experience, heralding a new era of dining at Market City and something we believe will further underscore our position as one of the city's most authentic and vibrant Asian food destinations," says Market City manager David Yam. The opening coincides with Market City's 21st anniversary and the dining hall's name reflects the year the building was constructed — then housing Sydney's first fruit and veg market. The precinct's launch marks the second stage of renovations, with the first floor food court revamped last year. 1909 Dining Precinct opens Thursday, March 8 on level three of Market City , 9–13 Hay Street, Haymarket. It will be open seven days a week until late. We'll keep you updated and you can check marketcity.com.au for more information.
Because you're reading this, we know you're not someone who once received a pet for Christmas, only to decide it wasn't for you. We know you're one of the good folks. You're probably wishing that you did receive a loveable animal as a gift, even if you already have one — or several — that you adore. We understand your yearning, and so does the RSPCA New South Wales. And, to find permanent homes for pups surrendered into its care from all over the state, it's lowering the adoption fee to $100 between Saturday, August 25 and Sunday, September 2. The week-long initiative is in honour of National Dog Day on Sunday, August 26 — but because every dog deserves more than its day, the RSPCA is extending the campaign across eight days. Although you can't put a price on the happiness that a new four-legged friend will bring, it's hoped that the low adoption fee will encourage people who have been thinking about adding a pet to their fam (and have considered it thoroughly) to make the commitment this week. The adoption fees — which usually range from $20–600 — help cover some of the costs of vaccines, training and microchipping for the animals. Across NSW, there are hundreds of animals that need a new home full of love and pats. There's more to pet adoption than overdosing on cuteness, of course, with making the commitment to care for an animal is serious business. For further information, read RSPCA's FAQs and head to a shelter.
Wildflower Brewing and Blending brings things back to basics, creating barrel-aged, blended wild beers that focus on balance, approachability and natural ingredients. Owner Topher Boehm has an innate fascination with crafting and learning — his previous preoccupations include book binding, bespoke shoe-making and brewing at Batch Brewing Company. In this naturalist vein, Boehm cultivates wild yeast found in New South Wales and uses Australian malts and hops where possible. Though barrel ageing, especially with wild yeast, can add a tart characteristic to the brews, Wildflower is not a sour beer facility. On the contrary, Boehm is focused on producing balanced, easy-drinking beers that are closer to farmhouse or saison-style ales than sours. Blending newly brewed beer with existing barrel-aged beer is what gives this balance between fresh and funky. In a Marrickville warehouse that's rumoured to have once acted as a rivet factory for the Sydney Harbour Bridge, Wildflower Brewing & Blending's space is very bare bones. It is clearly all about the French oak barrels, fifty of which currently line one wall. Boehm sourced these ex-wine barrels from Orange, working with heavyweight wineries like De Salis, Ross Hill and Canobolas~Smith. The beer is initially contract brewed at Batch and then transported to the Wildflower barrels for blending. Wildflower's core range includes a Table Beer, the Gold Blend and the Amber Blend. The Table Beer was inspired by the brewing culture Boehm experienced in France. He is specifically fond of beers you can pair with food, and describes his gold and amber ales as white wine versus red wine for this purpose. Images: Cassandra Hannagan Appears in: The Best Sydney Brewery Bars for 2023
Few restaurant openings in Sydney had as much hype surrounding them as The Lucas Group's Sydney outpost of its Melbourne mainstay Chin Chin back in 2017. Owner Chris Lucas is considered such a master of industry spin, marketing and branding that his concepts are almost always elevated into cult territory. So the question always was: would this translate to the Sydney market? In today's restaurant scene — which is, arguably, largely influenced by the success of the Melbourne restaurant's model — there's nothing unusual about the components that make up the Chin Chin concept: loud music, industrial design, strong branding, and punchy, super fast Asian fare. But the queue of people snaking down Commonwealth Street on a weeknight suggest otherwise. The food model is undoubtedly a smart one. Supported by a huge production kitchen downstairs, the well-oiled 'show kitchen' pumps out snappy Asian dishes at lightning speed, particularly if you order the 'epic feast' menu. Order a few beers and you'll likely get your pulled pork 'roll-ups' — that is, pancakes with slaw and plum sauce — before your beers arrive. Like most menus of Chin Chin Sydney's size, there are hits and misses in every section. The iceberg lettuce salad is too spicy for our palates and the squid too fried, but the egg noodles with prawn meat are more on the money. This dish has a nice balanced dose of chilli, and it doesn't last long on our table. The rotisserie and curry dishes are more reliable, so order one or two of these. The Griffiths Teas Building that the restaurant sits in has great bones and lots of natural light, booth seating and pale timber tones with splashes of Chin Chin's signature neon. The adjoining bar GoGo — where you'll probably have to kill time while you wait for a table — is a contrast to the restaurant with more mood and black velvet booths. The 'Chef's Table' offers an intimate private dining space for small groups, while groups of up to 120 people can be accommodated elsewhere. The Asian-style cocktail offering and approachable wine list mean that, when you do get a seat, you can have a fun, boozy time without blowing hundreds of dollars. And if this is what you're going in for — and you don't mind having to yell at the person sitting next to you or potentially overdosing on chilli — you'll leave satisfied. But if you've been privy to the hype, you may not be so willing to let even a few disappointing dishes slide. The problem with hype is expectation, and if you head to Chin Chin Sydney — a restaurant that's no longer so fresh — with a fistful of it, you might be a little disappointed. Images: Leticia Almeida and Tom Ferguson.
On a huge corner location in one of Sydney's most vivid and exciting suburbs, Malabar in Darlinghurst is classic south Indian cuisine done with style, flair and a healthy sprinkling of tradition. As you enter the dining room you'll first notice the life-size murals of people in traditional south Indian dress staring across at you, like stoney faced Maharajahs willing you to sit down and feast with them. The table settings are elegant and understated, while historical artworks are thoughtfully placed around the room, as if to remind you that tradition and history are intricately linked with Indian cuisine. Tradition is big here, with all the spice masalas ground in house, meat cut on the premises and fresh produced sourced from local farms — whatever local farms means when in Darlinghurst. Malabar's menu is all about colour, texture and flavour and the chefs prepare everything using traditional methods. The starters include cauliflower florets mixed with spicy potato, fresh coriander and red onions, and wild caught barramundi marinated in a coulis of chilli powder, crushed coriander, turmeric and homegrown curry leaves. [caption id="attachment_912373" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Malabar's famous dosai[/caption] They also offer a range of dosai — these are a South Indian specialty of light and crispy fermented rice and lentil crepe wrapped around a filling. Options include the masala dosai with mashed potatoes and mustard seeds, the chicken paneer with pulled chicken, tomatoes, curry leaves and black pepper, or the prawn dosai with a tangy and spicy tomato relish and green capsicum. Our favourite Malabar main? It has to be the a medium-hot goat mappas marinated in green chilli and turmeric, slow cooked with fresh coconut paste. And for vegetarians, there's the matthanga kootu with split chickpea, pumpkin and coconut paste dressed with ginger, green chilli and cumin. Order some basmati rice and a heap of garlic and cheese naan to create a veritable Indian feast. Malabar South Indian Restaurant also an impressive wine list here, which pairs with the food wonderfully. For a crisp white, try bottle of Italian pinot grigio from Corte Giara, while if you're after a bold red to pair with your beef vindaloo, then the Running with Bulls Tempranillo from the Barossa is a fab option. Alternatively, Malabar has a BYO license for wine only (corkage $5 per person) if you feel like bringing your fave drop from home.
La Coppola is the type of neighbourhood pizzeria that instantly makes you feel like a local — and has you leaving wishing you were one. Walk into the hole-in-the-wall eatery along Redfern Street, and the first thing you'll notice is impeccably moustachioed owner Stefano Scopelliti slinging pizzas into the woodfired oven. The second thing you'll spot is some seriously good-looking pizzas, with the joint's slices combining imported Italian ingredients with fresh produce from down the street. Churning out Sicilian-style pizzas that are crispy on the outside, fluffy on the inside and definitely not soggy, the popular spot is home to a range of family-inspired creations. Favourites include the 'ciccio' (named after his son Francesco), as well Stefano's personal pick, the 'contesse' with fior di latte, mushroom, roasted capsicum, artichoke and salami. "It's food that's been passed down for generations and has always been in the family — it's giving a little bit of Sicily to Redfern," he explains. Stefano's sixth restaurant in Sydney, and operating for seven years in Redfern, La Coppola also offers a healthy rotation of specials on any given night. Grab a seat at the cosy communal table and, if you're lucky, you might find yourself switching slices and sharing booze (which can be bought in house or BYO for a small fee) with strangers-turned-friends. Not only has item on the menu been influenced by Stefano's Italian roots, but with daughter Cassie joining the operation, his passion for food has clearly been passed down to the next generation. Cassie used to return from her travels with a new flat cap, or coppola, for her father, which is where the restaurant gets its name from. Food-wise, you'll see her imprint in some of her favourite recipes.
Your mates at Concrete Playground know how much you guys love Nutella. Sydney lost its collective shit (and rightfully so) over those damn Tella Ball milkshakes, and Melbourne eats so much of the stuff they caused a temporary nation-wide shortage. As addictions go, we suppose it could be worse. Point is, when we heard there was going to be a toaster-shaped Nutella food truck rolling around the country, we figured you'd want to hear about it. Especially since all the goodies on board will be free. The food truck menu has been devised by Alistair Fogg, the man behind Sydney's Nighthawk Diner. Think stewed winter berries with Nutella and toasted coconut, raisin toast with Nutella and berries, and a crepe stack with Nutella and crispy bacon. It's only one item per customer per day, unfortunately. Let's just say at this stage, we're not ruling out the possibility of trailing the truck from town to town like the insatiable groupies we so clearly are. The road trip begins in Sydney's Wynyard Park on Wednesday, June 15. Other stops in the Harbour City include Centenary Park (June 16), Sydney Uni (June 17) and Glebe Markets (June 18), before the long haul down the Hume Highway via Lithgow (June 19), Goulburn (June 20), Wagga Wagga (June 21), Albury (June 22), Bendigo (June 23) and Ballarat (June 24). In Melbourne they'll hit St Kilda (June 25-26) and Southbank (June 27), before wrapping up their journey in Geelong (June 28). As for Brisbane, we've got our fingers crossed you might be added to the itinerary. If not, we'll send you a Nutella-smeared postcard. Find the complete list of dates, times and locations for the Nutella Road Trip at the official Facebook page.
Yulli's, Surry Hills' purveyor of standout vegetarian fare and great brews since 2008, expanded back in 2018 when it created Yulli's Brews — its taproom and restaurant in Alexandria. While the space itself wasn't new — owner Karl Cooney and head brewer James Harvey had been in there for a while brewing award-winning ales — it was the first time the space opened to the public. And like Yulli's, it's totally per cent vegan. From the beer through to the wine to the neat lineup of bush tucker-meets-Southeast Asian eats, not a fish scale, cheese crumb or bacon rind appears. But it doesn't skimp on flavours — or personality, which carries through from the eclectic design to the anthropomorphic beers. The space, which can hold 150 people, is split into two areas — a ground floor for big tables and standup beers, and a large mezzanine for sit-down eats — and is filled with tables made from repurposed boat decking and vintage finds from nearby Lunatiques. Designed by Surry Hills' Snell Architects, it has an industrial edge (fitting, for a warehouse) with plenty of nods to Yulli's past. Take a seat on the mezzanine floor and you'll be able to look straight into the production area and watch Harvey and Cooney brewing. You'll also be able to taste brand-new Yulli's brews, including its first cider, Margo. Like all its brews, the dry and fruity apple cider is named after an employee. If you're not a beer — or cider — fan, fear not: Yulli's Brews has a full bar. And it's all local. And all vegan. Cooney admits that sourcing completely vegan wines — that are all from NSW — was tough, but well worth the effort. On the lineup of local spirits, expect to also see plenty of nearby distillers — with Archie Rose making a notable appearance. Food is a mishmash of cuisines. You'll find kale and eggplant gyoza topped with chickpeas and dumplings served with crispy enoki. Larger plates see eggplant penang curry with steamed rice and wok-tossed fettuccine with cauliflower cream sauce. You shouldn't feel any guilt about drinking and eating the day away over at Yulli's Brews in Alexandria. Appears in: The Best Sydney Brewery Bars for 2023
Working's tough y'know? Workin' 9-5, takin' meetings, chasin' clients, adujstin' ties. Sometimes you just need a little pick-me-up in the middle of the day, a little nap, a cheeky doze, a sneaky snooze. Studies have shown taking 10-20 minute power naps during the day can boost your alertness and make you a more productive, switched-on worker. It's well-known that post-lunch siestas are a common tradition in some countries like Spain. So how does one successfully nap in the midst of a busy working environment? We've rounded up the best new inventions and Sydney facilities to help you get that quick little shut-eye you need to re-energise, blitz that Power Point preso and score a glowing compliment from your boss. No pyjamas needed. NAP DESKS This is the newest one we've all be freaking out over this week. Created by Greek design firm NL Studios, the '1.6 S.M. of Life' (doesn't that just roll off the tongue?) is a new desk with its own in built-in sleep pod that seems perfect for a quick on-the-job power nap. Made from solid wood, metal and white leather, the prototype includes a slide-out top and removable side panels, allowing you to easily transform it from desk to bed and back again. According to an interview with A' Design Awards and Competition, designer Athanasia Leivaditou came up with the idea after seeing her graduate school classmates sleeping on chairs during late night study sessions. "The main concept was to comment [on] the fact that our lives are shrinking in order to fit into the confined space of our office," she said. NAP PODS Nap pods are becoming commonplace in high tech, forward-thinking workplaces around the globe, but if your workplace isn't Facebook or Google, you might need to get creative. There's a couple of Sydney nap pods around the city, but often you either have to work there, have a gym membership or be a Sydney Swan. There's nap pods in the SCG reserved for A-grade players, and there's pods in the Virgin Active gym in Pitt Street Mall. Maybe you should ask your boss to budget for (or if it ain't gon' happen, get your office to crowdfund) a nap pod — there's some schwanky, exxy ones at Podstyle or Metronaps. OSTRICH PILLOWS Take a micro-sleep in privacy and comfort - anywhere, anytime. One of our favourite Kickstarter inventions of 2013, the ‘Ostrich Pillow’ might well have been just another designer’s castle in the air. But with 1,846 backers having provided support to the tune of $195,094, it’s become every dreamer’s reality – in airports, offices and parks all over the world. Architecture and design studio Kawamura-Ganjavian (also known as Studio KG) made the Ostrich Pillow as a revolutionary new product to enable easy power naps anytime, anywhere. "[Its] unique design offers a micro environment in which to take a cosy and comfortable power nap at ease," their Kickstarter page said. "Its soothing soft interior shelters and isolates your head and hands (mind and body) for a short break, without needing to leave your desk, chair, bench or wherever you may be.’ Made of ‘Flexible Fabric’ and filled with ‘micro balls’, the pillow is being sold online by Studio Banana Things for $US99. ISOLATION PODS Nothing says 'go the fuck away, I'm nappin' here' like pulling an entire tent over your desk. Invented by Eden Law, a an MFA student at New York’s School of Visual Arts (SVA), the Nutshell lets you find the cocoon of peace you've been after, right at your desk. Aimed at reducing stress and providing a temporary respite from your co-workers, it's a collapsible, wearable, device, "a pod-inspired platform for productive break-taking." If nothing else, it'll simply freak your co-workers out enough they'll leave you alone forever. While the Nutshell isn't in stores yet — a bloody student invented it as an assignment, because crippling genius — we've got everything crossed for worldwide distribution. In the meantime, we'll just have to make do with making isolation pods out of our jackets, magazines and anything else that will stop Janet asking for that campaign budget. DROP-IN MEDITATION CENTRES Yeah, so not exactly a nap, but the effects of meditation should leave you as refreshed and spritely as a strong cup of #damngoodcoffee. The good folk at Centred Mediation in Sydney’s CBD can help you find a state of light nappery, as Australia’s first guided meditation drop-in studio. The drop-in factor means it’s one of the best for busy people and full-time workers as their 30-minute guided meditation session are designed to chill you out on your lunchbreak and don’t even require you to sit cross-legged on the floor in your ironed suit pants. The centre is set up with comfortable armchairs, where you repose with a cup of tea and allow your brain to stop worrying about quarterly fiscal doodads and synergy feelings. Sounds pretty dreamy. GET CREATIVE If your office isn't about to invest in nap desks, nap pods or Ostrich Pillows any time soon, you're going to have to Macguyver the situation. Wear sunglasses indoors for a cheeky, highly unsubtle siesta at your desk. Bring a plane pillow and earplugs for naps on the loo. Leave your expensive belongings in the office and hit the park for a lawn-based nap. Just be wary your sleeping self could be pilfered by thieves, because people suck, so leave the laptop behind. If all else fails, plonk your forehead on the keyboard. Just don't get fired now. By Tom Clift, Imogen Baker, Jasmine Crittenden and Shannon Connellan.
Northern Beaches residents rejoice. If you've already made your way through the area's selection of top-notch beachside breweries, there's another spot to add to your must-try list — Freshwater Brewing Company. It unveiled a 120-capacity taproom and restaurant in 2022, pouring its approachable craft beer creations. This fresh-fish face on the local brewing scene was established in 2020, releasing its first beer, the Freshie Pils. Since then, the Freshwater Brewing Company stocklist has expanded to include two more pilsners — the Pacific Pils and the Duke's Czech Pilsner — the Mexican-style Wedge Cerveza and the Secrets Hazy Pale. All five beers are available across the Freshwater Brewing Co's 14 taps, accompanied by a bright, welcoming space and a memorable food menu. Behind the bar sits a range of wines, curated alongside a bright summery spritz to accompany frothy beers on warm Sydney days. "Community is in the brand's DNA, and this gives us an opportunity to create a space for our friends, family and neighbours, and create a brewery for all that embodies the Australian surf lifestyle," Freshwater Brewing Company co-founder Jonny Bucknall said. The best part of all this? Freshwater Brewing Co is pooch-friendly, so you'll never have to leave your best four-legged mate behind again. Appears in: The Best Sydney Brewery Bars for 2023
Nothing says winter like a hearty Sunday roast. Whether you're after the whole hog or a contemporary take on the traditional feast, the perfect hot meal is being served up weekly at some of the best venues in Sydney. Here are 11 to tick off your list, from a giant Yorkshire pudding packed with meat and veggies at Forrester's to a ten-course degustation at Nel Restaurant. Wherever you go, you can count on a belly full — and that fancy feeling you're a million miles from Monday. WATSON'S BAY BOUTIQUE HOTEL, WATSON'S BAY You might think of Watson's Bay Boutique Hotel as a classic summer destination, but it's now embracing winter just as wholeheartedly. Swing by from midday on a Sunday, and you can swap 35 bucks for a plate loaded in the traditional style. That means the meat of the day, plus Yorkshire pudding, potatoes, greens and, most importantly, lashings of gravy. If you can, nab a table in the sunset room upstairs. Floor-to-ceiling windows afford views of the harbour while roaring fires keep things warm and cosy. It's extra special at sunset. FORRESTER'S, SURRY HILLS Every year since 2021, The Big Yorkie at Forrester's in Surry Hills has been one of Sydney's most popular winter dishes. The key to its success is simple yet ingenious: everyone knows that Yorkshire pudding is the best part of the roast, so Head Chef Patrick Friesen made it the main event. That's right, The Big Yorkie is a massive Yorkshire pudding. And it's filled to the brim with roasted meat, crispy spuds, seasonal veggies and loads of gravy. Even better, it's available every single day of the week, from midday till sold out. THE CUT BAR & GRILL, THE ROCKS For an especially indulgent Sunday afternoon, book a table at The Cut Bar & Grill in The Rocks. For $49, you'll be feasting on a smoky, slow-cooked Cape Grim prime rib, alongside Yorkshire pudding, hassleback potatoes, roasted onions, sautéed baby carrots and crushed baby peas. They all come bathed in a rich, red wine-infused gravy, with horseradish cream on the side. Do be tempted to follow up with a hot fudge sundae at $21. The roast is available every Saturday and Sunday from midday–3pm. BISTRO MONCUR, WOOLLAHRA Winter in Woollahra has become unimaginable without Sunday roast at Bistro Moncur. And, now that the chilly weather has set in, it's back for another round — with a menu that changes every six weeks. This season kicked off with Dewsbury pork belly, before moving onto Riverina lamb rump. It arrives at your table with Yorkshire pudding, duck fat potatoes, pumpkin puree, petits pois à la francaise and rosemary jus, at 45 bucks a plate. Every dish is the creation of London-born chef Tom Deadman, who took over the 30-year-old kitchen in 2022 after working at Read's in the UK (which had a Michelin star at the time) and Becasse in Surry Hills. WOOLLAHRA HOTEL, WOOLLAHRA In the same building as Bistro Moncur, you'll find the Woollahra Hotel. And it has a Sunday roast all of its own. For $32, you'll get a plate loaded with slow-roasted pork belly, alongside braised red cabbage, glazed carrots and crispy potatoes — all lathered in house-made gravy. Red wine is always a good idea on a cold day, and you'll find plenty of drops to choose from on sommelier Mark Blake's list, including many that are organic, vegan and preservative-free. Grab a seat in the shiny public bar, which was polished within an inch of its life during a major reno in 2023, or head for the neon-lit, greenery-splashed courtyard. NEL RESTAURANT, SURRY HILLS The traditional roast is such a good formula, it's hard to mess with it without, well, messing it up. But one chef who challenges convention every year — and seriously pulls it off — is Nelly Robinson, owner and Head Chef at NEL Restaurant. In his cosy bunker near Central Station, he's transformed the roast into a ten-course degustation. Every mouthful brings you those familiar, comforting, centuries-old flavours, but with a fun twist. Look out for dark ale-and-treacle crumpets, cauliflower mac and cheese, and at the heart of it all, a superb piece of lamb. It's on every Sunday throughout June and July. RED LION HOTEL, ROZELLE Sometimes, there's nothing better than keeping your Sunday roast simple at a neighbourhood pub. If that sounds like you, factor the Red Lion Hotel in Rozelle into your weekend plans. Every Sunday, you can kick back with a hearty feast for just $27. Chilly day? Grab a seat by the fire, where you'll warm up in no time. There's nothing quite like dining in front of roaring flames while the wind's howling outside. Alternatively, rug up and head out to the balcony, where you'll catch lovely sunset views. CASA ESQUINA, BALMAIN Another spot that's taken a new approach to tradition is Casa Esquina, an Argentinian restaurant in Balmain. Here, you can eat your roast in your hands — because it fits into a tortilla. As you settle in, your table will be covered in share plates of flame-roasted chicken, succulent porchetta, Old Bay fries with chipotle aioli, and mixed leaf salad dressed in black pepper-garlic vinaigrette. Spoon a little (or a lot) of each into a warm tortilla, top it with house-made salsa espanola — and voila, you'll have a roast keeping your fingers warm. The pleasure will set you back 60 bucks a pop, and is made for sharing. THE GOLDEN SHEAF, DOUBLE BAY In the Golden Sheaf's pretty, warmly lit, greenery-filled beer garden, you can tuck into a roast for $30. Your plate will arrive loaded with roast beef, Yorkshire pudding, golden potatoes, honey-and-mustard parsnips, carrots and rainbow chard — all doused in gravy. Add an entree in the form of charred Tassie octopus or crispy calamari, along with a glass of Untitled pinot noir from Victoria or a Right Bank shiraz from the Barossa Valley, and you'll be all set for a long and cosy afternoon. The beer garden is well heated — but if you're still cold, it's even warmer inside. THE GIDLEY, SYDNEY Like NEL Restaurant, The Gidley takes humble Sunday tradition to the next level. On the first Sunday of the month, the decadent underground steakhouse is dishing up four roast-inspired courses alongside matching fine wines — for $160 per person. Start with posh bites like confit duck cigars and tuna tartare, before moving on to charred red emperor grapes with mint and garlic butter beans. The main is a rib roast served with red wine jus and sides of potato gratin, creamed spinach and iceberg salad. And for dessert? Warm apple crumble with Grand Mariner custard and buttermilk ice cream. If you want to get even fancier, add caviar or a cheese plate featuring local and imported cuts.
A new rooftop hotel in Melbourne is offering a luxurious alternative to the cramped family camper you would have piled into as a kid. Opening on Friday, August 26 atop a Flinders Lane carpark in the CBD, this boutique venture consists of six vintage airstream caravans transported from the U.S. and completely refitted as "designer urban accommodation", complete with queen size bed, split-system heating and cooling, and a fridge full of complimentary craft beer and wine. Throw in a little laneway graffiti art and this couldn't get any more Melbourne if it tried. In addition to the amenities listed above, each caravan at Notel Melbourne comes with a television, linen and an en suite bathroom with full height shower. Sounds a little cosy, but sometimes that's exactly what you need, especially when you're dealing with chilly Melbourne weather. There's also an 'Airstream with benefits' ultra-luxe option, which includes access to a goddamn spa outside your trailer. The rooftop itself, meanwhile, has recently gotten a new lick of paint courtesy of local artist Ash Keating. A photo posted by Notel Melbourne (@notelmelbourne) on Aug 24, 2016 at 3:03am PDT Guests will have access to tablets loaded with music and movies along with a virtual guide to help them explore the city. The space will also be available for functions, with room for up to 300 people on the roof. Keen to book a night up there? Airstreams are going at $395 a night for two people, and bookings are officially open here. Notel Melbourne is now open on the corner of Flinders and Harper Lanes, Melbourne. For more information and to book visit notelmelbourne.com.au.
A good Negroni is all about balance. It's a balance of three fine liquors — gin, Campari and vermouth — that toe the very fine line between being much too bitter and just bitter enough. It's always been about this balance; one of the first recorded reports of the Negroni came from Orson Welles in 1947. While working in Rome, he wrote, "The bitters are excellent for your liver, the gin is bad for you. They balance each other." We're happy to take his word for it. Sixty years later, bartenders are still perfecting the Negroni. Not one for the faint-hearted, it's a serious cocktail for serious drinkers. But where does one get not just a good but the best Negroni in Sydney? Here are ten bars we think could battle it out for the top prize. And with Negroni Week running from June 6-12, there's no better time to try them out — participating bars will even donate $1 from every Negroni ordered that week to a charity of their choice. CASONI Sitting just behind Oxford Street on a little corner next to the courthouse behind Taylor Square, Casoni is the perfect spot for a mid-week plate of house-made pasta. Step into the smart little dining room, done in a Scandi-industrial palette of grey, white and leatherwood honey-coloured timber. Casoni is one of the few spots in Sydney doing a Negroni on tap, so make yourself comfortable and fill 'er up. THE GRETZ By the same folks as and just a few doors down from Hartsyard, The Gretz is the latest member of the family for husband-and-wife team Gregory Llewellyn and Naomi Hart. The Gretz is a rowdy, popular, American-styled bar which serves cheesy baked clams and homemade jerky. But for Negroni Week, they'll be raising funds for Gunawirra with a separate menu running concurrent with the full menu, focusing on Negronis — with a couple of in-house variations. EASY EIGHT Easy Eight is the much anticipated second release by the Mojo Record Bar crew. The kitchen lineup stars Harry Stockdale-Powell (ex-Rockpool, Marque) and Jack Bathurst (ex-Sepia, Toko, Becasse), who have produced an accessible, shareable menu with just a hint of Cajuna flava. Easy Eight are doing three featured Negronis for Negroni Week: a Classic, White or Smokey Negroni (this one's made with mezcal). Their chosen charity is Blacktown Women's and Girls' Health Centre Inc. BAR BROSE Opened on Victoria Street in April, Bar Brosé is the newest French-focused eatery from the ACME team — and the logical progression for the former Passage space. Head chef Analiese Gregory, formerly of Quay, is at the helm. It's a mature (but not old 'n' fusty) space for all walks; somewhere you can make your way through a measured, unpretentious cocktail list on a killer date. Bar Brose's vegetable-infused Negroni on the permanent menu is a stunner, made with beetroot Tanqueray. THE HAZY ROSE One of our favourite Darlinghurst cocktail bars; a cosy realm of wooden benches, red curtains, art deco Diana lamps and hooks for your coat. Not only that, but the faces behind the bar are friendly — not something we see as much as we'd like. For Negroni Week, The Hazy Rose is doing barrel-aged Negronis with Amaro, Campari and local Australian gin. They're also doing Negroni Flights: White Negroni, Classic Negroni and Amaro Negroni, and they're raising money for Blackdog Institute. EAU DE VIE No cocktail round-up would be complete without these guys. While not technically a speakeasy, Eau de Vie is about as close as you can get to the guilty pleasures of Boardwalk Empire. This Prohibition-style bar is tucked away at the back of the Kirketon Hotel. For Negroni Week, Eau de Vie is doing cold drip Negronis ($22) with gin, Campari, house Vermouth and cold drip coffee — raising funds for the Breast Cancer Institute of Australia. THE CORNER HOUSE The Corner House in Bondi harks back to its former incarnation as the Bondi tram stop and the bygone days of a less slick Sydney, with salvaged railway tracks, wooden ferry pews and acid-treated steel floors. The modern Italian style food that swans out of the nothing-to-hide open kitchen is a balanced blend of rustic and refined. For Negroni Week, the Corner House will be doing a few variations on the Negroni, raising money for Ted Noffs. MAYBE FRANK Pizza Mario had long been considered a big cheese in the Sydney pizza scene, so it came as some surprise to learn they had abandoned their original outpost in Surry Hills in June. The site has already been taken over by a vibrant new Roman-style pizzeria, Maybe Frank. Their all-you-can-eat Tuesday night represents some of the best value that Bourke Street has ever seen, and it can also help you deal with any post-Mario's trauma you may be experiencing. Maybe Frank will be serving Negronis all week at a special Negroni Week price, raising money for the Sydney Children's Hospital. VASCO Take the Negroni back to its roots at Vasco. Run by Max Greco, former head bartender at Eau-de-Vie, this bar is driven by two obsessions: Italy and rock 'n' roll. Drinks menus are presented on vintage vinyl covers, Fender stools function as bar seating and there's a jukebox that works. The walls are straight out of a green room — plastered with photos, records and rock memorabilia. The Vasco team won't be changing the recipe for Negroni Week, but they'll be raising money for Unicef, so it'll taste even better. THE BAXTER INN So Baxter's is known first and foremost as a whiskey joint. But these guys hands down make one of the best Negronis in Sydney — and those free pretzels don't hurt either. Find your way into the CBD basement, which resembles a kind of turn-of-the-century father's study. Think bare brick walls, prints of boxers and horses, fog horns, coin machines and pre-war blues. Want to learn more about Negronis? Brush up on your history. By the Concrete Playground team.
For six years, Porteño owners Ben Milgate and Elvis Abrahanowicz had been grilling up a storm in their legendary home on Cleveland Street, Surry Hills. It had been over half a decade of succulent Argentine-style grilled meats, great tunes and Brussels sprouts, all wrapped up in the stunning décor that feels like the dining room of a mildly hedonistic aristocrat. However, the doors closed long ago to a la carte diners at the Cleveland Street restaurant and Porteño started it new chapter in a new home: 50 Holt Street, Surry Hills. The team that brought us Bodega, Gardel's Bar and a million and one incredible pop-ups has shifted its lauded dining skills to the space that used to house the Sydney branch of Melbourne's tapas king, MoVida. After acquiring the space, Milgate and Abrahanowicz, along with co-owner and sommelier Joe Valore, finally opened their doors to diners back in 2011. The joint continued along the same theme of good food and great vibes that punters came to love from Porteño. The overall theme of white walls, checkered tiling and exposed timber made the jump over to the newer shop, and the faultless playlists showing off the greatest rock and roll acts you've never heard of stayed as well. "On the whole, at Holt Street, it is the same Porteño, in a new space and a few exciting additions," the crew told Concrete Playground. Porteño's menu saw a slight change, opting towards full dishes and a tweaked flavour. It is still largely fuelled by Argentinian cooking, but with a slightly more of a Mediterranean flavour than the last menu. The restaurant is a touch smaller, seating about 30 fewer people than the Cleveland Street location. The menu includes small plates such as wagyu carpaccio, Sydney rock oysters, Spanish style olives, potato croquette, woodfired scallop and tallow-fried empanada. For a main, there's a smoked chicken with lemon and black pepper gravy, a seven-day dry-aged pork tomahawk as well as a steak menu to whet your tastebuds. All up, Porteño's maintains the charm it's always had, no matter where it's located. Images: Steven Woodburn.
"Authenticity is paramount for us," says The Maybe Group's co-owner Stefano Catino. "We didn't want the concept to be a nod towards Mexican culture, spirits or food — it had to be a respectful homage." This is the approach the team behind multi-award-winning cocktail bar Maybe Sammy has taken to El Primo Sanchez, its cantina-style Mexican bar inside Paddington's The Rose. The Oxford Street haunt is led by Bar Manager Eduardo Conde — who brings his Mexico City heritage to the bar — in collaboration with Catino and The Maybe Group's Creative Director Martin Hudak. While Maybe Sammy and some of its sibling venues like Dean & Nancy on 22 are built on luxury, El Primo Sanchez brings the group's passion for quality cocktails to a more casual affair. The venue can accommodate up to 100 guests with intimate tables for two, secluded lounge areas and long communal benches all filling the space. The energy is fun and playful, with spotlights drawing attention to patrons with shots of tequila on the way to their table, and a two-person karaoke room hidden behind the DJ booth loaded up with hit songs — plus a functional 'Press for Tequila' button. An exciting selection of food and drinks brings unexpected twists and turns to the venue's offerings. Highballs feature prominently, ranging from mandarin palomas ($22), a refreshing highly drinkable version of the cocktail without the grapefruit; to the Charro Negro ($22), a smoky highlight of the menu that combines corn liqueur, mezcal, cola and a smoked salt rim for an experience you're unlikely to find anywhere else in Sydney. Elsewhere on the beverage list, you'll find a gimlet that uses cordial made from toasted leftover tortillas ($24); a fruity watermelon, rose, strawberry gum and lime slushy ($24); and the venue's take on a margarita ($24). Plus, most of the cocktails can be ordered by the glass — the margarita even comes in specially designed glassware — or in a jarrito ($69), El Primo Sanchez's version of a carafe. And, while there's plenty of unique creations to discover, there's also a healthy selection of classics done in the El Primo Sanchez way. Mexican-born and -raised chef Alejandro Huerta heads up the kitchen, bringing his experiences from across Sydney (No. 92, Chica Bonita) and the world (Alinea, Noma) to The Rose. Here, pork belly is marinated for 12 hours before being cooked over coals, and brussels sprouts are roasted and tossed in chilli vinegar — both ready to be placed on tacos ($11–12). Outside of the tacos, the share plates are best ordered for the table around a jarrito of the cocktail of your choice. Highlights include snapper ceviche ($23), chorizo con papas ($18), guacamole ($16), dry-aged steak ($45) and charred broccolini served with a creamy chipotle sauce ($14). The bar is the first collaboration between The Maybe Group and Public Hospitality (Oxford House, The Strand Hotel). Together, they've transformed this 1940s pub into a vibrant cocktail bar. The colour palette is bright, boasting orange and blue floor tiles, and next to the bar, you'll find a trophy cabinet displaying merch designed to honour the imaginary hero of the venue, El Primo Sanchez himself. Images: Steven Woodburn and DS Oficina.
After tantalising pop-ups around town and most recently at GABS, Salmon and Bear is set to open on Newtown's King Street later this month. The 'casual seafood eatery' has its roots in Zetland and boasts chef Mark Jensen behind the helm — a seasoned vet in the restaurant scene, Jensen runs Darlinghurst's Red Lantern, the world's most awarded Vietnamese restaurant. Jensen is bringing Newtown his same commitment to sustainability with Salmon and Bear. "Sustainability will certainly be a strong focus for us and we are working closely with our suppliers to ensure they are following environmental practices," he says. Along with business partner and GM Joe Ward, the team has created a solid menu that offers seasonal produce at affordable pricing. The basic fish shop fare maintains a bit of polished flare — think Hawaiian-style Poke sushi salads ($21-24) and array of charcoal grilled fish options, from ora king salmon to Spanish mackerel ($18), as well as a special catch of the day. It may be a fish shop, but it's fresh as, not a greasy dive. We're most excited to try the tacos ($6), ranging from a sticky soy glazed salmon to crispy prawn and corn. All tacos are lovingly wrapped in a soft corn tortilla and topped with cabbage, salsa verde, pickled pink onions, coriander, lime and, most importantly, sriracha mayo. If you're starved, go for the Grizzly Plate ($28), which includes your choice of fish, dipping sauce and any two sides/salads. Jensen's favourite combination for these cooler months is the ora king salmon with salsa verde, bean salad and sweet potato fries or chive mash — his version of comfort food personified. We'd be remiss not to mention that the legends at Gelato Messina are behind the desserts ($7 each) — choose from the 'Bear' chocolate gelato cookie sandwich or the 'Salmon' strawberry gelato paddle pop dipped in white chocolate. We'll take one of each, please and thank you. Craft beer fanatics will also be glad to hear that they're already working with local favourites, like Young Henrys, Grifter and Willie The Boatman, to keep their shop fully stocked with all things craft. "We love Newtown. It's just pumping with energy day-in, day-out, and we really enjoy the massive melting pot of people," says Jensen. Salmon and Bear will open later this month at 226 King Street, Newtown. Keep an eye on their website for updates.
Even when your boss keeps you chained to the desk till sundown, the day needn't be filed as a write-off. Sydney isn't only good for clandestine beaches, idiosyncratic water holes and splashing about under falls, it has night swimming on tap, too. Here are five spots where you can take a dip after dark, with enough light to see, while protected from nocturnal sea life. Before we dive in, though, a word of warning. While night swimming can be all sorts of fun, it can also prove dangerous. It's definitely not recommended for the intoxicated or for those lacking in swim-confidence. We've swum frequently at each of the following locations at night, but conditions can change: lights go out, surf reaches scary heights, shark nets are only nets — not concrete walls. Take people with you and keep your judgement handy. BRONTE POOL It might be a tangle of action during the day, but, after 11pm, Bronte is as tranquil as a mountaintop monastery. There's no pub or hostel to attract raucous types, so, once the eateries wind down, it's all empty streets and quiet parks. The pool, however, never closes. It makes for fantastic night swimming because you have the reassurance of four walls, yet you're close enough to the surf to experience a sense of wildness. Even better when the moon's full. Bronte Pool lies at the southern end of Bronte Beach. ROSS JONES MEMORIAL POOL, COOGEE Like Bronte, Ross Jones combines the security of solid enclosure with an absolute oceanfront position. Your swim comes with panoramic views across Coogee Bay and out to the horizon, through walls that mimic the battlements you might find on expert sandcastles. The pool was built back in 1947 and has since been photographed extensively by the likes of Ian Lever and Ken Duncan. Find Ross Jones Memorial Pool at the southern end of Coogee Beach, just next door to the SLSC. MAHON POOL, MAROUBRA For even more wildness, head further south to Maroubra's Mahon. It's one of Sydney most invigorating ocean pools – when the tide's high and the swell's raging, waves come crashing over the walls. Plus, being hidden away at the bottom of a headland and occupying an especially exposed position, it really does feel a long way from the city. Flood lighting provides visibility at night. Take care when walking around — wet rocks are slippery rocks. To reach Mahon Pool, descend the staircase on the coast side of Marine Parade car park. SHARK BEACH, NIELSEN PARK For a spangled city skyline, Sydney Harbour's Shark Beach is hard to top. The view extends all the way from the titanium glow of Sydney Tower to the Bridge, foregrounded by national park. Don't let the name frighten you off – the swimmable part of the beach is hemmed in by floor-to-surface netting in summer. Floating about freely in the deep, inky water – where I definitely wouldn't be hanging around in the absence of anti-shark protection – is kind of exhilarating. Beg your boss for an early mark, so you can catch the sunset. Shark Beach is off Nielsen Park, Greycliffe Avenue, Vaucluse. WATSONS BAY BATHS When the Watsons Bay Baths were revamped in 2010, they gained Olympic proportions. So, if you're the next Ian Thorpe, pop down here for some mean midnight lap training. Alternatively, float about at your leisure, taking in the city views, or sprawl out on a pontoon. They're intended for sunbathing but are equally effective for stargazing. Once you're done, the Watsons Bay Boutique Hotel is just a warming trot across the grass. Let it be emphasised that pub sojourns should take place after — and not before — swimming. You'll find the Watsons Bay Baths on Marine Parade, just opposite Tea Gardens Cafe.
Chances are you've encountered Akasha's beers in several high-profile craft beer establishments in Sydney. The generally hop-forward, light-bodied styles are easily accessible to drinkers despite the label's aggressive hop regime and high ABVs. Akasha began with owner Dave Padden gypsy brewing back in 2015; however, within a matter of months, he had acquired the warehouse that is now the brewery, fitted it out and begun brewing beers on site — quite a feat in the small business game. This is a hop-head's dream come true, featuring rustic wooden furniture set up among the sparkling stainless steel brewing equipment and pouring from twelve taps. Grab one of Akasha's many banging beers and have a game of pool at what was dubbed, at 2018's Sydney Beer Week Awards, "Best Brewery Cellar Door in Sydney". It has a rotating roster of food truck vendors on site to dish up some, tasty feeds. Think hamburgers, hotdogs or kebabs to pair with your favourite Akasaha brew. The space is also available for functions, so start planning your next get-together and head on down to Akasha. Appears in: The Best Sydney Brewery Bars for 2023
Charlie Chaplin once said, “A day without laughter is a day wasted.” Thankfully, the good folks over at the Sydney Comedy Festival agree wholeheartedly and are back again to ensure we don’t waste the 27 days spanning April 20 to May 17. Returning for its 11th year to venues across the city, the festival brings a chock-a-block comedy calendar catering to all comedyphiles. From side-splitting stand-up to sit-down storytelling, sketch shows and improv, they’ve covered the entire comedy spectrum. While there are a stack of stellar shows — including the always popular Gala and Cracker nights — we’ve narrowed it down to ten you can’t afford to miss if you don’t want a wasted day.
Like many Australian artists, Sydney's Holly Greenwood draws the majority of her influence from her environment. Whether it's an arid and imposing outback region, or the innocuous confines of an inner city townhouse, Greenwood's pieces tend to reflect the character of the space around her. Even Dungog Pub. Whether slathered on canvas or organic materials like bark, Greenwood's painting is a distinctly Australian take on post-impressionism, with deliberate brushstrokes and a limited colour palette creating an artwork that actively captures the atmosphere of the realm she paints, rather than recreating space photorealistic-style. Faded Lands, Greenwood's latest exhibition, will be on show at the new Saint Cloche gallery in Paddington. The gallery has taken the mission of providing an art space that supports established artists, but also newer, upcoming talent the rare opportunity to display their works. Greenwood, a COFA graduate who has studied under a number of contemporary art heavyweights, will be showing her newest works from February 1 to 12. Images: Supplied.
If you live Camperdown, you may have noticed the stunning and speedy transformation of the suburb's dilapidated bowling club to a full blown urban farm. The space, now donned Camperdown Commons, consists of Pocket City Farms and Acre Eatery, which, with help from the Camperdown Project, turned the neglected space into a site for fresh organic produce and a farm-to-table restaurant to boot. The produce from the farm, headed by permaculturist Michael Zagoridis, will be used for the Acre menu, with enough for the community as well. Community is a major part of the PCF system — they will continue to host volunteer days, along with farm tours, slow-living workshops and a school education program. They're even starting yoga and meditation classes next week. The sustainable message doesn't just exist on the green, either, but reverberates in the restaurant. Acre is a gorgeous 350-seater, with beautiful wooden tables and Hamptons-style white chairs and booths. And while PCF hasn't yet had its first major harvest, fresh salad greens and edible flowers are already represented on the Acre menu. They're growing all seasonal produce, which, by necessity, makes the menu a truly seasonal one as well. "It's easy to say you're seasonal but we really need to follow it because people can see what's growing," says head chef Gareth Howard. "It keeps us pretty honest." Howard's background at Jamie's Italian in the UK paved the way for his interest and advocacy of farm-to-table. "The concept of Acre fit perfectly with my background, but this is on a whole new level to have [a farm] literally on your doorstep." They're going local and ethical on their protein as well, exclusively partnering with Vic's Meat Market, which guarantees full traceability of all of their meat. The menu uses some secondary cuts, like the beef cheek with oxtail and parsnip ($29) and the wagyu rump cap with garden béarnaise and pickled mushrooms ($34). Despite the delicious sounding meat, the team's favourite dish is actually the Acre garden salad ($14) – a hearty dish of winter vegetables, grains and hummus. "I know it's pretty rare for a chef to choose a salad as their favourite dish," says Howard. But co-owner Luke Heard, consultant for The Greens in North Sydney, and PCK General Manager, Emma Bowen, both agree. Both PCF and Acre are already partnering with locals as well, including using the spent grain from Young Henrys for compost — YH will also be represented on the beer taps, as well Camperdown locals Wayward Brewing. Acre eatery is open Wednesday to Thursday from 12pm to 3pm and 5pm to 10pm and Friday to Sunday from 8am to 3pm and 5pm to 10pm.
Wine lovers, raise your glasses: one of the best wine shops in Sydney is getting its very own bar. Prince Wine Store opened in Zetland a little over a year ago, and has been keeping the neighbourhood lubricated ever since. Cutting out the journey home and letting you knock back a few on site really was the next logical step. This won't be the first time Prince has stepped into the hospitality game, with their flagship store in South Melbourne operating the adjacent Bellota Wine Bar since April 2013. That venue's head chef, Danielle Rensonnet, will oversee the menu in Sydney, although manager Jacq Turner told Gourmet Traveller that the Zetland site would eschew the bistro-style dining of its Melbourne counterpart. Instead, you can expect "classic wine bar food," such as oysters and charcuterie, as well as a small selection of heartier meals that will rotate on a daily basis, with the chefs taking full advantage of quality NSW produce. The yet-to-be-named bar, which is expected to open in June, will also expand on the wine store's schedule of tastings and masterclasses, hosting regular wine dinners focused on different regions around the world. Prince Wine Store is located at 40 Hansard Street, Zetland. Via Gourmet Traveller. Image: Dollar Photo Club.
Since opening its first pop-up in November 2015, Barangaroo's culinary precinct, The Streets of Barangaroo, has been running full steam ahead. The waterfront dining precinct is bursting with food options both high-brow and casual, with a new opening every other week. Queues form daily at the permanent instalment of Melbourne's Belles Hot Chicken, which delivers the deep-fried goods with abandon, just-opened vermouth bar Banksii is packed at quitting time, while Zushi serves up fresh sushi with pearler views of Darling Harbour. Also buzzing is Devon, which has just moved their Danks Street cafe to the new precinct, as well as Bentley-run restaurant Cirrus and the new Ume Burger. We could go on. And to make things even more gloriously overwhelming, there's even more to come. Over the next few months another five new eateries are set to open in the precinct, from rooftop cocktail bars to Louisiana-style barbecue joints. Stay tuned.
This March, the National Gallery of Victoria hosted a symposium to accompany the opening of its splendid 200 Years of Australian Fashion exhibition. Industry insiders, curators and commentators reflected on the question: 'What is Australian fashion?' — something we did too. It was a masterstroke on the part of symposium organisers to include the designers behind cult Melbourne label DI$COUNT, Cami James and Nadia Napreychikov. A more obvious choice would have been to invite the Australian scene's currently reigning faces — think Young Turks, Anna Plunkett and Luke Sales of Romance Was Born. Nevertheless, James and Napreychikov provided a level of insight about fashion that would come as no surprise to fans of their long running blog — but could have surprised a few industry figures. Why? Why has DI$COUNT been so popular with their fans, but has been left out of so many Australian fashion conversations? We took a stroll through 200 Years of Australian Fashion to find out where this bold, highly original label sits in the Aussie design landscape. THEY LEAPFROGGED FASHION WEEK AND MADE FRIENDS WITH THE INTERNET A stroll through the NGV's seriously delightful exhibition reveals just how varied Australian fashion, particularly in the late 20th century, has been. As a result, the NGV symposium panel members were hesitant to spout generalisations. For James and Napreychikov, the notion of defining DI$COUNT in terms of national boundaries would be especially wrongheaded. Even before the pair had finished their studies at RMIT, they were receiving and disseminating ideas about fashion in a global context (thanks to that wonderful beast, The Internet). This interweb-fluency can probably account for DI$COUNT's rapid international success, despite the label having leapfrogged certain channels traditionally traversed by up-and-coming Aussie designers, such as presenting at Australian Fashion Week and being picked up by one of the big two department stores. Indeed, given the nature of James and Napreychikov's designs, it's possible that avoiding the beaten path was a wise move. The spiciest part of the symposium came when the two designers noted (with appropriate disdain) that their wares have been featured in every international Vogue magazine — save the Australian edition. If only the symposium's audience (myself included) had had the cojones to question Vogue Australia's deputy editor, Sophie Tedmanson, who was a member of the next session's panel, about this curious oversight. Then again, the omission by Australian Vogue (which seems to be in competition with its US counterpart for the title of Most Soporific Vogue) is unsurprising. The heavily sequined, badass imagery with which DI$COUNT has made its name is a world away from Australian fashion's Serious Designers — think Dion Lee, Toni Matičevski and (since his Spring/Summer 2015/16 collection) Michael Lo Sordo. There's no doubt that the work of these designers is exquisite, intelligent, and entirely deserving of the local fashion media's attention. Still, one wonders why there isn't room for coverage of both the beautiful and the brash in our local mags. [caption id="attachment_566976" align="alignnone" width="1200"] YouTube.[/caption] AUSTRALIAN VOGUE HASN'T FEATURED THEM, BUT THE ART AND MUSIC WORLD HAS It's a relief that the Australian art world has picked up the local fashion establishment's slack.Within the NGV's exhibition itself, DI$COUNT is represented by a truly gorgeous trompe l'oeil beaded bodysuit, originally worn by Kimbra at the 2012 ARIAs. An adaptation of the piece was later created by James and Napreychikov for Katy Perry. The bodysuit is DI$COUNT at its exuberant, witty and glittering best. Perry's version (which the popstar wore on her Prismatic tour during renditions of 'Birthday') included sweet smiling balloons on her boobs, cake on the cooch and DI$COUNT's trademark (ahem, more on that later) eyes on the hips. The ready-to-wear DI$COUNT line includes pared down versions of such couture-level creations. The label's loyal following and impressive sales come despite the few concessions made in their designs to the traditional notions of wearability that RTW supposedly demands (see for example the currently-stocked high cut briefs entirely covered in hand-sewn sequins). Densely sequined garments constitute some of DI$COUNT's most recognisable designs. Of course, figural representation in beading isn't exactly new in western fashion history, and antecedents to DI$COUNT designs can be found in the work of Elsa Schiaparelli, Patrick Kelly, Geoffrey Beene, and Gianni Versace. Apart from their inherently satisfying tactile qualities, sequins bring to the table a lot of fashion baggage concerning conceptions of bad taste, camp and luxury. Crucially, these are ideas that James and Napreychikov have given plenty of thought to, and as designers they're really more Leigh Bowery than Bob Mackie. Incidentally, there was a moment during the symposium when James and Napreychikov mentioned that they will eventually move on from sequins. NO! [caption id="attachment_566979" align="alignnone" width="1280"] MTV.[/caption] THEY'VE BEEN ROYALLY RIPPED OFF The problem, of course, for designers who focus on surface decoration (including beading and print) is the ease with which your ideas can be ripped off. This happened to James and Napreychikov most famously when Miley Cyrus (who had previously been a conspicuous DI$COUNT fangirl) performed with dancers at the 2015 MTV awards wearing evil eye-emblazoned costumes that MTV itself initially attributed to the Australian label (spoiler: they weren't DI$COUNT). This wasn't the first time that James and Napreychikov had dealt with this kind of thing. In 2010, the label twitter-slammed celebrity jack of all trades, Ruby Rose, for designing a pair of studded denim shorts for her Milk & Honey Collection, which bore a remarkable resemblance to a DI$COUNT pair she herself had previously worn. A more cynical designer might have seen the Miley episode as an opportunity to gain valuable media coverage. Similarly, other labels might have judged it unwise to publicly accuse Ruby Rose of plagiarism, given her status as one of the few Australian celebrities who will even dip their toe in the pool of experimental fashion. Instead, James and Napreychikov's response to Cyrus' performance, via Instagram, included the lines, "The one thing you can't TAKE and get away with is someone's IDENTITY. We know it might be risky for us career-wise to comment on this, but if we didn't, it would mean that we stand for NOTHING." The highly manicured world of fashion seldom sees such raw emotions put on display for all to see. THEY KEEP ON KEEPIN' ON, RIGHT INTO RIHANNA'S WARDROBE Creative souls generally recover from such unfortunate incidents ("It is much more disheartening to have to steal than to be stolen from,"), and, indeed, James and Napreychikov continue to go from strength to strength. (Rihanna's wearing of their YOU DON'T OWN ME/ I WILL NEVER FEAR YOU dress, has to be one of the most moving pop culture/ fashion moment of recent times). That the NGV recognised DISCOUNT, firstly by including their work in the exhibition, but also, and perhaps more significantly, by including James and Napreychikov in the symposium, elevated the discourse of Australian fashion. Despite the fact that their designs don't adhere to mainstream notions of elegance and beauty, James and Napreychikov are both extraordinarily talented and earnest about the very idea of fashion as an intellectual pursuit. So put em on your cover, Vogue, yeah? Get a good dose of DI$COUNT in Kimbra's video for '90s Music'. Top image: Miley Cyrus for DI$COUNT UNIVERSE by Terry Richardson.
Unless you’re living in a hammock in the woods, chances are you’re surrounded by artificial light for half your day. Whether you’re working under fluorescents in the office, finishing the latest Booker Prize-winner by your bedlamp or manoeuvring your way along Victoria Road’s constant red-lit jam, artificial light changes the way we move through our day, how we feel, how we interact with Sydney every day. But we usually take it for granted — until Vivid rolls around. That's where light artists come in, to remind you of the possibilities and straight-up power of one of the most customisable and underrated technologies we've got. MCA’s brand new exhibition Light Show, one of its most ambitious undertakings yet, extends the Vivid Sydney focus on using light as an artwork; bringing 19 works from the 1960s to now that use light as the medium. Opening on Thursday, April 16, the exhibition comes from London's Haywood Gallery after sold-out showings there and record attendances at Auckland Art Gallery. It’s not a chronological survey though, you’re not signing up for a history lesson. Instead, Light Show is a highly playful, wonderfully immersive exhibition that will have you rethinking your kitchen down lights — in the same way the recently opened Luminous show did. "As visitors, your experience becomes the work,” says Haywood Gallery curator Dr Cliff Lauson. “Light shines upon the subtleties and changes of perception." Two works popping up in your Instagram feed daily will be David Batchelor’s Magic Hour and Carlos Cruz-Diez's Chromosaturation. While Batchelor's sculptural work balances dirty, found light boxes with a pure spectrum of projected light, Cruz-Diez has created an immersive environment we hope doesn't get too scuffed over the course of the show. To recreate the 1965 work, the Cruz-Diez studio has worked with the MCA to create three adjoined rooms of different fluorescent light projected on white-painted walls. It’s inescapably similar to Olafur Eliasson’s 2002 work 360° room for all colours or even his 1997 work Room for one colour, both of which were cornerstones for the MCA’s Take Your Time blockbuster exhibition in 2009/10. There's plenty more colour and light where that came from. Cerith Wyn Evans’ genuinely hypnotic work S=U=P=E=R=S=T=R=U=C=T=U=R=E (‘Trace me back to some loud, shallow, chill, underlying motive’s overspill) — actual title, go with it — sees elegant pillars of light bulbs pulsating in space. Evans’ work glows beside NYC-based artist Leo Villareal’s Cylinder II; a four-metre-high work built of over 20,000 computer controlled LEDs which Villareal developed and programmed his own computer software to control. These two works alone are worth your visit. Brigitte Kowanz’s 2013 Light Steps hover elegantly in the main exhibition passageway as a divine, minimalist play on a 'Stairway to Heaven', while legendary, pioneering light artist Francois Morellet uses the most customisable of light technologies — the fluorescent tube — to create his 2006 work Lamentable. Morellet almost literally uses light as a pencil — ‘drawing’ a mangled, minimalist circle in the space. Those with vertigo or motion sickness might want to face their demons with Conrad Shawcross’s 2009 work Slow Arc Inside a Cube IV — one of the most simultaneously mesmerising, exciting and physically nauseating works you’ll come across in the show. Light Show is one of MCA's most playful, engulfing and eye-pleasing shows yet, one of the best journeys through light art since the Eliasson show. You can see it during Vivid, when the gallery will be staying open every night until 9pm. You won't look at your bedside lamp the same again. For the duration of the Light Show exhibition, MCA is partnering with the QT Sydney hotel on Market Street, offering a special package for art-seekers. If you book a night at the super stylin' QT, you’ll receive two tickets to MCA’s Light Show and receive breakfast at Gowings Bar & Grill the next morning. Head over here for more details. Check out our other picks of the best art shows to see in April.
Popular with glamorous young things and the post-work crowd, the Beresford must be one of Sydney's hippest pubs. Building on a recent renovation, Hemmes has reinvigorated this space with fresh foliage, exceptional Italian bar food from Tuscan chef Gabriele Taddeucci, and his own certain je ne sais quoi. Perhaps the most lovely part of the whole venture is the courtyard, more reminiscent of a Japanese garden than your typical Aussie beer garden. Think cobblestones, Japanese maples, low wooden furniture and lanterns dangling above your head. It's also a refreshing change from the buzzing atmosphere inside - though this doesn't mean it's not busy. The rule is to turn up early and stay late, perhaps ducking upstairs to check out a band while you're here. Images: Trent van der Jagt.
Last winter, the NGV saw over 200 works from New York's famed MoMA and over summer it housed the Escher x Nendo: Between Two Worlds — an exhibition showcasing the works of both Dutch artist M.C. Escher and Japanese design studio Nendo. So, it had some big space to fill. Its 2019–20 summer blockbuster is Keith Haring | Jean-Michel Basquiat: Crossing Lines — yep, the NGV has succeeded in bringing yet another world-class exhibition to Australian shores. Similar to the Escher x Nendo and 2016's Andy Warhol | Ai Weiwei exhibition, this one showcases an intersection between the two artists' careers (which were hugely influential in the late-20th century art world) and lives (which were both prolific, and tragically short). The world-premiere retrospective is exclusive to Melbourne and delves into their radicalism, socio-political standings and distinctive imagery. Haring's iconic dancing figures and Basquiat's crown and head motifs can be found throughout the 300 works — which spans paintings, sculpture, objects, drawings, photographs, notebooks and pieces in public spaces. The exhibition will also house the artists' collaborations with some of the world's most-celebrated pop culture icons, including Andy Warhol, Grace Jones and Madonna. Images: Tom Ross.
For many, the idea of camping — packing the car with a tent, sleeping bag or swag and going bush for a healthy dose of nature – is fun. For others, the idea of getting out into the great outdoors sends a shiver of displeasure up the spine. But no matter which camp you fall into, we're happy to report that there's a middle ground. And that middle ground is glamping. A portmanteau of glamour and camping, glamping has gained popularity among those of us who are happy to camp as long as we have small luxuries such as wifi, coffee and comfortable bedding. Take a coffee break and scroll through ten of the world's most incredible, luxurious glamping experiences — from Queensland to Tanzania, via Chile. NIGHTFALL, LAMINGTON NATIONAL PARK, QUEENSLAND Breathe in the pure, fresh mountain air at Nightfall, and you'll feel like you've finally arrived at the life you should have been living all of these years. This super-exclusive camp is limited to six guests at a time, so you'll be guaranteed privacy. Take a dip in a natural spa pool in nearby rapids, or just laze in your private luxury tent accommodation. Located in a 'Lost World' paradise, this luxury camping accommodation would be absolutely perfect for a special anniversary, a birthday holiday, or just because you want to. MERZOUGA LUXURY DESERT CAMP, MOROCCO Imagine enjoying a sumptuous Moroccan feast under the stars in the heart of the desert, before retiring to your tent for a sound sleep in a squishy-soft bed. And when you open the traditional camel-skin door on your tent the next morning, a sea of red sand dunes rise up to greet you. Well imagine no more, because this is exactly what you're going to get when you head to the Merzouga Luxury Desert Camp in Morocco. Located in the quiet and idyllic sand dunes of Erg Chebbi, this tastefully appointed and endlessly glamorous camp is perfect for those seeking a luxury stay in one of the most incredible deserts in the world. WILD RETREAT, TOFINO, BRITISH COLUMBIA Few wilderness camps even come close to the experience you're going to have at Wild Retreat. ScarJo and Ryan Reynolds honeymooned here (that's enough reason in itself to visit), and since it's only accessible by seaplane or boat, you're at greater risk of being accosted by a bunch of raccoons than being overrun by tourists. Enjoy the charming vintage-style tents, and then get out there and explore the incredible wilderness of British Columbia. PAWS UP, MONTANA, USA If you have something special to celebrate and you happen to find yourself in Montana, then we suggest that you get yourself to the Paws Up luxury camping park and indulge in the Cliffside Camp experience. Each safari-like tent comes complete with a private bathroom, fans, heaters, fine bed linen and a chef and butler at your beck and call. There's a dining area with a view you'll never find in Australia, and you won't have to sacrifice a good coffee and breakfast in the morning. LEWA SAFARI CAMP, KENYA If seeing the "big five" (lions, elephants, buffalo, leopard and rhino) is on your list of things to do, then you might just want to fling yourself in the direction of the Lewa Safari Camp. Spread out in your comfortable private tent under your thatched roof, and enjoy the sight of animals sunning themselves on the stunning Lewa plains through your opaque tent. Perhaps you might feel like taking a picnic out onto the plains. That's totally acceptable, and indeed encouraged. SPICERS CANOPY, SCENIC RIM, QUEENSLAND There are only ten tents at the Spicers Canopy accommodation in Queensland's Scenic Rim, so you're not going to be grappling with the crowds when it's brekky time. Meals are prepared from local produce by Spicers' experienced chefs, so you're about as far from the 'traditional' camping fare of beer-cooked barbecue as you can get here. Rejoice. Pull up a log at the open fire by night, and then snuggle up in your luxury tent (complete with hot water bottle turn down service) to sleep the night under the stars. SANCTUARY RETREATS PRIVATE CAMPING, TANZANIA Go on a safari trip in the game-filled wilderness of Kenya by day, and then enjoy a perfectly heavenly naval bucket bubble bath under the stars at this glamorous safari camp in Tanzania. Afterwards, slink back to your tent and sink into your bed, which has been tastefully draped with fabrics and covered in the softest of mosquito nets. You'll enjoy finding nods to Balinese and Italian styling throughout your luxury accommodation. Sanctuary Retreats encourage you to spend two weeks glamping with them in the wilderness — that's how luxe this place is. PATAGONIA CAMP, CHILE Enjoy the luxury of kipping in a yurt in the heart of the Chilean wilderness. Feel ever so spoiled as you laze in your cosy king-sized bed, tastefully decorated with local handcrafted textiles at the luxury Patagonia Camp in Chile. Thanks to a large central dome, you can look up at the clouds by day, and then enjoy the sight of a million and one stars overhead at night. PAMPERED WILDERNESS, WASHINGTON, USA Switch on your flat screen TV, snuggle up on the king-sized platform bed and then toast some marshmallows for s'mores on your outdoor fire pit when you stay in the Safari Suite cabin at Pampered Wilderness in Washington. Nestled in the heart of the historic 842-acre Millersylvania State Park, you can enjoy relaxed rambles though old growth cedar and fir forests, or take a dip in the freshwater Deep Lake. After tiring yourself out on a walk, head back to your cabin to enjoy a drink from your minibar as you watch the sunset from your deck. PRIORY BAY HOTEL, ISLE OF WIGHT, UK While most of the guests who stay at the Priory Bay Hotel live it up in the hotel, you're going to buck the trend and get what is arguably a far better experience when you stay in one of the designer crafted yurts. Enter your yurt home through stable doors with French windows before stepping down onto your secluded terrace. Maybe laze on a beanbag if the ordeal of standing on your own feet all becomes too much. Spend your days gazing out on sandy Priory Bay beach, taking bracing countryside walks, or rambling along woodland paths, nibbling on blackberries, and spotting squirrels. Top Image: Wild Retreat, Tofino, British Columbia.
Flume is teaming up with LA-based, Australian-born visual artist Jonathan Zawada for a blink and you'll miss it multimedia pop-up in Surry Hills this December. Named after the ARIA chart-topping musician's sophomore album Skin, for which Zawada created the cover art, live graphics, related videos and merchandise, the free exhibition will be open at Special Group Studios on Devonshire Street from Wednesday, December 7 through to Sunday, December 11, and will feature a series of new video works created exclusively for the show. "I've always been a huge fan of Jonathan's work so it's been a privilege to have him involved in the visual aesthetic around Skin, from the album art to the live show and merch," said Flume. "Visually I'm interested in the contrast of organic and synthetic, Jonathan's work so cleverly depicts this so it's been a natural fit for the music. I love the way he embraces technology to twist and contort things from the real world in alien ways." The pop-up will feature eight never-before-seen videos that combine fantastical animation by Zawada with ethereal sound design by Flume. Alongside these will be a series of large scale silk prints that further highlight the pair's unique creative partnership. You can check out Skin from December 7 to 11 at Special Group Studios, 270 Devonshire Street, Surry Hills. Keep your eyes on social media for more information closer to the opening date.
A new prepaid initiative from Uber looks set to deal yet another blow to the rapidly dying taxi industry. You remember taxis don’t you? They were those cars that used to drive around the city not picking you up, which didn't show up when you called them and whose drivers didn't know how to operate a GPS. They were all the rage back in the day, before people had literally any other option. Rolling out in New York City over the next couple of weeks, UberEVENTS will allow event organisers to arrange prepaid Ubers for their guests. You simply log on to the Uber website and enter your information, including how many guest passes you'd like to prebook. Uber then sends those passes to you so you can forward them on to your guests. When the big day arrives, they enter their passcode into the Uber app, and before they know it they're being whisked away to your very exciting party. If you didn't follow all that, don't worry: this nifty little graphic helps lay it all out. "When planning a company happy hour, client appreciation dinner, or even upcoming nuptials, there is a lot that goes into ensuring that your event goes off without a hitch—including how your guests can safely get to and from without any fuss," wrote Uber Senior Marketing Manager Kimiko Ninomiya in a post on the Uber blog. "We want to make the experience of planning transportation logistics as seamless as ordering a ride at the touch of button [sic]." The service will only be available to select riders and Uber for Business users at first, although assuming it's a success, then presumably it won't be too long before it becomes a standard feature. In the meantime, Uber's legal status in Australia remains a point of contention. A Victorian state Magistrate yesterday rejected the company's attempts to have a legal case against one of its drivers thrown out of court. The taxi industry, for their part, continues to flail around feebly in the face of progress. A strike in Melbourne a couple of weeks back saw about 500 cabs taken off the roads – Uber retaliated by offering people free rides across the city. Yeah, it's pretty clear who's winning this fight. Via Tech Crunch.
A quintessentially Aussie summer day can be built on a few key ingredients: sun, beer, food, live music and some form of physical activity. Rocks Brewing Co can achieve four of the five, weather permitting. And for the latter, you can just pop around the corner to Archie Brothers Cirque Electriq. Founded in 2008, and after spending its first five years as a 'gyspy brewer', Rocks Brewing Co finally set down roots in this Alexandria industrial estate in 2014. The digs features an exposed wood bar, spacious indoor and outdoor seating and excellent views of the stainless steel tanks. The core range of brews includes an American pale ale, a pilsner lager, a mid-strength pale, a west coast IPA and an award winner porter. If you're keen to secure a seat, Rocks Brewing Co is open for lunch and dinner, with the menu featuring share plates such as crispy pork and prawn wontons, nachos supreme and pork quesadillas. Mains feature fish & chips, sirloin steaks, schnitzels and a range of burgers. It's not reinventing the wheel when it comes to Sydney brewpubs, but it's doing all the right things mighty well. Image: Kitti Gould.
If you love surrounding yourself completely in Zara, you'll now be able to extend the Zara-love to your bedroom. Zara Home opened its first Australian store at Melbourne's Highpoint Shopping Centre in February this year, and now a flagship store is set to open in Sydney on Thursday, December 3. Taking over two levels and close to 500sqm within busy, busy Pitt Street Mall, Zara Home's Sydney instalment will marking ZH's 500th store worldwide. According to Zara Home, the store will boast an "avant-garde and elegant concept in harmony with the simplicity and respect for nature upheld in the materials used within the store." Think neutral colours, chestnut wood and marble floors with an antique mother-of-pearl effect. Schmicko. The home decor arm of the Zara-owning Inditex Group, Zara Home is where you'll find Zara's gorgeous printed bedding lines, table and bath linens, decorative furniture (we're talking seriously cute lamps and rugs), tablewear worth investing in, cutlery and ornamental items, all based on seasonal fashion trends — so you might be able to match your handbag to your bedspread for an undeniably strong look. Coinciding with international Zara Home stores (now operating in 60 countries with 437 stores), the Australian stores will unveil two collections per year, with new items delivered every week. Along with the slick furnishings and oaky utensils you'll be visualising in your rich mahogany-smelling apartments, you can pick up the Zara loungewear/pyjama line and bath and body collection instore. With just under 20 Zara stores currently operating across Australia, it's safe to say we're pretty dedicated Zarans. Zara Home opens in Sydney's Pitt Street Mall on December 3.
On the more casual end of the spectrum for the eating precinct, Gojima's American-Japanese fusion menu is more compact, with nine sushi burgers — made with a sushi rice and nori bun — and a selection of sides, such as Japanese-style southern fried chicken. For dessert, frozen custards and chocolate miso, green tea or strawberries and cream thickshakes are also available. Appears in: The Best Japanese Restaurants in Sydney Where to Find the Best Burgers in Sydney for 2023
