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.
Pinot Noir by crackling fireplaces, misty mountaintops and landscaped gardens that look straight out of Downton Abbey — Bowral is your go-to weekender when you don't have the time or cash for a mid-year trip to Europe. You'll find the 12,000-person town an easy, 90-minute drive southwest of Sydney, among the string of villages known as the Southern Highlands. Spend your stay cosying up in a 19th century hotel room staring at rolling hillsides, or get out and about, tasting wines, visiting waterfalls and feasting at hatted restaurants. However you play it, here are our tips for a couple of days in Bowral. [caption id="attachment_580846" align="alignnone" width="1280"] Bendooley Vineyards.[/caption] EAT AND DRINK Let's get coffee out of the way first. One of the best caffeine-hits in town is at boutique roastery Rush. Go for the house blend or take your pick of a single origin from Brazil, Sumatra or Nicaragua. Alternatively, slip into pint-sized Flour Water Salt and match your coffee with a freshly-baked, organic-flour pastry. This mini-chain is a big hit with people south of Sydney and now has three outlets — in Bowral, Milton and Kiama. Their trick, as the name suggests, is to keep things simple. Come lunch, hide away from the main street in the quiet, leafy courtyard of The Red Tree Café. Here, the agenda is classics with tasty twists. Setting yourself up for an action-packed day? Dig into the Big Red Tree Breakfast: free-range eggs, roasted tomato, mushrooms, pancetta, chipolatas and potato rosti on organic sourdough. [caption id="attachment_580847" align="alignnone" width="1280"] @biotadining.[/caption] Another option is to jump in the car and make tracks to Bendooley Estate. Not only will you land yourself a fireplace and idyllic farmlands with your meal, you're also in for a read. Bendooley is home to the Berkelouw Book Barn — Berkelouw's official headquarters — so tables are interspersed with shelves of beautifully-kept, second-hand titles. Also worth a drive is McVitty Grove, a restaurant set on an acreage, just 20 minutes from Bowral, with an emphasis on sustainability and local produce. Tuck into the chef's own beef sliders or the organic Portuguese chicken with Dauphinoise potatoes and roasted tomato. Up for a fancier adventure? Reserve a table at Biota Dining. Chef James Vile's two-hatted restaurant is another champion of eco-friendly eating. Should time be on your side, settle into a tasting menu. Otherwise, there are loads of seasonally-driven, al carte choices. And do say yes to a cocktail based on handcrafted botanicals, like the 'Autumn Leaves' (jammy persimmon, cinnamon, calvados and citrus). If you're not able to commit to a meal, you're welcome to stick to drinks and snacks in the bar (which is where you'll find the fire). [caption id="attachment_580850" align="alignnone" width="1483"] Eling Forest Estate.[/caption] DO Although we did give you permission to do absolutely nothing, we recommend a bit of an adventure. Winos should be sure to hop on the Southern Highlands wine trail. For the most part, the region is 600 metres above sea level, so cool climate varieties, like Pinot Noir and Riesling, fare well. At Tertini (one of NSW's best cellar doors), you'll be sampling a consistently excellent bunch of small-batch, boutique, multi-award winning drops. And, if you like to know your wine habit isn't killing the environment, swing by Eling Forest Estate, where the Tractorless Vineyard wines are made biodynamically. A Hampshire Down sheep breed, imported from England, takes the place of machines and pesticides, by eating the weeds around the grape vines. [caption id="attachment_580788" align="alignnone" width="1280"] Bjenks[/caption] With a bottle or three under your arm, it could well be time for a waterfall-side picnic. The area's three biggest falls are Fitzroy, Belmore and Carrington, and visiting all of them makes for a fun, circular road trip. If you're keen to combine your falls with a walk, conquer the steep, two-kilometre Erith Coal Mine track in Morton National Park, which combines a disused coalmine with cascades you can stand under. Epic views of Bowral and Mittagong are on offer at the Mount Gibraltar Reserve. At 863 metres, it's the highest point between Sydney and Canberra, and there are three lookouts, each giving you unique perspectives: Bowral, Mittagong and Jellore. In need of an art fix? In the vast spaces of The Milk Factory, you'll find changing contemporary exhibitions, as well as a cute gallery shop, selling resin jewellery and blown glass. And, within the Springetts Arcade, is Ten Thousand Paces, a self-described 'hybrid shop, gallery, art projects and regional wine hub'. [caption id="attachment_580795" align="alignnone" width="1280"] Airbnb.[/caption] STAY There aren't many places in this world where you can rent out an entire 19th century former coach house, but Bowral is one of them. And you'll find it on Airbnb (where else?). This six-bedroom Italianate mansion, which was once a home for some wealthy estate owner's coachman and horses, sleeps up to 13 people, and is situated on Bowral's outskirts — within walking distance of both town and wild places. Not travelling with a big party? Leaving your Clydesdales at home? A cosier option is the Woodland Retreat Guest Studio, also an Airbnb offering. Splashed with art and run by two warm, friendly locals, it sleeps up to four and a locally-sourced breakfast is included. [caption id="attachment_580853" align="alignnone" width="1280"] Milton Park.[/caption] If you're in the market for a hotel, there's Peppers Craigieburn. For those not planning on going anywhere, there are plenty of rooms with views of the 36-hectare surrounding garden, as well as guest lounges with open fires, a billiards room, tennis courts, a restaurant and an onsite spa. Yep, pretty much everything you need to stay put. Another lush, albeit pricier option, is the Milton Park Country House and Spa. Here, you'll be lolling about in five-star decadence on the property's tucked away, forest-covered hilltop. Just how luxe you go is your call. There are rooms overlooking gardens and fountains, and suites with their very own fireplaces and jacuzzis. Meanwhile, among the grounds, you'll stumble across a heated indoor pool, floodlit tennis courts and a wellness spa. Should you ever have wondered what it's like to be an English duke or duchess, this is your chance to experiment. Top image: Bendooley Vineyards.
As summer starts slipping away, slowing down our beachy adventures, it's only natural that we start looking inward. And what better way to do that than by getting in touch with our inner troglodyte. Fortunately, Sydney and its surrounds offer just as many caves as they do unusual swimming holes and secluded beaches. Whether you want to escape to a remote plateau where you'll be sleeping alongside ancient grinding grooves, share your cave with an entire party or get your wallet out and go glaving (that's the caver's version of glamping, d'uh), it's all right here. FOR SPACE (OR A PARTY): PINDAR CAVE, BRISBANE WATERS If you're looking to mix up your stay with a party, Pindar might be your cave of choice. This massive sandstone overhang can shelter as many as 50 people at once. To reach it, catch a Central Coast — or Newcastle-bound train to Wondabyne Station, from where it's located three or four hours on foot. The track follows a ridge line, so the views are stunning, and right near Pindar, there's a swimming hole that's best for dipping after rain. FOR WILDERNESS: GOOCHES CRATER, WOLLANGAMBE Gooches Crater camp cave is found among spectacular scenery in the Wollangambe wilderness area. The half-day walk from Bell Station takes you along dizzying rocky outcrops, through secluded valleys, past Indigenous rock art and to the beautiful Gooches Crater. Be aware that the trail is hard to follow, so you'll need to be prepared for some bush bashing and have at least one experienced navigator in your team. Like Pindar, the cave is big enough to fit 50 sleepers comfortably. FOR RIVER VIEWS: DADDER CAVE, LOWER BLUE MOUNTAINS Dadder is located on the banks of beautiful Erskine Creek and has space for about six people. Having been utilised by savvy hikers for decades, the cave has been treated to a few renovations here and there, and so offers more infrastructure than your average overhang. There's a decent stone fireplace, bench seating and, for entertainment, a logbook. The 6 kilometre walk in starts at the Pisgah Rock car park (2.2 kilometres from the Oaks Picnic Area, on the Nepean Lookout Fire Trail). FOR CAR CAMPING: PSYN CAVE, NARROW NECK, NEAR KATOOMBA Narrow Neck, a peninsula between the Jamison and Megalong Valleys, found just south of Katoomba, is home to a bunch of caves. This is one of the easiest to reach, being just a couple of hundred metres from the Glenraphael Road car park. Psyn is one of two caves on our list that enables car camping. It's a regular hang-out for bush walkers from Sydney Uni, can shelter ten people at once and features a little waterfall. Detailed directions are available right here. FOR PROXIMITY TO A PUB: SUNDECK CAVE, MOUNT PIDDINGTON Sundeck is a popular accommodation choice for climbers and abseilers, who head to Mount Piddington to take on its sheer rock faces. Non-adrenaline junkies, however, will find plenty to interest them, including excellent sunset views and clifftop trails. What's more, it's only 300 metres from Mount Piddington Road, Mount Victoria, which means, firstly, that you can car-camp, and secondly, that the nearest pub is only 1.5 kilometres away. If you head out for a beverage, don't leave your torch behind. FOR ANCIENTNESS: 100 MAN CAVE, KANANGRA BOYD NATIONAL PARK Grinding grooves visible in the 100 Man Cave indicate that it has been in use for thousands of years. This comes as no surprise — as far as caves go, this one is particularly cosy. There's a well-protected fireplace and, if you've been battling rain and wind on the way in, spots to hang wet clothing. Reaching 100 Man Cave does require commitment, though, as it's situated on the Ti Willa Plateau, which involves one or two days' walking from Kanangra Walls car park. FOR LUXURY: HATTER'S HIDEOUT, BELL This one is actual, bona fide rental accommodation, so it doesn't come free, but it does include luxury items that you won't find in the other caves. These include a gas barbecue, an esky, cooking utensils, real tables and chairs, solar powered lighting and rainwater. Take your ukulele — the acoustics are outstanding, with the owners describing the cave as a "similar size and shape to a small shell of the Sydney Opera house". Hatter's Hideout is situated in Bell, a two hours' drive from Sydney. Find out more about it over here. FOR CITY VIEWS: LITTLE CAVE, NIELSEN PARK Clear skies and an extra-special camping buddy are necessary to make this one work. Both room and protection from the elements are limited. If either is in doubt (or sleeping open so close to the city frightens you), stick to picnicking or use Little Cave as a spot for drying off after a night swim. However you experience it, enjoy incredible views of the harbour and city for free from your own private hidey-hole.
Dumplings are a cure-all feed. Whether you're reeling from a hangover, starving come lunchtime or just in need of some steaming, chilli-doused parcels of goodness, these bite-sized treats are always what the doctor ordered. In Sydney, we're spoiled for choice — we've got one of the oldest Shanghainese restaurants in the country, a northern beaches spot dedicated to Nepali momos and buzzing Chinatown restaurants serving dumplings for a steal. It wasn't easy, but we've done the hard task of coming up with the top ten dumpling haunts across the city.
A love of puns is what inspired three friends to name their cafe Fleetwood Macchiato. One could be forgiven for thinking that a visit to the place would be dominated by Mac tunage, but fear not readers, because this gem is much more than that. The cosy café in the quiet neighbourhood of Erskineville is inviting from the moment you step in. Owners Tara, David and Jai have previously already worked together so are no strangers to the industry and it's obvious. The simple fit out of wood panelling and white walls is home to a combination of good food, relaxed atmosphere and friendly service. You might be hard pressed to find a seat here though, and for good reason. Golden Cobra, whose owner David is also one third of Fleetwood Macchiato, roasts the house blend Debut de siecle coffee. For dedicated caffeine lovers, there's an extensive list of Single Origins scribbled in chalk up on the back wall, from an El Salvador Santa Isabel filter to a Kenyan espresso ($3.50). A display of appealing treats sit beneath the glass top counter at the front that are conveniently placed so you're tempted to get one with your takeaway coffee. It takes a stubborn soul to say no to a Belgian chocolate and hazelnut brownie ($5). The all-day menu is simple but exudes deliciousness. There are the usual breakfast culprits, but the honest fare has a twist toasted — oats come with wild figs, semi-dried raspberries, lemon myrtle yoghurt, fennel tops and macadamias ($9.50) — certainly nothing you'd find in a box in the supermarket. Bread is provided from Organic Bread Bar in Paddington and it's worth noting that whatever they're putting between the slices, is homemade and incredibly mouth-watering. A bacon and egg roll comes smashed with avocado, mustard mayo, spicy sriracha sauce, pickles and mushrooms ($12.50) and a wholemeal baguette is overflowing with fig, taleggio, fennel and a well-dressed watercress and mesclun salad mix ($11). Pair that with a pink grapefruit homemade juice ($5) and you've definitely accomplished something for the day. For a non-breaded option try one of the seasonal salads like the broccoli, almonds, pink grapefruit, broad beans, fennel, purple cabbage, parsley with smoked salmon ($19). This baby just spells healthy and satisfaction. There's plenty to like about Fleetwood Macchiato aside from its punchline sagacity. And if they continue to deliver the goods, there's no doubt they'll stick around. Like a cult classic indeed. Images: Cassandra Hannagan
You never need an excuse to go away for the weekend, but having an event to plan one around really sets the wheels in motion. This spring, regional spots across NSW (and the ACT) will be hosting everything from tulip shows to exhibitions of American master artworks to riverside camping festivals. So pick one, lock in some mates and accommodation, and you'll have a ready-made pearler on the horizon.
The arrival of spring might have you wanting to frolic through a field of flowers — and you can do just that at Carriageworks this month as it hosts Patricia Piccinini's mesmerising field of flowers. The installation might not replicate the smells and colours of a real field of blooms, but it's a pretty special experience in itself. It's coming down from Brisbane where it was on display at GOMA and will only be in town for four days, so don't miss it. But even if you do, there's still lots of art to get amongst. White Rabbit's new show Supernatural kicks off on September 7, the Art Gallery of NSW currently has a sensory show on display and the MCA is giving you the opportunity to get to know up-and-coming Chinese artist Sun Xun before the rest of the world. On top of that you can also catch works by Andy Warhol, Sol LeWitt and James Turrell if you're willing to take a road trip down to Canberra.
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
In one of the slickest team-ups we've seen this year, Future Classic and the Museum of Contemporary Art have announced a series of solid parties set to settle themselves into your calendar for the next few months. Set across three Sunday afternoons over the steamy months, FCxMCA is a brand new monthly event that will see the likes of electronic Cashmere Cat, Redinho and Cyril Hahn play intimate gigs on the MCA's Sculpture Terrace. Launched last night at the MCA as part of a collaboration with the MCA's Young Ambassador Program, the series kicked off with performances from Future Classic's new signing George Maple, label favourites Panama and Future Classic DJs. According to Future Classic's Nathan McLay, this new endeavour was apparently inspired by similar music program branch-outs in contemporary galleries across the globe. "My partner Jay and I have always enjoyed visits to documenta in Germany, the Venice Biennale and many contemporary galleries around the world on our travels," says McLay. "That travel and intersection of contemporary art and music opened our eyes to collaborations such as the MoMa PS1 Warm Up series in New York and the Sonar festival in Barcelona, whose day venue is the Museum of Contemporary Art Barcelona (MACBA). It is these events that inspired the FCxMCA collaboration." Having recently played NYC’s MoMa PS1 Warm Up party, Norwegian producer (and actual brains behind most of the guilty pop pleasures on your Spotify) Cashmere Cat kicks the whole thing off on Sunday, January 4. Then on Sunday, February 22, London-based producer Redhino will crank up tunes from his highly-acclaimed self-titled album; released in September on top notch UK label Numbers (who've previously dropped Hudson Mohawke, Jamie XX and Rustie releases in your lap, legends). Then, when the hot season's almost over, Swiss producer Cyril Hahn — the man behind that Destiny's Child remix — will headline the closing party with deeeep, deeeeep house. FCxMCA 2015 Dates: Sun 4 Jan — Cashmere Cat (Norway) Sun 22 Feb — Redinho (UK) Sun 29 Mar — Cyril Hahn (Switzerland) Image: Cashmere Cat, Jasmine Safaeian.
Truth be told, I’ve never relished the idea of attending the opera. A night trying to decipher what on earth these dolled-up stage performers are singing about has never made it onto my weekend’s agenda. But if you can put those instinctive judgments aside, you’ll be in for a treat. Rewriting all expectations, Sydney Chamber Opera is a young company committed to bringing this artform into the 21st century. And to wrap up their 2015 season, they’re putting on a world-first performance of love and heartbreak with their latest Carriageworks show, An Index of Metals. Anyone left battered by the breakdown of a relationship, this one’s for you. Brooding with angst and anguish, An Index of Metals presents the music of iconic Italian composer Fausto Romitelli like you’ve never heard it before. At the direction of celebrated Sydney director Kip Williams, this opera explores the psyche of a nameless singer and her unrequited affection for an ex-lover. Be warned, things are going to get a little dark here. For any opera newbies like myself, this show is the perfect place to start. Flipping the bird to the boundaries of traditional performance, Williams and SCO have toiled over Romitelli’s compositions for the past twelve months to birth an unsettling and evocative theatrical experience. “We’ve focused the work around a single character who is at a place of paralysis as a result of the end of a relationship,” says Williams. “She constantly seeks to latch on and connect to this person and he continues to defy that desire within her.” Fresh off the back of casually scoring the 2015 Helpmann Award for Best Director for Sydney Theatre Company's Suddenly Last Summer, Williams has jumped into An Index of Metals with gusto and a determination to produce something profoundly unique at Carriageworks. “Artistically, it was a process of reduction and distilling; crystallising our thoughts into the most simple evolution of ideas that an audience would be able to visually latch on to,” he explains. And if you weren’t intrigued already, there’s an additional spanner in the works with the male character Ben appearing on stage at his most raw — completely nude. Far from a raunchy trip down memory lane, Williams has woven this startling image cleverly into the emotional fabric of the opera. "Nudity is something that you never choose to do lightly," he says. "If done effectively it can be very frightening for an audience.” So, what’s Williams' final tip for those taking the plunge into their first operatic experience? “I would give over to the sensory experience of the work, and allow it to wash over you.” An Index of Metals will run across four nights from November 16 to 19, with tickets just $35. To book, head over to the Carriageworks website. Want more operatic goodness? Read our interview with Sydney Chamber Opera co-founder Pierce Wilcox. Images: Samuel Hodge, Carriageworks.
If there's one wine palate you can trust, it's Sophie Otton's — owner of She Loves You. Having over 20 years in the wine industry, her resume boasts wine director at Sydney's Rockpool Bar and Grill and, as of 2016, sommelier at Billy Kwong. Plus, she has been a wine consultant, writer and judge, too. And, even she'll admit she has a pretty good palate. "Wine knowledge can fade over time and it's easy to forget, but my weapon is my palate," says Otton. "I've come to learn I'm good at selecting delicious wines...that's my strength." Otton brings all that expertise to the inner west, with She Loves You — Newtown's ever-evolving wine bar focusing on minimal intervention and quality drops at affordable prices. The venture is a collaboration between Otton and her partner Stephen Smooker, along with Martin Corcoran (owner of Adelaide's Peel Street). The team took over the old Doris and Beryl's Bridge Club & Teahouse digs back in August 2017 and have been gradually converting the 30-seat small bar into She Loves You since. "It's been a slow transformation as it took a while for us to get know the venue and understand what we had," says Otton. "Eventually we started to replace the shadow box on the wall with our own items, mainly old vintage glass bottles that have the whole shipwrecked and washed up feel. It ties in really nicely with the wine and what we're trying to do here." Otton's specialty is alternative varieties that showcase the winemakers' strengths. Think wines that are handpicked with no additives, preservatives or filtration. Oh, and there's no wine list at She Loves You, either. "I've done so many wine lists in my lifetime, I really wanted to eliminate the need for one in my own bar," says Otton. "Instead, it's constantly evolving and I suppose the end goal will be to just open, taste and pour wines as we find them instead of having a set menu. To fit the right wines for the right people depending on how we feel and who's there at the time. It'll be free-style, really." This 'not-a-wine-list' will focus on Australian producers with a "smattering" of European influence — all with a focus on high quality and at an accessible price point that doesn't "drag you down financially". This minimal intervention ethos extends to the bar at She Loves You, which still remains largely unchanged. "We're working on developing the bar's character and offerings rather than its logistics for now, though interior changes will come later on," says Otton. "It's quite a personal, intimate space, and with table service we have a lot of interaction with the guests. We are really looking for the bar to be an extension of your lounge room." Expect an intimate experience with no menu in sight, the team will serve you up something perfect based on your taste. You might see some light snacks but drinks definitely take centre stage here. Images: Katia Monte and Jun Chen
Turns out Neil Armstrong was lacking foresight when he first stepped on the moon. What he actually should have announced was, "One small step for man, one giant leap for beer." Last year, Oregon-based brewing company Ninkasi ran their very own space programme (classic forward-thinking Oregon). Yep, they got hold of a couple of rockets and sent a bunch of brewer's yeast into outer space and back. It's since been turned into beer and as of April 13, will be available for sampling. Wonderfully-named Ground Control, the brew blends well-travelled ingredients with local ones. Ninkasi have described it as a "rich, complex imperial stout", made with Oregon hazelnuts, star anise and cocoa nibs. Take. Our. Money. Getting the yeast into outer space and back successfully took two missions. The first, which left on July 2014, carried sixteen vials. But, on returning to Earth, it wound up somewhere in the Nevada’s Black Rock Desert, which meant that the Ninkasi team didn’t find it for 27 days — way too late for brewing purposes. The second mission, carrying six vials, left on October 23 from New Mexico's Spaceport America. After journeying to 408,035 feet, and reaching a maximum speed of Mach 5, it came back to Earth safely — ready for fermenting. Ground Control will be sold in limited edition 22-ounce bottles at selected retailers across the United States. Keep your eyes on the eBay stars. Via io9.
Whether you're heading north to chase the sun or to escape reality at Splendour in the Grass, there's no need to hurry to Byron Bay. In fact, with around 800 kilometres of road to cover — flanked by epic beaches, rivers, national parks, fresh produce, microbreweries and creative places to spend the night — it's your god-given duty to take your time. So, call your boss, nab a few extra days off and start planning your rest stops. Our road tripper's guide to the Legendary Pacific Coast will provide all the excuses you need. [caption id="attachment_576705" align="alignnone" width="1280"] Pete Saw.[/caption] CENTRAL COAST Despite being a 90-minute drive from Sydney, the Central Coast, with its calm water, surf beaches, cute villages and swathes of national park, is surprisingly unspoilt. Light on cash? Claim a patch of grass or caravan at a Central Coast Holiday Park. Alternatively, check into a light and airy two-bedroom apartment at the Patonga Beach Hotel, perched on the banks of the Hawkesbury River. Ten minutes drive east is pretty, pretty, National Trust-listed Pearl Beach. With just 600 dwellings and encircled by trees, it's home to two excellent lunch spots — the hatted Pearls on the Beach, specialising in Middle Eastern-inspired deliciousness, and the more budget-friendly Pearl Beach Cafe and General Store (go the choc chip pancakes with Nutella-maple fudge sauce, sliced banana and candied bacon). Across Broken Bay lies Killcare. Here, you can tuck into tasty, hatted Italian while surrounded by landscaped gardens at Manfredi or grab a $5 bacon and egg roll at The Fat Goose. Afterwards, stretch your legs while soaking in panoramic coastal views in the Bouddi National Park and, on the way out, swing by Distillery Botanica (home of an eponymous, garden-grown gin and Mr Black coffee liqueur), as well as the Six String Brewing Company. For more Central Coast tips, check out our weekender's guide to Patonga, Pearl Beach and Killcare and our day tripper's guide to Copacabana and the Bouddi National Park. [caption id="attachment_576728" align="alignnone" width="1280"] Pete Saw.[/caption] NEWCASTLE Two hours drive will land you in mighty Newcastle, sometime steel capital, now artsy community and one of Lonely Planet's top ten cities of 2011. For a comfy sleepover in a sunny room downtown, stay at The Lucky, which reopened in 2014 after a $6 mill revamp. Not enough time to spend the night? It's still worth detouring for a coffee (and cosy lounges) at Sprocket Roasters, a meticulously prepared cuppa at Tea Project or a locally-brewed beer at Foghorn. For scallop chowder or wild-caught prawns while gazing at the Tasman Sea through floor-to-ceiling windows, book a table at Merewether Surfhouse or, to catch up with Silverchair bassist, Chris Joannou, pop into The Edwards, where he and barista Chris Johnston have turned Joannou's parents' laundry warehouse into a friendly, funky eatery-cafe-bar. Get some exercise wandering among the CBD's many independent artists' spaces and laneways plastered with street art, or take a stroll along the Newcastle Memorial Walk, which spans the clifftops between Strzelecki Lookout and Bar Beach, affording 360-degree views. You'll find loads more Newie ideas over here. [caption id="attachment_576734" align="alignnone" width="1280"] Pete Saw.[/caption] PORT MACQUARIE Port Macquarie, perched on the Hastings River and bordered by eighteen beaches, is another three hours' drive north. On the way, stop overnight at Old Bar to sleep with your favourite rock star (be that David Bowie, Nick Cave, Dave Grohl or Louis Armstrong) in the Boogie Woogie Beach House. Each room in this designer, boutique hotel, located a short scurry from the beach, is dedicated to a music legend and comes with its own vinyl player (LPs supplied). Plus, there's live music on Fridays and Sundays. 30 kilometres inland, in the tiny town of Wingham, farm-fresh produce is turned into scrumptious dishes at Bent on Food. If you happen to be passing by in October, time your visit to coincide with the Wingham Akoostik Festival. For riverside accommodation in Port with a pool, as well as access to vintage bikes and paddle boards, there's Sails Resort By Rydges. Come lunch or dinner, head to the hatted Stunned Mullet for oyster flights, Glacier 51Toothfish or Orange-reared venison, as well as stunning views over Town Beach. Back in town, there's tapas, art and live music at Latin Loafer, and creative, local-produce driven dishes in Drury Lane Eatery's leafy courtyard. The best coffee in town is served among Social Grounds' murals and dark wooden tables and cracking beer is brewed onsite at Black Duck. The nine-kilometre Port Macquarie Coastal Walk is the place to work off your excesses. Start at Town Beach and finish at Tacking Point Lighthouse, taking in three beaches, several breathtaking lookouts and Sea Acres National Park, where the rainforest meets the sea. A shorter adventure is the 1.3-kilometre long, seven-metre high Sea Acres Boardwalk. Our weekender's guide can help with further explorations. [caption id="attachment_581230" align="alignnone" width="1280"] Andrew Sutherland.[/caption] URUNGA AND BELLINGEN Drive another 130 kilometres to get to Urunga, a tiny town where two rivers — the Bellinger and the Kalang — meet the sea. To see both river mouths up close, take a stroll on the one-kilometre long, elevated Urunga Boardwalk. You can expect 360-degree views all the way — inland over the Great Dividing Range, north towards Mylestom Spit and south as far as Nambucca Heads. Next, take a break from the coast and head west to Bellingen, a laidback, artsy 3000-person town on the Bellinger River's banks. There are eco-friendly retreats aplenty, but, even if you don't have an over-nighter in mind, leave some time to wander among the art galleries and jewellery makers of The Old Butter Factory and hang out in local cafes. For rainforest walks and waterfalls, travel another 35 kilometres inland to reach Dorrigo National Park. Get a mid-road trip workout with views on the Blackbutt Walking Track or visit several cascades on the Casuarina Falls circuit. The Dorrigo Rainforest Centre will give you the lowdown on local flora and fauna, as well as a dizzying adventure on the canopy-level Skywalk. [caption id="attachment_576785" align="alignnone" width="1280"] Andrea Schaffer.[/caption] COFFS HARBOUR Another hour of road time and you'll be in Coffs Harbour. Take your mandatory snap with the Big Banana before making tracks to Aanuka Beach Resort or, to escape the crowds, an Arthouse Beachfront Apartment on Emerald Beach, 20 kilometres north. May to July and September to November make up whale watching season, so head to a vantage point with a picnic and keep a lookout — Muttonbird Island's viewing platform and Emerald Beach's Look At Me Now Headland are both prime spots. Alternatively, jump on a local tour boat. [caption id="attachment_576794" align="alignnone" width="1280"] Richard Rydge.[/caption] HINTERLAND WAY For the final stretch — between Ballina and Byron Bay — try substituting the well-trodden Pacific Highway with the Hinterland Way. Starting at Ewingsdale, this idyllic, winding road takes you through the lush, green rolling hills west of Byron Bay. Make your first stop the Macadamia Castle and Animal Park, where you can sample local macadamias and hang out by a frog conservation pond. A ten-minute drive will bring you to teeny-tiny Newrybar, where the the oldest bakery in Australia has been transformed into the Harvest Cafe, Deli and Bakery. Linger over fresh sourdough baked in a 107-year-old woodfired oven, twelve-hour braised lamb shoulder or charcuterie, prepared onsite. Last of all, drop into Bangalow for heritage-listed buildings with shady verandahs, independent art galleries, peaceful parks and a stroll along Byron Creek. The epic Bangalow Market takes over the town on the fourth Sunday of every month, bringing live music, local farmers, artworks, design and loads more. [caption id="attachment_581233" align="alignnone" width="1280"] Jeremy Foster.[/caption] YAMBA If, however, you decide to stick to the coast, then make Yamba, 140 kilometres north of Coffs, your final pre-Byron Bay stop. After all, the CSIRO and Stanford University reckon it has one the best climates in the world, alongside San Diego, California and Bunbury, Western Australia. Even in July, you'll notice locals swimming — a warm current comes through, often pushing water temperatures up to summer levels. If you're keen for a dip, try Brooms Head Main Beach, which is beautifully protected by Yuraygir National Park. Keep an eye out for dolphins and whales while you're at it. Every Wednesday morning, local farmers bring their produce to the Whiting Beach Car Park for the Yamba Farmers Market. Alternatively, you'll find one of the best meals in town at the waterfront Yamba Shores Tavern. Definitely order the prawns — they're some of the freshest and most delicious on the East Coast. Top image: Richard Rydge.
Take a break from your shopping spree with a bowl of steaming-hot laksa at Temasek. This extremely popular Malaysian-Singaporean eatery looks no-frills from the outside, but, once you're tucking into your spicy feast, you'll understand why it's been packed since opening in 1992. The laksa list offers chicken, prawn, chicken and prawn, seafood and vegetarian versions. But, if none of that whets your appetite, there's a bunch of other dishes to choose from, including Singapore chilli crab, Hainanese chicken rice and a spectacular oyster omelette. We started with a serving of vegetarian spring rolls and beef curry puffs which were deliciously light and crunchy. After that we sampled to Singaporean laksa with fishcakes and the vegetarian version. Both were perfectly spiced and fragrant and while a decent size, we were left craving more. A serve of Hainanese fried rice filled the gap and we washed it all down with some home made iced lemon tea. Can't get much better than that.
In the relatively small Sydney suburb of Auburn lies a rich cultural melting pot that locals will tell you makes it one of the most diverse communities in the whole city — with residents from the Middle East, Asia and Africa coming together in a sharing of ideas, practices and some damn tasty food. Thanks, in part, to its mosque, Auburn specifically attracts Muslim people from many different countries and backgrounds, making the foodie scene here dominated by a range of Middle Eastern cuisines — from Turkish and Lebanese to Afghani and Pakistani — each with their own specialties, ingredients and cooking methods. The suburb is a collection of small businesses that are proudly family-owned and the cornerstone of an overwhelmingly welcoming community that really loves its food. If you missed October's Flavours of Auburn festival, you can make your own way through the top seven foodie experiences that this delicious part of Sydney has to offer. [caption id="attachment_604802" align="alignnone" width="1280"] Marissa Ciampi.[/caption] FRESHLY BAKED SIMIT AT MENZIL TURKISH BAKERY Menzil's is a true local legend in these parts, supplying their delectable bread to most shops in the area. Simit — a circular, bagel-like bread, only much larger, flatter and crusted with sesame seeds — is a quintessential part of cuisine in Istanbul and is popular not only in Turkey but also across the Middle East. Crunchy on the outside and fluffy in the middle, a fresh batch could rival New York bagels. At Menzil's, you're sure to get the freshest in town. The shop may look generic, but they take baking very seriously. The business has been family-run for generations, opens at 6am every day of the year, is 100 percent halal and they bake everything in-house. If you're here for breakfast, grab one of their flaky and buttery pastries, but be sure to get in early before they inevitably sell out. Lunch is all about the cheese simit sandwiches. Those with a sweet tooth will naturally gravitate toward the display of desserts, from baklava and elaborate cakes to traditional Turkish biscuits — colourfully dipped and playfully shaped shortbread cookies that are traditionally bought by the box for Turkish parties. Grab a few with your coffee and enjoy while you walk. 40 Auburn Road, Auburn [caption id="attachment_604803" align="alignnone" width="1280"] Marissa Ciampi.[/caption] SAFFRON ICE CREAM FROM AUBURN FRESH JUICE CENTRE The Auburn Fresh Juice Centre may look like a brightly lit Boost mimic, but the flavours immediately reveal that it's something else all together. Despite the shop's name, the ice cream, more akin to frozen custard, is the real draw here. Owned by an Afghani family, the flavours are not your average chocolate and vanilla — think a bright yellow saffron ice cream with real threads of the spice throughout, giving that foolproof mix of savoury and sweet. They use fresh pistachio in the pishawari and you can immediately taste the difference, while the rose flavour and fig and date smoothie are top contenders as well. For authenticity seekers, try the Falooda milk drink — a combination of arrowroot vermicelli, basil seeds, tapioca pearls and rose syrup — which is a classic treat from Pakistan that may sound foreign for the western palate but is even more reason to try it. If you're keen to try a few flavours, five bucks will get you a sizeable cup with multiple — and there's no extra charge for combo scoops. Or go for the 'Sunshine' option, which comes in the form of a big-ass sundae with three massive scoops of your choice, all topped with fresh fruit. 9 Auburn Road, Auburn [caption id="attachment_604804" align="alignnone" width="1280"] Kimberley Low.[/caption] TURKISH BREAKFAST AT ELIF MARKET INTERNATIONAL DELICATESSEN This unassuming deli counter is full of all things Turkish delicacy, from a variety of cheeses and dried meats to imported homewares and cooking utensils. Don't know where to start? Have a chat to Elif's proud owner, Fevzi, who is a regular Auburn character and happily shows guests around the shop. Elif has all of the makings for a traditional Turkish breakfast, which consists of simit, marinated kalamata olives and kasar cheese (a Turkish version of a mozzarella/provolone hybrid). Fevzi stocks only the most legit of these imported ingredients, apart from his own specially-treated olives — which he's created a homemade marinade for — and the simit which is baked around the corner at Menzil's (see above). Grab the lot to go and you've got yourself one hell of a picnic. If you're more of a bacon and egg kind of breakfast eater, include some sliced sucuk — a dried, spicy Turkish beef sausage — in your purchase and the meal can become the perfect mid-afternoon charcuterie instead. Don't forget to ask for a small bottle of 'lemon perfume', a traditional Turkish hand sanitiser that is used in most homes and also ideal to have on any foodie trip. 6-8 Civic Road, Auburn [caption id="attachment_604805" align="alignnone" width="1280"] Marissa Ciampi.[/caption] FALAFEL ROLL FROM JAMAL TAKEAWAY Jamal's is considered by many to serve the best falafel in Sydney and we were easy converts. This small grocer serves nothing but, so it comes as no surprise that the Lebanese owner knows his way around the falafel ball. Despite being the size of oranges, the falafel are not dense whatsoever. Topped with pickled turnips, tomato, salad and, of course, homemade yoghurt and chilli sauces, then double wrapped in pita, this falafel roll is an overall behemoth but one you won't want to share. Don't be intimidated by the owner's full-on personality — he may first seem a Seinfeld'Soup Nazi' type, but after your first bite and inevitable subsequent joy, you'll easily see how proud he is of his shop and how much he loves sharing this impeccable food with his customers. On your way out, grab a jar of the homemade chili paste, which ranges in spice level from mild to "xxhot" — trust us, you'll be craving it afterward. 73 Auburn Road, Auburn BURANEE-BADENJAN AT KHAYBAR AUTHENTIC AFGHAN CUISINE Khaybar is true Afghan cuisine — with recipes passed down from generations, you know it doesn't get more authentic than that, hence the name. It's also abundantly clear that the owners just love food. The menu of course includes your traditional kebobs and koftas, standouts in their own right, but come here for the lesser known dishes that you can't get at your average shop. If you only try one dish here, it has to be Buranee-Badenjan — a dip of slow-cooked eggplant in a chunky tomato sauce, topped with mint and yoghurt (entrée $6.90; main $19.95). The dish is rich with spices and perfect for dipping their signature bread in. The Qaboli Pallaw, or jewelled rice ($14.95-16.95), is another traditional dish of seasoned chicken or lamb, served under a mound of browned basmati and topped with carrots, raisins, almonds and pistachios. The combination of the sweet raisins with the nuttiness and spicy meat really makes this dish and gives Halal Snack Packs a run for their money. 64 Auburn Road, Auburn [caption id="attachment_604809" align="alignnone" width="1280"] Marissa Ciampi.[/caption] TURKISH DELIGHT FROM REAL TURKISH DELIGHT This beautiful, nostalgic chocolate shop feels like a step back in time to the confectionery shops of the mid-1900s. The first Real Turkish Delight shop opened in 1974 in Flemington and continues to be independently owned and run by the Pektuzun family, who really know a thing or two about these Turkish sweets — the shop's first generation owner, Bahattin Pektuzun, worked for years in a Turkish confectionery shop before relocating to Australia. The Turkish Delights here are not of the Cadbury variety. All use the original recipe of this 14th century treat, made all naturally in old cauldrons and with no substitutes. Think flavours from the traditional rose to pomegranate, mint, vanilla and almond. This family takes their trade so seriously, in fact, that they've won the Guinness World Records back in 2005 for the largest Turkish Delight ever made — weighing in a 3.21 tonnes. While you're here, try some of the dark chocolate lollies as well, which are also made in house and won't disappoint. 1/3-5 Station Road, Auburn LAHMAJUN FROM ALI BABA CHARCOAL CHICKEN This Turkish chicken shop is a contender for best in town, and Auburn is a town of many kebab shops. The charcoal chicken is of course their namesake, and for good reason — it's juicy and tender with a perfectly grilled skin. Plenty of regulars also tuck into their signature pide, with the homemade dough hand-rolled right in front of your eyes and stuffed with spinach and cheese or minced meat and sauce. For us, Ali Baba is the go-to spot for lahmajun, a flat pastry dough that is similar to gozleme, only topped instead of stuffed — topped more specifically with minced beef or chicken, onions, tomatoes and parsley, then spiced with the quintessential combination of cayenne pepper, paprika, cumin and cinnamon. Top it all off with a slice of fresh lemon and you have the ultimate zesty and spicy combo. To wash it all down, grab a yoghurt drink or pomegranate juice, both traditional Turkish libations. 2 Civic Road, Auburn Top image: Kimberley Low.
You used to have to leave the Hills District for a decent meal, but times have changed. There are now cafes, bars and restaurants serving incredible food in the area (that's Castle Hill, Dural, Winston Hills, Glenhaven and surrounds). If you live in the area, we're truly sorry to have neglected you with food and drink listings thus far. It stops now. In partnership with Castle Towers (which has just launched The Cooking School—a series of food-focused workshops), we've put together a guide to the best food and drink options in the area. Leave your inner city bubble and you'll find inventive breakfasts in Dural, burgers and fries in Winston Hills and extravagant cocktails to drink with dinner in Castle Hill. THE BARON, CASTLE HILL Part of the allure of living in the Hills is the suburban atmosphere and the idyllic setting, but getting something good to eat can be tricky. Matt Stone and Mike Ico of The Baron recognised this, so they took all of their zero hospitality experience and opened up a cracking joint in Castle Hill that champions solid food, great specialty coffee and local produce. The two have taken to food service like a duck to water—on the breakfast menu are wood-fired Smoking Gun Bagels, and there are the delicious beef burgers and toasties for lunch. The Baron is licensed and champions Australian wine, playing host to an occasional burger and natural wine pairing night. WOLFE AND CO, DURAL At Wolfe and Co, every ingredient, design decision and cup of coffee is lovingly chosen, created and delivered with pride. From the delicate kingfish fillet with grains and gazpacho to every Five Senses flat white, the Dural cafe is about lifting the hospitality game in the Hills and providing its people with the finer things in life. The cafe has an elegant, black and white fit-out, which is comfortable but plain enough that it draws attention to the craft rather than the building. As many places in the Hills seem to be, Wolfe and Co is licensed—it serves alcohol alongside an all day breakfast and lunch menu. It's the perfect to take your family for a slightly fancy meal. YOUENI, CASTLE HILL Youeni is all about healthy eating and clean living. The cafe started out in Surry Hills a while back, then it moved over to Castle Hill to bring its philosophy of holistic dining out west with a second venue (as if Surry Hills wasn't already spoiled for choice). The cafe is light, airy and the menu is vegan friendly. It covers all your cafe classics from sandwiches to a salad that will literally save your life—the Life Extending Bowl gets you all the nutrients you need in the most delicious way possible. Youeni is the perfect spot for a healthy weekend breakfast date. THE TUCKSHOP, GLENHAVEN Not content with just one entry on the list, The Tuckshop comes to you from the same boys behind The Baron. Their second digs takes a similar approach to food, where it must be tasty, but it must also be good for you—a philosophy that extends to their famous burgers (the beef is a spectacular option). If you're looking for somewhere that serves up ace food and coffee in an idyllic setting with an old-school canteen feel, then The Tuckshop's the joint for you. Printed on the wall is 'Greetings from Glenheaven, where it's not the city and you couldn't care less'. Delightful. AUSTRALIAN BREWERY, ROUSE HILL The 20-year-old Australian Brewery is the birthplace of some super delicious beers (its own pale ale, pilsner, lager and cider), but it also takes food very seriously. The spacious dining area is inspired by great beer halls, with high ceilings and long tables that are the perfect place to throw back a freshly brewed frosty beers while chowing down on some hearty pub grub. The menu has great pub classics, everything from a parmigiana to a grilled T-Bone or a pizza. There are also extensive gluten free options. This Rouse Hill local caters for everyone, and the large tables make it an obviously perfect choice for a function, should you need to gather up your friends and family for a celebration. WILD PEAR CAFE, DURAL Wild Pear is an institution in the Hills region—locally famous for its fresh, colourful and delicious food. The menu covers some great cafe classics—there's the standard, delicious shakshuka, then there are pancakes with banana and honeycomb and burgers with crispy chips for lunch. Creativity is turned up to eleven with the garnishes—think fairy floss and edible flowers. The food is great, but you can't talk about Wild Pear without mentioning the view—the verandah looks over a huge, beautiful nursery of plants, trees and flowers. A stunning, peaceful spot to sit down and relax with a coffee. EL BURGER, WINSTON HILLS El Burger is a popular spot in Winston Hills, serving up twelve delicious burgers for lunch every day inside the local shopping centre. Take your pick from a menu that features burgers made with beef, chicken, lamb, pork, vegetarian or fish. As is customary in a burger shop, there are multiple versions of loaded fries too—some topped with cheesy bacon, others with chicken or pork. Milkshakes are on the menu too—flavours include Nutella, honeycomb caramel and strawberry swirl. CROOKED TAILOR, CASTLE HILL Castle Hill was dying for a new bar that's not Hillside. We're not saying there's anything wrong with Hillside, but we are saying that sometimes you just want to get a drink somewhere where you won't be surrounded by fresh-out-of-high-school teenagers and possibly underage kids. When Crooked Tailor opened, the people of Castle Hill breathed a sigh of relief. Mainly because at this bar there's a lovely, leafy courtyard, a great food menu and an extensive cocktail menu to order off. The food menu features barbecue meats alongside a healthy smattering of vegetarian food, and the cocktail menu features drinks like the Waterside—gin, lime juice, mint and house-made watermelon soda— and the 49'RS—made with chilli honey jam, lemon juice, whisky and orange bitters. THE HILLS FOOD FESTIVAL, ROUSE HILL The Hills obviously has some spectacular food offerings, but the Australian Brewery recognises that there's other great food in Sydney too. In that spirit, the brewery hosts The Hills Food Festival—an annual festival of good eating where the very best Sydney street food is showcased. Last year Messina popped by, as well as the crew from Knafeh Bakery. Stay tuned to the brewery's website for information on the festival—it was extremely popular last year. Castle Towers is running The Cooking School over April and May—a series of food-focused workshops, classes and events for kids and adults. Visit the Castle Towers website for tickets and details. Words: James Whitton and Kelly Pigram. Images: Steven Woodburn. Top image: Wolfe and Co, Dural.
Who knew that the three key ingredients to a good night out were hip hop, cheese and wine? Lewis Jaffrey and Jared Merlino, the two masterminds behind Big Poppa's, definitely did. "It seems so obvious now that we've built it, but we really didn't know it would be so popular," says Jaffrey. "The idea came from the fact that Jared and I were hanging out and listening to R&B and hip hop and spending thousands — literally thousands of dollars — on good cheese and wine," he says. Unlike most excellent ideas conceived over a few too many, these two hospitality vets (Jaffrey is ex-operations manager at The Baxter Inn, Frankie's and Shady Pines while Merlino is behind The Lobo Plantation and Kittyhawk) put their money where their cheese hole — uh, mouth — is. Cue Big Poppa's, an ode to Biggie Smalls in the old Hello Sailor digs on Oxford Street. The renos have seen the space transformed into a compact restaurant upstairs with a small bar, bare brick walls, candle lights and an attractive leather banquette. It's definitely date territory, without being stuffy. Downstairs is a bigger, darker cocktail bar area, which also serves cheese and snacks. In case you hadn't already caught on, cheese is kind of a big deal here, with about 80 percent of the menu containing it and about 25 cheeses on offer for before/during/after dinner. But don't overlook the rest of the food. Created by chefs Liam O'Driscoll and Jase Barron, it's smart casual Italian, with the likes of kingfish crudo ($17.5), clams with guanciale ($19), baked eggplant with five (five!) types of cheese ($27) and a snappy shaved zucchini salad ($15). The highlight though was the single best piece of burrata I've ever tasted, served with heirloom tomatoes, toasted farro and fig vincotto ($21). The wine list is pretty sexy — mostly Italian with a good range by the glass like a lovely Soave from Veneto ($12). There's plenty to like in the bottle section under $100, or you can just sip Champagne when you're thirsty. In a rare occurrence in this lockout-laden city, BP's is open and serving food till 3am. "We want to show the council and the police that we can operate responsibly as a restaurant, and that people like us want to come in and eat and drink till late and not cause a problem," says Jaffrey. You mean, show them that grown ups can act like, er, grown ups? "Exactly." Get in early though — it fills up fast and they don't take reservations. There's a pleasant lack of attitude on the floor, lead by the affable Jaffrey himself. I bet it's the kind of place you could eat a whole wheel of cheese and no one would even be mad. The tunes, which are loud enough to do that weird shoulder-shaking chair dance thing, seriously make this venue – and even if hip hop ain't your thing, the atmosphere might convert you. The cocktails too are on-point — as is, well, everything about this place. It seems cheese, wine and hip hop is the perfect combo. And if you don't know, now you know. Oxford Street's home of hip hop, cheese and cocktails is giving us even more to love with its new aperitivo hour dedicated to the latter two. From 5–7pm every weekday, Big Poppa's is serving up four $10 cocktails and three heavily discounted cheeses. Knock off work a little earlier and head to the upstairs bar or underground lounge for $10 negronis, martinis and spritzes paired with $7 wedges of brillat savarin, parmigiano reggiano and blue cheese (that's half the regular price). The cheeses come paired with jams, honey, fruit and bread, too. Images: Bodhi Liggett.
With Groovin the Moo announcing its dates then cancelling, and Splendour in the Grass sadly doing the same, your plans for 2024 might be missing a few music festivals. News for the industry hasn't been great Down Under in recent years, especially in Australia this year. But Listen Out is aiming to buck the trend, locking in its return for spring, as well as its dates and venues — and all of the above for Listen In as well. "It's been a very tough time for the Australian music festival industry and we are thrilled to be back in 2024, welcoming returning and first-time attendees through the gates," said Listen Out's promoters, confirming that the event will get everyone dancing for the third time in the pandemic era after 2022 and 2023 runs. [caption id="attachment_957218" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Jordan Munns[/caption] Last years' fest was Listen Out's most successful in terms of ticket sales ever, and the crew behind it are hoping to continue that trajectory. Something that might help: turning the fest into a 16-plus event, age-wise, which is a first for 2024. The festival's focus is staying true to its niche, filling its stages on electronic and hip hop artists — both international and local talents, too. The lineup hasn't been revealed as yet, but watch this space to see who follows in Skrillex, Four Tet, Lil Uzi Vert, Ice Spice and company's footsteps from 2023's bill. [caption id="attachment_957232" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Anna Warr[/caption] This is Listen Out's 11th year, with four stops on the agenda: Caribbean Gardens in Melbourne, HBF Arena in Perth, RNA Showgrounds in Brisbane and Centennial Park in Sydney. Listen In, the condensed version of the fest with a smaller lineup, is headed to Go Media Stadium Mt Smart in Auckland, and also Ellis Park in Adelaide. [caption id="attachment_957226" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Jordan Munns[/caption] Listen Out and Listen In 2024 Dates: Friday, September 27 — Listen Out Melbourne, Caribbean Gardens, Wurundjeri Land / Melbourne Saturday, September 28 — Listen Out Perth, HBF Arena, Mooro Country / Joondalup Sunday, September 29 — Listen In Adelaide, Ellis Park / Tampawardli (Park 24), Kaurna Country / Adelaide Friday, October 4 — Listen In Auckland, Go Media Stadium Mt Smart, Auckland / Te Ipu Kura A Maki Saturday, October 5 — Listen Out Brisbane, Brisbane Showgrounds, Meanjin / Brisbane Sunday, October 6 — Listen Out Sydney, Centennial Park, Gadigal Country [caption id="attachment_957230" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Samm Venn[/caption] [caption id="attachment_957221" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Sam Venn[/caption] [caption id="attachment_957224" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Mitch Lowe[/caption] [caption id="attachment_957228" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Anna Warr[/caption] [caption id="attachment_957220" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Sam Venn[/caption] [caption id="attachment_957225" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Zennieshia Butts[/caption] Listen Out and Listen In's 2024 season tours Australia and New Zealand in spring 2024. For more information, head to the festival website — and we'll update you when lineup details are announced. Top image: Mitch Lowe.
Smoking Gringos is a viral Mexican restaurant from an acclaimed Sydney hospo veteran that arrived on Muru Way in Blacktown in 2023. The Western Sydney Mexican restaurant is led by Richard Borg and Jade Jackson. Borg brings experience from a storied culinary career to his latest venture, having previously worked across Momofuku and Park Hyatt before opening Surry Hills' Master and Burger Head in Penrith with a group of mates. Over the last few years, he's been working under the Smoking Gringos name, serving up juicy barbecued meats — first in Kingswood and then out of the kitchen at Newtown pub Websters. Now, Smoking Gringos has reemerged in Western Sydney, bringing its passion for perfectly tender meat to a new canvas: birria tacos. The idea to open a Mexican joint was first fostered after doing a birria special in Kingswood, which Borg says customers "went ballistic" for. "A lot of the birria we've had in Sydney kind of misses the mark," he told Concrete Playground. "We make all the meat before we finish it in the broth to give it a bit more body — a bit more flavour." The specialty at Smoking Gringos is the quesa taco, a three-corn tortilla dipped in marinade and fried before being topped with three kinds of cheese, coriander, onion and your choice of beef or chicken. Each serve is paired with pickled onions, lime, consommé for dipping, and a selection of salsas made fresh in-house every day — the habanero is the chef's favourite. If you want to take things up a notch, opt for the mulitas, which Borg describes as a "quesa taco on steroids". A dish popular in Los Angeles, the mulitas closely resembles a quesadilla, piling toppings between two of the fried quesa tortillas. Nachos and loaded fried round out the menu, with plans to introduce a burrito in the coming weeks. If things go to plan, Borg and Jackson say we may even see more Smoking Gringos stores or a roaming food truck pop up. Watch this space.
Sometimes it's nice to learn that one of Sydney's finest bakeries is located in Parramatta and not Paddington. Located in the heart of Sydney's fastest-growing suburb, Threefold Pastry offers a range of sweet and savoury pastries, including a range of ever-changing croissants. Flavours include plain, almond, apple crumble and pain au chocolat options, while the specialty croissant (which changes monthly) could be anything from a peanut butter brownie version to a lemon verbena. Other treats include a mixed berry crumble danish, cinnamon scrolls, Oreo brownies and homemade banana bread. For something more savoury, you could opt for a beef or Thai chicken curry pie, a Vegemite and cheese croissant or a falafel, hummus, tahini, tomato and rocket wrap. It builds a mean sandwich, too, with options including chicken schnitzel with roasted tomato jam, mayo, cheese and rocket; salami with the same; and poached chicken with smashed avo, honey mustard dressing and cheese.
