Newtown's cult favourite Turkish ice creamery Hakiki has been impressing Sydneysiders since early 2015. It has earned quite the reputation for its traditional Maras-style ice cream — which is smooth and creamy, yet drip-free and melt-resistant, until the second it hits your mouth. The signature serve is so thick, it's best tackled with a knife and fork. The ingredient that gives the ice cream this unusual texture is an orchid root grown in southern Turkey. Alongside classic Anatolian treats like baklava, Turkish delight and rich Turkish coffee, the team whips up a range of traditional and innovative ice cream flavours, from old favourites like pistachio and hazelnut, to the ever-popular baklava and moreish tahini. There's even an unlikely, but delicious, combination of melon and feta.
Three new exhibitions at Artspace cast a searching light on the ties between artist and machine, civil life and technology. In the wake of Anish Kapoor’s giant automatic artworks, this show has removed the artist’s hand from the construction of the work. Contemporary art has gone Blade Runner, the future is here and the artists are absent. Kiwi art lecturer Simon Ingram has Frankensteined together three 21st Century painting machines. A paintbrush —daily replenished by the gallery staff who also choose the paint colour — is propelled across a massive canvass in random circles and stripes, easy as a machine. The ground here isn’t new, but to really look at these works is to realise that even in automation there is variation. The works are neither as uniform, nor as gridded as they first appear, and they are created during the show itself rather than in the studio. Meanwhile, Mari Velonaki has created and videoed a humanoid robot in a glacial landscape, accompanied by a soundtrack automatically generated by a swirling kinetic machine. Petra Gemeinboeck and Rob Saunders have installed a mystery motorised machine that lurks behind the gallery walls, hammering and perforating its way across them. Despite the coldness of this concept, it weirdly enlivens the gallery space, leaving a trail of white paint dust on the floor as it goes. Together, the artists have transformed the gallery into a dark, machine-spurred cavern of clicks, whirs and zips. As with much conceptual art, this is not a show for browsing and glancing - speak to the friendly Artspace staff and get amongst the shows’ written statements. The ideas are all there. Just delve in.
In case you don't already have enough reasons to attend SXSW Sydney in 2025, here's more: the event's Music Festival keeps adding to its lineup, with over 50 new performers joining the bill, plus a heap of presenters as well. The latest round of names follows past announcements across all things SXSW Sydney for this year, spanning speakers, an initial batch of local and international acts, high-profile guests, more bands and folks getting chatting, Paul Feig and a 14-hour Freaks and Geeks marathon, and Tumbalong Park's free programming. Even beyond all of the above so far, there's also still lineup drops to come. Ninajirachi, 2charm, Drifting Clouds, Whitney, Picture This, Le Boom, Sonic Reducer, xiao xiao, Angela Ken, Maki, Modern Cinema Master, Lex Amor, Amy Gadiaga: they're now on the Music Festival bill, taking to the stage across Monday, October 13–Sunday, October 19. As for where you'll be catching them, SXSW Sydney's already-hefty range of venues is expanding, too, with The Eveleigh Hotel, Embassy Conference Centre, and outdoor stages at the Seymour Centre and on Kensington Street among the new places to hit up. Laneway Festival Co-Founder Danny Rogers, ARIA CEO Annabelle Herd, Support Act Wellbeing Content & Programs Lead Ash King, Skillbox Founder and CEO Anmol Kukreja, Backlash Productions's Tour and Production Manager Jamal Chalabi, UNIFIED's CEO Jaddan Comerford are just some of the speakers adding a little more conversation to the bill — and so are Tickets for Good Founder and CEO Steve Rimmer, Strawberry Fields Director Tara Medina and others. SXSW Sydney has also confirmed that a lengthy list of organisations will be putting on events, including American Apparel, APRA AMCOS, British Music Embassy, College of Hip Hop Knowledge, GYROstream, Impressed Recordings, Laneway Festival x Outside Lands, Moshtix, NPCC presents Taiwan Now, Rolling Stone, Virgin Music and more. The last dedicated Music Festival reveal came in June, and featured the likes of Rashmeet Kaur, Vandelux, The Thing and August Wahh, plus Tenxi & Jemsii, Holly Hebe, Munan and Yasmina Sadiki. In total, this year's fest is due to feature more than 300 music performances. Before that, the festival had already announced Jasmine 4.t, Freak Slug and Ristband + Pivots from the UK; Slowwves from Thailand; Japan's Suichu Spica 水中スピカ; New Zealand's Serebii and Tusekah; and Cardinals from Ireland; and Autralia's Jamaica Moana, JJ4K, RICEWINE, Sacred Hearts, Swapmeet and BADASSMUTHA. SXSW Sydney 2025 runs from Monday, October 13–Sunday, October 19 at various Sydney venues. Head to the SXSW Sydney website for further details. Select SXSW Sydney images: Brendon Thorne/Getty Images for SXSW Sydney // Jess Gleeson.
Rockpool Bar & Grill in Sydney isn't known for changing things up. In fact, many diners come here because they know exactly what they are getting every time they visit — and that's usually one of Sydney's best steaks. But right now, the chefs have been given permission to really experiment with Rockpool's food offering through its new series of degustation dinners. Every Friday and Saturday night until Saturday, July 20, you can book in for Rockpool's nine-course spread that's exclusively served in its semi-private dining rooms. These aren't available to walk-ins, and there's a highly limited number of seats up for grabs each week. If you manage to get a spot, you'll be treated to a selection of mostly meat and seafood dishes that have been dreamt up by Executive Chef Santiago Aristizabal. You can expect bites like its prawn and carrot crepe with saffron and curry leaves, paspaley pearl with green gazpacho and smoked bullhorn pepper oil, rare Cape Grim fillet and bone marrow on toast and Davidson plum doughnuts topped with smoked vanilla ice cream. The nine-course degustation comes in at $195 per person, with several wine-pairing options available starting from $85 — something we highly recommend for those wanting to really treat themselves. Those dining a la carte can also try something new by ordering one of its luxe new tableside dishes. The NSW rock lobster thermidor is carted over on a trolley and drizzled in flames right before your eyes. And the 1-kilo, pancetta-wrapped $350 chateaubriand steak (for four to five people) is also finished and carved up tableside. It's decadent and expensive, but Rockpool is a legendary restaurant in Sydney that's known for sourcing only the best quality produce. It costs to try food this good. But if you can afford it, it is a real treat.
French chef Claude Bosi and Aussie chef Brent Savage come from opposite sides of the world. Bosi has headed up a string of two-Michelin-starred restaurants across the UK, including Bibendum in Michelin's former headquarters in Chelsea. Meanwhile, Savage, with sommelier Nick Hildebrandt, founded Sydney's Bentley Group — home to Eleven Barrack, Monopole, Bentley Restaurant + Bar, King Clarence and Brasserie 1930. However, the two have a lot in common. Both are big on experimenting with big new flavours, while honouring tradition and pursuing technical excellence. As part of the Vivid Chef Series, their decades of experience will be colliding at Eleven Barrack for just two evenings, on Tuesday, June 10 and Wednesday, June 11. Between them, they've come up with a six-course feast where French tradition blends with Aussie creativity. You'll get a rare opportunity to try Bosi's famous Camembert soufflé with black winter truffle. On top of that, Savage will be presenting duck liver choux au craquelin, as well as wagyu consommé and soft-poached quail egg tart. The experience will cost you $185 at lunch and $285 at dinner. Opt for matching at wines at $90 or premium drops for $180.
Every show wants to go out with a bang. But the Sydney Festival's Bullet Catch is guaranteed to each night — when a member of the audience fires a gun at performer Rob Drummond. A mix of theatre and magic show, Bullet Catch casts Drummond (who also wrote and co-directed) as William Wonder, a magician reflecting on the notorious trick that involves catching a bullet between the teeth and that (surprise surprise) is said to have killed several who've attempted it. In particular, he looks back on the case of one William Henderson, whose death in front of 2,000 people in 1912 was rumoured to have been a suicide. And that's where Bullet Catch evolves into something bigger, as its series of warm-up illusions meanders into a philosophy lecture on free will, scientific endeavour and existentialism. Apparently Drummond is a hugely engaging performer, who spurred Stephen Fry into tweeting, "Wow! Bullet Catch, what an experience at The Shed. Rob Drummond is utterly spell-binding. Shoot someone in the face for a ticket." Want more Sydney Festival events? Check out our top ten picks of the festival. Image by Niall Walker.
It's impossible to think about Mythic Quest without the fellow television show that helped it come to fruition also springing to mind. If there was no It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia, this Apple TV+ series about a video-game studio wouldn't exist. 2025 marks two decades since the world first met the Paddy's Pub gang in Rob McElhenney's initial small-screen hit. Midyear, TV's longest-running live-action sitcom will drop its 17th season. With his It's Always Sunny co-star Charlie Day and Megan Ganz, one of the show's writers, he also created Mythic Quest in 2020 — and five years later, it's been streaming its fourth season since late in January, will be accompanied by a companion anthology series Side Quest in March and has cemented itself as another beloved workplace-set favourite. One of the reasons that Mythic Quest has returned not once, not twice, but three times now since its debut run: its stellar cast. McElhenney (Deadpool & Wolverine) plays Ian Grimm, the man behind both the studio that shares the show's name and the hugely successful game that it makes; however, this is an ensemble effort. As crucial at MQ as its original architect is Australian Poppy Li, the lead engineer who has joined Ian as co-creative director over the years. On the business side of the company, high-strung executive producer David Brittlesbee endeavours to keep everything running smoothly. Charlotte Nicdao (The Strange Chores) and David Hornsby (Merry Little Batman) are among the show's standouts — but when the roster of talent also includes Community alum Danny Pudi as a ruthless money man, Ashly Burch (Chibiverse) and Imani Hakim (Will Trent) starting out as testers, and Jessie Ennis (Better Call Saul) as a determined personal assistant, there's no weak links. With Mythic Quest, Nicdao continues a mini trend across her career: tales with media ties. For Australian comedy queens Kate McLennan and Kate McCartney (Deadloch), she was part of breakfast TV-skewering delight Get Krack!n. Then came the also-excellent Content, the short-form web series that enlisted Nicdao as a wannabe influencer willing to do pretty much anything for fame. Building on a resume that also spans A gURLs wURLd, The Slap, Please Like Me, Top of the Lake and Bluey, her path to Poppy hasn't always stuck to the topic, but she's happily at home portraying a successful woman in the gaming world — a well-rounded character with ups and downs, as Concrete Playground describes the role to her; "really flawed and kind of an arsehole" is Nicdao's take, she tells us. And, she's also eagerly expanding the world's view of Australians on-screen. Nicdao's Filipino Australian dad Alfred Nicdao was one of the first Asian actors on Aussie television. Although she initially auditioned for Mythic Quest with an American accent, getting to bring her Asian Australian heritage — keeping her natural voice in the process — to international TV is a rare feat, as she's well aware. "Honestly, it's an honour for me. I don't think that that's overstating it," she advises. When he joined Mythic Quest at the outset, Hornsby came onboard not just as a star but also as an executive producer. Thanks to It's Always Sunny, it's a balancing act that he knows well — and it was "working with friends" that got him excited about being part of the MQ cast alongside playing Sunny's Rickety Cricket, plus his off-camera roles on both, he notes. On the two shows, the Pearl Harbour, Minority Report, Six Feet Under, Flags of Our Fathers, Jake in Progress, How to Be a Gentleman, Idiotsitter and Good Girls actor is also among the writers. Mythic Quest's second-ever episode was penned by him, in fact. Plenty has indeed changed for both Poppy and David over the course of the show so far — and evolves again in the fourth season, too, through romances, pregnancies, friendships and the like. They're both far more sure of who they are and what they want, and willing to fight for it. They're both much more comfortable beyond MQ. This is a workplace comedy, but it's also a series about dreams and fulfilment, and the mental and emotional toll of chasing both. Increasingly, it's as interested in not forgetting to put yourself first, even when you might be working on your dream. Indeed, one of the key themes of its latest batch of episodes is knowing when to make space for something beyond your job or an obsession — and that working on, creating, overseeing or loving something doesn't need to be anyone's defining trait. As a series, Mythic Quest keeps levelling up and broadening its focus, including among MQ team members, their loved ones and players within the narrative. That all-embracing approach equally applies off-screen. Hornsby and Nicdao have both made their directorial debuts with the show — the former in season three, the latter this season on an episode that Hornsby wrote. Burch, Pudi and Hakim have stepped behind the lens as well. Hornsby sees Mythic Quest as facilitating its key players reaching new stages together. "It moves the marker forward and makes you feel like you're growing in your life, and in your in your profession," he advises. Our chat with him and Nicdao also covered the initial appeal of being in a workplace sitcom set in a video-game studio, stepping into the shoes of layered characters as David and Poppy, potential Aussie It's Always Sunny episodes and more. On What Interested Nicdao and Hornsby About Starring in a Workplace Sitcom Set in a Video-Game Studio When Mythic Quest First Came Their Ways David: "It was a job." David to Charlotte: "Is that what your answer's going to be?" Charlotte: "Well, definitely — I mean, at the time, I was very much an unemployed actor. So yeah, it was a job. But also, I say this all the time, I feel like I manifested this show into existence. Because I feel like if you had've asked me to write down my absolute dream gig before I was cast in Mythic Quest, it would have been a heartwarming workplace comedy that was really funny, where I got to stretch my dramatic chops sometimes. And one of my favourite shows ever was Community, and I think Always Sunny is one of the greatest shows on TV. So the fact that now I get to be on this show that I feel like I dreamed up with these people who have already created some of the greatest shows of our time, I'm like 'how did I land this?'." David: "I think a workplace comedy is really great, just because it's really relatable. You can set the tone from the beginning — and I'm really, really happy with the tone that we've forged over these four seasons, of being able to be ridiculous and absurd sometimes, but always hopefully tethered to reality. And then being able to break away and explore some different episodes that really pay tribute to the complexities of stories related to video games. It felt like it was surprising, I think, when it came across my desk of sorts, that there was not already a show that truly lived in the video-game world that was an office-based comedy." On the Number of Projects, From Get Krack!n and Content in Australia to Mythic Quest, with a Media Angle on Nicdao's Resume Charlotte: "That's so funny. I hadn't thought about that before, but you're right, there is kind of a media bent to a lot of my work. I don't know what that is, and sometimes I wonder if it's — I mean, all of those things are fairly contemporary or modern themes to get into, and so sometimes I wonder that's something that I'm particularly comfortable in, for whatever reason. Those projects that you mentioned — Kate McCartney and Kate McLennan, who created Get Krak!n, are the some of the funniest people working in Australian television, and everything that they do is brilliant. So the fact that they wrote that role in for me was really exciting. And then with Content, Daley Pearson brought me that project. I'd worked with Ludo Studios before on an animated show, and when he brought me Content I was like 'I've never seen anything like this before and I have no idea how we're even going to shoot it, but I definitely want to be part of that'. So I'm glad that it lives on." On What Excited Hornsby About Taking His Collaboration with the It's Always Sunny Team Into a New Series David: "Working with friends, initially — it usually starts with Rob and Charlie calling me up and asking 'hey, we've got a part for you. We were thinking of a new show. We were thinking of you. Would you want to act on it and write on it?'. What more can you want except to do the thing that you love with your friends, who make you laugh and raise your bar? That in itself is a door I'm willing to walk through and then see what adventure it leads to." On What Nicdao Draws Upon to Play a Smart, Successful Woman in the Gaming World — But Also a Very Well-Round Character with Flaws and Struggles Charlotte: "I love that you're calling it well-rounded, when really what we all mean is that she's really flawed and kind of an arsehole. Yeah, that's a great question. Coming into the role without that gaming background — and I certainly didn't know anything about programming, that's definitely not how my brain works — I did speak to some game developers about what drew them to their particular jobs. And I loved hearing about this idea of programming being very much about solving puzzles, like being able to take something apart and put it back together in new ways that you wouldn't expect. So I feel like that was my way into understanding a little bit about how Poppy's mind works. It's like she doesn't really have control over most of her life, but this is a space that she fully understands and she can do anything in this world of programming. And that's kind of what makes her so good at her job, is that confidence that she has in this area and maybe no other area. I feel like I relate to that a little bit in terms of — I don't think, I would never think, that I am as good at acting as Poppy is at coding, but I definitely know that feeling of when you lock into something that you love doing and the rest of the world fades away, and you finish shooting a scene and you're like 'whoa, where am I?'. I don't really do that, but that's the feeling." On Hornsby's Task Playing the Most Sensitive and Vulnerable Character in the Series — and One Who Is Steering the Ship, But Is Also Often the Butt of the Office's Jokes David: "It involves me taking my ring off and walking in front of a camera, and then when I'm done, I put my ring on and I go home. No, it's really fun. I enjoy pushing the stories forward and serving the crazier egos in the show, but also having, when I was able to be the wolf back in a previous season, something like that. The specificity of this character and being able to then have earned that storyline is, is super fun. The wins taste sweeter, the victories taste sweeter, for this character when he gets them. So whether he's being a pawn in Brad's game or being overlooked by Poppy or Ian, it's always fun for me, for this character, to get a little victory here and there, and just to see what he does with it." On Knowing When to Make Space Beyond Work or an Obsession Being a Key Theme in Season Four — But Not a Sign That the Show Is Winding Down Charlotte: "I also hope that it's not leading to the end of the show. I don't think that's the intention. I actually think it opens up a whole lot of new story actually. And specifically with Poppy, this season is very much about her trying to discover who she could be outside of work. We see that right in the very first episode, with her having a boyfriend, which is something you never — I never, certainly — expected for the character. But I also think that it's something that we continue to explore and realise, that her whole life, since she was a child, has been about work. And in episode six we get introduced to her sister, who's played by another Asian Australian actress, Natasha Liu Bordizzo [Ahsoka], who I'm sure you know is fantastic — and a close friend. And we had so much fun on set. And this character comes in and reveals a little bit to the audience about who Poppy has always been — and I think that makes it all the more poignant that Poppy is now trying to break outside of that way of being. And I would be really interested to see, with the progress that Poppy makes this season, what that would mean for her in seasons to come in terms of her relationship with Ian and with the game." On the Parallels Between Mythic Quest Broadening Its Focus Among Its Characters and the Show's Cast, Such as Nicdao and Hornsby, Expanding Their Involvement by Writing and Directing David: "When a show's cast well, I think sometimes it's a fine line between who we are and who the characters are — certainly with my character in some ways — but we've all grown into our characters more. We've grown into ourselves more over time. A lot has happened since we started the show. We went through COVID and the pandemic. We made a show during it. That brings us together. That shows us what we're capable of. We've got to do our own makeup. We've got to shoot our own thing. We grow to appreciate the other person's job, especially when you have to do your own makeup. So at the end of the day, at five years later, I think we all have grown and feel, having gone through all this together — from professional firsts, like directing when I did it or when she did it, to doing a new episode or going to a new place with your character — it does make you, it moves the marker forward and makes you feel like you're growing in your life, and in your in your profession." On What It Means for Nicdao to Help Expand the World's View of Australians — and Initially Auditioning for Mythic Quest with an American Accent Charlotte: "Yeah, it's honestly, it's an honour for me. I don't think that that's overstating it. I feel like the world has a very particular idea of what an Australian looks like, and the fact that I get to show a different kind of Australian on an international level is, yeah, I'm really proud of that. And I'm so grateful that during that audition process, I think it was Rob, that was like 'wait, wait, stop'." Charlotte to David: "Well, maybe it was even you. I definitely remember you being in some of my early auditions and this conversation starting around 'well, but what if you just did your natural accent?'. I was so used to auditioning in my American accent at that time." David: "I wanted us to all become Australian." Charlotte: "He wanted everyone to do an Australian accent." David: "But then it just came like 'no, what if she just does it?'." Charlotte: "Yeah, it was like 'maybe just the Australian should do it'. But yeah, I was particularly proud of the episode 'Sarian' in season three that portrays Poppy with her young Filipino Australian family. Filipinos are the fifth-largest migrant group in Australia, there's a big community of us there. And since that episode has come out, I've spoken to people who have stopped me on the street in Australia, in Melbourne, who were like 'I loved that episode because that's what my family looked like growing up — like we spoke Tagalog at home and we had Australian accents at school'. I'm so grateful to the show for helping to tell that story." Concrete Playground: "Everyone becoming Australian sounds like it's going to be a future episode of It's Always Sunny." Charlotte: "Yes! 'The Gang Goes Australian'." David: "Yeah — yeah, that's fun." Mythic Quest streams via Apple TV+. Read our reviews of season one, season two and season three.
Casula Powerhouse Arts Centre reopened on Monday, June 1, with stunning surrealist exhibition A Familiar Place I've Never Seen running with extended dates. The exhibition opened on March 21, just days before the Australian Government announced the mass closure of indoor venues. After a brief hibernation, the works by artists Jomakhan Jafari and Danny Kennedy are back on display — and you can ogle them for free. A series of dream 'interpretations', the exhibition combines Jafari's calligraphy art and Kennedy's photography to explore themes of the fantastical and the mundane, cultural heritage, memory and environment. Each work represents one person's dreamscape, with the artists interviewing western Sydney locals about their dreams. An excerpt from each interview accompanies the work, too, such as "I dreamt one night I was an educated man", "I was flying on an umbrella" and "When I was in the detention centre, I dreamt suddenly I was in Golshahr". [caption id="attachment_771808" align="alignnone" width="1920"] 'Effort' by Jomakhan Jafari and Danny Kennedy[/caption] A Familiar Place I've Never Seen is running from Monday, June 1 till August 23 and is free to enter. Casula Powerhouse Arts Centre is open from 9am–5pm Monday–Friday and from 9am–4pm on Saturdays and Sundays. Top image: 'Golshahr' by Jomakhan Jafari and Danny Kennedy
The blue windowpane shopfront has become a Newtown favourite for cuts, fades, beard trims and shaves. Exposed brick walls, unframed mirrors and ebony dressing tables give the place its retro vibe, while a lightshade of faux deer antlers and a forest mural add a wild air that seems appropriate for the before photo of a woodsman's hair transformation. It's first come, first groomed at this walk-in barbershop, but in recent years it has started using the SLIKR app which lets you check waiting times and hold your place in a digital queue rather than line up out front. Images: Cassandra Hannagan
Venues serving up Vietnamese soup are not exactly few and far between in Sydney. But as any regular soup slurper would know, there is pho and then there is pho. And Pho Pasteur definitely falls into the latter category; the type of pho that leaves both bellies and souls satisfied. This Chinatown eatery is definitely not skimping on options; there are over ten pho varieties plus a selection of other soup and dry noodle dishes. The broth is the complex balance of sweet, savoury and salty that would be impossible to mimic at home, particularly for the price. If you want to branch out, the menu does expand out to feature the finest of Vietnamese cuisine including stir-fries, grilled skewered meats and rice paper rolls. The dining room is tightly packed and constantly bustling which adds to the authentic vibe. Images: Kitti Smallbone
Beloved social enterprise Two Good Co has been serving up tasty breakfast and lunch options from its cafe and shop in Darlinghurst's Yirranma Place since 2022. It also sells products from ethically minded local businesses including Hunter Candles and Gelato Messina, all while raising funds to support vulnerable women by providing pathways out of crisis living. One of Two Good Co's most-popular initiatives is its Chef of the Month series, which invites a well-known chef or culinary team to create special limited-edition menu items. Kylie Kwong, Maggie Beer, Peter Gilmore, Mitch Orr and Matt Moran have all been on curating duties in the past — and in June 2024, Claire Van Vuuren, the acclaimed chef and owner of Bloodwood, is on the pots. Beyond the kitchen, Van Vuuren is also a founding Board Member of Women in Hospitality, an advocacy not-for-profit that was formed in 2016 to champion the career development of women in the largely male-dominated hospitality industry. Available until Sunday, June 30, Van Vuuren's menu features two crowd-pleasing savoury dishes and a sweet treat. The vego-friendly selection kicks off with a stacked toastie starring a hearty mushroom bolognese paired with cheese and sandwiched between two slices of crisp toast. A Lebanese-leaning lentil and rice soup is also available, finished with a drizzle of yoghurt, a slice of fresh lemon and a generous coriander garnish, and served with a warm pita bread on the side. Rounding out the offering is a balanced dessert. Indulge in a quince and almond crumble muffin — a nutty and textured bake that pairs perfectly with a morning coffee or an afternoon cuppa.
Sydney's two-hatted restaurant Ormeggio at the Spit has given birth to a new venue, Chiosco. Located side by side on a Mosman jetty, Ormeggio and Chiosco are mere metres from the water's edge, with spectacular 300 degree views of luxury yachts and sparkling sea. While Ormeggio (which is Italian for 'berth' or 'moor') is a fine-dining affair, Chiosco (which is Italian for 'kiosk') has adopted a casual approach, serving Italian street food and takeaway with a 'barefoot and BYO' ethos. With cheaper prices and executive chef Alessandro Pavoni at the helm, it's a good excuse to go a little overboard. Chiosco has been smartly decked out with nautical nuances, including blue-and-white striped cushions, shade sails and slatted timber benches. A deliberate effort has been made to appear casual, but with everything still so new and polished, I wouldn't recommend taking your shoes off just yet. On the menu, you won't find any entrees or main courses; instead there's a selection of plates designed to share. Choose from deli items such as bresaola and burrata, house-made pastas, or a range of meats and freshly caught seafood cooked on the charcoal grill. The first thing to hit the table is the pane, a plate of warm sliced organic sourdough, with just a sprinkling of salt and extra virgin olive oil. It's worth the drive alone. For a glimpse of Pavoni's genius, try the yellowfin tuna crudo with blood orange emulsion, citrus segments, chervil. Genuine Italian flavours are present in the homemade pastas; a potato gnocchi is served with Italian sausage, Japanese pumpkin puree, Taleggio cheese and fried sage, or try the rigatoni with porcini and cultivated mushroom and stracchino cheese. The flavours are truly dreamy. Bring a bottle of champagne or a six pack of golden ales with you — Chiosco by Ormeggio is that rare treat among accomplished eateries, BYO. Alternatively, if you're out boating for the day, Chiosco can also pack you a hamper, or they offer a takeaway menu of paninis, burgers and fish and chips.
If you're a fan of LGBTQIA+ flicks, don't say that you don't have anything to watch between Friday, February 28–Monday, March 10, 2025. You're not just stuck with usual couch-viewing options, either. The return of Queer Screen's Mardi Gras Film Festival in Sydney also means the return of the event's online component, which is great news no matter where you live in Australia. As always, the roster of movies that Sydneysiders can catch at MGFF's in-person sessions is far larger than its online program — but joining in from home is still filled with highlights. Movie buffs eager to check out the online picks from their couch can look forward to the Alan Cumming (Schmigadoon!)-starring Drive Back Home; Aussie effort Heart of a Man, about a closeted Indigenous boxer; a doco about activist Sally Gearhart; Unusually Normal's factual portrait of a family that includes two lesbian grandmothers, four lesbian mothers and one lesbian granddaughter; and a blend of fiction and reality with 2024 Sundance Special Jury Award-winner Desire Lines, among other titles. A number of shorts programs will be available to stream, too, with packages devoted to Asia Pacific, transgender and gender diverse, queer horror, queer documentaries, sapphic and more. Black Doves' Ben Whishaw pops up in one of the gay shorts, while Hacks' Megan Stalter appears in one of the films in the comedy lineup.
Buddy's in Newtown is the suburb's first-ever self-service bar, taking over the site formerly occupied by Lentil As Anything. The King Street spot will have your beer-pulling skills on display, with each beverage you consume — whether that's a hoppy craft brew or a sweet and sour cocktail — coming from one of the 30+ self-serve taps around the venue. This two-storey boozery is the brainchild of co-owners Jimmy Roe and Duncan McGeoch, who've kept the fit-out relatively simple with ample seating, polished brick, and a heap of natural light, as well as playful custom artwork by Newtown artist Paul Tooth. The considerable drinks lineup comes from a carefully curated selection of local craft beer, natural wine, house-made cocktails and non-alcoholic options, all of which are stored in kegs. And the storage choice is purposeful. Roe and McGeoch are committed to reducing their environmental impact, ensuring that lowering waste and minimising the business's carbon footprint is top of mind and steers their business practices. Roe told Concrete Playground: "We want to offer an experience without the wastage that can be traditionally generated at hospitality venues." If you're wondering how exactly the self-serve system works (and how it isn't an RSA minefield), here's the general gist. You start by procuring a Buddy's venue card upon entrance and pre-load it with your desired amount to spend. From there, you head to the beverage wall where you grab a glass and select your booze of choice, tap your card to activate the tap and pour to your heart's content. The system tracks volume limits and is responsible for card reactivation, so you'll be kept in check. It's not all booze, though. If you're feeling peckish, Buddy's has partnered with the local crew from Rub-A-Dub seasoning and has a snack-heavy sharing menu on offer. You'll find a bunch of beer-friendly options like nachos, flatbread Italian pizzas and Rub-A-Dub's famous chicken ribs, alongside Aussie classics like fairy bread. And if you're catering to a larger group — or just up for an insane personal challenge — opt for the one-metre long bruschetta.
Remember the Pokémon Go phase? What a time in millennial history. And while you may not see hordes of people playing it in your local park these days, fans need not despair. Because Pokémon is coming back to you in real life. Three years after the game temporarily took over the world, a pop-up bar decked out in everything Pokemon is hitting Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane this year. We don't have specific details, like the when and where of it, but can tell you to expect everything to do with the franchise: Pokéball-shaped burgers, as well as games, themed cocktails and prizes. The bars will supposedly be divided into seven regions and each session will includes two hours of 'hunting, battling and catching time' — we're interested to see how that will be interpreted. You can complete all regions to be the ultimate winner, where we suppose you might win one of the aforementioned Pokémon prizes. There will also be prizes for the best dressed and a DJ spinning tracks. The nitty gritty of it all, though, is yet to be revealed. Will you be playing on the app, or will you have to find Pokémons in a scavenger hunt? Does anyone still actually play Pokémon Go? The mystery is yet to be solved, but you may want to start rounding up your old catching team. We don't know dates for this one, but you can be the first to know when tickets are available by signing to the mailing list. The event comes from the same group that have previously announced a Simpsons-themed Flaming Moe's tavern and a Harry Potter-themed Cauldron Bar. While neither of these events have actually happened — even though the Cauldron Bar initially scheduled for last month — organisers have told Concrete Playground that they are trying to find the perfect venues for the bars, and both of them are still "in the pipeline". The Pokébar should hit Melbourne, Sydney and Brisbane later this year. Tickets will be $35 for a two-hour session. They're not yet on sale, but you can register here.
Two new exhibitions will be opening at Alaska Projects on April 29. The first features the work of Alair Pambegan. Originally from Aurukun in far north Queensland, Pambegan works out of a studio in Sydney, using ochre and charcoal to create compelling works that reflect the landscape of his home. The second is a collection of photographs from Samuel Hodge, Buzzkill. Drawing from 15 years of practice, Hodge has put together works from his archive that are arranged not according to chronology but according to their potential inspiration for future projects, and for their representation of innovative approaches to image production. During the past few years, Hodge has been a regular contributor to Butt magazine and, in 2009, published his book Pretty Telling I Suppose, which was distributed internationally. Opening night will be held at Alaska Projects on April 29 between 6 and 8pm. The exhibitions will run till May 10.
Although summer has now passed it's safe to say we're all still gearing to head outdoors for some quality time in the sun. Instead of sticking to your favourite hike or local park in the cooler Sydney days ahead, why not venture a little further afield into the countryside? Spanning ocean and desert, NSW boasts an abundance of local food, live music and breath-taking nature to take in. From the lush Hunter Valley vineyards to the snow-capped mountains of Perisher, there are festivals and events for every taste. And it's all happening in autumn, the season that isn't as hot or busy as summer. Do you need any more convincing? Without some planning, however, your next three months are going to look a little dull. To help you out, we've teamed up with Destination NSW to put together a handy list of top things to do with your entourage just in time for the trees to shed their gold and red leaves.
While some of us don't mind waiting around for a really good meal, not everyone wants to spend their evening glaring down diners as they sip and chew in slow motion and take an eternity to leave. With some of Sydney's top restaurants, such as Restaurant Hubert, operating under a strict no-reservations policy (for less than six), the question remains, how much do you really want that charred bavette steak, slathered in melty café de Paris butter, or that quivering egg custard with bitter caramel sauce? If you're not prepared to put your name on a clipboard and your hunger on hold, check out our list of emergency back-up plans, to help save your night.
If you happen to have an outfit in your wardrobe that's the same shade favoured by Squid Game's guards, here's a piece of advice: it'd be best not to wear it to St Kilda Beach on the morning of Tuesday, December 10, 2024. A huge 200 people will already be there in that exact attire, with Netflix sending a continent of pink guards to the sandy patch of Melbourne to remind everyone that the hit series' second season is on the way — and soon — in an eerie fashion. When season one proved a massive success, the creepy Red Light, Green Light doll from the show towered over Sydney Harbour. Ahead of Squid Game's second season, the Victorian capital is getting in on the action. If your morning routine involves hitting the beach in Melbourne, you'll clearly have plenty of company — not just from the guards, but from others keen for a glimpse at the pop-up. And if you're located elsewhere in Australia, expect to see photos all over social media. Netflix is promising "a true Aussie takeover", all to celebrate Squid Game season two sliding into your streaming queue on Boxing Day. It might be wise to avoid wearing green tracksuits to St Kilda at the same time that the stunt is taking place, too, to avoid earning the pink guards' attention. Up at Sydney's Luna Park, you'll have another chance to get some IRL Squid Game action — without any murder, of course — when an immersive experience hits the tourist attraction to get you playing Red Light, Green Light from Monday, December 16, 2024. Three years have passed since Squid Game became an award-winning Netflix sensation — for viewers and, in the show itself when new episodes drop, for Seong Gi-hun (Lee Jung-jae, The Acolyte) as well. Audiences and Player 456 are alike are in for a new round of life-or-death matches when the streaming smash finally returns, although only the series' protagonist will be fighting for survival again while on a quest to shut down this chaos forever in season two. No one watching should ever want Squid Game to end; however, the show itself will wrap up in 2025 with season three. First comes the long-awaited second season to end 2024, though, where Player 456 is back in the game with new fellow competitors for company. Netflix has been dropping multiple early looks at season two, including a teaser trailer to kick off November — and it finished off the month with a new glimpse at what's to come. As the show's protagonist dons his green threads once more for the new season, his new fellow competitors are wary of his motives. Also part of the recent teases: Lee Byung-hun (The Magnificent Seven) as Gi-hun's nemesis Front Man, plus Wi Ha-joon (Little Women) also back as detective Hwang Jun-ho. For season two, Gong Yoo (Train to Busan) also returns as the man in the suit who got Gi-hun into the game in the first place; however, a show about a deadly competition that has folks battling for ridiculous riches comes with a hefty bodycount. Accordingly, new faces were always going to be essential — which is where Yim Si-wan (Emergency Declaration), Kang Ha-neul (Insider), Park Sung-hoon (The Glory) and Yang Dong-geun (Yaksha: Ruthless Operations) all come in. Check out the full trailer for Squid Game season below: Squid Game's pink guards are taking over St Kilda Beach in Melbourne on the morning of Tuesday, December 10, 2024. Keep an eye on Netflix's social media for more details. Squid Game season two streams via Netflix from Thursday, December 26, 2024. Season three will arrive in 2025 — we'll update you when an exact release date for it is announced. Images: No Ju-han/Netflix.
Venturing into Prince Wine Store in Zetland should come with a warning: not only will you come out with a bottle or two more than you expected, but you'll also leave armed with plenty of wine knowledge to impress your mates with after a chat with the knowledgeable staff. The store was gifted to Sydney by our Victorian neighbours who have been enjoying the wine expertise from Prince Wine in its two Melbourne stores for over two decades. The independent wine merchants focus on Australian producers plus a selection of imports from France, Italy, New Zealand and California. In addition to the team exercising their encyclopedic knowledge of wine in the retail space, Prince Wine also run a series of wine education courses throughout the year. These range from introductory courses for oenophile amateurs to formal qualifications for those seeking industry recognition. Images: Kitti Gould
Black Star Pastry has reached institution status after more than a decade creating world-class, Instagram-famous delicacies. The popularity of Black Star's singular pastry creations has seen the brand expand across multiple Sydney outposts, a Melbourne shop in St Kilda, as well as a flagship patisserie in Shanghai. But the ever-growing butter-fuelled empire started right here in Newtown back in 2011. The intimacy of this space belies its pedigree. Christopher Thé, of Claude's fame, is at the helm of this project, which takes classic delights and reworks them through inventive experimentation. The results remain whimsical, sometimes challenging and a sweet tooth's fantasia. Favourites from the menu include the now-iconic strawberry watermelon cake, the orange cake with Persian figs, and the lemon myrtle chiffon cake. Like all good things, the only fault of Black Star is its popularity. Outside seats and take-aways are always an option though — it's not worth missing out on, no matter how busy this little shopfront happens to be.
When 2019 rolls to a close, more than 550 films will have screened in Australasian cinemas across the entire year. That's a huge amount of movies — enough to send you to your favourite picture palace almost twice a day. But unless watching films is your actual job, you probably don't have the time (or stamina, willpower or eagerness to basically live in a darkened room) to see anywhere near that many flicks. So, you prioritise. And, based on 2019's box office tallies, that means that most folks see all the big titles. This year, it seems that absolutely everyone caught a session of Avengers: Endgame, The Lion King, Captain Marvel, Joker and Aladdin. Plenty of cinemagoers spent some time with Once Upon a Time in Hollywood, John Wick: Chapter 3 — Parabellum, Yesterday and Alita: Battle Angel, too. Excellent movies such as Us and Hustlers also found a crowd. Terrible flicks like Men in Black: International and The Angry Birds Movie 2 did as well. And, although it actually first hit cinemas at the beginning of November 2018 (and ranked fourth in last year's box office), Bohemian Rhapsody still currently sits 15th in terms of ticket sales in 2019. While you were watching all of the above flicks (or watching Bohemian Rhapsody again, apparently), you might've missed some of 2019's smaller gems. They're the movies that weren't plastered all over billboards, didn't spend weeks and months on every screen around town, and you could've blinked and missed them. Thankfully, they all still exist — and we've compiled a rundown of the films that rank among the year's best, but you might not have seen. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QMs28A1s1OA BORDER Rarely has a movie felt as unique, engrossing and electrifying as Swedish film Border, the sophomore feature from Iranian-Danish writer/director Ali Abbasi. Based on a short story by Let the Right One In author John Ajvide Lindqvist, this constantly surprising horror- and fantasy-tinged drama sifts through the life of customs agent Tina (a phenomenal Eva Melander), who is especially suited to her job thanks to her special ability: due to a chromosome flaw, she can smell what people are feeling. When the mysterious Vore (Eero Milonoff) passes through her checkpoint, his scent sets her nostrils ablaze with curiousity. This isn't an unconventional meet-cute in a quirky rom-com, though. In a film that saunters into dark genre territory with a purpose, Border savvily draws on myth, sci-fi and body horror to explore societal limits, the concept of otherness and the search for identity that plagues us all. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nwJ5LDOl2Tc ACUTE MISFORTUNE If Adam Cullen had been any other artist and Erik Jensen any other journalist, Acute Misfortune may not exist. In 2008, the former invited the latter to stay with him, see him at his best and worst, and channel his life story into a biography — and, as dramatised by actor-turned-filmmaker Thomas M. Wright, the results are blistering. Just as Jensen didn't shy away from Cullen's erratic, frequently controversial nature, nor does this stunning drama, which could never be accused of being a straightforward biopic of the Archibald-winning painter. Aided by stellar performances by Daniel Henshall as Cullen and Toby Wallace as Jensen, as well as a script by co-written by the real-life Jensen, this is a warts-and-all portrait that lays bare not only its subject, but Australia's fascination with festering masculinity, and it's a lively and compelling watch from start to finish. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1VTFLvLtdYw SKATE KITCHEN Crystal Moselle's first and second films shouldn't share as much in common as they do. With documentary The Wolfpack, the American filmmaker stepped inside a Manhattan apartment inhabited by a homeschooled family, who learned about the wider world by watching and re-enacting movies. With the fictional Skate Kitchen, she glides across New York's streets with the titular all-female skate crew — and it still feels like she's entering a rarely seen realm. That's partly this equally expressive and naturalistic drama's point, as it conveys through the story of 18-year-old Camille (Rachelle Vinberg), a Long Island teen who finds the part of herself she's been missing when she joins Skate Kitchen. A flame-haired Jaden Smith also pops up as one of the boys in the crew's orbit, but this film belongs to its fantastic real-life skater cast, and to the fiercely female perspective it champions. Read our full review. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=amB2Ol6wihg HAIL SATAN? Hail Satan? isn't trying to recruit new members to the Satanic Temple, but that might happen anyway. Exploring satanism beyond the usual horror movie trappings, filmmaker Penny Lane crafts engaging and amusing documentary about a controversial group endeavouring to subvert the societal status quo in a broader sense. Yes, goat horns, fetish outfits and heavy metal all feature, but this is primarily a chronicle of concerned citizens speaking out against the the current political climate. They're fighting for true freedom of belief, which doesn't just mean enshrining discriminatory and oppressive conservative Christian values — a topic of particular relevance in Australia at present. They're also battling religious-motivated hate, championing equality and rallying against injustice in general, like any other social activist group. As seen in this sympathetic but illuminating film, that's the kind of satanic panic that many could get onboard with. Read our full review. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XTh4uTFWPeg THE THIRD WIFE For her impressive directorial debut, Vietnamese-born filmmaker Ash Mayfair delves into her ancestry. The story: the arranged marriage of a 14-year-old girl to an already twice-wed wealthy landowner, with the late-19th century-set tale drawing its details from Mayfair's own family history. In rural Vietnam, and in the life and experiences of May (Nguyen Phuong Tra My), The Third Wife unpacks the minutiae of a patriarchal system that treats women like property — all as its protagonist is told she must bear her husband a son, and strives to find what little contentment she can in her new life. Favouring lush imagery over dialogue, this is a moving and ravishing film not only aesthetically, but in the simmering emotions clearly felt by May and the other languishing ladies around her. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TslErMXUBp4 HAPPY AS LAZZARO At first, Happy As Lazzaro seems straightforward — venturing to a traditional Italian estate, following the interplay between its tobacco farm workers and the arrogant aristocracy who decide their fates, and doing so in both a poetic and naturalistic manner. The film's eponymous figure, the kindly and caring Lazzaro (Adriano Tardiolo), stands out from his agitated rural brethren by virtue of his good-natured demeanour; however writer/director Alice Rohrwacher appears content to watch him navigate the sometimes ordinary, sometimes exaggerated struggles of feudal life. Then, in a twist that needs to be seen to be believed, this Cannes Best Screenplay winner changes. Making a connection with modern-day life, the wry film cements its status as a parable. Equally surreal and astute, the end product is one of the most distinctive films of this and many other years. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zch4VPKGBwU ISLAND OF THE HUNGRY GHOSTS Despite its festive name, Christmas Island has been splashed across Australia's news headlines for all the wrong reasons. For much of the 21st century, it has been one of the places where those fleeing hostilities and seeking asylum have been housed — amid protests, controversies, closures and, this year, the re-opening of its Immigration Reception and Processing Centre. In a potent, haunting blend of fact and recreation that proves far more effective than a straightforward documentary, Australian filmmaker Gabrielle Brady ponders the impact of the site and its purpose on those who call it home. Trauma counsellor Poh Lin Lee draws the film's focus, with her discussions with detained refugees, her daily life, her family, the island's migrating crabs and its history all playing a part in this compassionate, deservedly acclaimed movie. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mwgUesU1pz4 UNDER THE SILVER LAKE After working horror fans into a frenzy with It Follows, David Robert Mitchell opted for a neo-noir black comedy for his next film. A thematic companion piece to similarly sprawling, spiralling, slacker-focused California-set fare such as Inherent Vice and The Big Lebowski, Under the Silver Lake hones in on aimless 33-year-old Sam (Andrew Garfield), who stumbles upon several mysteries. Murdered pets, his alluring new neighbour (Riley Keough), a missing billionaire and an underground zine series about local neighbourhood legends all rate a mention in this deliriously labyrinthine movie, as do Hollywood history and ominous conspiracies. Mitchell's technical game is pitch-perfect, as evidenced in both the film's vibrant images and intoxicating score, with every element inviting audiences along for a wild and rewarding ride. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xLIQABWm2mg FINKE: THERE AND BACK The past few years have been memorable for Dylan River. The Alice Springs filmmaker directed Robbie Hood, the delightful SBS web series; was the cinematographer on rousing Adam Goodes documentary The Australian Dream; and worked as the second unit director on Sweet Country, which was helmed by his father Warwick Thornton. He also wrote, directed and shot Finke: There and Back. While the iconic Finke Desert Race is the kind of event that you're either into or you're not — it's a rough, tough, two-day off-terrain trek through central Australia's dust and dirt via motorbike and car, and it's been known to cause casualties — this insightful documentary is for everyone. Through intimate interviews and striking on-the-ground footage, River follows the competitors before and during the race, telling their tales while exploring a difficult feat from the inside. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=322NzXR3n4o LORDS OF CHAOS According to Euronymous (Rory Culkin), Norway is known for "seal clubbing and a very high suicide rate". If that sounds far from cheery, then this simultaneously dramatic and comic true crime tale won't be for you. Fictionalising a spate of murders and church burnings in the early 90s, Lords of Chaos spends time with the bleak-minded guitarist and his bandmates as they scream and thrash their way through the Norwegian black metal scene, shaping its early days as they go along. History dictates that this is an incredibly dark story, and director Jonas Åkerlund — an ex-Swedish black metal rocker himself — doesn't shy away from its violence. That said, he firmly recognises that he's following wannabe rebels looking for any cause they can find. Åkerlund also made the abysmal straight-to-Netflix John Wick clone Polar, but with Lords of Chaos, he tackles a grim story with both brutal style and weight.
The third season of The Bear is a season haunted. Creator and writer Christopher Storer (Dickinson, Ramy) — often the culinary dramedy's director as well — wouldn't have it any other way. Every show that proves as swift a success as this, after serving up as exceptional a first and second season as any series could wish for, has the tang of its prior glory left on its lips, so this one tackles the idea head on. How can anyone shake the past at all, good or bad, it ruminates on as Carmy Berzatto (Jeremy Allen White, The Iron Claw) faces a dream that's come true but hasn't and can't eradicate the lifetime of internalised uncertainty that arises from having an erratic mother, absent father, elder brother he idolised but had his own demons, and a career spent striving to be the best and put his talents to the test in an industry that's so merciless and unforgiving even before you factor in cruel mentors. Haunting is talked about often in this ten-episode third The Bear dish, but not actually in the sense flavouring every bite that the show's return plates up. In the season's heartiest reminder that it's comic as well as tense and dramatic — its nine Emmy wins for season one, plus four Golden Globes across season one and two, are all in comedy categories — the Faks get to Fak aplenty. While charming Neil (IRL chef Matty Matheson) is loving his role as a besuited server beneath Richie aka Cousin (Ebon Moss-Bachrach, No Hard Feelings), onboard with the latter's commitment to upholding a Michelin star-chasing fine-diner's front-of-house standards and as devoted to being Carmy's best friend as ever, he's also always palling around with his handyman brother Theodore (Ricky Staffieri, Read the Room). They're not the season's only Faks, and so emerges a family game. When one Fak wrongs another, they get haunted, which is largely being taunted and unsettled by someone from basically The Bear equivalent of Brooklyn Nine-Nine's Boyles. For it to stop, you need to agree to give in. In Storer's hands, in a series this expertly layered, this isn't just an amusing character-building aside. Joining the Disney+ menu Down Under on Thursday, June 27, 2024, season three opens with an episode called 'Tomorrow', setting the action on the titular day following the soft relaunch of Carmy's pride and joy. Season one followed his immersion in The Original Beef of Chicagoland, which his elder sibling Mikey (Jon Bernthal, Origin) ran before his death, and the call to turn it into the restaurant that Carmy has always wanted. Season two charted the hard yards traversed to make the plan happen and bring The Bear to fruition, culminating in an unveiling to family and friends that had them raving about the food while The Bear's staff were in bedlam. With Carmy, who was stuck locked in the fridge for most of the big hurrah, then ended it with his girlfriend Claire (Molly Gordon, Theater Camp) out of his life and his relationship with Richie at a new low, the third go-around asks how you whisk that difficult kickoff — and all previous difficulties — out of your brain and somehow move forward. The Bear has been posing a version of this question from the outset, because it's one of existence's defining queries: how does anyone go on when our heads are swirling with the pinnacles and plunges, achievements and traumas, and riches and missteps gone by? This is a show that sees baggage and, Station Eleven-style, remembers damage. So, how could Carmy, Richie, Carmy and Mikey's sister Natalie (Abby Elliott, Cheaper by the Dozen), their pseudo-uncle Jimmy (Oliver Platt, Chicago Med), and The Beef's loyal staff Tina (Liza Colón-Zayas, IF), Marcus (Lionel Boyce, Curb Your Enthusiasm) and Ebraheim (Edwin Lee Gibson, Winning Time: The Rise of the Lakers Dynasty) carve a path — any path — after losing Mikey? With newcomer chef Sydney (Ayo Edebiri, Inside Out 2), after they ensured it was still a place that he'd approve of, how could they pivot to The Bear? And with Jimmy's money backing them and the culinary world watching, how can they now guarantee that their new restaurant not just simmers but boils? 'Tomorrow' is a tone-poem first instalment to The Bear's third course, flitting through Carmy's history — the other kitchens that he's been employed in feature heavily — to establish how being haunted will season everything that follows. It's a mindset episode, and a smart and absorbing one, as his time working for the unpleasant David Fields (Joel McHale, Animal Control), the kindly Andrea Terry (Olivia Colman, Wicked Little Letters) and the IRL René Redzepi at Noma all flash up. Its mood then turns haunting itself, persisting atmospherically as Carmy makes some blunt decisions solo about what the restaurant will be and do, then Syd, Richie and the crew are confronted with his choices. The Bear will now operate under a list of non-negotiables. It will change its menu entirely daily. It'll actively seek Michelin's covered five-pointed endorsement. It isn't overtly stated, but it will also exist in a state of fear over what a review by the Chicago Tribune might deem it, be it innovative, excellent, delicious, confusing, overdone or inconsistent. The aftertaste of what's come before, and how impossible it is to cleanse it from your palate, lingers in every moment of kitchen and dining-room chaos — of which there's a buffet — alongside every plot strand. Syd struggles with the realisation that she's still the entree to Carmy's main, clicking the button on the partnership agreement that will formalise her stake in The Bear and whether to leave what she's toiled so hard for to take a new opportunity. Richie has the reality of his ex-wife (Gillian Jacobs, Invincible) moving on to deal with. The pregnant Nat's due date speeds closer. Marcus endeavours to cope with his grief by focusing on the job. Tina's route to The Beef gets its own episode. And The Computer (Brian Koppelman, the creator of fellow TV series Billions), Jimmy's no-nonsense numbers guy, has thoughts as The Bear keeps booking out and generating buzz but battling financially. Season three's performances in roles not only lead and supporting but also among the guest stars — well-known names pop up again, some returning, some new — remain delectable. Leading the show, no one better provides the faces of those tormented by their choices, hopes, yearnings, chances, mistakes and regrets, sometimes as motivation and sometimes as an anchor for Carmy, Syd and Richie, like the one-two-three punch of White, Edebiri and Moss-Bachrach. No one on- or off-screen across the whole series shows any sign of being plagued by living up to the one of the best new shows of 2022 and best returning shows of 2023, or knowing what to do, either. Although the second and third seasons of The Bear have had the program's own past to match, doing so hasn't been a problem to-date, including when Storer can so effortlessly segue between experimental and classic, and wide-spanning to ultra-focused as well. One of the reasons that the exploits of Carmy and company satisfied audiences from the show's initial arrival is its authenticity, understanding the pressures and anxieties, plus the hustle and bustle, of the hospo grind at the sandwich-diner level and the cream-of-the-crop tier alike. The Bear is equally as emotionally astute and frenetic beyond the kitchen, as every spoonful of its third season reminds viewers. The reality of trying to make it as a chef, cook, restaurateur and server collides with the reality of simply trying and being; it's a perfect recipe. In the show, the feeling of sitting down to your dream meal but proving incapable of dislodging your inner mayhem is inescapable. For those watching, The Bear is the streaming equivalent of the ultimate dish — and, because we all have our own internal turmoil, also the cure for being haunted across its superb 14 hours now over three seasons. Check out the full trailer for The Bear season three below: The Bear streams via Disney+ in Australia and New Zealand, with season three dropping on Thursday, June 27, 2024. Read our review of season one and review of season two. Images: FX.
After building a cult following at Paramount House's rooftop and in a sleepy Newtown backstreet, A.P Bakery has opened a third Sydney outpost, this time enticing city workers back to the CBD with delectable pastries and lunch treats on Barrack Street. The A.P team's third bakery and cafe brings all of their favourites to a hole in the wall hidden among the hustle and bustle of a pedestrian-only section of Barrack Street. Keep an eye out for the warm glow of the bakery and the bright yellow A.P Place sign and head in to discover some of the best baked goods and brunch items Sydney has to offer. The menu here follows the A.P formula pretty closely. There's top-notch coffee from Reuben Hills, a range of sandwiches including the famous egg and cheese sando and a new cauliflower toastie, and a daily list of pastries, cakes, pies and bread. After extensive 'research', we can confirm that the Sri Lankan chicken curry pie, Aleppo pepper and asiago cheese scrolls, and fig leaf cream and rhubarb croissants are all must-tries if they're on the menu the day you visit. There are also a few special items that have been created specifically for the CBD shop. From 11am you can nab thick slices of pizza that you'll only find on Barrack Street, plus sandwiches made with the same bianca dough. And there's a cheeky salt and vinegar hash brown on the menu that's worth a try. If you needed an excuse to head back to the office, there aren't many better than A.P's creations. Because if you wanted to visit on a Saturday or Sunday, you're out of luck — A.P Place is only open on weekdays. Time to call in sick and get your hands on a cauliflower toastie. Images: Finley Jones
According to one urban myth, Sydney's jacarandas are the work of an unknown hospital matron who sent every new mother home with a seedling. Another states that soldiers brought the trees home as gifts on their return from World War II. The problem is that there's no evidence for either. So no one really knows how Sydney came to have so many. What we do know, though, is that, come late October, the city transforms into a vision of purple, as hundreds of jacarandas bloom. But they don't hang around for long — so, if you're keen to see them, it's time to start planning a day out. Here are a few spots — both in and near Sydney — where you can get your jacaranda fix this spring. CIRCULAR QUAY AND THE ROCKS The Rocks' heritage-listed sandstone provides another striking backdrop. Turn your adventure into a lovely walk by starting at the Royal Botanic Gardens and following the Harbour shore line to The Rocks. PADDINGTON Paddington's most famous jacarandas line Oxford Street, just outside Victoria Barracks. But you'll find plenty more among the suburb's back streets and parks — especially around Five Ways. LAVENDER BAY To see a purple sea against the brilliant blue of the Harbour, head to Lavender Bay on the lower north shore. Other spots to check out nearby include Wollstonecraft, Waverton and Kirribilli's famous (and always packed with photo-takers) jacaranda 'tunnel'. HUNTERS HILL While you're on the North Shore, head a little west to take a stroll through Hunters Hill. For a local's perspective, jump on board a walking tour with the Hunters Hill Trust. CAMDEN Found an hour's drive southwest of the Sydney CBD, Camden's town centre transforms into a blaze of purple, thanks to 39 trees planted way back in the 1920s. GRAFTON Grafton's a six-hour road trip from Sydney, but rewards you with more than 6500 trees and its famous Jacaranda Festival, set to take place between October 27 and November 4 this year. Images: Destination NSW.
Avoid the chaos of the CBD come December 31 and celebrate the new decade at a party by the beach. Better yet, make it a mini bar crawl without the hassle of having to trek between venues. This New Year's Eve, Coogee Bay Hotel is hosting two big parties to farewell 2019. You can start the night off with three hours of bottomless drinks (the usual suspects — beer, wine and bubbles are on the menu) plus canapes to line your stomach at a VIP pre-party on the balcony. That means exclusive views of the ocean and Coogee's 9pm fireworks. The party runs from 7pm–10pm and tickets are $149 or $169 for access to the hotel's countdown shenanigans. Alternatively, Coogee Bay Hotel's massive live music space, Selina's, will be a neon haven of tunes and good times from 8pm all the way through to 3am. If you're skipping the balcony and heading straight in for a boogie, first release tickets are $40, so snap them up quick. The music lineup for Selina's countdown party is huge, so get ready for synth harmonies and hip-hop beats from Tassie's Close Counters as well as the techno house jams of Motorik Vibe Council. Then get wild with Gold Coast surfer dudes Cut Snake, before grooving well into the night with tunes by DJ duo The Aston Shuffle. Coogee Bay Hotel's VIP balcony pre-party runs from 7pm–10pm, with tickets available here. The countdown party at in-house venue Selina's goes from 8pm–3am, with tickets available here.
You can embrace modern Israeli flavours at Pita Mix. This petite restaurant serves comforting tucker with the soul of the Middle East. Pita Mix is a small family-owned eatery. It sources fresh produce from local farmers and markets, and caters for many dietary requirements, and its meats are all kosher. Kick off your meal with starters like cauliflower steak or charred eggplant served with spiced chickpeas, tahini and pita. Next, dig in to chicken shawarma or falafel with your choice of dips and salads, or a beef brisket burger. [caption id="attachment_779906" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Yaya Stempler[/caption] Not only does the eatery offer an impressive range of beers and kosher wine, but it also allows BYO for kosher wine, too. Plus, it launches a new specials menu each fortnight for adventurous foodies. Images: Yaya Stempler
For a month in 2026, The Phantom of the Opera will be there, on a floating stage on top of Sydney Harbour. Each year, Australia's most-stunning performance venue welcomes a big-name Opera Australia show to unleash its wonders with a spectacular backdrop. Just like in 2022, 2026's production involves the music of the night echoing over the ocean. The extremely popular Handa Opera on Sydney Harbour has repeated titles before, but there's a particular reason for Andrew Lloyd Webber's The Phantom of the Opera haunting its scenic setup again so soon. 2026 also marks the stage musical's global 40th anniversary. There's phenomenal ways to commemorate a milestone and the there's this. When it takes to Handa Opera on Sydney Harbour's picturesque waterfront digs at Mrs Macquaries Point for 2026 — across Friday, March 27–Sunday, April 26 — this run of The Phantom of the Opera will kick off a worldwide program of events planned for the year to celebrate four decades of the show. The production will also increase the huge audience numbers that've spent time with The Phantom and Christine, given that it has already been seen by 160-million-plus people in 205 cities across 58 territories across its lifespan so far. Simon Phillips, who recently helped bring Round the Twist from the screen to the stage, initially directed the 2022 Handa season — and is back for 2026, too. Also a highlight: the eye-catching production design that includes a giant chandelier. "We're honoured to be playing such a prominent role in the 40th-anniversary global celebrations for this iconic musical, in the same year that OA is marking its own significant milestone with its 70th anniversary," said Opera Australia Acting CEO Simon Militano. "Our spectacular staging of The Phantom of the Opera, with its magical setting on Sydney Harbour, and the sweeping gothic romance and unforgettable music, all combines to create a fantastic showcase of OA's artistic excellence, and an event not to be missed." As always, included in the new The Phantom of the Opera Handa Opera on Sydney Harbour experience is not just the show on the overwater stage, but also fireworks each evening, dazzling Sydney skyline views and hitting up pop-up dining spots that are constructed onsite each year. The Phantom of the Opera at Handa Opera on Sydney Harbour will run from Friday, March 27–Sunday, April 26, 2026 — with tickets via Opera Australia subscription packages available from Tuesday, August 5, 2025; single-performance presales on offer from Tuesday, August 26, 2025; and general tickets available from Tuesday, September 2, 2026. Images: Handa Opera on Sydney Harbour's 2022 production of The Phantom of the Opera © Prudence Upton / Hamilton Lund.
Vivid might have started as a light festival, but it's become so much more. These days, the program ranges from talks to live performances and immersive experiences. And, beyond the official program, venues all over the city are getting on board with Vivid-inspired eats and drinks. One of them is Untied, Barangaroo's original rooftop bar. Throughout the festival, it's serving fairy floss fizz: a glass of sparkling wine topped with a cloud of fairy floss. You have four flavours to choose from: blue raspberry, green sour apple, pink watermelon and purple berry crunch. As soon as the glass lands, you'll want to get your phone out. The floss creates a shimmering, swirling effect that's very much Instagram friendly. Plus, it gives your wine a sweet kick. Glasses of fairy floss fizz are going for $14 each. They're only available from Friday, May 23–Saturday, June 14. Top and bottom images: Onecut Studios.
Wes Anderson movies and Marvel films generally have little in common, but one fact remains true about both: they know how to stack a cast (sometimes with the same talents). The Phoenician Scheme, the latest from cinema's foremost fan of symmetry and pastels, is a case in point for the former. Benicio del Toro (Reptile) stars, joined by everyone from Mia Threapleton (The Buccaneers, and also Kate Winslet's daughter) and Michael Cera (Christmas Even in Miller's Point) to Riz Ahmed (Fingernails), Tom Hanks (Here), Bryan Cranston (The Studio), Mathieu Amalric (Why War), Richard Ayoade (Dream Productions), Jeffrey Wright (The Agency), Scarlett Johansson (Fly Me to the Moon), Benedict Cumberbatch (Eric), Rupert Friend (Companion) and Hope Davis (Succession). Many of the above actors are Anderson regulars but, as the just-dropped trailer for The Phoenician Scheme shows, the writer/director never puts his ensemble to work in the same way twice. This time, he's enlisted his all-star roster to tell another of his tales of family chaos — one officially badged "the story of a family and a family business" — revolving around del Toro as Zsa-zsa Korda, one of Europe's richest men. Korda, an "international businessman" and "maverick in the fields of armaments and aviation", has nine sons and a daughter. The latter, Liesl (Threapleton), is a nun — and, as the first look at The Phoenician Scheme outlines, also newly appointed the sole heir to his estate despite not having seen her father for six years. Korda has his reasons. He also has a land and sea infrastructure scheme that's the "most important project" of his lifetime, plus the attention of rebels determined to get in his way however possible. Anderson's new movie doesn't just have a trailer — it has a date with cinemas soon. After it likely plays at this year's Cannes Film Festival, it will release Down Under on Thursday, May 29, 2025. The Phoenician Scheme marks the filmmaker's first project since 2023's Anderson bonanza, when Asteroid City hit cinemas and Oscar-winner The Wonderful Story of Henry Sugar went straight to streaming alongside fellow shorts The Swan, The Rat Catcher and Poison. While the writer/director penned the script for The Phoenician Scheme solo, he reunited with Roman Coppola, another of his frequent collaborators — see: The Darjeeling Limited, Moonrise Kingdom, Isle of Dogs, The French Dispatch and Asteroid City — on its story. Check out the first trailer for The Phoenician Scheme below: The Phoenician Scheme opens in cinemas Down Under on Thursday, May 29, 2025.
It's that time of the year again. Time to dig out your old witch hat or join the vampires and grow some fangs. Perhaps the only thing scarier than your fake blood and broomstick are these vintage Halloween get-ups. Nothing says Halloween in the '70s like a shiny plastic devil mask, after all. Halloween garb in the '60s, '70s and '80s was dominated by two costume companies, Ben Cooper Inc. and Collegeville. Ben Cooper had relationships with multiple media companies often leaving Collegeville to create their own version of Frankenstein and Batman, resulting in hilariously similar characters with pathetic names such as 'The Monster' and 'The Bat.' Despite the name of the costume, both companies survived off excitable youth desperate to avoid their mother's home-made sheet-ghost costume for the third year in a row. For better or for worse, the companies have retired their Halloween costume services and the awkward one-piece jumpsuits and thick plastic masks have graduated and become classic vintage collector's items.
When Michael Crichton put pen to paper and conjured up a modern-day dinosaur-filled amusement park, he couldn't have known exactly what he'd done. The author easily imagined the story making its way to the big screen, because the Jurassic Park novel started out as a screenplay. He could've also perceived that a whole film franchise could follow, and that folks would be quoting the movies for decades. And yet, we're guessing that he didn't predict the latest development: a recreation of the Jurassic World movies, which started with fourth flick in the series back in 2015, made completely out of Lego. Jurassic World by Brickman first popped up in Melbourne in 2021, and now Sydneysiders will be able to wander through it, too — and peer at more than 50 dinosaurs, props and scenes from the Jurassic World movies that have all been fashioned out of the popular plastic bricks in the process. That'll all be on display at the Australian Museum from Saturday, March 5–Sunday, May 29, as part of the exhibition's tour of the country. More than six million Lego blocks have been used in the exhibition, to create the four-metre-tall park gates, the lab where the dinosaurs are genetically engineered, those instantly recognisable jeeps, a petting zoo, a heap of creatures and more. Welcome to... your Lego Jurassic World fantasy, basically. Lego dinosaurs are obviously the main attraction and, yes, this event is going big. There'll be a life-sized brachiosaurus that weighs more than two tonnes, a huge tyrannosaurus rex, two life-sized velociraptors (Blue and Delta), and everything from a stegosaurus to a triceratops, too. Just for Sydney, there'll also be a new 400-kilogram baryonyx that spans 4.8-metres in length. Plus, you'll see some prehistoric creatures in the baby dinosaur enclosure, encounter more on the loose and learn how to track them over the exhibition's recreation of Isla Nublar (while using your imagination a whole heap, obviously). If it all sounds rather sizeable, that's because Jurassic World by Brickman is the largest Lego exhibition in Australia. And, Lego aficionados will also be able to get building while they're there, with 2.5 million bricks to play with. Obviously, this'll be a family-friendly affair, so expect to have plenty of small dinosaur fans for company.
Forget grey. Come October-November, the Northern Rivers of New South Wales will be covered in 50 shades of purple when the historic town of Grafton gives off big main character energy through its annual showcase of violet-hued blooms. With roots as the oldest floral festival in the country, the Grafton Jacaranda Festival really knows what it takes to celebrate one of Australia's most-loved flowers. And, for one week between Friday, 27 October and Sunday, 5 November, visitors and locals alike will line the main street of Grafton to watch the annual float parade, settle in for a round of drag queen bingo (complete with lavender eyeshadow), enjoy a lazy long lunch underneath a floral lilac canopy or watch the beautiful trees of See Park illuminated as the sun goes down. While the fest will feature a mix of ticketed and free activities, if there's one event which we recommend committing to, it's Jacaranda Thursday. On this day Grafton's main street will close down as people meander throughout the CBD, soak up the atmosphere and simply stop and smell the jacarandas. The Grafton Jacaranda Festival will run from Friday, 27 October and Sunday, 5 November 2023. For the full event program visit their website.
To help Sydneysiders keep cool this summer, the team at Gin Lane has blended boozy, grown-up flavours with a tidy hit of nostalgia for its new line of cocktail-inspired 'soft serves'. Teaming up with Australia's own soft serve and gelato expert David Lopresti of Aussie frozen treats specialist Florentia, Gin Lane founder and bartender Grant Collins has created three new treats guaranteed to get a serious workout during the warmer months. On the lineup, you'll find a riff on the Knickerbocker Glory made with a gin, tonic and lemon aspen soft serve, gin-macerated fruit and wafers; the citrusy Gin Fizz with cider, candied apple and popping candy; and the Rosella Sling, which combines rosella purée, mint, candied orange and hundreds and thousands. All of the frozen newcomers will be on rotation at the Chippendale gin bar over summer, all crafted on cold-pressed juices with fun garnishes and hefty infusions of alcohol. Alongside the frozen treats are some limited-edition cocktails, too. These include a refreshing watermelon G&T and an extravagant concoction called Up with rose petal syrup, gin, cold-pressed lemon oil, chartreuse and tonic served in a bucket with a scented helium balloon. It'll set you back $38, but it's made to be shared between two. Gin Lane's Soft Serve Bar is located at 16A Kensington Street, Chippendale and will open throughout summer from Monday–Wednesday 4–6pm and Thursday–Saturday 2–5pm. The soft serves are available in cups ($9) or in classic waffle cones ($12).
More and more Australians are reassessing their drinking choices, and choosing to ditch or simply limit the booze. In response, clever bartenders, winemakers and beer brands across the globe have been busy dreaming up new and creative alcohol-free beverages to make that no-booze night out a satisfying option. And, there's now one Melbourne haunt that'll leave teetotallers more spoilt for choice than ever before — with the Brunswick Aces Bar, the city's first dedicated non-alcoholic cocktail lounge, now open. From Saturday, May 1, local distillery and booze-free gin producer Brunswick Aces is welcoming patrons into its much-anticipated Brunswick East watering hole, which also marks the first of its kind in the country. The 150-person Weston Street space is not only a temptation-free drinking destination for the teetotaller or sober curious, but also just a neat spot to hang and imbibe when alcohol's simply not on your night's agenda. The bar's rocking a look best described as industrial baroque, with lots of plush furniture covered with velvety textiles, walls filled with gilded frames and moody floral arrangements trailing from the ceiling. While Brunswick Aces does make regular gin, it's perhaps best known for its range of sapiir — a non-alcoholic distilled drink crafted on botanicals. The brand uses aromatic ingredients like lemon myrtle, pepperberry, wattleseed and that all-important juniper to create a concoction that's akin to a gin, sans booze. And in this new bar, you've got a front-row seat to the sapiir distilling operations, while you sip the spoils just metres from where they're made. The menu might be short on alcohol, but it's sure not wanting for choice. In fact, there's more than 100 booze-free options available. You can expect to find an ever-evolving range of crafty cocktails, led by boozeless takes on the classics such as a negroni and an espresso martini. There's be a focus on local ingredients, too, with appearances from some premium international labels and regular product features. And, alongside the cocktails sits an impressive lineup of non-alcoholic beers and wines sourced from all over the world, as well as mixed drinks made on booze-free spirits and sapiirs. While you're there, you can browse and buy some hangover-free tipples in the country's first physical non-alcoholic bottle shop. This retail section will be slinging local brands including Heaps Normal, Ovant and Songbird Wine, as well as international offerings like the Netherlands' Vandestreek Playground IPA. [caption id="attachment_801275" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Brunswick Aces' signature sapiir.[/caption] If you're hanging for the real deal, that's okay, too. In the spirit of inclusivity — and celebrating Brunswick Aces' other pursuits — the bar will be serving a single alcoholic option: a gin and tonic, made on the brand's own Spades and Hearts gin blends. Find The Brunswick Aces Bar at 124 Weston Street, Brunswick East, from Saturday, May 1. It's open Thursday–Saturday 3–11pm, with the bottle shop open Monday–Saturday 11am–5pm. Top images: Griffin Simm
Head down the steps behind 200 George Street and you'll find a group of city workers waiting for oat milk lattes and messy, hangover-busting sandwiches. Dutch Smuggler is relatively hidden away from the CBD crowds, but people come from all over the city to taste the now-famous mi goreng toastie. It's a nostalgic sanga of epic proportions — spicy noodles encased in melty gruyere and a fried egg. The cafe serves brekkie, lunch, coffees and afternoon snacks and there's plenty of outdoor seating. It's mostly takeaway, but service is swift and once you've got your hands around one of the cheeseburger sandwiches, (beef patty, bacon, cheddar, pickles, ketchup, mustard and salt and vinegar chips) you'll want to dig into it straight away.
A new rooftop bar from a beloved Sydney brewer is now open in the inner west. Philter Brewing is drawing inspiration from 80s garden bars and Palm Springs with its sun-soaked rooftop bar on top of its Marrickville brewery and taproom. Since launching a no-fuss XPA four years ago, Philter has become a mainstay in Sydney bottle shops, pubs and bars. Now, the craft beer merchant is trying its hand at facilitating summer beers and cocktails by opening this new rooftop venue, Marrickville Springs. The space is fitted out with pastel-hued tiles, white breeze blocks, a neon bin chicken and a mural from local artist Mielo. "The ibis was a given, nothing says Marrickville like a picnic pirate, but the palm trees shout out to the area, too," Philter Sales and Marketing Director Stef Constantoulas says. "We wanted Marrickville Springs to have a totally different feel to our bar and restaurant downstairs, but it's still very Philter — it's all in the retro touches," Managing Director Mick Niel says. On the rooftop you'll be able to sip Philter's range of beers both on tap and in tins, plus your choice from a reserved wine list and frozen cocktails. Enmore Road joint Jacoby's will be helping out by curating a selection of classic cocktails for the bar. While cracking a beer in the sun is the main attraction at Marrickville Springs, there will also be a selection of typical but tasty bar snacks including dinner party favourite prawn cocktails and tasting boards decked out with locally sourced cheese. The bar will be open to walk-ins, but if you're heading out with a large group you can reserve a spot at the Philter Brewing website. Appears in: The Best Rooftop Bars in Sydney
It's a romantic, classy affair at the Cottage Point Inn. Set against Cowan Creek in an old boathouse-turned-restaurant, this is not your average country drop-in-and-get-on-the-road kind of venue. Executive Chef Guillaume Zika hails from London's Hibiscus and has created a seven-course degustation menu. At $150 per person, it will cost you a pretty penny — but if you're going to do it, do it right. It's a lavish, three-hour ordeal that includes dishes like a citrus Moreton Bay bug covered in lemon hollandaise and a wagyu aiguillette served with ratatouille, sorrel puree and lemon thyme. The menu is balanced and focuses on bright, fresh flavours that add to the delicate decadence of the entire experience.
The 200-acre property that makes up Bendooley Estate doesn't just offer a cellar door — it's also home to a luxe restaurant, an alfresco cafe and an outpost of the much loved Berkelouw bookshop. Located in Berrima, in the Southern Highlands, this multi-faceted winery has a focus on Australian and Italian varieties, including sangiovese, pinot gris and chardonnay. The cellar door offers stunning views across the vineyard, a large fire and lunch daily. For something fancier, though, you can dine in the main restaurant — attached to Berkelouw — which offers everything from chermoula braised lamb shoulder ($36) to blue cheese pizza ($26) and linguine with blue swimmer crab ($29). Don't feel like leaving? Book into one of the estate's cottages and enjoy a night out of the city.
Experiencing the best of Byron's Bay serenity is made easy when you're tucked away in luxe accommodation at Australia's easternmost point. Designed as an uncompromising beachside escape, ESTE Wategos combines stellar design with nature-driven wellbeing, ensuring your trip to the easygoing surf community is every bit as tranquil as you imagined. Perched above Wategos Beach, virtually within the shadow of the iconic Byron Bay Lighthouse, a pair of architecturally designed three-story residences — known as North, South or Estate when combined — nest within a lush forest landscape, just a short journey from Byron's bustling centre. Stacked with top-notch amenities, private rooftop terraces, glass-bottom pools and a curated concierge service ready to cater to every guest's whim are only the beginning. Crafted by Shaun Lockyer Architects for Co-Owners Chris Bissiotis and Dr George Bilios, ESTE Wategos features more than enough space for 12 guests. Offering just a little more serenity than the backpacker dorms you'd find in town, it's hard to imagine a more suitable spot for hosting a chic family holiday, celebrating a special milestone or escaping with friends. "Both George and I have travelled extensively, and through our travels we became inspired to create a tranquil yet luxurious getaway in one of our favourite locations," says Co-Owner Chris Bissiotis. "With ESTE Wategos, we're excited to share a unique sanctuary unlike anything seen before in Byron Bay." With prices starting at $5000 per night, the interior is as meticulous as you'd expect. Fashioned by Fiona Dunin of FMD Architects, bespoke furnishings from Mark Tuckey and Jardan level up the experience. Meanwhile, hand-laid Italian travertine stone walls continue throughout the residence, blending indoor and outdoor spaces that culminate with stunning views over Wategos Beach. "The proximity to both the ocean and rainforest isn't just about aesthetics," says Bilios, explaining how the property revolves around the concept of prescribing nature. "It's about creating a space where guests can disconnect, recharge, and experience the well-being benefits of being immersed in nature." ESTE Wategos is now open for bookings at 11 Brownell Dr, Byron Bay. Head to the website for more information. Images: Courtney King.
The Inner West is filled with top-notch live music venues, comedy rooms and theatres — some harder to find than others. To help you plan your next night of culture in this bustling neighbourhood, we've put together our top places to see a live show. What's equally as important, and sometimes neglected, is the all-important pre- or post-show bev. Whether you want somewhere to warm up or wind down, we've got you covered with excellent establishments for wetting your whistle either side of a gig, too. Read on to find our perfect pairings of booze and tunes in the Inner West and fire up the group chat to organise your next night out.
Life hack: pretending that you're still on your best-ever Tokyo getaway (or the dream one you plan to go on when Japan fully reopens to international travel) is a perfectly acceptable way to get through the daily grind. Eating Pocky as a snack works. Hitting up your favourite ramen joint for lunch does, too. Going home to a few post-work cans of -196 — aka the premix from the makers of Strong Zero — definitely fits the bill as well. The ready-to-drink -196 launched in Australia in 2021, with a double lemon variety that you probably sipped ASAP — it sold out when it first arrived. What's better than one such tipple, which hails from Japanese brewing and distilling company Suntory? Two, naturally. Prepare to start knocking back -196 in double grape, again blending shochu, vodka and soda — but with a whole lot of grape flavour. Wondering about the name? That's because the fruit for both varieties is frozen at -196 degrees Celsius, then crushed, powderised and infused with spirits. In Japan, Strong Zero comes in double grapefruit, double ume and double shekwasha, if you're holding out hope for more flavours in the future. For now, you'll be able to pick up -196's double grape variety from the end of October, available in bottle-os nationwide. Suntory's -196 double grape will hit bottle shops across Australia at the end of October.
Hankering for a visit to Europe this year, but don't have the cash? Skip the plane trip and head along to The Rocks' French-inspired Christmas in July Village, set to coincide with Circular Quay's Bastille Festival. The market will take over Argyle Street for four days and nights, from Thursday, July 11 until Sunday, July 14. To make it feel as authentic as possible, 25 wooden chalets (more than twice as many as last year) will be shipped in from France. These little shacks will be set up around the area, with vendors serving up heart-warming snacks, mulled wine, freshly roasted chestnuts, a gingerbread house and Christmasy creations. The markets will open at 10am each day, but it's when the sun goes down that things will really get magical. Snow will be falling from the skies, all thanks to snowfall machines — and it'll pair perfectly with a very European blanket of fairy lights, Christmas pines, and a soundtrack of English and French Christmas carols. Expect a Club Med ski village vibe, too, with old ski racks dusted with snow, a pop-up ice skating rink for kids, and a Christmas-themed pop-up bar for adults (only) complete with cocktails and karaoke. The Christmas in July Village will take place over four nights, from from 10am–11pm each night except Sunday, which will wrap up at 9pm. If you can't wait till then, then visit the regular Friday Foodie Markets that take place in the Rocks every week from 9am–3pm. Updated May 19.
The Swillhouse team has done it again. The crew behind heavy-hitting Sydney spots like Frankie's (R.I.P), Shady Pines, Restaurant Hubert and Alberto's Lounge lived out the dream of many Australians and bought a pub, taking over the reins at The Rocks stalwart The Phillip's Foote back in 2021. After a summer pop-up and a series of hiccups, we now have Le Foote, a combination wine bar, restaurant and pub adaptable to just about any situation. A good wine bar is something The Rocks has been pining for during its post-lockdown resurgence. If you're on the hunt to drop dimes on a standout cocktail, the waterfront suburb has a plethora of sleek spots from Doss House and Maybe Sammy to Alice and the Hickson House Distillery. But, what Le Foote brings to the area is a cosy spot to sample some of the world's best vino. European wines and minimal-intervention producers are the preferred selections on the refined but comprehensive drinks list that you can taste your way through from within the moody front bar or out in the paved al fresco street front. Next time date night rolls around or that promotion you've been waiting for finally hits, you can reserve a spot out the back of Le Foote where you'll find a playful, Mediterranean-influenced dining menu. Share one of the highlights from the grill — crispy roasted lamb belly, brown butter barramundi and Jack's Creek Black Angus striploin with salsa verde. Or you can opt for one of the two banquets. Option one moves through house focaccia, taramasalata, beef tartare, octopus with potatoes, the barramundi, bitter greens with an orange panna cotta to close it all out. The huskier set menu swaps the fish for the Black Tyde rib eye, adds in a cheese pie with native berries, and closes the meal out with a pairing of rum baba and banana parfait. There's also plenty of starters and snacks that you can enjoy with your dinner, or simply paired with a chilled red in the bar area. Sydney rock oysters, pork rillettes and scallop carpaccio all make appearances on the cold selections alongside mid-sized dishes like calamari and pancetta skewers and charcoal wild mushrooms with fetta. All of this is housed within the old two-storey timber pub on George Street, giving the entire experience a feeling that you're still squarely in your local watering hole (just taken up several notches). As with all of the Swillhouse venues, the impressive food and drink offerings at Le Foote are balanced out by a feeling that nothing should be taken too seriously. You're free to have fun, whether you're swinging past for a two-sip martini or settling in for the grand banquet. Images: Kristoffer Paulsen Appears in: The Best Pubs in Sydney
It was once a thriving hospitality empire with giant doughnuts on seemingly every corner, pink-hued ice cream parlours slinging hip hop-themed desserts, over-the-top cakes tempting tastebuds, and everything from luxe hotels to cruisy bars lining the streets (and sometimes the same block) of Brisbane. And, as far as those round, doughy iced sweet treats were concerned, Damian Griffiths' footprints spread right throughout Sydney and Melbourne too. Now, however, the mogul's string of businesses have faltered. Given how prominent Doughnut Time's heaving presence proved across the east coast — rapidly expanding to 30 locations in the three years between 2015 and 2017, plus its own food truck at one point — the brand's demise has been impossible to miss. After a tumultuous few months, where its pastel green-coloured hole-in-the-wall outlets once littered Brissie, Sydney and Melbourne's streets, empty stores painted stark white now sit. But Doughnut Time is just the tip of the iceberg — Griffiths has been caught up in bankruptcy proceedings, liquidation, attempted sales and more since late 2017. Hundreds have lost their jobs (some reportedly without payment) and there's been a huge cloud of uncertainty around what this means for the slew of venues that operate under Griffiths' name, particularly in Brisbane. If you're wondering what the situation means for some of your former favourites, here's a rundown. DOUGHNUT TIME The doughnut chain has been splashed across the headlines in recent weeks, and for good reason. Reports include failing to pay staff, breaching rental contracts and racking up huge debts, which ultimately led to a potential sale to former Doughnut Time CEO Dan Strachotta. When that fell through, the company went into liquidation and promptly closed all of its stores. There's now no salvaging the business — as reported by the ABC, liquidator Michael Caspaney has noted that "there is no money anywhere". Staff owed backpay and superannuation can seek compensation through the Australian Government's Fair Entitlements Guarantee, but only if they're an Australian citizen or permanent resident. MISTER FITZ While Doughnut Time has monopolised attention of late, Mister Fitz's apparent demise has flown under the radar — but visit one of its three former Brisbane sites and you'll find empty stores. Indeed, East Brisbane has been closed for at least a month, pre-dating the shuttering of Doughnut Time next door. Over at South Bank, where it also shared space with Doughnut Time, a sign advises "our lease has ended and we are planning bigger and better things." And, at the original Mister Fitz site in the Valley, a sign states "we are taking a little holiday while we undergo renovations" — with the confusing addition of "but don't worry, you can still find us at South Bank". LES BUBBLES Opening in 2015, Les Bubbles courted controversy from the outset. When you launch a bar and steakhouse in a site that was once Bubbles Bathhouse, a seedy underground casino and 'massage parlour' back in the late 80s, then you're clearly asking for attention. The Wickham Street joint got it — not just via its neon sign announcing "we regret to inform you we are no longer a brothel", but courtesy of a wind-up application from the ATO in November 2017, then administration this year. At present, it's still trading, after being sold to a business owned by Strachotta last year. CHESTER STREET BAKERY Les Bubbles wasn't the only Griffiths business in trouble in 2017. Around the same time that the ATO was pursuing the Valley joint, Chester Street Bakery was collapsing. The Griffiths-owned KTG Bakeries went under in November, with CSB's once-bustling Newstead store now sitting empty — with not a towering, rainbow-coloured piece of cake in sight. THE LIMES The original jewel in Griffith's hospitality crown, The Limes is up for sale, under the instruction of the receivers charged with managing the business at present. Expressions of interest close in April, but this isn't the first time it's been in this position, with an attempted sell-off in 2015 failing to come to fruition. The Limes is currently still taking bookings. ALFRED & CONSTANCE Alfred & Constance is also up for sale — separately from The Limes, but under the same instructions — with expressions of interest also closing in April. The Valley hangout has also garnered news headlines in the past few months after unexpectedly shutting up shop over the Christmas period, and failing to open for a planned New Year's Eve party, despite selling tickets (and not even bothering to notify patrons). Amidst questions about the venue's future given Griffiths' situation, it reopened in February and continues to trade. On-site restaurants Kwan Bros and Alf's Place remain closed, however. A&C and Kwan Bros have also been put up for sale previously, back in 2016.
Named after Evelyn Mulwray — the enigmatic femme fatale at the centre of Roman Polanski's 1974 classic Chinatown — this 50-seat Paddington bar draws on its cinematic namesake to set the tone: moody, intimate and refined. Set within the former Grand Pacific Blue Room — an it-nightclub of Y2K-era Sydney — The Mulwray joins sibling venues The Palomar and Jacob the Angel in London hospo crew Studio Paskin's stable at 25hours Hotel Sydney The Olympia. A neon silhouette of Mulwray herself at the entrance gives way to a room anchored in dark leather, rich velvet and heritage brick, with soft honeyed lighting that makes everything — and everyone — look a little more glamorous. Subtle brass floor inlays, menus handwritten on mirrors and warm, atmospheric lighting give the space its cinematic edge while still feeling intimate and lived-in. Behind the bar, Head of Beverage Roean Patawaran — whose CV includes Oncore by Clare Smyth, Firedoor and Woodcut — steers a cocktail program built on precision and restraint. Classics are the stars here, from martinis to french 75s, with just enough modern flair (see: the jalapeño-spiked Picante Margarita) to keep things interesting. Wine shares top billing with the cocktails. The ever-evolving 100-bin list by Head Sommelier Eleonore Wulf (Aalia, Nour, Joji) celebrates biodynamic, organic and sustainable producers, spotlighting lesser-known grapes and methods without drifting into esoterica. Food comes courtesy of Mitch Orr, who brings his big-swinging, flavour-forward approach to a sharp list of snacks. Expect fried zucchini flowers with green chilli yoghurt, Westholme wagyu tartare on toast and a scene-stealing fish finger sandwich. Service is unobtrusive and deeply knowledgeable — more dinner party at your stylish friend's house than stuffy hotel bar. It's an atmosphere that honours its namesake: enigmatic, elegant and designed to draw you in slowly. [caption id="attachment_1046056" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Justin Nicholas[/caption]
It may be hot outside, but it's not quite 'our city in summer' until the Sydney Festival starts up on January 9, bringing with it a tidal wave of performance, music, art and other festivities. Its 2014 program is a massive conglomeration of 104 events, featuring 722 artists from 80 companies across 17 countries. Look out for a much bigger festival garden (so big, in fact, it's now the Festival Village) in Hyde Park, the return of music venue Paradiso at Town Hall and everyone's favourite duck, and a version of Stonehenge that you can bounce on. Yes, bounce on. But above all, Sydney Festival is about getting the most appealing, innovative and agenda-setting international performing arts works to visit our town. This year there's nothing topping the spectacle of Dido & Aeneas. This 'underwater opera' starts with a dance in a 7500L water tank and moves on to sumptuous feats of dance, costume, singing, music and stagecraft. But La Voix Humaine promises to floor with conversely little — one woman pleading down the phone line to an ex-lover. There are plenty of other acclaimed international theatre, dance and circus works with experimental, thrilling or just plain WTF twists. Magic/theatre show Bullet Catch calls for you to pull the trigger, Othello: The Remix is a charming "ad-rap-tation", Tim Crouch's I, Malvolio puts a Shakespearian underdog in the limelight (we recommend going on the adults-only late show on January 18), La Cucina Dell'Arte comes from a sixth generation carnie clan, and Forklift features dancers who also hold heavy machinery licences. Leading the music program, Amanda Palmer will be playing ten solo shows in the intimate surrounds of The Spiegeltent, in the middle of all-hours hangout the Festival Village. Palmer has become an object of much debate after her incredible success at crowdfunding her latest album, but whatever you think of that whole deal you cannot deny she is a fascinating performer. Another headline event is Big Star’s Third, where the cult album will be played in all its broken, twisted beauty by an all-star band for one night only. Guitar hero Kurt Vile is playing in two formats at this year’s festival: a solo “special midnight performance” in the Circus Ronaldo Tent, and again with his band, The Violators, at Paradiso at Town Hall. And then there's Amadou & Mariam’s Eclipse (a “live, multi-sensory experience in pitch darkness telling the amazing story of the blind couple from Mali that includes scents inspired by Mali and their second home Paris pumped into the building”), a collaborative performance with Lee Ranaldo (Sonic Youth) and Mike Patton (Faith No More, Mr. Bungle, etc), and dozens of other exciting acts. Even the classical music program is phenomenal. Finally (and almost entirely free!) is the visual art program. The focus is on large-scale, multimedia and installation-type pieces that pack an impressive visual punch. Christian Boltanski’s mega installation Chance will make full use of the architecture and size of Carriageworks and will chart births and deaths across the globe. Slovakian artist Roman Ondak is teaming up with Kaldor Public Art Projects to present a trio of performative works, including his 13 Rooms hit Swap. And that life-size bouncy Stonehenge hogging Hyde Park? That's Sacrilege by Jeremy Deller, direct from the 2012 London Olympics cultural program. For full details and to buy tickets see the Sydney Festival website. And don't get despondent if your show of choice is sold out — last-minute $25 tickets to nearly all events are available at the Tix for Next to Nix booth on the day. Want more Sydney Festival events? Check out our top ten picks of the festival. Or follow what we're seeing as we see it in our Sydney Festival Diary. By Rima Sabina Aouf, Hugh Robertson and Rebecca Speer. Image by Prudence Upton.
