When January is in full swing, the sun is out and we're all still in a holiday mood — whether or not we're actually still on holidays — no one needs an excuse for a weekend road trip. But here's one anyway, coming courtesy of Harvest Newrybar: eating dishes whipped up by acclaimed chef Danielle Alvarez. Formerly of Fred's in Sydney, Alvarez is heading to the Byron hinterland to cook up a storm for three days. That means that diners at A Weekend with Danielle at Harvest have three chances to tuck in: for dinner from 5.30pm on Friday, January 20 and Saturday, January 21, and for lunch from 12pm on Sunday, January 22. [caption id="attachment_885631" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Nikki To[/caption] It's the first time that Alvarez has brought her old-world cooking techniques to the region, and her all-round thoughtful approach to the kitchen as well — and she'll be matching Harvest's own focus on sustainability and top-notch local ingredients, of course. Indeed, she's visiting the producers that the restaurant works with, and Harvest family farm Picone Orchard, to come up with her culinary lineup. On the menu: oyster with gazpacho, fish tartare with finger lime and fish sauce in betel leaf, flatbread with charred chilli and clam butter, and a plate of pickled and wood oven-roasted veggies paired with locally made fresh cheese. And, there's also squid and prawn rice with coriander and chilli tahini, roasted Bangalow sweet pork and grilled fish with summer squash. Plus, dessert spans fruit from Piccone on ice, as well as lemonade fruit granita with lychees. Bookings will cost you $130 per person for a three-course set menu, or $220 with matched wines. Harvest Newrybar images: Jess Kearney.
Mark Friday, April 12, 2024 in your diary: that's when Fallout will jump from gaming's bunker to streaming's landscape. After 2023 saw The Last of Us leap from mashed buttons to a TV sensation for HBO, 2024 now has a big candidate to follow in its footsteps, this time via Prime Video. It's been almost three decades since Fallout first hit computers back in 1997, with three released sequels, a fourth on the way and seven spinoffs all following. Next comes a live-action television take starring Ella Purnell (Yellowjackets), Walton Goggins (I'm a Virgo) and Kyle MacLachlan (Lucky Hank). After dropping its first images earlier this week, the Fallout TV series now has a trailer — and it nails the game's aesthetic, sound and vibe. Fans of the Fallout game will already know the show's setting: a post-apocalyptic future. The series takes place 200 years after everything went pear-shaped, with people living in luxe fallout shelters ever since. When some such folks leave their cosy confines, they find a hellscape filled with mutants, wild west vibes and plenty of violence. Purnell plays vault-dweller Lucy, while Twin Peaks great MacLachlan is her dad Overseer Hank, who — as his name suggests — oversees Vault 33. On the surface, Goggins is bounty hunter The Ghoul, who has a secret past — and Aaron Moten (Emancipation) also has a pivotal part as Brotherhood of Steel soldier Maximus. The retrofuturistic dystopian series also features Moisés Arias (Samaritan), Sarita Choudhury (And Just Like That...), Michael Emerson (Evil), Leslie Uggams (Extrapolations), Frances Turner (The Boys), Dave Register (Heightened), Zach Cherry (Severance) and Johnny Pemberton (Weird: The Al Yankovic Story) as well — plus Rodrigo Luzzi (Dead Ringers), Annabel O'Hagan (Dear Edward) and Xelia Mendes-Jones (The Wheel of Time). For The Last of Us, HBO enlisted a creative force from one of the US premium cable network's past hits in Chernobyl's Craig Mazin. Prime Video has done the same with Fallout, but with Westworld creators Jonathan Nolan and Lisa Joy — who also executive produced Prime Video's own The Peripheral. As well as executive producing with Joy, Nolan directs the first three episodes. Geneva Robertson-Dworet (Captain Marvel) and Graham Wagner (Silicon Valley) are similarly among Fallout's executive producers, as well as the series' writers and co-showrunners. And yes, Bethesda Game Studios has a hand in finally bringing the games to the screen. Check out the first trailer for Fallout below: Fallout will start streaming via Prime Video from Friday, April 12, 2024. Images: courtesy of Prime Video.
Heading to the beach is all about sun, sand and taking a dip in the sea — and for Queenslanders this summer, it's now about two types of surfing. Selected spots across the state will be trialling a new system called Life-Fi, which enables sunbathers to connect to the internet for free while they're lazing about between the flags. The real aim of Life-Fi is actually to save lives. It gives beachgoers an incentive to keep close to lifeguards, with nearly 80 percent of the more than 5000 rescues that have taken place since January 2017 occurring outside of the red and yellow flags. The system also allows surf lifesaving clubs to communicate directly with folks sunning themselves by the shore — sending alerts from lifeguards on duty about ocean conditions, currents and marine creatures; conveying weather updates and live UV ratings; and offering general surf safety tips. Spearheaded by Surf Life Saving Queensland, Life-Fi has already been trialled at the Mooloolaba Surf Life Saving Club, and will now roll out to ten other clubs along the coastline. Four mobile units will also be dispatched throughout the state as they're needed. Exact locations have yet to be announced, although you can expect popular beaches on the Gold and Sunshine coasts to feature. The portable self-contained wireless network is available in six languages (English, Chinese, Hindi, Arabic, Japanese and Thai), ensuring that overseas tourists making the most of Queensland beaches can still receive safety warnings. Announcing the expanded trial, Tourism Industry Development Minister Kate Jones noted that tourism was a key motivator. "If we can make people feel safe, we know we'll lure more people to the beach." For more information, visit the Life-Fi website. You can also use NetShare Pro.
Like beer and sunshine, cheese and crackers and Peter Kavinsky and Lara Jean Covey, wine and cycling are made for one another. And if there's one undoubtedly dreamy way to spend an afternoon, it's meandering through idyllic vineyards on two wheels. Fortunately, Australia's expansive, uncrowded wine regions are made for such adventures. So, we've scoured every vineyard in the country to find cycling trails filled with cellar doors and ocean vistas — just for you, our dedicated wine lovers. Here are nine of the prettiest and tastiest. While these trails are made for cycling between wineries, don't forget it's still a crime to ride a bike while intoxicated in all states. So drink and ride responsibly, and be safe on the road. If you plan on drinking at every winery, consider booking a mini bus instead. [caption id="attachment_685954" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Tourism Australia[/caption] BAROSSA TRAIL, SOUTH AUSTRALIA This 40-kilometre sealed rail trail, shared by cyclists and walkers, travels through the heart of the Barossa Valley, a world-famous wine region located 80 minutes' drive northeast of Adelaide. Your journey begins in the north in Angaston, one of South Australia's oldest settlements, before passing through the villages of Nuriootpa, Tanunda and Lyndoch, to reach Gawler's heritage-listed buildings. Look out for Mengler Hill Sculpture Park, the Barossa Museum, epic views of the Barossa Range and kangaroos, among countless cellar doors and eateries. [caption id="attachment_680367" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Adam Bruzzone[/caption] CLARE VALLEY RIESLING TRAIL, SOUTH AUSTRALIA If too much riesling is never enough, this car-free cycling trail is made for you. Find it in idyllic Clare Valley, around two hours' drive north of Adelaide. Your adventure starts on the Valley's southern edge in the gateway town of Auburn, before rolling 35 kilometres north to Barinia. Among the cellar doors you shouldn't miss are O'Leary Walker Wines, surrounded by rural panoramas; Skillogalee, whose rieslings are renowned; and Sevenhill, the Valley's oldest winery, founded in 1851 by a bunch of Jesuits who fled Poland due to persecution. [caption id="attachment_685953" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Jacqui Way[/caption] SHIRAZ TRAIL, MCLAREN VALE, SOUTH AUSTRALIA Forty-five minutes' drive beyond Adelaide's southern border lies McLaren Vale, known for its Mediterranean climate, excellent reds and proximity to the Fleurieu Peninsula's spectacular coastline. On the Shiraz Trail, you'll cycle 14 kilometres, kicking off in the McLaren Vale township and heading south to the cute village of Willunga. Make slight diversions to visit experimental winemakers Alpha Box & Dice, who are currently working on an entire alphabet of wines, and Hamilton Winery, home to Australia's longest-serving wine making family, who's been stomping on grapes for over 180 years. The Shiraz Trail is one section of the 37-kilometre Coast to Vines Trail. [caption id="attachment_685960" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Swan Valley[/caption] SWAN VALLEY CYCLE TRAIL, WESTERN AUSTRALIA This picturesque trail in Swan Valley — around 90 minutes' drive northwest of Perth — gives you not one, but four routes to choose from. For maximum reward for your efforts, conquer the three-kilometre loop starting at Baskerville Oval, which takes in five wineries. Or, if you're keen to spend more time in the saddle, opt for the 18-kilometre loop beginning at Maali Footbridge, Swan River. You'll pass several cellar doors, as well as artists' studios, local produce and a sculpture park. You'll find maps and more info here. [caption id="attachment_685785" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Visit Victoria[/caption] RUTHERGLEN TO WAHGUNYAH RIDE, VICTORIA Here, your boozy escapades occur in the majestic company of the Murray River. Climb aboard at Rutherglen, a town three hours' drive northeast of Melbourne that's home to more than 20 wineries, and pedal nine kilometres north to riverside Wahgunyah. Along the way, you'll come across Jones Winery, where you can taste shiraz made from 113-year-old vines; Rutherglen Estates, whose home dates to 1886; and Valhalla Wines, which specialises in Rhone Valley varietals. The Rutherglen to Wahgunyah Ride is one section of the mighty 100-kilometre Murray to Mountains Rail Trail. MILAWA GOURMET RIDE, VICTORIA For easy-peasy pedalling along super-flat terrain, make tracks to Milawa, a foodie's mecca found three hours' drive northeast of Melbourne. The Milawa Gourmet Ride stretches for five kilometres, from Brown Brothers Cellar Door, where you can borrow a bike for free, to Sam Miranda Winery. In between swirling and sipping, tuck into an array of gourmet deliciousness, including handmade dairy at Milawa Cheese, condiments at Milawa Mustards and fresh fruit at Blue Ox Berries farm gate. Like the Rutherglen to Wahgunyah Ride, this journey is part of the Murray to Mountains Rail Trail. If you want to continue exploring the Victorian High Country by bike, you'll find more great rides here. [caption id="attachment_686034" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Tourism and Events Queensland[/caption] STANTHORPE TO BALLANDEAN BIKE TRAIL, GRANITE BELT, QUEENSLAND Three-and-a-half hours' drive inland from Byron Bay is Queensland's Granite Belt. Elevated 1000 metres above sea level, this dramatic landscape is a wonderland of rugged granite formations and dense woodlands. See it all from two wheels on the Stanthorpe to Ballandean bike trail. For 30 kilometres, you'll wind along tranquil country roads, pausing at wineries, picnic spots and maybe a brewery or two. The way is dotted with signposts, to keep you on track. The Granite Belt's claim to fame is producing varietals seldom grown in Australia. Among the whites, you'll find roussane, alvarinho and petit manseng, and, among the reds, sagrantino and montepulciano. HUNTER VALLEY CYCLEWAY, NEW SOUTH WALES Opened in 2017, this 10.6-kilometre cycleway runs alongside Hermitage Road – through one of the most winery-dense spots in the Hunter Valley, which lies around 90 kilometres' drive northwest of Sydney. Be sure to visit De Iuliis' stunning cellar door for a cheese and wine flight, as well as Peter Drayton Wines, and its onsite brewery Iron Bark Hill Brewhouse, for excellent wines and craft beers. Meanwhile, at Mistletoe Wines, you'll be sipping sparkling rosé in a sculpture garden, and at Tintilla, sangiovese in an olive grove. You'll find more great wine-filled Hunter Valley bike rides here, too. [caption id="attachment_685963" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Lowe Wines, Destination NSW[/caption] MUDGEE WINERY RIDE, NEW SOUTH WALES Three hours' drive northwest of Sydney, the friendly country town of Mudgee has been cultivating grapes since the mid-1800s. There are now more than 35 cellar doors and you can visit 22 of them along a ten-kilometre loop that starts in town, at the Clock Tower. At Lowe Wines, you'll be sampling organic drops and taking a self-guided tour of the vineyards, while at Vinifera, Di Lusso and Mansfield, you'll be working your way through Mediterranean varietals, from Spanish tempranillo to Italian barbera. The map's over here.
When Surry Hills mainstay Bodega closed its doors in July 2019, we were promised a new Japanese restaurant from the Tokyo Bird team would take its place. And now it's made good on that promise, opening Nikkei on Commonwealth Street last week. But it's not a carbon copy of the team's much-loved yakitori and cocktail bar. Instead, this new diner has more of a focus on food, specialising in a particular style of Japanese-Peruvian cuisines called Nikkei. While this combination may be unheard of to some, the style of food actually developed over 100 years ago, when Peru's sizeable Japanese immigrant population began cooking local Peruvian dishes using their native cooking techniques and flavours. The 55-seat venue features a bar, counter seating and a 12-seat communal table. Through the open kitchen, diners can catch Brazilian head chef Lucas Cerullo David (who comes from sister venue Osaka Trading Co.) and sushi chef Justin Kim at work on a seafood-heavy menu. It includes Peru's 'national' dish tiradito, a sliced sashimi-style ceviche. At Nikkei, you can choose between an octopus version — made with nori, pickled daikon and Peruvian chillies — or a mushroom medley with Jersualem artichokes and nori crackers. [caption id="attachment_752482" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Bruno Stefani[/caption] Many of the dishes are served as either tapas or izakaya-style, so it's easy to share. Other specialties include hokkaido scallops with capsicum salsa and beef short ribs with miso garlic and Peruvian corn puree. Behind the bar, expect a 40-strong wine list that focuses on coastal vineyards and a cocktail list which boasts distinct Peruvian flavours — including pisco, aniseed wine, chicha morada (Andean purple corn drink), oregano tea and quinoa milk. Lots of the hard-to-find ingredients on both the food and drinks menu have been directly sourced from Peru and Japan, too. This is the fifth restaurant venture for owners Jason Ang, Tina Wing Kee and Christopher Ang — as well as Tokyo Bird, the trio's portfolio also includes other popular venues Osaka Trading Co., Bancho and the nearby Sando Bar. Also involved in the venture is the dining group's venue manager Marco Oshiro Giron, whose Japanese-Peruvian heritage helped inspire and develop the Nikkei concept. He is joined by an impressive array of hospitality vets, including group sommelier Phil McElroy (The Source Restaurant at MONA, Firedoor, Sokyo), manager Reuvin Lim (Tayim, Tequila Mockingbird, Sake Double Bay, Cho Cho San) and head bartender Xander Ramirez (Bentley, Tayim). Images: Bruno Stefani.
Planning a get-together? Work drinks? A birthday? Why not ditch dishes duty and head to a restaurant instead? These days, sharing and banquet menus are all the rage, providing a great opportunity to catch up with mates and try some new, interesting food (or a few old favourites) without the hassle of playing host yourself. In partnership with Stockland, we've compiled a list of restaurants in greater western Sydney that are perfect for group feasts. So, pop on your snazziest pair of stretchy pants, let someone else pour the wine and enjoy all the culinary delights this part of the city has to offer.
When Paul Mescal (All of Us Strangers) and Pedro Pascal (Drive-Away Dolls) were cast in Gladiator II, audiences instantly knew what they wanted to see. The film doesn't release until mid-November 2024, but the trailers for it so far — a first sneak peek back in July and the just-dropped latest preview — have been delivering. The pair face off, Mescal gets shirtless, and there's sandals and swords aplenty, too. There's also odious Emperors, of course, and even a rhinoceros and seafaring clashes in the Colosseum. Mescal's Lucius watched the climactic events of 2000's Russell Crowe (The Exorcism) and Joaquin Phoenix (Napoleon)-starring film, as the initial trailer explained, which is just one of the on-screen ties that Gladiator II boasts with its predecessor. Another: Connie Nielsen (Origin) returning from Gladiator as Lucilla, Lucius' mother. And, behind the lens, there's also the not-at-all-minor fact that director Ridley Scott is back to make this 24-years-later sequel. If Gladiator II's protagonist didn't have his own date with Rome's iconic amphitheatre, and his own rage to unshackle, there wouldn't be much of a film. His stint comes after Emperors Caracalla (Joseph Quinn, A Quiet Place: Day One) and Geta (Fred Hechinger, The White Lotus) take over his home. Queue a quest for revenge, plus glory for Rome, with Pascal's general Marcus Acacius becoming Lucius' target. As for Denzel Washington (The Equalizer 3), he plays power broker Macrinus. Alien, Blade Runner and Thelma & Louise director Scott has been in blast-from-the-past mode for over a decade now, first revisiting the Alien realm with Prometheus and Alien: Covenant, then reteaming with Phoenix on Napoleon, and now helming his second Gladiator flick. Of late, he's also been fond of making movies set in the past — long ago and more recent — as not only seen with Napoleon, but also with House of Gucci, The Last Duel and All the Money in the World. With Gladiator II, the British filmmaker teams up two of the internet's boyfriends in Mescal and Pascal, and promises a battle-filled time following up the feature that picked up Best Picture, Best Actor (for Crowe), Best Costume Design, Best Sound and Best Visual Effects at the Academy Awards. Scott also earned his second Best Director nomination, after Thelma & Louise and before Black Hawk Down gave him a third. Gladiator II hits cinemas Down Under on Thursday, November 14, 2024, which means that local audiences will see it a week before American audiences — and a week before Wicked Part One arrives in picture palaces, too, so there'll be no Barbenheimer-style release day here. Check out the latest trailer for Gladiator II below: Gladiator II opens in cinemas Down Under on Thursday, November 14, 2024.
When the Australian Open returns for 2023 with two jam-packed weeks of Grand Slam tennis action, it'll also be serving up a few aces for local music-lovers. Especially as part of the inaugural AO Finals Festival, which is set to treat punters to a program of live acts across the event's final three days, heating up Kia Arena from Friday, January 27–Sunday, January 29. The music fest is dishing up a ripper lineup for its debut run, too, featuring the likes of Vanessa Amorosi, Flight Facilities and Benee. Which doesn't come as too much of a surprise, given it's been curated with help from the respected music-heads at Untitled Group — the brains behind Pitch Music & Arts, For The Love, Grapevine Gathering and more. [caption id="attachment_789706" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Benee[/caption] The festival is kicking off with a bang, its first day coinciding with global LGBTQI+ event The Grand Slam, presented by Ralph Lauren. Legendary singer-songwriter and 'Absolutely Everybody' star Amorosi will help launch the musical offerings, joined by pop darling Montaigne and Melbourne-based DJ Bertie. Chasing that on January 28 (also the AO women's finals day) you'll catch New Zealand singer-songwriter Benee, renowned Gamilaraay artist Thelma Plum and party-starting six-piece Winston Surfshirt, along with dance favourite CC:DISCO! And wrapping things up on AO men's finals day you'll have electro duo Flight Facilities, backed by brother-and-sister act Lastlings, Sydney's Willo and emerging Melbourne star Forest Claudette. [caption id="attachment_842049" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Flight Facilities[/caption] The gigs will take place in Melbourne's Park Kia Arena, with tickets at $34 for each day. If you're already heading courtside during the AO, you'll just need to drop $5 to upgrade your existing ground pass or Rod Laver Arena stadium ticket to include entry to the AO Finals Festival on any given day. As always, there'll be scores of food and drink pop-ups scattered throughout Melbourne Park, as well as big screens showing all the on-court action. [caption id="attachment_872292" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Thelma Plum, by Georgia Wallace[/caption] The AO Finals Festival hits Kia Arena, Olympic Boulevard, Melbourne, from January 27–January 29. Tickets are $34 for each day session, available online.
Located within walking distance of Allianz Stadium and Sydney Cricket Ground, this fixture of Woollahra has been a natural sports fan favourite for decades. Since it first opened in the 1880s, the building has gone through many renovations, but don't worry, this latest glow-up, completed in November 2024, retains the classic pub feel that locals have fallen in love with over the decades while bringing in many modern touches. Spread over four floors, there's something different for punters to discover on each level. The ground-floor Brigade Bar remains a stalwart feature of the venue, matching the exterior's casual pub look. On the first floor, customers can find laidback dining at Brigade Bistro, while the second floor is home to the intimate Brigade Lounge featuring a cocktail bar draped in art deco flair inspired by the 1920s. The stunning city skyline views from the Brigade Rooftop terrace are reason alone to visit, but you'll stay for the playful cocktails, colourful beach-style umbrellas and terracotta furniture that transports guests to a Miami pool club. A new menu - created by Chefs Jamie Gannon and Grant Stevenson - continues to bring the pub feel with crowd-pleasing favourites alongside Italian-inspired options like papperardelle carbonara and woodfired pizzas. The pub also offers specials every day of the week to make eating out that much easier on your wallet, including $22 Steak Night and Margarita deals to celebrate the end of the week, while kids also eat for free seven days a week. With late night trading hours (which are a rarity for the area), the venue is set to redefine itself as an eastern suburbs nightlife hotspot. This Woollahra hero may be under new management, but everything you love remains - now with a new look sure to keep visitors coming back for decades to come.
The good ol' Marly has bid farewell to its upstairs neighbour Miss Peaches and has welcomed something much quirkier in her place. The Newtown boozer's first floor space is now home to the weird and wonderful Cuckoo — a kooky bar inspired by Germany's alpine resorts. Venture on up and you'll feel a bit like Alice tumbling into the rabbit hole. Brought to life by hospitality group Solotel with help from International Worldwide (the creatives behind the recently renovated George Hotel, The Duke, The Old Fitz) and Monster Children, Cuckoo is filled with knick-knacks, a lounge room bar pulled straight from your opa's house and constant sounds from the collection of cuckoo clocks adorning the walls. It even has a bouldering wall, so you can really pretend you're climbing up Zugspitze. The quirkiness is also embraced wholeheartedly by the drinks list, which boasts eight different house-infused schnapps, alongside crafty cococktails such as the cardamom, sour apple and ginger-laced Apfelschorle cocktail ($18) and the Deer's Blood ($18) with gin, Jägermeister, Campari and honey vermouth. Meanwhile, taps are pouring Germanic-style beers from local breweries like Batch and Wayward — try yours in a stein or in the glass shoey the team's calling Das Boot. If you head in during Schnappy Hour — from 5–7pm, Wednesday–Friday — you'll score yourself a glass of house schnapps for just $5 and a selection of cocktails for $15, too. Sticking with the theme, Cuckoo's food offering is filled with German classics like schnitzels (in chicken, veal and pork varieties), smoked kransky sausage ($8) and spätzle ($8). But, thanks to a fully-stocked condiments station, the house-made pretzels ($12) might just steal the show. Images: Kitti Gould
Umbrellas at the ready, Sydneysiders. Spoons full of sugar, too. In the most supercalifragilisticexpialidocious news you'll hear all day — and all year as well — the Mary Poppins musical is making its way Down Under. Between May–October 2022, you'll be able to revisit the tale of the singing nanny onstage at the Lyric Theatre Sydney. Disney and theatre producer Cameron Mackintosh's current version of the show tells the same tale that everyone knows from the 1964 film — which, as well as inspiring this stage adaptation, also gave rise to big-screen sequel Mary Poppins Returns in 2018. Everything to do with the English governess harks back to PL Travers' books about the character, of course, and pop culture has been thankful for and downright delighted with her stories for almost six decades now. Exact dates for the musical's Sydney season haven't yet been revealed, but theatre fans can look forward to a new version of the show that last graced the city's stages — and won eight Helpmann Awards — back in 2011. Since Mackintosh first teamed up with writer Julian Fellowes (Downton Abbey) to bring Mary Poppins to the theatre in 2004, the production has won four Olivier Awards and a Tony as well. Mackintosh is bringing The Phantom of the Opera to Sydney this year, too, and a Cinderella musical is also headed the city's way — so it's a great time to love stage musicals based on classic tales, clearly. Whether Mary Poppins will float on elsewhere in Australia hasn't yet been announced; however, Sydney's season has been marked as the Australian premiere. So, residents of Melbourne, Brisbane, Perth and Adelaide – and everywhere else in the country — you can start crossing your fingers that Poppins, the Banks family and their Cherry Tree Lane abode might also come your way in the future. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YiT6Og3lDbw Mary Poppins will play the Lyric Theatre Sydney from May–October 2022, with exact dates yet to be revealed. To sign up for the ticket waitlist, head to the musical's website — with tickets due to go on sale in August 2021. Top image: Johan Persson.
It was only a matter of time before Sydney's rapidly expanding food and drink scene broke through the confines of Sydney city and started spilling north of the bridge. North Sydney has always had a few standout spots, but 2024 was a big year for new openings, with red-hot new destinations like Genzo opening their doors to eager diners. Part of the Walker Street Precinct, Genzo brings "a taste of Tokyo" to North Sydney's miniaturised CBD. Tokyo's izakaya street-style dining has become quite the rage in Sydney, with Genzo joining the fray to bring traditional Japanese snacks with a twist to the lower North Shore. Those dishes come in great and small sizes alike. Simple starters like shiitake tempura and ponzu and tuna onigiri with stracciatella and umeboshi are joined by a mix of nigiri and sushi rolls, but hungrier diners should turn their eyes to the hot food. There's plenty of it. The main lineup comes in skewer form, with cuts of chicken thigh, tenderloin, breast, skin and more creatively paired with ingredients like toasted rice, pink pepper and egg yolk. Not a chook fan? You can get snow pea, scampi or wagyu beef, too. Larger dishes are on offer too, like octopus with chilli and cream cheese, miso glazed Glacier-51 toothfish or a cold bowl of soba noodles. When it's time for beverages, you've got the pick of house beers and wines, Japanese sodas and an impressive offering of saké in flights or by the bottle. If cocktails take your fancy, get around everything from creative house specials with Japanese ingredients, or the ever-popular Japanese highball made with high-quality spirits like Toki Whisky.
April 14, 2018, will forever go down in history as the day Beyoncé took to the Coachella stage and made it her own. If you were lucky enough to be there, you'll no doubt remember it forever. If you watched the live stream — and it became the most-watched live-streamed performance of all time, so you probably did — then you'll never forget it either. Whichever category you fell into, you likely wish you were closer to the action — to the stage for the 137-minute performance, to the 100-plus dancers, to its powerful homage to America's historically black colleges and universities, and to the backstage antics as well. Enter Netflix's Homecoming: A Film By Beyoncé, the concert documentary you definitely knew you needed, but didn't know existed until now. Yesterday, Wednesday, April 17, the streaming platform released the in-depth look at Bey's epic show, revealing "the emotional road from creative concept to cultural movement". Like the real-life performance, the film clocks in at 137 minutes, so expect a lengthy and intimate tour through the festival set everyone has been talking about for a year, including behind-the-scenes footage and candid chats that delve into the preparation process and Bey's stunning vision. You know what else is lengthy? The 40-track live album Bey just dropped on Spotify. Yep, the Queen has blessed us on two platforms this week. We are not worthy. As well as live renditions of 'Sorry', 'Crazy in Love' and 'Soldier' — the latter which was performed with former Destiny's Child group mates Kelly Rowland and Michelle Williams — from Coachella, the album, also called Homecoming, features a song by Blue Ivy (Bey's daughter) and two bonus tracks. It's also doubly exciting that the album is available on the easier-to-access Spotify, as Bey dropped her most-recent album Lemonade exclusively on Tidal, her husband Jay-Z's streaming service. The long weekend is here. You have four hours of Beyoncé content to consume. Happy listening and viewing, friends. Head to Netflix to watch Homecoming: A Film By Beyoncé and listen to the album below:
On a weeknight at the beginning of July, Bush very quietly opened its doors. Still learning the ropes of the business, Head Chef Grant Lawn and his team didn't want to overwhelm themselves. Despite their best efforts (or because of them), the George Street hole-in-the-wall quickly became a hit, and now regularly sells out of its burgers, pies and pud on the weekend. The brains behind the concept, Lawn saw the restaurant as an opportunity to bring the Australian bush back to the forefront of Sydney's dining landscape — by opening Bush right in the middle of Redfern. "I wanted to make a positive difference in the community," says Lawn. "Start a place that could bring people together and start conversations, while eating food inspired by the Australian outback." [caption id="attachment_735541" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Kitti Gould[/caption] The menu is small (really small), but there isn't an item that doesn't look appealing. Curry 'roo party pies, cheeseburgers, fairy bread and butter pudding — it's as if the menu from your sixth birthday party got a revamp. While it seems like a fairly simple food lineup, Lawn says each dish aims to achieve something. The kangaroo pies, for example, help to emphasise the importance of kangaroo consumption. "There's an over-population of 'roos and it's good for the environment if we eat more," explains Lawn. "And there's nothing more familiar to the Australian audience than a pie — so what better way to consume it?'' You'll also find a (very good) American-style cheeseburger at Bush. It's certainly not Australian, but Lawn said they had to put it on the menu because "that's what Aussies want". For the meat-free folk, there's also a mean mushroom burger. There is one item on the menu that confuses us, however: the notoriously un-Australian bloomin' onion. "Yes", laughs Lawn, "but we're taking it back and reinventing it!". [caption id="attachment_735544" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Kitti Gould[/caption] Born and raised in Sydney, Lawn briefly studied landscape architecture before turning his focus to cooking. While he was playing around with the idea of opening his own restaurant, he realised he could combine the two by landscaping a restaurant to resemble the Australian bush he grew up in. Which is exactly what he did. The space is filled with roughly cut stools and long wooden tables, native Australian plants adorn the tables and you'll spot stuffed toy versions of native Australian fauna hidden around, too. Bush started as a pop-up in popular Sydney establishments like Young Henrys, before Lawn found the perfect spot in Redfern to set up shop permanently. In the future, Lawn plans to host live acoustic shows, 'locals nights' and workshops. To get to the front of the line, you can join the Bush Club for first dibs on future live shows and degustation nights. Find Bush at 55 George Street, Redfern. It's open from Tuesday–Saturday midday–10pm. Images: Kitti Gould
When a vegan bar opened in the Ovolo Hotel, Sydneysiders moved fast to eat plant-based 'bad food' by chef Matthew Kenney. Alt-Ctrl-Eat is Alibi's fast-food delivery option, with a philosophy of sustainability, quality produce and nutrition. Vegans and non-vegans alike can rejoice in a menu powered by plants that offers open chick'n n waffle, cheeseburgers, Fill It of Fish and barbecue loaded fries with 'bacon bits'. Its cheeseburger patties are made by the Alternative Meat Co, which makes meat-free patties that are high in protein. And if you're after something a little lighter, it also has a range of salads and noodles to keep you fuelled.
It's pretty easy to get lost in Sydney's vibrant nightlife precinct, YCK Laneways — a hub of independently operated hospitality, retail and entertainment businesses in the CBD. Now, you can get lost, drink cocktails and win prizes at the same time. Over four jam-packed weeks, YCK is teaming up with Angel's Envy, a finished bourbon with a sweet flavour and complexity for rookie drinkers and connoisseurs alike. Together, they'll transform the bustling laneways of the precinct into a bourbon lover's dream. During August, Sydneysiders can bar-hop around their diverse collection of venues to win an epic CBD staycation or Angel's Envy merch, simply by enjoying a tipple with mates. Here's the gist: signup for YCK's Laneway Loyalty program to collect your digital tokens and win free stuff. It's as easy at that! You'll receive one token for each drink purchased at a participating venue. Once you've collected five, you'll win a limited-edition Angel's Envy jacket (you can never have too many in the wardrobe, right?) and go in the draw to win one of three epic YCK staycations valued at $1,500 each. Each week, participating venues will hero a classic cocktail — think old fashioned, whiskey sour, highball, and manhattan — putting their own spin on it with bespoke, curated menus and a range of creative spins. There will also be roaming jazz bands and live performers around the laneways to keep you entertained while you hop between bars. The venues taking part in the month-long event include Burrow Bar, Duke of Clarence, Esteban, Jolene's, Kahii, Kasippu (soon to be known as Button), Kuro Bar & Dining, Papa Gede's, Roast Republic, Stitch Bar, Since I Left You, Lucille's, Uncle Ming's and Vinabar. While each venue has its own drawcards, they all have a few things in common — they're independent, small bars with a whole lot of soul. And with so many options, you're bound to find more than a few that will cater to your needs, whatever you're craving. Sip, collect and win this August by signing up for Laneway Loyalty and exploring the precinct. To find out more about Angel's After Dark, visit the website.
When you're as fond of chocolate as you are of gelato, there's no Easter egg like a Messina Easter egg. And if you're a fan of the brand's ice cream, as well as cheesecake and pretzels, then you probably know that the chain's Mr Messina flavour is one of the best. Combine Messina's annual Easter special with one of its most-beloved gelato varieties, then, and the result is a mighty delicious 2025 treat. Gelato Messina's chocolate eggs come filled with gelato — and while in some years, the purveyors of frosty sweet treats have made multipacks, this year's version remains a one-kilogram giant. Yes, it's giving us the Easter delight that we all coveted when we were kids: a hefty-sized egg. Of course, this one is even better than the foil-wrapped supermarket versions, thanks to the Messina gelato inside. Once you crack into the handpainted chocolate shell, layers of cheesecake mousse await, plus pretzel crumb and clusters coated in milk chocolate. You'll also find pretzel chocolate dip and Basque cheesecake gelato with baked cheesecake chunks, as well as a soft pretzel caramel centre. The chain's 2025 egg is designed to serve six, but if you're keen to keep it to yourself, we understand. You'll be paying $80 either way, and getting in quick when they go on sale is recommended as they usually sell out. Messina's 2025 Easter eggs can only be ordered online on Thursday, March 27 for collection over Easter — naturally — between Thursday, April 17–Sunday, April 20. To get details about specific on-sale times, you'll need to register in advance via the Messina website. Gelato Messina's 2025 gelato Easter eggs are available to order from Thursday, March 27 for pick up between Thursday, April 17–Sunday, April 20 — head to the Messina website for further details.
Whether it's casting grande dames in candy-coloured shades or conveying feminine fashion without a single fussy bow, Karen Walker is a designer we pretty much all love to love. And love to pretend is Australian. Actually, she's from New Zealand, and has many an opinion on how that's shaped her creative life. Here she's in conversation with her work and life partner — advertising guru Mikhail Gherman — so it should be a more comfortable, free-flowing on-stage Q&A than most. Come back to the Vivid Ideas Exchange at 9pm weeknights for more intriguing 'In Conversation' pairings. This event is one of our top ten picks of Vivid Ideas. Check out the other nine.
The Rose of Australia's new upstairs restaurant, Howard's Cantina and Cocktail Bar, is a mature older brother to the pub below. The vibe is still casual and laidback, but it's hitting all the right restaurant notes with table service, a refined menu and a creative cocktail list to boot. The two-page cocktail menu focuses on classics with a twist and does so with style — especially with their Negroni ($18), which is garnished with Grand Marnier-soaked applewood chips and comes out still smoking. The espresso martini ($18) is one of the best we've had, and though the whisky sour topped with a Barossa Shiraz float ($18) isn't quite our thing, we can definitely see the appeal. The menu is designed around sharing and has some high concept dishes that are equally well conceived and executed by Tassie-born head chef Chris Bell. He boasts an impressive resume, having trained at Cafe Sydney, then under Andrew McConnell in Melbourne, as well as crossing paths with Attica's Ben Shewry and the team from Hobart's Frankin. This is no simple pub fare, and the black garlic-cured cobia ($16) is a clear example of Bell's creativity. The dish plays on earthy flavours — as opposed to the traditional salty and citrusy route you'd expect with raw fish — by layering components of beetroot, celery, potato and karkalla (a native edible succulent). Bell puts this type of inventive spin on most of his dishes, including the smoked pumpkin wedge, poached in buttermilk byproduct from their in-house smoked butter and topped with whipped garlic and soy sauce-roasted pumpkin seeds ($12). While wedged veg can be a lazy chef move, this is anything but — the pumpkin takes on a meaty quality and the dish is thoughtfully executed while minimising food waste. The cauliflower is similarly treated but presented in a completely different light; it's served with crispy anchovies, peanuts, apple purée and bright pink pickled turnips that brings through Bell's Southeast Asian and Lebanese influences. But he doesn't get away with just seasoning well — as head chef, he builds flavours that complement and balance each other. If there was ever a time to share, its with the whey-braised lamb shoulder ($60), which comes out on the bone but falls right off — no knife needed. The whey is the byproduct from their house-made cheese and yoghurt — another sustainable nod — and it's succulent, fatty and far too good to waste even one bite. The desserts are a playful treat, particularly with the Watermelon Challenge, a combination of cured watermelon, coconut tamarind purée and fresh honeycomb topped with bacon-like dehydrated watermelon and basil ($12). The Margaret and David is a deconstructed movie snack, combining the flavours of Maltesers and buttered popcorn topped with cola sorbet ($15). If you want it all — and you do — the share menu is only $55 per person. We'd highly recommend grabbing three mates and making a night of it.
Bored of your usual Wednesday night entertainment? Head to Friend in Hand for something a little different: crab racing. Every last Wednesday of the month, you can expect crisp, cold schooners, or better yet $10 jugs from 7–8.30pm, while you watch an upturned bucket of hermit crabs race to the finish line. The pub's been bringing these crustacean shenanigans to Glebe for over 20 years from 8pm. So grab a jug, and get set to cheer on your fine shelled friends. Image: Kitti Gould.
There's something novel about soaking in a tub with no wall in front of you, no roof above you, and no worries if anyone will spoil the moment (or see you naked). It's romantic, relaxing, and the unfamiliar nature of bathing outdoors can be, lets face it, kind of exciting. This is especially true when your bath is paired with a glass of red and the knowledge that there's a roaring fire waiting for you inside the architecturally designed house you've found yourself in. So, to make your outdoor-bath dreams a reality, we've rounded up the most enviable houses in Australia that have particularly unique outdoor-bathing scenarios. Whether you fancy relaxing in a private Japanese bathhouse, a rustic metal tub perched on a farm's timber deck, or want to stargaze from a spa-bath in a mountain cave, we've got you covered. Read on for our top stays with next-level outdoor baths across Australia. Recommended reads: The Best Glamping Sites in Australia The Best Glamping Sites in New Zealand The Best Dog-Friendly Hotels in Australia Liptrap Loft, Walkerville, Victoria This design-minded house combines Japanese architecture with rustic charm — it boasts a one-of-a-kind sunken indoor-outdoor Japanese bath in a traditional bathhouse that opens up to views of the surrounding property. From $406 a night, sleeps six. Wensley, Wensleydale, Victoria Built from recycled oregon and ironbark, this bespoke timber, architectural shed-like house is a bath-lovers paradise, with a deep indoor bath inside amongst the immaculately styled interiors, and a rustic metal bath on the wrap-around timber deck, perfect for cooling off on balmy evenings. From $995 a night, sleeps ten. Soul Wood Luxury Coast Cabin, Termeil, New South Wales Wake up to views of the bushland from this wooden tiny house. The dreamy outdoor bathtub is surrounded by tall native trees that will have you feeling completely immersed in the natural surroundings. From $300 a night, sleeps two. Woodlands Retreat, Porongurup, Western Australia Not a bath per-se, but the views this jacuzzi boasts earned itself an honourable mention. Just imagine sipping champagne with your pals and looking out over that deck submerged in steaming bubbly water, then slipping on a fluffy maroon robe to finish off the night — yes, please. From $438 a night, sleeps four. Stargazer, Beechmont, Queensland This property is enviable in every way, including a secluded location, cohesive architectural design, and a wood fire pizza oven for your entertaining needs. To top it all off, the uniquely positioned bath looks over the far-reaching countryside, taking your R&R weekend to the next level. From $278 a night, sleeps six. Secluded Studio, Byron Bay, New South Wales A designer retreat for two, complete with a glass-walled bathroom, secluded garden terrace and roomy outdoor tub to wash the salt off from a day spent in the sun and surf — it's a true hidden oasis, just minutes from the beach. From $400 a night, sleeps two. Boutique Retreat, Suffolk Park, New South Wales A cheery self-contained, beautifully styled apartment that's sure to win you over with its plush linens, palm-filled courtyard and massive pink stone outdoor tub for some quality soaking, drinking and reading. From $275 a night, sleeps two. The Enchanted Cave, Bilpin, New South Wales An actual clifftop cave, this unique couples' retreat is like something plucked from a storybook. Relax while enjoying dreamy views across the treetops from the large glass doors that open out from a deep spa bath. From $1140 a night, sleeps two. Seven Sisters Escarpment Views, Medlow Bath, New South Wales Tandem baths anyone? This mountaintop cottage feels worlds away from reality, especially when taking in the views from one of two gorgeous outdoor bathtubs. Be sure to cook dinner from the bush garden and cozy up in front of the wood fire on cooler nights. From $340 a night, sleeps four. Kestrel Nest Ecohut, Mount Adrahm New South Wales Halfway between Sydney and Melbourne, this eco-hut is nestled above a rocky mountain stream on the edge of rolling farmland and a conservation area. It features an outdoor bathtub, a fireplace and firepit, and a charming mix of timber and tiled interiors. From $460 a night, sleeps four. All photos courtesy of Airbnb. FYI, this story includes some affiliate links. These don't influence any of our recommendations or content, but they may make us a small commission. For more info, see Concrete Playground's editorial policy.
Gluttonous adventure is coming to Newtown and Enmore, with venues across the two suburbs teaming up to present food and beverage lovers with a tapas trail. Featuring 15 potential stops — including Beach Burrito Company, Newtown Social Club, Midnight Special and the Carlisle Castle — the trail will see each venue spruiking their own signature tapas dish, some with accompanying beverages. Just as on the best adventures, to start you'll need a passport. These can be downloaded via the Newtown Tapas Trail website, or picked up at any of the venues. This passport contains a map of the tapas route, and room for your adventure to be documented with stamps from each venue you've visited. Once you've collected five stamps, you'll be in the running for prizes such as art prints, dining vouchers, a Young Henrys brewery tour. The Tapas Trail is on Friday 22 and Saturday 23 from 6pm. So grab your friends, raise your glass and definitely don't forget your passport.
Combining a thought-provoking mixture of life, loss, love, tea and Twitter, Rock Surfers Theatre Company in collaboration with the Bondi community and various artists present Future Senior/Former Youth. This new verbatim theatre work offers a delightful insight into the power of good old-fashioned storytelling through the use of interviews, multimedia and stitch-inducing comedy. One for all ages, the show encourages the audience to exercise their empathy, just like the artists' own empathies were exercised in the making of this work. Young artists interviewed senior community members, while senior artists interviewed the young, and both came together to make this production.
Open the cinema doors, HAL, because Randwick's Ritz is serving up a very special 13-week film feast. You won't need someone to strap you to a chair and force your eyes open with a specula to get you to watch this fantastic movie lineup — and you won't have to wander around a maze-like haunted hotel to get there, either. The Sydney picture palace is turning its attention to celebrating a movie master, with the one and only Stanley Kubrick in the spotlight. On Thursday nights between Thursday, April 18–Thursday, July 11, the cinema will unleash all 13 of the British filmmaker's full-length features upon eager cinephiles during Kubrick: A Complete Retrospective. That means showing everything from anti-war film Fear and Desire, early noir The Killing and the controversial Lolita through to Kubrick's final completed effort, aka the Nicole Kidman and Tom Cruise-starring erotic thriller Eyes Wide Shut. Discover why "I am Spartacus!" became such a famous cinema phrase, find out how Dr Strangelove learned to stop worrying and love the bomb, and plunge into the horrors of the Vietnam War with Full Metal Jacket. Sure, 2001: A Space Odyssey and A Clockwork Orange pop up in retro programs around the country quite often, but there's never a bad time to see these classics the way that they were meant to be seen. The same goes for The Shining, which is also never far from a big screen somewhere, but is playing here in its extended edition. Each week's film kicks off at 7pm — and many of the movies will be playing in 35mm or 70mm, with some in 4K instead.
Sure, Bali's known for its beautiful resorts and lively beach clubs, but venture a little deeper and away from the classic Aussie tourist traps, and you'll find plenty of once-in-a-lifetime experiences that will make your trip one of a kind. How does river tubing through rainforest canyons sound? Maybe you'd rather make your own silver jewellery? Or get up early to watch the sunrise from the top of a volcano? We've rounded up eight unique, local-led adventures that let you see a different side of Bali (and beyond). And the best part? When you book an experience with your Visa card through our dedicated travel platform, Concrete Playground Trips, you'll score 10% off. So, start exploring – these are the kind of days you'll still be talking about on the flight home.
Marrickville's Poor Toms gin distillery has been turning out one of the best locally made spirits since 2015 — it's so good, in fact, that they crowdfunded over $25,000 in one day to make the stuff. Now, after three years of operation, owners Griffin Blumer and Jesse Kennedy are finally ready to share their distillery with the inner west masses. The mates have just opened the doors of their Chalder Avenue gin hall to the public. Located just around the corner from Sauce Brewing and the soon-to-be-open Stockade, as well as a quick walk from Batch, Grifter and Wildflower, the gin hall is nicely situated within the suburb's craft booze haven. All this beer in one vicinity creates an opening for another alcoholic option, and Poor Toms is ready to oblige. "We wanted the bar to be an oasis of sorts," says Blumer. "Marrickville is very industrial and noisy with no trees, so we imagined it would be really nice to have a lush oasis to sort of step into off the dusty concrete streets. It's got this church-in-the-middle-of-the-desert kind of thing going [on]." This vibe has been realised with tons of hanging plants, each in custom-made pots, and a chapel-like archway that towers over the back bar and lights the booze on offer. The bar itself is custom-built and marble-topped, and the tables and chairs were also built from scratch. Neighbour Jack Dunbar teamed up with friend Grant Wallwork on the design and it's simple, yet inviting. "All the tables are at bar height, so everything is on this one plane," says Blumer. These give more of a communal feel to the space — there'll be no hiding in the shadows here. The drinks will of course centre on Poor Toms and each gin will have its own signature cocktail. As of next week, this list will rotate weekly in an effort to keep locals coming back for more — think negronis with house-made Amaro, strawberry creaming soda with dry gin and Lillet Blanc, or the Stoned Last Words with green chartreuse plum and Vietnamese mint. The bar will also sell gin hall exclusives for takeaway, like the Old Tom, sweetened by strawberry, cardamom, hibiscus and ginger. For food, the bar's joined forces with nearby Pizza Madre for delivery on Fridays and Saturdays and, for now, will offer sausage sizzles on Sundays.
With over 200 Aboriginal artists represented, the Kate Owen Gallery offers a diverse range of styles from Aboriginal Australian artists across the country. Spanning three floors, the gallery hosts major exhibitions of established Indigenous masters and emerging talents, offering artworks suitable for new buyers and seasoned collectors. The third-level Collectors' Gallery is a haven for quality pieces from Australia's leading Indigenous artists, including renowned figures like Clifford Possum, Emily Kngwarreye, and Tommy Watson. Visitors can explore the extensive collection through a unique racking system and receive assistance from five specialist Aboriginal art consultants. Kate Owen Gallery is committed to supporting Indigenous artists' rights and is a proud member of the Aboriginal Art Association of Australia (AAAA), ensuring fair and transparent practices in every transaction. Whether you're a newcomer or a seasoned collector, experience the rich heritage of the world's oldest living culture at Kate Owen Gallery. Images: Kate Owen Gallery of current (April 2024) exhibition of artist Tommy Watson.
Surry Hills' The Winery is introducing a pop-up winter glamping area to its idyllic al fresco dining area. Visitors to the venue can hire out their own private glamping tent fitted out with tables, rugs, blankets and cushions for an intimate dining experience for them and their friends. Available for groups of four to ten, the tents are available for $69pp which includes a four-course tasting menu for the group. The degustation starts with grilled olive bread, burrata, salt and pepper calamari, mushroom croquettes and crispy tofu. The main course consists of butternut and goat's cheese ravioli, gnocchi, truffle fries and a rocket and pear salad, before the feast is finished off with tiramisu. You can add seasonal drinks to the menu for an additional $39 a head, featuring mulled cider, a selection of local wines and an espresso martini to pair with dessert. Bookings are available each day at midday 2.30pm, 5pm, 7pm and 9pm. If you want to escape the world for a few hours, head to The Winery's website to book your spot.
Don't believe that boy bemoaning, loudly, the lack of live music venues in Sydney. There's no truth to that rumour. Dig a little deeper, kid, and you'll see there's a whole range of places out there. Choose your own adventure from Concrete Playground's list of favourite spots, featuring everything from long-term Sydney stalwarts to DIY new kids on the block. 1. The Enmore TheatreWhere: 118-132 Enmore Road, Enmore Undeniably Sydney's most beautiful theatre, the Enmore maintains an antique, old-world feel inside a contemporary venue. Built in 1908, this art deco theatre has gradually been transformed into the kind of luxury that is pure rock 'n' roll: band posters are plastered beneath luxurious chandeliers, drinks are purchased from a bar in the foyer, and the seats in the stalls are, depending on the occasion, removed to make way for standing room audiences. If the ambiance alone isn't enough to entice you, never fear: the Enmore plays host to some of the biggest acts to visit our shores. We're talking The Rolling Stones, Sonic Youth, Wu Tang Clan, The Pretenders, Grace Jones... The list goes on. And while the size and prestige of this place is strong enough to attract the big acts, the performance space remains cosy and intimate. The combination of the theatre's traditional acoustics and an immense front of house system also results in exceptional sound, making the Enmore one of Sydney's premier live venues. Click here for venue review and details. 2. The Red RattlerWhere: 6 Faversham Street, Marrickville A new arrival on the live music scene, the Red Rattler is a community-based venue and innovative arts space. It's a space determined to make a lot of noise, and is named for the old Red Rattler trains that did the same. Building on the shoulders of Sydney's infamous illegal warehouse scene (which many of these Rats were involved in), this is a completely legal venue that seems far too good to be true. It's an inspiring space that feels more like a home than a warehouse. Plush red velvet curtains, mismatched second-hand couches and an intimate, friendly atmosphere make a night spent at the Rattler completely unique. The fact that it's run by a collective of artists guarantees an exceptional spectrum of performers, with past highlights including The Church, Naked On The Vague and the High Reflections experimental music nights. Click here for review and details. 3. The Annandale HotelWhere: 17 Parramatta Road, Annandale This pub rock institution is the lifeblood of the Sydney music scene. A '30s Aussie pub, converted in the early '80s into a live music venue, the Annandale has long been the quintessential Australian rock venue. There's the distinct stench of blood, sweat and tears in the air to prove it. With a substantial stage and lighting rig, and a sound system perfectly worn in to the room, any Australian band worth their salt aspires to play here (or already has). A rite of passage for up and coming bands, a night at the Annandale is memorable for musicians and punters alike. And to help the memory factor, the paved courtyard behind the hotel hosts 'pub cha' every Saturday and Sunday, offering regular favourites as well as weekly specials. Click here for review and details. 4. GoodGodWhere: 53-55 Liverpool Street, Sydney This cosy danceteria is bursting at the seams with character: think walls covered with coloured tiles and wooden wagon wheels, mirror balls and bright disco lights, and a crowd that still manages to distract from the interior. The most important feature here is the dance floor, which I guarantee you'll find yourself carving up in no time at all. The music policy varies each night, so look to the website if it's live music that's your thing. Past favourites include Jack Ladder, La Mancha Negra, The Coolies and live karaoke (meaning you plus live band), run by Siberia Records. Click here for review and details. 5. 505Where: 280 Cleveland St, Surry Hills Spartan would be one word used to describe 505. You'd quite easily walk past its front when strolling down Cleveland Street without even glancing up, or knowing that behind a bland, unobtrusive door lies a music venue showcasing some very groovy up and coming Sydney talent. And not just that - it also hides a great place for a drink. While it's not somewhere that you'd visit if you were just after a quiet night out, if you like music with your beverage of choice then this is the place, though that does mean there's usually a cover charge in order to get in. Still, with an array of music to suit your appetite and the fact that it's an artist run space that brings local talent to the stage nearly every night of the week, 505 definitely deserves to not escape your notice. Click here for review and details. 6. The VanguardWhere: 42 King Street, Newtown While it might feel as if you've slid back into the '20s, this comfortably luxurious venue was in fact purpose built. Channeling New Orleans in the heart of Sydney, the Vanguard is a bohemian haven and a place to experience something a little bit different. The restaurant offers a mix of modern Australian and 'soul food', while the stage plays host to an eclectic range of musicians and performers. For those whose tastes lie in jazz and blues, cabaret and burlesque: you've found your man. Click here for review and details. 7. The Factory Theatre Where: 105 Victoria Road, Marrickville The intentions of this venue are clear: a bar, a wide open space (soon to be dance floor) and an empty stage. If you arrive early, it may all feel a little bare, but this only means more room for shenanigans later on. Live music is the core of the Factory's operation, with acts as diverse as Ratcat, the Herd, Holly Throsby and Jamie Lidell. There's plenty of other good options to look out for as well, as this venue also plays host to unique events like the Sydney Underground Film Festival. Click here for review and details. 8. The LansdowneWhere: the corner of City Road and Broadway, Sydney Previously better known for its $10 meals than its live music policy, the Lansdowne is an old pub that's making way for new music. The recently renovated band room is impressive, and now offers live music six nights in a typical week. What's even better is that all shows are free, with an impressive array of local bands on board. Recent shows have featured The Laurels, Dark Bells and Domeyko/Gonzalez. Plus, the cheap meals are still on offer in the cosy bistro upstairs. In other words, a win win situation. Click here for review and details. 9. Black Wire RecordsWhere: 219 Parramatta Road, Annandale If it's the underground you're seeking, this is where you'll find it. Technically a record store, Black Wire offers not only an impressive array of music to purchase but also an enviable dedication to showcasing live bands. Rough and ready is the rule, with bands setting up to play early evenings on the shop floor. All shows are cheap and all ages, providing a vital opportunity for everyone to access cult music. Recent performers have included Alps of New South Wales, Kirin J Callinan and Slug Guts. 10. Oxford Art FactoryWhere: 38-46 Oxford Street, Darlinghurst Perhaps one of the most ambitious venues to open in Sydney in recent years, the Oxford Art Factory is inspired by Andy Warhol's seminal Factory, and intends to operate as a focal point of music and the arts in Sydney. The main room caters to larger and international acts, such as The Dead Weather, Digitalism and Warpaint. The Gallery Bar showcases local acts, with a feature wall repainted frequently by guest artists. Between the two lies the Glass Cube, an exhibition space that regularly features live performance art. Click here for review and details.
J-horror devotees, rejoice: Australia's Japanese Film Festival is back for 2023, and it boasts a couple of highlights for lovers of scary cinema. If you're a fan of Japan's contribution to frightening flicks, then The Forbidden Play is your first must-see. Behind the lens is Hideo Nakata, the director of 1998's iconic Ringu, aka the movie that helped spark a global obsession (and the American spinoffs, too). This time, the filmmaker tells of a son wanting to bring his mother back to life, so much so that he keeps chanting a resurrection spell that awakens something evil. This year's JFF isn't just about unsettling titles, but it does also feature Immersion, which hails from Ju-On: The Grudge director Takashi Shimizu (who also helmed the first US remake starring Sarah Michelle Gellar). In his latest effort, he's playing with grudges again, as well as traditional Japanese superstitions, virtual reality and a secluded island — which is never a good setting for a horror film. That's the unnerving contingent for JFF 2023, which is focusing on films that explore connections between the past and the present when it tours the country across spring. Of course, it will also serve another function: letting audiences head to Japan from their cinema seats. Everyone has a favourite place in the world to visit. If you love travelling vicariously through movies when you can't do the real thing — in-between trips, or when your budget or just life in general doesn't have room for big holidays — then you likely have a favourite country-focused cinema event as well. JFF is one such event, surveying the latest and greatest in the nation's filmography. 2023 marks its 27th year, in fact, complete with a packed program. Among the delightful aspects of this film festival is its two-pronged approach in most cities, giving both recent and retrospective titles their own time to shine. One part of the event heroes latest releases, the other goes big on classics, and each has their own run of dates. You'll find that setup in Canberra, Brisbane, Melbourne and Sydney from September–November, with Perth the only location solely focusing on new movies. Officially opening the fest for 2023: We're Broke, My Lord!, a character-driven story about an unexpected inheritance from director Tetsu Maeda (And So the Baton Is Passed). From there, audiences can also look forward to the aforementioned to J-horror pictures; the animated Gold Kingdom and Water Kingdom; Citizen Kitano's tribute to actor, comedian and filmmaker Takeshi Kitano (Outrage Coda); and Yokaipedia, which is about three boys on a monster-filled quest. Fellow standouts include Yudo: The Way of the Bath, a comedy about bathhouse rituals; romance We Made a Beautiful Bouquet; Natchan's Little Secret, where three drag queens head to a funeral; and Single8, with director Kazuya Konaka's paying tribute to filmmaking before the digital era. And, in the special series — aka the fest's retrospective thread — post-war Japanese cinema figure Kо̄ Nakahira is in the spotlight. JFF will screen 1956's Juvenile Jungle and Milkman Frankie, 1957's Temptation, 1962's Danger's Where The Money Is!, and 1963's Mud Spattered Purity, as well as Flora on the Sand, Only on Mondays and The Hunter's Diary from 1964, plus 1965's The Black Gambler. JAPANESE FILM FESTIVAL 2023 DATES: Canberra: Special series: Saturday, September 30–Monday, October 2 at NFSA Latest releases: Wednesday, October 11–Sunday, October 15 at Palace Electric Perth: Latest releases: Monday, October 16–Sunday, October 22 at Palace Raine Square Brisbane: Special series: Friday, October 6–Sunday, October 8 and Wednesday, October 11 at QAGOMA Latest releases: Wednesday, October 18–Sunday, October 22 at Palace Barracks Melbourne: Latest releases: Monday, October 23–Sunday, October 29 at The Kino and Palace Balwyn Special series: Thursday, November 2–Sunday, November 5 at ACMI Sydney: Special series: Monday, October 23–Wednesday, October 25 at The Chauvel Latest releases: Thursday, October 26–Tuesday, October 31 at Palace Central, Palace Norton Street and Palace Verona The 2023 Japanese Film Festival tours Australia from September–November. For more information and to buy tickets, visit the festival website. Top images: ©2023 The Forbidden Play Film Partners, © 2023 IMMERSION Production Committee.
A crucial chapter of Australia's music history is coming to the Powerhouse Museum, with the Ultimo site hosting a three-month-long exhibition dedicated to Maton Guitars. Even if you don't immediately know the name, you've likely seen someone play one of the Aussie company's instruments — with everyone from Archie Roach, Missy Higgins, Keith Urban, Daniel Johns and The Easybeats to Elvis Presley, Keith Richards, Jimmy Page, George Harrison and Billie Joe Armstrong strumming their strings over the years. That's what Maton: Australia's Guitar will celebrate, showcasing the guitar manufacturer's hefty and important history. Since being founded back in 1946 by Melbourne-born jazz musician, woodwork teacher and luthier Bill May — who set up the company in a small workshop in his garage — it has created over 200 guitar models. And, it was also the first manufacturer to use Aussie wood species in guitars on a sizeable scale, making its instruments out of Queensland maple, bunya and Victorian blackwood. [caption id="attachment_777672" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Zan Wimberley[/caption] More than 130 guitars will be on display at Powerhouse, including custom-made models made for famous Aussie music figures such as Tommy Emmanuel and Johnny Diesel — plus ukuleles, lap steels and amplifiers, too. Maton: Australia's Guitar will run from Saturday, July 25–Sunday, October 11, and will be free to attend, with bookings required. It'll also mark Powerhouse Museum's first major new exhibition since it reopened on June 1. Top image: Zan Wimberley
In recent years, Frankston has levelled up its offering for residents and visitors alike with a bigger focus on art and events, becoming a hub of activity for street artists, beach lovers and everyday folk looking for a break from the city. Coming up in 2025 are events for all interests, giving you all the more reason to come down and check out the offerings of culture, cocktails, and coastal vibes. Read on to find out what's happening in Frankston in the coming months. South Side Festival — Thursday, May 8 to Sunday, May 18 The fun seemingly never stops in Frankston, since the community favourite South Side Festival will return in 2025, marking its fourth year of showcasing and celebrating the colourful, cultural core of the Frankston area. The ten-day celebration is set to include playful circus shows from Circus Trick Tease, neon-lit art installations in Beauty Park, a dance performance by the Sydney Dance Company at Frankston Art Centre, a chilly ocean swim, artist residences, film screenings, community workshops and more. Australian Sand Sculpting Championships — Saturday, April 5 to Sunday, April 27 If you're of the opinion that sand is course, rough, irritating and that it gets everywhere, then you need to check out this autumn event. For the month of April, artists from across Australia will make a return to the championships home on the Frankston waterfront and transform it into a landscape of sculptures, recreating iconic villains from throughout literature. Attend the opening weekend to see the designs come to life and see the winner announced, or visit before the 27th to see the designs in full. You'll also get the chance to vote on a winner for the People's Choice Awards or partake in some sand-centric activities — including sand sculpting workshops, sand easter egg hunts, a sand museum and more. Frankston Street Art Festival and Block Party — Monday, March 17 to Sunday, March 23 - CONCLUDED Another popular entry on the Frankston events calendar, these annual festivals showcase the vibrant street art of the area in over a week of celebration. Celebrating the local artistic scene, the Frankston Street Art Festival attracts local, national and international artists to do their thing on the walls and laneways throughout Frankston City. In 2025, the artist lineup includes Aussie creatives like Damien Arena, Jasmine Crisp and Trent Downie, alongside international talents Simon Beuve, Manuel Guiro and Candela Colors. Celebrations kick off with the Festival Launch Party on Tuesday, March 18, with drinks, music and meet-and-greets with the artists at the Cube gallery, plus the chance to get your say in next year's lineup with the People's Choice Award. For the rest of the festival, you can take things as you please from the program. Get hands-on with workshops and speaking sessions, or take advantage of Frankston's street art tours becoming free for the week to see the new murals and maybe meet the artists before it all culminates with Block Party. This free street celebration finale will feature music from DJs Pixleton and CuznMatt, roaming entertainment from the Snuff Puppets and street art workshops popping up in White Street Mall on Saturday, March 22. The Carlsberg Beach Club — Friday, January 31 to Sunday, March 30 - CONCLUDED If you can't justify the cost of a Euro summer adventure in 2025, get a sip of the experience at Frankston Pier instead. The Carlsberg Beach Club will bring a European beach club-inspired experience to the waterfront, inviting guests to sit and take in the coastal scenery with cocktails and summer snacks between 12pm and sunset every Friday, Saturday and Sunday from January 31 to March 30. Access is free but space is limited so you'd best pre-register. Once you've secured a spot, enjoy live music from the likes of Darley, So Frency So Chic, Oil Busta, Alice Ivy, Madame Reve and more, grab a Carlsberg beer or cocktail and wash down a steak sandwich or any of the other tasty treats on the menu. Enjoy the sunset and go for a dip while you're there, too. For more information on any of the above events and to see what else is coming to Frankston in 2025, visit the website.
You don't need to be an audiophile to appreciate the difference a half-decent speaker makes to your listening experience. Whether it's films, TV, music or gaming, a good soundbar brings new depth and clarity to whatever you're watching or listening to. Soundbars are designed to work in tandem with televisions — and in this case, size really does matter. If your TV is on the smaller side (50 inches or less), you'll want a compact soundbar to match. Larger screens, on the other hand, demand a soundbar with enough power and width to balance the scale and sync sound placement across the display. If you're chasing that true 3D sound experience, start your search with something like the JBL BAR Gen 4. The slimline model packs Dolby Atmos, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth and both HDMI input and HDMI ARC, delivering a full surround-sound experience ideal for film buffs, gamers and music lovers alike. It's sleek, reliable and built to last — a perfect pick for anyone who wants immersive audio without the bulk of a full home theatre setup. For those working with a smaller budget, the LG Sound Bar S40T makes an excellent entry point. At around $400, it offers 300W of output power — impressive volume for its size — and Dolby Audio processing for solid sound quality, though it doesn't include Dolby Atmos. It's a compact, dependable choice for apartment living or anyone upgrading from basic TV speakers. If you're looking for a middle ground, the Bose Smart Soundbar offers the best of both worlds. It combines Dolby Atmos with Bose Truespace technology, which intelligently scales up lower-quality audio for a cinematic feel. If you already own Bose earbuds or headphones, you can even pair them for a true surround experience — perfect for late-night viewing. At the high end, the Sennheiser Ambeo Soundbar Mini is a powerhouse, packing Dolby Atmos, Bluetooth, smart home compatibility and automated self-calibration that tailors its sound to your room. It's compact, elegant and precise — designed for those who want to hear every sonic detail. Then, of course, there's the full-blown home theatre route. Samsung's Q-series Soundbar HW-Q990F brings 11.1.4 channel sound with subwoofers and rear speakers for a completely immersive experience — all yours for just under $2000. Sony's home theatre packages offer similar setups, letting you mix and match components without sacrificing sound quality. And if you want to build your own setup, Sony offers modular home theatre packs that let you mix and match soundbars, subwoofers and satellite speakers without losing sound quality. The result is rich, cinematic audio that scales to your space — whether you're in a small apartment or a full home cinema. Whichever way you go, upgrading to a proper soundbar setup will instantly elevate your home listening experience — and might just make you wonder how you ever lived without it. Image: JBL
Before trio Daniel Blakemore, Connor Keighran and Jake de Varine-Bohan opened Tooth and Nail in Marrickville in early 2017, it'd been on the cards for a while. Blakemore and Keighran worked at Surry Hills hairdressing parlour Sterling for a collective ten years before they struck out on their own. Don't expect a cookie-cutter, hipster barbershop. In fact, don't even mention the word rockabilly. "There's no theme to [Tooth and Nail]," Connor says. "We hate the word rockabilly. We don't even like the word barbershop. We're trained hairdressers so we do women's hair, men's hair, kids hair, long, short — everything." Haircuts are priced based on time required so a 40-minute barber's cut is $65, while a long-style cut is $105 for 60 minutes — both include a wash and style. It also does colour work, including tints, highlights and balayage, and a full wet shave service with a cut throat razor. The latter takes 40 minutes and will involve three hot towels and is finished with moisturiser and luxurious oils. The team are passionate about other local small businesses so, depending on your appointment time, you'll be able to enjoy a batch coffee from nearby Matinee Coffee or a craft beer from the likes of The Grifter or Philter. Oh, and many, many pats of resident pup Brando.
Located just a stone's throw from the CBD, Double Bay beholds a clutch of excellent boutiques, tasty eateries, chic shops and so much more. Whether you're living locally and on the hunt for some fresh favourites, or visiting for a day of shopping, pampering and good eating, you're sure to find everything you're looking for here. With some help from American Express, we've created this guide covering the go-to spots in Double Bay — for every occasion.
Brothers Ben and Chris Gleeson launched Glee Coffee Roasters on the Central Coast in 2009, and now, 10 years later, it has grown into a four-cafe business and the flagship brand for specialty coffee in the region. Located in the historic Chapman Building, the Glee Coffee Wyong outpost serves its own house blend known as "The Goods", along with single origins from Guatemala — with a taste profile of raspberry, pepper, fudge — and a Nicaragua filter roast described as having blackcurrant yoghurt, cherry, fudge and dark chocolate notes. With a breakfast menu including french toast, avocado delight and waffles, and a lunch menu of pulled pork burgers and nachos, there's something for everyone to get stuck into at Glee.
Getting out of bed on a chilly morning is no mean feat (and getting to work is a whole other challenge), so Mary's VX wants to give you a helping hand. For one week only — from Monday, June 16–Sunday, June 22 — they're hosting an all-day breakfast pop-up. You'll be feasting on a bunch of OTT, winter-friendly eats, made in collaboration with Coffee Supreme and Grumpy's Donuts. Start with a loaded brekkie sanga or burger. Or, if you need a sweet hit to get you going, go for a hotcake stack packed with bacon, fried chicken and honeycomb butter. Then, grab a coffee and doughnut (both for just $5) to take with you. If you're one of the first 50 visitors each day, yours will be free. The coffee is Supreme's signature blend, and they're also doing a Coffee Supreme Crunch with coffee icing and mocha crumbs. On Saturday and Sunday, when commuters can take their time, there'll be weekend-only specials. These include cinnamon doughnut french toast with soft serve ice cream, alongside cereal-inspired milkshakes (think Coco Pops, Fruit Loops and Milo) or bottomless mimosas and bloody marys. Images: Tom Wilkinson
Discover a dazzling rotating showcase of works from Australia's top video and sound artists at this free exhibition by Enigma in its immersive black box space on The Thirsty Mile — Sydney Festival's pop-up precinct. Expect an unforgettable melding of music, noise, colour and creativity via installations conceived by John Gillies, Philip Samartzis, Martin Walch, Sean Williams, and Max Lyandvert. In January 2025, Oren Ambarchi's Black will open, followed by Angelica Mesiti's Prepared Piano for Movers (Haussman). Mesiti's installation features two removalists lifting a grand piano up six flights of stairs, drawing inspiration from a 19th-century painting of three young men scraping floors. The exhibition offers a compelling blend of media, including sound, video, and visual art, transformed within an innovative space.
A top-notch bottle-o doesn't just offer a great range, spanning obvious drops and the types of tipples that you mightn't stumble upon otherwise. It's also populated with knowledgable staff that'll help you sort the former from the latter. Potts Point Liquor & Deli ticks both of the above boxes. Indeed, they're high among the reasons that it has become such a beloved local spot. Also crucial here, of course, is the deli range — because no one should drink wine on an empty stomach. You'll find cheeses, olives, dips and breads, all picked to pair perfectly with the store's boozy selection. Images: Kitti Smallbone
Vivid is both an exciting and overwhelming time. The city is alive with lights, music, ideas and food — but the crowds are out in force. If you're heading in for any of the aforementioned activities, why not make a night out of it and grab dinner or a drink before or after. To help you plan your epic Vivid night, we've put together a list of 11 of our favourite Sydney bars and restaurants that are located just a stone's throw from Vivid activations. Naturally, every possible venue and vendor around inner-city Sydney — big or small — is embracing the crowds and introducing compelling special dining and drinking options, from CBD institutions like The Galeries and QVB to the smallest of bars and restaurants to The Rocks and Circular Quay. Spread across Circular Quay, Wynyard, The Rocks, Barangaroo, Darling Harbour and Chippendale, these spots have a range of options across varied price points. Pop into an underground drinking den for one of Sydney's best negronis, book a lavish French feast a short walk from the Sydney Opera House or head to a vibrant Indian restaurant that won't put too much pressure on your budget.
Put Shannon Martinez in charge of a menu and plant-based delights will await. Neon Dreams, a just-announced addition to Vivid Sydney 2025, is the latest example of that statement proving true. Popping up at Darling Harbour — transforming the Pier Street underpass, in fact — this event is an ode to American diners of the 1950s. Expect Happy Days flashbacks, and also Martinez's takes on burgers, mac 'n' cheese, milkshakes and jelly doughnuts. Expect a roller rink for a pre- or post-meal skate, too. "We all know and love the classic American diner menu, and what we have planned for Neon Dreams will be even more delicious. You won't even notice it's completely plant-based," advises the acclaimed chef. "All this with a retro aviation fitout and some roller-skating — let's just say Vivid Sydney hasn't seen anything like this before." [caption id="attachment_999006" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Kristoffer Paulsen[/caption] As Martinez notes, the decor will fit the seven-decades-back theme, but also have another skew. If you've ever wanted to see a mail plane turned into a DJ booth — where the tunes spun will set the mood for hitting the rink — that's also on offer. For those having a skate, the venue will be fully accessible, including for wheelchairs and mobility aids. Back to the menu, you'll also be able to sip low-waste cocktails made with foraged and native ingredients — think: lemon myrtle margaritas and Illawarra plum sours — when Neon Dreams runs across Vivid's dates of Friday, May 23–Saturday, June 14. The overall festival isn't done expanding its food lineup yet, just days after it also added Martha Stewart chatting about her career and her lifestyle empire to the program — and with Nigella Lawson's touch on its culinary side part of 2025's event since the program first dropped. So, alongside Neon Dreams, the festival will also boast Hollywood Dreaming, a 23-night roster of events in the Hollywood Quarter in Surry Hills. There'll be bites to eat, and also films, music and performances — and, thanks to shindigs called Hollywood Dreaming: A Taste of HQ and Hollywood Dreaming: Foy Lane Lights Up, there'll be two huge free street parties. Accordingly, you can head by during Vivid's full run to hit up The Food Trail, where exclusive menus will be on offer at the precinct's restaurants and bars; The Neon Trail, which is where iconic movies come in; and The Gig Trail, aka live tunes and shows at Hollywood Hotel, Paramount House Hotel Rooftop and Butter. Or, make a date with A Taste of HQ on Saturday, May 31 and Foy Lane Lights Up on Saturday, June 14. The first will shut Foster Street to traffic and focus on al fresco dining, aided by Firedoor, Nomad, Gildas, Nel, Kiln, Poly, Brooklyn Boy Bagels, Alberto's Lounge, Tio's Cerveceria and Butter. The second, produced by Ace Hotel, will feature a curated digital art show, plus live tunes and pop-up snack options. "In 2025, Vivid Food offers a range of experiences for all tastes and price points. Neon Dreams and the Hollywood Dreaming program are perfect examples of Vivid Sydney constantly innovating and providing visitors with new and financially accessible experiences," explains Vivid Sydney Festival Director Gill Minervini. "Darling Harbour will be the place for family friendly fun, with Neon Dreams surrounded by captivating light installations and free live music. Shannon Martinez is an absolute rock star in the culinary world, and we're excited for visitors to experience it for themselves. "After dark, Surry Hills will come alive throughout the entire festival for Hollywood Dreaming, where you can dine, drink and dance your way through the Hollywood Quarter." Vivid Sydney 2025 runs from Friday, May 23–Saturday, June 14 across Sydney. Head to the festival website for further information.
The Royal Botanic Garden Sydney sure is something special. Boasting phenomenal views of Sydney Harbour, this stretch of parkland can be just about anything you want it to be. It can be a picnic spot for you and your pals, a quiet respite from the city hustle and bustle or a place to don your horticulture hat. For something more active, attend one of the free daily guided tours highlighting some of the gardens' best and most unique features. The gardens' bicentenary in 2016 welcomed the newly-built Calyx, an impressive UFO-shaped public space that hosts a busy roster of innovative exhibitions and workshops. As well as many plant-themed events such as the current colourful floral display Pollination, the Calyx also runs yoga in the garden on weekday mornings and lunches. Throughout the warmer months, visitors can partake in high tea from Friday to Sunday among the beautiful botanics. The RBGS has also recently reopened the Victoria Lodge, a historic building which sits in the Lower Garden Precinct. The building has been restored with a view to incorporate it into the gardens mix of venues for use starting with a summer pop-up bar. Visitors also have the opportunity to take a piece of the park home with them — the Growing Friends Nursery has a range of native and exotic plants available for purchase. If you're after something more on the edible side, pick up a jar of raw honey collected from the garden hives. Images: Destination NSW
Sydney's wildly popular The Grounds of Alexandria and The Grounds of the City are about to gain a sibling. Next year, The Grounds Roastery will open in South Eveleigh (FKA Australian Technology Park) — and it'll be the group's biggest venue yet. Coming in at a whopping 814-square-metres, the 200-seat dining precinct, espresso bar and coffee research lab will be located inside The Locomotive Workshop, a heritage-listed railway factory that was built back in the 1800s. Behind the fit-out — which owner Ramzey Choker says will be be "amazingly beautiful" — is design studio Acme & Co, which has looked after group's projects for years, as well as Archie Rose Distillery, Paddington restaurant Fred's and underground bar Charlie Parker's. The warehouse feel of the old locomotive workshop will be maintained and complemented by heaps of greenery (of course), along with internal courtyards that are reminiscent of villas in Europe and North Africa. Expect it to be as eye-catching and detailed — and Instagrammable — as its sister outposts in Alexandria and CBD. As the name suggests, a high tech roastery will be the venue's focus. The Grounds current roastery has lived within The Grounds of Alexandria since opening back in 2012, but will now receive more attention — and more space — in South Eveleigh. The Grounds' mega-venue will be part of Mirvac's huge new South Eveleigh precinct, which the property developer is comparing to its other relatively new precinct, Tramsheds Harold Park. If the new food, retail and recreational precinct is going to be anything like its Forest Lodge counterpart, expect a heap more big names to be announced in the upcoming months. The Grounds Roastery is slated to open in South Eveleigh in 2020. Top image: The Grounds of Alexandria by Destination NSW.
We've become experts at staying home without forgoing local eats over the last year. But if you're looking to expand your culinary technique while supporting local businesses, plan a dinner party for a few pals with the help of Green Valley Spices. This family-run joint is your go-to for teas, herbs, spices and complex blends that'll elevate your cooking to new flavour heights. And the best part is the family generously provides online recipes for marinades and meals that'll help guide your herb and spice selection. Mix up your classic chicken satay with a fresh coriander twist, or apply the lemon and ginger marinade to almost any dish.
Redfern is exactly where you'd expect to find hipster barbershop The Happy Sailors. Set along Bourke Street, the neighbourhood haunt boasts talented and friendly stylists. Despite its charming fit-out — which features those old school barber chairs, vintage copies of Playboy and walls adorned with antique posters and other bric-a-brac — the shop does not overcharge for its services. You can get a haircut here for a rather reasonable $45, or a buzzcut for $25. The owner has over 18 years' of experience working in Sydney and London, so can expect to come out looking like your best self.
Rather than opening with a bang, the latest outlet of culture-mashing bakehouse Tokyo Lamington opened with a whisper — the fanfare for their latest venture was kept to a minimum for a full fortnight during its soft launch in mid-June. And yet, far from being a big surprise, it now seems all too obvious that Black Star Pastry alum Eddie Stewart and N2 Gelato founder Min Chai would eventually set up shop in Marrickville. Firstly, there's the area's rich multicultural spirit, which so effortlessly chimes with Tokyo Lamington's trademark melding of international flavours. A new riff on their signature dessert, a Vietnamese coffee lamington, is a tribute to Marrickville's migrant communities, featuring a gluten-free sponge soaked in Vietnamese coffee and filled with a coffee cream made from distinctively rich Vietnamese coffee beans and condensed milk, finished with a coating of white chocolate. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Tokyo Lamington (@tokyolamington) Next, there's the ascendant reputation of the suburb as one of Sydney's most dynamic culinary destinations — home to street food heroes like Marrickville Pork Roll, boutique distilleries like Poor Toms, and top artisanal producers like Paesanella Cheese, who supply ricotta to Tokyo Lamington for another new addition to the menu, a cheesecake lamington. If you're already a fan of TL, you'll be pleased to hear that all the cubic highlights from the OG Newtown venue are present and accounted for, including the classic raspberry jam and vanilla cream, the yuzu curd and blow-torched meringue, and the colourful fairy bread and popcorn. What is different, however, is revealed in the Marrickville venue's double-barrelled name. Tokyo Lamington & the Bakery will expand the offering beyond delicious sponge cubes to include a wide spectrum of baked delights, including pastries, cakes, breads, savoury pies, quiches and even sausage rolls. The aesthetic of the store is also a point of difference. Whereas the Newtown and Carlton locations showcase Japanese minimalism, Marrickville's vibe is more homegrown with a mid-century Aussie look. The Tokyo Lamington team say the fitout "blends nostalgic design elements with contemporary flair, reflecting the fusion ethos that we're known for". View this post on Instagram A post shared by Tokyo Lamington (@tokyolamington) View this post on Instagram A post shared by Tokyo Lamington (@tokyolamington) Find Tokyo Lamington & the Bakery at 140 Marrickville Road, Marrickville, open daily, 7am–3pm. Head to the venue's website for more details.
Whether it be reluctant landlords, a busy schedule or allergic flatmates, the predicament of every city-dwelling cat-lover is not being able to have one. But Yarraville couple Anita and Myles Loughran are offering hope to these frustrated feline fanatics. They have quit their uninspiring jobs in pursuit of the dream: opening Melbourne's first cat cafe. The first cat cafes opened their doors in Japan and Taiwan in the early 2000s. Since then it has been a steadily growing phenomenon, with similar establishments popping up in Europe and Asia. The Loughrans plan on housing a number of ex-stray cats, and have launched an Indiegogo campaign to raise the necessary funds to provide the best possible environment for these loveable rescues. As well as offering Melburnians a much-needed kitty fix, the venture is aimed at raising awareness and will accept donations to various shelters and welfare programs. Unlike the traditional cat cafe, to comply with Australia's food safety regulations, there will be a glass screen separating the main cat area and the cafe area, providing a fur-free space to enjoy coffee and cake. Not to worry, customers will still be able to interact with the cats; in fact, this model of 'feline therapy' has been scientifically proven to help lower high blood pressure, stress levels and anxiety. If you're keen to see Australia's first cat cafe come to fruition in Melbourne, you can donate online at Indiegogo. How could you say no to those cute little faces? https://youtube.com/watch?v=kHjpSiJ8gfY
The Crows Nest sister of the CBD's longrunning Small Bar is as warm and cosy as you would expect. And this is despite it actually being quite a decent size contrary to what its name may suggest — although that may be more a sign of how Sydney's small bar scene has evolved in the past five years. In a sea of family-friendly restaurants and pubs, Small Bar is a great option for an after-work tipple, first date or catch-up with mates a little closer to home for north shore residents. Venture beyond the exposed brick bar and mood lighting indoors to find a greenery-filled, covered courtyard. The bar offers a decent wine selection, around five labels in each grape variety, at pretty reasonable prices — most hover around the $8 mark for a glass and nothing creeps over $16. For food, you can enjoy loaded fries and selection of small plates — think grilled halloumi, vegan cauliflower wings, sliders or tacos. Images: Trent Van der jagt.
