Taking their celebrated bakery beachside, Love Tilly Group has set its sights on beloved Coogee Beach. Fabbrica Bread Shop is now bringing its popular pastries to eastern shores a year after opening its first location in the docklands of Rozelle. Led by Head Baker Aniruddha Bhosekar and Sous Baker Alyce Bennett, the OG Fabbrica quickly earned a reputation for the calibre of its sourdough, which is used throughout Love Tilly Group's various venues. Today, the bakery boasts a cult following among Sydneysiders, hungry for treats like shakshuka Danishes, anchovy toast and an array of unique pastries. Bhosekar and Bennett will also be overseeing Fabbrica's second site, incorporating the classic baked goods that put the first Fabbrica on the map plus a selection of new creations including a couple of Roman classics. Exclusive to the Coogee outpost will be soft, golden maritozzi – the traditional filled brioche bun originating from Rome – bursting with sweet and savoury fillings like strawberries and Chantilly cream, vegan cherry, and curried egg and achari mayo. Visitors can also indulge in one-metre-long Roman pizzas del Giorno, along with a DIY focaccia bar for those who want to try their hand at making their own Italian bread. Coogee's Fabbrica will also be offering a rotating selection of crowd-pleasing toasties, ideal for a post-beach snack. "It's everything you'd want in a great local bakery, whether you're picking up some still-warm pastries and a coffee to enjoy by the beach after a morning swim, building a DIY sandwich from our sando bar for lunch, or simply swinging by to collect a loaf of sourdough," says Love Tilly Group co-owner Matthew Swieboda. "We're excited to have some new creations for Coogee and look forward to sharing them with you."
Five years in the making, W Hotel's luxury Darling Harbour development will finally bring the global hotel chain back to Sydney in October this year. Originally scheduled to open in 2020, the unmistakable harbourfront hotel has faced several delays and setbacks, but will finally swing its doors open in three months' time — and it has just revealed the next-level dining options that are in store for Sydneysiders and guests alike. The flagship restaurant and bar for the hotel will be called BTWN, playing on the building being wedged between its neighbouring expressways. This ambitious all-day eatery's kitchen is led by Head Chef Chris Dodd (ex-Aria, The Blue Door and Bistrot Plume), whose menu places emphasis on sustainability and local New South Wales produce. Hotel breakfasts and hearty dinners will be available here, with expected highlights from the mains menu including poached Murray cod, slow-cooked yoghurt-rubbed lamb shoulder and mushroom ragout. The level-three restaurant can be seen from the adjacent highway, acting as a living, breathing billboard for the hotel. Inside, designer Bowler James Brindley uses urban hallmarks and a slick chrome fitout inspired by airstream food trucks to celebrate the hotel's place in the heart of the city. Come sundown, a one-of-a-kind dessert bar labelled 2AM will open inside BTWN. Acclaimed Singaporean dessert chef Janice Wong is in charge of this venue within a venue — her first permanent outpost in Australia. Wong has twice been named Asia's best pastry chef on The World's Best Restaurants list, and runs restaurants and dessert bars across Singapore, London, Korea and Tokyo. The accomplished lover of all things decadent has crafted a menu that will appeal to both sweet tooths and more conservative dessert-enjoyers — and one that is designed to pair with BTWN's wine list and custom cocktails. 2AM's cacao forest is created using chocolate mousse, passionfruit chocolate, and consommé made from mango, lime and lychee. Or, there's the cassis plum, which places a bombe with yuzu pearls on top of elderflower yoghurt foam and choya granita. Rounding out the offerings at the sleek inner-city venue is the cocktail bar, which will keep things rolling from midday till late with a meticulously designed drinks list and sweeping views of Darling Harbour. Located within The Ribbon, the multimillion-dollar development has been designed by HASSEL architects and sits on the former IMAX theatre site (don't worry, the new IMAX is scheduled to also reopen this year). Outside of the dining options, W Sydney's drawcards include 585 stunning rooms and suites, plus exuberant shared spaces throughout the hotel including a heated rooftop infinity pool overlooking the water, a luxury spa and a gym. If you want to be one of the first to stay in the massive Darling Harbour accommodation, bookings are now open for stays starting from Wednesday, November 1. [caption id="attachment_909978" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Janice Wong[/caption] W Sydney will open its doors in October 2023 at 31 Wheat Road, Darling Harbour — head to thee Darling Harbour website for further details.
Melbourne institution Padre Coffee's first inter-state outpost has landed in Paddington, complete with a storefront where you can peruse the brand's beans alongside all of the equipment you could ever want for home brewing. And, if you're looking to take your coffee knowledge to the next level, the charming no-frills cafe also boasts a dedicated education and training space. Following its massive success at its flagship stores across Melbourne and Noosa, as well as online, the brand decided it was finally time to branch out into new territories — and venturing into the ever-growing Sydney caffeine market was up next. Setting up shop at Paddington's Five Ways, Padre Coffee has brought its beloved blends to Glenmore Road. For less adventurous coffee drinkers, opt for the brand's staples like the Seasonal Blend and the Golden Rule — a sweet, fruity blend featuring notes of plum, peach and apricot. If you want to expand your pallet, try the Wild Child and its flavour profile of dried fruit, honey and dark chocolate. Although they specialise in organic beans and brews, the brand is not limited to coffee — you'll also find a range of exciting teas, chocolate and sugar for sale at the Sydney outpost as well. Feeling snacky? You can also nab a sweet treat from local vendors to pair with your freshly made cup of joe. Expect pastries and bread from Staple Bread & Necessities, cookies from Cut Lunch Deli or famed Portuguese tarts from Clovelly's Tuga Pastries.
There is no shortage of hairdressing salons and barbershops in Sydney, but Rumbie & Co sets itself apart. Here, the team, led by Rumbie Mutsiwa, specialise in cutting, treating and styling wavy, curly and afro hair. After finishing her apprenticeship, Mutsiwa opened the salon in 2014 with a mission to help clients "embrace every curl". Unlike traditional salons, Rumbie & Co stylists cuts hair dry to "enhance the natural curl pattern". After the curls are looking well-defined and the client is happy with the shape, they are then treated to the usual shampoo, blow-dry and style. Rumbie & Co also offers specialty afro styling, including cornrows, dreadlocks, and weaves. Of course, the usual hairdressing services like colouring and treatments are available, too. To help with the upkeep, the salon also has its own range of products, including curl gels and silk pillowcases. Plus, it runs workshops on styling and caring for curly and afro hair on occasion.
Head to mainstay Waterloo pub The George and you'll find that things are a little different. Well, you might not notice at first. There are still locals sitting around the bar in high-vis vests knocking back pints of Resch's and VB. The courtyard is still filled with cacti. And there's still a well worn pool table. But, sitting next to VB longnecks ($15) in the fridge, you'll see bottles of skin-contact wines and pét-nats, and beers from local breweries Young Henrys and Grifter are also available on tap. The cacti in the courtyard have been joined by a glowing al pastor fountain, and a pond filled with eels, and the adjoining kitchen is turning out tacos and tostadas instead of American-style barbecue. And where the pool table once sat — it's been moved to the front bar — is a fully stocked wine shop courtesy of natural wine retailer Drnks. The new-look George successfully combines the old and the new — joining the rapid gentrification of the surrounding suburbs — and it's all thanks to its new owners, who aren't new to epic revamps. Co-owners James Wirth and Michael Delany previously bought and made over The Norfolk, The Flinders, The Carrington and The Oxford Tavern, before selling them all in 2016. Most recently, they overhauled the The Duke on Enmore Road. To keep some of the pub's history in-tact, the team focused on reupholstering and repurposing the pub's original features — including vintage wood panelling found in the basement, which now adorns the walls. For this venue, Wirth and Delany got chef Toby Wilson (Bad Hombres, Ghostboy Cantina) and Drnks founder Joel Amos on board as co-owners, too. Amos heads up the aforementioned bottle shop — which is stocked with everything from a salty white peach beer from NZ's Garage Project to coveted magnums of wine by Gabrio Bini — and the pub's fun and funky drinks list. For food, Wilson has created a new concept, Taco King. At the centre of the food offering is the al pastor — an actual al pastor, not a fountain — a Mexican specialty that's based on the Lebanese immigrant version of shawarma spit-grilled meat. The pork coming off the al pastor is served atop tortillas — painstakingly hand-pressed one by one — with onion and salsa. Other specialties include spicy kingfish ceviche tostada ($7.5), quesadillas with chorizo ($9) and thick churros ($8) served with dulce de leche. We're hoping to see eel tacos pop up on the menu sometime soon, too. To go with the food, is a cocktail list with a distinctly South American edge. There's the Mexican French Martini ($18) made with tequila, the Brazilian-style caipirinha ($16) and the michelada ($14), made with Mexican beer, clamato (clam and tomato) juice and lime. While not strictly South American, you'll find Reverse Cowboys ($7 each) on the menu, too — shots of Baileys and Agavero tequila served in mini glass cowboy boots. We think it might just become your new favourite watering hole. Images: Kimberley Low.
Marrickville's gin distillery Poor Toms has been turning out some of the best locally-made drops since 2015 — it's so good, in fact, that they crowdfunded over $25,000 of the stuff in one day. Now, owners Griffin Blumer and Jesse Kennedy are finally ready to share their gin hall with the inner west masses. The mates have just opened the doors to their Chalder Avenue digs and there's some serious excitement in the air. 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 warrants another alcoholic option, and Poor Toms is ready to oblige. To celebrate the opening, the team is throwing an extra special launch party that will (hopefully) one-up their garbage bin gin raves of old. Head on in on Saturday, April 28 from noon, and they'll be slinging six buck gin and tonics and $12 martinis, along with a sausage sizzle and tunes by local DJs.
In the former premises of The Sunshine Inn on Redfern Road, an awesome foursome of Bentley and Love Tilly alumni has managed to find some uncharted territory in Sydney's already-saturated Italian cuisine offering. A buzzy, Euro-leaning, "Italian-ish" pseudo-osteria, ATTENZIONE! Food and Wine is the passion project of Felix Colman, the part-owner and operator of Ragazzi and Fabbrica; former Yellow manager Toby Davis; Toby Stansfield of Lola's in Bondi; and Dexter Kim, an ex-Buffet Digital videographer. Before you jump to conclusions, the choice of name has nothing to do with online memes or pickpockets. It's actually a reference to an in-joke between the four partners regarding an Italian friend's mother, who, while visiting her daughter in Sydney, would cry out "Attenzione!" whenever a handsome—and potentially eligible—fella strolled past. Since then, shouting "Attenzione!" has become a go-to callback between the friends, so it quickly emerged as the obvious name for their first venture together. Italian pastas star on the menu, but the food offering is more of a broad-brush homage to the dining cultures of Continental Europe — with a few Asian riffs thrown in for good measure. "We've had some pretty memorable food and drink experiences in Europe," Colman says of the restaurant's melting pot of influences. "Tiny enotecas in Alba that spill out onto cobblestoned streets, noisy backstreet bistros in Paris and too many sunny aperitivos along the Med coast to count. ATTENZIONE! was created to be the buzz and vibe of all those experiences combined." While the menu will be dynamic and shuffle regularly, there will be a few tried-and-true staples fated to be house favourites, such as the pico XL: "an almost obscenely oversized version of pico pasta", according to Stansfield. These fat, juicy strands will be the vehicle for a range of classic sauces, including cacio e pepe and nduja crema with Kinkawooka mussels. Summoning the flavours of a French brasserie, dry-aged dairy cow steaks, courtesy of Emilio's Butcher in Rozelle, will be served with a house-made chopped green onion condiment, while charcoal-roasted free-range chicken with chicory and horseradish channels a more Teutonic energy. And because dessert should never be taken too seriously (sorry grand patissiers), there will be playful, dig-your-spoon-in, crowd-pleasing sweets to finish such as an apple baked in pastry and served with a rich tonka custard, and a pineapple, espresso cookie and whipped ganache sundae. Snacks will also be a specialty at ATTENZIONE!, with a similarly pan-European mingle of influences, such as locally smoked trout pate served with a chicken-skin crisp and a full loaf of fougasse flatbread spread with wildflower butter. Not to be outdone, the wine offering is as loud and wide-ranging as the food. Colman and Davis have compiled a 150-bottle cellar with plenty of homegrown drops but also an emphasis on the team's favourite Italian varietals, Nebbiolo, as well as pours from Barolo, Barbaresco and Piemonte. Expect a substantial by the glass selection, digestifs including grappas, armagnacs and amaros, a streamlined list of classic cocktails and even some funkier natural drops for those who enjoy low-intervention bottles. "Many of the producers we've chosen for our list have really inspired us over our years of enjoying and working in wine," Colman explains. "We're really proud to hero these great people and their incredible wines, they care for the land and the providence of their craft, looking to leave the earth better than when they found it which is very important to us." The fitout, by new Sydney-based interiors studio Coffeyhallet, boasts a vibrant mustard and aniseed palette as well as tactile leather banquettes, dark-stained Bentwood chairs and large mirrors to create a sense of space. The restaurant's decor is intended to be an extension of the lively, relaxed, welcoming vibes that the four owners hope ATTENZIONE! will be known for.
Less than ten minutes walking from Kings Cross station gets you to hideaway Italian restaurant Bar Grazie, which opened its doors in September 2022. Bar Grazie has some weight to its name, thanks to the power trio that brought the space to life, starting with Barry McDonald (the man behind the OG Fratelli Fresh). Let's start with the interiors, designed by George Gorrow (co-founder of Ksubi and The Slow). Looking around, you'll notice wood panelling and white walls. It's gentle and welcoming and has just the right amount of lighting. Pick a refreshment from a selection of Italian beers, an impressive roster of Italian and French wines, spritzes and classic cocktails. Opening up the food menu, you're met with a fine selection of Italian choices from head chef Jarrard Martin, whose resume includes Rockpool, Ucello and Mary's Underground. Start light with Sydney rock oysters with yuzu mignonette, or take a denser route with the famed vitello tonnato. Mains follow — there's gnocchi with pine nuts, aged balsamic and brown butter; market fish al caltoccio (cooked in foil) with salsa verde; macaroni with ragu bolognese, and so much more. If you can't decide, don't stress, the team offers three-course set menus from Monday to Wednesday. Or visit on weekends to grab pasta and wine for $30.
XS Espresso, whose first cafe is in Wetherill Park, first got famous via social media, where photos of its crazy shakes dominated many an account. In late 2016, owner Roky Gorgees decided to expand to North Parramatta, where he opened a second incarnation among a bunch of mega stores, just off Windsor Road. Splashed with greenery and warmed by pendant lights, this hideaway is a cosy relief from traffic and shopping. The shakes are as OTT as ever. Take The Volcano, for example — a towering sculpture of Nutella, coconut, Oreo, ice cream and warm chocolate soufflé. Dishes follow suit. Think buttermilk fried chicken stacked with cinnamon waffle, slaw, melted cheese and special sauce, or seared Atlantic salmon on a base of sweet potato mash and stir-fried chickpea, layered with kale, tomato, chilli and crispy sweet potato. Yep, whatever you order, you'll be getting big, rich flavours and enough food to power you through to the next day.
Local distilleries have become a regular facet of the Sydney hospo scene, and the latest of these is just about to launch in Potts Point. Headed by distiller Odelia Potts, Kings Cross Distillery is set to swing open its doors tomorrow, Thursday, October 1, on Macleay Street near the corner of Darlinghurst Road. The new cocktail den and distillery features house-made gins, cocktails and Spanish snacks — plus personality aplenty. As with many old buildings in the area, the venue's past lives are varied and salacious. These include an illegal gambling den and an adult bookstore with a hidden vault. That vault is no longer home to questionable activities, but the distillery's precious bottles of gin. The fit-out pays homage to the building's history and emulates speakeasies from the 1920s — think dark green leather booths, exposed brick walls and gold details aplenty across the split-level bar. The distillery's 200-litre pot also sits front-and-centre. Expect seats for 120 all up and a kitchen serving mezze-style bites like garlic prawns, meatballs in tomato sauce, grilled chorizo and anchovies. You can also order caviar by the ten-gram servei can'. Apart from the gin, the distillery will also make its own vodka and whisky, and pours other spirit and wine brands from around Australia and the globe. Guests can even keep specially selected drops in personalised spirit lockers, where bottles can be stored between visits and then used in any concoction on the menu. Eager punters can pre-purchase those spirit lockers (for a cool $400–1350) and have one all ready to go for opening night. On the bar's cocktail menu, you'll find a bubble-topped Impeachment, a Sin and Tonique and gin old fashioned dubbed Pepperation Makes Perfect. All made with one of the distillery's house-distilled gins, of course. And you can leave with a bottle of that gin, too, with the classic dry gin and Garden Island navy strength gin available online and in-store. Find Kings Cross Distillery at Shop 8, 127 Macleay Street, Potts Point from Thursday, October 1. It's open from 11am–11pm daily.
A hub for some of the best sandwiches and baked goods in Sydney, Saga Enmore has been delighting tastebuds in the Inner West for over six years now. But, all good things must come to an end, with owner Andy Bowdy announcing that the cafe would be calling it quits — and that he'd be looking towards bigger things — via a post on Instagram. "Growing up playing backyard cricket we always played by the rule six and out… Sometimes these rules apply to life and Saga has just smashed the ball three houses down. After six and a bit years Mads and myself feel like it's time to call it a day for Saga, " the post reads. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Andrew Bowden (@andybowdy) "It's been a ride filled with ups and downs, wonderful staff, a pandemic, many a sweet treat, an opening and closing of a second location, and of course the chance to meet and cook for all of the people who walked through our doors and supported our little cafe in Enmore. It's a dream I don't think either of us ever thought we would realise and it was an absolute privilege to have you all along for the ride." Bowdy opened Saga after serving as the pastry chef down the road at Hartsyard. His venture quickly built a cult following for its no-fuss cafe with next-level pastries and loaded sambos. Bowdy fans mustn't fear, however, with the post also alluding to plenty of exciting culinary developments to come in the future. [caption id="attachment_861109" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Jarrad Shaw[/caption] "Obviously I can't do much besides cook so don't panic, I'll still be making celebration cakes and other deliciousness. We are busy working on a new project which we will be able to share with you very soon!!" Saga will close on Sunday, June 25. So, if you want to squeeze in one more taste of the team's delectable goods (for now at least), then you've still got two weeks. [caption id="attachment_615657" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Kimberly Low[/caption] Saga Enmore is located at 178 Enmore Road, Enmore. Its last day of operation will be Sunday, June 25. Until then it'll be open 9am–3pm Wednesday–Sunday. Top image: Kimberley Low.
The combination brewery and bar is a staple in Sydney's Inner West with the area sporting dozens of quality venues brewing their own craft beers on-site. While you can find a wide array of these beer-loving haunts scattered around Newtown and Marrickville streets — from quaint independent operations to expansive King Street spots — they're much less common in Sydney's east. Curly Lewis is looking to change this and pioneer a new wave of brewpubs in the eastern suburbs, opening a 120-seat Campbell Parade venue that will be bringing freshly brewed craft beers and top-notch eats to Bondi. "We felt there was a gap in the market for beer-lovers in the eastern suburbs. You have to go to the inner west or northern beaches for a brewery experience," Curly Lewis co-founder Oli dos Remedios said. Easing into things, the bar will begin by producing two highly drinkable signature beers — the Curly Lewis Clean Cut Larger and the Bondi Hazy Ale. Two taps at the bar will be dedicated to these in-house beverages, while the rest will showcase a rotating selection of wildcard beers sourced from breweries near and far. Head Brewer Scotty Morgan says: "The brief for the beer was simple. We are brewing a stone's throw from the beach – our core beers needed a clean and easy drinking approachability, made for those baking hot beach days. We are confident that our range of beer will appeal to the average Aussie classic beer drinker through to an avid craft beer lover." As with all good bars, there's also a bank of spirits behind the bar ready to whip you classic cocktails and a wine list featuring local Australian drops with some funky skin-contact varieties on offer. In the kitchen, the co-owners of nearby Frank's Deli, Sammy Jukubiak and Ben Kelly have pulled together a menu that draws from modern Australian favourites and European classics. There are meatballs, croquettes and deli plates to start, Reuben sandwiches for your main, and basque cheesecake to finish it all off. Once you get a taste for the Curly Lewis brews, you can also find them at local venues and bottleshops including Bondi Beach Cellars, Beach Road Hotel, Neighbourhood, Salty's and Bondi Liquor Co. Curly Lewis is located at 102-106 Campbell Parade, Bondi Beach. It's open 11am–11pm Tuesday–Saturday and 11am–10pm Sunday.
He gave The Social Network five stars, Hostel none, famously refused to grade Romper Stomper, and declined to cover Wolf Creek 2 at all. But how would David Stratton rate a documentary about his own life and love of film? It's a question we'll never know the answer to, although the fact that we're all wondering speaks volumes about the veteran film critic's impact. It also explains why there's now a doco about him and the Australian cinema landscape he has helped shape for more than half a century. Let's face it — for most Aussie film and television viewers, movies and David Stratton go hand in hand. For 28 years on SBS's The Movie Show and then ABC's At the Movies, he dissected the week's big screen releases on the small screen, with much of the country tuning in to catch his insights and hear his banter with co-host Margaret Pomeranz. He'd profess his hatred for shaky cam, she'd sigh "oh David," and their back-and-forth would make a conversation about an average film much, much more interesting. They even have their own board game. And while that might've all come to an end, the movie buff's movie buff isn't done sharing his love of cinema. Indeed, from the end of May, he'll talk audiences through the best flicks Australia has to offer in a three-part TV series. Consider David Stratton: A Cinematic Life the feature-length appetiser. Directed by experienced television helmer Sally Aitken, the documentary endeavours to do two things: step through Stratton's life and career, and explore a selection of influential Australian titles. The former comes complete with tales of the critic's cinema-obsessed youth, photos of his pre-beard days, a glimpse inside his catalogue of movie notes (which he refuses to digitise), and a number of famous faces popping up to sing his praises, including Nicole Kidman, Russell Crowe, and Mad Max director George Miller. To achieve the latter, the film takes Stratton around the country to visit locations immortalised on film while diving into explorations of the titles in question – from outback horror Wake in Fright and beloved comedy Muriel's Wedding, to the roadway thrills of the original Mad Max and the relatable warmth of The Castle. Understandably, there's plenty to fit in — the British-born Stratton arrived down under for what was supposed to be a two-year visit, became the director of the Sydney Film Festival for 18 years, and was the subject of ASIO interest thanks to his trips to overseas film festivals. Similarly, with around 100 flicks earning a mention, there's no shortage of movies in the spotlight. Using one as a gateway to the other, David Stratton: A Cinematic Life does an impressive job of weaving its two points of focus together. Hearing about Stratton's fascinating experiences will make you want to discover more (thankfully, his 2008 autobiography I Peed on Fellini can help fans do just that), while discovering his thoughts on an array of local films will make you want to dedicate the foreseeable future to an Aussie movie marathon. Deftly edited and filled with affection, David Stratton: A Cinematic Life is the kind of film the man himself would likely give several stars and probably more. We reckon Pomeranz would feel the same way, although here we have to be content with her commenting on her former sparring partner's shoes. Yes, that's another reason the documentary is worth watching. Come for the moving tribute and informative trip through Aussie film history, stay for the long-awaited David and Margaret reunion. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uoTbplWKvOg
Sydneysiders with a sweet tooth should make tracks to Clovelly, where renowned pastry chef Yves Scherrer is now pumping out his goods at new patisserie and bakery Madame & Yves. Scherrer — who's opened the venue with partner Jennifer — has worked across several of Sydney's fine dining institutions, creating stunning desserts at the likes of Sokyo and now-closed restaurants Est and Ananas Brasserie. He also recently coached the Australian World Pastry Cup team — which went on to win sixth place worldwide — and is the man responsible for Sake's much Instagrammed dragon egg dessert. While the dragon egg will not make an appearance at Madame & Yves, a few of Scherrer's other famed creations will grace the menu — including the salted caramel eclairs from Ananas and the white sesame gelato from Sake. The leaves room on the menu for a whole heap of new creations, like the matcha yuzu roll (matcha sponge, mascarpone yuzu cream, yuzu whipped ganache, shiso leaf gel and choux pastry) and the piña colada tart (coconut mousse, lime curd, rum-flambéed pineapple and sweet pastry). Expect cakes, tarts, fresh bread and pastries aplenty. There is a whole host of croissants, from the classic ham and cheese, to a Ferrero version filled with hazelnut and dipped in chocolate. There's also a sizeable list of handmade gelato and sorbet on offer, including vanilla bourbon, pineapple yoghurt and lemongrass varieties. You'll also notice a focus on native and seasonal Aussie ingredients here, with no artificial colours or additives to speak of. Patrons can see an environmental focus elsewhere in the shop, too — notably in the biodegradable plant-based packaging and the Green Caffeen swap-and-go cup cups. For those coffees, the patisserie has teamed up with social enterprise Madding Crowd Coffee, a small-batch Sydney roaster which donates a portion of profits back to charity (and whose beans come in reusable tins). The Clovelly Road shop is small, which means you can watch the team of pastry chefs in action from the open kitchen as you order at the counter. There are a few outdoor tables, too, made for morning coffees and croissants.
Blooming gardens, citrus fruits and delicious local food and wine are on the lineup of the annual Griffith Spring Fest. Headlining the event — which will run between Sunday, 8 October and Sunday, 22 October — is the Garden Festival where green thumbs can wander through six delightful landscaped sites, created and nurtured by local gardeners. If you can make it to the official launch party on Friday 13 October, we highly recommend you do. If for no reason other than to tuck into the super-sized communal paella that will be whipped up on the day (it's served in a very covid-safe and hygienic way, just in case you had concerns). Other standout activations include over 50 unique citrus sculptures which will line Banna Avenue for two weeks. Made from more than 100,000 locally grown oranges and grapefruit, these displays are proof that when life gives you lemons in Griffith, you transform them into robots, reclining chooks or a giant giraffe. Go old-school and join a guided bus tour, or DIY and discover the best that Griffith has to offer all by yourself. The only non-negotiable is that you squeeze the day. (Sorry). Griffith Spring Fest will run from Sunday, 8 October till Sunday, 22 October 2023. For the full event program visit their website.
A visit to New Zealand's South Island is filled with breathtaking views, invigorating treks and some seriously fine drops of wine. What to do is the easy part. But, with so many accommodation options out there, deciding where to stay can become a bit tricky. While camping within the country's incredible national parks is an excellent choice, camping may not be your thing — even if it is glamping. But, there are still tons of out-of-the-ordinary stays available. On your next trip to the South Island, do things a little differently when it comes to your accommodation — whether that's by staying in tiny homes, converted railway wagons, two-storey silos or on a floating catamaran. Here, you'll find five alternative places to book on a South Island journey. SILOSTAY, LITTLE RIVER Little River's multi-award-winning SiloStay "goes against the grain" and puts up visitors (instead of farm grain and feed) in two-storey cylindrical silos. Inside the one-bedroom metal structures, the ground floor is fitted with a custom-built kitchenette, living room, small toilet and balcony. Take the winding steel staircase to the upper floor bedroom, and you'll find the bedroom and a balcony. While the silos may have a rustic feel (originally being grain-holders and all), each comes with a flat-screen TV, DVD player, a mounted stereo unit in the headboard and free wifi, as well as bike and kayak racks. Plus, the silos are eco-friendly, using a sustainable pellet boiler system, a planet-friendly waste-water system and natural wool insulation. SiloStay also offers one-level accessible silos with the same features. Prices range between $200–$230 depending on the season, with discounts available for bookings of two nights or more. AQUAPACKERS, ABEL TASMAN NATIONAL PARK Comforting, soothing — there's just something about being rocked to sleep. Those babies really have it good. Enter Aquapackers. This converted catamaran offers floating accommodation set in Anchorage Bay in the centre of the Abel Tasman National Park where you can be rocked to sleep by the gentle ripples of the bay. And when you're not enjoying that rock-a-bye sleep, you can relax with some sun on the upper deck or a trek around the peaceful national park. After something a bit more energetic? Sign up for a coastal trek or water sports like sailing and kayaking — Aquapackers specifically offers guided kayaking and coastline walking tours. Rooms range from shared backpacker dorms ($110 per person) to private cabins ($245 per cabin) and each night's stay includes breakfast and a barbecue dinner, plus complimentary tea and coffee throughout the day. GOLDEN BAY HIDEAWAY HOUSE TRUCK, WAINUI BAY Though Wainui Bay's Golden Bay Hideaway offers five secluded, solar-powered and energy-efficient eco-home options, our favourite is the House Truck. Set in a remote bush location and overlooking the sea, this restored 1950s Commer truck has been transformed into a two-storey tiny house. The home features a woodfire stove, fully equipped kitchen, outdoor picnic table, two queen beds and, the best part, an outdoor bath looking out over the bay towards the mountains. The isolated setting means guests can comfortably enjoy a long bath under the stars with a glass of the region's finest wine in hand. All of Golden Bay Hideaway's homes are also solar-powered and energy efficient so you won't be Prices range depending on the season, with discounts for longer bookings — which can get you down to $110 per night if you book four or more nights. WAIPARA SLEEPERS, WAIPARA Set in the heart of New Zealand's wine country, 45 minutes from Christchurch, the team at Waipara Sleepers has converted a group of 1940s railway cars into stationary accommodation. The owners have maintained the original features of each upcycled wagon, securing each to a piece of train track in their country garden. Cars range from traditional four-berth bunk rooms ($25 per person) to more homey fit-outs with brass double beds, refrigerators and televisions ($50–$70 per room). All wagons have internal heating, a balcony and a separate seating area. Accommodation ranges from $25 per person in the shared bunk rooms to $50–$70 a night in private accommodation. For a cheaper, private space, there's also the Railway Hut ($40–$60 per night) — a tiny cabin that once housed railway workers. ST BATHANS POLICE CAMP, OTAGO If you've ever been even the teensiest bit intrigued by what it's like to spend the night in gaol, St Bathans Police Camp is happy to give you a little (but certainly more luxe) taste. The owners have repurposed the tiny town's historic 1864 gaol into a self-contained apartment. Plan a trip to the historic St Bathans, founded during the goldfields mining era (and now only home to six permanent residents), to wander the reserve formed by the gold mining processes and to check out some of the town's historic architecture. The gaol cell accommodation is located near the old constable's cottage — a much bigger three-bedroom option you can also rent — and looks out over the pristine Blue Lake. The old cell is now fitted with a queen bed, and the former lobby and office are now the kitchen, with an ensuite bathroom and veranda also installed. It's an old-fashioned fit-out, complete with rocking chair, timber walls and jail-house door. St Bathans Jail (Gaol) is available for $145 per night, including a continental breakfast. Start planning your trip to New Zealand's south with our guide to the South Island journeys to take here.
Penelope's is a sleek CBD restaurant starring an exciting menu that reflects the city's multicultural landscape. Located in Quay Quarter Tower at Circular Quay, not only does the lavish restaurant boast a genre-defying menu but it also provides breathtaking scenes of the Harbour Bridge for those dining to impress. Got the in-laws staying from out of town? The view, food and service at Penelope's ought to achieve an appropriate level of 'wow'. The 132-seater features a sleek bar, a breezy balcony dining area and plush lounges throughout the interior dining room, with the Harbour Bridge-facing venue spotlighting the iconic landmark with views from every seat. Owner and Executive Chef Cuong Nguyen (ex-Hello Auntie) and Head Chef Bremmy Setiyoko (ex-Spice Temple, Sepia) have drawn influence from Sydney's plethora of diversity, as well as Nguyen's own Vietnamese heritage and exposure to the culinary landscape of the Inner West, to curate Penelope's menu. Each dish creatively highlights Mediterranean, Asian and modern Australian flavours with a big focus on flavour. Standout dishes include the bakar chicken — a coriander and turmeric-coated roast chicken paired with toum (garlic sauce) and a turmeric and lemongrass sambal for some heat — inspired by Nguyen's mother's cooking, the surprising wonton-style pork and prawn ravioli in a familiar brown butter and sage sauce and the Lakemba spiced lamb shoulder, drawing on Asian and Mediterranean flavours, paired with fermented chilli and yoghurt. As for drinks, a big focus on wine has led to an offering of over 100 sips ranging from Australia's up-and-coming tipples to imported wines from across the globe. For cocktails, Australian natives take centre stage. The whisky-based Jiminy Cricket stars peppermint gum, and the Bogan Old Fashioned highlights wattleseed paired with a quintessentially Australian Vegemite caramel. Trust us, it works.
After closing its doors in 2016, Sydney's Theatre Royal will finally reopen on Thursday, December 2. The show doing the honours: Jagged Little Pill the Musical. And, while that's fabulous news as it is, giving the city another venue to host big productions is even more exciting. The 1200-seat Theatre Royal is one of Australia's oldest theatres, dating back to the 1870s. But most Sydneysiders will know it in its current form, which reopened in the 1970s and was designed by famed Australian architect Harry Seidler. It was built as a replacement for the old theatre, as that was demolished when the MLC Centre was erected — and, before sitting idle for the past five years, it's played host to everything from the Australian-premiere season of Cats to a three-year season of The Phantom of the Opera. While the reborn venue will launch with Broadway's hit Alanis Morissette musical, that's not the only big-name show set to tread its boards in the coming months. In January, for Sydney Festival, Theatre Royal will play host to Girl from the North Country — which features the songs of Bob Dylan. Then, from April, it'll be filled with the song-and-dance that is four-time Tony Award-winner An American in Paris. As announced back in 2020, the NSW Government has signed over a 55-year lease to global company Trafalgar Entertainment (TE), handing over the keys to the space together with Dexus (owner of the MLC building) with hopes of encouraging more big-name musical productions to the harbour city. While Sydney nabbed the 2021 production of Hamilton, it lost Harry Potter and the Cursed Child to Melbourne, which one theatre producer put down to Sydney's "lack of a mid-to-large size venue". Jointly run by famed British theatre impresarios Sir Howard Panter and Dame Rosemary Squire, TE is promising to change this with its "Sydney gets it first" approach to programming of "first-class productions" — which is proving true with Jagged Little Pill and Girl from the North Country. Known for producing award-winning musicals and shows, such as The King and I, The Rocky Horror Show and War House, which have performed at London's West End and Melbourne's National Theatre, the company is also transforming Theatre Royal into a live-streaming content hub. In terms of physical changes during the multimillion-dollar refurbishment, TE has kept true to Seidler's original designs, while also increasing capacity from 1100 to 1200 via a redesign that's added an extra row of seats. The venue now sports a two-tiered setup, with no seat within the auditorium any more than 23 metres from the stage. Red and gold still feature heavily, colour-wise. There's also a new circular glass entrance space decked out with floor-to-ceiling windows, for views of King Street from the internal theatre foyer — and vice versa, including being able to see Theatre Royal's ribbed ceiling and geometrically precise hanging Mercator sculpture, as designed by Italian structural engineer Pier Luigi Nervi and American sculptor Charles O Perry respectively. And, there's a new Theatre Royal sign, as crafted and produced by Newcastle-based Owen Signs. The Theatre Royal reopens at 108 King Street, Sydney from Thursday, December 2. For more information, head to the theatre's website. Images: Pierre Toussant.
There is something to be said in this modern age for a bookstore that is filled with customers at all times of the year, not just at peak present-buying periods. Independent bookstore Better Read Than Dead is one such store. The shop, which has been in Newtown since 1996, is one of the most revered literary lands in Sydney and arguably a strong factor in why the city's literary community is thriving. The seemingly never-ending walls of books seem like a positive challenge to explore rather than a daunting one. The shelves are lined with little place-cards that highlight staff recommendations; the fact that there are so many glowing reviews indicates the quality of titles that are stocked. It regularly hosts literary events from book launches to high tea with authors. Soon to come are literary tours where book-lovers will take expertly-guided tours in key literary gems around the world, from Paris to America's Deep South, retracing famous authors footsteps and immersing themselves into the local culture. Image: James Horan
One of the Southern Highlands' most storied properties is getting ready to begin a new chapter. Milton Park — the 1910 country manor that's long been a local landmark — is being transformed by Salter Brothers Hospitality (Spicers Retreats, Bannisters) into Ardour Milton Park Bowral. Set to open in early 2026, the estate will serve as the flagship retreat for the group's new Ardour Hotels & Estates brand, which will bring a collection of similarly immersive escapes to some of Australia's most picturesque regional destinations. The estate will be anchored by two distinct dining concepts: Horderns Restaurant and The Polo Bar. Both venues are housed within the grand homestead and led by Executive Chef Mark Holland (ex-Nomad, The Paddington Inn, Michelin-starred The Box Tree, UK), who joined the group in 2024. And while those names might be familiar to those who know the estate, the venues will be entirely reimagined under Holland's direction. Horderns Restaurant (pictured above) will move into an expansive, sun-washed new space overlooking the estate's manicured gardens, nearly tripling its capacity from 38 to 102 seats. Holland's refined pan-European menu will spotlight seasonal Southern Highlands produce through communal dishes and tableside theatre, with select dishes served family-style and finished in front of guests. A new open kitchen pass will add to the sense of performance and bring diners closer to the action. The Polo Bar (pictured below), meanwhile, will offer a relaxed yet sophisticated all-day setting for small plates and hand-cut charcuterie. A dedicated charcuterie room will showcase cured meats and artisan cheeses from producers across the Southern Highlands, the South Coast and beyond, complemented by a drinks program starring classic cocktails, regional wines, deluxe single malts, fine ports and aged cognacs. The reimagined interiors, designed by Sydney firm MAC Design Studio, take cues from romantic European country manors while weaving in contemporary touches — vibrant greenery, jewel-toned seating and cascading pendant lighting are balanced by botanical motifs, terracotta and ochre tones, sculptural timber detailing and plush chocolate leather finishes. It's all part of a multimillion-dollar refresh that sets the stage for a new era at this historic estate. Ardour Milton Park Bowral is slated to open in early 2026. For more information, head to the hotel's website.
From slabs of dirt that represent Sydney's landscape to evidence of complex rituals in neolithic times, there's a lot of history to unpack at the University of Sydney's new museum. Opened in 2020, bringing together objects and artworks from across three of its existing collections, the Chau Chak Wing Museum can entertain you for hours. And as it's free to explore, you can return to learn a little more about each item's storied past. To give you a slice of what you can find inside its cube-like structure, we asked Deputy Director of the Museum Paul Donnelly to tell us about five objects of enduring curiosity. PLASTERED SKULL FROM JERICHO It might seem a little morbid to start with a plastered skull, but this human cranium tells us a lot about our shared histories. "It's 9,500 years old," says Donnelly. "One of 11 found in Jericho in the 1950s by Dame Kathleen Kenyon, who is the doyenne of archaeology in the Middle East." Archaeology students will know her from the Wheeler-Kenyon method of excavation. And visitors of the British Museum will know its 'sibling' skull, found in the same place and time. Donnelly tells us it's the skull of an adult male, which they can tell from the sutures of the skull and shape of the brows. Its lower jaw was removed and it has been defleshed and covered in mud plaster, and if you look closely, you'll see marine shells in place of its eyes. Thanks to its condition, we can also tell its use. "Our interpretation is this was likely to be ancestor worship," says Donnelly. "We know from historical periods in that part of the world that there was a monthly ceremony in which they would dine with their dead ancestors. The elite would go into their relatives' tombs and have a feast with the long-dead relos. We're very fortunate to have an item like this at the Museum." FLOOR FRESCO FROM MARU-ATEN, EGYPT One of the benefits of opening a new museum has been the impetus to undergo complex conservation projects. One of those projects was rebuilding an ancient Egyptian floor fresco, from hundreds of little pieces found during excavations at Tell el-Amarna in the 1920s. "The new museum has provided lots of opportunities to display more material — we now have three times the material on display than before," says Donnelly. "Tell el-Amarna has held a fascination for people because it was the Canberra of ancient Egypt in the 1300s," he says. The ancient city was established in 1346 BC by Pharaoh Akhenaten as a new capital centred around a new, singular deity. "Akhenaten decided to abandon all the gods except for Aten, the sun god." It was a short lived tenure, and afterwards the culture returned to its pantheon of gods. "It's a fascinating period to have a pharaoh go down this bizarre monotheistic path. When I look at this pavement, I see all the connections to the individuals we have been fascinated with for millennia. In this particular fresco, it's from a royal temple made for the daughter of Nefertiti. It's possible to imagine that both Akhenaten and Nefertiti walked upon that very fresco." ACHEULEAN HAND AXE FROM EUROPE The oldest handmade item in the Chau Chak Wing Museum isn't immediately obvious, and it mightn't be what you'd expect. The 500,000-year-old object, on display in Object/Art/Specimen, resembles a significant moment for humanity. "The Acheulean hand axe is at least 500,000 years old," says Donnelly. "It's from the time of homo heidelbergensis, who were advanced enough to be using handmade stone tools." The axe was found by independent researcher Jacques Boucher de Perthes in the 1830s — and its discovery led to a lightbulb moment in a devout period of time. "He found them in the gravel pits of northern France in the same context as extinct megafauna, and even in the 1830s they knew these animals had long been extinct. So it was this lightbulb moment for him that suggested that we were older than what was proclaimed in the Bible." Boucher de Perthes published his theory in a book, which is on display next to the stone axe. AERODYNAMIC ANTI GRAVITY SUIT During the Second World War, the University of Sydney was home to a top-secret research project led by Professor Frank Cotton. His mission: to keep pilots from blacking out when they hit extreme speeds in fighter jets. "As fighter planes became more manoeuvrable and faster, they were hitting the kind of G-forces that would pull blood away from the head into the legs," says Donnelly. "And pilots were blacking out." All around the world, scientists were responding to the issue — and Australia's response was a rubber anti-gravity suit. "The rubber pants went up to the waist. When the pilot hit dangerous G-forces these air sacs would inflate and compress the legs, so there was nowhere for the blood to pool into." Though the rubber suit never saw combat, it was successful in its trials, explains Donnelly. On display in the museum are sections of the suit: rubber pants, boots and pipes that would have connected to the plane. They're just a selection of 170 bits and pieces discovered in the Anderson Stewart Medical Building at the University in the 1990s, 50 years since they were stored away in the human centrifuge built during the covert project. ALAN SONFIST, 'THE EARTH OF SYDNEY' (1981) The Chau Chak Wing Museum brings together items formerly housed in the Nicholson Museum, the Macleay Museum and the University's art collection. One of its early criticisms was that bringing art, objects of science and antiquities together "didn't fit", which is playfully honoured in the opening exhibition Art/Object/Specimen. It's where you'll find an artwork created for the Sydney Biennale 1982, featuring mounted squares of earth, sand and pebbles sourced from across the city. "To see soil and sand and rocks mounted as art, I thought that was fantastic," says Donnelly. The archaeologist was particularly drawn to Sonfist's work, which had been wrapped up for 30 years at the University. Now visitors can view it next to a portrait of Charles Perkins and measuring chains that were used to divide up and commodify land. "It's all about what people bring to the objects — and how they become different in relation to other things around them," he says. "One person's art is another person's object, is another person's specimen." The Chau Chak Wing Museum is free to attend. It's open from 10am–5pm on Monday–Wednesday; 10am–9pm on Thursday; and 12–4pm on weekends. The Museum will be closed from December 23–January 6. It will reopen on January 7, 2021. Top image: 'Love' by Robert Indiana (1912) and 'The Earth of Sydney' by Alan Sonfist (1981) courtesy of Chau Chak Wing Museum, University of Sydney.
Keli Holiday — the solo project of Peking Duk's Adam Hyde — is set to play two special headline gigs in Melbourne and Sydney this November, giving fans the chance to experience the energy of his latest single 'Dancing2' live on stage. The shows are locked in for Melbourne's Howler on Thursday, November 14, and Sydney's Mary's Underground on Saturday, November 16. Both will see Holiday deliver his signature mix of raw emotion and euphoric sounds, with Hyde describing the sets as a chance to "share some joy together and let's sweat." Born during the creative standstill of the pandemic, Keli Holiday became Hyde's outlet for heartbreak, sonic experimentation and reinvention. Now, with 'Dancing2', he's channelling it all into a slow-burning, string-laced modern love story inspired by meeting his partner Abbie Chatfield. "This song is about meeting a love that seemed a world away," Hyde explained. "There's so much noise and distraction going on constantly … We were both just dancing through the show as we all are. There was a definitive moment when we decided to connect with each other on an unspoken battlefield and we have been dancing together ever since." 'Dancing2' has been climbing the ARIA charts, peaking at number one on the Top 20 Australian Singles list. It's also made its way onto Spotify's Daily Top Songs, cracked the Shazam Top 50, and hit number one on TikTok's Viral Chart. The track marks a bold step toward the next chapter for the 2025 Rolling Stone Australia Readers' Choice Award winner, following 2022's KELI and 2024's JESTERMAN EP. Tickets for Keli Holiday's Sydney and Melbourne shows are on sale now via the official website.
If your cupboards are looking pretty bare, particularly on the specialty Asian cuisine front, Thai Kee IGA, hidden away above Paddy's Markets, can provide you with all you need. Dumplings and steamers, koala biscuits, aloe vera juice, Japanese curry, kitsch bowls and crockery sets, hot barbecue pork buns, chrysanthemum tea, Chinese slippers — you name it, it's here. In fact, you should probably allow some extra time just to wander down these aisles. Trust us, you'll be surprised at what you find.
Melbourne's fashion fiends are in for a serious treat, with the NGV International kicking off its dazzling new exhibition — The Krystyna Campbell-Pretty Fashion Gift. A treasure trove of sartorial delights, the free showcase features over 150 haute couture pieces from some of the world's most iconic fashion houses. Prepare for wardrobe envy to hit hard as you take in this intriguing collection, which has been gifted to the NGV by leading philanthropist Krystyna Campbell-Pretty. There are a swag of legendary designs on show, from Le Smoking Suit — the avant-garde Yves Saint Laurent women's tuxedo, circa 1967 — to that tartan Alexander McQueen creation made famous by Sarah Jessica Parker at the 2006 Met Gala. Taking a style trip through the ages, the exhibition also showcases Madame Grès gowns, a rare collection of little black dresses from the one and only Chanel, and Dior designs from as far back as the label's 1947 debut. On display daily until Sunday, July 14, the threads are backed by a curation of original sketches and workbooks, rarely seen early-edition fashion magazines, embroidered samples and a suite of fashion photography. And for those keen to dive in further, The Krystyna Campbell-Pretty Fashion Gift is accompanied by a program of talks, including an International Women's Day chat about women's fashion in the 20th century. Images: Tom Ross.
While today it's best known as the location of a major navy base, Sydney Harbour's Garden Island — that bit of protruding land near Potts Point — has also become the subject of a swag of innovative development proposals, following a report exploring the island's future by former Deputy NSW Premier Peter Collins. Perhaps the most ambitious of these plans comes courtesy of architecture firm LAVA, who were commissioned by the Urban Task Force to respond to the report. The firm's plans involve heritage buildings being given new life as cultural facilities, and the modern-day realisation of a pyramid structure first proposed by colonial architect Francis Greenway. LAVA's vision for this Garden Island of the future would see the relocation of the Navy base and the introduction of an international cruise terminal, providing scope for some of the world's largest cruise ships to finally add Sydney to their itineraries. The 30-year plan shows the island's former dry-dock revamped to host floating markets, theatre shows and harbour baths, while residential towers inspired by the Sydney Harbour landscape would feature rooftop terraces, swimming pools and an array of community facilities. Meanwhile, Greenway's lofty pyramid structure — first envisioned during his time as the country's first government architect — would be imagined as a sprawling waterfront space for events and functions. While this plan is certainly visionary — and a great way to populate prime harbour real estate with publicly-accessible intitutions — it is just that: a plan. It will be interesting to see if the State Government acts on Collins' suggestion to move the navy base and open up Garden Island for Sydneysiders to enjoy.
Bars where you can do more than just sit around and drink are really having a moment in Sydney. And, in no small part, it's thanks to the ever-expanding empire of Funlab — the company in charge of the ever-popular Holey Moley, Strike Bowling and Archie Brothers Cirque Electriq. Now, Funlab is about to launch its latest brainchild: B. Lucky & Sons. It's a kidult-friendly bar-meets-arcade with some actually good pawn-shop prizes, instead of the usual plastic crap you get. Think vintage Chanel bags, classic cameras and rare vinyls, plus a Nintendo 64 in its original box and Tune Squad swag from the 1996 cult classic, Space Jam. Yup, they're going real old school with this one. The bar — which already has outposts in Melbourne and Brisbane — is coming to Moore Park's Entertainment Quarter from May 17. It'll be hidden behind the façade of an old pawn shop, and decked out with eclectic furnishings, from old-world casino chandeliers to neon-lit red octagonal booths. This East-meets-West fit-out will extend to the food, too, where pizzas will be topped with the likes of crispy wonton wrappers and bonito flakes or sausage, gravy and potato crisps. There'll also be bags of prawn crackers and pork bao buns. [caption id="attachment_694672" align="alignnone" width="1920"] B Lucky & Sons, Brisbane[/caption] For drinks, the bar will be slinging creative cocktails and alcoholic bubble teas — while no exact drinks have been announced yet, the Brissie bar has the Taro Bang (Frangelico, rum and taro with blueberry pearls and jellies) and the Passion Crackle (vodka, passion fruit and peach teas with apple flavoured pearls and jellies), so expect similar concoctions. If you prefer your cocktails shareable, you'll also be able to order punch bowls served with floral tea cups, too. While Sydney games haven't been confirmed, expect throwbacks for the millennial generation — featuring everything from Mario Kart and Space Invaders to NBA Hoops and a Dance Dance Revolution knock-off. And although the venue will be open to littl'uns during the day, it'll be strictly adults-only at night, so you don't have to worry about being laughed at by a ten-year-old when you fall off Rainbow Road for the fourteenth time. Find B Lucky & Sons at the Entertainment Quarter, Moore Park from Friday, May 17. It'll be open from 11am–11pm Monday–Thursday, 11am–midnight Friday, 10am–midnight Saturday and 10am–11pm Sunday. Images: B Lucky & Sons, Brisbane by Zennieshia Photography.
If you're in Barrington Tops, your trip won't be complete without a moment or two at the top of a scenic lookout. Offering all-encompassing views of the stunning landscape, you can gauge a sense of the region as a whole. Thunderbolts lookout showcases the gorgeous plateau region between Scone and Gloucester, dense with Antarctic beech trees and moss-covered forest floors. Nearby is Devils Hole lookout, which sits at an altitude of 1400 metres and offers breathtaking views of the dense forestry and undulating mountains beyond. Elsewhere, Careys Peak is at the end of an invigorating walking track that will take you through heavily wooded country before giving way to a peak in the Williams Range, where you can survey the ground you've just traversed from a cracking lookout spot. Image: Don Fuchs
Your life is about to be filled with hand-knitted wine bags, minimalist bean bags and slick storage options. Japanese design and homewares retailer MUJI has opened its very first flagship store in New South Wales — the third MUJI in Australia. Opening at 500 George Street, the huge 1344sqm corner space is located on level one of The Galeries (where the old Freedom Furniture was) — counting Kinokuniya, Incu and Sushi Hotaru as friendly neighbours. If you're a bit vague on MUJI, they're a Japanese brand all up in simple, elegant homewares and consumer goods with an eco-friendly aim to reduce packaging. The company's Japanese name, 'Mujirushi Ryohin' means 'no brand quality goods', so we're talking no-name, minimal packaging products — everything from apparel and accessories, to furniture and homewares, stationery and skincare products, bedding and travel goods. Yep, they're into covering all bases with a stripped back simplicity similar to IKEA. This is the first NSW MUJI, following Australia's first at Chadstone Shopping Centre in November 2013 and Emporium Melbourne's store opening in April last year. MUJI plan to open more Australian stores, with the promise of an online store in the near future. But MUJI are no spring chickens, having started in 1980 as a private offshoot of SEIYU (one of Japan's bigwig retailers) and growing to a total 703 stores worldwide.
Move over Toby's and watch out Campos, the Gypsies have arrived in town. Potts Point's latest espresso bar is far from what its name suggests. No velvet curtains, no lion heads or gargoyles and no fortune teller. There's scarce evidence of Bohemia in this humble 20-seat establishment. Ironically, the interior is utilitarian in style, with polished concrete floors, stainless steel benches and industrial light fixtures. Contrary to the seemingly cold aesthetic, this hole-in-the-wall espresso bar is sizzling hot on the coffee front. Gypsy Espresso cares about quality. How do we know? They use only the finest Arabica beans, carefully hand-roasted by their team of coffee experts. It is the culmination of their knowledge, care and skill in all aspects of the process that has resulted in the creation of coffee that is close to magical. They also provide a concise, but smart food menu comprising classic breakfast options – think scrambled eggs, breads and jams – and some appetising gourmet sandwiches and burgers, with the shredded pork ($10) a definite standout. Some simple seasonal soups and salads are available for lunch, all of which appear tasty and inexpensive. Refreshingly, there is no pretention surrounding these food offerings. Unfortunately, the food lacks the magical quality that the coffee holds. They're all about the perfect drip and you can tell. Add to the mix a warm atmosphere created by friendly, efficient staff and you've got yourself a sterling newish hotspot. Let's hope, for the Point's sake, this gypsy sticks around.
One pair of Aussie pastry chefs are on a mission to make the humble lamington famous. Well, famous outside of Australian borders — just how Iranian-born jalebi and Italian cannoli are now found the world over. To do this, Min Chai and Eddie Stewart, founders of Australia's N2 Extreme Gelato, have launched Tokyo Lamington. While the duo initially focused on piquing the interest of overseas tastebuds — selling the lamingtons in Singapore and Tokyo — the chefs have now brought the international brand Down Under. After popping-up in Koko Black stores in Sydney and Melbourne for one day in June, Toyko Lamington opened its flagship Australian store in Market City today, Tuesday, September 22. The dessert brand doesn't just make traditional takes on the quintessentially Aussie chocolate- and coconut-covered cake. Instead, the sponge gets an international makeover with iterations in pandan, ube, lemon myrtle, black sesame, matcha and milk tea. [caption id="attachment_774463" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Nikki To[/caption] The Sydney outpost of Toyko Lamington will serve some Aussie-as flavours, too, such as fairy bread with popcorn butter and Ferrero Rocher — plus the OG chocolate and coconut version, of course. Each lamington costs $7 a pop and can also be ordered online (for pickup only). The shop's fit-out is loud with black walls and brightly coloured geometrical shapes, timber furniture and hanging greenery. The open space has a few booths and table seating, but will function mainly as a takeaway joint — selling nothing but lamingtons and a few canned drinks. Tokyo Lamington is now open at Level 3 Market City, 9 Hay Street, Haymarket. Opening hours are 11am–11pm daily.
Surry Hills' creatively charged culinary hot-spot, the 'unauthentic Indian' restaurant Don't Tell Aunty, is one of the highlights of the Sydney Indian restaurant scene. Inspired by the welcoming homes of traditional (yet, slightly eclectic) Indian aunties — complete with blue velvet banquettes and bright pink walls — the food here does not stick to the rules. Instead, innovation is the hero, as the team sticks to its signature envelope-pushing approach. An oft-changing menu trips all across India, with touches of Aussie and American influence peppered throughout. Street eats might include the likes of Colonel Tso's Indo-Chinese-style cauliflower with tomato and chilli; the 'Yoghurt Kebab', featuring a spiced yoghurt croquette in a vibrant beetroot ginger sauce; and the nachos-like papadi chaat. The tandoor is turning out dishes like charred salmon with spice and curry leaves, and there's a slew of crafty curries, including the short rib korma and a coconut cashew gravy. Head in for lunch, and you can snag a super affordable canteen-style selection of curries and street food. Meanwhile, Rajat Parr — an international winemaker and sommelier — has worked his magic on the drinks offering. Watch retro Bollywood films flicker on the walls, while tucking into drops from the self-serve beer fridge, approachable wines from around the world, and lively cocktails like the namesake Don't Tell Aunty — a concoction of mezcal and beetroot rimmed with black lava salt. There's even a bottomless brunch option available on weekends, serving up a tasting menu with unlimited wines and beers (bottomless margaritas cost an extra $20 per person). Head to Don't Tell Aunty for something different, but altogether fun and delicious.
Darlinghurst is already famously home to a rainbow crossing. In Surry Hills, the City of Sydney is planning to implement a lengthy path in Prince Alfred Park decked out in the same multicoloured stripes, too. And now, Coogee is joining the brightly hued celebration of Sydney's LGBTIQA+ community, announcing that it'll turn part of the suburb's beachfront into a rainbow walkway. Come February 2021, timed to support the Sydney Gay & Lesbian Mardi Gras, a 200-square-metre patch of the promenade will get a lively makeover — right by the sand, at the bottom of the existing steps. It's a great spot for it, given that the area already bends around in a circular fashion. Now, it'll be a rainbow-shaped curve, measuring approximately 4.2 metres wide and 47 metres long. The move was approved by the Randwick City Council at its last meeting on Tuesday, December 8, with Randwick Mayor Danny Said noting that "this proposal enhances that tradition and makes a strong public statement of support for our wonderfully diverse local community". The pathway is a temporary addition to Coogee, however, although it will stay in place for a number of months. Exact dates from February onwards haven't yet been revealed. In terms of logistics, the Council is presently assessing two choices: using temporary pavement paint, or opting for outdoor-appropriate non-slip vinyl that has been rendered in the appropriate tones. Either way, you'll be spying a rainbow by the beach very soon. For more information about Coogee Beach's rainbow walkway, which is due to launch at a yet-to-be-revealed date in February 2021, visit the Randwick City Council website. Images: artist impressions of Coogee Beach's rainbow walkway.
In honour of the recent selection of the winner of the World Press Photo awards this week, here are each of the winners from 1955 to 2011. They say a picture tells a thousand words, and this old statement is strikingly appropriate for what's displayed here. Some truly moving and iconic pieces are featured; let's hope that the coming year's winner can uphold the tradition. Warning: some images contain graphic or objectionable content. 1955 A competitor tumbles off his motorcycle during the Motorcross World Championship at the Volk Mølle race course. (Mogens von Haven) 1956 A German World War II prisoner, released by the Soviet Union, is reunited with his daughter. The child had not seen her father since she was one-year-old. (Helmuth Pirath) 1957 Dorothy Counts, one of the first black students to enter the newly desegregated Harry Harding High School is mocked by whites on her first day of school. (Douglas Martin) 1958 National Football Championships between Prague and Bratislava. (Stanislav Tereba) 1960 A right-wing student in Japan assassinates Inejiro Asanuma, Socialist Party Chairman, during his speech at the Hibiya Hall. (Yasushi Nagao) 1962 Priest Luis Padillo offers last rites to a loyalist soldier who is mortally wounded by a sniper during military rebellion against President Bétancourt at Puerto Cabello naval base in Venezuela. (Héctor Rondón Lovera) 1963 Buddhist monk Thich Quang Duc sets himself ablaze in protest against the persecution of Buddhists by the South Vietnamese government. (Malcolm W. Browne) 1964 A Turkish woman mourns her dead husband, a victim of the Greek-Turkish civil war. (Don McCullin) 1965 A mother and her children wade across a river to escape US bombing. The US Air Force had evacuated their village because it was suspected of being used as a base camp by the Vietcong. (Kyoichi Sawada) 1966 The body of a Vietcong soldier is dragged behind an American armored vehicle en route to a burial site after fierce fighting. (Kyoichi Sawada) 1967 The commander of an M48 tankgunner of the US 7th regiment in Vietnam's 'Iron Triangle'. (Co Rentmeester) 1968 South Vietnam national police chief Nguyen Ngoc Loan executes a suspected Viet Cong member. (Eddie Adams) 1969 A young Catholic wears a gasmask during clashes with British troops. People had been fleeing from teargas after a night of street fighting. (Hanns-Jörg Anders) 1971 During negotiations on the safe-conduct of a group of criminals on the run, police superintendent Gross suddenly shoots down gang leader Kurt Vicenik. The gang, who had disappeared after a bank-robbery in Cologne, re-emerged near Saarbrücken, carrying a hostage with them. A chase followed and the police and the robbers met at Baltersweiler. The two other men were captured in a wild fight. The men running away from the bullets are policemen. (Wolfgang Peter Geller) 1972 Phan Thi Kim Phuc (center) flees with other children after South Vietnamese planes mistakenly dropped napalm on South Vietnamese troops and civilians. (Nick Ut) 1973 Democratically elected President Salvador Allende moments away from death during military coup at Moneda presidential palace in Chile. (Orlando Lagos) 1974 The Faces of Hunger. A mother comforts her child, both victims of drought. (Ovie Carter) 1975 A mother and her daughter are hurled off a collapsing fire-escape in an apartment house fire in Boston. (Stanley Forman) 1976 Palestinian refugees in district La Quarantaine. (Françoise Demulder) 1977 Police throw tear-gas at a group of chanting residents of the Modderdam squatter camp protesting against the demolition of their homes outside Cape Town. (Leslie Hammond) 1978 A demonstrator is engulfed in flames of the molotov cocktail he was about to throw at the police during protests against the construction of the New Tokyo International Airport. The original Narita Airport plan was unveiled in 1966. To acquire the initial land, the government had to evict protesting landowners. Violent clashes between the opponents and authorities resulted in 13 deaths, including five police officers. The new airport opened in May 1978. (Sadayuki Mikami) 1979 A Cambodian woman cradles her child while waiting for food to be distributed at a refugee camp. (David Burnett) 1980 A starving boy and a missionary in Uganda. (Mike Wells) 1981 Lt. Col. Antonio Tejero Molina orders everyone to remain seated and be quiet after armed Guardia Civil soldiers stormed the Assembly Hall of the Spanish Parliament. Three hundred deputies and cabinet members were in session to vote upon the succession of premier Suarez. They were released next morning after having been held hostage for almost 18 hours; the coup was a failure. (Manuel Pérez Barriopedro) 1982 The war in Lebanon: The aftermath of the massacre of Palestinians by Christian Phalangists in the Sabra and Shatila refugee camps. (Robin Moyer) 1983 Kezban Özer (37) finds her five children buried alive after a devastating earthquake. At five o'clock in the morning she and her husband were milking the cows as their children slept. A few minutes later, 147 villages in the region were destroyed by an earthquake of magnitude 7.1 on the Richter scale; 1,336 people died. (Mustafa Bozdemir) 1984 A child killed by the poisonous gas leak in the Union Carbide chemical plant disaster. (Pablo Bartholomew) 1985 Omaira Sanchez (12) is trapped in the debris caused by the eruption of Nevado del Ruíz volcano. After sixty hours she eventually lost consciousness and died of a heart attack. (Frank Fournier) 1986 Ken Meeks' (42) skin is marked with lesions caused by AIDS-related Kaposi's Sarcoma. (Alon Reininger) 1987 A mother clings to a riot policeman's shield at a polling station. Her son was one of thousands of demonstrators arrested because they tried to prove that the presidential election on December 15, which was won by the government candidate, had been rigged. (Anthony Suau) 1988 Boris Abgarzian grieves for his 17-year-old son, victim of the Armenian earthquake. (David Turnley) 1989 A demonstrator confronts a line of People's Liberation Army tanks during protests for democratic reform. (Charlie Cole) 1990 Family and neighbors mourn the death of Elshani Nashim (27), killed during a protest against the Yugoslavian government's decision to abolish the autonomy of Kosovo. (Georges Merillon) 1991 US Sergeant Ken Kozakiewicz (23), gives vent to his grief as he learns that the body bag at his feet contains the remains of his friend Andy Alaniz. 'Friendly fire' claimed Alaniz's life and injured Kozakiewicz. On the last day of the Gulf War they were taken away from the war zone by a MASH unit evacuation helicopter. (David Turnley) 1992 A mother carries her dead child to the grave, after wrapping it in a shroud according to local custom. A bad drought coupled with the effects of civil war caused a terrible famine in Somalia which claimed the lives of between one and two million people over a period of two years, more than 200 a day in the worst affected areas. The international airlift of relief supplies which started in July was hampered by heavily armed gangs of clansmen who looted food storage centers and slowed down the distribution of the supplies by aid organizations. (James Nachtwey) 1993 Boys raise toy guns in a gesture of defiance. The Palestinian uprising, which began in December 1987, strengthened the Arab population in their determination to fight the occupying force. In March Israel closed its border with Gaza, causing a massive rise in unemployment. With more than 800,000 people contained in the Israeli-patrolled, eight-km-wide strip of land, bloodshed increased sharply. The peace agreement signed in Washington on September 13 promised limited authority for the Gaza Strip and a withdrawal of the Israeli army. (Larry Towell) 1994 A Hutu man at a Red Cross hospital, his face mutilated by the Hutu 'Interahamwe' militia, who suspected him of sympathizing with the Tutsi rebels. (James Nachtwey) 1995 A bus on the road leading to Grozny during fighting between Chechen independence fighters and Russian troops. The civil war which erupted when President Yeltsin sent troops to the rebellious province in December 1994 was still dragging on months later. When the Chechen fighters fled Grozny, the capital, where the war had claimed a horrendous human and material toll, Russian troops pursued them into the countryside to the south and east. (Lucian Perkins) 1996 Landmine victims in Kuito, a town where many people were killed and traumatized during the civil war. (Francesco Zizola) 1997 A woman cries outside the Zmirli Hospital, where the dead and wounded were taken after a massacre in Bentalha. (Hocine) 1998 A woman is comforted by relatives and friends at the funeral of her husband. The man was a soldier with the ethnic Albanian rebels of the Kosovo Liberation Army, fighting for independence from Serbia. He had been shot the previous day while on patrol. (Dayna Smith) 1999 A man walks the streets in one of the largest gathering points for ethnic Albanian refugees fleeing violence in Kosovo. (Claus Bjørn Larsen) 2000 The mother of a Mexican immigrant family makes piñatas to support herself and her children. The family numbers among the millions of 'uncounted' Americans, people who for one reason or another have been missed by the national census and so don't exist in population records. (Lara Jo Regan) 2001 The body of a one-year-old boy who died of dehydration is prepared for burial at Jalozai refugee camp. The child's family, originally from North Afghanistan, had sought refuge in Pakistan from political instability and the consequences of drought. The family gave the photographer permission to attend as they washed and wrapped his body in a white funeral shroud, according to Muslim tradition. In the overcrowded Jalozai camp, 80,000 refugees from Afghanistan endured squalid conditions. (Erik Refner) 2002 A boy holds his dead father's trousers as he squats beside the spot where his father is to be buried, surrounded by soldiers and villagers digging graves for victims of an earthquake in Armenia. (Eric Grigorian) 2003 An Iraqi man comforts his four-year-old son at a holding center for prisoners of war, in the base camp of the US Army 101st Airborne Division near An Najaf. The boy had become terrified when, according to orders, his father was hooded and handcuffed. A soldier later severed the plastic handcuffs so that the man could comfort his child. Hoods were placed over detainees' heads because they were quicker to apply than blindfolds. The military said the bags were used to disorient prisoners and protect their identities. It is not known what happened to the man or the boy. (Jean-Marc Bouju) 2004 A woman mourns a relative killed in the tsunami. On December 26, a 9.3 magnitude earthquake off the coast of Sumatra, Indonesia, triggered a series of deadly waves that traveled across the Indian Ocean, wreaking havoc in nine Asian countries, and causing fatalities as far away as Somalia and Tanzania. (Arko Datta) 2005 The fingers of malnourished Alassa Galisou (1) are pressed against the lips of his mother Fatou Ousseini at an emergency feeding center. One of the worst droughts in recent times, together with a particularly heavy plague of locusts that had destroyed the previous year's harvest, left millions of people severely short of food. (Finbarr O'Reilly) 2006 Young Lebanese drive down a street in Haret Hreik, a bombed neighborhood in southern Beirut. (Spencer Platt) 2007 A soldier of Second Platoon, Battle Company of the Second Battalion of the US 503rd Infantry Regiment sinks onto an embankment in the Restrepo bunker at the end of the day. (Tim Hetherington) 2008 Detective Robert Kole of the Cuyahoga County Sheriff's Office enters a home, following mortgage foreclosure and eviction. He needs to check that the owners have vacated the premises, and that no weapons have been left lying around. (Anthony Suau) 2009 Women shout their dissent from a Tehran rooftop on 24 June, following Iran's disputed presidential election. (Pietro Masturzo) 2010 Bibi Aisha, an 18-year-old woman from Oruzgan province in Afghanistan, fled back to her family home from her husband's house, complaining of violent treatment. The Taliban arrived one night, demanding Bibi be handed over to face justice. After a Taliban commander pronounced his verdict, Bibi's brother-in-law held her down and her husband sliced off her ears and then cut off her nose. Bibi was abandoned, but later rescued by aid workers and the U.S. military. (Jodi Bieber) 2011 A veiled woman holds a wounded relative "inside a mosque used as a field hospital by demonstrators against the rule of President Ali Abdullah Saleh, during clashes in Sanaa, Yemen. (Samuel Aranda) [via Buzzfeed]
Since 1983, Lucio's has brought together two of the best things in life — Italian food and art — in a beautiful terrace in Paddington. Owner Lucio Galletto OAM says the combination is like the air he breathes. The fare is of the Northern Italian variety, made with fresh, seasonal produce and pasta whipped up on-the-spot daily. To sample as many dishes as possible, go for the six-course degustation, and between the courses of hearty eats, feast your eyes on the stunning Australian artworks covering the walls. They're part of Lucio's private collection, and among them, you'll spot pieces by John Olsen, John Coburn, Tim Storrier, Charles Blackman and loads of others. Some even speculate that Lucio's could be one of the world's best art restaurants, along with New York City's Four Seasons, London's Sketches and Ivy and Provence's La Colombo d'Or. Image: Jesse Jaco.
During lockdown, Tacos Muchachos transformed a Surry Hills cafe into a pop-up Mexican restaurant, serving up exciting Mexican street food dishes to anyone within five-kilometres of the shop. It proved a hit with locals — people flocked to their quesabirria tacos, takeaway margaritas and al pastor nights. Following lockdown, the cafe took back custodianship of the Surry Hills space, so Tacos Muchachos went looking for a new home. Now, they've settled on the ground level of Chippendale's new Mexican-inspired boutique accommodation, Hotel Hacienda. The menu has stayed consistent with the pop-up: nachos ($18), consommé ($4), street-style burritos ($18) and quesabirria tacos ($18). These tacos are what will keep you coming back. The rich and cheesy showstopper are a must-try. And, Sydneysiders are sure to be excited by the unique flat and crispy burrito packed filled with refried beans, sautéed onions, jalapenos, cheese and your choice of fillings. An exciting rotation of weekly specials are continually popping up, with tortas and al pastor to be added to the menu soon. The Tacos Muchachos crew sourced their al pastor machine from Mexico and marinate their pork shoulder in achiote, pineapple juices and citrus. As for the drinks, a classic margarita ($10 during happy hour) or agua fresca ($5) spiked with tequila are currently on offer as well as a selection of beers and Jarrito sodas ($6). Head in between 5–6pm and you'll be treated to a happy hour special on drinks, with more cocktails soon to be offered. Tacos Muchachos is located at 179 Cleveland Street, Redfern. It's currently open 5.30pm until late Thursday–Saturday.
A new French diner that's equal parts luxurious and approachable is opening in Rozelle this week. Joining Fabbrica Bread Shop and Totti's first Inner West location, Chez Blue will be the latest edition to the Sydney suburb, coming to The Sackville Hotel with ex-Bistro Moncur chef Mark Williamson in charge of the kitchen. The casual bistro will swing open its doors on Darling Street from Thursday, November 16 with a menu that spotlights the classics. Steak frites, croque monsieur, chicken leg roulade and snapper fillet with clams all grace the menu, alongside some more adventurous additions like chicken liver pate with a brûléed top to crack, a scallop tartare and a fried tripe dish. The menu also stars a 1kg O'Connor rib eye served with béarnaise sauce to take on in cahoots with your dining companions. "French bistro style is typically individual portions, but there's something lovely about sharing a dish with the table so we've also included two beautiful larger shared dishes," says Williamson. The wine list is almost entirely French, and a refined cocktail menu also features a heavy Parisian streak. Kick your night off with an absinthe frappe, or pair your peach and tomato salad with a Delicious Sour made with Calvados, Pommeau de Normandie, peach wine and a splash of citrus. Another interesting addition to the drinks on offer is a croissant-washed martini. The ultra-French creation is made using Four Pillars gin that is croissant-washed in-house before being combined with vermouth and a vanilla, cinnamon and allspice oil. This exciting food and drinks program will find a home in the welcoming fit-out which features an intimate cocktail bar and the main dining room. The bistro boasts booths and banquette seating ready for a group catch-up, as well as a moody mix of warm down lights and subtle wall art inviting you in for a romantic date night. Chez Blue is one of many Sydney eateries to set up shop with the help of an adjoining pub over the last few years. Totti's Rozelle, La Salut, Chez Crix, Il Baretto and Derrel's are just a few dining spots that have opened in the same building as a beloved beer-pouring stalwart. Chez Blue will open from Thursday, November 16 at 599 Darling Street, Rozelle. Head to the restaurant's website to browse the full menu and make a booking. Images: Steven Woodburn
The charming suburb of Rozelle has truly found itself in the spotlight recently. The soon-to-open Fabbrica Bread Shop and Totti's third Sydney outpost settling into the area have labelled the burb as an upcoming hotspot. The next exciting addition to the Rozelle culinary scene is Chez Blue, a delightful French bistro on its way to Darling Street. Due to open at the Sackville Hotel in late October, the 90-seat venue hopes to become a beloved neighbourhood staple by offering up a French take on casual dining in the Inner West. And, with ex-Bistro Moncur chef Mark Williamson leading the charge in the kitchen, you can expect top-notch French fare. Expect to find an array of flavourful Parisian dishes, from famed classics to personal favourites from Williamson's repertoire. "We'd love for Chez Blue to become somewhere locals happily dine at a couple of times a week because it's approachable and always delicious," said Williamson. [caption id="attachment_914647" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Chez Blue's Head Chef, Mark Williamson (ex-Bistro Moncur)[/caption] Chez Blue's venture into the Inner West comes as part of Solotel's plans to expand into newer but familiar territory. The neighbourhood's newcomer is the hospitality crew's first-ever solo restaurant endeavour, setting up shop at the beloved stalwart The Sackville Hotel. "We want to bring back fond memories of dining on the streets of Paris, with warm service and an authentic French approach to relaxed dining," said Solotel's CEO Elliot Solomon. "Chez Blue is designed to be just as comfortable for a relaxed midweek dinner as a special weekend-long lunch catch-up with friends and family." Currently, the site is undergoing work in preparation for its upcoming launch in late October. Chez Blue is set to open in October at 599 Darling Street, Rozelle.
When we say this store is a one-stop shop for gifts, we really mean it. It has an eclectic mix of books, artisan homewares, jewellery, luxe stationery, art and candles to choose from. Select a card and some artisan wrapping paper, and shopping for gifts has never been easier. Pentimento is a haven for quirky, artisan products - carefully selected and beautifully displayed to make the shopping experience unique and uniformly successful (whether you actually planned to buy yourself another journal or ceramic bowl, or not). Pentimento is the place you go to buy something for the person who has everything, doesn't "want anything", and yet will most certainly be upset if you get them nothing. Sourcing their eclectic mix of homewares, books, journals, bath products, jewellery, cards and stationery from stylish parts of the world, they tend to capitalise on quirk. In its 15 years it's become a King Street institution — a favourite of stationery nerds, last-minute gift givers, and browsers inclined to dedicate the necessary twenty minutes to thoroughly enjoy the greeting card selection. Images: Trent van der Jagt.
A new dining precinct with seven exciting new Asian restaurants and two retail outlets has opened in the heart of Mascot. Unity Mascot is a new innovation by the Meriton Retail Precinct, now open across the road from Mascot Central with a range of both indoor and al fresco dining options spanning Chinese, Thai, Japanese, Taiwanese and Malaysian cuisine. Highlights of the new precinct include the second outpost for authentic Malaysian restaurant Into Laksa Sydney, 90-seat Chinese restaurant Western Legend BBQ and Wan, a Taiwanese and Japanese fusion restaurant from the owners of Mascot mainstays Cuppa Flower and Moon and Back Café. Wan opened at the end of last year and offers a relaxed walk-in only experience with pork dan dan ramen, chicken karaage, salt and pepper prawns, cheesy spring rolls and a fun drinks menu featuring sake and umeshu. Western Legend BBQ specialises in northern Chinese barbecue. Now with three restaurants open in Sydney, the eatery offers barbecued wagyu beef, cumin lamb, garlic seafood, kidneys and testicles. [caption id="attachment_845788" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Anna-Kucera[/caption] Other options you'll find at Unity include two more Chinese food options including a to-go takeaway eatery, a contemporary Thai restaurant and a cafe. As for the cafe, Sugarbaby Espresso Cafe is serving up Campos coffee and Tuga pastries daily. The two retail facilities that have opened alongside this array of food and drink tenants is a GQ Men's Style barbershop and a Love Wash laundry mat. These nine new outlets join the neighbouring Woolworths, medical centre, speciality stores and restaurants that call Meriton's Mascot Central home. [caption id="attachment_845785" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Anna Kucera[/caption] Unity Mascot is now open 256 Coward St, Mascot. It's open 9am–10pm, seven days a week. All images: Anna Kucera and Cassandra Hannagan
UPDATE: JUNE 1, 2020 — Wildlife Photographer of the Year 2020 has announced its new dates, with the exhibition reopening from June 22 until January 28, 2021. The below article has been updated to reflect this. The wonders of the animal kingdom are coming to the Australian National Maritime Museum courtesy of a huge exhibition of nature photography. Headed to the venue this autumn, the Wildlife Photographer of the Year showcase comes direct from London's Natural History Museum — which has developed and produced the prestigious competition since 1965. Highlighting the astonishing sights that the natural world has to offer, this year's contest attracted 48,000 entries from 100 countries. That not only shows how much we all love creatures great, small, cute, majestic and everything in-between, but how much we love both taking and looking at snaps of them as well. From that huge number, 100 winning pics were chosen for their creativity, originality and technical excellence, and then tour internationally. You can see the eye-popping, awe- (and 'awwwww') inducing results during its Sydney stop from June 22 till February 28, 2021. Prepare to rove your eyes over everything from up-close-and-personal shots of gorgeous creatures to astonishing visions of sweeping landscapes. It'll be open every day of the week during its five-month season — from 9.30am–5pm daily. [caption id="attachment_761873" align="alignnone" width="1920"] 'The Moment' by Yongqing Bao, Grand title winner of Wildlife Photographer of the Year.[/caption] Top images: Jason Bantle and Daniel Kronauer, courtesy of Wildlife Photographer of the Year and the Natural History Museum, London.
Around 9000 cattle are still run at the historic Goonoo Goonoo Station, just 25 minutes south of Tamworth. But in recent years, this gem has become best known for its boutique accommodation and award-winning on-site dining offering, Glasshouse Restaurant. The buildings that once made up the station village (many dating back as far as the 1840s) have been expertly restored in a massive project, which has delivered a spectacular event destination and unique holiday spot. Of the nine transformed heritage buildings, The Homestead is the largest. It sleeps up to ten guests and includes a private pool, billiard room and epic views of the undulating landscape from every sitting room and sunchair. What to do when you're not reclining or dining at the station? Visit local landmarks like the Big Guitar, the Australian Country Music Hall of Fame or the Tamworth Regional Gallery. And if boot-scootin' is your group's jam, line up your trip with the next Tamworth Country Music Festival (January 13–22, 2023). Top images: Destination NSW
This specialist Japanese grocery store in Crows Nest has a wide range of fresh Asian veggies, Fuji Bakery goods, and frozen foods that provides home comforts to those with connections to Japan. Ume-Ya launched in Sydney in 2002, but it very recently opened a new store next to Woolworths on Alexander Street. It's an eclectic store — you never know what you'll walk out with. It also offers Australia-wide delivery, though check the store's website or Facebook page, as some delivery services are temporarily on hold due to COVID-19.
There's nothing like a big, warm welcome to make you feel instantly at home, whether you're wining and dining out or enjoying a hard-earned weekend escape. At some places, it might be a traditional greeting, called cheerfully when you walk through a restaurant's front door, for others, a thoughtful gesture that's steeped in culture. Then, there are the greeting rituals that'll please your taste buds as well as give you the warm and fuzzies — like DoubleTree by Hilton's signature 'cookie welcome', which sees all of its guests gifted with a freshly baked, warm chocolate chip cookie on arrival. Keen to feel at home away from home? We've scouted out some of Melbourne's best global eateries dishing up warm welcomes of their own. BHANG, BRUNSWICK At contemporary Brunswick spot Bhang, Indian street food gets a freshen-up with classic flavours married to modern techniques and served up in a funky, new-school setting. Here, a lot of thought goes into making visitors feel welcome, with gestures both traditional and not. If you're digging the vibe, it could be because the figure of Hindu deity Ganesha is given fresh flowers at the start of each service, as a way of increasing the positive energies and inviting health and prosperity. You'll also catch welcoming wafts of incense throughout the restaurant and enjoy complimentary house-made pappadums to kick-start your meal. 1/2A Mitchell Street, Brunswick. DOC, CARLTON Enter through the doors of Carlton's legendary DOC and you'll be welcomed with the scent of baking pizza dough, as well as a cheery chorus of ciao, Italy's well-known greeting. Here, crisp-based traditional pizzas are the stars of the show, but to start things off right, let the friendly staff invite you aboard the aperitivo train. An alcoholic sip designed to help fire up the appetite, consider this the proper Italian welcome to any hearty meal. At DOC, fuel up with a glass of prosecco or a spritz, and you'll know you've been invited to enjoy some serious feasting. 295 Drummond Street, Carlton. AKACHOCHIN, SOUTH WHARF For fresh, honest Japanese fare served with a side of warm hospitality, you'll find it hard to beat a visit to South Wharf's Akachochin. Named after the red paper lanterns you'll often spy strung up outside a Japanese izakaya, this waterfront spot plays to tradition — from the serious knife skills on display in the open kitchen to the menu of sushi, sashimi and tried-and-true classics. Of course, you'll find it hard not to get swept up in tradition yourself, when you're greeted with a cheerful staff chorus of irasshaimase — Japan's customary call of 'welcome' or 'come on in'. 33 S Wharf Promenade, South Wharf. MOVIDA, CBD Spain's renowned tapas culture is about much more than just chowing down on tasty small food — it's about sharing a meal and wine with friends and celebrating social interactions. And when you partake in the tradition, it's hard not to feel like you're part of some big Spanish eating club. Here in Melbourne, Frank Camorra's famed MoVida is one of the best spots to get your authentic tapas fix — all funky tunes, moody lighting and a menu filled with top-notch small bites, like mini beef tartares and pressed pork tostadas. 1 Hosier Lane, Melbourne. PASTUSO, CBD Dining at ACDC Lane restaurant Pastuso is a bit like embarking on a journey through the many flavours of Peru, from the lively seafood dishes of the dedicated ceviche bar to the charry, meaty offerings coming hot off the traditional grill. And of course, the proper welcome to any authentic Peruvian adventure comes in the form of a fresh, tangy pisco sour — Peru's widely celebrated national cocktail, made from a grape-based spirit. To have you dining like a true Peruvian, the staff here are always eager to steer you towards an expertly crafted concoction from the pisco bar. 19 ACDC Lane, Melbourne. BON AP', FITZROY This cosy Fitzroy gem is like a little slice of provincial France, with fare as charming and authentic as the staff's French accents. The aim here is to replicate the familiarity of a quaint village bistro from back home, so expect a hearty bonjour upon entering, a warm bon appétit and an easygoing energy for as long as you stay. It's an inviting spot for breakfast, lunch or dinner — settle in with some charcuterie, a serve of mussels and a few glasses of great French wine and you'll find it pretty hard to say goodbye. 193 Brunswick Street, Fitzroy. LOS HERMANOS, BRUNSWICK At cosy Brunswick haunt Los Hermanos, bank on being greeted by authentic Mexican eats, a festive vibe and a serious collection of Mexico's national drink, tequila. But for all the choice, you won't be left daunted, with staff always keen to help hook you up with your ultimate agave match — their way of welcoming you into the fray. For full effect, pair your chosen drop with a few of the kitchen's drool-worthy tacos, featuring fillings like beer-battered fish, slow-cooked lamb leg and bold chipotle chicken. 339 Victoria Street, Brunswick. SON IN LAW, COLLINGWOOD Rooted in tradition, yet unafraid to unleash its creativity, Collingwood's Son In Law is one of Melbourne's best-loved Thai joints. Named after the dish of deep fried eggs that's said to be served up to misbehaving Thai sons-in-law, it's a colourful spot that's guaranteed to charm. Owner Piyawut Tony Rungpradit says his aim is to welcome diners to an authentically Thai dining experience by offering this namesake dish, as well as traditional share plates like the rich green curry and pad see ew noodles. Expect a sunny Aussie welcome to make you feel at home while you tuck into a proper Thai feast. 56 Johnston Street, Collingwood. DIN TAI FUNG, CBD Famed for its signature dumplings and boasting venues across the globe, Din Tai Fung sure knows how to pull the crowds. But no matter how busy the Melbourne Emporium restaurant might get, you'll always be met with a friendly call of ni hao — a Mandarin version of 'hi' or 'how are you' that's commonly used in China and Taiwan. It's just a kind little reminder of the Taiwanese deliciousness that awaits — drunken chicken, fragrant wonton soup and, of course, a parade of juicy, perfectly-crafted dumplings. Emporium, 287 Lonsdale Street, Melbourne. HOFBRAUHAUS, CBD In Germany, one of the world's largest consumers of beer, the heartiest welcome you'll find comes in the form of a nice, cold stein. For centuries it's been part of the social fabric, bringing people together and creating homes away from homes. And you'll experience exactly this with a visit to Market Lane's historic German restaurant, Hofbrauhaus. Here, staff sport classic Bavarian outfits, live German tunes set a cheerful tone and generous serves of pork knuckle are primed for feasting sessions. A range of traditionally brewed biers rounds out the whole lively experience. 18–28 Market Lane, Melbourne. Discover the many ways to feel welcome in Melbourne — from an authentic aperitivo hour to a chorus of 'irasshaimase' to the warm, freshly baked cookies waiting to welcome you to your home away from home at DoubleTree by Hilton on Flinders Street.
The Aussie love affair with Scandinavian-designed products is a long-running one. A certain megastore may steal the spotlight sometimes, but this sleek store (and its Mosman counterpart) is harbouring some of the best Nordic designs around. With a range that spans furniture, homewares, clothing and accessories, Nordic Fusion is the place to come when your home is crying out for some well-designed and stylish pieces. Expect to find popular labels like Marimekko, Pappelina and Klippan — plus, you'll get a glimpse of some of Scandinavia's top emerging design houses like Muuto and Menu. It also sells a large range of Nordic food and treats which, we're told, can add to the hygge vibe, too. We can just picture it now: snuggling up on the lounge under a cosy new Klippan blanket with a bowl of Ekströms chocolate pudding.
NOMAD Group's new multi-faceted 100-seat Surry Hills venue Beau is now complete. After launching Beau & Dough earlier in February, the Reservoir Street spot has now swung open the doors to its sleek wine bar and seafood restaurant. Headed up by former Stanbuli chef Ibrahim Kasif, Beau & Dough is all about manoush. "I can't wait to see people walking down the street with a manoush in their hands," he says. The laidback eatery is open 7am until late, seven days a week, serving flavoursome flatbread alongside Single O coffee and blue-eye trevalla burgers. Beau Bar, its elegant sibling, still brings a welcoming energy to the site, but with an extensive selection of wine and heftier, more lavish eats. You can expect an impressive 300-strong vino list offering different varieties and price points. "The opening wine list features around 300 bottles, with 25 wines by the glass, including wines on tap and premium wines served from Coravin," NOMAD Group's Beverage Director Ged Bellis says. "The by the glass list will change on a weekly basis, with 'blink and you will miss them' pours of super rare wines available for those with a keen eye." With private use of Fracks Lane which connects Reservoir Street to NOMAD's Foster Street, the bar is perfectly set up for a post-work or pre-dinner drop-in if you're on the hunt for an inner-city spot to enjoy an aperitif or a catch-up over a glass of wine. However, with the luxurious food options on offer, you can also settle in for dinner here. In contrast to the expansive drinks list, the food menu is tight and refined. The initial 'On Ice' selection sets the tone with oysters, caviar and lobster. From there, you'll find XO oyster mushrooms, kingfish tabbouleh, coral trout and an ox-tongue and lobster roll. Bookings are available, but walk-ins are also welcome. "Our private laneway is the perfect spot for the impromptu date," says NOMAD co-owner and Creative Director Rebecca Yazbek. To begin with, Beau Bar is open from 5pm, seven days a week. Then, from Saturday, March 4, its opening hours will expand, with lunch on offer from midday. Beau is located at 52 Reservoir Street, Surry Hills. It's open seven days a week, with Beau & Dough open 7am–late and Beau Bar open from 5pm.
Flowers, stars and mulled wine will collide when astronomy comes to The Calyx in the Royal Botanic Garden. The event — which is running over single nights in May, June, July and August — invites you to kick back, relax and learn about the night skies. Dr Angel Lopez-Sanchez will chat to the group — he's an astronomy research fellow and a science communicator at the Australian Astronomical Observatory and Macquarie University. Surrounded by the garden's botanic surrounds, he'll bring you a whole new perspective on familiar constellations and show you how to find those that are not-so-familiar. Then you'll sit with an Indigenous community member who will tell stories and chat about Aboriginal interpretations of the night sky. Learn to locate the Jewel Box within the Southern Cross, bright nebulae within Sagittarius and Omega Centauri, a globular cluster. Tickets are a reasonable $25 and include a drink upon.
Whether it's an igloo or a pop-up glamping tent, Sydneysiders love a luxurious and private outdoor dining space. With winter in full swing, waterfront fine diner 6HEAD is taking these private dining pop-ups to another level with its unique set of dining domes along Sydney harbour. Located at the historic Campbell's Stores in The Rocks, 6HEAD will be erecting domes in its al fresco dining area to provide a luxurious experience with unbeatable views of the Sydney Opera House and Sydney Harbour Bridge. The domes will pop up from Friday, June 28 until Sunday, August 28 with space to accommodate groups of up to six for a night of food, drinks and harbour views. There are two domes sizes, medium and large. The medium size can accommodate up to four people and comes with an attached minimum spend of $1000, while the large size can fit you and five others but has a $1500 minimum spend. While you're watching the commuters cross the bridge and the waves crash against the pier from the comfort of your dome, there are a couple of different ways you can attack the 6HEAD menu. A la carte options include starters like wagyu bresla, oysters and caviar alongside a seafood-heavy mains selection and a hefty array of steaks ranging from MB3+ fillet for $67 all the way up to the signature MB9+ wagyu tomahawk for $350. If you want the decisions taken off your hands you can opt for one of the set menus. The most extravagant option — The Dawes — will set each guest back $164 and includes olive bread, wagyu bresaola, kingfish ceviche, Mayura rump tartare, dry-aged tomahawk, rice pudding and a dessert cheese board. A premium or deluxe wine package can also be added to the set menu, both of which include a variety of sparkling, red, white and rosé. To reserve a place in the 6HEAD waterfront domes, head to the restaurant's website. Images: Steven Woodburn 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.
There is a yin-and-yang equilibrium to food trends — as our penchant for green smoothies and raw vegan treats grows, a corresponding demand for finger-lickin' fried chicken emerges. It's all about balance. And providing the wings-and-drumsticks side to that balance are places like Belle's Hot Chicken. Belle's set up its first-ever home in Melbourne back in 2014, and has since taken poultry fans by storm, including nestling into Tramsheds. Get stuck into chicken drumsticks ($14–21), tenders ($14–21) and wings ($12–19) — and relinquish yourself to the chickeny goodness. Or, if you're feeling particularly extra, max out with the Classic Hits Menu, which offers up bits and pieces from across the Belles menu as well as a schooner of the chicken shop's own draught beer and a boozy nightcap for $45 per person. Spicy chicken sandwiches — as well as a mushroom version for any vegetarians you bring along — are on offer for $14.50, topped with lettuce, onion, cheese and special sauce. Plus, there's a whole heap of delectable sides ranging from crinkle-cut potatoes ($8), sour pickles with ranch ($9) and a basket of chicken-salted fries topped with gravy ($11) Belles also has a killer lineup of funky natural wines and ice-cold beers — both of which do a great job of cutting through the rich chicken and refreshing your palate. And, home delivery is available via all the usual online services — remember that next time you're hungover. You'll find Belle's Hot Chicken Tramsheds in our list of the best fried chicken in Sydney. Check out the full list here. Updated March 31, 2023. Appears in: The Best Fried Chicken in Sydney for 2023
Between January 3-27, Architects of Air (who treated us to Mirazozo in 2011) will transform the Sydney Opera House forecourt into a multisensory experience, with their massive inflatable sculpture EXXOPOLIS. 53 metres long and nine metres high, it's an immersive luminarium, comprised of tunnels and domes, and filled with light and sound. Architectural inspiration includes Gothic cathedrals, Archimedean solids and Islamic stylings. EXXOPOLIS is open daily from 10am – 7pm.
