Alice Ellis

As a city bursting with attractions, it’s an unavoidable fact that some of the things in your Sydney guidebook are bound to suck. Long queues, ridiculous prices and crowds of tourists are hardly going to make your trip to Sydney a memorable one – so ditch them all for these top-notch, local-approved sights and activities.  Below we’ve laid out a full range of tried-and-tested tourist stops around Sydney that are guaranteed not to be a let-down; they'll see you surfing at Bondi Beach, jetting across the harbour on a speedboat and watching humpback whales in the wild. Read on for our pick of the very best tourist attractions in Australia’s Harbour City. Stay in the loop: sign up for our free Time Out Sydney newsletter for more news, food & drink inspo and activity ideas, straight to your inbox. RECOMMENDED:These are the best restaurants in Sydney.These are the city's best bars.And these are the very best places to stay the night.  This article includes affiliate links. These links have no influence on our editorial content. For more information, click here.

The word sustainability gets thrown around a lot – and so it should. We know our oceans are filled with plastic, the Earth is warming each day, and weather conditions are becoming more and more destructive. The good news is that Sydney’s restaurants, bars and cafés are taking sustainability seriously – not just talking the talk by posting an Instagram tile, but doing the hard, often more costly and time-consuming work to do their bit to care for our planet. From cutting down on emissions to drastically reducing waste, reusing water, working with local suppliers, cooking with whole animals and using biodegradable packaging, Sydney’s top spots are paving the way for a greener future. Below, you’ll find some of our favourite sustainable venues in Sydney. Stay in the loop: sign up for our free Time Out Sydney newsletter for more news, food & drink inspo and activity ideas, straight to your inbox. RECOMMENDED READ: These are the best vegetarian restaurants in Sydney.

Any Sydneysider knows that getting a good feed near the Sydney Opera House is a hard game. If you're looking for an easy, delicious lunch or dinner – or a quality drink before or after hitting the sails for a show – it can be tough to know where to look in a district rife with overpriced tourist traps. That’s why we’ve rounded up the very best restaurants, bars and eateries for you to grab dinner, lunch or a simple pre-show snack while you're in the heart of Sydney’s most famous part of town. You’re welcome. While you're in the area, check out the best restaurants in Sydney right now, then wander around the Rocks and check out the MCA. Stay in the loop: sign up for our free Time Out Sydney newsletter for more news, food & drink inspo and activity ideas, straight to your inbox.

This city has countless hotels to choose from, but if you're after something a bit different, you should book a stay at one of the best boutique hotels in Melbourne. From Airstream caravans hoisted atop a rooftop car park to tiny 34-room hotels filled with kitsch lamps and furry rugs, these are the stays you'll want to write home about. We'll even reveal where all the celebs stay when they come to Melbourne...  And while you're not busy discovering all the delights of your accommodation, explore Melbourne's top activities, from a sunrise hot air balloon tour to its iconic zoo, or make the most if the city's culinary offerings by booking a table at the best places to eat in town – serving up Bankok-style boat noodles, panoramic views and everything in between.  RECOMMENDED: ✨ Check out the best fancy hotels in Melbourne💰 Melbourne's best cheap hotels for those on a budget🏠 Stay in one of the best Airbnbs in Melbourne At Time Out, all of our travel guides are written by local writers who know their cities inside out. For more about how we curate, see our editorial guidelines. While we might not stay in every hotel featured below, we've based our list on top reviews and amenities to find you the best stays. This article includes affiliate links. These links have no influence on our editorial content. For more information, see our affiliate guidelines.

People are choosing plant-based eating for its softer step on the Earth, concerns about animal cruelty, and the health benefits of vegetable-rich diets. Plus, there's been a rise in flexitarian diets – you might not be a full-time vegan, but where you can, you opt for more plants on your plate. Only a few years ago, vegan dining meant a whole lot of pulses and sprouts, but now Sydney is home to plant-based burger shops, classic Italian pizzerias that showcase cheese and meat alternatives, gelato shops that favour coconut bases, and a growing contingent of fine diners offering fancy degustations for vegans. Below, we've rounded up the best vegan restaurants in Sydney. Cool with eggs and dairy? Check out the best vegetarian restaurants in Sydney. Got a mixed group? Head to one of the best restaurants in Sydney. On a budget? Have a look at the best cheap eats in Sydney. Stay in the loop: sign up for our free Time Out Sydney newsletter for more news, food & drink inspo and activity ideas, straight to your inbox. Want to shop sustainably? Check out our guide to ethical shopping in Sydney here.

You know the landmarks and the laid-back culture, but there are plenty more things to do in Australia than kissing koalas and yelling ‘g’day mate’. Australia is a nature lover’s paradise, with highly sought-after food experiences and an impressive cultural heritage to boot. Our team (including Travel & News Editor Melissa Woodley) have sifted through every attraction, experience, event and landmark our nation has to offer and put together the only Aussie bucket list you'll ever need. Whether you want to get amongst art parties in small coastal cities, see fairy penguins scurry across sandy beaches or watch the sunrise over Sydney Harbour from a kayak, there’s so much to explore across this incredible country. Here's our guide to all the best things you need to do in Australia right now. 🇦🇺 The top tourist attractions in Australia🌈 Australia's most beautiful destinations🌊 The best beaches in Australia

Autumn 2025 update: Thirst-quenching beers, sunny beer gardens and hearty feeds – how good are pubs? Whether you’re after a midweek meal, a trivia night or live music, Sydney’s best watering holes are sure to set the stage for good times. There's a lot that goes into making a great pub. They need to furnish you with an excellent meal and friendly service, and a game of pool or darts doesn't go astray. On a sunny day, it's all about having a welcoming beer garden, and on a Sunday, it's all about a cracking roast. There are a lot of rock-solid pubs in this city, and these are our picks of the bunch, pulled together by Time Out Sydney's local writers, including Food & Drink Editor Avril Treasure. Cheers! Stay in the loop: sign up for our free Time Out Sydney newsletter for more news, food & drink inspo and activity ideas, straight to your inbox. For something a bit less pubby, a bit higher end, see our picks of the best bars in Sydney. Hungry? Check out our ultimate guide to Sydney's best restaurants. 

Autumn 2025 update: Not sure where the start of the year went? Same. Embrace the cooler weather with brekkie and a hot coffee at one of our fave Sydney cafés. My current picks include a delightful new spot from the Ursula’s Paddington team called Cafe Cressida, Manly’s go-to Noon, and the Euro-style Ken's Continental in Potts Point. Sydneysiders are café people. We're constantly on the hunt for the city's best coffee and we love nothing more than donning our finest sport-luxe activewear and catching up with mates on a weekend morning over eggs, fritters and crusty artisan sourdough. So, whether it's a reward for tackling one of Sydney's most beautiful walks, an indulgent hangover fix after a night at one of the city's best bars, or a workday coffee stop, these are the best Sydney cafés, according to our in-the-know Time Out Sydney writers, including Food & Drink Editor Avril Treasure. We'll have one B&E roll, please.  Stay in the loop: sign up for our free Time Out Sydney newsletter for more news, food & drink inspo and activity ideas, straight to your inbox. Is it lunch time? Check out our guide to Sydney's best restaurants right now.

There are plenty of exciting new restaurant openings to add to your hit list. My current favourites include Newtown’s charming new fisherman’s den, Mister Grotto; a fire-powered Mediterranean diner from the Bar Copains team called Bessie’s; and Marrickville’s new Greek grill house that’s 100 per cent worth the hype, Olympic Meats. Oh, and the five-star Neptune's Grotto. Below, you’ll find Sydney’s best new restaurants. Hungry? I am too. Let’s dig in. Stay in the loop: sign up for our free Time Out Sydney newsletter for more news, food & drink inspo and activity ideas, straight to your inbox. Looking for something to wash it all down with? These are our favourite bars in Sydney right now. Keen to eat your way around the city? These are the best restaurants in Sydney, from hot newcomers to the OGs.

The Emerald City is peppered with a whole host of dreamy stays – from boutique boltholes with rooftop pools overlooking trendy city suburbs to sky-high towers with uninterrupted views of the Opera House. To help you choose which is right for you, our team of writers (including Lifestyle Writer Winnie Stubbs and Travel and News Editor Melissa Woodley) have shared their top picks for the best places to stay in Sydney – along with tips on how to make the most of your stay. Stay in the loop: sign up for our free Time Out Sydney newsletter for more news, travel inspo and activity ideas, straight to your inbox. RECOMMENDED: These are the best glamping sites in NSW. These are the best camping sites near Sydney. And these are the best spots for a weekend away if you’re keen to get out of town. Who makes the cut? While we might not stay in every hotel featured below, we've based our list on top reviews and amenities to find you the best stays. This article includes affiliate links. These links have no influence on our editorial content. For more information, see our affiliate guidelines.

We all know Sydney and Melbourne – they’re the go-to cities for any traveller touching down in Australia. But once you’ve ticked off all the bucket list items – we’re looking at you, Sydney Harbour Bridge and Opera House – where to next? Sure, you could continue adventuring along the Great Ocean Road to Adelaide, or wind your way up the coast to Brisbane – but why not shake things up? Our Travel & News Editor, Melissa Woodley, has handpicked ten underrated Aussie destinations that are packed with hidden natural wonders, incredible eateries and fascinating events. So, ditch the crowds and head to these lesser-known, yet equally awesome cities in Australia. Labelling a city as ‘underrated’ might ruffle a few feathers with the locals. For us, ‘underrated cities’ are those that sit in the shadow of their state’s capital, yet pack just as much awe and adventure. So, here’s our list of Australia’s most underrated cities at the moment. But fair warning – they might not stay under the radar for long. 🌈 All the best places to visit in Australia🚗 The best day trips from every Australian capital city🏝️ Cheap holiday destinations that don't suck in Australia

It's ticking over to a shameful hour, and you've smoke-bombed from the party in search of sustenance. Is it fried chicken you're after, that fail-safe absorbent of sin and too many cocktails? Or maybe you've been working late, and you're looking to redeem a day of fluorescent-lit corporate drudgery with the perfect plate of spicy noodles? Time Out's Sydney's writers, including Food & Drink Editor (and fellow night owl) Avril Treasure, spend a lot of time out on the town at night – it's our job. So we know where to nab a decent late-night feed (when Macca's isn't it). We've rounded up the best spots where you'll find what you're craving, way up late. Most of the places on this list are open until around midnight or beyond (especially Thursdays to Saturdays). Stay in the loop: sign up for our free Time Out Sydney newsletter for more news, food & drink inspo and activity ideas, straight to your inbox. Still feeling snackish? Take yourself out to peruse our list of the very best cheap eats you can get in Sydney. RECOMMENDED: These are the best pizza restaurants in Sydney right now

Parramatta is buzzing. It’s got a light rail that takes people from one end of the city to the other and down Church Street, which is jam-packed with restaurants (every cuisine you can think of). There’s a cool town square; the Riverside Theatres; Western Sydney Stadium; a walk and cycle path that runs all the way along the river; Nick & Nora’s sky-high bar; Sydney’s most delicious array of Indian restaurants nearby in Harris Park; and an absolutely delightful riverside restaurant called Misc. If you want to make the most of all that Sydney’s second CBD has going for it, there’s no better place to stay than Parkroyal Parramatta, which is a lovely stay smack-bang in the middle of the action. You can easily walk to every one of the places I just mentioned.     Why stay at Parkroyal Parramatta? The Parkroyal is in the heart of Parramatta – on Phillip Street, near the corner of the restaurant-lined Church Street, which heads straight to the river. It’s close to the ferry, train station and light rail. It’s close to CommBank Stadium (but also Olympic Park's venues), the Riverside Theatres, the Westfield, Parramatta Park, and all the nature and heritage landmarks you might want to (should) explore. Most of the hotel's rooms have recently been refurbed – really beautifully – and the hotel has all the facilities you might be after: a pool, a gym, 24-hour room service from the ground-floor bar, buffet breakfast from the on-site restaurant, WiFi, large flat-screen TVs and more.   What

As I take the lift up to the 19th floor of the Quincy Hotel in Melbourne’s CBD, we stop at different levels and I see, as the lift doors open, that there’s a fabulous feature wall opposite the lift on every floor of the hotel. Some of the walls are covered in thousands of tassels, others in woven tapestries and some in feather-like materials. This is no cookie-cutter hotel – Quincy has a big personality.  Why stay at Quincy Hotel Melbourne? I get the same impression as I enter my room. The wall behind the bed features a bedhead-like artwork of pinky-red fabric with a big blue feature spot. It’s not a luxury hotel – it’s an accessible hotel with affordable rates, yet there are creative touches throughout that make sure you’re in for a fun stay. I’m not a fan of a hotel room with no soul, so this place is my vibe.  How cute is this? Quincy offers a Fragrance Service. If you’ve left your signature scent at home, or want to try some of the most popular perfumes out there, you can scan the in-room QR code and they’ll bring up their range of scents – for free – so you can spray away and find something you love. Bonus points: Quincy is the first hotel in Victoria to be a ‘Climate Active Carbon Neutral Building’ certified through the National Australian Built Environment Rating System. How good! Quincy has that small, boutique hotel feel, but remarkably, it stretches 29 storeys into the air, with 241 rooms and a rooftop bar at the peak.    What are the rooms like at Quincy Hotel Melb

✍️ Time Out Sydney never writes starred restaurant and bar reviews from hosted experiences – Time Out covers restaurant and bar bills, and anonymously reviews, so that readers can trust our critique. Find out more, here. I'd be surprised if many Sydney restaurants have survived as long as Bar Italia. It's been serving locals and visitors in Leichhardt for more than 70 years – since 1952. I'm not surprised it's still going strong all these decades later, though. It still serves up classic Italian hits in what has gradually become a retro setting – we're sure it looked fairly modern back in the '50s! You can get a delicious, filling feed for under $25, so it's without doubt one of Sydney's best cheap eats.  The vibe Sitting here, you can imagine you're in a trattoria in Rome. It's always busy, the service is relaxed (you line up to order), and there are classic Italian features and finishes – including an old-school crazy-pave tiled marble floor, gelato counter near the front, and red-white-and-green neon signage. Although it's popular, you should always be able to find a table, either in one of the indoor dining areas, in the covered area out on the footpath, or – my fave spot – in the sunny terrace at the back, which is covered in vines, bougainvilleas and fairy lights. It's definitely not the most refined Italian food you'll find in Sydney, but it's good grub, and such excellent value. Another bonus: they serve up food all day, every day, from breakfast at 8am to 10.30 or 11

✍️ Time Out Sydney never writes starred restaurant and bar reviews from hosted experiences – Time Out covers restaurant and bar bills, and anonymously reviews, so that readers can trust our critique. Find out more, here. The vibe Summery and fun, as the name suggests! The team behind some of Sydney’s best cafés, Soulmate in Newtown and Superfreak in Marrickville, are behind this kiosk-like café at the Fanny Durack Aquatic Centre, which is in the glorious Petersham Park. If you’re going for a swim, you can order from the Fanny Durack side and eat on the grass or at one of the poolside tables (that’s what I do!); otherwise, there’s also indoor café seating on the park side, or they’ll lend you a picnic blanket. I’m an Inner Westie, so in my ’hood there’s nothing else quite like ordering up a fish sambo and eating it under an umbrella to a soundtrack of happy kids splashing around in bright aquamarine water. The food Drawing inspo from Aussie kiosks and milk bars from “the good old days”, Splash’s menu is absolutely jam-packed with picks that will satisfy your hunger for nostalgia (as well as a good feed). Our favourite thing we’ve had is the fish sandwich – it’s a huge fillet of golden-crumbed fish with slices of tomato and beetroot, onion, iceberg lettuce, American cheese and a creamy, dill-forward “Splash sauce” on thick-cut, spongy white bread (the type of bread you loved as a kid). The fish fillet is so big, the bread slices can’t contain it, so panko-crumbed perfection spi

✍️ Time Out Sydney never writes starred restaurant and bar reviews from hosted experiences – Time Out covers restaurant and bar bills, and anonymously reviews, so that readers can trust our critique. Find out more, here.  The vibe If you’re after a sunny-day lunch spot by the water, this place has your name written all over it. It’s down at the harbour at Barangaroo, an iconic Sydney setting. It’s got a huge indoor-outdoor dining room – there’s cover to keep you out of the rain and blaring sun, but you look straight out onto the boardwalk and water. This is no cosy, underground, “hidden gem” – it’s a slick, sleek-surfaces kind of place. On the day we went, the service was a little slow, but the place was pumping – even though it was only a Wednesday lunchtime. The food As the name suggests, the menu heroes fish. Sustainable fish, which is ace. Their philosophy is: "Be as local, seasonal and sustainable as possible.” The menu spans raw and cured options, small plates, pastas and risottos and, of course, main fish dishes (including grilled swordfish, barramundi and mulloway). Non-fish fans can opt for the steak or chicken dish instead, but we’re here for the seafood – so we order the fish and chips (today it’s king dory) and the spinach linguine with prawns. The fish and chips is solid – a nice, generous serve with crisp batter, a tangy tartare sauce and Maccas-like fries. The green-tinged pasta comes with sliced prawns and a pearlescent cherry tomato and pangrattato sauce that

Whether you've got Gaelic heritage or are just in it for a good time, St Patrick's Day is a perfect excuse to celebrate – and this year the Rocks is once again set to be the epicentre of the Irish-inspired merrimaking in honour of the March 17 holiday. On Sunday, March 16, 2025 (the day before the official St Paddy’s Day), Irish pride will take over the historic precinct in the form of free family-friendly activities, markets, toe-tapping live music and world-class Irish dance performances.  Kicking off at 11am, the annual St Patrick’s Day Festival Parade will begin at Martin Place, then make its way down Pitt St to the festival site at First Fleet Park. The festival itself will also kick off at 11am – you'll get the chance to participate in Irish language lessons, watch live music and performances from Irish dancers and stilt walkers. The kids will be entertained by face painting, characters from Frozen and interactive craft stalls. Food stalls will be serving up Irish fare, and, of course, the pubs and restaurants that have been serving visitors to the Rocks for years will be pouring out pint upon pint of Guinness.Put on your favourite green accessory, and visit the Rocks for a high-spirited St Patrick's Day celebration.Stay in the loop: sign up for our free Time Out Sydney newsletter for more news, food & drink inspo and activity ideas, straight to your inbox. RECOMMENDED: Looking for somewhere to sink a pint? Check out the best beer gardens in Sydney. Want more activities

✍️ Time Out Sydney never writes starred restaurant and bar reviews from hosted experiences – Time Out covers restaurant and bar bills, and anonymously reviews, so that readers can trust our critique. Find out more, here.  The Sydney suburb of Haberfield famously has no pubs. When a man named Des Middleton tried to open one here in 1948, more than half of the suburb’s population (that was 4,238 residents, at the time) voted against it. Over the years, some Haberfield restaurateurs have even struggled to secure liquor licenses for their eateries. So, to this day, this little Inner Western suburb full of heritage homes is still without a pub. Despite the area’s Italian-ness, it doesn’t even have a wine bar. We’d say it doesn’t need a pub when it has UTS Haberfield Rowers The club house – located on the popular Bay Run, over the water at Iron Cove – has housed various restaurants over the years, but in May 2024, it was taken over by hospitality pro Con Dedes (of Flying Fish and Sala), who has rebranded the venue as Regatta Club. In a nod to what seems like Haberfield’s pub-free policy, the staff have the words ‘REGATTA PUB CLUB’ written on the back of their T-shirts. Cute. This new venue has an easy, breezy, always-summery vibe, and it’s the perfect place for an afternoon or balmy-evening drink (and yes, the only place in this ’hood where you can have a drink without eating).  As you walk up the stairs, there’s a big hand-painted mural on the wall – drawings of rowing-club motifs

✍️ Time Out Sydney never writes starred restaurant and bar reviews from hosted experiences – Time Out covers restaurant and bar bills, and anonymously reviews, so that readers can trust our critique. Find out more, here. As you take the elevator up to the 26th floor above the modern Skye Suites apartment tower from the corporate-leaning Macquarie Street, Parramatta, it’s hard to imagine you’re about to enter a glamorous, Art Deco-style cocktail and Champagne bar. But as you step out, you launch into another world – it’s the world of Nick and Nora, the murder-solving, soirée-throwing New York duo from the novel (and films), The Thin Man. Nick & Nora’s is made up of a big, indoor area, sandwiched between two outdoor terraces. From the terraces you look out onto the contemporary Parramatta cityscape and far beyond, yet each piece of furniture and design detail – including the Art Deco-style light shades dotted around the room – screams old-world glamour.  Every little detail has been considered, not a corner cut The bar itself is the centrepiece of the room – there are rows and rows and rows of bottles of spirits, all lit from behind so they glow with a warm golden light. You can sit along the green, marble bar on dark wooden stools, at one of the many tables or booths inside, or you can look out at the view from a rattan stool or lounge on the terrace. The service also comes with vintage charm – the bartenders are dressed smartly in crisp, white shirts and forest-green cross-ba

✍️ Time Out Sydney never writes starred restaurant and bar reviews from hosted experiences – Time Out covers restaurant and bar bills, and anonymously reviews, so that readers can trust our critique. Find out more, here. Ateş (pronounced “a-tesh”) means 'fire' in Turkish and, considering it’s one of the coldest Blackheath days on record on the day we visit, a cosy neighbourhood wine bar and restaurant featuring food cooked over flames seems like the right place to be. This little Blue Mountains dining room is warm in more ways than one – the terracotta-coloured walls give off welcoming vibes. There are house plants scattered around the dining room, like it's someone's home. The (mostly locally-sourced) produce is cooked in a 150-year-old ironbark-fuelled oven. The service is also warm and friendly. It's the sort of place you want to settle into for the afternoon to share good food, and that’s what we’re here to do. I’m not normally a big fan of polenta, but something draws me to order it, and it’s a delicious choice. It’s soft polenta, cooked in butter, almost like a creamy risotto, and it’s topped with a mound of different types of wood-roasted mushrooms and chestnuts, sliced and tossed in a vinegary dressing that cuts through the creaminess of the polenta base. Speaking of risotto, we order that, too, jumping at the chance to sample the Kanimbla Valley truffles it’s served with. The risotto is spiked with small shavings of the truffle, but it’s also topped with the most gen

The Australia vs England Ashes contest is one of the biggest rivalries in sport, and the sense of competition isn’t any less fierce when it comes to the Women’s Ashes, which started way back in 1934-35. Ninety years on, Australia is hosting England for the 2025 multi-format Women’s Ashes series – with a range of seven different games held across the country, starting with a one-dayer in Sydney on Sunday, January 12 at North Sydney Oval (tickets $5 – bargain!). That will be followed by games in Melbourne, Hobart, Adelaide and Canberra. The other Sydney game is on at the SCG – a T20 match on January 20.  Help make history by showing up to one of the games (or tuning in on TV) to break some records. You did it for the Matildas, now do it for our Southern Stars! They’re ranked number one in the world, after all. We've put together a handy guide to everything you need to know about the Women's Ashes 2025, including Sydney games, over here. Stay in the loop: sign up for our free Time Out Sydney newsletter for more news, food & drink inspo and activity ideas, straight to your inbox. Want more things to do? These are the biggest events on in Sydney in 2025. These are the ultimate Sydney things to do before you die. These are the best ways to keep kids occupied in Sydney this school holidays.

✍️ Time Out Sydney never writes starred restaurant and bar reviews from hosted experiences – Time Out covers restaurant and bar bills, and anonymously reviews, so that readers can trust our critique. Find out more, here. Grenier means ‘attic’ in French, and that’s exactly where you’ll find Bistro Grenier – you enter Newtown bar Odd Culture (created by the same team) and take the stairs up into a low-lit area above, where hefty old trusses support a cathedral ceiling. There are lithographic prints of sad clowns on the dark, sloped walls – a motif that’s continued in the cute coasters on each table. As well as wall lamps and sky lights, the room is lit by a tall, skinny candle on each table dressed with a snow-white tablecloth. C'est très romantique. My dining mate orders a Martini (here they do it with butter vodka for a French spin), but I’m inspired by the setting to order a classic French apéro, a Ricard pastis. I’ve actually never had pastis before, but I’m excitedly in training for a trip to Marseille later this year. The waiter brings out the licorice-flavoured pastis in a little wine glass, accompanied by a small yellow jug of water and a glass of ice. I pour the water in the pastis as I’m instructed to do, and the whisky-coloured liquid turns milky. It tastes delicious (as long as you like aniseed) and powers up my appetite.  The front of the menu says ‘Les cingles sont les bienvenus’, which Google tells me translates to ‘Weirdos are welcome’ – but the menu itself is l

Let’s just start by saying I’m not a D&D player. I’ve played a couple of times with my family, led by my teenage son as Dungeon Master, but that was just to show interest in something he loves. So I do understand the basics – that said, you don’t need any prior knowledge of D&D to get swept up in the magic that is Dungeons and Dragons The Twenty-Sided Tavern. If anything, this show is probably the best way I’ve found so far to get a better grasp on the complex game that is D&D. This is an interactive show that began in New York as an Off-Broadway production – the same director, Michael Fell, also rehearsed with the Australian cast. In what ways is it interactive? The story lies in the audience’s hands, as well as with the roll of the 20-sided dice.  As you enter The Studio at the Sydney Opera House, you pick a coloured sticker from a basket. Depending on what colour you choose, you get aligned with one of the three classes: Warrior, Mage (Wizard) or Assassin/Entertainer. Throughout the show, you make decisions for the character in your assigned class, mostly by choosing options via your mobile phone (after scanning a QR code) – and sometimes just by yelling out. (Top tip:Make sure you turn up with a fully-charged phone.) You answer polls and take part in little games to choose what character the actors play, then make decisions or see the outcomes of characters’ actions. Dice rolls are directed by the Dungeon Master, played by the charismatic Cody Simpson-lookalike William Ka

Melbourne, brace yourself for a culture shock – you’ve just been dethroned as Australia's ‘cultural capital’. We promise we’re not here to stir the pot. Time Out just published its list of the Best Cities for Culture Right Now, and Melbourne’s biggest rival claimed the top Aussie spot and cracked the global top five.  To determine the rankings, Time Out surveyed 18,500 city dwellers around the world – including Melbourne – on their hometown’s cultural scene. Based on the responses, each city was scored on both the quality and affordability of its cultural offering, with only the highest-scoring cities for each country making the long list. Time Out’s culture experts (our global network of city editors and arts and culture writers) then weighed in, voting for their favourite cultural destinations.  Unsurprisingly, Paris ranked as the best city for culture on the planet, with an enormous 96 per cent of Parisians rating their city’s culture scene as either ‘good’ or ‘amazing’ in the survey. But here’s a shocking stat: Sydney came fifth on the list, receiving the joint-highest share of votes from the culture-experts panel as Paris. Bloody oath!  Photograph: Getty Images Yep, our Emerald City tied with Paris as a favourite among Time Out’s panel of experts – and Sydney locals are frothing over our arts and culture scene at the moment, too, with 70 per cent rating this city’s culture scene favourably, highlighting events like the Sydney Film Festival, Sydney Mardi Gras and Sydney

Sydney gets a lot of attention for its looks – our stunning harbour, pristine beaches and incredible national parks come to mind. But look beyond the surface beauty, and you'll find that Sydney has a rich arts and culture scene that is increasingly grabbing attention. Now, Sydney has been recognised for being the fifth-best city in the whole world for culture, according to a huge reader survey that forms the basis of Time Out’s World’s 20 Best Cities for Culture Right Now. Earlier this year, Time Out published its annual list of the world’s greatest cities. Some places earned kudos for their food scenes, others got top marks for their world-class public transport and walkable streets. But which were the top of the pops when it comes to art and culture? To find out, Time Out quizzed 18,500 locals in cities across the planet about the culture scene in their hometown. Photograph: OA/Neil Bennett | Handa Opera on Sydney Harbour: Guys & Dolls (2025) Based on survey responses, each city got a score for both the quality and affordability of its cultural offering, and only the highest-scoring cities for each country made the long list. Time Out’s culture experts (our global network of city editors and arts and culture writers) then weighed in, voting for their favourite cultural destinations.  It’s quite an achievement for Sydney to rank 5th in the whole world, especially considering the other top cities on the list. Paris took the number one spot, with an enormous 96 per cent of

If you never got over the R'n'B era of the early 2000s, now's the time to relive it. The man who is arguably the king of the genre is coming to Sydney for a run of four arena shows – yes, the one and only Usher is gracing us with his presence. As he would say, oh my gosh. As part of his Past Present Future world tour, Usher has just announced a total of eight Aussie shows in Sydney and Melbourne later this year. It's a long-awaited return Down Under for the 'Love in this Club' singer, who hasn't performed on our shores since his first solo headline tour, the OMG tour, in 2011.  The tour is essentially a victory lap for the iconic artist, who is performing in celebration of his incredible 30-year career, singing all his hits like 'DJ Got Us Fallin' In Love', 'Burn' and heaps more. Currently touring around the world, Usher is already creating lots of hype – i.e. the viral clips of him feeding women in his audience cherries. Clearly, he's still got it. So if you've got it bad for the king of R'n'B, here's everything you need to know about Usher's Sydney shows for the 2025 Past Present Future tour. When are Usher's Sydney shows for his 2025 Australia tour? Usher will perform four shows at Qudos Bank Arena in early December, on: Monday, December 1; Tuesday, December 2; Thursday, December 4 and Friday, December 5. Yep, Christmas is coming early. Where is Usher performing in Sydney? Usher will perform his four Sydney shows at Olympic Park's Qudos Bank Arena in early December. That

I grew up on Narrabeen Beach – not on it, but practically on it. The shack I lived in was built on the sand dunes, back when they were knew better, and before 'beachfront' meant a $12-million teardown. I spent countless salty childhood hours bodysurfing and getting thrown about by the waves, but I never caught the surfing (on a board) bug. So when my husband and son want to go try the perfectly formed waves at Sydney’s new wave park (I say ‘new’, but URBNSURF turns one next week!), I decide to go along to Olympic Park and take a beginner surf lesson. What better way to learn than on the consistent, predictable waves of an artificial surf park? I’m not alone in my late-onset surf ambition; in the year since opening, more than 18,000 women have taken learn-to-surf lessons, with female entry to the park increasing all the time.  I can only get into a 7.30am session, but that ends up being a blessing – my class is just me and two others. Our lesson starts on dry land, and my coach is good to learn from, because he too only started learning to surf as an adult (he knows what it’s like to flail). He gives us a safety briefing, then teaches us how to lay on the (foam) longboard and paddle, do a kind of cobra pose, and then a couple of different options for standing up. Photograph: Alice Ellis for Time Out He warns us that one of the hardest parts of being in the surf will be wading out with the board, not only because of the whitewash, but because there’s a current pushing against

It's a sad fact that – despite society's empathy and our love of Labradors – people with low vision or blindness are often turned away from venues for having a guide dog in toe. Shocking, right? (NSW law states that everywhere needs to allow guide dogs, including hospo venues.) These gaps in support often lead people to retreat from social interactions in public. Guide Dogs NSW/ACT is hosting an event at NSW Parliament House this week to celebrate the success of their new Access Means Business initiative (which provides hospitality businesses with resources to make Sydney’s venues more inclusive to people with low vision or blindness) and to launch the Self-Advocacy Toolkit (a practical resource created to support people with low vision or blindness to advocate for their rights).  This brand-new Toolkit will provide straightforward, accessible information about the legal right to enter hospitality venues in NSW with a guide dog, along with clear steps to take if access is refused.  Alan Edwards, a ‘Lived Experience Presenter’ says that when he started getting out and about with a guide dog, it was life-changing, but also surprising. “I was delighted at how much easier it was for me to be involved in life. I was also confronted by some people unfairly and illegally restricting access. “It was and remains challenging to stand up to this. This Toolkit gives people practical tools to confidently advocate for themselves and for inclusive practices. I hope that through toolkits lik

The democracy sausage is arguably one of Australia’s most iconic dishes (if you can call it that). But is that snag sambo really worth lining up at the local school on a Saturday to cast your vote? If you've got other plans on the Australian federal election day (this coming Saturday, May 3, 2025), you can pre-poll, and early voting is open now. We've broken down everything you need to know about casting your vote for the 2025 federal election. When is the Australian election 2025? Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has called the next Australian federal election for this coming Saturday, May 3. Who has to vote in the Australian election? Anyone who is an Australian citizen, aged 18 and over, must vote in the election.  How to enrol in the Australian election?  All Australians must be enrolled to vote. You can check your enrollment here. If you've just turned 18 or moved since the 2022 election, you'll need to have already enrolled (close date for enrolment was 8pm on Monday, April 7). Failure to vote will result in a $20 fine. How to vote in the Australian election? On election day, Australians can vote at polling booths in their state or territory, including churches, schools, community halls and public buildings. Locations are available via the Australian Electoral Commission's “Where can I vote” page, with polling stations open from 8am to 6pm. Once you arrive at your polling station, you’ll be provided with two ballot papers. The smaller piece is for the House of Representa

Packed like a can of sardines. If you’ve ever travelled on the Sydney Metro during morning peak hour, you’re probably nodding in agreement. Sydneysiders have well and truly embraced the extension of the metro, but with popularity comes potential crowding, especially during the morning rush. And where does it get busiest? The Sydney Morning Herald has revealed that the M1 line gets particularly jam-packed at Crows Nest, which is the morning hot spot for city-bound commuters. Metro trains at Crows Nest Station depart at 82 per cent capacity during the 8 to 9am rush, and it’s projected to get more crowded, with ongoing residential and office developments in the area. Crows Nest's packed factor is closely followed by Chatswood (which depart at 77 per cent capacity), Victoria Cross in North Sydney (at 76 per cent capacity), and North Ryde (at 69 per cent capacity). So, where is everyone going? New data reveals that Martin Place Station recorded an average of 17,000 taps between 6.30am and 10am on weekdays in February – well above the 2024 forecast of 15,600. Gadigal Station (Town Hall) also surpassed projections, hitting 9,700 average taps in February, up from a forecast of 7,500. To give you a sense of scale, full capacity on these driverless metro trains is 1,152 passengers – that’s all 378 seats taken plus standing passengers. Morning peaks tend to be busier than evenings, with school and office start times overlapping, while the trip home tends to be more spread out because p

It’s been a huge 12 months or so for Australia’s hotel scene, with shiny new stays from the east coast to the west welcoming guests. And the expert wanderers at Travel + Leisure have been busy scoping out the world’s best new and renovated properties for their hotly anticipated 100 Best New Hotels of the Year list. From luxe city breaks to lower-budget properties, their round-up covers all styles and price points – and we're pleased to see that three excellent Australian hotels made the list, including two beauties right here in NSW. Let the daydreaming begin... Photograph: Supplied | The Eve Hotel Sydney We called it – we knew The Eve Hotel Sydney would be one of the hottest Sydney hotel openings in years, and it of course made the list. This stunning urban property is from the folks at TFE Hotels, and it opened in Sydney's new Wunderlich Village lifestyle precinct in February this year. The Eve seamlessly blends the glamour and grunge that Redfern is known for, and features 102 boutique rooms, a rooftop deck with a 20-metre pool, lush greenery and a European-style lobby bar. Guests there are also be within walking distance of some of Sydney’s best new dining venues, including Olympus, a bustling Greek taverna, and Island Radio, a high-energy Southeast Asian eatery. We’re itching to check in!  But it was a hotel outside Sydney, up on the stunning Byron Bay coast, Basq House, that topped the list of best new hotels to open in Australia. I was lucky enough to stay here on

The Sydney Easter Show can be one of the most glorious days of your year: get your hit of oxytocin by patting cute baby animals, adrenaline on the rides and dopamine when you think you’ve nabbed the best-value showbag you can get your hands on. And it’s the only place you can shamelessly order up a chip on a stick as a starter, cheese on a stick for entrée, award-winning pie for main, hot cinnamon donut for dessert and home-made lemonade to wash it all down. On the flipside, the Easter Show can involve waiting in lines, spending big bucks on staying hydrated and dealing with dehydrated kids losing it while waiting in said lines. Lucky for you, Time Out Sydney Editor Alice Ellis hit up the 2025 Sydney Royal Easter Show with her family to suss it all out and bring you a few insider hacks, to help make your day more dreamy than nightmare. Below are her top tips: 1. Download the Fun Pass app Seriously, we’re not about helping the Easter Show nab your data (we think they’ve already got that). We’re here to help you stay out of those lines for buying ride credits. Once upon a time, there was no way to avoid waiting for 37 minutes in a line to get your hands on a card that gave you access to a few rides. With the Fun Pass app, you can upload any amount of dollars onto the app and then you’re ready to tap your phone at each ride. The Fun Pass honestly amps up the fun factor by decreasing the wait factor, and we love it. Photograph: Alice Ellis for Time Out Sydney | Sydney Royal East

There’s a lot to love about our old girl, Sydney. She’s got pristine beaches, an epic food scene and a veritable smorgasbord of events to attend any given day. But cheap parking ain’t one of our great city’s boastful attributes. And a new report released by NRMA and Bitzios Consulting backs that up, revealing that the cost of parking in Sydney is one of the most expensive in the world. The Parkin’ Mad report found that daily parking fees in Sydney average at around $77.30. Beep beep! According to realestate.com.au, CBD parking is a hot-property commodity, with car spaces being listed for staggering prices – you can pay up to $150,000 for 14 square metres of concrete. Parking mad, indeed. If that's sobering enough, the report also found Sydney’s parking woes are having a very real knock-on effect amidst the cost of living crisis. As we fork out more for parking, that means there’s less disposable income to go towards hospitality, tourism and retail – three pillars that are essential to a flowing economy. In the report, Paul Nicolaou, Executive Director of Business Sydney, said he hopes the Parkin’ Mad findings might elicit some “sensible discussion” around affordable parking, after it was found that the City of Sydney generated $41.5 million revenue from parking meters last year. The report also crunched the comparative numbers and found that when stacked up against other cities with similar populations and density, Sydney was by far the most expensive city in the world when i

Would it surprise you that only one in three people with low vision or blindness feel confident heading out and about, including into cafés and restaurants, in our community? It's a sad fact that, despite society's empathy and our love of Labradors, people with low vision or blindness are often turned away from venues – sometimes because they have a guide dog in toe. Shocker, right? These gaps in support lead people to opt out of public social interactions and dining out. Almost 500,000 Australians are blind or have low vision, so in pursuit of transforming Sydney into a more accessible city, Guide Dogs NSW/ACT has launched a new campaign to assist restaurants, cafés and bars so they can better cater to people with low vision or blindness. Their Access Means Business initiative provides a handy toolkit for hospitality businesses to use to make sure they’re equipped to support patrons with low vision or blindness. Among the resources available are training modules and practical tools – and business owners have been encouraged to reach out to Guide Dogs NSW/ACT if they require further assistance to make their venue more accessible. Urban accessibility is a work in progress for many Australian cities, and Guide Dogs NSW/ACT CEO Dale Cleaver says that Sydney has a long way to go in order to see public spaces and facilities inclusive for the needs of all members of the community. "Until now many businesses and staff still lack the tools and training to provide truly inclusive serv

Once Daylight Savings wraps up the annual wave of complaints begins: Why does Daylight Savings have to end? We love the daylight after clocking off from work! My body's not going to know what time it is! Who invented this inconvenience? I feel jetlagged. But before you get in a tailspin about winding the clocks back, let's accentuate the positive. Think of it this way: 1. You can wake up with the sun The lame thing about Daylight Savings after summer's ended if that many of us have to start rising for the day in the pitch black, which makes waking up way harder to do. Thanks to the end of Daylight Savings, the sun now peeks above the horizon closer a whole hour earlier. So you can wake up whistling ‘Here Comes the Sun’. No? The unfortunate part of this is having the sun in your eyes driving into the city from the west. But a dramatic rendition of the opening scene of 'The Lion King' is sure to cheer you up. 2. You can start running in the mornings And you will, right? Those ambitious people who run in the morning before work love when Daylight Savings ends. Their morning workouts are lit. Everyone can see their flashy running gear. And the temperature is becoming cooler, nicer to run in. If you're not yet a runner and you're having trouble finding the motivation to start, this is your chance! Head over here for running route inspo. 3. You can save bucks  When you finally roll out of bed after hitting snooze three times, don’t turn on the lamp. Instead, crack open the blinds