Divya Venkataraman

The Northern NSW township of Byron Bay has come to occupy a sort of cult status for holiday seekers in recent years. Be it for the natural beauty of the beach-meets-hinterland landscape, the laid-back creative vibes, or its slew of chiselled Hollywood heartthrobs (okay, most of them are Hemsworths), travellers keep flocking to Byron – and it's seen an upswing in accommodation options since. So how do you settle on just one? Fear not. We've searched high and low for the best so you can just focus on the chilling, kombucha-drinking and sun-lounging. Here's our pick of the best Airbnbs in the area.  Want more? Here's the most luxurious accommodation in NSW Keen on more nature? Check out the best accommodation in the Blue Mountains RECOMMENDED: 🇦🇺The best Airbnbs in Sydney Who makes the cut? While we might not stay in and review every Airbnb featured, we've based our list on our expert knowledge of the destination covered, editorial reviews, user reviews, hotel amenities and in-depth research 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.

Craving a taste of pure luxury? How about jetting off to one of Australia’s hotspots and crashing at a place so swanky, saying goodbye will be the hardest part? Imagine sinking into sheets with thread counts that could reach the thousands, flipping lights on and off with just a clap, and leisurely floating around a pool that’s bigger than your entire bedroom back home. Trust us, Sydney is packed with properties so luxurious it’s like stepping into an alternate universe. To help you plan your perfect VIP stay, we've searched through Sydney's Airbnb scene to dig up only the fanciest stays for you. From penthouse apartments overlooking the harbour to coastal mansions with killer ocean views, there’s a little something for everyone on this extensive list. What are you waiting for? Pack your bags and get ready to live the high life. Just don’t forget the bubbles, they're a must for the full-on experience. Updated April 2024: We regularly spice up our lists with Australia's most unique and on-trend stays, and this time we're coming for Sydney with this ultra-relaxing abode 10 minutes from Curl Curl Beach, or this luxury cabin in South Maroota.  RECOMMENDED: 🏨 The best boutique hotels in Sydney 🐨 Want more? Here's the most luxurious accommodation in NSW 🇦🇺 The most wish-listed Airbnbs in the state. Who makes the cut? While we might not stay in every Airbnb featured, we've based our list on top reviews, hosts, and amenities to find you the best stays. This article includes affili

Whether you're craving urban glamour or undone surf-chic, there's no doubt that Sydney is a gloriously romantic city. Gaze out over that landmark-spotted city skyline, dive underground to a funky hidden bar, or sit down for alfresco dinner after a sunset swim – whatever you're looking for, you'll find a kind of magic here. And when you're done exploring the city, you'll need a place to rest your head – and we've got you covered for the best hotels in town to stoke those romantic flames. Maybe a spa day for two, or a seaplane ride to your door will do the job. RECOMMENDED: Full of love but low on cash? Get cosy at one of the best camping sites near Sydney 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 might be a little biased, but in our humble opinion, Sydney's got it all. Can you think of many other cities in the world that rival its natural beauty, rich heritage and history that dates back thousands of years, and its creative, culinary and cultural offerings by world-class pros. In fact, there's so much to see, do, sip and ponder here, you could be forgiven for feeling a little overwhelmed. Worry not, dear reader – we're making it simple for you. Our team (including Food & Drink Editor Avril Treasure and our Sydney Editor Alice Ellis) sifted through every good time the Big Smoke has to offer and put together a Sydney bucket list for the ages. The activities we've chosen will give you a super varied experience of the city – everything from the tourist attractions that are actually worth your time to secret swimming spots that locals know and love.Whether you're a new arrival or a born-and-bred local, this 2025 Time Out Sydney round-up of the city's must-do activities will help you experience Sydney from every angle. After all those great activities you're bound to be thirsty. We suggest you head to one of the best pubs in Sydney right now.  Need somewhere to stay? Check in to one of Sydney's best hotels or Airbnbs. 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.

The five days between Christmas and New Year’s Eve are a strange, awkward, in-between time for everyone. Most places have closed shop for the summer, while others have new holiday hours that are tricky to wrap your head around. At this time of year, Sydney tends to feel more empty than usual as most locals make a mass exodus for elsewhere, but if you plan on sticking around and having a lovely summer holiday in a whole city that you're likely to get (probably, mostly) to yourself, we have put together a list for you of all the coolest things for you to do in town between Christmas Day and NYE. You're welcome.  Stay in the loop: sign up for our free Time Out Sydney newsletter for more news, straight to your inbox. RECOMMENDED: Want more culture? Check out our guide to the best art exhibitions and theatre and musicals on in Sydney this month. 

There’s no doubt about it, Sydneysiders can’t get enough of Italian food. And who can blame us? There’s something about a bowl of perfectly al dente pasta paired with a luscious, rich ragu that just hits the spot. And while Italian cuisine differs throughout the 20 incredible regions – broadly speaking, the northern regions eat more rice and polenta, while down south they feast more on seafood – Italians share a love of beautiful, seasonal produce; they choose simplicity rather than overcomplicating dishes and cook with soul. No wonder we love it so much. Luckily, there are plenty of excellent options for Italian dining in Sydney. Time Out’s food writers and editors – including Food & Drink Editor Avril Treasure, who has eaten her way through Sicily, Sorrento, Rome and Florence – have picked our favourite eateries, covering all bases. The only catch? They just need to provide a feel-good environment and dishes you’ll want to come back for. From casual red-sauce joints and classic pizzerias to fine-dining restaurants, you’ll find them all 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. Not in the mood for pasta? Here are our picks of the best spots for Greek and French food in Sydney.

From the powdery slopes to the fairy floss-pink cherry blossoms and 7-Eleven’s egg sandos on soft white bread, we Aussies can’t get enough of Japan. Thanks to all of the incredible chefs gracing our shores, the good news is you can experience an excellent Japanese feast without hopping on a plane. From the lunchtime bento box to a full-blown omakase dining experience, Time Out Sydney's local food writers, including Food & Drink Editor Avril Treasure, have found the best of the best – here’s where to do Japanese in the 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. Keep the culinary experience going with this list of Sydney's best ramen. Feel like heat? Check out our guide to the finest Thai spots around town.

Summer 2025 update: Summer and cold beers at the pub with your best mates go hand-in-hand. Whether you’re after a mid-week feed, a trivia night, live music or air con, Sydney’s best pubs 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. 

If you want a fuss-free feed come rain or shine, nothing beats golden, crisp, flaky battered fish and a hearty serving of chips. But what makes a really excellent fish supper? It's the quality of the batter through to the cut of the chip, the potatoes used and even the seasonings and sauces – are you for ketchup, vinegar, chicken salt, tartare or simply a squeeze of lemon juice? And it comes down to how fresh the fish is, of course. There’s a lot that goes into getting it just right and a wide gulf between the catch of the day and yesterday's chip paper. Time Out Sydney's local food writers, including Food & Drink Editor Avril Treasure, have scoured the city to put together a list of the best to help you net the perfect catch. 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 seafood restaurants in Sydney. Check out our guide to the top waterfront restaurants in Sydney.

Who needs far-flung destinations when you can have a world-class staycation right here at home? You don't need to leave Sydney to find astonishing accommodation where you can get your glam on for an evening or two. To guide you in your search for the high life, our Sydney team (including Time Out Sydney editor Alice Ellis) have road-tested five-star spa hotels overlooking the city and boutique offerings that provide proximity to a wild night on the town and the city's best attractions. Take a look at our top picks for luxury hotels in Sydney, Australia...  RECOMMENDED: 🏨 The best hotels in Sydney 🏠 The best Airbnbs in Sydney Want a rustic retreat without slumming it? Sleep under the fanciest canvas in these luxury glamping locations. This article was written by a previous editor for Time Out Sydney, Maxim Boon. 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.

The enclave of Potts Point is home to some serious dining gems, be it mainstays like Fratelli Paradiso or the Apollo; game-changing plant-based restaurant Yellow; or mod-Asian joints like Ms G’s and Cho Cho San. Plus, drop-dead gorgeous spots Parlar and Franca. Time Out Sydney editors and local food writers, including Food & Drink Editor Avril Treasure, have eaten their way through Macleay Street and beyond, curating this list with the top places to eat and drink in the 2011 postcode. So, have a read and get exploring. 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. After a drink? Check out our guide to the best bars in Sydney Want more great eats? Here's our guide to the best restaurants in Sydney

The Emerald City is peppered with a whole host of stellar accommodation that each carry their own little slice of je ne sais quoi – making it difficult to whittle down a concise list of the best hotels in Sydney. Whether you’re in town for one night, want a longer stay, are flitting through for business, we have you covered with everything from five-star luxury rooms complete with views of the Opera House to boutique boltholes with rooftop pools.  Having earned our stripes reviewing hotels across the country, 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 top tips on how to make the most of your stay. RECOMMENDED:Find the best glamping sites in NSWThe best camping near SydneyThe best budget hotels in SydneyThe best low-cost luxury hotels in SydneyThe best spa hotels in Sydney 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.

In the age of cinema seats often fat with padding and so cavernous you could squeeze in a body double, the slightly scratchy, 1940's-era chairs at Golden Age Cinema have a bracing kind of rigidity about them. Especially for a cinema-goer whose main impediment to enjoying a film is (indiscriminately) falling asleep halfway through. It’s the kind of chair, in the kind of room, that you want to watch an indie French flick about a lover and her donkey riding through the Cévennes in the footsteps of Robert Louis Stevenson, or a Turkish horror flick from the ‘70s, or a vintage-era Meryl swishing her feathered blonde locks on screen. And it's just these types of flicks that you'll find on the small but perfectly formed silver screen of Surry Hills' Golden Age Cinema. The 60-seat picture house shows cult classic, independent releases, with the occasional newcomer or two. Decked in moss-green velvet and polished wood with a levelled stage at its front, this cinema forces you out of the unthinking, easy comfort of your average multiplex – just like its (mostly) indie, (mostly) critically acclaimed movie offerings. Since 2013, the Golden Age Cinema and Bar has been the much-loved basement occupant of Paramount House – upstairs in Paramount House Hotel, as well as Paramount Coffee Project and A.P. Bakery. The building was constructed in 1940 as the offices of Paramount Pictures, with a basement theatrette for the previewing of movies to cinema owners. During World War II, it was used t

One of the most talked about performances to hit the Sydney stage in recent years is back. Local legend Heather Mitchell is donning the robes again to embody the late, great feminist icon Ruth Bader Ginsburg in RBG: Of Many, One – a powerful one-woman show penned by Suzie Miller, the lawyer-turned-playwright behind international smash-hit Prima Facie (and more recently, Jailbaby at Griffin). Sydney Theatre Company is bringing this impactful play to the Drama Theatre at the Sydney Opera House from February 9 to March 30, kicking off an extensive national tour including seasons in Melbourne, Brisbane and Canberra. Read on for our review from the Australian premiere... What does it take to stand firm in a rushing tide? One that suddenly comes not just from the expected direction, but from all of them, buffeting a woman from side to side?  Ruth Bader Ginsburg, the great legal mind, feminist, and later, improbably, the pop culture darling, would know better than most. And RBG: Of Many, One, written by Suzie Miller (of Prima Facie fame) and directed by Priscilla Jackman (White Pearl) tries to trace that journey, and let the audience feel the rush of all those tides.  So how did Heather Mitchell, the actress known for her screen appearance in Binge’s Love Me, and previously, for playing prominent transgender writer and former Australian Defence Force officer Catherine McGregor in the 2018 STC play Still Point Turning: The Catherine McGregor Story, find it within herself to embody an

September 2023 update: Sydney’s gorgeous Italian restaurant A’Mare has transformed its bar area into a relaxed offering called Cucinetta, offering chef and owner Alessandro Pavoni’s delicious food, but at a lower price point. All Cucinetta’s mains are under $40, most entrées under $30, and snacks under $10. We love to see it. The Italian word for ‘little kitchen’, Cucinetta’s menu showcases classic Italian flavours. Expect numbers like deep fried ‘gnocco fritto’ filled with Wagyu bolognese, mozzarella and Parmigiano; calamari with lemon mayonnaise; and spaghetti aglio olio e peperoncino, made with garlic, extra virgin olive oil, chilli and Cantabrian anchovies. Us? We’ve got our eyes on the antipasto with salumi, cheeses, marinated vegetables and crackers. Pavoni said: “Cucinetta is the perfect addition to the A’Mare space – a place where people can drop by for a casual meal with the comfort of knowing that they are getting authentic dishes using the best ingredients.” A’Mare’s full wine and booze list is available at Cucinetta. On that note, we’ll take three Campari Spritzes, please. If you’ve always wanted to check out A’Mare, this is your chance to. Cucinetta will be open for lunch from noon-2.30pm everyday except Tuesday, and dinner 5.30-midnight daily. Walk-ins are welcome. - Avril Treasure ***** Read on for our original review of A'Mare from 2020. Alessandro Pavoni was one of the avant-garde in Sydney's modern Italian scene, but he's scaled it right back to old-world g

August 2023 update: Housed in a glorious Art Deco-style building, the Woollahra Hotel has been keeping Eastern Suburbs folk well fed and hydrated ever since it was built in the 1930s. In the last few years the pub – which is located next door to French institution Bistro Moncur – has undergone a massive renovation, sporting a polished timber bar, terrazzo floors and lush vertical garden in the open terrace, while still maintaining its classic Australian pub vibe. Head Chef Jordan Muhamad got his start at Rockpool Bar and Grill, before stints at Spice Temple and Chin Chin in Melbourne. His menu at the Woollahra Hotel showcases riffs on traditional pub fare with Asian influences. This looks like prawn wontons with ginger, shallots and coriander; caramelised pork belly with wombok, coriander, cucumber and Vietnamese hot mint; and beef massaman curry with potato, fried shallots and peanuts. And because this is a pub after all, you can also get your favourites, like a deep-fried chicken burger with chilli mayo, lettuce, pickled carrot and daikon; and Black Angus rump cap with salad, Sichuan black pepper sauce and fries. The team has just launched a bunch of specials on every day of the week: - Monday: A dozen dumplings for $15 - Tuesday : Three bao buns for $15 - Wednesday: Noodle stir fry for $15 - Thursday: Curry Night with a free beer or wine - Fridays $15 Margaritas - Weekends: Bottomless brunch So if you don't want to cook during the week – or spend big bucks, you know where

Adding to its sloew of venues across Sydney and Melbourne, luxe blow dry salon Blow Bar Co set up shop on the second level of Elizabeth Street's David Jones flagship store in 2020, and hasn't looked back since. Whether you're looking to make the most of your lunch hour in the city, or you want a swishable blowout before a night out on the town, Blow Bar Co's got you covered. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Time Out Sydney (@timeoutsydney) Not only will the hair geniuses give your locks a little oomph, they'll also put a little spring in your step with flutes of Champagne, rosé and platters of olives and antipasto. Go for a classic uptown girl blowdry – shiny, voluminous and flicked – lean into the drama with a toussled head of curls, or go straight and sleek. Hair treatments start at $59. Blow Bar Co also does make-up styling, up-dos, corporate functions, will allow you to host your hens parties there, and more. Book in online. 

In the same way that pad Thai is no longer the sole spokesperson for Thai cuisine in this country, and banh mi has shaken off the burden of representing all things Vietnamese, Gaurang Gahoi is determined to free butter chicken from the pressure to perform. Behind a gold pigeon embossed on a Surry Hills glass shopfront is a new eatery, the brainchild of Gahoi (ex-Four Seasons Hotel) and co-owners Javed Khan (Delhi O’Delhi) and Kunal Patel. Foreign Return – named affectionately for expats who leave India and come back home – is nixing the idea that Indian food is all creamy sauces, soft breads, and two-note spice blends, and putting 'lost' recipes back onto leather-bound menus. “I don’t want to do the same thing you see on most menus,” Gahoi says. “Three curries, similar bases, naan, lots of butter. We’re mixing it up.” Grandfather clocks hang on the matte, navy walls in the two-storey space that once held wine bar the Bishop. Old telephones with actual dials hark back to India’s colonial era, but there’s no misty-eyed colonial idolisation of the British Raj. The kitchen, helmed by Siddharth Kalyanaraman, the Australian men’s cricket team’s official touring chef, is all about shining the oil lamp on dishes from different corners of the subcontinent – without minimising their spicy multitudes or whitewashing their names to suit a Western palate. Kosha moghsho, a slow-cooked Bengali lamb curry, swims with meat tender from sitting and stewing in its spices. A creamy kathirikkai k

It's 2021, and the fish and chip shop is not what it used to be. From Bondi's cool-casual Fish Shop, to Sydney's wunderkind of fish cookery Josh Niland's take on the favourite at Saint Peter and the more low-key Fish Butchery, the beachside classic has undergone a revamp in recent years. Adding to that line-up is another newbie from Josh Niland and wife, Julie, that riffs on both the old-school fish and chippery and a classic charcoal chook joint (minus the poultry) in their new Rose Bay digs. Charcoal Fish draws inspiration from wholesome family meals and the low-fi comfort food for a taste of nostalgia with an experimental gourmet twist. "Our mission is to make restaurant-quality, charcoal-grilled Australian fish accessible to everyone. We have taken away all the hesitancy associated with a fish meal – fishy smells and pin bones are a thing of the past," said the Nilands in a statement. "There has never been a simpler way to get fish on your dinner table (or beach towel)." Just don't expect the pick and mix of varieties you'd get at an ordinary fish and chip shop: at Charcoal Fish, the Nilands are only serving two kinds of fish: a sustainably farmed Murray cod by Aquna sourced from Griffith in western NSW, which is aged for a week before preparing, and a line-caught yellow tuna which is the hero of Charcoal Fish's 'cheese burger'.  So, why is Murray cod the star of Charcoal Fish's menu? According to the Nilands, it was picked for its sweet flesh and ability to travel well

In Sydney, five-star restaurants hide behind the facade of an '80s salon, Inner West bars skulk behind butcher store glass, a natural wine boutique sells funky oranges behind the veneer of an old milkshake shop. It’s a city that doesn’t want to let go entirely of what a place once was – and maybe it’s the same story of any city, any ever-changing place where construction never ends and suddenly there’s a bearded guy wrapping sandwiches from a store you could swear sold wooden baby toys and cashmere rugs last week. How do you honour the ghost of a much-loved prior tenant?  Dean’s Lounge is a lesson in measured nostalgia, of indulging in fun without veering into schmaltz. It used to be the home of Dean’s Café, an institution that welcomed locals and late-night revellers over three decades from the mid-70s – and its new iteration is careful to keep those threads strong, though not too tautly tied. Stepping over the threshold of the venue from Kellett Street wraps you up in warmth – partly because it feels like you’re entering a terrace home off a backstreet in Potts Point, but also because of the (real) crackling fire at its entryway. Run by couple Justin and Louka Marmot (also the co-owners of Shirt Bar), Dean's is kitted out with retro arcade games (Pacman, Donkey Kong), plush velvet retro armchairs and a series of booths set on chequerboard tiles. They’re pumping nostalgia through the air in this joint – but it never feels stifling or overthought. Like other typical Victorian

Hold on to your beanies, Sydneysiders. A huge, indoor winter sports centre is coming to Western Sydney. We might not get the snowy winters our Northern Hemisphere friends are used to, but the new winter Spots centre, set to be developed in Penrith, NSW, is set to give us a taste. You can learn how to ski, take a spin around the Olympic-sized ice rink, or go big at the 300-metre advanced ski slope. While you're learning the ropes, you might even bump into some notable faces: the space will be a training facility for Winter Olympians in sports like alpine skiing, freestyle skiing, snow boarding, figure skating, ice hockey, speed skating, curling and more.  The huge $200 million dollar development is contingent on planning approvals, however it is targeted for opening in 2024. We'll keep you posted as we get more updates. 

Pizza fiends from Melbourne will be familiar with D.O.C., a pizzeria with an emphasis on quality imports and pinpoint precision as to their origins (just flip over your menu to see a breakdown of all the cheeses used in the kitchen and their ancestral homes).  With three outlets currently operating in Melbourne, including a flagship store and deli nestled in the heart of the city's Italian food district on Lygon Street in Cartlon, D.O.C. has been plating up pizzas for 13 years to packed dining rooms around Melbourne. In comparison, the vibe in Surry Hills is quieter and more comfortable: instead of antsily watching over your shoulder and shovelling librettos (that’s the technical word for pizza that you fold in half, you’re welcome) into your mouth, there’s time and space here to stretch out and eat up. The pizzas are thin and charred with a wood-fired base (mostly wholemeal and some white). Like in Sicilia, they are minimally topped, allowing the four-day slow-rise process of the crust to shine through. Try the classic margarita: the base is crisp yet substantial enough to balance out the sweetness of the San Marzano tomatoes, while the DOP buffalo mozzarella is creamy and stretchy, and the basil leaves punchy without being overpowering. But it’s the umami-laden, anchovy pizza that is the scene-stealer, topped with Ligurian olives for an extra salty punch. If you'd like to see how the DOP buffalo mozzarella fares without any suporting characters, order a ball on its lonesome

In recent years – since Byron was elevated to official one-name status – the beachside town has attracted the interest of some stellar names in hospitality from the southern cities. The latest in the pack? Jessi Singh, restauranteur, chef and owner of Surry Hills' Don't Tell Aunty and Melbourne's Daughter in Law, who will bring a Byron Bay outpost of Daughter in Law to Fletcher Street.  The eatery, which has already won hearts in both its hometown and in Adelaide, will be dishing up Singh's trademark "unauthentic" Indian food in lush, colourful, velvet-decked interiors. Why unauthentic? Well, according to Singh: "There is no such thing as authentic Indian food. There are no recipes, and everything is passed on through the generations in the kitchen verbally. Daughter in Law represents my travel journey throughout the world, so it’s global food with an Indian twist; these recipes will be passed on to my children.” While he's not giving away the new eatery's menu just yet, expect a keen focus on seafood pulled in from nearby shores as well as vegan, gluten-free and vegetarian options. He plans to source his fresh produce from the town's weekly farmers market.Meanwhile, sommelier Bhatia Dheeraj will be on drinks duty. There'll be a wine list sourced overseas and locally, as well as cocktails like a Indian-spiced sangria (red wine, sweet vermouth, orange) and the titular 'Daughter in Law', made with Byron Bay’s Brookie’s gin, tandoori-fired pineapple, cardamom and lime. Just like

With wall-to-wall marble, silver-leaf wallpaper and a 'Vitality Pool’ as its gushing, blue heart, the Blainey North-designed Crown Spa is a study in interior décor decadence and OTT luxury. Exiting the lift on the sixth floor of the Crown Towers Resort, shades of lilac and shiny, sleek marble abound. There's a quiet thrill in seeing the space's decisive shirking of the ubiquitous, ecru-minimalist aesthetic that has held many other recent spa openings hostage in its rattan handcuffs. Banished be the textured wall-hangings and terracotta cushions and earthen stone benches. That aroma in the air isn’t from a roughly hewn hunk of smoking palo santo. No, that’s the Crown’s signature scent, and it just smells, well, rich. Goodbye boho-chic approximations of Tulum. Hello ultra-luxe wellness hub of the future.  The Aqua Retreat area sits just off the main foyer and includes a Morroccan steam room, a sauna and an ‘experience shower’ (the bamboozling number of silver nozzles are a microcosm of late-capitalist society and its tyranny of choice), and of course, the aforementioned Vitality Pool. It's set to 37 degrees exactly, or human body temperature, which may go towards explaining why it's so unbelievably soothing. This must be what it feels like to float in the womb. A purple perspex curtain cordons off the Vitality Pool from the main area, crafted by surfboard-maker Hayden Cox. Dotted around it are a few bright purple, egg-shaped pods, big enough to seat a small human or double as a

It's always nice to lean into the odd escapist fantasy – like, for example, that of being a lighthouse keeper on the most easterly point of the country, doing honest toil and living a simple salt-of-the-earth life by the sea.  To make it a reality (if just for the weekend), you can book in to stay at one of two assistant lighthouse keeper's cottages at Byron Bay's lighthouse – yep, in those houses just metres from the lighthouse and the ocean. Aside from staying at one of the main attractions in the luxe, beachside paradise of Byron Bay, you'll also be just a short drive from the main town of Byron, which is lined with cool eateries, swish bars, boutique stores and surfing beaches. We have a feeling you won't be wandering too far, though – tourists flock from all over to see a sunset over Byron's lighthouse, and you'll be able to take in those orange-pink winter skies by just stepping outside.  The cottages themselves are simple and retain their heritage façades, but you won't have to live quite as simple a life as the lighthouse keepers once did – they've been modernised with all the necessary accoutrements, like, you know, electricity and hot water – plus, Netflix! Each cottage fits a maximum of six people, and they each cost $435 a night.  Ready to get away? Check out one of the best scenic drives around the state. 

There's a one-kilo cookie in town, and it's created by the patissier behind the much-hyped Banksia Bakehouse (home of what we christened the 'cramington', a croissant-lamington hybrid) in the CBD. It's a chocolate-chip stuffed marvel, soft and fudgy inside, with the right amount of chunk (a lot), which is why it'll set you back $50. For the choccy spread fiends, there's also a one-kilo Nutella version for $50. That's not all on offer at Thicc Cookies though – the Sydney brand run by Chris Sheldrick specialises in New-York style cookies – soft and hefty – and makes all kinds of flavours from Lotus Biscoff to Caramilk, s'mores, peanut butter and more (from $6 each). Better yet, you can get next-day delivery in Sydney. Plus, check Thicc's Instagram for a secret selection of specials – there's lemon meringue, cinnamon scroll and carrot cake, for example – and they're only available to buy in very limited time frames at various Sydney market stalls. Alongside the Thicc Cookies brand sits its other venture, Bigg Brownies: think dense brownies in a range of flavours, from triple chocolate to mint to matcha. Looking for an extreme version? Grab a massive slab of pimped-out brownie for $60.  Get your generously-sized cookie and brownie fix at Thicc Cookies and Bigg Brownies. They deliver Australia-wide.  A $50 cookie a bit out of your price range? Check out the best cheap eats in Sydney.

Australians are aware that we're blessed with the most beautiful beaches in the world, but it's nice when the international community affirms what we knew in our hearts all along. Global travel platform Tripadvisor has given us the official crown, with the Whitsundays' Whitehaven Beach taking out the number one spot for 2021 in its annual list of the best beaches on the planet.  Protected by national park and situated in the heart of the Great Barrier Reef, it's no surprise that the pristine Far-North Queensland shoreline took out the top spot (it did in 2013, too). Turquoise Bay in Exmouth, Western Australia made the list too, coming in at number six. Now that interstate travel is open, it's time they both found a spot on your travel hit-list. If you're dreaming of further-flung beaches, Cuba's Santa Maria Beach came in second, while Baia do Sancho in Brazil took out the third spot. Grace Bay Beach in Turks and Caicos Islands came in fourth, and Florida's Saint Pete Beach was named the fifth best beach in the world. Eagle Beach in Aruba, Spiaggia dei Conigli in Lampedusa, Italy, Ka'anapali Beach in Hawaii and Baía dos Golfinhos in Brazil rounded out the top ten. (Oh, and check out our own ranking of the world’s most beautiful beaches right here.) The list was whittled down to its final form as part of Tripadvisor's Traveller's Choice Awards, which compares user reviews and ratings on the site, as well as how often users bookmark a page to come back to later.  Sure, they're a

Hamilton, the most hotly anticipated show of the season (the year? The decade? OK, we'll stop), is back on in Sydney after the season was rudely interrupted by the city's second city-wide lockdown. But the cross-cultural phenomenon that meshes hip-hop, R'n'B and jazz with revolutionary American history, isn't exactly a payday meal – one ticket to a showing at Sydney's Lyric Theatre averages $150-$180 ordinarily, with the steepest tickets priced at $250 each.  Unless, of course, you're the lucky winner of the show's weekly $10 ticket lottery.  Timing is crucial: each Friday at 12.01am for the next weeks' performance period, a select number of $10 tickets will be released. Winners are drawn each Thursday between 1-6pm, but you'll only have one hour to claim tickets from the time that you're notified before they're offered to another hopeful. You can enter for one or two seats – and there's absolutely no reason not to enter for two every time and bless your theatre-date-to-be with the show of a lifetime. It's easy to get excited about all this, but don't just enter willy-nilly: winning tickets are non-transferable. If you can’t use your tickets, no one else can, so you'll be depriving someone of the utter magic of seeing Hamilton come to life if you can't attend for some reason.  To enter, you’ll need to get the TodayTix app on your phone – you can get it on all iOS and Android devices in the Apple App Store and the Google Play Store. Just beware: you're facing some steep odd

If your feet are itching to be back on the gorgeous sandy shores of the Bondi to Coogee walk, we've got a temporary salve for your situation. For now, you can feast your eyes on the clear blue waters of your favourite Sydney beaches with puzzles from Salty Sea Dog. Local photographer Nick Holton has been training his eye on the eastern beaches for some time now, and in an effort to stave off your isolation ennui, he's now bringing you his postcard-perfect prints in jigsaw form. You can start in the scenic waters by Coogee, wander over to Bronte, stop for a dip at the Bondi Icebergs pool and finish off at the iconic Bondi homestretch. Choose from aerial shots, ocean pools, and vistas of the city lit up at night from the sea. Each puzzle starts at $64.50, and you can choose between kook (260 pieces), intermediate (500 pieces), pro (1000 pieces), or if you're really feeling like a challenge, take on the extraordinaire (2000 pieces). Check out the range on the website. Just remember, always start with the corners.  Stuck? Here's what to say to your mates who aren't taking self-isolation seriously.  

Brace yourself to lift with your knees: there's a one-kilo cookie in town, and it's created by the patissier behind Sydney's much-hyped Banksia Bakehouse (home of what our Time Out Sydney team christened the 'cramington', a croissant-lamington hybrid).  The chocolate-chip stuffed marvel is soft and fudgy inside, with the right amount of chunk (a lot) – and it'll set you back $40. For the choccy spread fiends, there's also a one-kilo Nutella version for $50. These dense cookies come in a foil tray ready to pop into the oven, and there's even a mouthwatering YouTube video showing you how to ensure the cookies come out perfectly hot and gooey.  The big bikkies are the work of Thicc Cookies – a Sydney brand run by Chris Sheldrick that specialises in New-York style cookies – that is, soft and hefty. The brand makes lots of other flavours too, from Lotus Biscoff to Caramilk, s'mores, peanut butter and more ($7 each). The cookies stay fresh for around a week, but you can freeze them for up to three months and your future self will thank you.  Alongside the Thicc Cookies brand sits Sheldrick's other venture, Bigg Brownies: think dense brownies in a range of flavours, from triple chocolate to mint to matcha ($7-$8 each). Looking for an extreme version? Grab a massive slab of pimped-out brownie topped with treats like Maltesers, Oreo cookies, Tim Tams and more for $60.  Get your generously-sized lockdown cookie and brownie fix without having to leave your home or get the kitchen messy.

Everything that has happened since 2020 has been somewhat of a plot twist, but here's a sub-twist that threw us for a loop recently – suddenly we're lusting after flannel face masks like we once did shoes, and coveting boutique, distillery-made hand sanitiser in the way we once did Korean skincare products. If we've got to use hand san, we might as well support local businesses while we're doing it – so we've rounded up some of our favourites. Looking for masks? We've got you(r face) covered.  Archie Rose, a Sydney-based gin-maker, was one of the first distilleries in the country to pivot towards creating high-alcohol grade sanitiser, infusing their 65 per cent mixture with its gin botanicals. Archie Rose's first release sold out in a matter of hours, but you can get yours online here. A 500ml bottle costs $20.  Further north, Manly Spirits Co also makes a gin-based sanitiser featuring native botanical goodness. Smaller quantities are currently sold out, but you can grab some hand san in bulk here (it'll set you back $65 for five litres, $200 for a 20 litre drum, or $75 for a pack of 10 12mL bottles).  Now, Orange's Parrot Distilling Co isn't exactly Sydney-based, but its gin-based sanitiser has gained a huge following in its hometown for its refreshing scent and aesthetically pleasing bottles – it's the kind you want to show off. Find yours here, a 200mL spray bottle is $16. For an eco-friendly option, Koala Eco is owned by a Sydney-based husband and wife duo who are comm

Here at Time Out, we're big fans of cheese in all its forms: hard, soft, brie, blue, smoked, cake – we love it all. But if there's a cheesy dish guaranteed to melt (and slightly clog) our hearts, it's the ultimate oozy Swiss delight: raclette. Harbourside hangout Opera Bar – with its glorious views you can never quite tire of, no matter how many times you go – is now dishing up this cold-weather favourite in roving carts, along with a selection of wintertime treats like s'more and mulled drinks.  The raclette takes 'adding cheese on top' to the next level: a semi-hard cow's milk cheese is melted under a grill and then scraped onto cheese-friendly accouterments like crisp potatoes, bacon and shallots – with an optional shaving of truffle – 'tis the season, after all. Then, get a little sweet fix with freshly flamed s’mores (chocolate and marshmallows sandwiched between graham crackers) toasted at your table and drizzled with chocolate sauce. In the mood for a drink? Grab one of the bar's warming beverages: a buttered rum (Bacardi spiced rum, salted butter, nutmeg, anise); a mulled Dark and Stormy (Bacardi spiced rum, ginger, maple, apple, citrus); or a Blazer (Bacardi Ocho, Bacardi spiced rum, muscat, cinnamon, fruit oils). It's all made and served right at your table.  It all kicks off on the new date of July 1 through to August 31 – check out the details here.  P.S. Here are our favourite cheesy dishes in Sydney. 

Not only will the soon-to-open Wisemans Surf Lodge be fitted with a giant, first-of-its-kind wave pool, a boutique hotel and a golf course – it's now also set to be the home of another outpost of acclaimed eatery Harvest, which originally hails from the Newrybar, in the Northern Rivers hinterland near Byron Bay.  Located an hour or so north of Sydney, the $75 million lodge is set to be an expansive set-up, nestled in bushland and perching just on the banks of the Hawkesbury River. It will open in 2022, serving produce from the Hawkesbury region, with outdoor dining spaces, a barbecue deck, a kiosk and a discovery garden for the little ones. “In our 15 years at Newrybar we’ve been able to scale up as our community grows with us," said creative director David Moyle. “Harvest Wisemans allows us to take these learnings and build this from day one through an extensive offering unique to the Hawkesbury. Whether you’re grabbing breakfast at the kiosk, exploring the garden or enjoying a sundowner on the deck, we look forward to enabling new food experiences for the region.”Its Newrybar iteration had a keen focus on sustainability, and Harvest's Hawkesbury home does too. The Surf Lodge looks to use renewable energy to break waves in its wave pool and power facilities through an on-site solar system. Access to the Lodge will operate on a membership basis, but the restaurant will be open to the public. Want more? These are the best new restaurants in Sydney right now. 

You're not ready to abandon the idea of a freshly brewed coffee, but the levels of effort you're willing to put into securing one are definitely more in the spoonful-of-clumpy-Blend-43-at-the-back-of-the-office-cupboard range. Lucky for you, oh pauper with princely tastes, we've got just the thing. Stitch Coffee, a Sydney-based specialty coffee brand with a roaster in Alexandria, sells ethically-sourced single origins and blends in whole bean form, ground, in pods, or – relevantly – in cute little drip bags. The drip bags are ideal for the fresh-brewed experience, minus the faff. Just tear one open, balance it on your mug with the ingenious paper handles attached, and pour over some boiling water. The coffee then blooms, releasing that aroma that makes life worth living, and drips into your mug. Easy. You can get bags with Rwanda Mbilima Peaberry beans, a Higgs Field blend or an Isshu-kan box with a couple of select single-origin blends. While Stitch has been selling its wares online and wholesale since 2015, it has just opened a flagship store and café at Broadway. There, you can try all of its coffees before you buy them, as well as explore its filter bar and try its range of organic teas. Be sure to pick up some biodegradable matcha pods, brew pots, pour-over kettles, French presses and more while you're there. Check out Stitch Coffee's concept space at 80 Bay Street – or buy any of its products online.  Want more? Check out the best new restaurants in Sydney right now.   

Known for its well-cut, made-to-order men's suiting, Melbourne label Oscar Hunt made the leap over to creating suiting for women this year – and now, it's looking to jump over state lines, too, by bringing its women-centric tailored range to Sydney. A suit in a man's wardrobe is something of a staple, but that isn't necessarily the case for a woman's. If you've been delaying getting a power suit of your dreams because of uninspiring colourways or ill-fitting options, Oscar Hunt has got you sorted – its tailor-made service allows you to choose your own, made-to-order suit in a range of different sizes, styles and fabrics. There’s everything from slim cut to wide-leg pants, long-cut blazers and classic-cut jackets to choose from, as well as over 3,500 luxury fabrics from both Italy and the UK. The process is designed to be as inclusive and hassle-free as possible. You can book in for a fitting at its Sydney showroom in the Strand Arcade. To celebrate the launch of its womenswear range, the brand is offering 10 per cent off all its custom-made designs, with each entry also going into the draw for a chance to win a free tailored suit valued at $950. Time to suit up.  Psst. Roving raclette carts and mulled cocktails are coming to Opera Bar this winter. 

There are few better ways to warm up than with a carb-filled, meaty spread. This winter, the German-inspired Bavarian is leaning into its cold weather roots and plating up boards of wintry treats straight from Deutschland. Grab a mate and tackle the Bavarian Tasting Platter ($59), with a slab of crackling pork belly; pork knuckle; flavour-packed German sausages; chicken schnitzel with a crisp golden crumb and other Germanic accoutrements like sauerkraut, mashed potato, apple compote and a bier jus. Keen to focus on just one kind of meat? The Ultimate Pork Platter ($59) serves up pork in four ways: as crackling pork belly, in a Nurnberger bratwurst, flattened and crumbed in a crisp pork schnitzel and stuffed in bao with a barbecue sauce. If you're a sucker for a schnitty, you can head straight for the Schnitzel Celebration Platter ($49), which brings the winter favourite to you in three forms: a cheesy chicken parmy; a garlic and parmesan rubbed chicken schnitzel; and the traditional Jagerschnitzel with mushroom sauce. There are also Southern-inspired platters with potato gems and Jack Daniels sauces, as well as one showcasing five kinds of sausage (cheese kransky, frankfurter, pepper and garlic kielbasa, Nurnberger pin wheels and liverwurst, in case you were wondering). Get your hands on these platters all winter long at Bavarian outlets around Sydney.  Want more winter warmers? These are Sydney's best chicken schnitties.