Elizabeth McDonald

Australia’s charming climates and picturesque landscapes are a recipe for some of the world’s finest wines. You’ll find more than 100 grapes grown across our leading wine regions, which are concentrated in South Australia’s Barossa Valley and McLaren Vale, NSW’s Hunter Valley, Victoria’s Yarra Valley and beyond. You could spend weeks jumping between cellar doors in each region, sipping fine wines all day long – but that’s probably not entirely sensible. Why not start with our 30 top picks, and take it from there? Whether you opt to journey as part of a group or embark on an impromptu self-guided tour, these are the wineries to uncork. 🍽️ The best restaurants in Australia🍹 Australia's top bars for a tipple☕️ Where to find the best coffee in Australia

Summer 2025 update: It’s a glorious time of year in Sydney. Make the most of the warm, joyous days and nights with catch-ups with your favourite people. Below, you’ll find the best of the best – here’s to more delicious and fun times in Sydney. Here's our list of Time Out's best restaurants in Sydney right now, from hot newcomers to time-honoured institutions, curated by our expert, on-the-ground editors and food writers who eat and drink their way around Sydney, including Time Out's Food & Drink Editor, Avril Treasure. How did we narrow it down to the very best? When deciding, we considered fun, flavour, creativity, value for money – and 'wow' factor. So yes, of course, you’ll find a fine diner inside the Sydney Opera House here, but you’ll also find neighbourhood pasta, hole-in-the-wall Thai and venues right by the sea. Happy dining, 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: Still hungry? Check out our guide to the best cheap eats in Sydney.

Summer 2025 update: Cut back on spending, not flavour, with our guide to Sydney’s best affordable eats. My current faves include new Thai-Chinese eatery Ama, colourful late-night Indian diner Derrel's, and Vietnamese eatery Tan Viet Noodle House, home to excellent crisp-skinned chicken. Because life’s too short to eat sh*t food. Going out for a meal is sometimes a big occasion, worth the splurge. But it doesn't have to be that way. From banh mi to tonkotsu ramen, biang biang noodles to vegan burgers, and pretty much everything else in between, some of Sydney's greatest culinary hits are the cheapest. Time Out Sydney's local food writers, including Food & Drink Editor Avril Treasure, have eaten their way around town to bring you this list, and while cheap isn't what it used to be, there are still lots of excellent affordable venues to check out. These are the ones well worth their salt. 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 spend less at the big-ticket players? Check out our cheap fine-dining hacks.

The Greek Islands are heaven on earth, and Athens is one of the world’s greatest cities. But if a holiday in the Mediterranean isn’t on the horizon, Sydney’s top Greek restaurants will help fill the dolmade-shaped hole in your heart. Time Out Sydney’s food writers and editors, including Food & Drink Editor Avril Treasure (who has a big fat crush on Milos), have rounded up the best Greek restaurants in town. So, how did we narrow down the list? Well, below you’ll find everything from Sydney stalwart The Apollo (and its much-loved saganaki and slow-roasted lamb shoulder) to an old-school gyros joint where you can smash grilled Greek pita bread jammed with crisp, fatty pork bits. But they all had two things in common: they’re delicious and sing the flavours of Greece. 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. If you're working on a budget try one of the best cheap eats in Sydney.  After Italian? Here's our guide to the tastiest Italian restaurants in Sydney. Keep eating at the absolute best restaurants in Sydney.

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.

Crustless cucumber sandwiches, fluffy scones with jam and cream, and tiered plates of petit fours. Sydney loves a pinky-lifting high tea, and with good reason. With bite-sized treats, tea selections for every palate and picturesque surrounds – maybe the stunning harbour views at Mosman Barracks or the tranquil gardens of historic Vaucluse House – you've got all the elements of an aspirational afternoon of ever-so-fancy leisure. Time Out Sydney's local food writers and tea-lovers have tried the top ones in town to bring you this guide to Sydney's best high teas. Bring your mum, your nan, your girlfriend or your mate – and head to tea town. 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. In search of more food and tea? Get around Sydney's best cafés here. What about more booze? These are Sydney's best bars.

No two ways about it, Sydney's wine bar scene is flourishing. Full to the brim. Spilling over. A decade ago, there were only a handful of wine bars. Now? They're all over town. And we're here to happily drink them up. What's more, these slick haunts are also some of the best spots in Sydney to grab a nice dinner with friends.  It makes no difference whether you're a novice or an expert, fancy something natural or classic, old world or new, or whether you want to spend moderately or extravagantly, Time Out Sydney's writers, including Food & Drink Editor Avril Treasure, have curated this list for every palate, at every price point. Bottoms up. 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. Can't get enough of that boozy stuff? Check out the absolute best bars in Sydney here.

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. 

Summer 2025 update: Whether you’re craving a rainbow brekkie plate after an early-morning ocean swim, a matcha during your walk, or a spot to relax on Sunday with hot coffee and buttery scrambled eggs, there’s a café here for you. 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.

We're all about a secret underground dive bar or two – but in a city as beautiful as Sydney, it seems like a damn shame to retreat into the depths for every tipple. From a sundowner by the harbour to a sunny rooftop in the Inner West, our town is awash with sky-high watering holes. So we've rounded up the best spots in the city to sip a cold one under a gorgeous open sky. But drinkers beware: Sydney's rooftop bars play host to some of the most contested seats in the city, so get in early for a spot in the sun.  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 more al fresco drinking try one of Sydney's best beer gardens. Looking for another top-notch watering hole? Check out the best bars in Sydney.

Summer 2025 update: We’re not saying summer is made for cold beers, thirst-quenching Aperol Spritzes, zesty Margs and natty drops, but we’re also not not saying it. Looking for a sexy bar for a first date? Been a while since your last night out? Or just thirsty? You’ve come to the right place. This list represents our picks of the best bars in Sydney right now, from fresh faces to tried-and-tested temples of great drinks, curated by our local editors, drink writers and fellow booze hounds, including Time Out Sydney's Food & Drink Editor Avril Treasure. We’re looking for quality above all, with fun, flavour, atmosphere, creativity and options at every price point. Cheers to you, 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. After a watering hole that's a bit more casual? See our list of the best pubs in Sydney, here. After a meal? Check out our best restaurants here.

Our unbeatable summers and mild winters make Sydney the perfect place for a schooner in the great outdoors, and lord knows we’ve got enough beer gardens to prove it. Whether surrounded by lush greenery, designer dogs, ocean views, or all of the above, this list covers the best beer gardens our city has to offer. Because drinking outside sure beats drinking 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 a brew with a view? Enjoy a cold one at one of Sydney's best rooftop bars.

We've said to before and we'll say it again: Sydney is obsessed with banh mi. Our love is such a passionate one that loyalties are challenged, pub debates are frequent, and most of us will fiercely defend our favourites to our last breath. One of Sydney's absolute favourites is the tiny and unassuming Marrickville Pork Roll, easily identified by its simple red and white sign and a long queue snaking around the block on Illawarra Road. There are no surprises on the menu here, which is exactly how we want it. Crisp on the outside, fluffy on the inside, the baguette maketh the sandwich, which is loaded with crackling, pork belly and pâté, or shredded soy chicken with all the trimmings. Veggie lovers can also have a killer sandwich on their lunch hour, with salad sandwiches and loads of rice paper rolls to keep you going through the afternoon. These renowned banh mi won't break the bank, with almost everything coming in under ten bucks, and the OG's popularity has even spawned a few offshoots, including shops at the Quay Quarter and Victoria Cross Metro Station in North Sydney. 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.   Love banh mi? Try a heap of them by following our Best Banh Mi in Sydney guide.

✍️ 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. Update: Dining at EXP, Pokolbin’s dark and moody fire-powered restaurant by chef/owner Frank Fawkner, is an extraordinary experience. The multi-course menu is as much a love letter to the rolling green hills of the Hunter Valley as it is a display of Fawkner’s talent and flair. Nostalgic touches are threaded throughout the meal, service is intuitive, and the wine menu features all of the Valley’s greats. Take a seat at the bar and strap in for an extra-special, and most importantly, delicious meal – and one that will stay with you long after you return to the big smoke. – Avril Treasure Read on for our review of EXP from 2022 by Elizabeth McDonald. ***** A trip to a Hunter Valley restaurant most often involves placing rolling hills, climbing grape vines, and breathtaking sunsets front and centre. Throw in some local plonk and a few familiar but still tasty plates and you can safely bank that even an overcooked scotch fillet or slightly mushy fish can be forgiven with just a glance at those vineyards and hopping kangaroos. This is not the case at EXP. in Pokolbin village. It is immediately clear from casting an eye over the parchment paper menu that you are in wine country; Usher Tinkler prosecco, Brokenwood semillon and Vinden Estate shiraz nouveau jump out a

October 2024 update: Omakase restaurant Besuto has moved. You will now find the swish Japanese diner in Circular Quay’s Salesforce Tower. The venue now has eight seats, offering an intimate and traditional omakase experience, helmed by new head chef Michiaki Miyazaki. Besuto is also open for lunch on the weekend, and at night, you can pop in for a nightcap or two. - Avril Treasure  Read on for our original write-up of Besuto from 2022. ***** In a microcosm where finesse is everything (with a price tag to match) Joel Best starts each day with a visit to the fish market to make sure every element is, well, the best it can be. At Besuto, the former Bondi’s Best’s new omakase-style venture, fish with finesse is the name of the game. Best, alongside the gregarious chef Hiro Fujita, are trying their hand at the “leave it to you” style of dining that has taken Sydney by storm in recent months. The 14-seater is one of the fleet of newly opened eateries at the CBD’s Quay Quarter, alongside neighbours like underground bar Apollonia and mega venue Hinchcliff House.  The service at Besuto is up there with any fine diner in town, attentive and personable, guests are encouraged to chat loudly and have some fun as chef Fujita regales them with tales of fish, his life as a young man, and drinking.  Things kick off with enormous deep-shelled Pacific oysters, topped with a yuzu jelly - the first of 20 courses. A cleansing stretch before the marathon begins. Next on the counter, a seafood combi

The only thing better than a tonne of French cheese is a tonne of French cheese that’s free. And that's exactly what you will find at Bon Fromage – a three-day cheese festival presented by the French Dairy Interbranch Organisation in conjunction with the European Union to celebrate the beauty of French cheese. The delicious, stinky fest will be taking place from Friday, May 31 to Sunday, June 2, at the Overseas Passenger Terminal's Cargo Hall in Circular Quay. Over the weekend, cheese lovers will be able to taste some of France’s finest cheeses from a 30-metre tasting table with more than 14 varieties. Plus, fromage-admirers can take part in a series of complimentary masterclasses and demonstrations from Sydney’s best cheesemongers, with topics ranging from drinks pairings to comparative tastings and cheese history.  You’ll be able to feast on melted raclette, creamy Camembert and nutty, soft Comté, along with a whole host of others, on top of getting the chance to sample cheesy street food from a variety of food stalls on site. Think: The French Cob Loaf, Lobster House, French Kiss Creperie, Orleans Moules Frites, along with a whole lot of other cheese-centered excellence.  There will be bars across the space to ensure you have the perfect bevvy pairing for your cheesy snacks – and, of course, there will be kilos of French cheese available in the stinky market for purchase. At night, the venue will become a French disco. Francophile fromage fans can get down to a live DJ, wi

If you can't think of anything better than handheld food and a couple of brewskies with the broskies, have we got news for you. Local favourite Willie the Boatman has curated a festival with all your favourite breweries, food trucks and market stalls, plus a ridiculously big jumping castle and free face painting for the kids. You can even bring your pooch. This year marks ten years of the booze-loving shindig – and it's set to be ace. For the low, low price of just $15, you'll be chugging suds by Willie the Boatman, as well as beers from regional breweries including the Central Coasts' Six String Brewing, Wollongong's Seeker Brewing, Gerringong's Stoic Brewing and Mortdale's Social Brewers. Tasty food trucks will keep your hunger in check, with confirmed meals-on-wheels including That's Amore, Satay Brothers, Jinny Burger, Chips on a Stick, Volkswurst, Vejoes and Mate Mexicano. Get your groove on to some live tunes from 11am until 5pm by classic bar band the Pragmatics who will be playing a massive set of all-party crowd favourites. Want to check out more of Sydney's best craft breweries? Here's the cream of the crop These are the best bars in Sydney right now Love pubs? Us too. Check out the best of the very best

July 2023 update: Pioneering restaurant Tetsuya’s was meant to be closing its doors in a few weeks' time after 22 years of service, as its building is slated to be redeveloped. Now, the fine-dining restaurant has announced it’s staying open for a bit longer and will be taking reservations beyond August. So, if you’ve always wanted to experience the magic of Tetsuya’s – and taste the famed confit ocean trout for yourself – this is your chance. A statement on Tetsuya’s Instagram said: “We are delighted to announce that reservations have been released for dine-in beyond August 2023 at our Kent Street Sydney location. Reservations can be made via our website. Please note that the reopening of the restaurant at our new location has been delayed. Stay tuned for updates on our socials and website.” We're not sure how long the OG Tetsuya’s will be open for, or when Tetsuya’s 2.0 will be here. But like all good things, nothing can last forever. We recommend you check out this trailblazing spot now while you can. -Avril Treasure ***** Read on for our review of Tetsuya’s from August 2022. When chef Tetsuya Wakuda and his team first swung open the doors of Tetsuya’s back in Rozelle in 1989, it sent shockwaves through the Sydney dining scene. With unconventional textures, exceptional flavours, reverent ceremony and a price tag to match, Tetsuya’s arrived with a splash and secured a place among the best restaurants not only in Australia, but the world. A move to a gated compound on Kent St

July 2023 update: When Time Out first reviewed the Blue Door back in August 2022, we said: “The Blue Door’s wine list is curated by general manager (and ray-of-sunshine incarnate) Angelica Nohra, and is almost entirely Australian, heavily focusing on the diversity of wine from all over NSW.” Now, the Blue Door’s stellar vino list has been recognised (for the second year running) in the 2023 NSW Sommelier's Wine List Awards, with the team taking home the award for 2023 Best NSW Wine List in a Sydney venue, with less than 60 seats. Run by the NSW Wine Industry Association, and spanning eight categories, these prestigious wine awards aim to shine a light on excellent NSW-based sommeliers and venues with killer wine lists that support local winemakers, and showcase NSW’s great and diverse drops. So, if you need any more reason to make a booking (and drink wine) at the Blue Door – take this as your sign. And, you can check out all the winners here. Congrats, team. Read on for our review of the Blue Door by Elizabeth McDonald from August 2022.  *****   For the team at the Blue Door, it’s all about giving back more than what they’ve taken. Chef Dylan Cashman’s entire ethos is about grass-roots operations, literally. The ambitious and innovative 24-seat restaurant on Waterloo Street places sustainability on the same rung as deliciousness, and Cashman is as exacting in his ethics as he is in his execution. From the heritage wheat sourced from the tiny 400 person town of North Star,

Sydney has scored a big-ticket rooftop bar atop the historic Mitchell Building at the State Library, taking full advantage of the stunning vista from one of Sydney's most prized locations. The secreted away spot has been a favoured staff lunch spot since the 1940s and now, thankfully, the team have decided to share it with the rest of us.The bar is divided into three sections; the observation deck offers a panorama of the harbour and across the Domain. Enjoy open-air sunset cocktails with friends in the spacious courtyard before the city skyline lights up the night, or find a spot inside at the front of the bar for some old world charm. A mix of plush cocktail chairs, banquette seating and small bar tables are arranged around a baby grand piano, and if you're lucky there might be a player tickling the ivories on the weekend. Entry to the bar is cloaked in mystique, with guests entering via giant 1930s timber arch doors where visitors are then ushered through hidden areas of the library before being delivered into the venue by lift four floors up. The simple bar menu aims to highlight NSW as much as possible and that’s evident through cocktails like the Library Martini using Rosebery’s Archie Rose gin, the Hunter Valley’s Margan Vermouth and even the garnish coming from Alto Olives of the Southern Tablelands. The Library has also teamed up with Staves Brewery in Glebe for a Library Bar signature rale ale, one of the many beers from an offering that pledges to be 100% NSW brews

✍️ 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. May 2023 update: It’s a lazy Saturday afternoon and you get a text from Jane. She’s in the mood for a tipple with some snacks. Luckily, you’re in the know. Text Jane to meet you at 478 Bourke St for their Australiano hour. This local gem has teamed up with the award-winning Rhubi Mistelle  – a Victorian-crafted rhubarb aperitif – on one of the happiest hours in town. Every weeknight from 5 to 6pm, and with extended hours of 4 to 6pm on weekends, you can sip through Jane’s drinks list, complemented by a solid selection of Australian-focused snacks. The fun starts at $6 with Jane’s top-selling Australiano cocktail featuring Rhubi Mistelle, Regal Rouge vermouth, bitter citrus and mandarin; a tall and refreshing Rhubi and Soda; a classic G&T; an all-Aussie VB; or a chilled red from Jilly’s Wine Co. When you need something a little stronger after work, there’s also the Jane Martini featuring White Possum Gin for $10. Jane hits the nail on the head for happy hour snacks, with $2 Sydney rock oysters and $6 light bites including duck croquettes, ebi prawn brioche toast, and Jane's take on the Gilda, with layers of marinated sardines, kingfish nduja, green olives and pickled native lime. For $15, you can also sample some of Jane’s house specialities, like the lamb dum

April 2023 update: Good news for fellow booze hounds: Marrickville brewery Wildflower Brewing and Blending is now making their own beers on site after. Come along and try out the 13 rotating beers on tap (though, maybe not on the same day), as well as the extensive cellar list filled with hundreds of aged bottles of beers. Plus, there’s funky wine and non-alcoholic drinks for those in your crew who are cutting back. All that drinking is hungry work, so thankfully there is a new kitchen serving tasty food run by the legends at A.P. Bakery – another reason to swing by. Read on for our review of Wildflower Brewing and Blending from 2019  ***** There seems to be a brewery on every other block in Marrickville by now, but there’s something a bit different going on at Wildflower Brewing and Blending. Dotted around this charming, rustic cellar door are bunches of native flowers, an omnipresent reminder of co-founders Topher Boehm and Chris Allen’s dedication to their local ethos. It looks like the perfect setting for an outback soirée, albeit a little more refined: corrugated iron walls and burnished wooden furniture drive home the Australiana vibe, and stacks of barrels – some hidden behind canvas, others in plain sight – quietly cradle ageing brews. While many breweries now try their hand at barrel-ageing, the crew at Wildflower are breathing new life into this old technique and leading the charge for its revival. This is not a brewery in the traditional sense. Boehm makes his wor

Sydney’s Cantonese offering went up a notch in 2022 with the opening of Jinja, a killer Asian restaurant for when the mood strikes, which, to be fair, could be breakfast, lunch or dinner any day of the week. Found within the Governor Hotel in Macquarie Park, Jinja is named for owner and entrepreneur, local Sydney legend Jinghua (more often dubbed “Jinja” due to her obsession with ginger spice), the muse of Sydney-based artist Ronnie Samuels, whose paintings pepper the restaurant space. Leaning hard into food-meets-style, Jinja is all about super traditional dishes like gentle steamed market fish with shallots and, of course, ginger; crisp Peking duck; and honey glazed Kurobuta pork; as well as a few less conventional numbers like lobster san choy bao; truffled spring rolls; and prawn mousse fried brioche. Now, seven months after opening, the team has launched a yum cha offering, created by hatted chef Sebastian Tan (Silks). Featuring over 30 plates of traditional Cantonese brunch dishes and dim sum hits, the new menu is available weekly for lunch, Wednesday through Sunday. Order fluffy pork buns; pork and chive dumplings; crispy-skinned Cantonese roast duck; and honey glazed char siu pork. Of course, Chinese pastries will be served (custard buns, we’ve got our eyes on you), and for an additional $5 you can pair the plates with bottomless Keemun black tea, a famed black drink with a light aroma and sweet, toasted notes. If you come along with a group of four or more, which, l

  The folks that brought us Love, Tilly Devine, Ragazzi and Dear Sainte Èloise have set the standard pretty darn high in terms of Sydney wine bars (and the snacks aren't bad either). Their latest venture is a Catalan-inspired watering hole that isn't taking itself too seriously.  La Salut is a joint venture between the Love Tilly Group and newly launched hospitality and accommodation group the people_ (helmed by Paul Schulte and Andrew Taylor). It aims to be a little piece of Catalonia in the heart of Redfern, with all the colour and vibrancy that comes along with it. The 40-seat venue features blushing earthy tones and polished concrete, with outdoor dining along Walker Street.  Waiters will encourage you to start with a tipple from the extensive range of vermouths, and when in Rome (or Catalonia, as it were) it's not a bad way to kick off. Here, the fortified vino comes poured over ice, with three anchovy-stuffed olives and a little bottle of sparkling water, so you can choose your own adventure. While La Salut is, for all intents and purposes, a wine bar – there's even an adjoining bottle shop where the old pokies room was – make sure you come hungry. The former sports bar corner of the Norfolk Hotel cleverly utilises the tiny space by churning out brilliantly simple, little dishes that largely come out of a tin. But don't feel shortchanged – Europe, and more recently Sydney at large has come to recognise that some of the best things in life need fewer flourishes and more

Like tickets to Tay and Blue Mountains’ vistas, nothing worth having comes easy. And that seems to be the case with Lune, Melbourne’s world-famous croissanterie which has been leaving golden, flaky crumbs of a Sydney opening for more than a year now. But we’ve got an update for you – and it’s a goodie. Originally slated to open in Darlinghurst, it’s been confirmed that Lune will now be opening in Rosebery, housed in a heritage-listed and industrial space similar to Lune’s OG Fitzroy home. And the team says they're swinging open the doors this spring. Hi, picnics in the park with buttery treats! Photograph: Supplied/Lune Lune founder Kate Reid said: “Due to unforeseen delays with Darlinghurst, we’ve shifted to a new location in order to keep our plans on track and honour our commitment to bring the Lune experience to Sydney in 2024. “The Rosebery site aligns perfectly with our vision, and we’re excited to have that opening in sight.” A statement (well, a love letter to Sydney) on Lune’s Instagram said: “Right now, the painters and decorators are hard at work turning a big old factory space into a croissant wonderland. Sydney, when spring comes, you shall have our croissants. Finally.⁠” View this post on Instagram A post shared by Lune Croissanterie (@lunecroissant) Lune’s second Sydney spot at Metro Martin Place is still on track to open in 2024 as well. So it’s good news all around. Purveyors of those golden beauties, Lune Croissanterie – which is r

April 28, 2023 Update: Restaurant food delivery service Providoor, which launched during one of Sydney's lockdowns, bringing joy to many bored food lovers. Now, in a statement on the company’s website, founder Shane Delia said Providoor would be placed in liquidation, and could no longer accept new orders. “It is with a heavy heart that I announce the closure of Providoor, a business borne out of the very worst days the hospitality industry has ever seen,” he wrote. “While today is a very sad day, I am proud of Providoor and what it has achieved. We served more than one million meals and built something that made a difference during some very dark days.” Read on for more info about Providoor, which we wrote when they first launched. ***** Do you want the good news or the bad news first? The bad news is that Sydney’s extended lockdown doesn’t seem to have an end in sight, with case numbers on the rise and the community adjusting again to the new normal of life indoors. The good (great) news however is that premium meal delivery service Providoor is expanding and now Sydneysiders have access to more top-tier restaurants than ever before. Since its founding in March 2020 by Melbourne-based chef, Shane Delia (Maha, Maha Bar and Maha East) Providoor has been delivering meals from some of the best restaurants in Melbourne including Longrain, Cumulus Inc, Maha, Entrecôte, Supernormal and Gingerboy to customers stuck inside and missing that special dining experience.  Joining the fle

Beloved cult restaurant, Ron's Upstairs, on Redfern Street has announced via an Instagram post on April 19 that they will be bidding a fond farewell, causing tantrums and stages of grief to ripple across Sydney (and the Time Out office).  The kitsch first-floor eatery burst onto the scene back in 2018, maintaining much of the décor of the Thai restaurant that occupied the space for decades before the Arcadia Liquor and Redfern Continental team took over. The delightfully retro dining room with a menu that lists gently in the direction of the European continent is like a ‘70s-toned holiday snap from your parents’ photo album, complete with plastic grapevines looped across the walls, fairy lights, big round tables and comfy straight-backed dining chairs. The brown, orange and green colour scheme set the tone for the vintage fantasy with a very modern menu.  The final service will be on Saturday May 7, so don't miss your last chance to get some of that deadly garlic toum, whatever genius incarnation of occy is being served up, and a very serious wine on the pour by the ultra-friendly team. RIP Ron's, you will be missed. Get out there and support Sydney's other great restaurants. Check out our favourites here.

Returning bigger and better, the multi-level heritage-listed Abercrombie has undergone an incredible transformation, with three venues now under the one roof to create one big party palace that will open in December. On the ground floor is the Abercrombie’s incredible performance and club space, public bar and beer garden, which should flood a few elder millennials' brains with memories. The rave-cave of yesteryear will play host to some of the best party crews in Sydney – including House of Mince, Sweat it Out, Future Classic, Purple Sneakers and Motorik – to put on an incredible, curated roster of events. With the reopening comes a 24-hour licence, so expect some epic, non-stop parties. Venture upstairs to Casa Rosa, a playful, late-night Italo-disco cocktail lounge and rooftop terrazza with DJs. Then sidle into the adjoining terraces, which expand the footprint of the new Abercrombie, for an aperitivo wine bar and shop, Lil Sis, also open until the early hours. To mark the opening, the Abercrombie, FKA "Scabbers", is getting ready for a 36-hour party, kicking off at 5pm on December 23 and running non-stop until 5am on Christmas Day. Look forward to a packed line-up of some of Australia’s best tastemakers, including Mike Who, Andy Garvey, Ayebatonye and Dameeela. Closing out the year, hit up a seven-day run of events from Boxing Day through to New Year's Day. International heavyweights Webbha and Jaytech (Anjunabeats) join a stacked NYD party; record label 'Sweat It Out' re

What a day to be a sports fan! Licensed NSW venues will be allowed to stay open if they are broadcasting the soccer (fine, football). The NSW Government has granted special trading extensions from midnight til 5am so that Sydneysiders can watch grown men run around for a while and sometimes score a goal! The extended trading hours will also apply to the World Cup final, with venues able to open from 10pm on December 18, through to 5am on December 19. It's basically government permission to pull an all-nighter. Bloody, cheers as to that! Is your local showing the FIFA World Cup? Check out which Sydney venues are gonna be up all night here.

In exciting news for the Sydney drinking and dining scene, twenty food and beverage operators have been announced today, November 29, as retailers at Sydney Place, a new vibrant precinct in one of Sydney’s most-loved waterfront destinations, Circular Quay. Some of Australia’s most recognisable and awarded chefs, restaurateurs and lifestyle retailers will open from March 2023 across the intimate laneways of Sydney Place. Renowned tenants include chef Federico Zanellato’s (Lumi Dining), much-loved pie and pastry store, Lode Pies; sophisticated rotisserie chicken shop, Sunday by chef Morgan McGlone (ex-Belles Hot Chicken); and a Japanese-inspired whiskey bar and dining by Joel Best of Besuto. They will be joined by Toby’s Estate, Kosta’s, Malay Chinese Noodle Bar, BoBo Dumplings, Toastiesmith and many more of Sydney’s casual dining favourites in some of the city’s newest laneways. The news of these quality food and beverage operators opening follows the announcement earlier this year of the much-anticipated rebirth of Jacksons on George by Maurice Terzini and DTLE, now set to open in mid-2023. Sydney Place also comprises a landmark 55-storey office tower designed by one of the world’s leading architecture firms, Foster + Partners. The 263-metre tower has officially completed construction and taken the title of Sydney’s tallest office building. At the base of the office tower, the precinct will include retail, community experience and intimate laneways, all designed to enhance th

Petty news today from the animal kingdom: a lyrebird at Taronga Zoo has been blasting the "evacuate now" alarm with eerie accuracy since the lions escaped their enclosure less than two weeks ago. Though according to an interview on ABC Radio with an expert on lyrebird language, the sardonic bird has been singing the alarm for some time: "The zoo and a lyrebird expert have thrown cold water on the reports, and say the bird is actually making the sound of the fire alarm – something it's done for years." It doesn't make the bird's antics any less amusing. The bird has swapped out its usual mimic of a baby crying for the blood-chilling alarm that also sounded when five lions slipped out of their exhibit around 6.30am on November 2. The lyrebird even has an Australian accent. Lyrebirds are one of nature's most impressive (and petty) mimickers and have been recorded copying sounds of construction, car alarms, other bird-folk like kookaburras, and now, the sound that will continue to send shivers down zoo handlers' backs for years to come. Shine on, you crazy diamond. May we all aspire to this level of deep-cuts. Want to get up close and personal with some of Sydney's wildest? Check out our top picks of where to see animals around town.

The unstoppable trio behind Pellegrino 2000 and Bistrot 916 are set to take over the coveted Art Deco-style Bridge Room space on York Street in a pretty slick homage to New York's steakhouses and grills. The yet-to-be-named new venue will be serving up superb steaks for two, whole turbot grilled over coals, and (praise be) a shrimp cocktail, complete with iceberg lettuce and pink sauce. This will be the third restaurant Dan Pepperell, Mikey Clift and Andy Tyson have opened in as many years, and we are absolutely here for it. Known for nouveau approaches to Italian and French fare – and some absolutely killer wines to boot – the dream team are quickly becoming some of Sydney's most recognisable and respected restaurateurs, with both Bistrot 916 and Pellegrino 2000 housing some of the most coveted seats in town.  The Bridge Room is a highly prized and stunning location, with expansive windows and classic Art Deco features, and we reckon it'll be the perfect spot to throw back a few oysters and a Martini or two come February next year. Don't wanna miss a thing? Check out our top picks of the best new restaurants in Sydney right here.

Hundreds of confirmed Covid-positive passengers disembarked into Sydney from cruise ship Majestic Princess over the weekend. On Saturday, November 12, approximately 800 of the ship's 4,400 passengers and crew were confirmed to have the virus. The passengers were instructed to not take public transport upon disembarking. The Majestic Princess had just completed a 12-night cruise to New Zealand and back to Circular Quay around 6am. The operator, Carnival Cruise Line, said in a statement: "All guests disembarking have undertaken a rapid antigen test in the past 24 hours, which will determine how they will disembark the ship." The statement also confirmed all positive cases (around 20 per cent of the ship's population) were kept separate from negative passengers while disembarking. While isolation for Covid-positive cases have been scrapped across NSW, don't forget the ways we can limit the spread and keep vulnerable members of the community safe. Everyone should observe social distancing where possible, keep hands sanitised, and stay home if you have those two lines on your RAT. Ya' know. Feeling sicky? Here's our guide to having the perfect date night at home.

One of the first restaurants to open at the Barangaroo precinct back in 2016, Bel & Brio, has this week had its doors shuttered amid an ongoing lease dispute with landlords, Lendlease, with a staggering $1.8m in owed rent outstanding. Restaurateur Mark Richardson said in a statement to The Daily Telegraph that he was "blindsided" by Lendlease's decision to board the venue up on October 29, despite falling behind on rent payments for at least the last two years. “We’ve been in negotiations and mediations… to get the fee to something reasonable, however Lendlease had enough and pulled the plug and so they should have,” he told The Daily Telegraph. Staff of the restaurant claim they knew the venue was in dire straits and say they have not received paycheques for several weeks.  Richardson has assured them he is working towards getting the 140 staff what they are owed. "It is a shame for staff but I’ve lost the most. I’ve lost eight years and $11 million." Richardson at this stage has no intention of re-entering the restaurant business, citing the pandemic and the work-from-home culture that many CBD workers have adopted, opting for work/life balance rather than commuting daily. At the time of writing, reservations for the restaurant have been suspended until January 2023, but purchases can still be made on the Bel & Brio online market. Want to get more insights into the crazy Sydney hospitality business? Check out our Chef's Specials interview series here.

Stop the presses! Very big news has come to the Bob Hawke Beer & Leisure Centre in Marrickville! On Monday, November 7, the brewery named for the former Australian prime minister and beer enthusiast unveiled (or rather, unpeeled) arguably their biggest accomplishment to date. How? By way of a giant, animatronic golden prawn.  Affectionately dubbed "Shane Prawn" the crustacean is the crown jewel of the Centre's bistro, the Lucky Prawn. The dramatic deveining also marked the venue's first ever Monday service, a permanent addition which means you can cop an eye-full every day of the week. Sure, the brewery may have donated nearly half a million bucks to Land Care Australia, and yeah the team may have given away free slabs of beer to encourage people to get Covid-19 vaccinations, but frankly we reckon their greatest contribution to the community is the fact that the Big Prawn's arms move. Be gently swayed into a trance by your new arthropod overlord while smashing a schooner and a succulent Chinese meal. The prawn demands it. And we thought the Inner West suburb couldn't get any cooler!

The Inner West Council this week has unanimously voted to grant heritage listings to 27 pubs across Balmain, Leichhardt, Newtown, Petersham, Marrickville, Rozelle, Annandale, Enmore and Lewisham, joining the existing 31 pubs already listed. Mayor Darcy Byrne said on the progressive decision: "Our pubs are community institutions, many of which have been serving local patrons for more than a century. "It’s time for new heritage protections to make sure that our Inner West pub culture is still here for another 100 years to come."  The heritage listing ensures that not only do the facades of the pubs have to remain intact, but many elements of the interiors that identify the venues as pubs must remain.  So, what new pubs will be added to the heritage list? Annandale Hotel, AnnandaleNorth Annandale Hotel, AnnandaleUnity Hall Hotel, BalmainThe Balmain Hotel, BalmainDick’s Hotel, BalmainCat & Fiddle Hotel, BalmainTown Hall Hotel, BalmainCricketers Arms Hotel, BalmainEast Village Hotel, Balmain EastThe Milestone Hotel, LeichhardtVic on the Park Hotel, MarrickvilleThe Royal Exchange Hotel, MarrickvilleWebsters Bar, NewtownKelly’s on King, NewtownSandringham Hotel (former), NewtownCarlisle Castle Hotel, NewtownLivingstone Hotel, PetershamBridge Hotel, RozelleThe Welcome Hotel, Rozelle3 Weeds Hotel, RozelleSackville Hotel, RozelleGarry Owen Hotel, RozelleNative Rose Hotel, RozelleLewisham Hotel, LewishamWarren View Hotel, EnmoreDuke of Enmore Hotel, EnmoreQueens Hotel, Enmore  What doe