The Best Things To Do In Sydney This Weekend
Lizzie Scorer
Contributor | Urban List, Sydney, NSW
Eloise Luke
Contributor | Urban List
Ilaria Sanzari
Contributor | Urban List, Sydney, NSW
Looking for the best things to do in Sydney/Eora this weekend? There's never a shortage of exciting activities in Sydney to keep your calendar full.
Whether you are wandering the Bondi to Tamarama sculpture trail, sipping a premium Semillon beachside, levelling up at SXSW Sydney (girlboss, we see you), or partying like it's 2016 in the middle of the harbour—we reckon you'll find something here to keep you occupied.
Sculpture By The Sea
Bondi To Tamarama | From Friday 17 October
Image credit: Sculpture By The Sea | Instagram
This year's Sculpture By The Sea kicks off on the 17th of October, running for just over two weeks before wrapping up on the 3rd November. The 2km long sculpture park features 100 works by artists from Australia and across the world, backdropped to the stunning coastline of the Bondi to Tamarama walk.
Make sure to read through our guide for the best routes, parking tips, and insider hacks.
Hunter Valley Uncorked
Balmoral Beach | Sunday 19 October
Image credit: Uncorked Balmoral | Instagram
The Hunter Valley is clocking off early and heading to the beach—Balmoral Beach, to be exact. This Sunday, the Hunter Valley Uncorked Balmoral Wine and Food Festival is setting up shop by the sea, bringing top-notch drops, local eats, and plenty of good vibes to Sydney’s north shore.
Keep an eye out for the usual suspects: crisp Chardonnays, bold Shiraz, zesty Semillon, a splash of bubbles, and maybe even a gin or two if you’re that way inclined. Pair a glass with artisanal cheeses, gourmet bites, and live music, and you make as well be parked up in Pokolbin—minus the two-hour drive.
It’s all proudly backed by Wine Selectors, so you can trust the wine list is anything but average. Pack a picnic rug, round up the crew, and settle in for the arvo.
Plate It Forward’s Third I Festival
Various Locations | Until Sunday, 26 October
Image credit: Plate It Forward | Supplied
Plate It Forward hospitality group has now launched their Third I Festival to celebrate all things food, culture and community (and a little more food) until the end of October. Bringing together a diverse range of people and celebrating the multiculturalism of Australia, this festival brings international, inner west, and indigenous communities to venues like Colombo Social, Kolkata Social, and Kyiv Social.
Explore their events online and book your tickets to experience thrilling live performances, dinners full of storytelling, and special chef collaborations to satisfy the palate. Their story dinner series event on October 20 and 21, along with their laneway party event (the big finale) on October 26 are just two of the must-go-to events during this festival.
Maple Social Club: Coffee & DJs
Coogee Pavilion | Saturday 18 October, 11am–1pm
Image credit: Maple Social Club | Instagram
One of the most consistent coffee rave events on the Sydney scene, Maple Social Club is back with their coffee & djs event this Saturday. Think your standard late-night rave fun, except rescheduled for the morning and sobered up with a freshly-made coffee to sip.
With a DJ table set up next to the barista, you can come for your regular coffee and stay for some great beats, dancing beside friends and local strangers while the day is still young. Bonus: the beach is right outside for some post-dance cooling off.
The Island: Summer Season
Departure: Man O'War Steps, Farm Cove Street, Sydney CBD | Every Saturday
Image credit: The Island | Instagram
The Island’s Summer Season is in full swing, with a five-hour parties from 3pm until sunset every Saturday. Expect next-level DJs, cocktails and unbeatable harbour views at Sydney’s favourite floating bar. Guests can level up with VIP Banquette booths, Rooftop access or table packages, while water taxi transfers run every 20 minutes from Man O’War Steps from 2:50pm, making it the easiest way to get to the action.
SXSW Sydney 2025
Various Locations Across Sydney | Monday 13–Sunday 19 October
Image credit: SXSW Sydney | Website
South By South West (SXSW) is back in Sydney this week with huge festival activities and lineups bringing the best of music, gaming, film, tech and conference events to Sydneysiders’ front doors. We’ve put together everything you need to know about the festival and ticketed shows, so that you can be jamming to tunes with mates or seated with some fresh popcorn this weekend.
Interested in SXSW but looking for options that are a bit more budget-friendly? SXSW Sydney Unlocked has midday sets and short films to sunset tunes, VR game showdowns and fashion showcases, all without spending a cent. Browse through the best free things to do at SXSW Sydney.
Sydney Ceramics Market
Carriageworks, 245 Wilson Street, Eveleigh | Saturday 18–Sunday 19 October
Image credit: Sydney Ceramics Market | Samee Lapham
Over 130 ceramic artists will be slinging their hand-built and wheel-thrown pottery pieces at the Sydney Ceramics Market this weekend. Shop from small businesses and local artisans like Coe Studio’s unique lamps, glossy tableware by Ann Howe, hanging bells by Nina Field Studio, delicate Korean-style pieces by Chung Ha Studios and sculptural art by Lisa Hoelzl, who works out of an old Marrickville bakery. View the full list of makers and grab your tickets online.
Duelling Pianos
The Oxford Hotel, 195 Victoria Road, Drummoyne | Saturday 18 October, 8.30pm
Image credit: Duelling Pianos | Supplied
Watch two pianos battle it out in a high-energy showdown at The Oxford Hotel in Drummoyne. Duelling Pianos is a free event featuring guilty-pleasure throwbacks and sing-a-long favourites, played on piano by music masters. No booking needed, just head on in and find a table or standing space. You can also grab a hearty pub feed beforehand at the upstairs Bistro.
American Express Secret Menus
Various Locations | Wednesday 1 October—Friday 31 October
Image credit: Cho Cho San | Supplied
Ever wondered what chefs whip up when they’re not plating your usual order? Well, the kitchen curtain’s finally lifting. We’ve teamed up with American Express® for a blink-and-you’ll-miss-it secret menu dining series—your VIP pass to fresh flavours you won’t find on the menu.
From October through to November, we're taking over twelve of your favourite venues across Brisbane, Melbourne and Sydney with exclusive secret menu dishes. Think: personal passion projects, recipes that’ve been quietly marinating for years or culinary experiments that have been kept under lock and key…until now.
Don’t sleep on this one—the first six-venue bursts are only running until 31 October.
Dine-Out With Uber Eats
Various Locations | Ongoing
Image credit: Island Radio | Instagram
With eating out getting pricier by the month, plenty of Sydneysiders are rethinking their restaurant habits. But while the splurge might be shrinking, the love of a shared meal isn’t going anywhere. That’s where Dine Out with Uber Eats comes in—a new initiative helping diners stretch their budget a little further.
The first round of offers are running until 9 November, offering discounts of up to $200 off at a wide mix of Sydney restaurants. Expect fine dining favourites like nel., Chester Whites and Bottega Wine Bar, as well as mid-range gems including Island Radio, Pieno, Fabbrica and Don’t Tell Aunty. You’ll also find casual classics like Mary’s, Zeus Street Greek and Tuga Pastries joining in, making it easy to keep your local rituals alive without spending a fortune.
The best part? These offers are available any day and time the restaurant’s open (aka no happy-hour restrictions or weekday fine print) so you can plan your next dinner, date or catch-up on your own terms.
Live Music Lineup At Elliott's
79 Elliott Street, Balmain | Friday 17–Sunday 19 October
Image credit: Elliott's | Instagram
Since their recent opening in Balmain, Elliott's have been curating a live music program that takes full advantage of the Inner West's recently relaxed music laws—and things are getting loud this weekend. The courtyard hosts a rotating lineup of vinyl DJs and live soul, funk and blues sets every weekend, curated by Jordan McDonald (NITE-RITE Entertainment).
This Friday from 5pm to 9pm, you can expect an all-funk set from DJ Gonz—expect rare grooves, funk cuts and soulful classics to get the courtyard buzzing. The vibes will be staying high through to Saturday, with a 2.30pm set from Pat Capocci and evening beats from King Opp. Finishing off the weekend is King Opp again, with an eclectic mix spinning from 1pm to 5pm on Sunday.
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Mary's Weekend Brunch & Bottomless
Victoria Cross, Tenancy T16/155-189 Miller Street, North Sydney | Every Saturday And Sunday
Image credit: Mary's | Supplied
Mary's VX has launched an epic brunch and bottomless menu for an ideal weekend feed. Co-founder Jake Smyth reckons this is one "worth crossing town on the Metro for"—sky-high pancake stacks, brekkie burgers, unlimited spicy pickle margaritas (don't knock them until you've tried them) and bottomless filter coffee to keep the old man going. The bottomless menu comes in at a pretty $55 per person, or you can keep things breezy and order à la carte.
Bennelong In 45 Minutes
Sydney Opera House, Bennelong Point, Sydney CBD | Daily
Image credit: Bennelong | Supplied
There's certainly no fast-track to a luxury lifestyle, but Bennelong is doing its best—this $50pp experience speed-runs sophistication in a 45-minute session, offering three refined bar snacks and a signature cocktail. Ideal for those needing a quick pre-theatre snack or just short of time, the dishes are drawn from Bennelong's pre-existing menu—Maremma duck pithivier with black garlic; Wagyu bresaola panisse, brown butter aioli; Chestnut, truffle and shiitake arancini; and much more. Head in from 5.30pm onwards, and you can experience the best seat in the harbour for a palatable price.
Michelangelo’s Sistine Chapel: The Exhibition
Fever Pavilion, Sydney Showground, Sydney Olympic Park | From Friday 29 August
Image credit: Michelangelo’s Sistine Chapel: The Exhibition | Supplied
Explore Renaissance Rome without leaving Sydney at Michelangelo’s Sistine Chapel: The Exhibition, open from Friday 29 August at Fever Pavilion in Sydney Showground. The immersive 60-90 minute experience brings to life 34 of Michelangelo’s frescoes, including The Creation of Adam and The Last Judgment, in true-to-size, high-definition reproductions.
Whether you’ve seen the originals or not, the exhibition provides a rare chance to walk through one of history’s greatest masterpieces from a never-before-seen perspective, letting visitors admire every brushstroke up close without the busy Vatican crowds around.
Aprés On The Harbour
Pier Bar, 11 Hickson Road, Dawes Point | Daily, 12pm–9pm
Image credit: Pier Bar | Website
Cosy, golden-hour spring evenings have taken over Pier Bar on Sydney Harbour, complete with crackling firepits, sparkling lights, chic cocktails and outdoor cabanas overlooking the water. The winter menu continues this month to help get Sydneysiders through the last few cooler nights of the season transition, with warming favourites like a cheesy potato bake and truffle jaffle, steak frites, oven-baked camembert, and a candle-lit Biscoff fondue served with pretzels, toasted marshmallows, and fresh strawberries to dip.
A half cabana fits 4 guests with $150 minimum spend, a full cabana fits 8 with a $300 minimum spend and the entire cabana area fits up to 14 with a $600 minimum spend. Aprés On The Harbour is open daily from 12pm to 9pm.
Recovery Sundays
Baptist Street Rec. Club, Corner of Cleveland and Baptist Street, Redfern | Every Sunday
Image credit: Baptist Street Rec. Club | Supplied
Wanna end the weekend right? Redfern’s Baptist Street Rec. Club is slinging complimentary spring rolls all day for Recovery Sundays alongside $7 beers and $8 house wines. From 2pm, you can also grab $15 Margaritas and Palomas, plus $10 Bloody Marias and West Coast Coolers ‘til 10pm. There'll be DJs spinning groovy tunes, board games to rally around and a mouthwatering menu on the lineup, too.
Cerith Wyn Evans....In Light Of The Visible
Level 3, Museum Of Contemporary Art, 140 George Street, The Rocks | Until Sunday 19 October
Image credit: Museum of Contemporary Art | Website
Welsh contemporary artist and sculptor Cerith Wyn Evans presents his first ever exhibition in Australia, Cerith Wyn Evans….in light of the visible at the Museum of Contemporary Art. His towering neon light installations create an immersive environment of light and sound, inviting guests to discover the exhibition as if they are wandering through a garden.
Major works include Sydney Drift (2025), hanging sculptural forms inspired by Sydney Harbour; F=O=U=N=T=A=I=N (2020), a three-metre-tall white neon wall audiences can walk through; and Composition for 37 Flutes (2018), 37 glass pipes breathing sound into the gallery.
Suntory Bar
Whisky Thief, Prefecture 48, 230 Sussex Street, Sydney CBD | Friday 8 August–Saturday 8 November
Image credit: Suntory Bar | Jiwon Kim
Premium Japanese beverage house Suntory is taking over Prefecture 48’s Whisky Thief for a three-month-long stint of Tokyo-level cocktails and elevated malts, alongside exclusive snacks by legendary chef Tetsuya Wakuda—marking the first chance to taste Tetsuya’s cooking since the closure of his eponymous Sydney CBD restaurant in July 2024.
Try a botanical Roku G&T, an ‘80s-style Japanese Slipper starring Suntory’s Midori melon liqueur, and the hero serve: a refreshing Hakushu Highball, made with crisp Hakushu Distiller’s Reserve whisky from the highest distillery in the world, paired with soda and fresh mint.
Cheese Making Class With Bottomless Bubbles
Shop 2a, 791–795 Botany Road, Rosebery | Various dates in September and October
Image credit: Omnom Cheese Making | Facebook
A hands-on cheese-making class is a perfect way to spend a not-so-sunny day in Sydney. Part of RedBalloon’s Best Of Guaranteed experiences, you’ll learn how to make burrata and bocconcini from scratch with expert instructors, all while enjoying bottomless bubbles. And the best part is: you’ll take home almost one kilo of handmade cheese. Tickets are $109 per person.
The Book of Mormon
Capitol Theatre, 13 Campbell Street, Haymarket | Tuesday 15 July–Sunday 30 November
Image credit: Capitol Theatre | Website
Labelled “the best musical of this century” by the New York Times, the Tony, Olivier and Grammy award-winning musical-comedy, The Book Of Mormon, has returned to Sydney at the Capitol Theatre.
If you’re not familiar with the plot of this smash-hit, it follows two young mismatched Mormon missionaries as they aim to spread the teachings of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints to a remote village in Uganda, which quickly unfolds with hilarious improvisations and satirical sing-a-longs. Tickets start at $99, plus a booking fee.
RELICS: A New World Rises
Australian Museum, 1 William Street, Darlinghurst | Saturday 16 August, 2025—Tuesday 27 January, 2026
Image credit: Australian Museum | Website
Created by LEGO® Masters winners Jackson Harvey and Alex Towler, RELICS: A New World Rises is an immersive exhibition at the Australian Museum showcasing 14 mini LEGO® worlds inside vintage objects. Think lively LEGO® towns inside an antique piano, and newsroom scenes in old TVs.
Running until 27 January 2026, the exhibition also has an interactive build area, custom scavenger hunts and audio guides. Tickets are $29 for adults, $25 for concessions, $19 for children aged 4-15, and free for children aged 0-3 and Australian Museum members.
Main image credit: The Island | Instagram
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