Sorry to break your hearts fam, but February marks the start of the end (of summer, that is). But all that really means is now, yes seriously right now, is the time to make the most of this damn fine weather and everything Sydney has on offer.
From outdoor cinemas to ocean swims and all the festivals in between, this month is going be big. No, HUGE. Here is everything you need to do in Sydney this February.
Twilight At Taronga
Start February right with a bunch of live bands, acts and shows against the ever so stunning backdrop of Sydney Harbour. Oh and did we mention with the roars and chirps of actual animals at Taronga Zoo will make an appearance? Yep, Twilight at Taronga is back and that means, all month, you can catch tunes from musos like The Jezabels, Cloud Control, Jebediah, Julia Jacklin and Tired Lion to name a few. Please oh please do not miss out on this one—book here.
When: Friday 2 February to Saturday 17 March
Where: Taronga Zoo, Mosman
Cost: Tickets vary in price, check them out here
Frozen Popsicle Summer Cocktails
Before summer leaves us (sobs dramatically), Sofitel Darling Harbour is toting a new cocktail menu that’s worth trying. The Champagne Bar is the place to go for five French summer-inspired frozen cocktails, overlooking The Harbour. The Marsielle is our top pick, with Aperol and frosé all blended with strawberry puree, orange and coconut cream, and a berry icy pole stuck in the top. Care to disagree?
When: All February, from 5pm Monday – Thursday, from 3pm Friday - Sunday
Where: Champagne Bar, Sofitel Darling Harbour
Cost: $20 per glass, $75 per jug
Moonlight Cinema
Those hot February nights are legit made for outdoor cinemas and we know you can’t argue with that. Check out a tonne of new releases and classics (including sing-a-longs, hellooo) at Moonlight Cinema happening in Centennial Park, which also happens to be BYO booze and bites—yaaaasss. Book here.
When: All February
Where: Belvedere Amphitheatre, Centennial Park
Cost: Adult tickets from $19
Botanical Pop-Up Dinner
If you’re wondering where to spend the first Friday of every month for the rest of eternity, wonder no more, because Manly Spirits Co. is hosting a regular pop-up dinner that you’ll want to be at. For their first official dinner of 2018, the four-course meal will focus on botanicals, made by the magical chef hands of Arum Nixon. So guys, all you need to do now is book your spot here.
When: Friday 2 February, 7pm till 10pm
Where: Manly Spirits Company, Brookvale
Cost: Tickets are $150 per person
The Sydney Morning Herald Cole Classic
Get your cozzies out (or, let’s be real, off the floor) and slide on that swimming cap of yours because it’s time to register for the Cole Classic, happening this Saturday. Concerned about the fact you haven’t swam laps since you were in year 10 PE class? Fear not; there is a 1km leisurely swim that you can take at your own pace across Sydney’s stunning northern beaches and it has your name all over it. Enter here.
When: Sunday 4 February, from 8am
Where: Manly Beach
Cost: Entry is $55 for the 1km swim
Visiting Hours At The Kings Cross Hotel
Have your mind totally blown in an immersive theatre experience that was so popular at Vivid in 2016, it’s returned this month thanks to the Kings Cross Hotel and bAKEHOUSE Theatre Company. So basically, the five story Kings Cross Hotel will be reimagined as an off-the-grid medical facility, where you’ll be plunged into the weird and disturbing medical world in the production Visiting Hours. Think classic theatre but better—get your tickets here.
When: Wednesday 7 February – Wednesday 17 February, 7pm till 9pm, Sessions run every 30 minutes
Where: Kings Cross Hotel, Potts Point
Cost: Adults $35, Concessions $30
Celsius
You’ll find out what food, wine and technology all have in common at Duncan Welgemoed’s pop-up, Celsius. Teaming up with Taylors Wines, you’re in a for a dining experience where you’ll learn about the effects of temperature, from the venue to the food and, of course, the wine.
When: Wednesday 7 February – Saturday 10 February, 6pm or 8pm
Where: COMMUNE, Waterloo
Cost: $99 per ticket, book here
Queerstories
Part of the 40th anniversary celebration of the Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras, the LGBTQI storytelling night, Queerstories, is back and is hittin’ up Parramatta. The hugely popular Queerstories are always a good time, bringing together people through laughs and tears. You won't want to miss out on this one, so book a ticket right here.
When: Friday 9 February, from 8pm
Where: Riverside Theatres, Parramatta
Cost: Adults $25, Concessions $20
38th International Wine Competition Tastings
Calling all wine snobs – yes, YOU. You can now officially taste the best food-friendly wines of the 38th International Wine Competition happening this February in Sydney. You’ll be able to taste 250 awarded wines, so you do the math on just how much vino you’ll be scoring on the day. It’d be wrong to not sample them all—we’re nothing if not ambitious AF. Book here.
When: Saturday 10 February, 10am till 12:30pm and 2pm till 4:30pm
Where: The Novotel Sydney Central
Cost: Sessions from $44 per person
Yak Ales BBQ Festival
PSA for all BBQ lovers: the festival of dreams is making its way to the Central Coast this February. The weekend festival, Yak Ales BBQ Festival, celebrates all things BBQ (one of our pride and joys here in Oz) with BBQ classes, live music and a whooole lot of eating along the way. More details here.
When: Saturday 10 February – Sunday 11 February
Where: Central Coast Stadium, Gosford
Cost: From $35.70
Good Together ft. Kate Moennig
ICYMI, and The L Word’s Kate Moennig (AKA: Shane) will be spinning a live DJ set at Australia’s newest queer festival, Good Together, going down this February. You won’t want to miss out on this party, celebrating the LGBTQI+ community and that YAS vote us Aussies scored late last year. Get your tickets here, ASAP.
When: Saturday 17 February, 6pm till 12pm
Where: Manning Bar, University of Sydney
Cost: Tickets starting from $40.30
Sing-A-Long Sound Of Music
Yes, you read correctly, a hot damn sing-a-long of The Sound Of Music—you know you want to. Let’s just try and tempt you even more, shall we? The interactive event will see hundreds of SOM film fanatics pay tribute to the iconic film in one of Sydney’s most iconic (and Insta-worthy) theatres. Get your tickets here, ASAP.
When: Saturday 17 February, shows at 1pm and 7:30pm
Where: State Theatre
Cost: Concession tickets $46.75, Adult tickets $60.00
Sydney City Limits
When we found out that the killer musical line up at Sydney City Limits involves Tash Sultana, The Avalanches, Phoenix and Gang Of Youths, just to name a few, we were pretty freaking stoked. But to then find out that Fratelli Paradiso’s pasta, Porteno’s wood-fired grill and Rising Sun’s ramen would be making appearances, it left us a little shook. The festival food at Sydney City Limits is going to be like no other festival—cue Mary’s burgers, Paper Bird Korean bowls, Bad Hombres vegan Mex and sooo many more goodies. This isn’t a regular festival, that’s for sure, so book your delicious tickets, like, now!
When: Saturday 24 February, 11am till 10pm
Where: Centennial Park
Cost: Tickets here from $179.90
Bistro Moncur
If you’re wanting to go full #romance this Valentine’s Day, your best bet is a night of Parisian fine dining. Spend the night with your special someone at Bistro Moncur where there’s a seriously delish three-course meal and $45 flutes of Dom Perignon happening. Book a table here.
When: Wednesday 14 February
Where: Bistro Moncur, Mosman and Woollahra
Cost: $99 per person
Twilight At Taronga
Treat your valentine to something super spesh this V Day at the live show, RocKwiz, coming to Taronga Zoo. Remember—you’ll need to brush up on your music trivia knowledge to impress the lucky man or lady (or dog) you’ll be taking along with you. Book a spot here.
When: Wednesday 14 February,
Where: Taronga Zoo, Mosman
Cost: Tickets are $114 per person
Salt Meats Cheese
V Day is sorted all thanks to the Italian perfection that is Salt Meats Cheese. For $59 per couple, a three-course Italian feast will be all yours, plus a glass of prosecco on arrival. You’ll have to fight it out with your date for that last piece of salumi on the antipasto board, then choose from any of the aaaamazing pizza and pasta (we’re looking at you blue swimmer crab taglioni).
When: Wednesday 14 February
Where: Salt Meats Cheese Broadway, Circular Quay and Drummoyne restaurants
Cost: $59 per couple
O Bar & Dining
If you reeeeally want to let your special somebody know just how spesh they are, why not hit up O Bar & Dining for the fanciest Valentines dinner feast imaginable? With three packages to choose from, you could very well be dining on the 47th floor, in a window table with a bottle of 2009 Louis Roederer Cristal Champagne, a dozen long stem roses and a box of chocolates – umm, sorry WTF, sign me the hell up.
When: Wednesday 14 February
Where: O Bar & Dining, CBD
Cost: Packages from $225 to $750 per person
Once you're done here, check out 10 Ways To Have A Boss Sunday For under $50
Image Credit: Twilight at Taronga