What’s On This Weekend In Sydney
Lizzie Scorer
Contributor | Urban List, Sydney, NSW
Eloise Luke
Deputy Editor (Local Markets) | Urban List
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 want to scratch that clothes-shopping itch, settle in with a spritz, look for foodie feed, check out cool art or groove to DJ beats—we reckon you'll find something here to keep you occupied.
Here's what's on this weekend in Sydney.
Baker Bleu Is Giving Away Free Finger Buns To Celebrate Its 10th Birthday
Baker Bleu, All Locations | Monday 2 November
Image credit: Baker Bleu | Supplied
Free carbs? Say less. Baker Bleu, one of Australia’s best-loved artisan bakeries, is turning 10, and it’s celebrating with a free finger bun for everyone on Monday 2 November.
It’s one per person, until sold out, so expect a queue. The bakery is famous for its signature dark crust sourdough, which comes from slow fermentation and quality flour. It started as a 60-square-metre shop in Elsternwick and has grown into five bakeries across Melbourne and Sydney, with the Double Bay store as its Sydney home.
The birthday party doesn’t end there. There’s a limited-edition Pain d’Epi, a French breadstick shaped like a sheaf of wheat, plus co-branded goodies, including blueberry jam with Jam Lady Jam, a chocolate bar with Hunted + Gathered and a coffee blend with Market Lane. You can also enter the Win a Year of Bread competition for a $2,000 voucher to spend on bread, pastries and catering. There’s even a 10th birthday keyring and tea towel for the superfans.
MasterChef Favourite Tommy Pham Takes Over Delta Rue
Delta Rue, Level 5, Sofitel Sydney Wentworth, 61-101 Phillip Street, Sydney CBD | From Thursday 29 October
Image credit: Delta Rue | Supplied
MasterChef favourite Tommy Pham is taking over Delta Rue and Wentworth Bar for the whole of November, and it kicks off this Thursday. First up is Tommy’s Seafood Social, a one-night-only feast at 6.30pm for $119. The menu includes kingfish sashimi inspired by cha ca la vọng, black pepper crab banh khọt, lemongrass beer pipis and bay bug and crab mì quảng noodles, finishing with a dau chao quay apple tarte tatin. After the takeover, the dishes join Delta Rue’s permanent set menu.
Tied up this weekend? Pham’s Long Lunch runs every Saturday in November for $129, with 90 minutes of bottomless sparkling and cocktails. From 5 November, Hanoi Sticks & Sips brings Tommy’s charcoal grilling to the Wentworth Bar terrace, Wednesday to Sunday from 4pm to 7pm.
Sav Perera’s One-Night-Only Sri Lankan Feast At Kurumba
Kurumba, 555 Crown Street, Surry Hills | Thursday 29 October, from 5.30pm
Image credit: Kurumba | Supplied
Meanwhile, fellow MasterChef alumni Sav Perera is teaming up with family-run Kurumba for a one-night-only celebration of bold, progressive Sri Lankan flavours. The night starts with Sri Lankan-inspired snacks, followed by a three-course shared feast, passed around the table in true Lankan style.
Tickets are $90 per person. Bookings are essential and seats are limited, so lock it in now.
Set Your Alarms: Messina’s Christmas Coma Drops Wednesday At 12pm
Online, Gelato Messina | On sale Wednesday 4 November, 12pm | Pick-up Friday 18-Thursday 24 December
Image credit: Gelato Messina | Supplied
Christmas lunch has been getting a nap-inducing centrepiece from Messina since 2017, and this year’s Christmas Coma has a Get Baked twist. It’s inspired by the Bertha collab, so expect layers of dark chocolate cake sandwiched with a signature milk and dark chocolate ganache, then topped with more ganache and sprinkles.
The pack also comes with a bottle of Milo whisky custard, a tub of Get Baked rainbow sprinkles to finish it yourself and a Messina cooler bag. It serves 20 to 30 people and costs $190.
Want gelato too? Add a discounted tub at checkout and choose your flavours in store.
Set a reminder for 12pm (NSW time) on Wednesday 4 November. Pick your pick-up store from the dropdown, add to cart, confirm the store again and pay. You can join the waitlist now to get notified when it goes live.
Free Giant Disney Sculptures To Climb On In Bondi Junction
Westfield Bondi Junction, 500 Oxford St, Bondi Junction | Thursday 29 October-Sunday 1 November
Image credit: Gillie and Marc | Supplied
Here’s a free way to fill a weekend with the kids, or the big kid in you. Disney x Gillie and Marc is landing at Westfield Bondi Junction for four days only, with two monumental interactive sculptures you can climb aboard and photograph yourself with. Mickey and Minnie Mouse are joined by Gillie and Marc’s own characters, including an endangered elephant, Rabbitwoman, Dogman and a rhino.
There are free giveaways too. The first 100 visitors on Saturday get a poster, and the first 100 on Sunday get a colouring book. Fancy taking one home? The sculptures are for sale, buy one get one free.
Five Treats For $5, A Venchi Cruffin And A Birthday Bash at LoDe Pies & Pastries
LoDe Pies & Pastries, five Sydney stores | Friday 30 October, 8am-1pm, with a birthday party on Sunday 1 November, 9am-2pm
Image credit: LoDe | Supplied
Five years ago, chef Federico Zanellato opened the first LoDe bakery in Surry Hills, and now there are five stores to celebrate with. The pastry crew is marking its birthday with a few treats, starting with five favourites for $5 each on Friday 30 October from 8am to 1pm. The deal runs at all five stores (Surry Hills, Rozelle, Circular Quay, North Sydney and Chatswood Chase) and includes the vanilla bombolone, fresh berry tart, Chok Cookie, pain au chocolate and the Popeye pain suisse, a savoury laminated pastry filled with spinach, feta and cheese.
There’s also a limited-edition birthday cruffin made with Italian chocolate brand Venchi, available at all stores until Sunday 1 November (or until sold out).
The celebrations wrap up with a birthday party at the Rozelle flagship on Sunday 1 November, from 9am to 2pm. Expect $5 Venchi gelato, a BBQ, giveaways and live music.
Lobster Rolls, Martinis And $18 Oysters: Sydney’s Biggest Happy Hour
The International, 25 Martin Place, Sydney CBD | Every day from Tuesday 27 October, 3-6pm
Image credit: The International | Supplied
Martin Place has a new meeting spot. The International is rolling out a daily happy hour across all three of its levels, the Wine Bar, The Grill and rooftop Panorama Bar. Every drink and dish is available in every space, so you can order what you like and settle wherever you choose.
The star is the Perfect Pairings. A lobster roll, fries and a Martini is $25, three Sydney rock oysters with a glass of wine is $18, and prawn toast with a Don Julio Margarita is $20. Otherwise, it’s $8 wines, $10 schooners, $12 pints and cocktails from $15. Head to the rooftop for the DJs and city views. Walk-ins are welcome, and bookings are available.
Upstate’s Newtown Opening Comes With A Free Class
Upstate Newtown, 2 Gladstone Street, Newtown | Saturday 31 October-Sunday 1 November
Image Credit: Upstate | Supplied
Female-founded Pilates and wellness brand Upstate is opening its 19th studio nationally in Newtown, and it’s celebrating with free classes for everyone. Every Reformer, Hot Mat and Yoga class is free across opening weekend, and you don’t need to be a member to book in.
Studio hours are Saturday 7.15am to 12.15pm and Sunday 8.15am to 7.15pm, so you can work out whenever suits. Book through the Upstate app, because spots will likely go fast.
Keen to keep going? New members can score 30 days of unlimited classes for $29.
Jimmy’s Kitchen Is Hosting A Greek Long Lunch With Plate Smashing And Napkin Spinning
Harbourfront Seafood Restaurant, 7-27 Circular Quay West, The Rocks | Sunday 1 November, 12-4pm
Image credit: Jimmy's Kitchen| Supplied
Opa! Jimmy’s Kitchen is teaming up with Harbourfront Seafood Restaurant for a one-day long-lunch party, and it’s got all the “My Big Fat Greek Wedding” energy you’d hope for. Think zorba dancing, plate smashing, napkin spinning, live bouzouki from Gregory Bouzouki and DJ sets from the Filoxenia Band.
Tickets are $135 per adult and include a Greek margarita or cucumber spritz on arrival, plus a shared feast. It features chargrilled pita and dips, saganaki haloumi, baked king prawns and slow-cooked lamb kleftiko, and you finish with bougatsa or the cake of the day. Kids are $30, and bookings are for groups of four or more adults.
A Week Of One-Off Pizza Collabs Is Coming To Sydney
Various venues | Monday 2-Sunday 8 November
Image credit: Gozney | Supplied
Pizza lovers, this one’s for you. Gozney Local is landing in Sydney with a week of one-off collabs between the chefs and venues shaping the city’s food scene. Emerging makers get a guest spot at some of the city’s best-loved pizzerias, while venues that don’t usually serve pizza are firing up the oven. Every dish disappears when the week ends.
On Wednesday 4 November, Slice of the Point has Oina, Dear Sainte Eloise and Room Ten turning Llankelly Place in Potts Point into a laneway pizza crawl, with each venue serving its slices for one night only. Same night, Run for APizza is an after-hours 5km run through Centennial Park with AP Run Club, finishing at Apizza Taylor Square with free slices, DJ beats and a chance to win a Gozney Arc Lite.
Then, next weekend, on Sunday 8 November, Emlyn Bilbie (aka Pizza Lorrd) teams up with Nik Hill and the Porcine crew in the L’Avant Cave courtyard in Paddington. The menu includes Porcine’s mussels on toast, reimagined as a pizza.
Complimentary Pick ’n’ Mix, Slushies And Skincare At The Ordinary’s Mini Mart Pop-Up
207 Oxford Street, Darlinghurst | Until Sunday 1 November, Saturday 9am-5pm and Sunday 9am-3pm
Image credit: The Ordinary | Supplied
Skincare, but make it a servo run. The Ordinary is bringing its Mini Mart concept to Sydney for the first time, turning a Taylor Square space into a convenience store for your skin. It follows pop-ups in Japan and Hong Kong, and it’s open until Sunday.
Inside, you can shop the brand’s bestsellers and get advice from its skincare experts. Then there’s the fun stuff, like complimentary pick ’n’ mix and Mini Mart slushies while stocks last. Have a go at the Gachapon machine too, where you could win a full-sized product.
You’ll also find limited-edition goodies made for the pop-up, including an onigiri-style Squalane + Amino Acids Lip Balm, a fan favourite at the Japan and Hong Kong Mini Marts, and collectable Variety Packs with a The Ordinary keychain. The Variety Packs are Sydney-exclusive, so they make a good souvenir.
Bottomless Pasta, Prosecco And Tiramisu For $89
Fabbrica Darlinghurst, 348 Victoria Street, Darlinghurst | Saturdays and Sundays from 24 October
Image credit: Fabbrica Darlinghurst | Supplied
Fabbrica Darlinghurst is rolling out a bottomless lunch every Saturday and Sunday, kicking off this weekend.
For $89 per person, you get a set menu from Executive Chef Damiano Balducci, plus bottomless beer, prosecco, white, rose and red. Fancy something stronger? Add endless spritzes and margaritas for another $25. The menu runs from Fabbrica sourdough with cultured butter and stracciatella with beetroot and tarragon to casarecce tossed through pork sausage ragu and kale, plus a green leaf salad. Dessert is the iconic hazelnut tiramisu, so save room.
Extras like zucchini flower, pork cotoletta and beef rump cap can be added on the day from the main menu, but they’re not included in the deal. Reservations are encouraged, and walk-ins are welcome. Cin, cin!
South Eveleigh Goes Wonderland For Halloween
South Eveleigh, 2 Locomotive Street, Eveleigh | From Saturday 24 October, 2.30pm
Image credit: South Eveleigh | Supplied
Got little ones who’d rather be a Mad Hatter than a witch? Or just a big kid yourself? South Eveleigh has you covered this Halloween with a Wonderland-themed program that runs for a week and a half.
On Saturday at 2.30pm, kids aged 3 and up can design a Mad Hatter hat, mask or costume accessory at a workshop for $5 per child, which includes a $10 voucher for The Grounds Coffee Factory. Another workshop on Saturday 31 October has them decorating their own trick-or-treat bag.
During the week, Alice and Tweedle Dee and Tweedle Dum will roam the precinct on Wednesday 21 and 28 October from 11.30am to 1.30pm with riddles that unlock a trick or a treat. Lunch-hour options include a $10 teacup candle workshop on Tuesday 27 October, and free Halloween trivia at BrewDog on Thursday 22 and 29 October, where the winning team takes home a $250 voucher.
Bar Bruno Is Taking A Four-Course Trip To Sicily With Wine Legend Giorgio de Maria
Bar Bruno, 18-20 York Street, Sydney | Wednesday 28 October, 6.30pm arrival for 7pm dinner
Image credit: Bar Bruno | Supplied
If you fancy a trip to Sicily on a Wednesday night but your boss just won't approve your leave, then Bar Bruno has you covered. Head to its mezzanine for an intimate hump-day dinner, with every course matched to a Sicilian wine chosen by Giorgio de Maria - a pioneer of natural wine in Australia and the founder of Paski Vineria Popolare.
The one-off menu starts with oysters with cucumber, green olive and basil, then scallop crudo with green apple, finger lime and celery. Next comes spaghetti with sardine, wild fennel, currants, pine nuts and chilli, followed by lamb rump with burnt eggplant, tomato agrodolce and mint. It finishes with a lemon and olive oil semifreddo with pistachio, candied ginger and almond biscotti.
Tickets are $150 per person, including the wine pairing. Book now, because this one’s limited.
Love, Tilly Devine’s Sweet 16th Birthday Party
Love, Tilly Devine, 91 Crown Lane, Darlinghurst | Thursday 29 October, from 5pm
Image credit: Love, Tilly Devine | Supplied
Sixteen years is a long time in Sydney hospitality, and Darlinghurst’s original natural wine bar is celebrating with a proper party. Since opening in 2010, the tiny alleyway bar has championed small Australian producers, and the whole 80-strong wine list is available by the glass.
Tickets are $30 and include entry and a roaming selection of Aussie snacks from Culinary Director Scott McComas-Williams and Head Chef Tom Cleland. Think Aussie gildas, tartare with ‘the lot’, house-made ‘Vegemite’ toast with Reggiano, potato scallop with crab salad and mini sausage sangas.
The team will be pouring bottles from favourites including Manon, Pheasant’s Tears, Les Fruits, Basket Range and Stargazer, plus one-off vintage Magnums by the glass. Once they’re gone, they’re gone. Drinks are bought at the bar, and you can arrive any time between 5pm and 7pm. Walk-ins after 8pm don’t need a ticket, space permitting.
Sculpture By The Sea Returns To Bondi For Its 30th Anniversary
Bondi, Now until Monday 2 November
Image credit: Andre Braun | Supplied
One of Sydney’s favourite free outdoor art events is back, with 100 sculptures transforming the 2km Bondi to Tamarama coastal walk. Celebrating its 30th anniversary, Sculpture by the Sea, Bondi brings together artists from across the world, with works set against the ocean and sandstone cliffs. This year’s $70,000 Aqualand Sculpture Award went to NSW artist Harrie Fasher for Unveiling the Edges of the Sky, a six-metre-tall, five-metre-long figurative and abstract sculpture made from steel and bronze. Pack your walking shoes and make a day of exploring the exhibition along one of Sydney’s most spectacular coastal tracks.
Sydney’s Oldest Yum Cha Restaurant Has Brought Back Its Emperor Puffs With A Limited-Run Chinatown Pop-Up
Emperor’s Garden Pop-Up, 213-215 Thomas Street, Haymarket, 12-8pm
Image credit: Emperor’s Garden | Instagram
Emperor’s Garden’s famous Emperor Puffs are back in Chinatown, with a limited-run pop-up following the temporary closure of the original bakery window. You’ll find it at 213-215 Thomas Street, right next to the owners’ Chinese BBQ restaurant and about 200m from the old hole-in-the-wall spot.
The puffs have a story behind them. Uncle Stanley came across the idea for the machine on a trip to Korea in the 80s, then blended it with Cantonese-style baking to create an original recipe. It’s 1 of 1 in the whole world, and this pop-up is the only place to try it.
The Italian Riviera Returns to Watsons Bay Hotel, And It Comes With A Free Hugo Spritz
Top Deck, Watsons Bay Hotel, 10 Marine Parade, Watsons Bay | From Sunday 18 October, 2-6pm
Image credit: Watsons Bay Hotel | Supplied
Watsons Bay Hotel’s summer beach club Club Amalfi is back, turning the Top Deck into a European-style long lunch with Sydney Harbour as the backdrop. It kicks off this Sunday and returns one Sunday a month (select Sundays).
For $89 per person, you get four hours of Mediterranean feasting. Think burrata with heirloom tomatoes, antipasto, Spencer Gulf kingfish crudo and flatbread with whipped ricotta to start, followed by roasted market fish and dry-aged sirloin. Every guest also scores a complimentary Hugo Spritz from St-Germain on arrival.
When the plates are cleared, the DJs take over and the lunch turns into a proper party. Napkin-waving is encouraged.
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Mt Lewis Pizzeria Opens Its Biggest Restaurant Yet In Enfield
Mt Lewis Pizzeria, 146 Liverpool Road, Enfield | Open now
Image credit: Mt Lewis Pizzeria | Supplied
Hot off the saj, Mt Lewis has just opened its third and largest venue. The 80-seat Enfield restaurant is built around an open saj station, so you can watch paper-thin manoush being rolled and cooked right in front of you. Co-founder Nelly Tarraf is still on the tools after more than 20 years, using the same family dough recipe.
Traditional za’atar manoush and Lebanese banquets sit alongside the cult favourites, including the Cheese Explosion, the Meat & Cheese Explosion and the Money Bags.
Have a look around while you eat. The limestone was hand-carved and imported from Lebanon, and the blue shutters are inspired by the seaside town of Anfeh.
Lasagne Wednesdays Are Now A Thing At Half Day Deli
Half Day Deli, Shop 1/38 Atchison St, Wollongong | Wednesdays, on now
Image credit: Half Day Deli | Instagram
Mid-week sorted. Half Day Deli has launched Lasagne Wednesdays, and it’s $29.99 for a slice of lasagne and a glass of wine. ($20 if you skip the vino).
Take your pick from a meaty beef ragu lasagna or a cheesy eggplant version for vegos.
Not a bad way to break up the week.
Courty Fest Kicks Off For Two Weeks Of Live Music, Halloween Parties And $20 Jugs
The Courty, 202 Australia Street Newtown | Monday 19 October-Sunday 1 November
Image credit: The Courty | Supplied
Newtown’s chaos merchant is throwing itself a fortnight-long party. Courty Fest kicks off on Monday, and it’s wall-to-wall live music, DJs, trivia and games, with $20 jugs of Tooheys New pouring the whole time. Consider that your excuse to round up the crew.
The line-up has a bit of everything. Expect ’90s R&B DJs and a dedicated Dog Day, complete with pup competitions and charity raffles. Then things get spooky, with a Halloween run that includes a murder mystery night and themed trivia.
It all peaks on Saturday 31 October with the Halloween House Party, which brings costume competitions, DJs and a few spooky surprises. Dress accordingly.
The festivities wrap up on Sunday 1 November with live music and the announcement of the winners of The Courty’s mural competition.
Sydney’s Original Boutique Hotel Has Reopened In The Rocks, Complete With A Resident Ghost
Harbour Rocks Hotel, 34-52 Harrington Street, The Rocks | Open now
Image credit: Harbour Rocks Hotel | Supplied
Harbour Rocks Hotel has reopened after a complete transformation, and it’s brought its ghost with it. Eric, a sailor said to still wander the halls, is the namesake of the new Eric’s Bar, built for aperitivo hour and open to locals as much as guests.
The 59-room boutique hotel sits in an 1887 sandstone warehouse, with original brick and stonework alongside fresh coastal interiors. Downstairs, Tayim is back under Head Chef Youssef Anid, serving Levantine sharing plates with Australian produce. Keep an eye out for Eric while you’re there.
A $19 Margarita, Slider And Cheesecake Deal Is Coming To Above 319 At Vibe Hotel Darling Harbour
Above 319, Rooftop of Vibe Hotel Darling Harbour, 319-325 Sussex Street, Sydney CBD | Fridays from 9 October, 3:19-6:19pm
Image credit: Above 319 | Supplied
Sydney's quirkiest happy hour kicks off this Friday, and yes, it starts at 3.19pm. It's a nod to the bar's name and a gentle push to knock off early and make the most of the longer days.
The Weekend Warm-Up gets you three items for $19: a margarita, espresso martini or 'Let's Get Tropical' mocktail, plus a beef, chicken or halloumi slider and a mini cheesecake in vanilla, raspberry or passionfruit. All of it comes with skyline views from the 14th floor.
The deal runs through October and November, and walk-ins are welcome.
O'Donuts Haymarket
Harbour Street, Haymarket (opposite Paddy's Markets) | Opens Saturday 10 October
Image credit: O'Donuts | Supplied
Sydney's viral Japanese Nama donut specialists are opening a second store, and it's right in the heart of Haymarket. After a Chatswood debut in March, O'Donuts is bringing its soft, pillowy, not-too-sweet donuts closer to the city, just moments from Darling Square and the light rail.
The secret is in the dough. Pumpkin is blended in before more than 16 hours of low-temperature fermentation, and everything is made fresh in-store every day. Expect more than 12 sweet and savoury flavours, from best-sellers like Brulee Custard, Matcha and Pistachio to new Ube and Banana Hazelnut. Savoury options include Truffle Cheese Cream and Smoked Salmon.
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Abode Bistro. Bar is Collabing with Vic's The Chef's Butcher And Is Serving Wild Kangaroo And Signature Cocktails
Abode Bistro. Bar, Park Royal Darling Harbour | Monday 5 October-Sunday 1 November
Image credit: ABODE Bistro. Bar | Supplied
A month-long dining series celebrating Australian farmers and premium meat is underway at Abode Darling Harbour - which has teamed up with family-owned butcher Vic's. And each week spotlights a new dish paired with a signature cocktail.
This week, it's wild-harvested Paroo Kangaroo with morcilla sausage, onion soubise, salsa verde, padron peppers and veal jus, matched with a Lemon Myrtle Cocktail. Next week it's White Rocks Veal Osso Bucco with a Spiced Negroni.
Sandy's Summer Series
URBNSURF, Sydney Olympic Park | School holidays
Image credit: URNSURF | Supplied
Sandy's is turning the lawn at URBNSURF into a weekly summer fixture, with live music, lawn games, cold drinks and bookable cabanas by the water. The launch weekend has three live sets. On Saturday 3 October, Max Lush plays from 12pm to 3pm and Ritchie Marriot from 4pm to 7pm. On Sunday 4 October, Travis Drew plays from 12pm to 3pm. Stone & Wood is on the taps, with pints for schooner prices throughout October and November.
Expect giant Jenga, cornhole and Connect 4 on the lawn, plus surprise pop-ups all summer. Saturdays are for live local talent, while Sundays are laid-back acoustic sets that suit families.
Harper Rooftop Bar
Level 7, 339 Pitt Street, Sydney CBD | Wednesday-Friday 4-11pm, Saturday-Sunday 12-11pm
Image credit: Harper Rooftop Bar | Supplied
Sydney's biggest open-air rooftop bar is officially back for spring and summer. Perched on top of Kimpton Margot, Harper has skyline views, poolside vibes and one of the CBD's only dog-friendly rooftops, so the pup gets a spot too.
Celebrity chef Luke Mangan has whipped up a tropical-leaning snack menu with hot honey popcorn, Sydney rock oysters with pineapple mignonette and Cajun prawns with chipotle and pineapple salsa. There's also a dedicated daiquiri bar, frose and boozy sorbet pops.
Walk-ins are welcome.
Unlimited Fries
The Commons, Martin Place, Sydney CBD
Image credit: The Commons | Supplied
We've never met a bottomless deal we didn't love. And this one by The Commons is no exception.
To mark its 10th year, it's going all in on hospitality - and carbs, with its Martin Place bar one of two flagship venues serving unlimited fries (Collins Street in Melbourne is the other).
Expect classic salt and vinegar fries with sauces that have a bit more personality, like pineapple barbecue. They're part of a new bar menu built for the gap between knocking off and dinner, which is where the 4pm Negroni comes in. Frank Berardi leads the refresh.
Cheesecake and Cocktails
Maybe Sammy, 115 Harrington Street, The Rocks | Wednesday-Saturday, from 4.30pm
Image credit: Maybe Sammy | Supplied
Urban legend has it that Frank Sinatra never left a show without a slice of cheesecake … and we're not about to argue with Ol' Blue Eyes.
Fortunately Sydneysiders don't need a flight to Vegas to keep the ritual alive. Maybe Sammy, the Rat Pack-inspired cocktail bar in The Rocks, has a late-night pairing that fits its 1950s Vegas vibes. And it looks like a slice of lemon cheesecake with a Martini or a coffee cocktail.
The dessert comes from Bondi institution Da Orazio, and the bright, zesty lemon is a good match for a cold, dry Martini. Prefer something richer? The coffee cocktail is the way to go, and it works as a sweet treat in its own right.
Lotus Residency at Pearl
Pearl Dining, Circular Quay | From Friday 11 September
Image credit: Kera Wong
When Lotus The Galeries closed its doors for good on 12 April, it left a dumpling-shaped hole in Sydney's heart. Fortunately, on Friday September 11, the restaurant's most-missed hits relocated to Pearl Dining in Circular Quay, where Lotus Dining Group Executive Chef Steve Wu has built them a new harbourside home.
Duck lovers can tuck into Lotus Beer wok-fried duck, duck san choy bao and the duck fried rice with mustard seed. The dumpling lineup includes pork xiao long bao, prawn and pork siu mai and spicy chilli prawn dumplings, served in two-piece portions for sharing. And, the delicious, delicious lobster comes with a choice of nine sauces.
Cake & Cocktails At Black Star Pastry
Black Star Pastry, Newtown | From Saturday 22 August
Image credit: Black Star Pastry | Supplied
Black Star Pastry is taking its Newtown store into the evening with a new Cake & Cocktail experience launching this Saturday. Signature slices like the Strawberry Watermelon Cake and Chocolate Oasis Cake are paired with bespoke cocktails built to match, available as a $99 guided Flight Experience across three cakes and three cocktails, or as $35 Signature Pairings if you'd rather pick your own adventure. There's a snack menu to go with it too, from mini Japanese Chicken Pies to yuzu salt popcorn, so you can make a proper night of it.
Jazz Sundays At The Apollo
19 Bronte Road, Bondi Junction | Every Sunday, 16 August – 25 October
Image credit: Apollo | Supplied
Apollo's monthly jazz lunch has had a promotion, now running every Sunday from August 16 through to October 25. Renamed Jazz Sundays, it brings live jazz and a long lunch to Potts Point from 12 to 4pm each week. Guests can go for the Jazz Sundays menu at $95 per person, complete with a curated off-menu cocktail on arrival and Apollo favourites like signature saganaki and slow-cooked lamb shoulder, or stick with the à la carte and banquet menus. Perfect for a lazy Sunday with friends, or a family lunch that runs long.
Darlo Sake Nights At Itadakimasu Onigiri & Bar
Darlinghurst | Every Thursday, 5–6pm
Image credit: Itadakimasu | Instagram
Darlo Sake Nights at Itadakimasu Onigiri & Bar (from the team behind cult sandwich shop Sandoitchi) runs a guided tasting through three rotating sakes, led by a sake sommelier who'll talk you through the stories and flavours behind each pour. Food comes along for the ride too, with crispy chicken karaage, onigiri, fresh salad and a special soup rounding out the $49 introductory offer. It's the Japanese equivalent of a Friday knock-off drink, just moved a day earlier and done properly.
Brassaï: Secret Paris At Heide Museum Of Modern Art
Heide Museum of Modern Art | Until 15 November 2026
Heide Museum of Modern Art has unveiled Brassaï: Secret Paris, the most comprehensive survey of the Hungarian-born French photographer's work ever seen in Australia, and his first solo exhibition in the country in over five decades.
Co-curated by Heide Artistic Director Lesley Harding, Philippe Ribeyrolles (manager and curator of the Estate Brassaï and the artist's nephew), and French photography curator Emmanuelle de l'Ecotais, the exhibition brings together more than 150 original vintage prints capturing Paris in the 1930s. Expect Brassaï's atmospheric night photography, his experiments with Surrealism, hallmark images of early Parisian graffiti, and intimate portraits from his inner circle, including decades of photographs made in Pablo Picasso's studio, alongside Salvador Dalí, Henry Miller and cabaret singer Kiki de Montparnasse.
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Aria Snack Bar
Aria Restaurant Sydney, 1 Macquarie Street, Sydney CBD | Daily
Image credit: Aria Restaurant Sydney | Supplied
Sydney Harbour’s refined waterfront restaurant, Aria, has introduced a bougie-on-a-budget bar menu perfect for late-night dining. Highlights include a $26 Wagyu smash burger with Section 28 cheese and beer onions, $12 tuna tartare with white soy and chives, plus a $45 cheese platter with four premium Australian cheeses and seasonal pairings. Walk-ins are welcome any time, or book online daily from 8pm.
Mechelle Bounpraseuth ສູ້ສູ້ Sou Sou
Art Gallery NSW, Naala Nura Building Lower Level 2 | Until February 2027
Image credit: Art Gallery Of NSW | Installation view of the exhibition Mechelle Bounpraseuth: ສູ້ສູ້ Sou Sou at the Art Gallery of New South Wales, artworks © the artist
Ceramic Indomie, Sriracha and mangosteens are taking over the Art Gallery of NSW and best believe you'll want to mark this one down in your calendar. In Sou Sou (a Lao phrase of encouragement that kind of means 'keep going', 'stay strong' or 'you can do it'), Mechelle Bounpraseuth scales up a stack of everyday pantry staples and fruit into glossy, hand-built forms with an exhibition that leans hard into the rituals around her family table, pulling from Lao heritage to frame food as something deeper than sustenance.
This one is definitely an all-ages affair where visitors can gather on floor mats, leave offerings at a fruit shrine, or add to shelves of reimagined canned goods—a cool way of showcasing how these small acts echo how culture gets passed down, held and reshaped.
Parramatta Lanes Street Festival
Parramatta CBD | Wednesday 21 - Saturday 24 October, from 5pm
Image credit: Parramatta Lanes | Supplied
Parramatta's laneways and car parks are transforming into one of Sydney's biggest street festivals, with Parramatta Lanes returning for four free nights this October. Expect more than 20 festival sites across the CBD, ten music stages hosting 400-plus international, national and local artists, and 70-plus street food vendors, including plenty of local TikTok-famous names.
Beyond the food and music, the festival brings giant art installations, roving entertainment and quirky activations to unexpected corners of the city, drawing an estimated 400,000 people over the four nights. Running from Wednesday 21 to Saturday 24 October, it's a free celebration of everything that makes Parramatta and Western Sydney's culture scene tick.
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Main image credit: No Flowers Mahjong
Snag Meadow’s Bug Sando, Chippies And Their Crème Brûlée For Just $45
Meadow, Shop 7, 2-6 Cronulla Street, Cronulla, 2230, NSW
Who’s in the mood for a hearty seafood feast followed by an equally epic dessert, all for a fraction of the usual price? Lucky for you, buzzing Cronulla eatery Meadow is serving up its much-loved Meadow Bug Sando, piled high with crumbed Moreton Bay bug, crisp iceberg lettuce and cocktail sauce on pillowy white bread, with a side of golden fries—all for just $45 per person.
Duke’s After Hours: Adult Happy Meal
109 Cronulla Street, Cronulla | Sundays
Image credit: Duke's Providore | Instagram
Forget sad Sunday scaries—Duke’s After Hours is giving Sydneysiders something much better to look forward to. Available on Sunday nights only for $50pp, the venue’s limited-edition “Adult Happy Meal” bundles together a three-course Italian feast and a glass of wine for a fraction of what you’d normally expect to pay.
The menu starts with a cacio e pepe croquette before moving onto pan-fried lasagne layered with slow-cooked ragù, finishing with a praline tiramisu for dessert. To wash it all down, you’ll score a glass of either Mario Primo Chianti or Rosetta Toscana Bianco, making this one of the city’s most tempting end-of-week treats.
Fujifilm instax Is Bringing An Epic Photo Pop-Up To Yours & Owls Festival
Yours & Owls Festival | 3–4 October
Image credit: Yours & Owls
Harbourside Cinema By Pier One
Pier One Sydney Harbour, Walsh Bay | Until Wednesday 30 September
Image credit: Pier One | Supplied
Movie night just got a harbour-view upgrade. Pier One Sydney Harbour is turning its Sunset Balcony Suite into a private open-air cinema this winter, complete with blankets, waterfront views and a custom movie-night trolley.
Launching from 11 May, Harbourside Cinema lets guests choose their own film before settling in beneath the Harbour Bridge with frozen yoghurt, popcorn and an outdoor screen overlooking Luna Park and Walsh Bay. There’s also an optional comfort-food menu featuring things like gourmet hot dogs, loaded fries, cheeseboards and Wagyu burgers if you're leaning into the full night-in energy.
The experience is designed for date nights, celebrations and group hangs, with room for up to eight guests.
Cronulla Street Photobooth
1-7 Cronulla Street, Cronulla
Image credit: Cronulla Street Photobooth | Instagram
If you've got a special moment coming up, or are just keen to have a spontaneous day our, Cronulla Street Photobooth is ready and waiting to immortalise your day in film. This vintage-inspired booth is a recent addition to the local area, and well worth the potential lines. It's just $8 for three photos and two strips (pocket money, really), and a great way to add a bit of whimsy to your weekend.
Attenzione! Sunday Jazz & Dine Night
180 Redfern Street, Redfern | Sundays
Image credit: Attenzione! | Instagram
For a swish night out in Redfern backed by the soothing sounds of sax, dip into Attenzione! Food & Wine. The crew rounds out the week with a Jazz & Dine Night every Sunday. Think pizza fritta, sauce-slicked pasta and a top-tier wine list with the mood set by The Square, playing two sets at 6pm and 8pm. Walk-ins are welcome, but bookings are recommended.
Macquarie Ice Rink
Corner of Herring Road and Waterloo Road, North Ryde | Open daily
Image credit: Macquarie Ice Rink | Supplied
With the heat dialled all the way up this summer, Macquarie Ice Rink’s re-opening couldn’t have come at a better time. An inner-city institution since 1981, the Olympic-sized rink spent most of 2025 undergoing a multi-million-dollar glow-up—and now it’s officially back. Expect a pristine new ice surface, slick tech upgrades and modern amenities.
They also have a disco session every Friday and Saturday night from 8.30pm to 10.30pm. Including skate hire, all session tickets are $32 for adults, $29 for students, $28 for children under 16 years and $12 for children under 5 years with a paying adult.
The Grifter Brewing Co. Happy Hour
1/391–397 Enmore Road, Marrickville | Wednesdays–Fridays, 4pm–6pm
Image credit: The Grifter Brewing Co. | Instagram
Dialling up the summer vibes, The Grifter Brewing Co. has rolled out a sunny happy hour to celebrate the expansion of their solar power setup. The Marrickville legends are slinging $7 cold schooners and $10 chilled wines at their tasting bar from Wednesday to Friday between 4pm and 6pm.
Arms Length Bar’s Weekend Specials
7 Kellett Street, Potts Point | Friday–Sunday, 12pm until late
Image credit: Arms Length Bar | Instagram
Arms Length is bringing special after special, including their Sunday $2 Oysters and discounted Lo Fi wines to amplify those end-of-week afternoons. Seated outdoors among fairy-light wrapped branches, share as many freshly shucked oysters as your heart desires while your wallet stays happy.
The bar is also hosting DJ nights every Friday and Saturday from 6pm until late, where you can sip on happy hour drinks from 4pm and get up to groove soon after. This spot gets busy, so keep an eye on their What's On page and book yourself a spot this weekend.
China Heights Exhibitions
Level 3, 16/28 Foster Street, Surry Hills | Wednesday–Saturdays, 12pm–5pm
Image credit: China Heights Gallery | Website
China Heights is a contemporary and independent art gallery set on bringing fresh creativity to the streets of Sydney. With a rotating exhibition program constantly in progress, you can enter for free to admire and be inspired by the newest artworks displayed.
There's also a catalogue of artworks available for purchase to anyone wanting to bring a piece of the gallery home. Whether it's a creative interest or a search for quality home decor, this gallery should be the next stop on your list.
Main image credit: No Flowers Mahjong
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