The Best Things To Do In Sydney This Weekend

There's never a shortage of fun things to do in Sydney/Eora, and this weekend is no exception, with heaps of exciting events to stack your calendar with.

Pack your weekend with City2Surf fun at our post-run cafe rave, a MasterChef street food takeover, a spicy chilli fiesta, a cosy harbourside cabana experience, unmissable theatre shows, jaw-dropping art exhibitions, and so much more. 

Here are Urban List's picks of the best things to do in Sydney this weekend.

Editor's Pick: Post-Run Cool Down Kick-Ons

The Depot, 132A Warners Avenue, Bondi Beach | Sunday 10 August from 11am–4pm

Image credit: Urban List

Lace up for another epic post-run party when Urban List’s Cool Down Kick-Ons returns for 2025—and this year, we’re dialling up the vibes. In partnership with the legends at CELSIUS, we’re throwing a beachfront café rave at The Depot in North Bondi, packed with espresso-laced energy, roaming bites, and boogie-worthy beats.

Kicking off from 11am, this endorphin-fuelled party is your well-earned reward for smashing City2Surf. There’s everything you need to refuel and refresh, from buttery pastries to smoky hibachi skewers, five complimentary drinks, a full-day DJ set, and a CELSIUS-powered recovery zone. Trust us, this isn’t just a kick-ons—it’s the ultimate post-run celebration. Spots are limited, so grab your tickets now.

SoCal Winter Chilli Festival

1 Young Street, Neutral Bay | Monday 4–Sunday 31 August

Image credit: SoCal | Supplied

SoCal is cranking up the heat with a full-on Winter Chilli Festival featuring Tabasco-spiked specials and fiery experiences. Try chilli tostadas with smoked trout, popcorn chicken laced with Tabasco Jalapeño Sauce mayo, mezcal hot chocolates and more. 

Enter the Chilli Con Carne Cook Off on Thursday 21 August (entries close 8 August) and learn to make your own hot sauce for $15pp on top of a banquet or bottomless lunch on Saturday 9 and 23 August. Or, put your tastebuds to the ultimate test with a Hot Ones-style wing-eating competition on Thursday 14 August from 7pm—entry is $15. View more details and book online.

Suntory Bar 

Whisky Thief, Prefecture 48, 230 Sussex Street, Sydney CBD | Friday 8 August–Saturday 8 November

Image credit: Suntory Bar | Jiwon Kim 

Kicking off this Friday, 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. Book online.

House Of Eats

Rainbow Studios, 348 Liverpool Street, Darlinghurst | Saturday 9 August, 8am–10am

Image credit: Uber Eats | Supplied

To celebrate Uber Eats' new Dine Out feature—which lets you unlock exclusive dining deals at top-tier restaurants—Bondi’s cult-favourite brunch spot Harry’s is slinging a free breakfast at Rainbow Studios this Saturday. 

Swing by the Darlinghurst art gallery from 8am to score Harry's goodies on the house (until stock lasts) like lemon-and-ricotta-stuffed croissant rolls drizzled in white chocolate and pistachio sauce with a pistachio crumb, plus Harry’s iconic canned matcha in a new mandarin coulis flavour. There's only 300 available, so get in quick. 

Pilates @ The Pier

Pier Pavilion, 3 Barangaroo Avenue, Barangaroo | Saturday 9 August, 10am–12pm

Image credit: Barangaroo | Website 

Barangaroo's waterfront Pier Pavilion is transforming into a Pilates studio for a free morning mat Pilates session hosted by Maple Social Club. There'll also be coffee, baked goods and drinks from Top Juice. Remember to bring your own mat and RSVP online.

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Wednesday Island Takeover

Cockatoo Island, Sydney Harbour | Saturday 16 August, evening until 10pm

Image credit: Supplied

The cast of Netflix's Wednesday is taking over Cockatoo Island for a gloriously gothic fan festival to celebrate the launch of Season 2. Jenna Ortega, aka Wednesday Addams, will be there in the flesh, alongside directing royalty Tim Burton, and Emma Myers, who plays our favourite werewolf roomie, Enid Sinclair.

Prepare for spooky scenes, scream shows, exclusive merch, Wednesday-themed treats, and live performances from pop icon Peach PRC and bubblegum grunge artist ŪLA. Tickets are free and almost sold out—Peach PRC has released a surprise drop of 30 double passes. Apply now online to win. 

MJ The Musical 

Sydney Lyric Theatre, 55 Pirrama Road, Pyrmont | Until Saturday 23 August

Image credit: MJ The Musical | Website

The legendary king of pop, Michael Jackson, is brought back to life in the four-time Tony Award-winning MJ The Musical. MJ’s mesmerising moves and vocals are flawlessly captured by Broadway star Roman Banks in an incredible depiction of the 1992 Dangerous World tour on and off-stage. 

Packed with hits like Thriller, Smooth Criminal and Billie Jean—plus plenty of moonwalking and hehes—the musical feels like attending an actual Michael Jackson concert. Book online.

Derrel's X Sarah Todd X Young Henrys

Derrel’s and The Lady Hampshire, 89–91 Parramatta Road, Camperdown | Until Sunday 31 August

Image credit: Derrel’s | Declan Blackhall

Famed chef, restaurateur and MasterChef legend Sarah Todd is taking over the kitchen at Camperdown’s kitschy cool Indian joint, Derrel’s, for a month-long street food pop-up. She’ll be there in person this Saturday and Sunday, slinging a trio of limited-edition dishes alongside a custom Young Henrys' Curry Leaf XPA at The Lady Hampshire next door. 

Try the IPA Bhatti Da Murgha (mustard-spiced charred chicken with roomali roti and hop glaze), Dahi Bhalla Papdi Chaat on a banana leaf drizzled with ghost chilli, and the salty-sweet peanut butter lassi with Parle-G biscuits. Book a table online.

Aprés On The Harbour

Pier Bar, 11 Hickson Road, Dawes Point | Until the end of August

Image credit: Pier Bar | Website

A floating winter wonderland has taken over Pier Bar on Sydney Harbour, complete with crackling firepits, sparkling lights, chic cocktails and cosy outdoor cabanas overlooking the water. The winter menu is filled 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, until the end of August. Book online.

Bubble Planet

Paddington Pavilion, Sydney Olympic Park | Until Sunday 31 August

Image credit: Bubble Planet | Supplied

A massive, multi-sensory bubble playground has sprung up at Sydney Olympic Park featuring ten wow-factor rooms, including huge ball pits, Yayoi-Kusama-inspired infinity rooms, immersive virtual reality experiences, and heaps of bubble-themed photo ops. The Bubble Planet experience caters to all ages, with tickets starting at $26.90 for children (3-12 years), $33.90 for adults, and are free for children under 2. Book online.

Yolŋu Power: The Art Of Yirrkala

Art Gallery of NSW, Art Gallery Road, Sydney CBD | Until Monday 6 October

Image credit: AGNSW | Supplied

Celebrating eight decades of works from the communities of Yirrkala, in north-east Arnhem Land in the Northern Territory, Yolŋu power: the art of Yirrkala shares the community, culture and C0untry of the Yolŋu people, through their eyes and over 300 works including video, sculpture, bark paintings, digital installations and prints. The exhibition is a collaboration with the Aboriginal-owned Buku-Larrŋgay Mulka Centre, which was launched during the ‘70s as an act of Yolŋu self-determination in the midst of the land rights movement.

In the gallery's historic World War II fuel tanks you can visit Yalu, an illuminated, large-scale work by a collective of Yirrkala artists and digital producers which is free to visit and runs until 20 July, sharing the colours and sounds of Yirrkala with representations of fires, storms, and waterways.

Adult tickets to Yolŋu power: the art of Yirrkala are $25, kids under 12 are free, and you can nab two-for-one tickets between 5pm and 10pm on Wednesday nights.

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. Book tickets online from $20 for adults and $16 for concessions. 

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. Book online.

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Main image credit: Urban List

Urban List Best Of: has our highest stamp of approval—curated lists of the very best recommendations for you to eat, do, see, buy or book, carefully chosen by our Editors.

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