Alice Ellis

Sun-loving Sydney is known for its stunning, sky-high rooftop bars and seaside spots for wining and dining. But sometimes the finest watering holes can be found where you least expect.  Sneak down a laneway or descend into a basement and you may just stumble across one of the city's hottest cocktail havens, or even a seriously cool new nightlife nook that stays open long after other spots have called last drinks. In fact, you've probably walked straight past a few without even knowing they existed. Time Out Sydney's local food writers have searched for the best hidden bars – and here are the ones we reckon are way too excellent to keep a secret. Prefer to be out in the open? The best rooftop bars in Sydney might be your best bet, but there are a whole lot of waterfront bars and ace beer gardens worthy of your attention, too. 

Winter 2026 update: Sydney’s bar scene doesn’t slow down when the temperature drops – if anything, it gets even better. Think cosy corners, silky red wines, smoky whiskies and perfectly shaken Martinis. Whether you’re chasing a hidden speakeasy, a buzzing neighbourhood wine bar, rooftop cocktails with your girlfriends or a proper pint, we've got your winter watering holes sorted.  These spots offer great drinks, warm hospitality and good vibes. From exciting newcomers to long-time favourites, this guide is curated by our local editors and writers, including Time Out Sydney's Editor Avril Treasure. Grab your coat, Sydney – it’s bar season. Editor’s picks: 🍸 Best for excellent cocktails: PS40 🤫 Best for speakeasy vibes: Eau-de-Vie 🍹 Best for Cuban rums & Daiquiris: The Lobo 🍷 Best for vino from women-led wineries: Famelia 🥃 Best for whisky lovers: Banchō Bar 🇲🇽 Best for Tequila & Margs: Centro 86   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. Our list of the best pubs in Sydney Check out our best restaurants here

From specialty Sichuan spots to hot Cantonese kitchens, Sydney has some seriously great Chinese restaurants. Time Out Sydney's local food writers have eaten their way around town to bring you this curated and up-to-date list. So whether you want to go all out and explore regional cuisines, sit down for yum cha, grab some takeaway barbecue duck or hand-thrown noodles, you'll find your spot here. These are the best Chinese restaurants Sydney has to offer – we're hungry just thinking about them. 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: Here are the tastiest cheap eats in Sydney right now Check out the best Italian joints in Sydney town

Parramatta's CBD is now one of the biggest commercial hubs outside of the Sydney CBD. Along with this hustle and bustle has emerged a lively restaurant scene with cuisines from across the globe. So whether Parramatta (or nearby Harris Park) is a detour, your main destination, or you're lucky enough to live in the area, the buzzing suburb's excellent restaurants will have you stumped for choice. We've rounded up our favourites, to make the decision easier for you. Get cracking. 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.

Cosmic chasers, this one's for you! When you combine vast stretches of national park, clear dark night skies and zero light pollution, you've got the perfect conditions for stargazing in Australia. From tracking the Milky Way in the outback to visiting world-class dark sky reserves, the Aussie night sky is unmatched. Our Travel & News Editor Melissa Woodley reckons Exmouth's Cape Range National Park has the best night sky on the planet, and she'd love to go stargazing at South Australia's Arkaroola – the country's first internationally recognised dark sky sanctuary. Here's your ultimate guide to the best stargazing spots in Australia. When is the best time to go stargazing in Australia?  Generally, the experts say winter for the crispest air and sharpest visuals. That being said, anytime from February to October should deliver the goods in any of the spots we've listed across the nation.  ☀️ The best places to watch the sunrise in Australia🌅 The best sunsets in Australia

Autumn 2026 update: Whether you’re planning the perfect date night, a catch-up with the girls or a special celebration, you’ll find Sydney’s best spots to wine and dine below. 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 Sydney's 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. Editor's favourite restaurants in Sydney: 🥂 Best for a special occasion: Bennelong 👠 Best for a vibey date night: Vin-Cenzo's ☀️ Best for a long Sunday lunch: Sean's 🍝 Best for an Greek feast: Olympic Meats  🫒 Best for a friends' catch-up: South End 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 READs: Still hungry? Check out our guide to the best cheap eats in Sydney. Want more? These are Sydney's best new restaurants and bars.

It’s one of the first places you’ll visit as a tourist, a pre-theatre go-to, and home to some of the most iconic views in the world – but being a tourist hotspot means Circular Quay is not without its pitfalls. Thankfully, apart from the overpriced tourist traps, there’s still great eating and drinking to be had in the area if you know where to look. We’ve rounded up the best restaurants and bars in and around the harbour, from flash fine diners like Aria and Bennelong to Basque-inspired wine bar Deux Frères, cheap-and-cheerful spots like Mary’s and Belles Hot Chicken, top-notch watering holes Opera Bar and Apollonia, and newcomer Flaminia. There’s a mix of price points and cuisines, but they’re all ace (unlike the annoying seagulls) – and somewhere you’d want to bring your friends from overseas. Plus, keep this guide handy for when Vivid takes over the city for 23 spectacular nights. 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 restaurants in other parts of Sydney's city? Check out our guide to the best restaurants in the CBD. Want more? Check out our ultimate guide to the best restaurants in Sydney here.

With each passing year, Sydney’s skyline is being redefined – steel and glass structures are climbing higher, reshaping the harbour’s familiar outline. And while progress is part of any great city’s story, there’s a quiet urgency to protect the structures that give Sydney its soul – the sandstone facades, the ornate arcades, the bold experiments that once defined their era. Architecture literally shapes our city. The buildings that endure – from the grand to the quietly iconic – are more than just beautiful buildings; they are markers of memories and milestones while everything around us is changing so rapidly. Here’s our list of the buildings in Sydney that make us take a second look, from grand colonial houses to post-modern marvels. Our advice? Make sure to visit at least one of them very soon. Stay in the loop: sign up for our free Time Out Sydney newsletter for more news, straight to your inbox. RECOMMENDED:  The prettiest public gardens in Sydney The top 20 tourist attractions in Sydney The best things to do in Sydney this weekend

Autumn 2026 update: Enjoy the change of seasons at one of Sydney’s cracking pubs. From sun-dappled beer gardens to refreshing pints and heart-warming roasts, these pubs are warm, welcoming spaces built for a good time – and even better if they’re pokie-free. Below, we’ve rounded up the best of the best. 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, and we're fans of weekly trivia. On a hot day, it's all about having a welcoming beer garden, and on a Sunday, it's all about a cracking roast. Top-notch drinks are a must, obvs. 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. Cheers! Editor's picks: 🍠 Best for a Sunday roast: The Bat & Ball Hotel ☀️ Best for a sunny beer garden: Courthouse Hotel 🍽️ Best for top-notch feed: The Dry Dock 🎸 Best for live music: The Lord Gladstone 🔖 Best for mid-week trivia: The Golden Barley 🍻 Best for a post-surf beer: Harbord Hotel 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. 

There’s a lot to love about bottomless brunch. Firstly – and perhaps the most obvious one – is the allure of free-flowing booze enjoyed with your best mates over a few glorious hours, be it Champagne, Aperols, Margaritas or beers. Secondly, Sydney’s cafés and restaurants sure do put on a show with their bottomless brunch, with generous and delicious dishes, as our Editor Avril Treasure can attest to (and, she’s tried a lot). Plus, they’re excellent value, when you consider you get a feast and a bunch of tipples. We’re collated our top bottomless brunch picks below, which include everything from pretty Middle Eastern restaurants to classic watering holes, chic wine bars and relaxed coastal eateries. Round up your gang, make a booking and get stuck in. 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. RECOMMENDED: These are the best happy hours in Sydney right now Start your morning on the right note with our guide to the city's finest cafés Love a long lunch? Have a look at our guide to the top set menus in Sydney at all price points

There’s no doubt about it, Sydneysiders can’t get enough of Italian food. And who can blame us? There’s something about a bowl of perfectly al dente pasta paired with a luscious, rich ragu that just hits the spot. And while Italian cuisine differs throughout the 20 incredible regions – broadly speaking, the northern regions eat more rice and polenta, while down south they feast more on seafood – Italians share a love of beautiful, seasonal produce; they choose simplicity rather than overcomplicating dishes and cook with soul. No wonder we love it so much. Luckily, there are plenty of excellent options for Italian dining in Sydney. Time Out’s food writers and editors – including Editor Avril Treasure, who has eaten her way through Sicily, Sorrento, Rome and Florence – have picked our favourite eateries, covering all bases. The only catch? They just need to provide a feel-good environment and dishes you’ll want to come back for. From casual red-sauce joints and classic pizzerias to fine-dining restaurants, you’ll find them all here. 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. Not in the mood for pasta? Here are our picks of the best spots for Greek and French food in Sydney.

Australian Aboriginal art is the oldest continuous artistic tradition in the world, stretching back tens of thousands of years and deeply intertwined with culture, Country and storytelling. Far more than the dot paintings many people instantly recognise, Aboriginal art encompasses an extraordinary range of styles and techniques – from ancient rock paintings and engravings to bark paintings, carvings, sculptures, weaving and intricate string art. Much of contemporary Aboriginal art is rooted in stories and symbols connected to the Dreamtime stories. Whether you’re visiting from overseas or a local keen to look beyond the basics, Sydney is home to galleries, museums and cultural spaces showcasing art by First Nations artists from across Australia.  You can also see the work of a handful of Aboriginal artists on the streets of the city – check out our hit-list of the best public art in Sydney, including bara (2022), a 6.4-metre-tall marble sculpture created by Waanyi artist Judy Watson on the headland overlooking Bennelong Point and Circular Quay. 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. RECOMMENDED: Check out the best museums in Sydney  The best Aboriginal walks and tours in Sydney Royal Botanic Gardens Sydney: Aboriginal Heritage Tour

✍️ 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. The food at Cotenna is served in little cardboard trays, so it’s a happy surprise that it’s here at this simple rotisserie eatery that I experience some of the best service I’ve received in recent times. I’m warmly greeted as I walk in, my every need is anticipated, and as I’m finishing eating up my already-planning-my-return good meal, the owner comes over with a complimentary shot of limoncello – the ideal antidote to a rich dinner featuring crackling pork. The same warm attention is granted to everyone who walks in while I’m here, whether they’re sitting down for a meal or just ordering takeaway. I like the place, and I can tell that every customer who comes in tonight will be back for more. The vibe This roast chicken and pork restaurant, which opened in December 2025 by Amy Wheater and chef Jamie Sutherland, is low-key – it’s up a set of stairs in a Military Rd arcade, in a fairly small space that’s been home to a range of restaurants over the years. (Cotenna started its life as 'Carne' at markets around Sydney, so this is their new bricks-and-mortar home.) You order at the counter, which is next to a rotisserie with chickens and pork roasts that look (and smell) mouthwateringly good. Potatoes sit under the spits, catching the cooking juices from above.

*]:pointer-events-auto R6Vx5W_threadScrollVars scroll-mb-[calc(var(--scroll-root-safe-area-inset-bottom,0px)+var(--thread-response-height))] scroll-mt-[calc(var(--header-height)+min(200px,max(70px,20svh)))]" dir="auto" data-turn-id="request-WEB:245ed18e-4b55-4c30-b29f-5d25a0fc0cf4-1" data-turn-id-container="request-WEB:245ed18e-4b55-4c30-b29f-5d25a0fc0cf4-1" data-testid="conversation-turn-2" data-scroll-anchor="false" data-turn="assistant"> One of Sydney’s major entertainment venues is getting a new name. The arena known as Qudos Bank Arena will soon become Afterpay Arena, as part of a five-year naming rights deal that was just announced. Located in Sydney Olympic Park, the venue has been a major stop on the touring circuit since opening in 1999 with a performance by Luciano Pavarotti. Over the years, it’s hosted international music stars including Billie Eilish, RÜFÜS DU SOL and TWICE, alongside sporting events, comedy shows, family entertainment and cultural events. As part of the rebrand, the venue will introduce new payment technology across the customer experience. Fans will be able to use Afterpay’s Pay in Four option when buying tickets, while Square’s payment and point-of-sale systems will power food, beverage and merchandise purchases inside the arena. The venue transformation – including updated signage and refreshed interiors – is currently underway. Until the rollout is complete, the venue will continue operating as Qudos Bank Arena while maintaining its reg

✍️ 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.  As we drive north-west from Sydney to Bowen Mountain, at the foothills of the Blue Mountains in the Hawkesbury region, the landscape is surprisingly lush. I’m used to the dry bush of the Blue Mountains, so I don’t expect to discover this verdant, tropical-like oasis, hidden in the sanctuary that is Songoma Spicers Retreat. The peaceful, leafy restaurant looks out over the retreat’s pool and a valley. It’s worth the trip just for the scenery.  The vibe As I come up the driveway, I realise it’s going to be very hard to peel myself away from this place at the end of lunch. Amara is at the centre of the resort, so you instantly feel like you’re on holiday, and you’re tempted to check in and stay for more than a day. ‘Amara’ is the Zulu word for grace, and the restaurant’s interior subtly references South African-style design through warm earthy tones, natural textures and sculptural accents. It’s a space that feels at home in this tranquil, green setting.  Also tying in with the setting, head chef Will Houia (who’s worked in kitchens at Michelin-starred Relæ in Copenhagen, three-hatted NZ restaurants Pasture and Roots Restaurant, and Sydney’s renowned Firedoor) is big on using organic and seasonal produce from the Hawkesbury region – from within a one-hour drive

✍️ 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.  It’s bucketing down on my way to Claret Club on Stanley Street. I have an umbrella but still arrive sodden, my jean bottoms and shoes dripping. Despite my soggy appearance, I’m warmly welcomed into this romantic little sanctuary. They give me and my also-soggy friend the cutest table near the window. We look out at the deluge falling on the leafy, fairy-lit pavement, grateful to be in this cosy wine bar drinking expertly made Martinis by candlelight. My socks are damp but my spirits are high. The vibe Claret Club is in an old terrace house, so it has lived-in charm despite only opening in December 2025. Some original features have been maintained: leadlight doors and ornate cast-iron balustrades on the balconies. It has a Parisian feel, with outdoor tables under the trees (not in use on this wet night), white tablecloths on small tables, and smiling people seated along the bar. It feels like a happy place, thanks in part to warm, natural service that puts you at ease. The food The ground floor is a wine bar with excellent snacks, but upstairs is a proper Euro-inspired restaurant. We move up there to eat. We start with gnocco fritto ($20) – two fried dough fingers topped with a tangy aioli spiked with lemon and sage, an anchovy and fried sage leaf. Crunchy, c

✍️ 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.  There’s no shortage of well-loved Lebanese restaurants in Southwest Sydney, but Al Yasmin in Punchbowl is my favourite. The menu is huge, the portions are huger, and the can’t-stop-eating-it flavours go even harder. It’s also incredible value – come hungry.  The vibe Al Yasmin is a brightly lit restaurant on the main drag opposite Punchbowl train station. It’s a big enough place to go with a group for an affordable get-together, or you can just grab takeaway.  Confusingly, even though the sign out front and on the menus (and Google) say Al Yasmin, the waitstaff wear uniforms that say Jasmin 1 – a nod to its previous life as one of the many Jasmin 1 Lebanese restaurants across Sydney. The name is the only thing that’s changed – this Punchbowl institution still delivers the same great food and value that it has for more than 30 years. The food There’s no way you won’t over-order here, especially because they drop complimentary Lebanese bread, pickles, tomatoes, fresh mint, onions, garlic sauce and chilli sauce on the table before any of your actual selections arrive. As they start fulfilling your order, you'll realise you're in for a feast.  Everything is excellent, but I’d recommend getting their lemon garlic chicken ($26) – it’s grilled shish tawook, removed

Looking for new ways to find friends? Want to get creative? Combine both with a Club Sup pottery and painting session at CeeCee Studios on Quarry Street in Ultimo. Slow down, get a little messy and learn the art of hand-building ceramics on Saturday, March 28 from 10am to midday. Never done pottery before? No worries. Over two hours, your host will teach you how to shape your own mug from 500 grams of clay, giving you tips and tricks to refine your technique. Once your mug is formed, personalise it with your choice of glaze colour for the perfect finishing touch. The team will handle the firing and glazing, so all that’s left for you to do is to return later and pick up your handmade creation. And then enjoy a cuppa, of course. The vibe is relaxed, with coffee and snacks to enjoy as you craft, chat and connect with others around the table. Book your spot here. 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: The best things to do around Sydney in 2026 Want to do something useful? Sydney has a big youth homelessness problem – here's how to help

✍️ 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.  When I see “Mediterranean” used to describe a restaurant, my mind usually drifts to Italy and Greece. But The Palomar, they say, takes inspiration from Southern Spain, Northern Africa, and the Levant (all the lands along the eastern edge of the Mediterranean Sea, including Syria, Lebanon and Jordan). How that translates on a menu: basically, flame-grilled meats, seafoods and veggies, served with colourful, punchy sauces, and made to share. But there’s nothing basic about Mitch Orr’s food. When a chef this exciting gives culinary direction, you know it’s going to be thrilling. At this Oxford Street restaurant – unveiled with the launch of the new 25hours Hotel Sydney The Olympia – Mediterranean food gets a jolt of Orr’s signature intensity and playfulness. It's a genuinely fresh addition to inner Sydney’s restaurant scene. The Palomar Sydney is the sister venue to a popular London restaurant of the same name, founded by hospo siblings Layo and Zoë Paskin. Orr once worked alongside the pair and, here in Sydney, he’s joined by head chef Luke Davenport, who started his career at The Palomar London a decade ago before working in kitchens including at Noma (Copenhagen) and Franca Brasserie (Sydney). Now, Sydney is lucky to have this formidable duo land together in

Hannah St Hotel is part of a new crop of Australian boutique hotels that are mastering that elusive “sense of place”. The hotel may be new, but it feels unmistakably Melbourne. It's not a cookie-cutter property where you could wake up and momentarily forget which city you’re in. The design, the art, the energy – it’s all grounded in its surroundings. Designed by Melbourne’s own Flack Studio (who also designed Ace Hotel Sydney), the hotel shares that same strong design language, but the mood is entirely its own. Having stayed in both, I’d say Hannah St Hotel feels fresh, bright and uplifting, whereas the Ace leans moodier and more retro. There’s art by 13 artists – an entirely female Australian cast – featured all throughout the hotel. And every teeny tiny design detail, from the coat hangers to the in-room slippers, has been thoughtfully considered. Why stay at Hannah St Hotel? Apart from being a stylish base and cool cultural hub, it has fabulous facilities – a 20m Instagrammable indoor pool, sauna and steam room, a well-equipped gym, ground-floor restaurant and bar, rooftop bar, and possibly the best co-working space I’ve seen in a hotel.  What are the rooms like at Hannah St Hotel? Like everything at the hotel, the rooms are beautiful – the style is a blend of modern nostalgia and contemporary polish, with custom-designed furniture and thought behind every little design detail. The first things I notice were the custom-made bed cushions with Hannah St Hotel embroidered emb

The Australian Museum, the country's oldest museum, established in 1827 right here in Old Sydney Town, is the custodian of more than 22 million specimens and objects. That includes the Indigenous and Pacific collections, a precious stones collection and the permanent 200 Treasures of the Australian Museum and Surving Australia exhibitions. Suffice to say, you'll be well entertained on a trip here.  Located in the heart of the city, opposite Hyde Park, and close to Museum Station and the Gadigal Metro, planning a cultural expedition is a breeze. Explore new fossils, life-size displays and interactive elements in the free exhibition that features Aussie animals from the prehistoric era, to now. Other displays cover the Pacific Islands, Asia, Africa and the Americas, with items ranging from Aboriginal kids' toys to a tattooed chalk head from the Solomon Islands. With authenticity at its core, the Australian Museum is committed to First Nations truth telling and knowledge sharing, led by a First Nation's team. Little ones will learn too at Burra, the free learning space for younger visitors, which weaves in First Nations knowledge about burra (the eel). The Westpac Long Gallery, dinosaurs exhibition and Wild Planet spaces are award-winning, solidifying the institution as Sydney's go-to 'dinosaur museum', among other things. Heaps of new exhibitions drop in every year, including the legendary annual National Geographic Nature Photographer of the Year exhibition, alongside other l

✍️ 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.  Let’s start with the obvious: the views from Infinity by Mark Best are outrageous. This newish restaurant is on the 81st floor of Sydney’s tallest tower, so the panorama from about 300 metres up is not just spectacular but constantly shifting – literally revolving. There’s no such thing as a bad seat. Over the course of our meal, the city unfurls beneath us: the points and coves of the harbour, Hyde Park and St Mary’s Cathedral, the Victorian elegance of the QVB – and, on a clear day, you can see all the way to the eastern beaches and the distant Blue Mountains. The views alone justify the visit, but pairing them with food from Michelin-trained Australian chef Mark Best (with head chef Jen Kwok Lee, named Good Food Guide's 2026 Young Chef of the Year) is the cherry on top. Together, they deliver a quintessential Sydney experience you should have at least once in your life. The vibe The décor of this Sydney Tower restaurant is pared-back and modernist (it’s giving Mad Men), a neat match for the building’s architectural bones. Stylish wooden chairs with black leather padding line black tables. They’re set directly against the glass walls, which are framed by gleaming gold-toned beams, so diners sit right at the window. If you’re scared of heights, don’t look d

Sydney is brimming with restaurants and hotels with divine views. But there’s nothing quite like the vista you have from The Dining Room by James Viles, at the low-rise Park Hyatt Sydney hotel. From your seat, you’re face-to-face with the Sydney Opera House, which sits just across the harbour. You get to admire the House and its shimmering reflection not from above, but from water level. From here, the building feels strangely close and in motion, as if its white sails have just rounded Bennelong Point and are cruising towards you.  Since 2022, the hotel’s restaurant has been led by creative director James Viles (ex-Biota, Bowral), whose leadership has earned it a Chef Hat for four consecutive years. Alongside Viles, new head chef Dan Parkes and NSW Pastry Chef of the Year 2025 Patrick Mariano form a team that clearly know what they're doing. The Dining Room's view is to die for, and the food is worth living for. The menu evolves with the seasons, and it celebrates the best and freshest produce Australia has to offer. Individual starter ‘bites’ prepare your taste buds for what’s to come – there are the obvious bites, like Sydney rock oysters, and the less obvious, like cured ocean trout crumpets, served with dashi creme and capers. The selection is an intriguing mix of the playful and sophisticated, which makes it almost impossible to choose. Bites are followed by a selection of smaller share plates, ranging from light and fresh tuna crudo with smoked soy and tomato, to rich

✍️ 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.  Eat Ozzo is a genuinely exciting new addition to our affordable eats scene. Sydney has more than its fair slice of pizza restaurants and sandwich shops – but what happens when you combine pizza plus sandwich? Wife-and-husband duo Chandni and Ankit have done it, and called their mouth-watering result “the ozzo”. Born out of a love for the traditional pizza bases of Napoli, Ankit spent more than 1,000 hours perfecting his own 72-hour slow-fermented pizza bread cooked in a woodfired oven before deciding it would make the ultimate wallet-style sandwich bread. The dough isn’t Eat Ozzo’s only masterstroke, though – Chandni and Ankit’s fillings are surprising and downright addictive (more on those later). The vibe The first Eat Ozzo opened in Pyrmont in 2025, quickly followed by this one in the Marrickville Traders building – a community of boutique creative spaces near Messina HQ and the Emergency Care Clinic. It’s on Chapel Street, in Marrickville’s old industrial area, wedged between Henson Park and Sydenham, which is now studded with popular dining and drinking spots, including 20 Chapel, The Henson, Two Chaps and loads of craft breweries and distilleries. With much of the Marrickville Traders space yet to be occupied, Eat Ozzo is currently the building’s centr

Sydney's Royal Botanic Garden, situated right by our dreamy Sydney Harbour and just steps from our iconic Opera House, is without a doubt the city's most famous pocket of green. But did you know Australia’s biggest botanic garden – also in Sydney – is just under an hour’s drive from the CBD? The Australian Botanic Garden, Mount Annan is located just 60 kilometres south-west of the middle of the city (which means you can drive there in under an hour). And you should, because with a whopping 416 hectares of space (that’s bigger than Central Park in New York City), there’s plenty to explore.  The Australian Botanic Garden, Mount Annan is one of the most important conservation sites in NSW, and it’s free to visit. So if you haven’t been yet, where the bloody hell are you? Where is the Australian Botanic Garden Mount Annan? Mount Annan is in the Macarthur region – it’s part of Camden Council and Campbelltown City Council. It’s on Dharawal Country. Photograph: Destination NSW; Australian Botanic Garden, Mount Annan What can I see at the Australian Botanic Garden Mount Annan? These gardens are home to native flora from across Australia. The huge space is made up of lawns, landscaped gardens, lakes, and there are even plenty of native animals to spot.  There’s a lot to see, but some of our favourite sections include: the Connections Garden, which is mind-blowingly beautiful, especially in spring, when the gardens host an annual wildflower display.  There are barbecue and picnic are

Time Out Australia has released a 2026 Dining Trends Report – in line with the announcement of the Time Out Sydney Food & Drink Award 2026 winners. The results of the Trends Report stem largely from patterns identified across the range of Time Out Food & Drink Award 2026 nominee venues from Sydney and Melbourne, which reflect bigger trends across the cities’ dining scenes. One clear theme? “Specific authenticity” is on the rise. It’s a direction Sydney hospitality and diners are really leaning into, with venues doubling down on niche concepts – and sticking to them. The key Sydney dining trends identified for 2026 are: 1. The Rise of "Specific Authenticity" There's been a shift in Sydney’s hospitality scene away from broad offerings and towards “specific authenticity”. Taking Time Out Food & Drink Award 2026 venues as examples, many venues are now focused on highly localised regional cuisines instead of broad-brush themes like "European" or "Middle Eastern": think Padang Indonesian at Temu Kangen and Hungarian at Corner 75.  2. High-Concept Affordable Eats  Specificity is also a characteristic of the budget bites category – affordable venues have evolved from simple takeaways to a sophisticated segment offering hyper-specific product lines, made by applying rigorous techniques to low-cost formats. Examples include Sydney nominee Eat Ozzo (which makes a pizza-sandwich hybrid) and Newcastle's Arno Deli (where an award-winning chef makes Florentine panini). "For this reason, ch

Time Out Australia has released a 2026 Dining Trends Report – in line with the announcement of the Time Out Melbourne Food & Drink Award 2026 winners. The results of the Trends Report stem largely from patterns identified across the range of Time Out Food & Drink Award 2026 nominee venues from Melbourne and Sydney, which reflect bigger trends across the cities’ dining scenes. One clear theme? “Specific authenticity” is on the rise. It’s a direction Melbourne hospitality and diners are really leaning into, with venues doubling down on niche concepts – and sticking to them. The key Melbourne dining trends identified for 2026 are: 1. The Rise of "Specific Authenticity"  There's been a shift in Melbourne's hospitality scene away from broad offerings and towards “specific authenticity”. Taking Time Out Food & Drink Award 2026 nominee venues as examples, many venues are now focused on highly localised regional cuisines instead of broad-brush themes like "European" or "Middle Eastern": think Portuguese at Marmelo, Venezuelan at Papelón – and Otakoi (which took out the award for Best Restaurant) is recognised as Melbourne’s first and only Ukrainian restaurant. 2. Hyper-Specialised Beverages  Specificity is also a characteristic of the bar industry – the success of bars as specific as “sherry focused” (at Time Out Melbourne Food & Drink Awards 2026 nominee Three Horses) suggests Australian drinkers are seeking "knowledge-based" consumption. Another Melbourne nominee bar, Moondrop, spe

Melbourne diners have had their say – and in record numbers. More than 10,000 votes were cast in this year’s Time Out Food & Drink Awards People’s Choice categories, making it our biggest public vote yet. While Time Out Editors crown the industry’s best in the Editors' Choice categories, the People’s Choice Awards celebrate the places locals genuinely love – the neighbourhood haunts, date-night staples and group-chat go-tos Melburnians return to time and time again. They define how Melbourne likes eating and drinking right now. This year’s winners reflect everything we love about eating and drinking in this city, from spirited, culture-rich dining experiences to standout brunch spots, intimate bars and timeless pubs.  “This year’s People’s Choice winners really speak to Melbourne’s deep love of food, culture and connection,” said Time Out Melbourne Managing Editor, Leah Glynn. “From the warm, generous hospitality at Otakoi to the cult-favourite toasties at Black Gold and the cosy charm of St Luja, these are the places locals turn to when they want to eat well and enjoy the experience.” Here are the Time Out Melbourne People’s Choice winners for 2026: Favourite Restaurant: Otakoi, Windsor Melbourne's only Ukrainian restaurant serves hearty comfort food (like dumplings and honey sponge cake) in a space bursting with colour and character. Favourite Café: Black Gold, Richmond This southside brunch spot is known for its specialty ONA coffee and elevated dishes, including decons

Sydney diners have had their say – and in record numbers. More than 10,000 votes were cast in this year’s Time Out Food & Drink Awards People’s Choice categories, making it our biggest public vote yet. While Time Out Editors crown the industry’s best in the Editors' Choice categories, the People’s Choice Awards celebrate the places locals genuinely love – the neighbourhood haunts, date-night staples and group-chat go-tos Sydneysiders return to time and time again. They define how Sydney likes eating and drinking right now. This year’s results paint a fun picture of Sydney's dining scene, spanning waterside Italian diners, North African café and a revived Aussie pub.  "The People’s Choice winners showcase what Sydney’s loving right now, and I'm not surprised that includes Italian food, which are really having a moment, with new pasta and pizza spots popping up all around the city," says Time Out Sydney editor, Avril Treasure. Here are the Time Out Sydney People’s Choice winners for 2026: Favourite Restaurant (tie): Cibaria Manly – An all-day Italian precinct by Alessandro Pavoni, known for its beachside setting, fresh pasta and artisanal gelato. Favourite Restaurant (tie): Como Italian, The Rocks – A waterfront spot serving sustainable seafood with “la dolce vita” vibes and Opera House views. Favourite Café: Café Tanja, Surry Hills This soul-filled, family-run gem on Crown Street is known for its Tunisian shakshuka and Moroccan mint tea. Favourite Bar: Cardea, Barangaroo This

In line with the announcement of the Food & Drink Awards 2026 – winners are being revealed today – Time Out Australia has also released our Dining Trends Report 2026. The results stem largely from patterns identified across the range of Time Out Food & Drink Award 2026 nominee venues from Sydney and Melbourne, which reflect bigger trends across the cities’ dining scenes. The key dining trends identified for 2026 are: 1. The Rise of "Specific Authenticity"  There's been a shift in the hospitality scene – at least in Sydney and Melbourne – away from broad offerings and towards “specific authenticity”. Taking Time Out Food & Drink Award 2026 nominee venues as examples, many venues are now focused on highly localised regional cuisines instead of broad-brush themes like "European" or "Middle Eastern": think Peloponnesian Greek at Olympic Meats, Hungarian at Corner 75, Padang Indonesian at Temu Kangen, Portuguese at Marmelo, Venezuelan at Papelón – and Otakoi is recognised as Melbourne’s first and only Ukrainian restaurant. 2. Hyper-Specialised Beverages  Specificity is also a characteristic of the bar industry – the success of bars as specific as “sherry focused” (at Time Out Melbourne Food & Drink Awards 2026 nominee Three Horses) suggests Australian drinkers are seeking "knowledge-based" consumption. Sydney nominee Paradise in Sydney is a specialist in orange wine; Moondrop in Melbourne specialises in East Asian flavour profiles, utilising ingredients like lapsang souchong tea,

The Time Out Food & Drink Award 2026 winners have just dropped, revealing the most sought-after and exciting dining and drinking hotspots across Australia. For more than 15 years, our awards have been celebrating wow-factor restaurants and bars in both Editors' Choice as well as People's Choice categories. And, for the first time, People's Choice voting was opened up to all of Australia (not just New South Wales and Victorian venues). The results arrive alongside Time Out Australia’s 2026 Dining Trends Report, which offers further insight into the themes and tastes defining the Sydney and Melbourne dining scenes. The report highlights several overarching trends for this year, including a shift towards "specific authenticity" over broad menus, high-concept affordable eats and a rise in hyper-specialised drinks.  The judging process Time Out’s 2026 Food & Drink Awards are split into two categories: Editors’ Choice and People’s Choice. In case you’re wondering how Time Out goes about reviewing for the Editors' Choice nominations and winners, we never write starred restaurant and bar reviews from hosted experiences, or as part of paid partnerships. Time Out covers restaurant and bar bills, and anonymously reviews, so readers can trust our recommendations.  Based on this system, we’ve been running awards that celebrate Australia’s hospitality industry for more than 15 years. We truly believe we have some of the most delicious dining scenes in the world, and we love being able to c

The word “iconic” is thrown around too easily, but Ormeggio at The Spit has all the ingredients to make it a genuinely iconic Sydney restaurant – a must-have experience. Perched over the water at D'Albora Marina, it delivers uninterrupted water views of Middle Harbour, whether you’re sitting indoors or out. It’s owned and led by a renowned Australian chef – Alessandro Pavoni, whose skill for cooking fine Italian fare began to be recognised after opening this, his first restaurant, in 2009 with wife Anna. Speaking of 2009 – the pair have managed to build something enduring in an industry where longevity is anything but guaranteed. And, of course, they serve delicious food that transports you to Alessandro’s native Italy.  The passionate pair now have nine Sydney restaurants (plus one in Noosa), and what they know from years of experience is that, no matter how well-loved a restaurant is, you can’t rest on your laurels – adaptation is key in an ever-changing market. So, after a busy period opening newcomer restaurants including Cibaria, Postino Osteria, Vineria Luisa and now also Pizza'Mare, their focus has circled back to where it all began. Alongside executive chef and co-owner Victor Moya and head chef Federico Caracci, they’re ushering Ormeggio into a more relaxed, flexible era. Photograph: Steven Woodburnfood and drink at Ormeggio at the Spit I visit with a friend on one of those golden Sydney afternoons, starting on a lounge at the waterfront aperitivo terrazza. A White

The 2026 nominees for Time Out’s Food & Drink Awards, for both Melbourne and Sydney, have just gone live. Time Out’s local food writers and editors eat out – a lot! – so we can bring you recommendations on restaurants and bars that are worthy of your precious money and time, based on real people’s real experiences. In case you’re wondering how Time Out goes about reviewing, we never write starred restaurant and bar reviews from hosted experiences, or as part of paid partnerships. Time Out covers restaurant and bar bills, and anonymously reviews, so that readers can trust our recommendations. That means all the restaurant and bar reviews you'll read on nominated Food & Drink Award venues are based on experiences that have been paid for by Time Out, and venues don’t know we’re dining. Based on this system, we’ve been running awards that celebrate Australia’s hospitality industry for more than 15 years. We truly believe we have some of the most delicious dining scenes in the world, and we love being able to celebrate this hard-working industry.  For the 2026 Food & Drink Awards, we’ve been checking new spots out, as well as revisiting long-standing restaurants and bars to make sure they’re still delivering excellent experiences. It was difficult to narrow down the shortlists – there are so many amazing business owners, chefs, bartenders, sommeliers, front-of-house and back-of-house professionals delivering exceptional experiences to diners. But we’ve worked hard to bring you a s

Melbourne’s 2026 love affair with tennis doesn't just end with the Australian Open – in fact, we’ve got a new crush. This April, the Billie Jean King Cup is returning to Melbourne Park for the first time in 15 years, serving up some seriously thrilling tennis. Formerly known as the Federation Cup, this women’s team competition is now named after tennis icon Billie Jean King (American former number one). It sees nations go head-to-head in a high-energy team format that’s big on atmosphere. In our qualifier, Australia will go head-to-head with Great Britain on April 10 and 11 at John Cain Arena. Win, and we’re off to the elite eight-team finals in China this September.  Captaining this women’s team is Aussie tennis legend Sam Stosur. On court, all eyes will be on Australia's Emerson Jones and Storm Hunter, and a stellar line-up of rising stars, Talia Gibson, Kimberly Birrell and Ellen Perez. We spoke with Talia Gibson, who's quickly rising in the ranks thanks to a string of career highlights during this 2026 season – first, she reached the second round in singles and the quarter-finals in doubles at the Australian Open, then went on to achieve an awesome run at Indian Wells and the Miami Open, allowing her to crack the top 100 for the first time! With her sights now set on being seeded at the Grand Slams, Melbourne crowds are in for a show at the Billie Jean King Cup. We asked her what makes the Billie Jean King Cup worthy of getting around as a spectator. "When you’ve got two

There’s a lot to love about autumn – cool air, colourful trees and a packed festival calendar, including the Melbourne International Comedy Festival and Melbourne Food and Wine Festival – but one thing many of us are sad to see go is daylight saving. Victorians will be saying goodbye to that extra hour of evening sunlight when daylight saving officially ends this Sunday, April 5 (Easter Sunday). But it also comes with benefits, including lighter mornings, which make it easier to wake up. Now, the all-important question: do we lose or gain an hour of sleep? Here’s everything you need to know about the end of daylight savings in Victoria in 2026. When does Victoria daylight savings end? This year, daylight saving ends this week, on Sunday, April 5. At 3am, the clocks wind back to 2am. Do you lose or gain an hour of sleep when daylight savings ends? Another good thing about daylight saving ending is that we gain an extra hour of sleep this Sunday, April 5 (Easter Sunday). We're not sure how this affects the Easter Bunny's schedule – and parents will be all too aware that kids' circadian rhythms will take a while to adjust, so they'll still be hopping out of bed at the old time for a while.  When do clocks go back for daylight savings? Anyone who uses their smartphone as their alarm clock won’t have to worry about this one – it’ll automatically do the job for you. But if you’re kicking it old-school with an analogue clock or watch, you’ll need to wind it back by one hour in the m

In attempts to go viral, every year the food at the Sydney Royal Easter Show gets whackier. Last year it was THICC Cookies served in bowls of milk like cereal, and of course the ridiculously popular 1-metre tanghulu fruit sticks. In 2026, there’s dry ice and rainbows to catch our collective attention.  So, what’s worth your coin, and what’s better left on the ’gram? I ate my way around the Sydney Easter Show 2026 to bring you our honest thoughts. (Happy Easter, and happy eating!) Lychee Iced Tea & Dumplings ($23), Dumpling King OK, so this was a strange combo – fried dumplings with chilli oil in a bowl atop a cup filled with lychee juice (as they say, a ‘sip and dump’). There’s a hole in the bowl to poke your straw through. Both the dumplings and the juice were decent, but I would have liked more dumplings for $23, and they didn’t have any garnish (like they did in the photo) when I went, so I’m giving them a 7/10. Where is Dumpling King? Not far from the entrance, near the corner of Showground Rd and Riverina Ave, before you turn right towards the Woolworths Dome. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Time Out Sydney (@timeoutsydney) Scallop Burger ($24), Burger Head  This was surprisingly good! A fried chicken fillet with pickles, onion, cheese and burger sauce in between two potato scallops instead of the usual burger bun. I thought it might be really greasy and OTT, but it wasn’t! It was well crafted and yum. A decent feed for $24, so I’m givi