Alice Ellis

Almost three years since the you-know-what put all our plans on hold, it’s set to be a pretty big year for getting out and doing things. 2023 has come through with an absolutely loaded cultural calendar – we’re talking the biggest summer for live music since 2019, a bunch of new museums, some pretty epic outdoor adventures, and much, much more. Plus, with all the new high-speed and overnight trains launching this year, you can get around and do the things you want to do much more sustainably than ever before.  So get your booking fingers at the ready. From music festivals and new museums to massive shops and the real-life Mushroom Kingdom, this is your definitive guide to the coolest new things to do in the world in 2023. RECOMMENDED:  🖼️ The best museums and galleries in the world🚂 The most incredible train journeys around the world🌊 The cities that could be underwater by 2030🌹 The most romantic places in the world 🍸 The coolest bars in the world right now🤿 The best beaches in the world

Australia loves any chance for a spectator-sport party, so watching the NFL championship game, the Super Bowl, has well and truly become a thing. That means plenty of venues across Sydney air the game and throw Super Bowl parties – this year, the event airs on the morning of Monday, February 13 (AEDT). That means beer buckets and American eats (read: wings, wings and more wings) for breakfast. Time to file for a day of annual leave? We've rounded up the best Sydney venues that are playing the game live and loud, and an epic half-time show care of Rihanna. Just after a drink? Try one of Sydney's best bars.

Whether you're after specialty Sichuan spots or hot Cantonese kitchens, Sydney has some seriously great Chinese restaurants in the CBD and surrounding suburbs. Whether you want to go all out and explore regional cuisines, sit down for yum cha, or grab some takeaway barbecue duck or hand-thrown noodles, these are the best Chinese restaurants Sydney has to offer.  Want more Chinese? These are the best dumplings in Sydney.

February 2023 update: It's the last month of summer, the weather's finally heated up, and new City of Sydney policies encourage tables set up on the street, so our current pubs hit list celebrates pubs with some outdoor action (and cover, since the weather still has a tendency to be wet).   There's a lot that goes into making 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. On a sunny day, it's all about having a welcoming beer garden. There are a lot of rock-solid pubs in this city, and these are our picks of the bunch. For something a bit less pubby, a bit higher end, see our picks of the best bars in Sydney.

February 2023 update: It's the last month of summer, and our town is awash with great places to grab a drink and, for that, we will be forever grateful. It's hard to narrow it down, but we've done the hard drinking work – research – to serve you up this list of the very best bars in Sydney right now.  We’ve whittled this list down to focus on what really matters most to us in a bar – what it is, why we love it and whatever hot tips we think will make your visit even better. The bottom line, however, is still the same: if it's on this list, we think it's a winner – and we hope that you do, too. This list represents our picks for the best bars in Sydney right now, from fresh faces to tried-and-tested temples of great booze, ranked by our local editors. We’re looking for quality above all, with fun, flavour, atmosphere, creativity, and options at every price point. Cheers to you, Sydney.   After a watering hole that's a bit more casual? See our list of the best pubs in Sydney, here. After a meal? Check out our best restaurants here.

February 2023 update: It's summer, so the current list is all about the best cafés for long summer mornings, as well as post-party caffeine fixes.    Sydneysiders are café people. We're constantly on the hunt for the city's best coffee, we won't bat an eyelid over shelling out $30+ a head for brunch, and we love nothing more than donning our finest sport-luxe activewear and catching up with mates on a weekend morning over eggs, fritters and crusty artisnal sourdough. But cafés aren't just for weekends. This is a city powered by caffeine and many a Sydney worker depends on a reliable go-to barista for a double shot and a bacon sanger to set them up right on the daily. So, whether it's a reward for tackling one of Sydney's most beautiful walks, a quick caffeinated catch-up, an indulgent hangover fix after a night at one of the city's best bars, or a workday coffee stop, these are the 50 best Sydney cafés, according to our in-the-know Time Out Sydney editors.  Looking for lunch or dinner out? Check out Sydney's best restaurants.

February 2023 update: With warmer days and nights having embraced Sydney, it feels like a proper (muggy) summer, and dining-out season is in full swing. People are out and about, and street-side dining is being encouraged by a new City of Sydney policy. Find a spot with cover, since the weather still has a tendency to be wet! Our recommendation: it's best to book in advance at the most popular spots right now. Here's our list of Time Out's best places to dine in Sydney right now, from hot newcomers to time-honoured institutions, ranked by our expert local editors. How did we narrow it down? When ranking, we considered fun, flavour, creativity and value for money – at every price point. So yes, of course, you’ll find a fine diner inside the Opera House here, but you’ll find neighbourhood pizza, hole-in-the-wall Thai and lunch-only ramen, too. Bon appétit.  After something more casual? Check out our favourite cafes in Sydney. And our list of the best cheap eats.

The Parramatta precinct has been growing fast in recent years – the CBD here is now one of the second biggest commercial hubs outside the Sydney CBD – and so the restaurant scene is on the rise. For more dining inspiration, check out the best Newtown restaurants, Surry Hills restaurants and Bondi restaurants. Looking for more restaurants to try out? Here's our guide to the 50 best Sydney restaurants.

People are choosing plant-based eating for its softer step on Earth, concerns about animal cruelty, and the health benefits of vegetable-rich diets. Plus, there's been a rise in flexitarian diets – you might not be a full-time vegan, but where you can, you opt for more plants on your plate. Only a few years ago, vegan dining meant a whole lot of pulses and sprouts, but now Sydney is home to plant-based burger shops, classic Italian pizzerias that showcase cheese and meat alternatives, gelato shops that favour coconut bases and a growing contingent of fine diners offering fancy degustations for vegans. Cool with eggs and dairy? Check out the best vegetarian restaurants in Sydney. Got a mixed group? Head to one of the best restaurants in Sydney. On a budget? Have a look at the best cheap eats in Sydney. Want to shop sustainably? Check out our guide to ethical shopping in Sydney here.

The only thing hotter than counting down the Triple J Hottest 100 from a house party, is counting down the Hottest 100 from a public party. What better way to bond with a bunch of strangers than over your shared love of Gang of Youths' 'In the Wake of Your Leave', or Spacey Jane's 'Hardlight'? After all, going out and dancing can still feel like a bit of a novelty, in these post-pandemic times. So we've rounded up the best listening parties around Sydney on Hottest 100 Day (Saturday, January 28, 2023). As well as an emo after party for those who want to kick on. Like dancing, but not a Triple J fan? Here are our picks of the best dancefloors in Sydney.

Lunar New Year falls on Sunday, January 22, 2023, and it's a celebration for many cultures represented in Sydney, including the city's Chinese, Vietnamese, Thai and Korean communities. It's traditionally celebrated through food, art, festivities and just getting together with friends and family.  January 22 marks the beginning of the Year of the Rabbit, the fourth and luckiest character in the Chinese zodiac, which symbolises mercy, elegance and beauty. We've picked out some of the very best ways to hop into the new lunar year in Sydney. Hungry? Here are some of the Sydney restaurants serving up special Lunar New Year feasts for Year of the Rabbit.

No Lunar New Year celebration is complete without a feast, and there are many auspicious and symbolic dishes that are a must on any holiday menu: noodles for longevity, whole fish for prosperity, rice cakes for advancement to new heights, and more. Beyond invoking luck and fortune, Lunar New Year fare is also damn delicious. So it's the perfect time to gather your friends and family together for a festive feed. We've found the best spots to celebrate the Year of the Rabbit. RECOMMENDED: The best Lunar New Year events in Sydney. 

Bar Lucia, a wine bar inspired by those found throughout Madrid, has just landed in Potts Point, bringing a little piece of Spain into Sydney's inner east. The decor is elegant (think gold-framed artworks, candelabras, chequered floor tiles and bottles of wine lining the walls), the food is Spanish tapas, and the wine list (curated by head sommelier Kasia Sobiesiak) puts a spotlight on female winemakers. Some menu highlights include roast sea scallops on the half shell with saffron butter, ox tongue with salsa pintxo and salsa verde, anchovies with salsa Spinader and tuna tartare with eggplant, cumin mayonnaise and harissa.  As well as putting a spotlight on female winemakers, there’s a focus on bottles from New South Wales wine regions, while the cocktails can be navigated based on the flavour you’re after. Seeking something sour? Go for the Just a Cup of Tea, lapsang tea-infused whisky with ginger, lemon and amaro montenegro. Love umami? The Tomatina witty basil-infused vodka, tomato, green ea, lemon and watermelon will satisfy your palate. Bar Lucia was created by the Milpa Collective – Spanish tapas is a little bit of a departure (a slight detour) for this hospitality group, which specialises in Mexican-style venues, including Mexican eateries Santa Catarina, Calita, Londres 126, Carbòn, Taqiza and Sonora. Looking for somewhere else to whet your whistle? Here's our list of the best bars in Sydney right now.

Sydney was sad when iconic, very late-night Sydney institution Golden Century announced its closure after going into administration following the Covid lockdowns. But then, in great news for all of us, creditors voted to save the Chinese restaurant, making a $4.5 million agreement to clear its debt. Despite this, we’re still not sure if the original Sussex Street, Haymarket location will reopen, but the good news for GC fans is that they’ve got some spin-off venues, including this cheap and cheerful new Golden Century BBQ joint that's now appeared in the buzzing Darling Square precinct.  It’s a classic Cantonese barbecue kitchen where you can grab a plate of roast duck, barbecue pork, crispy roast pork belly or soya chicken with rice and noodles for about a twenty, with you getting to wash it all down with a cold TsingTao or Kirin beer. There’s also soup, dumplings, buns and veg on the menu. This new spot is located downstairs from XOPP, a restaurant that Golden Century launched back in 2019 – as the name suggests, it heroes their famous pippies in XO sauce. And if that’s not enough GC action for you, there’s another outpost, the Century by Golden Century, which has been a fixture of the Star since back in 2014. Golden Century as we once knew it may be gone folks, but their spirit shall always linger on.  Keep eating up a storm at one of Sydney's best Chinese restaurants. 

If the mood board on the website is anything to go by, CicciaBella is a place inspired by mortadella and fish scales, tongues and abdominals, seafoam, party frocks, lemon cheeks and butt cheeks. Not your average Parramatta Italian restaurant. CicciaBella Trattoria + Bar in Parramatta Square swings effortlessly between antipasti, pasta (made fresh in house, daily), and things from the wood oven (including pizza by the slice or slab). It’s a menu to be explored as snacks one week, pizza and pasta the next, mains the one after. Mains include innovative offerings including roast cauliflower with chickpeas, cavolo nero and tomato pesto; grilled swordfish with salmoriglio and lemon; and roasted spatchcock with artichoke, lemon and herbs. Their drinks list is Italian-focused, leaning towards light, easy-drinking bevvies. They also offer Bottomless Lunches on the weekends. As we said, not just another Parramatta Italian.

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 hotel. From your seat, you’re face to face with the Sydney Opera House, which sits just across the water. 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.  The hotel’s restaurant has been led, since mid-2022, by culinary director James Viles, who previously led the two-hatted Biota in Bowral. In the few months since he took over the Park Hyatt’s restaurant, he and head chef Brian O'Flaherty (formerly of three-hatted Quay) have earned the Dining Room its own hat. These are people who know what they’re doing.  The view is to die for, and the food is worth living for. Their menu evolves with the seasons, and it celebrates the best and freshest produce Australia has to offer. Starter ‘bites’, served individually prepare your tastebuds for what’s to come – there are the obvious bites, like Sydney rock oysters, and the less obvious, like truffled potato chips layered with paleta (a type of Spanish ham), served with hot sauce on the side. The selection of bites is an intriguing mix of the playful and sophisticated, which makes it almost impossible to choose. Bites are followed by a selection of shared starter plates

There’s nothing quite like the arts to help build bridges between different cultures. That was the premise behind the creation of the New Beginnings Festival, which was first launched back in 2014 to help refugees in Sydney connect with the wider community. The festival has blossomed since then – becoming a celebration of refugee, migrant and First Nations performing artists. And for the first time, it’s a major event on Sydney Festival’s program. This year, the free festival will be headlined by Triple J’s 2022 Unearthed Artist of the Year, Elsy Wameyo (a Kenyan-born hip-hop and R'n'B artist), as well as Birdz, a multi-award-winning rapper known for his hard-hitting lyrics. There will be other artists from various backgrounds, and they’ll all be performing on the wharves of the Australian National Maritime Museum, at Darling Harbour. The one-day festival will also feature stalls selling food and art by First Nations, refugee and migrant entrepreneurs (so pick up delicious eats from places including Peru, Lebanon and Sierra Leone).  New Beginnings is an initiative of refugee settlement service Settlement Services International (SSI). “Now in its seventh year, the festival continues to grow bigger in size and significance to allow a real opportunity for our First Nations, migrant and refugee communities to be seen, heard and celebrated,” says SSI’s arts and culture producer, Raphael Brasil.  The program is truly diverse: jazz singer and songwriter Athésia will be performing u

The word ‘Rugby’ can conjure images of thick-necked blokes with broken noses, and audience members in popped collars talking about property. But the Rugby Sevens format turns that Boys’ Club image on its head. With 7s, there are only seven players from each team on the field at a time (as opposed to the regular 15), so there's plenty of space on the field – that means less tackling, less blood and guts, less stop-starting, more sprinting and more scoring. And that makes way for more athletic, more agile, less boof-heady athletes.  Each 7s game goes for just 15 minutes (instead of the usual 80). So the format is faster and more exciting. And, best of all, the female athletes are the real drawcards.  The Sydney 7s event is one of the big, annual tournaments on the international Rugby calendar. Women’s and men’s teams from all around the world descend on Sydney’s Allianz Stadium to battle it out for the champion title.  The three-day event is broken up into 70 short games. And while it’s a sporting event, Sydney 7s is actually about the big party energy. It’s all loud costumes (dress-ups is encouraged), food and drinks from Merivale venues, and even live music. Think Field Day, but with a sporting slant. They’re just some of the reasons that both fans and new spectators alike enjoy the event. Sixteen of the world's top Men's Rugby Sevens teams will be here in Sydney, and 12 of the top Women's teams. Speaking of ‘top’, our Aussie Women's Sevens are exactly that. They have dominat

The Darling Square precinct, just a short stroll from Darling Harbour, buzzes at the best of times. And for Lunar New Year it'll be buzzier still. Some of the fun stuff happening: a lantern tunnel, Lion Dancers, a LNY graphic wall installation by local artist Chris Yee, and a Gong Grocer pop-up store selling custom lanterns and traditional sweets. Darling Square venues will also be offering up Year of the Rabbit specials. Shortstop Donuts will have a spesh Lunar New Year 6 Pack, filled with LNY-inspired flavours. Wingboy will be serving fiery hoisin wings topped with crispy shallots, fresh chilli and cucumber sticks (until Jan 23).  And Iiko Mazesoba will dish up 'Prosperity Mazesoba', a tangy noodle salad with toppings such as tuna, salmon caviar, carrot, daikon, ginger, cabbage, cucumber, seaweed, shallot and crispy noodle chips, to symbolise good fortune and wealth – as well as 'Rabbit Parfait' (that's your choice of matcha or houjicha gelato served with red bean and shiratama rice balls). If you want an affordable way to celebrate the Year of the Rabbit, hop over to Darling Square. Find out about more Sydney eateries serving up Lunar New Year specials, here.

The seven modern Chinese restaurants that are part of the Lotus Dining Group are going all out to celebrate the Year of the Rabbit for Lunar New Year.  From January 22 until February 5, each venue will serve up its own unique Lunar New Year feast, and there will be traditional lion dance performances at Lotus Barangaroo, Lotus The Galeries or the Gardens by Lotus. Take the 'hopportunity' (sorry) to try their special rabbit-shaped dumplings, filled with mud crab, prawn and ginger. Their other LNY specials include Shanghai-style red braised pork belly with shiitake mushrooms and greens (at Lotus Barangaroo), and the auspicious 'Prosperity Salad' at Lotus The Galeries, CHI by Lotus and Lotus Double Bay.  All the details about each venue's individual events can be found here. Hop on quick to make a reservation. Where else can you feast for Lunar New Year? Here's our guide to Sydney's best Lunar New Year lunches and dinners.

A new pastel-hued ‘seltzer bar’ has popped up at Bondi Beach, and we’re sure it will hold its own among the existing bevy of Bondi drinking spots. Rancho Seltzo has been launched by House Made Hospitality (the crew that’s brought us other popular haunts like Apollonia, the Carrington and Lana), in collaboration with Bondi Brewing Co. And the place brings all the sun, sea, sand and palm tree vibes that are fitting to Sydney’s most famous beachy neighbourhood.  The venue was inspired by the seltzer bars that have been popping up around California. “Considering seltzer consumption in Australia is on the rise, it’s been on our radar for a while to open a bar with a seltzer focus in Bondi,” says Scott Brown, House Made Hospitality’s director. “This space has the energy we were after, and it’s the perfect canvas for Paul’s brilliant [Bondi Brewing Co.] beers and seltzers.” In addition to beers and seltzers, there’s a cocktail list that screams summer. Think Frozen Palomas and an ‘Iced Tropical Whip’ (a mix of white rum, macadamia, pineapple, banana and coconut cream). They serve up refreshing, alcohol-free Frescas, too. The food menu is just as sunshiney. It’s been described as “combining Baja California flavours with Mediterranean influences”. You can share a plate of crispy prawn and avocado rolls; kingfish ceviche with coconut, grapefruit and jalapeno; fattoush salad with smoked trout; and some more substantial charred chicken and lamb shoulder dishes if you decide to hang aroun

What do you get when you mix the world’s best restaurant with one the world’s best bars and the world’s most awarded single malt scotch? You get this very spesh whisky cocktail pop-up event in Sydney. For one night only on Wednesday, January 18, New York’s acclaimed three-Michelin-star restaurant Eleven Madison Park will collab with Glenfiddich and Sydney bar Maybe Sammy to serve up a range of never-before-tasted whisky cocktails. The event is open to whoever rocks up on the night. Just get in before the hoards to guarantee a spot. The whisky cocktails will be inspired by Eleven Madison Park’s vegan fine-dining menu. They'll feature a range of rarely used plant flavours including shio koji, aquafaba and pecan miso, all  ingredients that have been chosen because they mesh well with offerings by Glenfiddich, the world’s most awarded single malt Scotch whisky. Eleven Madison Park’s beverage director, Sebastian Tollius, will be there at Maybe Sammy pouring drinks on the night, and says, “Our shared values with Glenfiddich – such as the desire to reinvent and push the boundaries – have always been at the heart of Eleven Madison Park. “Eleven Madison Park’s cocktail program is one of the best in the world. We’re excited to have been able to branch out of our comfort zone and create four limited-release Glenfiddich cocktails for Australians to enjoy for one night only at Maybe Sammy.” Considering the calibre of Maybe Sammy as a venue (among a throng of accolades, it’s number 29 on t

For 24 hours straight, Macquarie Street East – from Hyde Park Barracks to the State Library of NSW – will shut down to traffic and come alive with a free festival featuring live music, live theatre, street art, food offerings and a giant glow-in-the-dark Playdough Garden. This 24-hour festival will run from 6pm on Saturday, February 4, all the way through the night until 6pm the following evening. This first-of-its-kind festival is named after the ‘mopoke’, Australia’s most common owl. And just like the curious owl who can see in the dark, the Mopoke festival will be up all night, sparking your curiosity and shaking up your imagination. Ten food trucks will showcase the diversity of Sydney’s street food, from Mexican to Vietnamese, Italian and Spanish. Plus there will be wine, ‘bubble bars’ and Espresso Martinis on offer to help give you a buzz through the night. The large gates of the Hyde Park Barracks will remain open throughout the night so you can enter an art and design market. It will feature 20 pop-up artist studios where you can meet the artists and take part in workshops – with sculptors, painters, tattoo artists and even hair artists. The Domain will be lit with fire art, for 'Fire in the Domain'. Flame twirlers will perform to the sounds of a live piano, and you’ll be able to kick back while enjoying flambé-style desserts and smoky drinks. Or you could treat yourself to a fine barbecue and bespoke whisky tasting experience – click here to book this Flavours from

FRI JAN 6 UPDATE: You can still get tickets for the finals games, which are on from today through to Sunday at Ken Rosewall Arena in Olympic Park. Click here to see ticket options. Oh, and yes, the arena has a roof in case it rains! Melbourne is famous for its tennis – but the summer action actually hits off in Sydney (as well as Brisbane and Perth), with the inaugural United Cup. It's a brand-new international mixed tennis tournament that sees top male-female teams from 18 countries hit it out at stadiums in three Australian cities, with the finals played in Sydney. We answer your United Cup FAQs. When is the United Cup? The United Cup will run in Sydney from Dec 29 2022 to Jan 8 2023. Each day of the United Cup in Sydney features a day session and a night session. United Cup finals will be played in Sydney from Friday Dec 6 to Sunday Dec 8.  Where is the United Cup being played? The United Cup will be played in three Australian capital cities: Sydney, Brisbane and Perth. The Sydney games will be played in the Ken Rosewall Arena at Sydney Olympic Park. What is the United Cup, and what's the format? The new United Cup will be played in a team competition format. For this inaugural 2022-2023 tournament, teams of four men and four women from 18 different countries will go racquet to racquet. Countries will be split into six pools that are each made up of three teams. In the round-robin stage, teams will play four singles matches (two men's and two women's) and one mixed double

Sydney experienced its sweatiest night in three years over the weekend, but soon after being hit with a level of heat we’re not used to these days, we were hit with extreme rain yesterday. The torrential downpour caused intensive flash flooding that trapped people in their cars. The SES had to perform a total of 19 rescues of people trapped in their vehicles due to flood waters.  The severe thunderstorms, which were fuelled by oppressively high humidity, also hit the Hunter and Central Tablelands yesterday. More than 51mm of rainfall was recorded in just 30 minutes in south-west Sydney, at Camden Airport. It didn’t help that flooding over train tracks led to train cancellations between the city and Bankstown during yesterday's peak hour. This came on a day when bus services were also reduced due to union action called due to insufficient volumes of bus drivers. Fortunately, rainfall (and temperatures) eased overnight, but what’s next for Sydney? According to the Bureau of Meteorology, a significant drop in humidity is meant to start across western NSW from Wednesday and Thursday, as drier air moves in from the south-west. That drier air should reach the coast by Friday, though it’s unlikely to make us feel cooler any time soon – Sydney is forecast to reach 31°C on Friday. Though, with humidity falling to around 30 per cent, the ‘feels like’ temperature will be lower. (High humidity can make temperatures feel about 5 degrees higher than they actually are.) Be careful what you

Over the weekend, millions of Australians tuned in for Triple J's Hottest 100 countdown – and while the results were controversial, to say the least, another very important countdown was also taking place: the GABS Hottest 100 Craft Beers poll. GABS stands for 'Great Australasian Beer SpecTAPular' – and the organisation exists to celebrate all things craft beer and cider. The poll involved each voter selecting their five favourite craft beers of 2022. A whopping 60,000 voters cast votes for a total of 2,140 different beers from 311 different breweries, confirming that there's a whole lot bubbling in Australia's craft beer industry. Even our PM, Anthony Albanese, cast a vote (but no prizes for guessing what his favourite drop of the year was). So which tipple took out the top spot? The most votes went to Mountain Culture Beer Co’s Status Quo Pale Ale, brewed by husband and wife team DJ and Harriet McCready from Katoomba in NSW. The silver and bronze awards went to beers from breweries that have both taken titles in these awards before: Mick Fanning’s Balter Brewing XPA (from the Gold Coast) took the second spot, and Bentspoke Crankshaft IPA (from Canberra) took the third. You might be wondering how Victoria fared this year; our top-ranking tipple was the Beechworth Pale Ale by Bridge Road Brewers, coming in at a not-too-shabby ninth place. It shared the top ten with beers from Stone and Wood, Your Mates Brewing Co., Better Beer, Young Henry’s, Coopers, Bridge Roads and Black H

For the last three decades, Australians across the country have weighed in on their favourite Aussie and indie tracks of the year for the Triple J Hottest 100. This year, a record-breaking 2.5 million votes were submitted, and 10 per cent of the top 100 tracks were by First Nations artists – that's a total of ten tracks from First Nations artists, which smashed the previous record of six.  Electronic golden boy Flume topped the list with his track 'Say Nothing' featuring May-A. This is Flume's second time topping the list, after bagging the coveted spot in 2016 with his track 'Never Be Like You' featuring Kai. He's the only artist in the list's history to rank a song in every position of the top five, and he's also now just one track away from tying with Tame Impala for the most Hottest 100 song tallies, with Kevin Parker and co sitting at an impressive 18 inclusions. Viral TikTok track 'B.O.T.A. (Baddest Of Them All)' by Eliza Rose and Interplanetary Criminal came in second, followed by Spacey Jane's 'Hardlight', Steve Lacy's 'Bad Habit' and Spacey Jane's 'It's Been A Long Day'.  Aussie hip-hop legends Hilltop Hoods clocked 23 entries, snatching the title of most entries on the list from Powderfinger and Foo Fighters.  Not all listeners were pleased and many took to social media to decry the results. Many listeners took issue with mainstream artists like Drake, Beyoncé and Machine Gun Kelly making the list, as the Hottest 100 is meant to be about highlighting Aussie and i

To coincide with Triple J’s Hottest 100, on the weekend GABS counted down the Hottest 100 craft beers, for the ‘GABS Hottest 100 Craft Beers’ people’s choice poll. What’s a GABS, you ask? It stands for ‘Great Australasian Beer SpecTAPular’ – and the organisation exists to celebrate all things craft beer and cider.  The poll involved each voter selecting their five favourite craft beers of 2022. A whopping 60,000 voters cast votes for a total of 2,140 different beers from 311 different breweries, confirming that there's a whole lot bubbling in Australia's craft beer industry. Even our PM, Anthony Albanese, cast a vote (but no prizes for guessing what his favourite drop of the year was). So which tipple took out the top spot? The most votes went to Mountain Culture Beer Co’s Status Quo Pale Ale, brewed by husband and wife team DJ and Harriet McCready from Katoomba. They created this popular New England pale ale after opening the Blue Mountains’ very first brew pub in 2019.  The silver and bronze awards went to beers from breweries that have both taken titles in these awards before: Mick Fanning’s Balter Brewing XPA (from the Gold Coast) took the second spot, and Bentspoke Crankshaft IPA (from Canberra) took the third. Beers from Stone & Wood, Your Mates Brewing Co., Better Beer, Young Henry’s, Coopers, Bridge Roads and Black Hops Brewing rounded out the top 10.  We were pleased to hear that NSW ended the count with the highest number of popular brews (or maybe just more beer dr

  A pop-up swim site has brought sweet, splashy relief to Western Sydney, as part of a Sydney Water project called Urban Plunge – the swim site has opened at Andrew Campbell Reserve in the Prospect Reservoir Parklands. Prospect’s pop-up pool site has been designed so you can spend the whole day there. Lounge on deck chairs, have a picnic while keeping an eye out for kangaroos, grab lunch from one of the food trucks, challenge someone to a game of ping-pong, and watch the kids play at the playground once they’re waterlogged.  There’s a deep pool, a splash pool for littler ones, lifeguards on hand, and entry is free. You just have to make sure to book yourself a spot, here.  From Boxing Day onwards, it will be open seven days a week, throughout January. And if there’s enough demand, it could become a permanent fixture. While the focus at the moment is Western Sydney, this project hopes to bring swimming sites to other parts of Sydney. Sydney Water is working with local councils to investigate these potential sites, including Barangaroo, Pyrmont, Lilyfield and Putney. The vision is that one day, everyone in Greater Sydney will only be a 30-minute drive from a swim site.    Prefer an ocean pool? Here are our 11 favourites.

The Sydney weather forecast is in for Christmas Day – and predictions show you’re in for plenty of pool time, sunscreen reapplications and perhaps even mild dehydration if you don’t chase your champagne with plenty of H₂O. According to the BOM, on Sunday it’s expected to reach a warm but pretty comfortable high of 26°C in Sydney's city. It will be warmer in Sydney's west, where highs are predicted to sit somewhere between 28°C and 31°C, depending on where you’re at.  Better yet, the odds of it staying dry on Chrissy are in our favour. There’s a 75 per cent chance it won’t rain on December 25, even though it’s predicted to be partly cloudy.  We should be enjoying a nice-weather sandwich to Christmas Day, with warm weather predicted for Christmas Eve and Boxing Day too: 25°C to 26°C temperatures and mostly sunny conditions. Our advice: remember to slip, slop, slap while you eat, drink and unwrap. Need somewhere to cool down over Christmas? Here's a guide to Sydney's best beaches. Don't have air-con? How about spending Christmas at a yum cha restaurant? Here's a list of yum cha restaurants open on December 25.

New restaurant and bar St Siandra will bring year-round summer vibes to Mosman. Next February, this new Mediterranean-inspired venue will open on a white-sand private beach (yes, really), overlooking the turquoise waters of the Spit. You'll be able to spend afternoons watching yachts glide by with spritzes on tap, eating seafood prepared by head chef Sam McCallum (formerly of two-hatted Nomad). How's that for la bella vita? The St Siandra menu will be a celebration of Australian seafood – think seven-spice Moreton Bay bugs; Pacific oysters with ajo blanco (white gazpacho); Clarence River baby octopus skewers; and Jack's Creek Angus Wagyu striploin with butter-poached lobster tail. The wine list will feature summer soirée-style wines – like soave, a chilled chianti and Provence rosé – and cocktails will be curated by Kurtis Bosley (Moët Hennesy’s spirit specialist).   And the interiors, by renowned designer Sally Taylor (who decked out Queen Chow Manly and Felix), will transport diners to the Amalfi Coast. The ground floor dining room and bar will be wrapped in sunny yellow walls and decked out with terracotta tiles, golden veined white marble and Italian iron furniture. Upstairs there's a deck, and the light-filled Bluebird Room.  St Siandra will have access to two private moorings for arrivals via private boat or water taxi. How darling. This new offering will be the first standalone venue by chefs-turned-restaurateurs Mitchell Davis and Gavin Gray of Great Eats, the caterin

You’re going to start noticing purple flags popping up as you get around Sydney. What will they indicate? Party time, excellent.  As with the red and yellow flags at the beach, this new purple flag scheme is about marking out ‘safe spots’ – purple flag zones will help people easily ID areas that provide diverse and ‘well managed’ night scenes, with a range of entertainment and dining options, including pubs, bars, clubs, restaurants and cafés. The scheme is modelled on similar initiatives in Europe and New Zealand. For instance, the are now about 45 popular purple flag party zones in the UK, after the program was first introduced in 2012. And it's just one of the initiatives in the NSW government’s plan to boost Sydney’s 24-hour economy after years of disruption.   As a pilot, the NSW government will assess four districts, from January, for purple flag status, which have been chosen for their diverse mix of night-time offerings. One is the YCK precinct (York, Clarence and Kent Streets and its surrounding laneways in the CBD), which is popular for its small bars, thanks to the 18 drinking holes dotted throughout. Another is Marrickville and Illawarra Roads in Marrickville, whose live-music venues, craft breweries and Vietnamese cheap eateries have brought it a ‘NSW’s Coolest Suburb’ title. There’s Church Street in Parramatta, a lively strip of multicultural restaurants. And Haldon Street in Lakemba, which is home to a load of alcohol-free restaurants and cafés, as well as the

Last week saw the launch of a new era for Sydney’s nightlife at a packed party at Fishburners in Sydney’s CBD, hosted by Investment NSW and emceed by comedian Matt Okine. Representatives from 24 Sydney districts – from Brookvale to Bondi and Blacktown – have just completed a five-week Uptown Accelerator program, in which they learnt everything from ‘district visioning’ to ‘place identity’, and how to submit grant applications and sponsorship proposals. At the event, a rep from each district used their new knowledge to give a two-minute rapid-fire pitch about their group’s vision for their area, in an effort to seek sponsorship and support from those in the audience.  The room was packed with more than 200 guests from businesses, including Campari, American Express, TikTok and Zip, as well as government stakeholders. Each guest was given a card, which they could mark to indicate which districts they’d like to start conversations with.   This was a pitching process – the next phase is all about getting seed funding to bring ideas to life. And what an incredible array of ideas there were. The pitches were strikingly diverse, reflective of the colourful patchwork that is Sydney. Peter Browne, one of the coaches who has been working with the district teams, agrees that the vision for each of the districts is really unique. “The districts have their own character, history, geography, demographics and offerings. We all live in the same city, but we often don’t know what’s out there.

OK, so Melbourne may be the ‘Friendliest City in the World’, according to recent data – but Sydney has ranked in the top 10 global cities when it comes to both safety and happiness. International health insurance company William Russell did a big data dive to discover where some of the most commonly visited cities rank when it comes to ‘friendly factors’, such as safety and happiness. When it comes to safety, Sydney ranks at number nine. Better still, we landed in spot six for happiness. William Russell says the safety levels in a city came down to many factors, including whether it’s all good to walk around alone at night, worries about violent attacks, and crime levels. But we might be able to blame funnel webs and sharks for pushing us down to ninth spot on the safety charts – our ‘dangerous flora and fauna’ was noted, and is a possible reason we were beaten by the likes of Taipei, Tokyo and Prague, who nabbed the top three spots. When it came to happiness, their data was based on residents’ self-reports of their own quality of life and how much they enjoy being in their city. Copenhagen, Stockholm and Toronto took spots one, two and three, respectively. But, alas, it was fellow Aussie city Melbourne that topped the ‘friendly list’. And hey, we’ll give it to them. They’re a nice bunch.  Looking for happy hours in this cheery city of ours? Here are our picks of Sydney’s happiest hours.

Instead of cheering on the Socceroos from the isolation of your couch, get a big hit of atmosphere with your FIFA World Cup viewing in the early hours of Sunday morning! Two big screens airing the Australia vs Argentina match will be set up at Darling Harbour, after the NSW government responded to fans’ pressure to set up a live site – Melbourne had one in Fed Square for the last match and Sydney was like, where’s ours at bro? The Tumbalong Park, Darling Harbour event will start from 5am on Sunday, December 4. Grab brekkie – there will be food trucks serving bacon and egg rolls, Greek loaded fries, souvlaki, coffee and donuts, and local businesses will open early. But if Darling Harbour’s a trek for you, there will also be big screens at Maroubra Beach, Enmore Park, Beaman Park in Earlwood, Eastwood Oval, and at Macquarie Mall in Liverpool – all thanks to local councils. And you can get to the live screening events without tapping your Opal! Public transport will be free across Sydney, from 4am to midday on Sunday, to help make sure the live viewing is accessible to everyone. The sails of the Sydney Opera House (and Darling Quarter) will be lit up green and gold throughout Saturday night in support of the Socceroos, who have only ever made the final 16 of the FIFA World Cup once before.  Don’t miss your chance to be part of history. Sure, Argentina is not bad at soccer. They have a pretty great track record. And Lionel Messi. And they’re one of the favourites to win this whol

Who hasn’t sat around on a sweaty Sydney Sunday wishing they could magically conjure up a private pool? A new share-economy site called Swimply is the genie that can make this wish come true. This new marketplace for swimming pools has made a splash in Australia, giving everyone the chance to rent access to a private pool by the hour. And if you’re a pool owner, you can now make a side hustle of your under-used backyard bounty. Ranging from just $25 an hour, through to $150 for seriously lush offerings, you’ll find options from city rooftop pools to big backyard deals, and even pools you can rent out for family get-togethers, parties, weddings and photoshoots. Some hosts offer extras, like pool toys, barbecues and wifi connections. Just BYO mates. Feel weird about the idea of splashing around in some random’s pool? Consider the fact that we all felt awks about taking a ride in someone’s private car when Uber first launched – and sleeping on another person’s pillow when Airbnb became a thing. You can book a swim via Swimply in Sydney and regional spots across NSW, as well as Melbourne, Brisbane, the Gold Coast, Sunshine Coast, Perth and Radelaide. There are relatively slim Sydney pickings on the Swimply app right now, but we bet this one will make a splash once word gets around. The app is available on both iOS and Android, so all of us have a chance to get swimming this summer.  Prefer an ocean pool? See our list of Sydney's 11 best sea pools.