Alice Ellis

Choosing the best hotel to book in Sydney is a delicate art – whether you’re a visitor experiencing the Emerald City for the very first time or a local on a weekend staycation. With so many options to choose between – from beachside boltholes (like the boutique hotel overlooking Watsons Bay) to a trendy converted brewery with a rooftop pool – it can be tricky to decide which hotel is right for you. At Time Out Sydney, we’ve dedicated a good few years to making that task a little easier – picking out the very best hotels in the city based on location, design creds, facilities and that undefinable something that can take a hotel from good to great. Whether you’re looking for a celeb-approved stay with uninterrupted views of the Opera House, an easy breezy escape by the beach, or an old-school luxury palace that will have you feeling like a princess, our team of writers (including Editor-in-Chief Alice Ellis and Sydney Editor Avril Treasure) have tried and tested the best hotels in Sydney. To confirm that they should make the cut, this list has been carefully edited by self-confessed hotel addict Winnie Stubbs, Travel and News Editor APAC for Time Out. Read on for our definitive guide to the best hotels in Sydney. 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: These are the best glamping sites in NSW. These are the best camping sites near Sydney. And these are the best spots

There’s no denying that camping is a glorious way to get out into nature, but – let's face it – the traditional tent-pitching method isn't for everyone. If the idea of lugging a heap of camping gear into the wilderness sounds like the opposite of a fun time to you, then glamping is definitely the answer. Thankfully, Victoria is home to a wonderful line-up of glamping spots offering spacious, comfortable and (importantly) already set-up tents for outdoor-loving comfort seekers to hire out.  Amenities can vary from site to site, but glamping tents often feature everything from proper beds and gourmet hampers to air-con and fully functional plumbing systems. To help you on your glamping adventures, our team of local editors (including Melbourne Editor Leah Glynn) have journeyed into nature to try and test the best high-end alfresco getaways in the state. Whether your ideal outdoor getaway involves exploring gorgeous gardens, waking up to ocean views or even glamping at a zoo, there's something for everyone on this list of the best glamping sites in Victoria. Stay in the loop: sign up for our free Time Out Melbourne newsletter for the best of the city, straight to your inbox. Staying in the city? These are the best hotels in Melbourne

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

I hope you’re having a happy and delicious April. I’ve been out non-stop checking out Sydney’s best new restaurants and bars to bring you this up-to-date list, including Turkish restaurant Hamsi Taverna by Somer Sivrioğlu, and Southeast Asian restaurant Lua by Luke Nguyen – both of which are now open at the new Sydney Fish Market. I really love affordable new Indo eatery Temu Kangen in Haymarket, and my favourite new bistro, South End in Newtown. Plus, there’s Las Palmas, a holiday-coded Mexican spot in Manly, a fancy British restaurant called The James, Besa, a hot new tapas bar from the Aalia team, and Vitelli's Upstairs, a New York-style Italian restaurant. We really do live in a delicious place, don’t we? (Yes, I’m full.) 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. Looking for something to wash it all down with? These are our favourite bars in Sydney right now. Keen to eat your way around the city? These are the best restaurants in Sydney, from hot newcomers to the OGs.

Looking for the best things to do with kids in Australia? Whether you're a parent, babysitter or tech-savvy toddler, you’ve come to the right place. Australia is one of the best places in the world to be a kid, with a virtually endless stream of cool things to do – from parks and waterparks to free museums, theatre shows and zoos galore. We reached out to our network of talented writers, who are also parents, for their top recommendations of the best things to do with kids in Australia's capital cities. No matter the age, budget and weather, there’s an activity to make the whole family happy. JUMP TO:Brisbane | Canberra | Sydney | Melbourne | Adelaide | Perth | Hobart | Darwin 🏝️ The best family holiday spots in Australia🎡 The best theme parks in Australia

Hobart may be tucked all the way down the bottom of Australia, but it’s a destination not to be slept on. Tasmania’s capital city is blessed with natural beauty, featuring the glittering waters of the River Derwent on one side and the rugged peak of kunanyi/Mount Wellington on the other – and there’s plenty to do both outside and inside. Whether you’re headed to this waterfront town for a quick weekend getaway or you’ve got time on your side, our expert writers have rounded up the best things to do in Hobart. From mountain walks and self-guided history tours to top-tier restaurants and the incomparable MONA, everyone will find something to do on this list. Our Travel & News Editor Melissa Woodley's perfect Hobart day starts with pastries from Pigeon Whole Bakers, a sauna boat experience and a trip to the underrated Farm Gate Market. Happy exploring! Editors' favourite things to do in Hobart: 🖼️ Best for culture: MONA 🧺 Best for food: Farm Gate Market 💦 Best for something different: Kuuma Sauna 🍽️ The best restaurants in Hobart🖼️ The best museums and galleries in Hobart🚗 The best day trips from Hobart

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.

Sydney is no slacker when it comes to Italian food (just take a look at all these red-hot places here). And our pasta game is very strong. But when it comes to our pizza restaurants, we reckon they may be a slice above the rest. Whether you're a sucker for traditional Neapolitan pizzas cooked in a wood-fired oven and topped with beautiful produce, get around NY-style slabs so big you can fold them in three, or you're hungry for a Sicilian-style slice with a thick and fluffy crust, Time Out Sydney's local food writers, including Sydney Editor Avril Treasure, have pulled together the best places to get your fix – and these are the venues that are topping the class. 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. Hungry for more? Here's our pick of the very best restaurants in Sydney right now. Love Greek food food? Us too. Check out the finest Greek eateries in Sydney.

Sydney sits on Gadigal Country, part of the wider Eora Nation, where Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples have lived for tens of thousands of years. And you can call us biased, but we reckon it’s one of the greatest cities in the world. Yes, Sydney is ridiculously beautiful – with cracking beaches, a wow-worthy harbour and bushland parks. But the city doesn’t rest on its good looks, with a thriving cultural and arts scene, a world-class dining offering spanning acclaimed restaurants and diverse, affordable eats, and a melting pot of cultures. The truth is, like any great city, there’s so much to see and do in Sydney it can feel overwhelming. That’s where we come in. The activities we've chosen will give you a varied experience of the city – everything from tourist attractions that are actually worth your time (hello, Taronga Zoo, Bondi Icebergs and Luna Park) to secret swimming spots that locals know and love. Whether you’re a just-hopped-off-the-plane tourist or a long-time local ready to fall back in love with Sydney, this 2026 Time Out Sydney round-up of must-do activities will help you experience the city from every angle. After all those great activities you're bound to be thirsty. We suggest you head to one of the best pubs in Sydney right now, or save your cash at one of the best happy hours in the city. Need somewhere to stay? Check in to one of Sydney's best hotels. Stay in the loop: sign up for our free Time Out Sydney newsletter for more news, travel insp

Hobart’s best hotels make the most of everything that makes Tasmania's capital so special – from the glittering Derwent River to the imposing majesty of kunanyi/Mount Wellington and the fascinating convict history. Add world-class food, a thriving arts scene and easy access to nature, and it’s no surprise Hobart has become one of Australia’s most exciting destinations for a weekend escape or longer stay. To help you find the perfect base, Time Out Australia's Travel & News Editor, Melissa Woodley, has teamed up with local expert writer, Josie Rozenberg-Clarke, who knows the city's nooks and crannies inside and out. Together, they've rounded up the very best hotels in Hobart – from boutique stays in the historic waterfront to luxe retreats with harbour views – making it a little easier to choose where to stay. Fair warning though: it's still going to be a tough pick. Editors' favourite hotels in Hobart: ⭐️ Best luxury hotel: The Tasman 📍 Best boutique stay: Collected/Places 😍 Best value for money: Travelodge Hotel Hobart ☀️ The best things to do in Hobart🍽️ The best restaurants in Hobart🖼️ The best art in Hobart Time Out makes a small commission from the affiliate links included in this article. These links have no influence on our editorial content, but they do help us to bring you more recommendations every week. For more information, see our affiliate guidelines.

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. 

Sydney has a bewildering range of eateries and cuisines, with almost every style of restaurant and region of the world represented. Many of them are looking to serve you and the people of Sydney for the cheapest price possible, you just need to know where to look. Choosing the best cheap eats is like picking the greatest songs ever made, there are countless options, and everyone will have a different opinion. Compiled by a team of local Time Out experts, this list brings together eateries from all regions of Sydney, with each pick being an outstanding option for that cuisine or style of eating. It’s not the cheapest meals in Sydney, but the best affordable options. We’ve tried, as best as possible, to include only venues where you can get a meal for one for under $25. We didn’t include many bakeries or cafés in the list, but you can find more affordable eats in our list of best bakeries in Sydney and best cafés in Sydney. 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. Want to spend less at the big-ticket players? Check out our cheap fine-dining hacks.

✍️ 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

The Machinery Shed in Blackheath is magic by day – the floor-to-ceiling glass walls on one side of the building look out over a valley and the signature majestic bush-covered rock formations that make up the Blue Mountains. Whether you’re inside, or out on the deck, you feel like the view has been put there just for you. After all, this is the only property in sight. Then, as night falls, the magic only heightens. Thousands of tiny, twinkling fairy lights line every one of the wooden beams that hold up the apex ceiling, which is another giveaway of the building’s machinery-shed history. The fireplace sits against an old-fashioned looking stone wall, heating the room so that we feel cosily protected from the elements (we're here during the depths of winter). If you’re willing to brave the elements, take a torch and head a little way down the escarpment where you’ll find an outdoor bath for a steaming hot bath under the star-lit night sky. It’s no wonder this is one of the “top 3 wish-listed Airbnbs in Australia”. Like a shed, this accommodation is one, large room – with an additional section for the bathroom and an indoor standalone bath (yep, a second bath) that also looks out over the valley. Although many of the walls are glass to make the most of the views, we're pleased they’re all double-glazed, so it stays snug.  The décor is eclectic: leather lounges, velvet armchairs, a chaise lounge, warm polished floorboards, a Turkish rug and cow skin, modern abstract artworks, ind

✍️ 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.  In Australia, hotel bars usually lack cool-factor. Even when they have a lot going for them, they tend to be overlooked by locals. Bar Julius has bucked the trend, despite being next to the lobby of The Eve Hotel, and the place where hotel guests have breakfast. I guess part of it is that the Wunderlich Lane creators have done a good job of making the precinct and all its venues (Lottie, Island Radio, Olympus) feel like a neighbourhood, as opposed to part of the hotel. The other part of it is that Bar Julius is really very fun and cool.  The vibe  I’ve now been to Bar Julius for breakfast, lunch, dinner and after-dinner drinks – and that’s the point. Bar Julius is open daily from 7am to midnight, and it was designed as a place you’d happily spend time in at any time of day. The key design feature is the unusual arched ceilings – three archways that run the length of the room. They’re coloured a mix of yellows, pinks and peach splodges that look like watercolour paint and textural materials, even though it’s actually a flat graphic. To complement the arches, there are big, circular windows onto Baptist Street that let the day’s changing light from outside cast different vibes on the room as the day evolves. Loads of playful, framed pictures line the walls – a

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

  Once daylight savings* wraps up, the annual wave of complaints begins: Why does daylight savings have to end? We love the daylight after clocking off from work! My body’s not going to know what time it is! Who invented this inconvenience? I feel jetlagged. But before you get into a tailspin about winding the clocks back, let’s accentuate the positive. Think of it this way: (*Yes, we know it’s technically ‘daylight saving’, but most people say ‘savings’ – so we are too. Please don’t come for us in the comments.) 1. You can wake up with the sun The lame thing about daylight savings after summer's ended if that many of us have to start rising for the day in the pitch black, which makes waking up way harder to do. Thanks to the end of daylight savings, the sun now peeks above the horizon closer a whole hour earlier. So you can wake up whistling ‘Here Comes the Sun’. No? The unfortunate part of this is having the sun in your eyes driving into the city from the west. But a dramatic rendition of the opening scene of 'The Lion King' is sure to cheer you up. 2. You can start running in the mornings And you will, right? Those ambitious people who run in the morning before work love when daylight savings ends. Their morning workouts are lit. Everyone can see their flashy running gear. And the temperature is becoming cooler, nicer to run in. If you're not yet a runner and you're having trouble finding the motivation to start, this is your chance! Head over here for running route insp

Time Out’s Best Cities list is a renowned guide that celebrates the places that locals genuinely love right now, based on surveys of 24,000 city-dwellers and a panel of 100 Time Out experts from around the world – and Sydney has just made the list of top 25 cities for 2026. Sydney has placed number 21 on the list, in recognition of the city being a great place to live and visit, relative to other places around the world. The city was recognised for its diversity, excellent food and cultural scenes, ever-expanding public transport system and easy access to adventures in nature. Time Out surveyed more than 24,000 locals in 42 languages about where they live. Questions covered topics including food, nightlife and culture to affordability, happiness and the overall city vibe. A panel of more than 100 Time Out city experts from around the world were also asked to name the most exciting cities in the world right now. All data from 44 different criteria was combined to create the ranking. RECOMMENDED: Here's our ultimate guide to the very best things to do in Sydney right now  In even bigger news for Australia, Melbourne has taken the top spot on the list. Melbourne locals highly rated their hometown’s food, culture and art scenes, as well as its green spaces, neighbourhood communities, walkability, public transport and more. It also scored very highly for criteria including diversity, liveliness, cultural activities, affordability of going out and how well it caters to Gen Z. Adela

Lets face it: everyone loves a public holiday – especially when it lands in Melbourne’s golden late summer/early autumn sweet spot. But do you actually know why Victoria scores a long weekend in March? If the answer is “vaguely?”, you’re not alone. Here’s your cheat sheet to the 2026 Labour Day long weekend, Victorian edition. When is Labour Day in Victoria in 2026? In Victoria, Labour Day is celebrated on the second Monday in March each year. In 2026, that means we’ll be clocking off (or not clocking on) on Monday, March 9. What is Victorian Labour Day and why do we have it? Labour Day commemorates the labour movement’s historic fight for the eight-hour work day – a reform that changed life as we know it. And here’s the flex: Victoria was at the forefront. On April 21, 1856, stonemasons working on the University of Melbourne put down their tools and marched from the campus to Parliament House, demanding “eight hours labour, eight hours recreation, eight hours rest”. Remarkably, they won – without losing pay. It was one of the earliest successful eight-hour day campaigns in the world, and it helped spark labour reforms across Australia and beyond. At a time when 14-hour days and six-day working weeks were common (with zero sick leave or job security), this was revolutionary stuff. Why did the Labour Movement fight for eight hours? The idea was simple but powerful: split the day into three equal parts: eight hours for work, eight hours for sleep and eight hours for, well, livi

Melbourne’s Formula 1 Australian Grand Prix weekend is back, and this year it’s bigger and more indulgent than ever. Whether you’re a trackside veteran or a first-time visitor, here are a bunch of ways to get the most out of your F1 experience. Gourmet pit stop You could just grab some sustenance from a food truck, or you could book in at Chin Chin Presented by American Express. The city’s iconic restaurant is bringing its famous dishes to the track in a proper pop-up restaurant (that you won’t believe is a pop-up). This is the only bookable dining experience at the F1. If you’re an Amex Card Member, you’ll get priority access to getting a reservation (and complimentary ice cream) when you book with your Amex Card. Not only will you enjoy a delicious dining experience, but you’ll be able to escape from whatever Melbourne’s weather might be throwing at Albert Park (remember last year’s heatwave followed the next day by torrential downpour?). A luxe lounge The Amex Lounge is a ticketed space that's part race HQ, part luxe playground. There’s a Ritz-Carlton Bar, beverage offerings from Moët & Chandon and Belvedere, guided tastings of Penfolds Grange, live music, beauty touch-ups by Mecca Max, a Pit Roof Viewing Deck and, of course, dedicated screens televising what’s happening on the track. Booking is on a first come, first served basis. Guests with a premium hospitality ticket can even dine at the pop-up version of the renowned Venetian steakhouse Grill Americano (read our writ

What do Madonna, Queen Elizabeth II and Anna Wintour have in common? They’ve all been served by globally acclaimed chef and restaurateur Jeff Schroeter. Now you can quite easily join that list, now that his latest venture is open in Glebe – on a site he’s very familiar with. New French brasserie Darling Glebe now occupies the historic Darling Mills site on Glebe Point Road, where Schroeter previously co-founded restaurant Beckett’s in 2021. This new iteration of the subterranean space features a French omakase chef’s table, a Martini bar, a private dining room and a private cellar event space. The talent collaborating with Schroeter is equally impressive: Charlie Ainbsury (2016 Diageo Reserve World Class Australian Bartender of the Year) has curated the Martini bar; while Sarah Biswas, whose CV includes stints at Odd Culture Group, Restaurant Hubert and Banksii, serves as venue manager.    Originally from the Riverina region of NSW, Schroeter has run kitchens and owned restaurants from Sydney to Brisbane, London, Switzerland and New York City, including The Savoy London, Royalton Hotel New York, Sydney fave Bistro Moncur and the former Bayswater Brasserie. Photograph: Supplied | Christopher Pearce | Jeff Schroeter - Darling Glebe He now personally serves guests at the chef’s table in a French omakase – a “leave it to the chef” dining experience available for exclusive use. “You can drink and dine based on your own mood, the venue lets people have that type of freedom,” Schr

Asia's largest fast-food company – the hugely popular Jollibee – is set to open its first Australian store, in Sydney. The vacant site of the very last Sizzler restaurant in the country could soon be knocked down, under plans from commercial developer PMG Group, to make way for this Filipino fast-food giant, which has more than 1,500 locations in 17 countries around the globe. After a long campaign to set up shop here, Campbelltown in Sydney's west looks to be the site of the first Aussie outpost of Jollibee. The plans, which involve the development of three fast-food joints (Taco Bell, Krispy Kreme and Jollibee) on Harbord Road, have consent from Campbelltown City Council until July 2029. That said, no date has been set to knock down the Sizzler building that has been vacant since November 2020, when Sizzler closed the doors once and for all in Australia. Given the large Filipino population in Australia, and Campbelltown in particular (Filipinos comprise the third-largest population of residents born outside of Australia), this news has been a long time coming. A really long time coming, considering the restaurant’s initial development application was submitted to the Campbelltown City Council in March 2021.    Is Jollibee coming to Sydney, really? The initial Campbelltown site reportedly fell through due to “some administrative challenges”, which is why things seem to be taking a long time. But it's promising that Jollibee has a 'Business Head for Europe, the Middle East,

Since Lady Gaga first announced back in April that she was bringing her Mayhem Ball Tour to Australia, the countdown has been on. And now, we are about to witness the spectacle for ourselves in Sydney. In Melbourne, Gaga performed for an adoring crowd of more than 60,000 people for 2.5 hours – we've heard it was a true theatrical feast of iconic hits, costume changes and incredible choreography. And there were surprises, too: Gaga played the unreleased track 'Brooklyn Nights' – a song she hasn't performed live since the last time she was here. Will she play it in Sydney? The Little Monsters will just have to wait and see... From what time the gates open to what the set list looks like (will she finish with 'Bad Romance'?) we've got all the info you need ahead of her two massive shows at Accor Stadium at Sydney Olympic Park. See you there! When is Lady Gaga in Sydney? Lady Gaga's much-hyped Mayhem Ball will take over Accor Stadium at Sydney Olympic Park on Friday, December 5 and Saturday, December 6. How to get to the Lady Gaga Sydney concerts The shows are happening at Accor Stadium, inside Sydney Olympic Park, which is well-connected to public transport (free for concert-goers – just flash your concert ticket). The easiest and best way to get there is to catch a train from Central to Olympic Park station (trains will be departing Central and Strathfield every few minutes), and from there it’s a short walk to the stadium. Yes, we know, the trip home from Olympic Park can fee

If you were one of the people at last night's Kendrick Lamar concert in Sydney, you'll know that KDot put on one helluva performance complete with flames, fireworks and all his hits. 'Not Like Us' goes even harder IRL. If you live near Moore Park, you might also know! Local residents have reported the show was loud and sounded like a hoot. Perhaps grab some earplugs for tonight if you were one of those people?   Here’s everything you need to know about Kendrick’s final Sydney show tonight… When is Kendrick Lamar in Sydney? After two sold-out shows in Melbourne, the multi-Grammy Award-winning rapper is now in Sydney for his Grand National Tour. He played his first show at Moore Park’s Allianz Stadium last night (Wednesday, December 10, 2025), and his last show is tonight, Thursday, December 11, 2025. How to get to the Kendrick Lamar Sydney concert  Public transport is your best option for getting to Allianz Stadium (also known as Sydney Football Stadium), at 40 Driver Avenue, Moore Park. The cost of public transport is included in your ticket. If you have stamina, you can walk up to the stadium from Central Station. It takes about 25 minutes, but just a warning – it’s an uphill walk, so it’s not for the faint-hearted. If you want to get to the city early and make an adventure of it, you can have a bit of a pub crawl up to Moore Park – these are some of the best pubs on the way to and near the stadium. Most people opt instead to take the Moore Park Light Rail service from Centr