Alice Ellis

We're all about a secret underground dive bar or two – but in a city as beautiful as Sydney, it seems like a damn shame to retreat into the depths for every tipple. From a sundowner by the harbour to a sunny rooftop in the Inner West, our town is awash with sky-high watering holes. So we've rounded up the best spots in the city to sip a cold one under a gorgeous open sky. But drinkers beware: Sydney's rooftop bars play host to some of the most contested seats in the city, so get in early for a spot in the sun.  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 more al fresco drinking try one of Sydney's best beer gardens. Looking for another top-notch watering hole? Check out the best bars in Sydney.

By the time November rolls around, we’re on the verge of abandoning our jackets and jumping headfirst into Sydney’s blistering days and balmy nights. But we’re not quite there yet. While we’re keen for an occasional splash at Sydney’s best beaches and glorious ocean pools, we’re also partial to a hideout in the city’s cool underground bars or a sunny afternoon in one of Sydney's best beer gardens. When you're not whiling away the hours with a glass in hand, there's plenty of culture to catch this November – there's theatre galore, and galleries bursting with incredible masterworks. There’s also a two-week long Garage Sale Trail bringing pop-up markets to front yeards across the city. So why not put a spring in your synapses as Sydney strides into summer with a trip to one of these superb cultural events?Stay in the loop: sign up for our free Time Out Sydney newsletter for more news, straight to your inbox. Keep edging towards summer at one of Sydney's best waterfront bars, or one of the best rooftop bars in the city.

Parramatta's CBD is now one of the biggest commercial hubs outside of the Sydney CBD. Along with this hustle and bustle has emerged a lively restaurant scene with cuisines from across the globe. So whether Parramatta (or nearby Harris Park) is a detour, your main destination, or you're lucky enough to live in the area, the buzzing suburb's excellent restaurants will have you stumped for choice. We've rounded up our favourites, to make the decision easier for you. Get cracking. Stay in the loop: sign up for our free Time Out Sydney newsletter for more news, food & drink inspo and activity ideas, straight to your inbox. Looking for Indian, specifically? Here's our guide to the best Indian restaurants in Parramatta and Harris Park.  Or check out our guide to the very best restaurants across Sydney.

Spring update: Let the good times roll with our fresh guide to Sydney’s best bars – perfect for your springtime soirée. Two new Enmore Road spots have been added (hello, Deadwax and Silver’s Motel). Is the sun out? Head to Paradise or Old Mate’s Place to soak up the warmth. And the Negronis go down a treat at Herbs Taverne. This list represents our picks of the best bars in Sydney right now, from fresh faces to tried-and-tested temples of great drinks, curated by our local editors, drink writers and fellow booze hounds, including Time Out Sydney's Editor Avril Treasure. We’re looking for quality above all, with fun, flavour, atmosphere, creativity and options at every price point. Cheers to you, 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. 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.

Let’s dive into the springtime theatrical fun currently on in Sydney. Forget running – gallop over to Hayes Theatre right now to see the incredible new Australian work, Phar Lap: The Electro-Swing Musical. Written by Steven Kramer and directed by Sheridan Harbridge, this brand-new musical brings a hilarious and talented cast to the stage, telling a rags-to-riches story with a big heart. Expect “tap-dancing horses, domineering jockeys and fanatical horse-girls,” and so much more. It’s on until November 22. Find out more here. Fancy a dazzling night out? La Ronde is here at Sydney’s Grand Electric, bringing an intoxicating performance of comedy, cabaret and circus to the stage – with a side of cocktails and chaos. From the creators of Blanc de Blanc and Limbo, this exciting new show is sure to deliver glitz, glamour and entertainment. Check out a sneak peek here, and find out more here. Over at Sydney Theatre Company, Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf? is on until December 14. See award-winner Kat Stewart star in Edward Albee’s most famous play that explores love, marriage and everything in between. Find out more here.  Great Scott! Back to the Future: The Musical is now playing at Sydney Lyric, so round up your fellow movie buffs and enjoy a blast from the past. As our reviewer says: "And if you think they couldn’t get the DeLorean to do that final scene of the movie? Well…you’ll have to go and see for yourself." Find out more here. Tongue-in-cheek musical The Book of Mormon is

Spring 2025 update: Doesn’t this warm weather make everything better? (Though, not car fines – they can still go to hell.) You know what else makes things better? Eating delicious food, sipping chilled wine and laughing with your people. Whatever you’ve got coming up, you’ll find Sydney’s best spots to do exactly that below. Here's our list of Time Out's best restaurants in Sydney right now, from hot newcomers to time-honoured institutions, curated by our expert, on-the-ground editors and food writers who eat and drink their way around Sydney, including Time Out Sydney's Editor, Avril Treasure. How did we narrow it down to the very best? When deciding, we considered fun, flavour, creativity, value for money – and 'wow' factor. So yes, of course, you’ll find a fine diner inside the Sydney Opera House here, but you’ll also find neighbourhood pasta, hole-in-the-wall Thai and venues right by the sea. Happy dining, Sydney. Editor's favourite restaurants in Sydney: 🥂 Best for a special occasion: Bennelong 👠 Best for a vibey date night: Fontana ☀️ Best for a long Sunday lunch: Sean's 🍝 Best for an Italian feast: Neptune’s Grotto 🫒 Best for a friends' catch-up: Olympus 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 READ: Still hungry? Check out our guide to the best cheap eats in Sydney.

Dreaming of sleeping beneath unpolluted starry skies, swimming on secluded beaches and snuggling by a campfire – but without the spiders, dirt floors and lack of showers? Enter glamping – the perfect way to experience Australia’s wild side with a touch of luxury... Whether it's reclining in a private bubble bath beneath a rainforest canopy, dipping into a rainwater plunge pool next to Uluru, or sleeping in clean sheets next to one of the world's most remote coral reefs, the best glamping spots in Australia are both epic and aplenty. All you've gotta do is hit the road.  Editors' favourite glamping spots in Australia: 💕 Best couples retreat: Sal Salis Ningaloo Reef, WA ☀️ Best for families: Ingenia Holidays Byron Bay, NSW 💎 Best luxury: Longitude 131, NT ✅ The best caravan parks in Australia⛺️ The best free campsites in Australia🚘 The most epic Aussie road trips

Spring 2025 update: From sunny beer gardens to refreshing pints, make the most of the cracking spring weather with our guide to Sydney’s best pubs. What do they all have in common? Great vibes, great drinks and ace food. Bring your mates. 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. On a hot day, it's all about having a welcoming beer garden, and on a Sunday, it's all about a cracking roast. 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! 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. 

For the very first time, we’re introducing Time Out’s Best Young Chefs – to shine a spotlight on the rising talent shaking up the food scene in cities around the globe. They’re creative, they’re clever and they’re helping put their hometowns on the global culinary map.  From a freelance izakaya chef in Tasmania to an award-winning Melbourne talent about to represent the Pacific region on the global stage, here are the best young chefs in Australia right now. ⭐️ The best restaurants in Australia🍹 The best bars in Australia

For the past eight years, we’ve made it our mission to scope out the coolest pockets of the world’s greatest cities in order to create our definitive annual ranking. The places where stuff like nightlife, art, culture, and affordable food and drink can be found on every corner and down every backstreet. Where diversity is championed and independent businesses thrive, from old-school boltholes to the newest avant-garde art space. Put simply, the world’s coolest neighbourhoods are places that represent the soul of our cities, while maintaining their own unique local character that draws people in to live, work and play. So, what are the neighbourhoods that fit the bill this year? To find out, we asked our network of writers and editors across a breadth of cities to nominate the vibiest district in their hometown right now. We then ranked every neighbourhood against criteria including culture, community, liveability, nightlife, food and drink, street life and that hard-to-define sense of ‘nowness’.  On our list this year, you’ll find everything from homely, village-like enclaves with tight-knit communities to revitalised city-centre hubs and formerly dormant, industrial areas transformed into creative districts. Many are underrated spots that sit in the shadow of their commercialised counterparts; others have become unexpected culinary hotspots or magnets for the city’s artists, writers and activists. What they all have in common is a DIY spirit – and an unshakeable proclivity f

Sydney's late-night scene is back. It may not look the same as what it did pre-lockout laws or lockdowns, but it does exist. There are schemes to invigorate nightlife, venues all over the city have extending their hours, OG late-night venues, like the Abercrombie, have even returned from the dead, and newer spots bars like The Pleasure Club are red-hot from the get go, staying open until 4am most nights. There are now plenty of bars and pubs ready, willing and able to keep your cup filled until the wee hours. We’ve compiled a bunch of them, from classic pubs to cocktail specialists and dancefloors. Show this guide to your mate next time they say Sydney’s nightlife is dead, and then go out and party. We’ll see you there. Want somewhere to recover? Head to one of Sydney's very best late-night feeds.

Contrary to contemporary yarns, there are still pubs and bars that host live music in Sydney. Many of them have successfully lashed back at the encroaching frontline of pokie machines.  We're all for it. So Time Out Sydney's writers – including pub-frother and Editor Alice Ellis, and resident booze-lover and Editor Avril Treasure, have rounded up a list of our fave bars and pubs that host live bands. 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. Hate the ding-ding of pokie machines? Here's a list of Sydney pubs without pokies. More into dancing to a DJ? Check our guide to the best clubs in Sydney.

Button Bar is back! That said, it's in a brand-new location. The former Surry Hills location died and it's now come back to life in the buzzing YCK (York, Clarence, Kent Street) Laneways precinct in the middle of the CBD. In its new iteration, its still delivering excellent nights out – until 2am on Friday and Saturday nights, and midnight Tuesdays to Thursdays. The drinks list that pokes a little fun at the modern world. Expect a $15 secret cocktailmenu, Connect Nights that encourage meeting new people, and regular live music. Out front, The Lab (a rotating kitchen residency program) is hosting a rotating kitchen pop-up, where you can get delicious eats late into the night. Head over to Button Bar between 4-6pm daily for the happy hour. You can order delicious mezze-like bar snacks (think goat’s curd drizzled with honey and white truffle oil, served with pane carasau; and smoked mortadella served with grissini sticks), on-point cocktails, and settle in for the night in an eclectic, high-vibes setting. 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.  Interested in other YCK Sydney bars? Check out PS40, Jolene's and Stitch Bar (among so many others).

Hobart has become a super popular destination (in fact, one of the top ten trending destinations in the world for 2026, according to Expedia data), so it’s no surprise the city needed a big, new hotel. And the DoubleTree by Hilton is situated so you can easily explore the best of everything the city has to offer. In fact, there wasn’t a single location (restaurant, café or pub) I plugged into my Google Map that wasn’t within a 10-minute walk from the hotel. Why stay at DoubleTree by Hilton Hobart? It’s right in the heart of Hobart’s CBD, a short stroll from the main retail centre, Constitution Dock, Salamanca Place and all the waterfront restaurants, galleries and markets that make this city tick. My absolute favourite part? The view from my room. As one of the tallest buildings around (eight levels of rooms), the floor-to-ceiling windows allow you views of the harbour, the hills beyond, and the beautiful heritage architecture. The view is like a painting that changes as the day (and weather) does. The DoubleTree by Hilton Hobart also has good facilities, including an indoor swimming pool, gym and lovely sauna, plus a good restaurant and bar. What are the rooms at DoubleTree by Hilton Hobart like? I stayed in a Deluxe Water View room with a great view and all the natural light. The bed was comfy, there was a desk facing that view, fast free wifi, a big flatscreen TV, a little bar fridge, a rainfall shower, decent storage space, a quick-to-respond air temperature control, tea

Most golf clubs and courses are a bit stuffy and unwelcoming. Not Marrickville Golf Club. It's a welcoming, accessible, family-friendly, beginner-friendly club that's well-loved by the community. It's the right level of scruffy, too, to make you feel relaxed there. Everyone you see out on the course is just there for a good time – not necessarily to lower their handicap. The Cooks River weaves through and alongside the golf course, so it's a place that is surrounded by trees and wildlife (a green oasis in the bustling, hipster community of Marrickville). They've recently converted the putting green out the front of the clubhouse into a beer garden of sorts – a beautiful place to sit out on the grass, looking out over the course and the river. It's very family friendly, so you'll see kids running around while their parents enjoy a cold schooey. There's also a kids' play area inside. Their restaurant – Wharf St Kitchen – serves up excellent bistro classics. We particularly love the peri peri chicken burger and the schnitty. (And there's no need to wear collared shirts or closed-toe shoes in the club house. [Pretty much] anything goes). The club also puts on a range of special offers and events, depending on the day of the week. They have $15 Margaritas on Margarita Fridays (from 4.30-8.30pm). The club has long been known as a supporter of musicians, and on the last Saturday of every month, from 3-6pm they host 'Orion's Big Bakyard' live music. They also have monthly trivia. So

Tasmanian whisky has made a name for itself – a very good name. It all started with Sullivan’s Cove, which in 2014 became the first distillery outside of Scotland and Japan to win the World’s Best Single Malt at the World Whiskies Awards. And there are countless other distilleries on the Apple Isle, but Callington Mill is another major player in this field. The Callington Mill Distillery is in Oatlands, a charming, tiny, picture-book town with Australia’s highest concentration of historic sandstone buildings (150 of them!). It’s the largest intact Georgian streetscape in Australia, and it’s so well-preserved, it looks like a movie set. Even if you don’t like whisky (or gin), the town itself (in the middle of Hobart and Launceston – about an hour and a quarter drive from both) is well worth a visit. You’ll know you’re at Callington Mill when you spot the (wind)mill – it’s the original one that was built back in 1837 and has been restored to full working order. The property was built as a flour mill, but the miller also distilled sly grog on the side. In 2017, John Ibrahim (not the Sydney bloke of the same name) – who had developed a passion for whisky through a friendship with Australia’s godfather of whisky making, Bill Lark – bought Callington Mill and started making whisky and gin.  Ibrahim has built a serious (but fun), world-class distillery operation from there. There’s now a fabulous on-site eatery and bar, where you can sit down for some fine spirits (or wine or beer,

Love having an arvo bevvy on a rooftop? If you head up to level 7 of CBD hotel Kimpton Margot Sydney, you'll find a beach club-style oasis right in the heart of the city. Perfect for work knock-off drinks, or as a central spot to meet up with friends on weekends. Harper Rooftop Bar reckons they are Sydney’s largest open-air rooftop bar. And while we don’t have a tape measure on us, Harper does look like a sprawling thing of beauty, with capacity for 180 punters. Sunset session, anyone?  Your dog is invited, too. In fact, on Sundays it's a "puppy party". If you bring along your furry friend, you'll receive a free glass of Pinot (Noir or Grigio) with any main meal. Designed by Five Foot One Design, the colourful oasis features lush plants, a pastel-pink tiled bar, sunflower-yellow booths and comfy sun lounges. Guests of the hotel are welcome to take a dip in the pool, too. They have some excellent happy hour – or "Golden Hour" – specials: on Wednesday, Thursday and Sunday nights from 5-7pm, you can get big goblets of Aperol Spritz for $15, a glass of Salatin Prosecco for $10, Stone & Wood Pacific Ale for $10, and specialty cocktails like the Orange You Cucu Slushie for $16. If you are an Aperol fan (or group of fans), you can buy two and get the third one free. Other specials include a Friday lunch burger special for $20 – get a Wagyu beef or chicken burger with fries for that special price from 12 to 3pm every Friday. Then hang around for the Friday (or Saturday) evening live

Voco Melbourne Central is a surprise. I've spent plenty of time in Melbourne and I didn’t even know Timothy Lane existed, but when I walk down this tiny pedestrians-only path off busy Lonsdale Street and enter the elegant ground-floor lobby, it’s all happy surprises from there. The Voco is a fairly affordable hotel, yet reception (on level 6) is stylish, my room is surprisingly stylish, too, the pool is cool, and the view – well, hello, Melbourne! Granted, my room is on the 25th floor. It all feels fairly boutique, so I’m also shocked to learn it’s a 252-room hotel. Why stay at voco Melbourne Central? Voco Melbourne Central is a fairly affordable, yet stylish and very comfortable hotel right in Melbourne’s CBD – just off Lonsdale Street, very centrally located near Bourke Street Mall, Melbourne Central Station, The Emporium and also near Hardware Lane with its great restaurants, cafés and bars.  Voco is built for looking out over Melbourne city. The high-rise’s clean lines, floor-to-ceiling windows, and well-placed rooftop terrace and pool let the city in, making it a great spot for sunset. The Voco brand promises originality, and this hotel delivers – it feels modern without being pretentious, and the staff are super friendly.  What are the rooms like? Look, I stayed in a King Bed Premium Bathtub Room (36sqm), so I was basically in the lap of luxury. It had a king bed, a big bathroom with large shower and deep free-standing bathtub (with bath salts and views out the floor-to

Nature's Energy - Balmain Bath House has to be the best bang for buck when it comes to sweating it out and scrubbing up. Hidden behind the Nature’s Energy store on Darling Street, the Bath House has just undergone a fresh renovation, and the results are pretty magical. With a brand new magnesium-enriched mineral pool, a traditional Finnish sauna, ice baths carved from stone and a steam room just some of the enchanted offerings on the table, the Balmain Bath house is looking fresh, and it's open for business.  The staff are welcoming, knowledgeable and kind, and there are all the perks of a pricier spa: fluffy robes, secure lockers, hair dryers, slippers and herbal tea on tap. Plus, they offer a hot spa, cold pool, (intense) steam room, sauna and showers. It’s one of three Nature’s Energy centres in Sydney (there's also Newtown and Glebe), and the Balmain locale also offers the same specialised massages (gem-stone healing, Reiki and acupuncture), spa facials, waxing and spray tanning as the other venues. Keep the spa vibes alive with our guide to Sydney's best. 

Pull up a stool and let the good times swing at Noble Craft’s Thursday Night Jazz series. On Thursday, October 9, the spotlight’s on the Colbright Trio – with Colin Bright on piano, Justin Dileo on bass and Jim Piesse on drums. Bright, who is best known in classical circles as a composer, has always kept a deep love of improvisation close at hand. This new trio first came together for a Beatles-jazz experiment at Noble Craft earlier this year – and it was such a hit that they’re back with a fuller repertoire of jazz favourites and standards. Catch them live in this Brookvale distillery space from 8-10pm, and enjoy Noble Craft's signature spirits and cocktails while you're at it. The Noble Craft is at 39 Sydenham Rd in Brookvale. Find out more over here.

More than 80 years since its famous smile first lit up the Harbour, Luna Park is still Sydney's favourite vintage attraction. Martin Sharp's iconic clown face at the entrance, the rickety wooden rides, and vaudeville decor gives the park a strong sense of nostalgia. But Luna Park has also introduced a range of modern, high-tech immersive experiences in more recent times. Luna Park has the two-fold attraction of being an enclosed space where you can let kids run rampant, plus some of the most beautiful views of the harbour you will ever come across. We recommend arriving by ferry. And, if you aren't a fan of spinning rides, we recommend you get a single ride pass and use it on the Ferris Wheel, where the bobbing lights of the city and the fresh sea air makes for quite a romantic jaunt. Otherwise, load up on sugar and fried foods and see how many times you can go in the Rotor before you throw up on your shoes. Some more recent additions to Luna Park's line-up include immersive experiences such as Dream Circus, Lite-Brite, a Squid Game-style experience, and their annual Halloscream festival for Halloween. Luna Park is a great option if you have a variety of ages and tastes to cater for. If a great night out means going on every ride four times and screaming yourself hoarse then you are in for a win. If your tastes are more modest and you just want to soak up the history of a classic amusement park, you can do that too, especially in the beautiful Coney Island. Luna Park's price

You can tell from its curving façade rising from the harbourfront that the W Sydney is going to be special inside. After years of watching it get built, I was keen to peer behind its bold exterior, and I wasn’t disappointed. The New York-born W Hotels chain is known around the world for its modern architecture and luxury offerings – but what we learnt during our stay is that, as well as good looks, W Sydney has big personality. In a nod to Australia’s playful, laidback character, the hotel’s design is all centred around “larrikin moments”: charming, unexpected touches to surprise guests. The staff explain to me that W Sydney is an “extroverted non-conformist”, which makes for a fun stay. Each floor has its own story. When you enter the lobby, you realise the signature life-sized ‘W’ statue is covered in little red waratah-like petals – a nice touch, considering the waratah is our state’s floral emblem. Why stay at W Sydney? Housed in The Ribbon, a silvery wave-like building that was finally completed in 2023 (the building also contains Sydney’s IMAX cinema), W Sydney is the largest W Hotel in the world, with 588 rooms. Its bold, futuristic aesthetic stands out on the Darling Harbour skyline – equal parts playful sculpture and architectural show-stopper. Inside, interiors by London’s interior design consultancy Bowler James Brindley echo Sydney influences: wave-like curves, nautical hues, bursts of red waratah flora, and feature lights that are both sleek and surprising. It’s

✍️ Time Out Sydney never writes starred restaurant and bar reviews from hosted experiences – Time Out covers restaurant and bar bills, and anonymously reviews, so that readers can trust our critique. Find out more, here. The vibe Angus feels very Marrickville: urban and unfussy. This café at the industrial end of Marrickville, on the way to Sydenham, and the only reason you might do a double-take going past might be the big bunch of people out front during the morning or lunchtime rush. Some are waiting for takeaway or a table, others are just having a chat. It’s a place that's loved by locals.  The food Locals love it, but I know people travel to Marrickville just for the Angus fish sandwich, which went a bit viral after a range of food influencers – including Howard (@howac) posted about it. The thick chunk of golden-crumbed fish, oozy spread of dill-packed tartare, American cheese, pickles and onions, all between a serious-looking slab of bubbly, homemade focaccia – it’s made to be in front of the camera. So of course, when I went, I ordered the fish sandwich. Loved it like Howard did. Comfort food in the palm of your hand. I just wasn’t totally convinced about the choice of bread – it was neither crunchy nor pillowy soft, more spongy. That said, I’m still thinking about that sandwich, thanks to the delicious filling.  What else do they serve? They stay in their lane, serving mostly sandwiches: charred miso eggplant with slaw, pickled onion, mint and tahini yoghurt; tuna w

This harbourside pool is one of the most photogenic inner-city swim spots in Sydney. Its surrounds were a popular bathing spot since long before the British arrived, and public sea baths first opened here in 1860. In the early 1920s, famous Aussie swimmer Andrew ‘Boy’ Charlton achieved many of his triumphs here – such as beating European champ Arne Borg – and setting a new world record in the process – when he was just 16 years old. Today, the baths offer an eight-lane, heated 50m pool, learners’ and toddlers’ pools and a sundeck. The complex also houses yoga classes and more. The pool’s harbourside edges are glazed, allowing swimmers unparalleled views across the sparkling bay. After a dip, meander through the Botanic Gardens and around the harbour's edge towards the Sydney Opera House. 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 READS: These are the best ocean pools in Sydney. These are the best things to do in Sydney at least one in your life.

Sydney’s most famous stretch of sand is set for a historic night of live music next summer, as Crowded House headlines the very first Golden Hour – a brand-new live music series produced by the Fuzzy crew. For one unforgettable evening in February, Bondi Beach will transform into a stage, as the band known for hits including ‘Don’t Dream It’s Over’, ‘Four Seasons in One Day’ and ‘Weather With You’ perform live. Photograph: Supplied - jacquieb | Crowded House Award-winning Gamilaraay singer-songwriter Thelma Plum will also take the stage, performing songs from her acclaimed record I’m Sorry, Now Say It Back. The Friday, February 20, 2026 event will be the first major concert held on Bondi’s shores in more than ten years, and will kick off what’s set to become an annual end-of-summer tradition. Golden Hour promises more than just an on-the-beach concert – it will be a community-driven celebration of Australian music, art and connection, with visuals created by Warumungu/Wombaya artist Jessica Johnson of Nungala Creative.  The main stage will be on the sand, and concertgoers are encouraged to bring picnic rugs and settle on the hill above the foreshore to soak up golden hour. Who is playing at Golden Hour on Bondi Beach? Fans can expect a full set from Crowded House, drawing on decades of classics, as well as new favourites from their latest album, Gravity Stairs. Thelma Plum – 7 Aria nominations, 3 platinum, 1 gold single – is another big drawcard. And more artists are still

It’s back! We've just dropped our 2025 Time Out Recommended lists for Melbourne, Sydney and the rest of Australia (as well as Singapore and Hong Kong), spotlighting the local businesses delivering epic experiences that our editors truly love. Time Out Recommends is all about celebrating the spots that get us off the couch and out into our cities – whether that’s a hidden wine bar, a must-visit regional venue, an inspiring arts space, or a hotel that you can’t wait to return to. Our editors have been out eating, drinking, exploring and experiencing so we can share our favourites with you. Want to know which experiences are really worth your time and money? Click through to see our editors' Time Out Recommended picks for 2025 in the following categories: Time Out Melbourne Recommends 2025 results: Things to DoRestaurants & BarsRegional VenuesArts & Culture Time Out Sydney Recommends 2025 results: Things to DoRestaurants & BarsRegional VenuesArts & Culture Time Out Australia Recommends 2025 results: Things to DoDestination Restaurants & BarsHotelsThey're all the round-ups of our editors' top picks for 2025 – congratulations to all the worthy businesses delivering excellent experiences that our editors want to keep returning for. And then we also handed some decisions over to you – for the People's Choice categories.  To check out your top picks, as voted by the public, click below: Time Out Melbourne - People's Choice winnersTime Out Sydney - People's Choice winnersTime Out Au

As I drive down the main street of the Tasmanian town of Oatlands, it feels like I’m on the set of a historic film. It’s frozen-in-time picture perfection, like a living museum. It’s a tiny town – in the 2021 Census, it was home to just 728 residents – yet it lays claim to having the highest concentration of historic sandstone buildings in any Australian town, with 150 of the well-preserved masterpieces. It’s the largest intact Georgian streetscape in the country.  Oatlands is halfway between Hobart and Launceston (about a 75-minute drive from both along the Midland Highway), making it a key stopover point between these major Tasmanian cities. I’m here to visit Callington Mill Distillery, where you’ll find the Lincolnshire Tower windmill, built in 1837 by a man named John Vincent. RECOMMENDED: These are the best things to do in Tasmania The mill has been restored to full working order, and it’s now the only operating mill of its kind in the whole Southern Hemisphere (and the third oldest windmill in Australia). You can climb up through the different levels of the windmill for a great view of the charming town and its surrounds – though, there is an even more attractive reason to come here, and that’s excellent food and drink. These days, alongside Sullivan’s Cove and Lark, Callington Mill is one of the major distilling players in Tasmania, a state that’s becoming world-renowned for its whisky production. Photograph: Alastair Bett Even if you aren't a whisky lover, Callingto

Tasmania’s capital, Hobart, has made travel company Expedia’s list of top ten trending travel destinations for 2026. This land of sail boats, great seafood and wine, heritage buildings – and one of the world’s most renowned art museums, MONA – has had a big uptick in interest from both Australian and international travellers, which helped the city make the list. This year’s Expedia Destinations of the Year list results are based on flight and accommodation search data on Expedia’s app and website – and turns out, searches for Hobart travel options have jumped by 25 per cent from 2024 to 2025. RECOMMENDED: These are the best restaurants in Hobart Hobart is the only Australian city to make the trending destinations list – others on the list are Big Sky in Montana in the US, Okinawa in Japan, Sardinia in Italy, Phu Quoc in Vietnam and Ucluelet in Canada. Expedia also says Hobart is a sustainable destination, having granted it a ‘Smart Travel Health Check’ tick because it aligns with the World Travel & Tourism Council’s (WTTC) actions for sustainable tourism management. Expedia reckons some of the key selling points of Hobart are that it’s a waterfront city, Tasmania's cultural hub, it’s steeped in history, and it’s a food and drink lover’s dream. They recommend checking out the Saturday markets at Salamanca Place, touring the Theatre Royal, catching a ferry to the Museum of Old and New Art (MONA), and hiking Mount Wellington. Want more ideas? These our our top Hobart recommenda

Tasmania’s capital, Hobart, has made travel company Expedia’s list of top ten trending travel destinations for 2026. This land of sail boats, great seafood and wine, heritage buildings – and one of the world’s most renowned art museums, MONA – has had a big uptick in interest from both Australian and international travellers, which helped the city make the list.  This year’s Expedia Destinations of the Year list results are based on flight and accommodation search data on Expedia’s app and website – and turns out, searches for Hobart travel options have jumped by 25 per cent from 2024 to 2025. RECOMMENDED: These are the best restaurants in Hobart Hobart is the only Australian city to make the trending destinations list – others on the list are Big Sky in Montana in the US, Okinawa in Japan, Sardinia in Italy, Phu Quoc in Vietnam and Ucluelet in Canada. Expedia also says Hobart is a sustainable destination, having granted it a ‘Smart Travel Health Check’ tick because it aligns with the World Travel & Tourism Council’s (WTTC) actions for sustainable tourism management. Expedia reckons some of the key selling points of Hobart are that it’s a waterfront city, Tasmania's cultural hub, it’s steeped in history, and it’s a food and drink lover’s dream. They recommend checking out the Saturday markets at Salamanca Place, touring the Theatre Royal, catching a ferry to the Museum of Old and New Art (MONA), and hiking Mount Wellington. Want more ideas? These our our top Hobart recommenda

Ever wondered if your old uni is still top of its class? Or considering a career change and wondering where to hit the books next? Well, the 2026 results are in for arguably the world’s most prestigious university ranking – and many of Australia’s top institutions have been honoured in the global top universities, including four institutions in Sydney. There are plenty of university rankings out there (including QS and CWUR), but the Times Higher Education (THE) World University Ranking is widely regarded as one of the most trusted. This year, it assessed almost 2,200 institutions across 115 countries and territories, evaluating performance across five key pillars: teaching, research environment, research quality, international outlook and industry engagement. Each institution was then scored and ranked – and in 2026, ten Australian universities earned a spot among the world’s top spots. ALSO TRENDING: The much-hyped Sydney Fish Market finally reveals its opening date and restaurant line-up Once again, The University of Melbourne retained its crown as Australia’s top university, ranking 37th on the global leaderboard. Home to more than 77,000 students and 13,000 staff, the university improved two places on its 2025 ranking and earned near-perfect scores in five metrics, including research excellence and impact, while making notable progress in its teaching reputation. The University of Melbourne also finished 16 places ahead of New South Wales's closest rival, The University

Do you Labubu? If so, you'll be pumped to know that Australia has just scored one of its biggest Pop Mart stores to date – right here in Sydney. Entirely themed around Labubu, the World Square store is the second major Pop Mart store to open in the country this year, and it's full of limited-edition releases. Pop Mart – best known for its collectible designer toys (especially Labubus), typically sold in "blind boxes" so you don't know what you're going to get – has become a cult-favourite retail store since launching Down Under in 2021. The Chinese toy brand now boasts more than 550 outlets in 30 countries and regions, and by the end of October, it will have 13 stores across Australia, plus 33 Robo Shops (vending machine-style kiosks filled with collectible blind boxes). Photograph: Rebecca Hegedus for Time Out In July 2025, Pop Mart unveiled its largest Australian store to date, spanning 300 square metres in the Melbourne Walk precinct on Bourke Street. The shop, themed entirely around the brand’s beloved character Skullpanda, drew devoted fans who camped overnight to be among the first inside. Following its successful Melbourne launch, Pop Mart opened a brand-new 226.3-square-metre store in Sydney’s World Square Centre on Saturday, October 11, making it the second largest in the country. Decked out in Labubu, it's stocked with limited-edition releases and new arrivals available only in-store. Photograph: Supplied | Pop Mart Here is a full list of Pop Mart stores in

Imagine going to a dinner party with Neil Perry, Peter Gilmore, Matt Moran and Christine Manfield. Not just that – picture being their sous chef for the day. That’s (kinda) a taster of what Australia’s most legendary business leaders will be doing at OzHarvest’s first nationwide CEO CookOff this October – all to raise funds to provide 2 million meals for people in need. Including Time Out's very own Managing Director, Kaylie Smith! Whether you’re familiar with OzHarvest or not, you’ve likely seen their sunny yellow vans collecting surplus food and delivering meals to communities across the country. As Australia’s leading food rescue organisation, their incredible team has delivered more than 300 million meals and saved almost 100,000 tonnes of food from landfill to date. Photograph: Nikki To Since its launch in 2012, OzHarvest’s flagship fundraising event, the CEO CookOff, has delivered 16 million meals of these meals to people in need. This year’s event is a major milestone, marking the first nationwide edition. Top chefs and industry leaders will unite at nine CookOffs across seven states, including at Three Blue Ducks in Sydney, which is where our very own Kaylie will be cooking on the evening of Monday, October 20. There will also be CookOffs going down at Perth City Farm, Brisbane Powerhouse, Matt Moran’s Compa in Canberra, and OzHarvest’s Melbourne HQ. The all-star culinary line-up features chefs Neil Perry AM, Peter Gilmore, Corey Costelloe, Andrew McConnell, Chris

Forget shopping sprees – instead of “things”, what Australians really love collecting these days is memories. For too long during the pandemic, we lost the freedom to go out and have experiences. No dining out, live music, beach days with friends. Cut to the end of lockdowns, and we’d basically lost a good couple of years’ worth of accumulating experiences (apart from baking sourdough and logging on for Zoom trivia). When everything opened back up again, we were like bulls at a gate – ready to charge back out into the world to pack our lives with experiences. From immersive art installations to secret supper clubs, wild swimming hole tours and sound baths, it’s no wonder the “experience economy” is booming.  As the cost of living bites, we might have expected this appetite to slow. Yet Australians are increasingly directing their disposable income towards events and activities that promise connection, novelty and memory-making. In fact, we’re spending nearly one in every five dollars on dining out and nightlife – well above the global average – according to Mastercard.  That suits us here at Time Out just fine – Time Out’s mission has always been to get people up off the couch and out experiencing the best of their cities. Getting out is good for communities, for local businesses, for your physical and mental health and relationships. RECOMMENDED: The ultimate Sydney experiences to have at least once before you die. Unlike generations before them, Gen Z won’t settle for just

Along with ocean dips, backyard barbies and Weis Bars, one of the real joys of summer* (*or "almost summer") is the return of Daylight Savings. (And yes, technically it’s daylight saving, but for some reason most of us seem to add an 's'). The great news is that those longer, light-filled evenings will be here in the blink of an eye – when you wake up tomorrow morning, our phone and computer clocks will have changed. Here’s a handy explainer covering what you need to know about Daylight Savings starting in NSW, and what it means for your precious sleep schedule. When does Daylight Savings start in NSW? Daylight savings begins every year on the first Sunday in October at 2am local time. This year, that date lands on Sunday, October 5 (tomorrow!). That means from Sunday night onwards, you’ll get to enjoy an extra hour of daylight in the evenings – perfect timing for NRL Grand Final night, too. It'll feel like the game is starting an hour earlier than it actually is. Do we lose or gain an hour when Daylight Savings starts in NSW? Unfortunately, this is the part that stings: when the clocks jump forward at 2am on October 5, we lose an hour of sleep as the time skips straight to 3am. It’s a small price to pay, though, for those gloriously long afternoons and sunset catch-ups that follow. Do I turn the clock back or forward for daylight savings in NSW? Your phone or computer will sort itself automatically, but if you’ve got an analogue clock on the wall or by your bed, you’ll need

Everyone loves a public holiday, but do you really know why NSW gets a long weekend in October? If the answer is no, you're not alone – a lot of New South Welshmen have no idea what Labour Day actually is. So whether you’re curious about why we have this day off, or you want to know what’s happening over the long weekend, read on. Here are all your FAQs, answered… When is the Labour Day NSW public holiday in 2025? Labour Day is a public holiday celebrated in NSW on the first Monday of October each year – meaning Labour Day will always give you a long weekend in October. This year, 2025, Labour Day falls on Monday, October 6.   What is NSW Labour Day? Why do we have an October long weekend? Labour Day NSW is a day dedicated to commemorating the Labour movement's long fight – and eventual victory – to get the eight-hour work day (that we've all benefitted from) over the line. It was a huge victory for workers at a time when “workers’ rights” were not a thing.  Yep, we might feel like we’ve got it tough at work now, and no work-life balance now – and yep, in some weeks the overtime does blow out. But once upon a time, the idea of work being capped at eight hours a day, five days a week didn't exist. In the 1800s, Australians often had no option but to work 14 hours a day, six days a week. There was no sick leave, no annual leave, and bosses could sack you at any time with no reason.  So how did workers eventually wrangle an eight-hour day? On April 21, 1856, stonemasons in Melbo

Didn’t get to summer in Venice? A delicious taste of Venice (via Melbourne) is coming to Sydney this summer, in the form of Venetian-style steak (and seafood) house Grill Americano. The opening date, Wednesday November 19, has just been announced.  The new restaurant will make its Sydney home in the heritage-listed Qantas House building, now known as No. 1 Chifley Square. Grill Americano will be the second Sydney restaurant for award-winning Melbourne restaurant group Lucas Collective (formerly known as the Lucas Group), which is headed up by Chris Lucas. They are also responsible for Sydney and Melbourne’s popular Chin Chin restaurants, as well as Maison Bâtard, Kisumé, Society, Yakimono, Carlotta and much more in Melbourne.   It’s been confirmed that Executive Chef Vincenzo Ursini will take charge of the kitchen in the new Sydney location – he’s helmed the Melbourne Grill Americano kitchen since mid-2024 and brings a wealth of experience from his time in Michelin-starred restaurants (including Italy’s Ristorante Reale and Le Calandre, and Spain’s Mugaritz). View this post on Instagram A post shared by Alice Ellis (@alicecellis) Ursini has worked closely with Lucas, as well as Lucas Collective's Head of Culinary Damian Snell, to craft a menu that brings the best of the Melbourne Grill Americano experience to Sydney (yes, 15 bistecca offerings, and cult-favourite tiramisù Americano served tableside, will be coming), while also debuting new offerings that l