Avril Treasure

What makes a great steak? Well, these days, the benchmark of a good steak is no longer tenderness alone. Now, restaurants are more concerned with flavour being at the forefront. Flavour derived from dry-ageing, exploration of lesser-known cuts, and of course, how and where the meat was raised. It’s not uncommon for chefs to swap their whites for farm gear in order to get to know their produce, as well as the land that it comes from.  More than anything, Sydney's great steakhouses are highlighting the old-world ritual of a steak dinner, elevating the craft from a quick sizzle and a bucket of peppercorns, to a practice of respect for both the diner, and the beast. From the prime ribs to the charcoal grilled and the extremely dry-aged, our writers, including Food & Drink Editor Avril Teasure, have picked out the best red meat Sydney has to offer. Clear your schedule, wear loose pants, and get stuck in. 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. Keen to read on? Here's what else you might like: Hungry for more? These are the best restaurants in Sydney right now Feel like a drink and snack? Get around the coolest wine bars in town here.

The warm weather is here and we’re now on the home stretch to the end of the year (sidebar: where did that time go?), and Sydney’s restaurant openings are showing no signs of slowing down. Thank god, because we’re hungry. Keen to make a booking at the hot new spot? You’ve come to the right place. Below, we’ve rounded up the best new restaurant openings in Sydney right now, curated by Time Out’s Food & Drink Editor and professional eater (and drinker) Avril Treasure. There’s Neil Perry’s beautiful and grand Cantonese diner, Song Bird, an Italian restaurant minutes from the beach in Cronulla called Pino's Vino e Cucina al Mare, the lave-hot Euro-leaning Attenzione Food & Wine and loads more. Dig in. 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.

What’s the secret recipe for crafting an exceptional dining experience? In coming up with Time Out’s list of the best restaurants in Australia we considered a mix of ingredients. Talented chefs? Stylish decor? Lively ambience? Top-notch drinks? And of course, food that you can’t stop thinking about for days, months, or even years. Luckily, Australia’s restaurant scene is sizzling with spots that check all these boxes, plus so much more. Our nation’s top restaurants are a celebration of Australia’s native ingredients too. From an intimate 40-seat dining room cut into the rolling hills of Tasmania’s countryside to a 30-year-old institution overlooking Sydney’s sparkling Bondi Beach, these are the restaurants Time Out Australia’s team, including resident foodie Melissa Woodley, recommends for your next culinary adventure. 🍹 The best bars in Australia⭐️ Australia's most luxurious hotels🥐 The best bakeries Down Under

Spring 2024 update: From matcha to fresh fruit juices, buttery scrambled eggs to ricotta hotcakes, Sydney’s food and drink AM scene is first-class. Plus, we’re home to some of the best cups of joe in the whole wide world. Below, we’ve rounded up the best cafés in Sydney, so you can start your morning on the right note, no matter how you woke up. Sydneysiders are café people. We're constantly on the hunt for the city's best coffee and we love nothing more than donning our finest sport-luxe activewear and catching up with mates on a weekend morning over eggs, fritters and crusty artisan sourdough. So, whether it's a reward for tackling one of Sydney's most beautiful walks, an indulgent hangover fix after a night at one of the city's best bars, or a workday coffee stop, these are the best Sydney cafés, according to our in-the-know Time Out Sydney writers, including Food & Drink Editor Avril Treasure. We'll have one B&E roll, please.  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. Is it lunch time? Check out our guide to Sydney's best restaurants right now.

Spring 2024 update: The warmer weather is here, so it’s time to ditch your jumper (and Netflix) and get outside for a coupla cold ones in a sunny beer garden with mates. From mid-week feeds to trivia nights and live music, Sydney’s best pubs are sure to set the stage for good times. Below, you’ll find the ones well worth their salt. 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 sunny 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 critics including Food & Drink Editor Avril Treasure. 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. 

Spring 2024 update: Let’s face it: life is expensive. But the good news is that you don’t need to stay home every night and survive on frozen pizza, thanks to our city’s incredible cheap eats. The best bit? Often they rival any dishes you would find in a fancy fine diner. We’ve rounded up the top places with prices that won’t burn a hole in your wallet, including our current faves Tan Viet Noodle House, Peranakan Place, Mami's and Spicy Joint. Because life’s too short to eat sh*t food. Going out for a meal is sometimes a big occasion, worth the splurge. But it doesn't have to be that way. From banh mi to tonkotsu ramen, biang biang noodles to vegan burgers, and pretty much everything else in between, some of Sydney's greatest culinary hits are the cheapest. Time Out Sydney critics and local food writers, including Food & Drink Editor Avril Treasure, have eaten their way around town to bring you this list, and while cheap isn't what it used to be, there are still lots of excellent affordable venues to check out. These are the ones well worth their salt. 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.

October 2024 update: Let the good (spring)times roll with Time Out’s guide to the very best boozers in town. Whether you’re looking for a sexy first-date bar, searching for a spot for a team knockoff, or heading out for a bender, you’ve come to the right place. This list represents our picks of the best bars in Sydney right now, from fresh faces to tried-and-tested temples of great drinks, ranked by our local editors, critics and fellow booze hounds including Time Out Sydney's Food & Drink 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.

September 2024 update: We’re not sure how it’s happened, but it’s September already, and hello, glorious warm weather. Sydney’s restaurant scene is looking shinier than ever, thanks to a slew of dynamite new diners and old faithfuls. Here, you’ll find the best of the best for whatever fun you've got coming up. 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 local editors, food writers and critics who have tasted their way through Sydney, including Time Out's Food & Drink 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. 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.

We are a city in love with coffee. And we’re damn good at it too, with our coffee beating Melbourne's and ranking third best in the world. Breakfast culture in Sydney goes pretty hard, to the point that your Sunday brunch plans likely need to involve reserving a seat. All that for a cup of coffee and some pancakes? For the brews on this list, it's worth it. Whether a pit stop on the way to work, or a reward for a long week, here’s our list of where to go for the best coffee in Sydney and what you’ll get. 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. In case you're after a good feed as well as the brew, head to one of these excellent Sydney cafés.

Cozzie livs is on everyone’s mind right now – it’s on ours, too. But as a champion for good times, great food and excellent drinks here in Sydneytown, we also don't want to stay indoors each evening. So, Time Out Sydney's critics, including Food & Drink Editor Avril Treasure, have done the hard yards and rounded up the very best happy hour deals here in Sydney, where you can snag a schooner for $6, yum snacks for $5 and cocktails for $10. It's fun you can feel good about. We say have a squiz, head out and we hope you have a happy time at these happy hours. We sure have. 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 more fun for less? Here's our guide to the best free things to do in Sydney, the best op shops, and (of course) Sydney's best cheap eats. Thirsty for more? Here are the best bars in Sydney right now.

If you want a fuss-free feed come rain or shine, nothing beats golden, crisp, flaky battered fish and a hearty serving of chips. But what makes a really excellent fish supper? It's the quality of the batter through to the cut of the chip, the potatoes used and even the seasonings and sauces – are you for ketchup, vinegar, chicken salt, tartare or simply a squeeze of lemon juice? And it comes down to how fresh the fish is, of course. There’s a lot that goes into getting it just right and a wide gulf between the catch of the day and yesterday's chip paper. So Time Out Sydney's critics, including Food & Drink Editor Avril Treasure, have scoured the city to put together a list of the best to help you net the perfect catch. Stay in the loop: sign up for our free Time Out Sydney newsletter for more news, food & drink inspo and activity ideas, straight to your inbox. RECOMMENDED: These are the best seafood restaurants in Sydney. Check out our guide to the top waterfront restaurants in Sydney.

While neighbouring Newtown has long gotten the props as a Sydney dining destination, Enmore has slowly and surely been building its own reputation for deliciousness. Whether you're after a bite before a gig at the Enmore, you're a longtime local looking a cheap and cheerful dinner, or you're from out of town and adding the 'burb to your dining hit list, there's a surprising bredth of options contained in a small area, from gussied-up pubs, to curry houses, neighbourhood fine dining and Lebanese snack bars. Here are the best restaurants in Enmore. 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 more? Check out our guide to Sydney's best restaurants Just feel like a drink? Check out our guide to Enmore's best bars  Looking for hotspots nearby? Here's our guide to Newtown's best restaurants

You’ll find Mixtape Brewing & Bar on Victoria Road, located in Marrickville’s brewery district. Just like a mixtape, the micro-brewery serves a bit of this and that with its 18 taps, featuring both Mixtape’s own brews and local favourites, with a focus on seasonal and fresh beer. There’s also a 40-strong wine list with natural drops and whisky from Japan, Scotland and Australia. With its brick walls and high ceiling, the light-filled space reminds us of our primary school hall, but lush hanging plants, neon signs and long tables with mates sinking cold ones bring it very much into the now. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Mixtape Brewing & Bar (@mixtapebrew) The on-site kitchen pumps out dishes like kimchi dumplings, pizzas and fish tacos. During the week, there’s plenty of fun to be had, including board games night, trivia, mid-week offers and wine and beer tastings. Plus, live music is kicking off this October. Opened in February 2022, Mixtape Brewing & Bar is part of the Inner West Ale Trail, a collective of 18 local breweries. Make sure to swing by next time you're in this hoppy neck of the woods. Stay in the loop: sign up for our free Time Out Sydney newsletter for more news, food & drink inspo and activity ideas, straight to your inbox. RECOMMENDED READS: These are the best breweries in Sydney right now. Get around our guide to the top bars in town here.

Sydney is home to many excellent French restaurants, and we’ve got another one for you. Bistro Grenier, a moody French bistro by the Odd Culture Group (they’re the team behind the purple-hued late-night den Pleasure Club, Time Out favourite The Old Fitz, and live-music haven The Duke), is now open – and it’s got je ne sais quoi in spades (baguettes?). The mezzanine level above King Street's Odd Culture has been transformed into the sexy bistro, complete with flickering candles, white tablecloths, wooden panelling and monochrome artworks. Called Bistro Grenier – meaning ‘attic’ or ‘grain store’ in French – the 92-seat space is the ideal spot for an after-work vino or romantic rendezvous. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Bistro Grenier (@bistrogrenier) James Macdonald, Odd Culture’s group executive chef (and former chef of Hubert), is overseeing the menu, which serves the classics with the group’s signature funky flair. You could start with a plate of crisp rainbow crudités served with a herby cheese for double-dipping as you please. And you should probably order the pissaladière, which features buttery buckwheat puff pastry crowned with sweet onion confit and salty black olives. Steak tartare alongside the usual suspects is on the menu, as is black pudding with potato and apple. Steak, fries, and pepper sauce; market-fresh fish with fennel, olive and lemon butter; a half-roast chook with eschalot and confit garlic; and a pork cutlet with p

Love beer but can’t get to Germany this month? Same. On Saturday, October 12, chuck on your lederhosen and head to Brookvale on Sydney’s Northern Beaches for Brooktoberfest, a one-day beer-fuelled festival. Prost! View this post on Instagram A post shared by Brookie Collective (@brookiecollective) Spearheaded by local group Brookie Collective, Brooktoberfest will bring together some of Brookie’s best breweries and distilleries including Freshwater Brewing, 7th Day Brewery, Bucketty's, Dad & Daves, Manly Spirits and Goodradigbee for the Oktoberfest-inspired shindig. On the day, you and your mates will go on a pub crawl throughout the 2100 postcode, drinking cracking local beers, enjoying yum food and playing fun games (we’re told beer pong is on the cards). Tickets to Brooktoberfest cost $75 per person and include a German-style beer at every brewery, afternoon snacks and prizes (for best dressed, so go all out). "We're excited to bring Brooktoberfest to Brookvale," said Hannah Brecknell, chair at Brookie Collective. "This event is a celebration of our local breweries and the vibrant community that surrounds them. We invite everyone to come out and enjoy a day of great beer, good food, and live entertainment." You can get a ticket 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 READS: These are the best breweries in Sydney right n

In terms of breakfast heartthrobs, porridge isn’t usually at the top. Ripper big breakfasts, yes; fluffy ricotta hotcakes, probably; avo on toast, for sure. But not oats. Though that’s about to change, thanks to the rich and nourishing porridge at Superfreak, a new café now open in Marrickville. Think: oat, rye and buckwheat porridge sweetened with brown sugar, balanced with tart poached rhubarb, and topped with a knob of melted butter. Word on the street is that it's the best damn porridge you’ll ever taste. Superfreak comes from Michael Ico and Daniel Harrison, who are part of the team behind Newtown’s Soulmate and Petersham’s Splash. The guys have collaborated with Michaela Johansson, the founder of dreamy events and catering company Aplenty, to create a menu featuring big brekkie plates, bright, zippy salads, and lots of treats. Enjoy your breakfast or lunch in the 30-seat space, or get it takeaway and eat in the sunshine at Enmore Park across the road. As well as the porridge, other menu highlights include an English muffin with jammy eggs, Comté cheese, mayo, coriander and shallot; fresh salads the colour of the rainbow; and a brekkie plate made up of jammy eggs, Comté, radish, pickled veg, whipped butter, strawberry jam and Danish rye. Super hungry? Go for their take on the meatball sub, loaded with Emilio's Butcher pork and fennel meatballs, chard, garlic aioli and bread and butter pickles on Fabbrica’s focaccia. Drinks-wise, Single O is supplying the beans, and ther

Making award-winning gin wasn’t Philip Moore’s first gig. Born with a green thumb and an innate love for nature, Moore founded Australia’s largest wholesale herb nursery, successfully running it for 20 years. After selling the business, he pondered how he could combine his two biggest loves: growing plants and drinking booze. In 2007, he started making gin using botanicals he’d grown – things like coriander, lemon verbena, makrut lime, blood orange and ginger. View this post on Instagram A post shared by avriltreasure (@avriltreasure) In the first year alone, Moore did 250 trials to get it right. And right he did, with Distillery Botanica becoming the first Aussie distillery to win Herb Liqueur of the Year in Germany, taking home gold medals in London and San Francisco for the Mr Black Cold Brew Coffee Liqueur, and becoming the first Australian distillery to win a gold medal for Moore’s Dry Gin at the International Wine and Spirit Competition in London – basically the world’s most important gin and spirits show. What’s this to you? Well, if you’re partial to a thirst-quenching G&T on a balmy summer’s afternoon (it’s me, hi), Distillery Botanica is open to the public – and a visit to this gin paradise, located on the Central Coast, is well worth your time. Set on three acres of lush, tropical gardens all tended to by Moore himself, the award-winning distillery is like a gin oasis. And as it’s just over an hour’s drive from Sydney, it’s a fun and doabl

The Shire is heating up just in time for summer with the opening of Benny’s, a relaxed waterfront restaurant overlooking Gunnamatta Bay, joining recent arrivals like Pino's Vino e Cucina al Mare and Bobbys. RJ Lines, the former chef of Summer Hill’s now-closed, award-winning restaurant One Penny Red, is behind the Mediterranean-and-Australian-inspired menu. Lines is focused on letting the fresh produce shine, promising straightforward, delicious dishes that keep people coming back. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Benny’s (@bennyscronulla) Standouts on the opening menu include corn ribs with curry leaf butter and grilled lime; bluefin tuna carpaccio with pickled eschalots, capers and chives; QLD barramundi with clams and cherry tomatoes baked in a bag; panko-crumbed whole eggplant schnitty with shredded cabbage salad; and fresh rigatoni with beef ragu, parmesan and basil. If you’re visiting around sunset, kick off with Sydney rock oysters paired with a light, refreshing, and fruit-forward cocktail by Neilson Braid, the Australian Gin Champion of the Year. Channel holiday vibes with a Bubbles at the Bay featuring gin, mandarin syrup, lemon, mint and prosecco. Or try the Bayside Lychee Bliss, made with vodka, lychee liqueur and fresh lemon. Benny’s believes there’s always room for dessert, and the coastal spot makes a strong case with treats like coconut panna cotta with young coconut jelly and passionfruit granita, and Benny’s doughnut wi

The Mona, a Northern Beaches icon formerly known as The Old Rex Hotel, is reopening next month with a surf-inspired look, a revamped beer garden and new playground. Plus, you'll also find Ben’s Bakery Café, a bakery and pizzeria knocking out deli sambos and wood-fired pizzas – so your post-surf coffee and feed is covered. The historic pub, which first opened its doors as The Old Rex Hotel in 1925, before transforming into The Mona in the ’80s and later into The Park House, is returning to its roots under Northern Beaches-born-and-bred Ben Hanson’s ownership. If the name sounds familiar, Hanson is the nephew of well-known publican Arthur Laundy – so it’s fair to say a passion for great pubs and cold beers runs in the family. “For me, the biggest thing is bringing back The Mona and Ben’s Bakery Café. I want the pub to have that local, relaxed feel again. Both venues have been institutions on the beaches,” said Hanson. "I want The Mona to be recognised as a terrific, family-friendly, fun, and inclusive venue for people of all ages. We aim to create something that will be enjoyed within the community for years to come, whether by sporting groups or locals alike." Sydneysiders, surfers and families are all welcome to check out the new Mona from Friday, October 4 – with the opening weekend featuring a stacked line-up, including free gigs from The Beautiful Girls, live DJs, sausage-dog races (cute) and more. The sun-soaked outdoor space features a mural of Simon Anderson surfing at

The Cut Bar & Grill, a subterranean steakhouse and wood-fired grill in The Rocks, has reopened with a fresh look and menu. Sydney hospitality group Hunter Street Hospitality – the team behind the award-winning Rockpool Bar & Grill, Sake and Spice Temple, among others – has swung open the historic doors of The Cut Bar & Grill, which has been closed for the past four years. Located on Argyle Street, the heritage-listed underground space features a smart dining room with wooden and forest-green booth seating and large marble tables. There’s also a bar, perfect for an after-work snack and a The Cut’s Gibson (made with house-made Gibson mignonette and Oyster Shell Gin, served with a Sydney rock oyster) or an end-of-night Negroni. Top chefs from Hunter Street Hospitality have collaborated to create The Cut’s opening menu, including Santiago Aristizabal (Rockpool Bar & Grill), Shimpei Hatanaka (Saké Restaurant and Bar) and Andy Evans (Spice Temple), with Johnny Murphy from Rockpool Bar & Grill Melbourne leading the kitchen as head chef. Expect New York steakhouse classics on the menu, along with quality produce cooked over wood fire and, of course, top-notch steak. The Cut’s signature slow-cooked prime rib – sliced and served tableside – remains on the menu, alongside new additions. Highlights include devilled eggs with caviar, beef empanadas with The Cut’s hot sauce, and roasted scallops with kombu butter. Larger dishes feature John Dory with romesco sauce, Milly Hill lamb cutlets,

The heritage-listed former post office, previously home to One Penny Red in Summer Hill, has transformed into a charming Italian diner with chef Alessandro Pavoni of Ormeggio, A’Mare, and Chiosco leading the kitchen. He’s joined by his business-and-life-partner, Anna Pavoni, and co-owner Bill Drakopoulos. Called Postino Osteria (it's a play on words: "Postino" means both ‘postman’ and ‘small but cosy place’ in Italian), the restaurant is inspired by the simple and traditional trattorias found all over Italy. The team wants it to be a spot where locals can drop in for a bowl of pasta, a glass of wine after work, and where the staff know your favourite aperitivo by heart. Here, you can expect a casual and affordable dining experience (including a five-course set menu for $79 per person) with well-executed, delicious snacks, larger plates and traditional Italian dishes, backed up by excellent cocktails, a strong wine list, and warm service led by Gianluca Esposto. Flavours will take diners from Piedmont to Sicily, with many dishes influenced by the northern Italian region of Lombardy, where Pavoni is from. Opening menu highlights include stracciatella with Cantabrian Sea anchovies and sundried tomatoes; fava bean purée with Pugliese-style chicory ripassata, Tuscan pecorino and Calabrian chilli; slow-cooked Blackmore Wagyu tonnato with tuna mayonnaise, pine nuts and capers (a similar dish at Chiosco lives rent-free in my mind); and house-made egg spaghetti with tiny meatballs, Ab

Gladesville welcomed Village Days Brewing Co in 2023, and the head brewer is a traditionally trained German Brewmaster – so know that your frothy beers are legit. Founded by experienced homebrewer and beer lover Dan Smith, Village Days Brewing Co aims to bring together Ryde locals for fresh, local beer and fun times. “Our beers are inspired by the rich history of our area and bring together the best ingredients from around the world, alongside a relentless focus on quality,” says Smith. Bring your village and come knock back a coupla cold ones. Prost! Stay in the loop: sign up for our free Time Out Sydney newsletter for more news, food & drink inspo and activity ideas, straight to your inbox. RECOMMENDED READS: Crack a cold one at the best breweries in Sydney here. Want more? Check out our guide to the best bars in town here.

Spending a day in Cabramatta, located in Sydney’s south-west, is like walking around Vietnam’s bustling streets (minus the humidity). You’ll see elderly ladies hawking their lush, home-grown veggies along John Street, stalls selling fresh seafood just like at the wet markets, and excellent Vietnamese eateries dotted throughout. There’s also a ‘Hot Bread’ sign almost everywhere you look, meaning you are firmly in banh mi territory. If you’re only going to hit up one, make it Viet Hoa Hot Bread, a Cabramatta institution that has been knocking out authentic banh mi for more than three decades. The standout here is the bread roll, with a crusty, crunchy exterior and a light, airy interior. It’s complemented by cold cuts, bright pickled carrots, smooth pâté, and fresh chilli and coriander. Bonus point that Viet Hoa is open 24/7. Time Out tip: the roasted pork roll is only available after 6pm if you’re after more crunch. Stay in the loop: sign up for our free Time Out Sydney newsletter for more news, food & drink inspo and activity ideas, straight to your inbox. RECOMMENDED READS: In the area? This Cabramatta eatery serves big bowls of bouncy noodles and seriously good crispy-skinned chicken. Want more? Check out our guide to the best banh mi in Sydney here.

Song Bird, Neil Perry’s latest and said to be his last restaurant, is now open in Double Bay. The 240-seat, three-storey restaurant is housed within the mid-century, heritage-listed Gaden House, and is an ode to Perry’s lifelong love for Cantonese cuisine. Perry, who won the Icon Award at this year’s World's 50 Best Restaurants ceremony, says to think of it like a Chinese version of Margaret, his nearby flagship fine diner. Smart cocktail bar Bobbie’s – a collaboration with Neil and Samantha Perry’s long-time friends, Linden Pride and Nathalie Hudson (of Dante fame, in New York City and Los Angeles) – is also now open in the basement of Song Bird. Your pre- and post-dinner drinks are sorted. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Song Bird Double Bay (@songbirddoublebay) You’ll find Perry’s greatest hits in Song Bird’s menu, which features more than 70 dishes. To execute this, Perry has brought over Mark Lee from Margaret to help run the kitchen. Menu highlights include plump Spencer Gulf king prawn dumplings with black vinegar and chilli; steamed coral trout with ginger and shallot; Peking duck with hoisin sauce, condiments and mandarin pancakes; and crisp fried whole Sun Farm chicken with Sichuan salt, pepper and lemon. Like all Perry’s restaurants, quality produce is key at Song Bird. The 250-strong wine list heroes Aussie drops, with a strong focus on chardonnay and pinot noir, as well as bigger names from Europe alongside smaller produce

The Inner West Ale Trail, a collective of 18 local breweries spanning six of Sydney’s coolest suburbs – Marrickville, Enmore, Newtown, St Peters, Rozelle and Camperdown – has officially launched, with Prime Minister Anthony Albanese there to celebrate the milestone. Brewers from Chuck & Sons, Philter, Wayward, Young Henrys, Hawke's, Wildflower, Willie the Boatman and more, alongside beer lovers (including Time Out) and government officials, gathered at Mixtape Brewing & Bar on Thursday, October 3, to raise a pint to the initiative, which brings together indie breweries celebrating community, vibrancy and the importance of supporting local businesses. To mark the launch, Sydneysiders can now enjoy two-for-one beers at all Inner West breweries (just register here) – and we’ll cheers to that.  Photograph: Supplied/Young Henrys The PM, who grew up in council housing in Sydney’s Inner West, spoke of his love for local breweries and their role in building community. “Breweries create community, they create joy, and they’re fantastic places to engage,” he said. While acknowledging the challenges the community faces, he added that things are on an upward trajectory and that “fun is back in Sydney.”  Photograph: Avril Treasure for Time Out Sydney With ambitions to be recognised as the craft beer capital of Australia, the Inner West Ale Trail features more than 320 beers brewed on-site, alongside 15 restaurants and food trucks, plus more than 60 fun events and live gigs happening e

The Point Group, the team behind Sydney’s award-winning Shell House, The Dolphin Hotel and Hotel Harry, among others, is set to open a multi-level venue in the CBD this November called The International. Located in Martin Place, within the heritage-listed MLC Centre in the former Botswana Butchery site, The International will feature three distinct venues: a luxe, fire-driven grill with a go-hard-or-go-home energy; an impressive wine bar featuring the best drops from around the world; and a lush rooftop bar with cityscape views. Photograph: Jonny Valiant The Point Group’s owner and restaurateur Brett Robinson says The International is set to establish a new standard of big city dining, one not defined by cuisine, with the team having total creative freedom. Giddy up. Photograph: Supplied/The International And while the three venues will each have their own identity, Robinson says the brief for the food is the same: “If it’s fun, delicious, and exciting, it’s on the menu.” First up is The Grill, an opulent indoor-outdoor restaurant where icy Martinis and Champagne will be paired with fresh seafood, vibrant produce and high-quality proteins enhanced by wood-fired and charcoal grills. The Point’s culinary director, Joel Bickford (former executive chef of Aria), will oversee the menu, with a strong focus on provenance and seasonality. Photograph: Supplied/The International At The Wine Bar, don’t expect run-of-the-mill vino. Instead, come for an extensive by-the-glass wine l

Ready for some exceptional news? Tripadvisor has just released its yearly list of the country’s best restaurants as voted by you, and one New South Wales restaurant has claimed the title of the best fine dining restaurant in Australia. EXP, a modern fine diner in Pokolbin, Hunter Valley, topped this year’s awards, beating tropical haven Melaleuca in Port Douglas, which came in second place. Wine country got another nod with The Gates Restaurant, also in Pokolbin, taking third place. Fourth place went to Maxwell Restaurant in South Australia’s McLaren Vale, followed by Windy Point Restaurant, also in South Australia. View this post on Instagram A post shared by avriltreasure (@avriltreasure) I’ve been lucky enough to visit EXP twice, and can say that dining here is an extraordinary experience, and well worth your next road trip. Michelin-trained chef-owner Frank Fawkner’s cooking is as exciting and boundary-pushing as it is nostalgic and comforting. The moody, charcoal-toned dining room sets the stage for a meal that celebrates the spirit of the Hunter Valley with farm-fresh produce paired with local wines. Time Out tip: sit at the chef’s table and watch the team work – it’s a memory that’s sure to stay with you long after you drive past the green pastures on your way home. The Travellers’ Choice Awards Best of the Best title recognises the top restaurants and experiences in Australia and around the world. Tripadvisor analyses its user-gen

From the mandatory road-trip meat pie topped with a squiggle of tomato sauce to the late-night pie after one too many, our love for meat pies runs as deep as the Pacific Ocean. In fact, in 2003, NSW Premier Bob Carr called it "our national dish," and sorry, pavlova and fish and chips, but we agree. But who makes the best pies in Oz? Australia’s most delicious pies and sausage rolls have just been decided at the Official Great Aussie Pie Competition, now in its 35th year, with our humble state scoring Big. Heads up: this may make you hungry. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Forster Bakehouse (@forsterbakehouse) Taking home the gold for the best Plain Meat Pie was Victoria’s Buddy Bakery, located in Melton, with their chunky pie. We’re not trying to be sore losers, but it’s a bit plain Jane for us. In more exciting news, Forster Bakehouse in NSW took home two gold medals: best Slow-Cooked BBQ Pie with their Carolina BBQ brisket pie, and Best Vegetarian/Vegan Pie with their cauliflower and cashew mornay pie. Owned and operated by third generation baker and pie maker Daryl Lisle and wife Lamy, Forster Bakehouse makes their pies from scratch, winning brownie (apple pie?) points for their golden, buttery and flaky pastry and generous, flavoursome fillings. Gluten-intolerant friends will be chuffed to hear Heatherbrae's Pies, located in Heatherbrae, Ourimbah and Sutton Forest, took home the award for the country’s best Gluten-Free Pie wi

It looks like it’s burger o’clock with the news that The Gidley's burger – one of Time Out Sydney’s best, found at the Mad Men-esque underground steakhouse – has been crowned one of the Top 10 Burgers in the world by the World’s 101 Best Steak Restaurants. Coming in at ninth place – and as the only Aussie burger to make the juicy list – The Gidley's burger is served on a milk bun and features a double beef patty sourced from Liquid & Larder’s in-house butchery at Alfie’s, alongside sharp cheddar cheese, zippy pickles, and a tangy secret sauce. It’s rich, delicious, and you won’t want to share. You can throw caution to the wind and add bacon and a fried egg if you wish – but we reckon it’s perfect as is. Photograph: Christopher Pearce Taking the top saucy spot was London’s Salt Shed burger, followed by Copenhagen’s Gasoline Grill, London’s Bleecker Burger, and Valencia’s Hundred Burgers. Since the award is from the World’s 101 Best Steak Restaurants, no seafood or mushroom burgers made the list. Our condolences to all the ripper fish numbers out there – your time will come. View this post on Instagram A post shared by avriltreasure (@avriltreasure) In the meantime, it’s time to be reacquainted with Australia’s best burger. Time Out tip: You can also get The Gidley’s famous burger at The Rover. Check out the full list of winners here. (DW – we're hungry now too.) Stay in the loop: sign up for our free Time Out Sydney newsletter for more food and drink new

Sydney is set to welcome a seriously impressive new dining and lifestyle precinct called Wunderlich Lane, located on the border of Redfern and Surry Hills, later this year. Developed by the TOGA Group, the larger-than-life precinct is opening in stages this spring and is slated for completion by the end of 2024, bringing together some of Sydney’s finest hospitality, beauty, hotel and retail purveyors. When we say seriously impressive, we’re not exaggerating – this is the most excited we’ve been since the new Sydney Metro, Sydney WorldPride and the FIFA Women's World Cup. Strap in, because the list of operators opening at Wunderlich Lane has just been announced (with more to come) – and it’s a doozy. First up is the opening of a new 102-room boutique hotel complete with a lush 20-metre pool – called The Eve – from TFE Hotels. If that name rings a bell, they’re the same operators as Brisbane's The Calile, so yes, we’re Very Excited. Handling the food and drink at The Eve is the Liquid & Larder crew, the legends behind Bistecca, The Gidley, The Rover and Alfie’s. We know a rooftop bar and restaurant, poolside dining and lobby dining space is in the works. Photograph: Supplied | The EVE Sydneysiders can soon get a taste of Greece with Olympus, a 200-seat Greek restaurant from the Apollo Group, the team behind Sydney favourites Cho Cho San and The Apollo. Taking inspiration from the food from the mountains with an Athenian touch, Olympus will be a focal point of Wunderlich Lane,

Is there anything more Aussie than a barbecue with your mates in the summertime? Picture: a coupla of XXXX Golds, a charred snag wrapped in fluffy white bread, and the great outdoors. Thanks to our warm weather and months of sunshine – not to mention our lush parks and pristine beaches – Australia is made for alfresco entertainment (just watch out for bindis). Now, the best places for outdoor cooking and dining in the country have been revealed, with the top spot going to the NSW town of Wagga Wagga. Just under a five-hour drive from Sydney and known for its leafy green parklands and idyllic Murrumbidgee River, Wagga Wagga enjoys more than 50 per cent sunshine throughout the day and a massive 13 hours of sunlight during the summer months, making it a prime spot for fresh-air shenanigans. The study, conducted by outdoor pizza oven brand Gozney, looked at Australia’s 40 most populated locations and analysed a bunch of factors, including the average daily temperature, the days of rainfall, total daylight hours, and of those daylight hours, how many of them are actually sunny. They used this to determine the top outdoor dining destinations, with second place going to Perth. On average, WA’s capital has just one day of rain per month in the summertime, making it a top-notch place for fun in the sun. Victoria also got a nod, with Shepparton taking home third place. Located on the Goulburn River, the regional city boasts gorgeous sunny and warm days – just be sure to Slip, Slop, Sla

Located on level four of the country’s home of modern art, Sydney’s MCA Cafe has long been a go-to spot for locals and visitors alike for a coffee and slice of cake with a side of multi-million-dollar harbour-and-Opera-House views. Now, it’s been announced the relaxed and sunny café will transform into fine diner Canvas, with seasonal chef residences planned to showcase up-and-coming chefs as well as Big Name international stars looking to dip their toe into Sydney’s delicious waters. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Museum of Contemporary Art Australia (@mca_australia) It’s the first foray into Sydney for The Big Group, a Melbourne-based events and catering company, who has teamed up with the MCA for the launch of Canvas. The Big Group – which works on events like the Grand Prix, Melbourne Cup and the Australian Open – has already reimagined the ground-floor cafe, The MCA Cafe at Tallawoladah, which is open now featuring a sustainable menu, as well as its event spaces: The Quayside Room and Harbourside Room. The sky-high Canvas is slated to open this October, with the inaugural menu created by former Tetsuya's chef, Josh Raine. And while we are not fully sure what to expect, taking cues from the name we can assume the team is keen to have fun and shake things up. The Big Group’s Founder Bruce Keebaugh said: “The Big Group is committed to growing the art of Australian hospitality. We believe that great venues and brilliant events can transform

If you reckon swapping a Saturday night out on the town for a Netflix and UberEats sesh is saving you money, prepare to be shocked. A soon-to-be-released report by Tyro Payments (the nifty team behind payment systems for small businesses) shows that one in five Aussies say it costs them an average of $91 every week to stay in. Yep, maybe it is worth popping out for a cheeky drink after all. So what are people spending their hard-earned cash on? That'd be multiple streaming services, takeaway, booze, heating and electricity bills. Not to mention the cost of filling the fridge. (And with Melbourne’s top restaurants, bars and pubs offering fab happy hour deals, there's truly never been a better time to eat out.) Interestingly, Tyro's data also shows that cost-of-living pressures haven’t impacted Melburnians' spending at restaurants and cafés – diners are still spending about the same on average per visit at restaurants, with $33.50 in the 2023/24 financial year, compared to $32.76 in 2022/23. In Sydney, it’s much the same, with the average spend per restaurant visit currently around $32.28, compared to $31.62 in 2022/23. Tyro’s hospitality report also reveals that one in three Aussies are willing to pay more for a meal due to increased costs for business owners. Tyro’s head of partnerships, Tyrone Ho, said Tyro’s data highlights that it's not much more expensive to turn off the power at home and hit up your favourite local pub or Thai restaurant. “Electricity, home delivery, a b

Twenty years. If you know a thing or two about the hospitality industry, you’ll know that it’s a heck of a long time for a restaurant to stay open, and more so, for it to be as successful as ocean-sprayed beachfront spot, Pilu. The fine diner, owned by chef Giovanni Pilu and his wife Marilyn, is renowned for putting a spotlight on the food from Giovanni’s homeland, Sardinia, as well as regional Italian cuisine, served in a heritage-listed weatherboard house right on Freshwater Beach. If you think that sounds like a good time, you’d be right. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Pilu at Freshwater (@pilurestaurant) The views at Pilu are exceptional, of course. But that’s not the reason why Giovanni believes they have been able to reach this milestone. The first reason, he says, are their loyal customers, who have become like family. From birthdays to anniversaries, weddings to, well, "second weddings", laughs Giovanni, as he shares that their guests have chosen to mark life’s many special occasions at Pilu, and their loyalty and support is why he believes they’re still here. The second reason why Pilu has succeeded, he reckons, is because of their talented, passionate and rock-solid team, which encompasses everyone from Pilu’s fresh produce suppliers – who Giovanni can text at 2am and get a response from – to the front and back of house, plumbers, electricians, chefs and more. We also have a suspicion that Giovanni’s brilliant cooking, as

Look, I’m not married, but I’ve heard the stories: budget blowouts, crazed wedding planners, boozed-up MCs, guest-list politics – you name it. But what if you could have all the fun, the hot wedding pics, still say “I do” with your best mate, and forget all the BS? That’s the idea behind ShotGin Weddings, the creation of leading marriage celebrant Adam Seeney and top-notch wedding photographer Dane Tucker, who have teamed up to offer a seriously cool and unorthodox wedding experience. And the good news is you won’t need a wedding planner.   Photograph: Dane Tucker   Think: a Marrickville gin distillery transformed into a Vegas-cum-Baz Luhrmann-style wedding chapel, complete with red velvet curtains, beautiful florals and candles, cocktails on arrival, your very own personalised ceremony with a marriage celebrant and ten of your best mates, and professional wedding photos. Oh, and a shot of gin for everyone. The whole ceremony and mini celebration will be done in an hour, and then you can head to lunch with your wedding party, hit the breweries, or start your honeymoon. Your very own ShotGin Wedding won’t cost you an arm and a leg. It’s smaller and more intimate (meaning you won’t have to invite your third, twice-removed, step cousins). And it’s likely more fun. Together, the duo – who combined have more than 700 nuptials under their cupid-laced belts – are offering their inaugural ShotGin Weddings to six couples on Sunday, November 17, at Unexpected Guest Distillery. Bookin

Think you’re saving money by not heading out in Sydney? Maybe not as much as you think. We got a sneak peek at a soon-to-be-released report by Tyro Payments (the nifty team behind payment systems for small businesses), and it shows that one in five Aussies say it costs them an average of $91 every week to stay in. What are people spending their hard-earned cash on? That'd be multiple streaming services, takeaway, booze, heating and electricity bills. Not to mention the cost of filling the fridge. (And with Sydney’s coolest restaurants, bars and pubs offering happy hours, mid-week deals and affordable steaks, we reckon a schnitty and a schooner at your local have never looked better.) Photograph: Angus Bell Young Interestingly, Tyro's data also shows that cost-of-living pressures haven’t impacted Sydneysiders’ spending at restaurants and cafes – diners are still spending about the same on average per visit at restaurants, with $32.28 (2023/24 financial year) compared to $31.62 in the previous financial year (2022/23). In Melbourne, it’s much the same, with the average spend per restaurant visit currently around $33.50, compared to $32.76 in 2022/23. Tyro’s hospitality report also reveals that one in three Aussies are willing to pay more for a meal due to increased costs for business owners. Tyro’s head of partnerships, Tyrone Ho, said Tyro’s data highlights that it's not much more expensive to turn off the power at home and hit up your favourite local pub or Thai restaurant