Jordi Kretchmer

Sandwiches? Well, they're the best thing to come out of slicing bread. Here, the criteria is pretty simple: very good things in between two very good slices of well-sliced bread. No burgers, bagels, scrolls and banh mi (they’re a league of their own). No half-hearted strings of romaine here, no siree. I'm pretty passionate about sandwiches and spend my weekends hunting down my next crush. Below, you’ll find the most delicious sambos in town, from rainbow salad sandwiches to monster Reubens and classic chicken numbers. 'Wich on, friends. 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 budget food? Here are the best cheap eats in Sydney right now. Heading our later? Check out our ultimate guide to the best restaurants in Sydney.

Are you more a glamper than a camper? If you prefer seeing the great outdoors from a luxury tent complete with bubble baths and fresh French linen, let this list serve as your bible. Our Sydney team – including culture-fiend Alannah Le Cross – have tried and tested the best glamping sites in and around Sydney; from a safari tent at Taronga Zoo's Roar and Snore to the luxe spherical confines of Bubbletent Australia.Each one of these glamping spots have been assessed by our editors based on their luxury, nature immersion and all-round wow factor. Add them to your 2025 holiday wish list for when you want to escape the urban hustle without losing the creature comforts. Your back will thank you.  Looking for more travel inspo? Check out the best Sydney camping spots and our top Sydney staycations, and then think about getting there with the best caravans and campervans to hire in NSW. 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.

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

Autumn 2025 update: Not sure where the start of the year went? Same. Embrace the cooler weather with brekkie and a hot coffee at one of our fave Sydney cafés. My current picks include a delightful new spot from the Ursula’s Paddington team called Cafe Cressida, Manly’s go-to Noon, and the Euro-style Ken's Continental in Potts Point. 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.

Autumn 2025 update: Life in Sydney is fun and fabulous, but it can also be expensive. The good news is you can dine out affordably if you know where to look. Keep this guide handy next time your friends suggest a catch-up. As for me, I’ll be hitting up old-school Italian spot Bill & Toni's, Emma’s Snack Bar (found in my new ’hood, Enmore), and for banging tacos, I’m heading to Mami’s in Bondi. 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's 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.

No two ways about it, Sydney's wine bar scene is flourishing. Full to the brim. Spilling over. A decade ago, there were only a handful of wine bars. Now? They're all over town. And we're here to happily drink them up. What's more, these slick haunts are also some of the best spots in Sydney to grab a nice dinner with friends.  It makes no difference whether you're a novice or an expert, fancy something natural or classic, old world or new, or whether you want to spend moderately or extravagantly, Time Out Sydney's writers, including Food & Drink Editor Avril Treasure, have curated this list for every palate, at every price point. Bottoms up. 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. Can't get enough of that boozy stuff? Check out the absolute best bars in Sydney here.

Sometimes you just want to exchange your everyday for an alternate reality where plush robes come hand-laundered to your door and birds trill on command. While we can't promise the latter, we have rounded up some of the most luxurious hotels in NSW for you to escape the rigours of modern life with on a truly indulgent vacay. Whether travelling in style is your usual MO, or you're picking out a spot for a special occasion, these are hotel rooms that'll make you feel like you've wandered out of normality and into a Baz Luhrmann film. Think obscene square footage, uninhibited ocean views, and bountiful hampers of fresh, local delicacies waiting in your room. Money can't buy you happiness, but it can get you a claw-footed bathtub for a night – and the difference there is semantics, really, isn't it? Here are the best luxury hotels in New South Wales that will give you the five-star treatment you've always known you deserve. RECOMMENDED: The best hotels in Sydney.

Whether it’s a simple spaghetti with garlic, oil and chilli, ravioli stuffed to the high heavens, or lovingly layered lasagne, few foods give us the feels quite like pasta. Let’s be real – Sydney’s Italian restaurant game is seriously strong on all fronts, but when the hour calls for carbs, these are the spots that turn flour, eggs and water into small miracles. Time out Sydney's food writers and pasta lovers – including Food & Drink Editor Avril Treasure – have smashed their fair share of pasta in town, and here are our favourites. 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. Need an aperitivo before you chow down? Knock back a cocktail at one of the best bars in Sydney. After a slice of two? Here are the best pizza joints in Sydney.

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

It's common knowledge that Manly locals are reluctant to leave the 'insular peninsula’ on which they live. I know it because I was one of them. One day spent there – swimming in the clear blue waters, kayaking to nearby coves, strolling over to Shelly Beach and surfing the waves – and you’ll see why. But it’s not just the beautiful beaches that Manly has going for it. Over the last decade, the gorgeous seaside 'burb has welcomed excellent restaurants – from kitsch Italian joints to luxe Cantonese diners and fresh salad bars – a boon for Manly locals and visitors. Don't live on the beaches? No worries. Bring your swimmers and catch the idyllic Manly Ferry over to check them out for yourself. Here’s our guide to the best places to eat in Manly, curated by Time Out Sydney's local food writers, including myself. 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 Sydney's best beaches for sun, sea and surf. Check out our guide to the best waterfront restaurants in Sydney. Have a look at our list of the best easy day hikes near Sydney.

We might be a little biased, but in our humble opinion, Sydney's got it all. Can you think of many other cities in the world that rival its natural beauty, rich heritage and history that dates back thousands of years, and its creative, culinary and cultural offerings by world-class pros. In fact, there's so much to see, do, sip and ponder here, you could be forgiven for feeling a little overwhelmed. Worry not, dear reader – we're making it simple for you. Our team (including Food & Drink Editor Avril Treasure and our Sydney Editor Alice Ellis) sifted through every good time the Big Smoke has to offer and put together a Sydney bucket list for the ages. The activities we've chosen will give you a super varied experience of the city – everything from the tourist attractions that are actually worth your time to secret swimming spots that locals know and love.Whether you're a new arrival or a born-and-bred local, this 2025 Time Out Sydney round-up of the city's must-do activities will help you experience Sydney from every angle. After all those great activities you're bound to be thirsty. We suggest you head to one of the best pubs in Sydney right now.  Need somewhere to stay? Check in to one of Sydney's best hotels or Airbnbs. 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.

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.

Taking up residence on Campbell Parade just metres back from one of the world’s most famous beaches, QT Bondi feels more like a hip apartment complex than a stock-standard hotel. Arriving at the small, creatively-designed lobby, you’ll be greeted by neon signs, photography-plastered walls and a single, helpful receptionist. The entrance isn’t grand, but the buzz of the neighbourhood does the welcoming in a different way – it’s understated and quietly cool, the way we’d all like to imagine we’d be if we lived in a beachside Bondi abode. Upstairs there are colourful interiors, with boldly patterned carpets and bright yellow, blue-and-green doors. Behind these you’ll find a long, rectangular room, kitted out with a gloriously spacious bathroom, decent-sized kitchenette and an airy balcony. It feels very much like a private apartment, but it also means the layout feels a little off-brand from what you might be craving from your beachside hotel; the ceilings are low and you’re facing west (only residents get the million dollar ocean views here).  You won’t find a pool downstairs or one the roof (imagine!), but if you’re keen for a workout or a wellness session, guests can purchase a special-priced pass to Beachouse Bondi which is right next door (it’s home to a light-flooded ocean-facing gym, and there’s a huge bathhouse opening soon).  The lack of amenities may appear to be a shortfall, but this is in fact what sets QT Bondi apart – it serves as a base for your Bondi adventures,

Stingless bee colonies, climbing Moreton Bay fig trees and juicy Davidson plums are just a few of the natural wonders you’ll see (and taste) on this tour of Sydney’s Royal Botanic Garden. You’ll walk by some of Sydney’s most famous landmarks as you trail around the fringe of the city looking back out to the Opera House, Mrs Macquarie's Chair and the Harbour Bridge. This walk, however, focuses on the Indigenous history of the land, outlining the origins of Sydney from the perspective of the world’s oldest living culture. You’ll wander through Farm Cove and learn about how the Gadigal people lived and worked with the seasons before the area was colonised. Time Out visits on a sunny Thursday morning and our guide cheerfully imparts her knowledge of every plant, tree, flower and nut on the hour-long tour. While this is a tour of beauty, you’ll also gain insight to the practical uses the flora is put to by Gadigal people. Soft yellow banksias can be used for maintaining embers and as a painting tool; candlenuts can be soaked and eaten or used for their multi-purpose oil; paperbark is used for everything from wrapping food to swaddling babies; and those tall, thick Gymea lily stems were used to practice spearing, while the bases can be roasted and eaten. Seeing this ingenuity in action is impressive. You’ll also learn about Aboriginal culture's deep connection to seasonality – when wattles are in bloom you’ll know that whales are migrating, while stingless bee colonies act as natu

Emphasis should be placed on ‘escape’ here – the dirt road from the centre of Mudgee means it's a bit out of the way – but the journey is a small tradeoff for its secluded location. Wildlife around the camp is abundant: small green tree frogs hop along gravel roads, crimson rosellas perch in the trees just metres away from the tents, kangaroos bounce over fences and sheep, and llamas and cows graze in neighbouring paddocks and fields. Add in stringy bark gums, swampy marshes, dry rolling hills and an abundance of bush flowers, and it’s a little bush world away from Sydney. Since opening in 2017 with Mudgee's first glamping tent, the remote idyll has evolved from a one tent set-up to a multi award-winning retreat, now home to five luxury glamping tents, a swimming pool formed from a reclaimed shipping container and a sprawling outdoor yoga deck.The most recent addition to the Sierra Escape offering is a spectacular tiny house complete with floor to ceiling windows, designer kitchen and an outdoor bathtub perfectly positioned for a sunset soak. Days at Sierra Escape can be spent exploring the nearby town of Mudgee, but once you’ve settled in, we suspect you’ll find it difficult to leave. Keen to get out of the city but don't have time for a weekender? Check out our best day trips from Sydney.

September 2023 update: South Dowling Sandwiches – AKA the GOAT of the sanga world – has been crowned Australia's favourite sandwich shop and BRB we’re off to get the Hugo (chicken schnitzel, SDS herb mayo, lettuce and tasty cheese, for those playing along at home.) The Wotif Uniquely Aussie Awards has announced all the winners from their annual community-voted awards, and the Darlinghurst institution has come out on top. Not that we’re surprised – Sydneysiders have been lining up for SDS ginormous and flawless sangas and rainbow salads for more than 15 years. If you’re yet to get your hands on one of these bad boys, we’ll paint a picture. Think two slices of thick, fresh bread, loaded with fresh veg – anything from avo to beetroot and cucumber – plus your protein of choice (we love the chicken schnitzel) and a creamy or punchy mayo to finish. It’s heaven in one big bite. Owner Avi Labi says they make everything in house, including those famous caramelised carrots, and all sangas are made fresh to order. And if you can’t get to the Darlinghurst shop, you’ll find SDS in Alexandria and Millers Point, too. Wotif said: “Made with fresh ingredients and prepared right in front of you, the sangas are overloaded with fillings at the generous starting price of $11 – making them fan favourites.” Well deserved, team. You can check out the full list of winners here. - Avril Treasure ***** Read on for our original write-up of SDS from 2018. There’s a good reason for the daily queue that sn

These North Sydney markets stake the claim for being Sydney’s longest continuously running produce market (we can’t verify it, but we won’t disagree) and the quality and range of the vendors makes this evident. Snaking through the seemingly small parklet on the northern CBD’s fringe, this bimonthly produce fair brings stallholders peddling orbs of creamy burrata, blood sausages, double-fist-sized heirloom tomatoes, salted caramel meringues, fresh egg pasta, free range eggs and soda bread. A seeming theme here is that many of the stallholders are also chefs, like Luca Ciano, whose jarred pasta sauces and Italian olive oil dressings are excellent Italian treats; or Martin Teplitzky, who will fry you up a golden croque madame, with Iggy’s bread and ham off the bone. This is a market where you go to invest in the good stuff – you’re paying a bit extra for the handcrafted goods, but a quick chat with the passionate stallholders (or better yet taste testers) will have you sold and walking out with a canvas bag packed full with produce and snacks for the week.  

Are you one of those folk who let the dust settle on their dancing shoes? Maybe the only time you’ve cut the rug since 2014 was when you were a little loose at a wedding reception, or in your mate’s lounge room to the beat of a blaring UE Boom. We’re not here to admonish you, but instead introduce you to the perfect party-transition bar to warm you up. Enter the Prince of York, in all its dancing glory. Calling it nothing more than a ‘party bar’ would be to overlook the slick plates they’re slinging, the extensive natural wine list, the solid service and the talented team behind it all: Paul Schulte (former Keystone Group creative director), Ed Loveday and Andy Emerson (of ACME and Bar Brosé) and chef James Elliott among them. Get past the headset-sporting hostess at the door, and you’ll find yourself in a sprawling, low-lit warehouse of a space with metres of exposed brick and geometric prints that at first might seem a little disorienting. Take a lap, and you’ll figure out that upstairs is geared for eating and drinking, while the downstairs cellar and Pamela’s (more on that later) are engineered for late-night hijinks. One look at the inclusive mod oz menu lets you know this isn’t simply bar food. Start with a precursor for the long haul and order the Vanella Dairy burrata, where the perfectly gooey soft cheese is juxtaposed with fresh fig and black pepper.  While there’s lots of serviceable charcuterie, cheese and snackable seafood as well, we’re here for the spaghetti in

Venue openings in Coogee are pretty few and far between, so when a slick Mediterranean-leaning wine bar and restaurant opens, heads turn – and in this case, for good reason. Coogee Wine Room boasts talent both in the kitchen and on the floor, helmed by head chef Sandro Di Marino from Bondi favourite A Tavola, and venue manager Brooke Adey (formerly of Bea, Yellow and Chiswick).  The 400-strong label wine list navigates much of Europe and Australia, and the seaside location just up from the beach on Coogee Bay Road means you can drop in for a bone-dry rosé or an elegant nebbiolo with sand between your toes before the sun goes down. Approachability is what they're going for here with around 25 offerings by the glass and carafe, and almost half the impressive list sits under the $100 mark. You can keep it classic with cheese and charcuterie if you're down for simple snacking in the front bar, or go hard and follow some freshly shucked rock oysters with pork cheek and cavolo nero sliders. Those keen for something a bit more substantial should head upstairs for an intimate date-night dinner from the menu of share plates that might include the likes of kingfish crudo or grilled octopus, or heftier dishes like ricotta ravioli, market fish with gazpacho or a hearty lamb rump. If you’re feeling indecisive, they’ll take the guesswork out and sling you five courses for $45 with the option to add on matched wine for $45 more. From ideas to conception, CWR's been about ten years in the ma

Plant-based eateries continue to pop up faster than wild parsley in a lush herb garden, and there are no complaints about that, especially in Bondi. Given the sunny 'burb’s health-conscious lifestyle, it makes sense that another wholly vegan eatery has appeared on its shores. Brought to life by Bondi locals – plant-eating podcaster Simon Hill, Conscious Feast founder Tanya Smart and head chef Claudia Pantoja (ex-Alibi) – the 80-seat restaurant specialises in a mix of produce-packed salads, bowls and bento boxes, as well as more playful renditions of popular snacks (popcorn cauliflower, salt-and-pepper “squyd”), fast-food favourites (burgers, hot dogs) and a line-up of dairy-free pizzas with housemade bases. The interior design brief is big on pale pink, tropical prints and plants in a retro, Beverly Hills Hotel kind of way, but grab a seat outside and you’ll find yourself in a courtyard strewn with fairy lights and giant white umbrellas. It’s a perfect spot, in other words, for a glass from the compact vegan-friendly wine list or one of the cocktails that combine organic booze with juices, housemade sodas, herbs and plenty of fruit.

After conquering Rhodes with an ambitious brekky menu, Auvers Café now has an outpost in Haymarket. The day-to-night café offers French-inspired brekky fare with Japanese flavour profiles – think eggs benedict with ponzu hollandaise; smoked pulled pork, onsen eggs, pork floss and a toasted croissant; or a traditional omelette, with crab meat and bonito mayo. They're all about the sweet and savoury combos – French toast comes served with honey ricotta, caramelised bacon, yuzu grape jelly, pork floss and vanilla ice cream. Matcha enthusiasts can get their green tea hit via matcha glazed pancakes with raspberry sorbet, hojicha tea or matcha lattes. Inside you'll find a striking Gillie and Marc mural (the pair behind those dog's head/man's body bronze sculptures you'll have spotted across Sydney and the world), and the art-edged theme continues with cocktails named after Van Gogh. Bending the elbow isn't time sensitive here, with tipples being served from 10am into the evening. After dark, the café switches to restaurant mode, plating up the likes of Japanese-style steak tartare served with soy cured egg yolks, confit duck with potato dauphine and a yuzu purée, and escargots with edamame, bonito and caviar. 

‘Crème brûlée’, ‘aerated goat’s cheese’ and ‘terrine’ are not words you’d typically expect to find on a breakfast menu – but why not add some culinary pizzazz to your morning? Chef Max Bean (formerly of Est and the Bridge Room) figures there's no reason not to, and to that end has opened Calla, jutting off the courtyard of John Street Square. It’s a welcome addition to Pyrmont’s relatively sparse café scene, which up until now has been serviced mostly by Bar Zini and Clementine’s.  Inside, it feels low-key and easygoing, but still a little luxe. Morning light streams through the windows, and Winston Surfshirt provides the soundtrack. You’ll catch Bean in crisp chef whites in the open kitchen, channeling his fine-dining days, but the espresso machine, a hopper stuffed with Mecca beans and the tempting offer of caramelised white chocolate cookies will remind you that you are, in fact, in a café. Interesting brekkies often set you back more than you’d want to shell out before 10am, but plates here cap at $23; it’s pedigree without the exxy price tag, which is a real win for locals. The humble zucchini slice gets a schmick makeover, with a garlicky crumble and sliced Swiss brown mushrooms atop, a swipe of avocado below and aerated goat’s cheese that really elevates it from lunchbox mainstay to something a little fancy. The effort is there, but it’s denser and more cakey than you might expect, and somehow the whole feels like less than the sum of the parts.  Opt for the salmon ter

This deli's got a Portuguese and Brazilian focus (which makes sense given Petersham’s expat community). To that end, you’ll find Brazo acai smoothie packs, maizena corn starch and Delicia pre-made cheese bread and chicken coxinhas – a killer croquette-like street food snack. There's Portuguese cheese, plenty of different hot sauces and piri piri oils, imported sardines, and striking stacks of bacalhau (whole salted and dried cod). And, like all good delis should, Charlie's lets you take your pick of meat and cheese and stuff it in a roll for a few bucks. Winning. 

Dining on the rooftop of a Westfield may not be the most glamourous proposal – yet Babylon manages to transport you far away instantly and with such ease that you almost forget you’re dining above a mall. Hop on to the express escalator, then up again, and you’ll be greeted by one of the better looking rooftop bars we’ve come across in this city. Even on a cool night, the open-air digs feel summer-ready, and we predict this will be a popular happy hour haunt in warmer months. Babylon is huge. Beyond the small balcony bar, you’ll find the main bar, several private dining rooms, a bustling half-open kitchen and the restaurant itself sprawled out across 1,200 square metres (or four tennis courts) of space. That’s not a guarantee there will always be space for you – it’s a book-ahead sort of place – but the waiting game could be far worse than an al fresco seat with a spiced potato gozleme and a mezcal and baklava caramel cocktail to go with it. Back inside, it’s all dusty pink and burnt orange velvet, travertine archways, lots of marble, blushy and luxe gold finishes. Despite the vastness of it all and the opulent touches, the dining room manages to feel intimate. Head chef Arman Uz (formerly of Efendy in Balmain) does a solid job of jazzing up snacks inspired by the culinary traditions of Jordan, Lebanon, Israel, Palestine, Syria and Turkey. Given the confluence of cultures on the carte, you might assume it’d be easy to get a little lost in the menu, but they’ve given it some t

With winter comes the best possible excuse for comfort food, and Swissôtel Sydney in the CBD is here to warm the cockles of the city with the launch of their annual fondue experience that fulfils all of your melted cheese dreams. For $34 per person, you and a mate can get around a hot bowl of melted gruyere and Emmental (that's the holey cheese), served with bites of crusty bread, pickles, and cos salad with bacon, herb croutons and creamy parmesan dressing.  If you're feeling extra peckish you can add extras like meatballs, roast potatoes, steak, salami, vegetables or beer battered chips. You can also pimp your pot with extra fourme d’Ambert blue cheese, gorgonzola, or truffle. If you've got more of a sweet tooth, opt for the chocolate fondue, which is $25 per person. You'll get a whole pot of melted milk chocolate, served with marshmallows, pound cake, strawberries, pineapple, kiwi, crushed peanuts and almond flakes.  Both fondue sets are available from May 30 until September 28 for groups of two or more, Thursday to Saturday from 6-9pm. This is definitely one that you need to book in advance. Want more warming meals? Here's our guide to the best dishes to eat this winter.

Orange peels and cocktail stirrers at the ready, because Negroni Week is just around the corner. The global celebration of the stirred down apéritif takes place from June 24-30, but a whole bunch of bars are getting a run-up to the week and offering cocktails celebrations already.  Want to know where to where you can get involved in the action? Right now over at the Rocks' Rosetta you can get around cut-price $10 Negronis from 4-7pm every weekday, and try rum, tequila, and bourbon variations. For extra good karma they're donating a dollar from each cocktail to OzHarvest. The QT Hotel's revamped Parlour Cucina will stir you down a Negroni for just 10 bones from 5-7pm every night, plus there's live music and complimentary antipasti. It's also right next door to the State Theatre, making it an ideal spot for a pre-Sydney Film Festival tipple Tuscan steak traditionalists Bistecca will host local artists, designers and illustrators doing live paintings inspired by the famous bitter-sweet cocktail from Jun 12-15. In Surry Hills, the Clock will serve a dedicated menu of Negronis and from Wednesday June 26 to Sunday June 30 – they'll transform the Whisky Room into a Negroni Room, pouring barrel-aged cocktails. Finally, Fratelli Fresh venues will have $10 Negronis for $7 during Negroni Week. Keep your eyes peeled for more bars slinging specials all throughout Negroni Week. Want more? Here's our guide to 39 cool things to do this winter. After more drinks? Here's our list of the 50 bes

Mortadella: it's a divisive sandwich meat for some, and for others it's a delicious, savoury snack that shines brightest stuffed into good bread, possibly with tomato sauce (don't @ us). The tasty cold cut now has its own pop-up sandwich bar on the deli arcade side of Prahran Market, by the folks from Q Le Baker. They are slicing and stuffing their own sourdough ciabatta with Gary’s Quality Meats mortadella, Pepe Saya butter and Q homemade pickles. Each sandwich is made on the spot for $12.  You'll find the sub-specific pop-up at Prahran Market on every weekend in May.  Photograph: Supplied Want more? Check out our guide to the 50 best restaurants in Melbourne or learn how to do Queen Victoria Market like a pro. 

It’s been over 20 years since Death Cab formed and around 12 years since they rose to the forefront of pop culture’s conscience by soundtracking some of the mid-’00’s biggest TV shows and movies. Luckily for fans, much of their back catalogue is still as emotive as the day it was released, and the Seattle band proved it across a 22-song setlist at the Opera House on Monday evening. While singer-songwriter Ben Gibbard impressed upon fans that this was a rock concert and we could stand, the Concert Hall’s seats made for the optimal spot to relax and take in moodier songs like ‘I Will Possess Your Heart’ and ‘We Looked Like Giants’. Other tracks, like ‘Title and Registration’, slapped harder when they blasted into your bedroom post break-up than it did on stage – but new tracks like ‘Gold Rush’ and ‘Northern Lights’ translated beautifully live, replete with slide guitars, vocal harmonies and high piano chords. Brighter songs ‘Cath’ and ‘Crooked Teeth’ reminded us that even though Death Cab may get lumped in the indie-emo genre, they can make you smile too. A set highlight was a stirring rendition of ‘What Sarah Said’. When the song was released in 2005, a fair whack of the then-teenage audience probably hadn’t experienced the loss of many loved ones, but 12 years on and the song has new layer of meaning for many in the crowd. The restrained and emotional piece let Gibbard’s songwriting shine – detail-riddled, hyper-personal and narratively-driven, yet somehow universal. Americ

A huge down pour didn’t dampen spirits at ANZ Stadium on Friday November 2 with 70,000 odd fans filling out the (soon to be demolished) stadium for Taylor Swift’s huge Reputation tour. Here are seven memorable moments from the show... 1. Swift sung up a storm in a stormWhile there were giant animatronic snakes, lasers and billowing fire cannons, a huge summer storm made the already epic production even more dramatic. Some smudged mascara (she even ripped off her false lashes while singing) and a mop of wet hair didn’t stop Swift giving it her all, and if anything nature’s own show added to the evening. 2. The show’s own staging was pop production at its most epicThere was a grand water fountain, a tilting stage, glowing arm bands, a travelling snake-bone hoisted stage (really), Michael Jackson-inspired costume changes and mini intermission films. The cavalcade of extra bells and whistles added to Swift’s performance in every dimension. Photograph: Supplied 3. Taylor’s dancers are a force in their own rightSwift wasn’t quite blessed with the natural grooves of the pop princesses before her (à la Britney Spears and Christina Aguilera), but flanked by a 20-strong crew of energetic, talented dancers, she held her own. 4. There was a good mix of old and new material As the tour name says, this show was about her most recent album Reputation, but there were also excellent throwbacks chucked in for good measure. With an ever-growing back catalogue spanning her 15 year career, it

Summer is beginning to tease us with longer days, fragrant jasmine permeating the air and plenty of sunshine, and to welcome its arrival a Neutral Bay bar will be upsizing its summer drinking options. Firefly Bar and Dining is set to pour bottomless watermelon-infused Sangria so your weekends can be filled with endless glasses of fruity wine cocktail. All you need to do is book ahead for Firefly's five-course banquet, which will be accompanied by a two-hour Sangria-fuelled beverage package, all for $59. The banquet menu includes Firefly's zucchini fries; drunken chicken pancakes with coriander, bean sprouts, hoisin sauce and kewpie mayo; juniper cured ocean trout; baked pumpkin with salsa verde; and sous vide pork loin. You'll need to lock in a time on Friday, Saturday or Sunday between noon and 4pm, and you can have parties as small a two people, or as big as 122 people, making it a very well priced group outing. Also vegans and veggos can be catered for, making it a very inclusive affair.  Want more summer drinking spots? Check out our guide to the best rooftop bars in Sydney and the best waterfront bars in Sydney.   

After the success of June's Bottom's Up promotion – which saw all Merivale bars slash 49 per cent off drinks from 5-7pm – the group will be reintroducing the deal at the latest venue to undergo a (mini) Merivale makeover. The Royal Bondi will be slashing the cost of all of drinks from 5-7pm throughout the month of October. The Bondi Road corner pub was recently acquired by the hospitality juggernaut, but rather than gutting and re-doing it entirely, they've kept some of the venue's scuzzy charm that's kept locals rolling in since 1907. To this end there's retro maroon patterned carpets, communal pool tables and band posters splayed across the walls.  Photograph: Supplied The Merivale edge comes into effect via the drinks – the list has been refreshed, complete with Daiquiris, Boilermakers, bottled Negronis and Espresso Martinis on tap. There's even a vending machine packed with cold tins. Wine wise, they are focusing on Australian producers doing rosés and low intervention wines. All these drinks will be 49 per cent off from 5-7pm every day throughout October, making it the perfect place to pop in after a long day at the beach, or stop off to avoid the sunset squeeze on the buses leaving the beachside burb. Want more well priced drinks? Check out our guide to the best happy hours in Sydney.  

Your food choices shouldn't really be dictated by aesthetics alone, but sometimes photogenic and delicious go hand in hand. We've weeded out the average glazed donuts, OTT stacked burgers and monster Franken-foods to devise this list of the best dishes that'll have your 'gramming game up to scratch, without forgoing taste. 1. Hot pots at Spice WorldWhile you’d think a pastel coloured acai bowl would take out the top spot, it’s this truly quirky but ultimately delicious Haymarket hot pot spot that has us furiously snapping. A meat dressed Barbie! Hello Kitty stock cubes! Robot waiters! A sauce buffet! The story inspiration is endless here. Photograph: Anna Kucera 2. The Muffaletta Sandwich at A1 CanteenEver seen the cross section of a sandwich look so damn good it deserves its own annotated diagram? That’s how they do this dense deli meat stuffed sanga at Clayton Wells’ day-to-night eatery in Chippo. Photograph: Anna Kucera 3. Soufflé pancakes at Edition HaymarketWhipped to within an inch of their life, risen in the oven like a phoenix and served with a vanilla and white chocolate ganache and strawberries; this outrageously wobbling dessert channels Tokyo vibes in the centre of Haymarket. Photograph: Anna Kucera 4. Croissants from Rollers BakehouseBehind the pastel pink wall on Rialto Lane you'll find a selection of flaky pastries that are destined for the ‘gram. From 'sushi' croissants (that's seaweed imbued pastry with salmon in the centre, topped with black and white

Indomie mie goreng – the noodles that got you through university, from pay day to pay day, and through your worst hangovers – are doing a special mini menu collaboration with the Devon Cafés. All Devon sites (Barangaroo, North Sydney and the OG in Surry Hills) will be launching this instant noodle-inspired menu for one month.  This means that for the month of October you can get an Indo Sando, which takes white, crustless bread and loads it with Indomie noodles, turmeric fried chicken, sambal, a fried egg, provolone cheese, lettuce, tomato, cucumber, ABC hot sauce, fried onions and a sweet soy glaze. How will two simple slices of high GI hold so much flavour? It's anyone's guess. If you're after something sweet, we dare you to try the banana split, replete with crunchy fried noodles, banana fritters, coconut ice cream, glutinous rice, crushed peanuts and palm seeds, which is then topped with a sweet strawberry coulis, gula jawa (that's palm sugar) and a pandan lime syrup.  You can get your noodle fix throughout October from Devon Café in North Sydney, Surry Hills and Barangaroo. After more bargain snacks? Check out our guide to the best cheap eats or the best fried chicken in Sydney. 

Surry Hills' Butter sets Sydney into a frenzy when they introduce fried chicken ramen to the menu during the colder months. Now vegetarians can get in on the hot soupy action, with the restaurant flipping their ramen offering to a plant-based bowl for just one more week. The thick paitan-style ramen takes six hours to cook, using a kombu stock and infusing it with charred veggies and chickpeas. It is then seasoned with cashews, shio koji, fermented bean curd and preserved mustard. It also incorporates tare, a soup seasoning made from caramelises diced leek, carrot, onion, garlic, ginger and sweet green apple, with help from everyone's favourite flavour pals, soy, mirin and sake. To complement the soup base there's a fried field mushroom on top (which would fool any fried chicken fan on first glance), plus enoki mushrooms and a half marinated egg. Executive chef Julian Cincotta claimed 'It's as good as the fried chicken ramen', and we can verify that claim – it's excellent. The soup is super dense in flavour – but not too unctuous like a typical ramen broth – and there is a surprising hum of salty umami-ness that we can only liken to a roast chook. The noodles are dense and springy, and the fried mushroom could easily be mistaken for a strip of fried chicken (although we ended up ordering a box of that too – it's an indulgent but excellent combo).  Butter's vegetarian ramen is available until Sunday September 2 at both the Surry Hills and Parramatta kitchens, so get in before

Currently Australia is enduring one of the harshest droughts of the decade, with 2018 being the fourth-driest winter since the Bureau of Meteorology started taking records. The entirety of NSW is now officially listed as being in drought, and considering the state produces about 25 per cent of Australia's agricultural output, the drought's effects have reverberated across communities, and many farmers are struggling to feed their livestock. Here in Victoria, our northwestern regions are now in their 15th month of below-average rainfall.   So how can you help out? The good news is you can help while also feeding yourself. The Parma for a Farmer initiative cropped up in Melbourne and has spread right across the country, with venues donating a portion or all profits from the classic counter meal to the Buy a Bale initiative. Throughout August, a bunch of venues will be donating a $1 from every chicken parmigiana sold – so you can head into the likes of Auburn Hotel, the Provincial, College Lawn Hotel and the Crafty Squire for a feel-good feed. The Retail Savvy Group (which includes venues like Father’s Office, the Shaw Davey Slum and Asian Beer Café) will also be giving $1 towards farmer assistance for every parma sold. Over at the Flying Duck Hotel in Prahran you can try one of Time Out's best Melbourne parmas while also helping farmers, with $1 from every parma going towards drought relief efforts. In the north, Brunswick beer garden-cum-nightclub the Penny Black will be dona

One of the best ways to spend a Saturday morning in Sydney is by heading down to Carriageworks to check out an exhibition and then follow it up with a bite to eat (or take home) at the farmers' markets. Now the warehouse-dwelling fresh food and snack party will be upping the stakes with the addition of the Fish Butchery, starting from Saturday August 11.  The stall comes by the way of young gun Josh Niland, who's behind both the Paddington-based seafood monger and the excellent Saint Peter. Much like the Paddo-based shop, the market stall will sell fresh, sustainable seafood, take-home dinner packs and saucy condiments. Fill your basket with fillets of blue-eye trevalla from Shoalhaven; vacuum-sealed Mooloolaba albacore fish meatballs in a rich tomato sauce; or house made Yamba sardine fish sauce on any given Saturday. If you're hungry on-the-spot, you'll also find a rotating bevvy of hot snacks, including pink ling pies, fish sausage rolls and trout terrine. Niland's Fish Butchery joins the already excellent and ever-changing line-up at the markets, which includes Bar Pho, Single O, Billy Kwong and Two Good. Want more fresh food adventures? Check out our guide to the best markets in Sydney or Josh Niland's guide to buying seafood.