Avril Treasure

Spring 2023 update: Happy spring! It’s a glorious time of year where the days are getting longer, the Jasmine is in bloom and our calendars are filling up. Keen to head outside to eat and drink your way around our wonderful city? You’ve come to the right place. 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 and critics who have tasted their way through Sydney, including Time Out's Food & Drink Writer Avril.  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 spots right by the sea. Keep a look out for some of our favourite newish restaurants, including North Sydney grill Poetica, NY-style steak house Clam Bar and gorgeous Indian diner Raja. (And, be sure to check out out guide to Sydney's best new restaurants.) Bon appétit. After a drink? Check out our favourite bars in Sydney Or: Our list of the best cheap eats

Is there a better way to start the day than a torrent of fluffy pork buns, sea-sweet prawn har gow, chewy siu mai, slippery cheong fun, silken tofu, hearty beef tendon, braised chicken feet, mango pancakes and custard tarts? Absolutely not. Here's our definitive list of the best spots in Sydney to relish this morning ritual. Bring your strongest hangovers, a whole bunch of mates and an appetite for destruction and gallons of tea.  Still hungry? These are the best restaurants in Sydney

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.  For more al fresco drinking try one of Sydney's best beer gardens or waterfront bars Looking for another top-notch watering hole? Check out the best bars in Sydney

Sure, breakfast is the most important meal of the day, but lunchtime is arguably the most exciting. You shouldn’t have to settle for soggy sandwiches and last night’s leftovers when there are fresh and fun eats existing in all pockets of the city. Whether you’re craving elevated sandwiches on oven-fresh bread, inspired savoury pastries, hearty bowls of laksa or build-your-own bentos, there’s something delicious on for lunch in Sydney every day of the week. We've rounded up our favourite places to grab a lunch on-the-go in Sydney's CBD. Whether its old, new, tucked away in the city's heart, or sitting on the fringe, we've got you covered when it comes to making the most of your lunchbreak, every day of the week.  After a liquid lunch instead? Here are the best bars in the Sydney CBD right now.

We know the rising cost of living is on everyone's minds at the moment – it's on ours, too. But, as a champion for good times, good food, and good drinks here in Sydneytown, we also don't want to stay indoors each evening. So, we've done the hard yards and rounded up the very best happy hour deals here in Sydney, where you can snag a schooner for $6, 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.  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.

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 white Italian cuisine differs throughout the 20 incredible regions – broadly speaking the northern regions eat more rice and polenta, and down south they feast more on seafood – Italians share a love of beautiful, seasonal produce, choosing simplicity rather than overcomplicating dishes, and cooking food with soul. No wonder we love it so much. Luckily, there are a wealth of excellent options to choose from when it comes to Italian dining in Sydney. Time Out’s editors and critics, including our Food & Drink Writer Avril Treasure, have picked our favourite eateries covering all bases – from casual red-sauce joints and classic pizzerias to fine dining restaurants – so no matter what mood you're in, there's something here for you. Not in the mood for pasta? Here are our picks of the best spots for Greek and French food in Sydney

Sometimes when you go to a restaurant, all you want to do is kick back and let the food come to you – without even thinking about it. Enter, set menus. Not only do you get to taste a bunch of great dishes, but it often works out to be cost effective – and that's a win win in our books. We've eaten our way around Sydneytown to find the best set menus – from fine diners to casual eateries – at three price points: $65 and under; $85 and under; and $100 and under. From birthday celebrations with the family to a long boozy Saturday lunch with the gang – we've got you covered.  So, round up your mates, make a booking, and get ready to feast. We sure have.  Recommended: Cheers! Check out our ultimate guide to the best happy hours in Sydney Eat well and save with Sydney's cheap meal specials for every night of the week There are the best restaurants in Sydney to book right now

With the kind of weather Sydney's ordinarily blessed with for about 11 months of the year, it's a wonder our restaurants had roofs to begin with. There's a certain quintessential Sydney-ness about sipping a drink in the breeze of a balmy evening or taking your first bite of dinner knowing you're free from the curse of unflattering overhead lighting. This city (and its gorgeous climate) is made for outdoor dining, and we've rounded up some of the best spots around town for taking full advantage of alfresco living.  Thinking of new places to try? Check out Sydney’s best new restaurants

There is a lot to get excited about on the streets of Sydney at the moment. The calibre of restaurants making their grand debuts is nothing short of awe-inspiring. And while there are more openings than you could poke a stick at, Time Out Sydney's Food & Drink Writer Avril Treasure has rounded up her picks of the ones she thinks should be at the top of your hit list, including stunning French restaurant Charlotte Bar and Bistro, top chef Opel Khan's new Bengali spot Khanaa, and Amalfi Coast-inspired trattoria Nico. Happy eating, Sydney. 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

For decades Newtown has been an evolving creature, where creativity abounds and self-expression is paramount. And yes, while we still want to #keepnewtownweird and vegans are still well catered for, there's plenty on the dining scene to keep even the most straight-laced pearl clutchers happy, too.  There's high-end dining to be had, but also a bunch of hyper-focussed regional diners dishing up everything from Egyptian street food to killer pizza and fiery Chinese hot pots. If you're hungry in this rainbow neck of the woods, we've got you covered. And, here are some on-point watering holes for after. RECOMMENDED: The best Sydney restaurants for your dining hit list

From light-as-air crepes to seafood bouillabaisse and rich steak tartare, Sydney has a lot to offer the Francophile. Here’s our ranked list of where to indulge your Gallic side in Sydney, so you can get oh so French any day of the week. While you're here, check out: The best Italian restaurants in Sydney Here's where to find the tastiest Greek food in Sydney Quench your thirst with our list of the best bars in the city

Maybe it's signalled by a glimmer of light under a door. Perhaps a queue in an alley that makes you take pause to wonder what the fuss is all about. Or is it the sound of revelry drifting up a flight of stairs in the distance that lures you in? Whatever it is, there's something about the pursuit of getting to a hidden bar – the build-up of anticipation or the knowledge that a drink is somewhere, out there, waiting for you – that we all just can't help but love. Whether they're up high or down below, some of Sydney's very best bars are not all that easy to find. In fact, you've probably walked straight past a few without even knowing they existed. Here are the ones you'll have to hunt the hardest for.  Prefer to be out in the open? The best rooftop bars in Sydney might be your best bet, but there are a whole lot of waterfront bars and ace beer gardens worthy of your attention, too. 

Bring your brother, your best mate, heck, bring that person at work you don’t really speak to and get yourself down to Deux Frères for delicious tapas and vermouth – stat. Meaning “two brothers” in French, Deux Frères is the third Sydney venture by French restaurateurs Johan Giausseran and Vincent Ventura, joining Circular Quay’s Bouillon l'Entrecote and neighbourhood bistro Brasserie l'Entrecôte in Pymble. And while Deux Frères is French sounding, don’t go off the name – this new spot, which is now open in Quay Quarter Lanes down by Circular Quay – is a charming ode to the glorious pintxos bars dotted all over Basque Country. Gildas, patatas bravas and truffle jamón? Don't mind if we do. Pinxos (snacks) have been devoured over Basque Country since the 1940s. At Deux Freres, you’ll be able to get your hands on a bunch of both hot and cold small plates, starting from $6 a snack. Sounds up your alley? Us too. From housemade tapas to cheeses, tinned seafood and charcuterie, savoury fiends will be in for a treat at Deux Frères. Highlights include the aforementioned, plus artichokes with romesco sauce; brie served with serrano ham, walnuts and honey; and chorizo grilled on the hibachi grill. We fell in love with vermouth after drinking it at Lennox Hastie’s Gildas and red-hued Vermuteria, and here at Deux Frères there are nine types of fortified wines to choose from. Bottoms up! Recommended: These are our favourite wine bars in Sydney In the area? Check out where to eat and drink

Just like the Matildas, Martinis and the Britney memoir, French food is having a moment here in Sydney – if the wave of recent openings are anything to go by. Take for example, Parisian rock and roll wine bar Caravin, the gorgeous Charlotte Bar and Bistro, and South of France-inspired Martinez. And come Thursday, November 16, neighbourhood French bistro Chez Blue will be joining them when it swings open its doors to the public in Rozelle. Keen? Reservations are now open. The 90-seater bistro and cocktail bar is owned by the Solotel group, who also oversee Sydney establishments the Clock and the Golden Sheaf, as well as Opera Bar, Aria, and Chiswick with chef Matt Moran. Leading the kitchen will be Mark Williamson, who comes from Woollahra French institution Bistro Moncur. At Chez Blue, Williamson will be giving the classics a playful spin. Niçoise salad gets a glow-up to transform into a tuna tartare niçoise with potato galette, egg and green beans; peach and tomato will be paired with goat’s curd, fennel and almonds and plated to look like a French peach melba dessert; and chicken liver pate is served with a brûléed top to crack with some brioche, alongside housemade marmalade and pickles. Plus, on the menu there’s a croque monsieur with melted Comté cheese to dip into; steak frites with sauce béarnaise; and Parisian gnocchi with herb crème fraîche and spring vegetables. Yum. Pretty mosaic floor tiling, vintage lighting, and art sourced from Parasian vintage markets will set

Sydney has a lot of excellent Japanese restaurants. Ones where fresh produce is paramount, where dishes look like works of art and taste like the sea. Now, there’s another one to add to the mix, with the opening of Ito, a Japanese izakaya from the team who brought us elegant Middle Eastern restaurant Aalia and pastel-hued Nour, with an ex Nobu and Cho Cho San chef leading the charge. Found on Surry Hills's leafy Crown Street, the 85-seater two-storey venue has taken over Cuckoo Callay’s former digs. Top Aussie architect Matt Darwon has transformed the space with Tasmanian blackwood furniture, clean lines and pops of bold colours. And while the restaurant is inspired by the izakayas found all over Japan, expect to see Italian touches throughout the food, a nod to head chef Erik Ortolani’s background. “Whilst my heritage is Italian, my passion is Japanese cooking. It feels natural to me to use a combination of the two as a vehicle for creating a really unique menu that is still very signature Japanese, and that’s exactly what we’ve done with Ito. Fresh seasonal produce, smart cooking, bright flavours,” says Ortolani. That looks like yellowfin tuna served on bonito bread with shaved bottarga; aglio e olio spaghetti with garlic shoots, togarashi and spanner crab; and braised duck dumplings with an elegant brown butter and ponzu sauce. Make the most of the balmy weather and nab a seat al fresco to knock back Ito’s riffs on classic cocktails, or a fun vino from Japan and Italy. And

When you think of French food, what comes to mind? Rich and creamy sauces no doubt, as well as hearty stews and picture-perfect pastries. And while delicious, this isn’t what you can expect to find on the menu at new French restaurant and rooftop bar Martinez, which has just opened in Sydney. Instead, the team are focusing on the food and flavours found in the South of France and neighbouring idyllic Mediterranean coastlines. Think light, produce-driven dishes with lots of fresh seafood – perfect for summertime drinking and dining. Found in the newish Quay Quarter Tower – that’s also now home to Cantonese spot Pearl – Martinez comes from House Made Hospitality, the Sydney hospitality group behind Promenade Bondi Beach (Time Out’s nominee for Best Relaxed Dining Venue 2023), prime date-night spot Apollonia (nominee for Best Cocktail Bar 2023), and Southeast Asian eatery Easy Tiger. So you’re in capable hands. Heading up the kitchen at Martinez is executive chef Alex Wong (ex Lana) alongside head chef Andrea Sonnante (ex Sagra). Standouts on the opening menu include the Plateau de Fruits de Mer, which is brimming with fresh oysters, scallops, mussels and Moreton Bay bugs. We’d also go for the scallops topped with sea urchin butter and Espelette (a chilli pepper). Plus, there’s a petit bouillabaisse with bugs, clams, mussels; saffron tagliatelle with red mullet; and a deluxe burger with Wagyu, “Café de Martinez '' gruyere and maple bacon. There are eleven cocktails on offer, inc

Killer Melbourne sandwich joint Hugo’s Deli is coming to Sydney for two days only – and they are bringing some of their greatest hits with them, plus one “rarely released special”. Known for their whopping New York- and Japanese-inspired sandwiches, Hugo’s Deli is teaming up with Sydney’s favourite gelato masters Messina to throw a Messina Eats carpark party at Messina's Marrickville HQ – so you can taste Hugo’s delicious creations without getting on a plane. On the tasty line-up you’ll see things like ‘You've Got Muffin To Lose’, an English muffin filled with pork and fennel sausage, fried egg, American cheese, ’nduja butter, breakfast sauce and shichimi (Japanese spice mix); and the ‘Fried Chicken Sando’ with Shokupan (Japanese milk bread), fried chicken, shredded lettuce, pickles, American cheese and Hugo’s sauce. Be sure to save room for their cracking ‘Steak Frites’, which the team only whips out on special occasions. Think a crunchy baguette loaded with charred porterhouse steak, Café de Paris butter, Hugo’s steak sauce, fried capers, frites and comté cheese. Of course, Messina will be delivering the sweet goods with their ‘Triple Whammy Messinabon’ – a Milo gelato with swirls of Messinatella and hazelnut praline, sandwiched between Oreo biscuits and dipped in a Rocher glaze.
A pop-up bar will be slinging fun and fruity cocktails and tinnies. Messina Eats x Hugo’s Deli is going down on Friday, November 17 and Saturday, November 18, in the carpark of the Marrickville hea

You can now get your claws on quality and, importantly, affordable lobster rolls in Sydney – and we are absolutely not crabby about it. Fresh from a pop-up stall at Bondi Markets, Lobster House has now found its forever, well, home in Sydney’s CBD. Come for fresh rolls made from the North Atlantic Sea lobster’s knuckle and claw meat, which is known for its sweet and clean flavour. And the best bit? A roll will set you back about $25. The brainchild of professional golfer JP Curran – who fell in love with the sweet juicy rolls after touring in America – Lobster Shack is an ode to the authentic lobster roll joints found in the US. At Lobster House, the classic lobster roll comes on a buttery brioche bun with mayo, lettuce, 100 grams of lobster knuckle and celery seasoning. Amp up your roll with chilli or truffle, or opt for the lobster cheese toastie. Not feeling lobby? There’s crab and prawn roll, too, and a creamy chowder with potatoes, bacon, onion and fresh parsley. If you’re feeling adventurous (and hungry) there’s also an option for a trio of half rolls with lobster, crab and prawn meat. We say, roll on over and pinch one for yourself and your fellow crustacean-loving mate. Recommended: Short on time? Here are the best quick lunches in the CBD Hungry? These are the most delicious sandwiches in Sydney Check out our guide to the top seafood restaurants in Sydney

All hail the King. King Clarence, to be exact, which is the name of the brand-new restaurant from the award-winning Bentley Restaurant Group that is opening in the CBD on Friday, December 1. Bookings are now open. Excitingly, star chef Khanh Nguyen has been announced as the executive chef of King Clarence, and is relocating to Sydney for the gig. Most recently, Nguyen had been heading up the kitchens at Melbourne’s award-winning restaurants Aru and Sunda. And prior to his move to Melbourne, Nguyen spent years working with the Bentley Group, and had a stint at the always-pumping Mr Wong. Co-owner and chef Brent Savage said: “Nick and I have been fortunate to have had many of Australia’s best hospitality professionals work in our restaurants over the last 15 years. We’ve watched Khanh’s career go from strength to strength and we couldn’t be happier to welcome him back to the group, and Sydney, stepping into the position of executive chef at King Clarence. The restaurant will be open in time for summer, and the menu Khanh and I have been working on is pretty special.” Located on the corner of King and Clarence Streets, King Clarence will be an 100-seat contemporary Asian restaurant influenced by the flavours and techniques found in China, Korea, and Japan. This is a fresh move for Savage and co-owner/sommelier Nick Hildebrandt, whose impressive restaurant empire includes Bentley Restaurant and Bar, Monopole, Cirrus, Yellow and Brasserie 1930.  A custom-built barbecue and grill w

October 2023 update: Hidden behind a door somewhere in El Primo Sanchez is where you’ll find Sydney’s newest and coolest speakeasy: La Prima. The ten-seater intimate bar is decked out with Mexican prints and flickering candles with charming, old-school Mexican music. Our favourite bit? There’s only one female bartender who is shaking the drinks. Speaking of booze, the cocktail list at La Prima has been curated by the formidable Maybe Sammy team. Hits on the opening menu include the Encanto with Patrón Silver tequila, dry vermouth and cherry soda; Perfume de Gardenias with Patrón Reposado tequila, peach and citrus cordial and Jasmine soda; and Pastel de Planto with Patrón Reposado tequila, banana and cinnamon cordial, salt and agave. Plates from El Primo’s menu, including guac and tacos, are available at La Prima if you get hungry (we will). And the catch? La Prima is invite only – so you will need to make friends with the bartenders and ask where the secret bar is… Or, you could just stumble across it yourself. We’ll give you a hint: look for yellow. - Avril Treasure Read on for our original review of El Primo Sanchez from September 2023. ***** There are a lot of things to love about El Primo Sanchez – Paddington’s cocktail bar by the Maybe Sammy Group (Maybe Sammy, Dean and Nancy on 22) and Public Hospitality Group (Oxford House, the Strand Hotel, Camelia Grove and Lady Hampshire).  So let’s start with the most important bit: the karaoke room. The entry is found at the back

Here at Time Out, we’ve long been a fan of Melbourne’s award-winning contemporary Turkish restaurant Tulum (in fact, it took home our Best Casual Dining Restaurant award at Time Out Melbourne’s Awards back in 2017). Istanbul-born head chef Coskun Uysal draws on his childhood memories and transforms them into modern delicious masterpieces at his Balaclava restaurant. So we were pretty excited to hear the talented chef will be coming to Sydney to host an exclusive one-off dinner at one of the city’s best Turkish restaurants, emerald-hued Maydanoz, overseen by the Efendy Group (also Anason and Baharat). It’s going to be a pretty special evening, with Uysal teaming up with the Efendy Group’s executive chef Arman Uz to create an exceptional share-style Turkish feast. We’re hungry already. The evening will begin with fresh and bright cocktails paired with tasty snacks before flowing into a set menu featuring small and larger plates, plus dessert. Dishes that are sure to get your mouth watering are smoked mussels wrapped in vine leaves; simit (a traditional Turkish bread) with tarama and white anchovies; Turkish borek (spiced filo pastry) with black truffle and aged Turkish cheese; baked cumin lamb kibbeh pie with a buttermilk and garlic sauce; and barramundi with minted brown butter and saffron. End on a high with walnut baklava with Turkish black tea mousse and smoked yogurt ice cream. The Tulum dinner at Maydanoz will be going down on Thursday, October 26. Tickets are limited, th

Buttery brioche filled with pandan custard, coconut and crumble; a pretzel croissant Rueben sandwich; a twice-baked chocolate and roasted hazelnut croissant; and a Vegemite, avo and fermented chilli scroll. No, these are not the snacks of your Willy Wonka-esque dreams, but some of the items on Shadow Baking’s opening menu. We’re licking our lips just thinking about it. Does the name ring a bell? Shadow Baking has been slinging their golden and buttery treats every month at the Cannery Markets, and have rightly gained quite the following doing so. Made up of three chefs from Gelato Messina – Tom Mitchell, Florian Fritsch and Remi Talbot – the legendary trio are now opening their first-ever bricks and mortar shop in Darlinghurst on Friday, October 27. So you won’t have to wait all month for their killer baked goods. Seriously, we’ve tried a bunch of Shadow Baking’s pastries and they are some of the best in Sydney. Which makes sense, when you consider the chef’s CVs span everywhere from Adriano Zumbo’s patisserie to Dinner by Heston Blumenthal in London, Rockpool Bar and Grill, and two Michelin-starred Tokyo restaurant Den. So, it’s settled. A (minimum) weekly trip to Darlinghurst it is.  Recommended: These are our favourite sandwiches in Sydney The lords at A.P Bakery have opened up another store in the city and we are absolutely here for it Darlinghurst will soon score a 120-seat bar with a farm-to-glass ethos, with Australia’s former best bartender and a Bondi Icebergs chef

Fifteen minutes – that’s how long it’s going to take from ordering to when a beautifully cooked sirloin from NSW’s Riverina region will be served at your table at Alfie’s, a new restaurant and bar by hospitality group Liquid and Larder, that's now open in Sydney. Some drinks take longer. Liquid and Larder are the legends behind some of Sydney’s and the world’s best steakhouses – Bistecca and the Gidley – as well as sepia-hued bar and restaurant, the Rover. So, the steak and drinks at Alfie’s are sure to be on-point. Though don’t come expecting the same grand experience you’d get at the Gidley. Here, the team wanted to create a fast-paced steakhouse, where service is swift, prices are reasonable, and you can head back to work after lunch slump-free. And yes, they really are promising that your steak – a 220g dry-aged Riverine sirloin, cooked on Alfie's custom-made grill, for example – will be on the table within 15 minutes, and will set you back $38. Sounds good to us. Liquid and Larder co-founder James Bradey says: “Alfie’s will be the first of its kind in Sydney – we’re flipping the steakhouse model on its head and it’s going to be really fun. “Alfie’s won’t compromise on quality, it will just be served at pace and we’ll have everything down to a fine art. Expect amazing steak without the pomp, and a space that’s full of life without a chesterfield in sight.” Good news for meat lovers: Alfie’s is also home to Liquid and Larder’s first central butchery and steak-ageing facili

Italy’s Amalfi Coast is known for its vibrant, warm colours, fresh pasta and a spritz of lemon (and the charming towns found along that coastline, of course). This is what you can expect to find at new neighbourhood trattoria Nico, now open in North Sydney’s Cammeray – just without the coastal views. Headed up by Italian-born chef Nicola Ronconi and his business partner Ewa Witkowska, Nico showcases takes on Italian classics, with inspiration drawn from the Amalfi Coast to Sardinia, Puglia, Lake Garda and Venice. Ronconi has more than 20 years of experience under his belt, including time cooking at three Michelin-starred The Fat Duck in London, as well as Matteo Downtown and Double Bay here in Sydney. (He was also the former group executive chef of Sydney hospitality giant Urban Purveyor Group, best known for Fratelli Fresh. The group later acquired Neil Perry’s restaurants, becoming Rockpool Dining Group.) But Nico is the first restaurant of his own. “I thought it was the right time to show Sydney my philosophy of hospitality and open a place where we can make people feel at home but at the same time feel like they are on a holiday,” Ronconi said. So, just like in Italy, fresh, in-season and locally sourced produce is key at Nico. You could begin with plates like kingfish crudo with Aperol Spritz and black olives; and Abrolhos Islands scallops with ’nduja butter and finger limes, before trying Nico’s housemade fresh pasta. We’d go for the mafaldine with blue swimmer crab, sa

Keen for some good, thirsty news to lift your spirits? The 2023 International Wine and Spirits Competition (IWSC) just went down in London Town, and Australia's very own gin hero Four Pillars won International Gin Producer of the Year for the third time. That's right, Four Pillars produces the Best Gin on Earth. We're pretty chuffed.  While this alone is a huge deal in itself, the rocking distillery and gin brand also broke some records on the night. It's the first time any gin producer from around the globe has won the award three times, with Four Pillars having beaten out all other contestants in 2019 and 2020 prior to this year's event. The IWSC is the world's largest and most prestigious spirits competition and attracted more than 4,000 entries from international distilleries, with gin being the biggest category of them all. "Back in 2013, we set out with the ambition to make world-class gin, so to win this award three times is simply mind-blowing," said co-founder and distiller Cameron Mackenzie, who was in London to accept the award. "I kind of knew we had a chance when two of our gins scored 98 points but kept it on the lowdown until last week when I dusted off the kilt! It’s a massive thrill for our team back at home and for the Australian spirits industry overall, and even sweeter that Four Pillars celebrates 10 years of making gin this December". The two gins that scored 98 out of 100 points were Four Pillars' Bloody Underhill Vineyard Shiraz Gin 2022 and Single Bar

The word ‘legend’ gets thrown around a lot these days, but when it comes to describing none other than Mr Jamie Oliver, we reckon it fits like a glove. The celebrity chef, cookbook author, dad of five and lover of lemon has been a fixture in our lives – and hearts – for more than 24 years, ever since he first debuted on the hit TV show The Naked Chef. From the get go, Oliver won the world over with his genuine warmth, passion for food and tongue-in-cheek attitude. He was a guy you wanted to be mates with, someone you felt you could trust – and importantly, he taught people around the world that cooking can be a joy (and that it can happen in minutes – just how much time depends on which of his books you’re looking at). Oliver has written more than 26 award-winning cookbooks, starred in countless TV shows, seen more than 70 restaurants across 22 countries come to life, and had a family with wife Jools. He's also done incredible work around championing healthy eating in schools. His mission of creating a happier, healthier world through the joy of food has been a constant throughout his whole career and he has positively impacted the lives of millions. Impressive stuff. And the best bit? By all accounts fame hasn’t changed him, and Jamie Oliver still seems like the legend we first saw on our screens back in 1999 (well, perhaps not all of us – I was five at the time). Excitingly, Oliver is coming to the Sydney Opera House for an Australian-exclusive one-off show this November. I

Get ready to slurp: legendary ramen restaurant Gumshara is reopening this week – and in good news you won’t have to go far, as the new digs are still in Chinatown. After 14 years of operation in the Eating World Food Court, news dropped in August that the beloved ramen joint would be closing to make way for a massive new development. Thankfully, the team has found a new 40-seater site on the corner of Kimber Lane and Little Hay Street to serve hungry Sydneysiders, as reported by Good Food. Spearheaded by co-owner and head chef Mori Hogashida, Gumshara has gained legions of fans – 700 of whom lined up for hours on their last day of trading at Eating World – for its collagen-enriched noodle soup made using a traditional Japanese method. It takes a whopping seven days to make the pork stock for the tonkotsu ramen and just three ingredients: water, miso and 120kg of pork bones. The result is a rich, soul-warming bowl of noodle soup with an incredible porky flavour and enough guts for two. The exact opening date is not confirmed, but it's meant to be this week. We will keep you posted. RECOMMENDED: Check out our favourite Japanese restaurants in Sydney Love ramen? Slurp your way around the top ones in the city Feel like Chinese food? Here is our guide to the best Chinese restaurants in Sydney

Get out your wine glasses and get ready to swirl: a Sydney restaurant has taken home the ultimate grape juice award in the country, and yes, we are thirsty. The Bentley Group’s waterfront restaurant Cirrus has won Australia’s Wine List of the Year at the 30th anniversary of Australia’s Wine List of the Year Awards. Cirrus sommeliers Polly Mackarel and Nick Hildebrandt were also both awarded the Judy Hirst Award for being the sommeliers responsible for the winning list. Bravo. Australia’s Wine List of the Year judge and wine writer Jane Faulkner said: “This is a spectacular, innovative and thrilling list showcasing 1,200 special bottles, with 50 by the glass. Plenty of joy and difference on each page.” Sydney favourites Mr Wong, Bennelong and Woodcut were all finalists alongside Cirrus for the coveted top spot. A prestigious and well-respected annual event, the Australia’s Wine List of the Year Awards is judged by 32 of the world’s most respected vino industry talents from Down Under and across the globe – including four Master Sommeliers and seven Masters of Wine (basically, Big Deals in the wine world). The Awards celebrate the country’s passionate sommeliers and venue owners, and help foster a robust wine culture in the country. Here are the winners of Best Wine List in each state: Best Wine List NSW: Cirrus Dining Best Wine List VIC: Gimlet at Cavendish House Best Wine List ACT: Italian & Sons Best Wine List QLD: Agnes Best Wine List SA: Restaurant Botanic Best Wines List

Today, renowned farm-to-table chef Danielle Alvarez has been announced as the new culinary director of the Sydney Opera House event venues, operated by hospitality group Trippas White. The cookbook author and founding chef of Sydney favourite Fred’s has created beautiful menus for all the private soirées to be held in the iconic building’s Yallamundi Rooms, the Utzon Room and Northern Foyers – think weddings, intimate cocktail events, corporate networking and gala dinners. So yes, we will now be booking an event at the House. Alvarez will be joining top chefs already in the House, including Peter Gilmore at Bennelong and Mark Olive at new restaurant Midden by Mark Olive. Alvarez’s passion for using fresh, seasonal produce, as well as working with local producers, will shine through in the menus. Trippas White chief executive officer Kevin Zajax said the partnership is a “perfect match”. “Danielle cares deeply about the connection between food and culture, and I can’t think of anywhere better to bring this together than arguably the world’s most recognisable cultural destination,” he says. “I feel tremendously honoured to have some impact on the food being served at the Sydney Opera House,” adds Alvarez. “It is a global icon of Australian culture, and my goal is to bring together people, produce and events that will further showcase all the incredible things this diverse country has to offer.” To celebrate Alvarez’s next chapter, as well as the release of her second cookbook,

Sydney favourite Lankan Filling Station is teaming up with some Sydney’s best chefs for a new weekly chef series that will see culinary legends take the rice-based biryani dish and put their stamp on it, with delicious results. The chefs series is kicking off on Monday October 9, and will go down each week until the end of the year, so yeah, we now go out on Mondays. When we say some of Sydney’s best chefs, it’s not hyperbole: Think seasonal produce goddess Danielle Alvarez, Ester’s Mat Lindsay, Ante’s Matt Young and Jemma Whiteman, Cafe Paci’s Pasi Petanen, Fratelli Paradiso’s Trisha Greentree, and Jin Sun Son, Seung Kee Son, Kenny Son and Youmee Jeon from Sang By Mabasa – all of them will be doing takeovers. Lankan Filling Station’s biryani is made with saffron-laced rice in a traditional Sri Lankan clay pot and served with a weekly changing curry and sides, like a raita, a sambol and papadums. The chefs series will see the same foundation of the biryani – but instead of Sri Lankan flavours, the chefs will be changing things up, and we’re excited. The special offering will cost $65 and will be good to share between two (though the team reckons you may want to add on a few tasty things from the menu to complete your meal). There will also be a banquet menu available each Monday, which will include the chef’s dish, plus other hits from the menu. The October chefs have just been announced, so get out your phone (to book, and pop in your calendar), which you can do here.  Octo

Do you ever get that soul-crushing look from your dog before you head out to the pub and leave them all alone? Well, sad look no more, because two Sydney venues have just launched barkuterie boards for your furry best friends, and yep, we’ll also take one pint and a water bowl, please. Featuring three dog-friendly treats as well as some seasonal fruit and vegetables, the drool-worthy barkuterie boards cost from $12 and will be available at Surry Hills' the Winery and South Eveleigh’s BrewDog for the next month. Pet Circle, Australia's largest online pet supplies store, has teamed up with the Sydney venues to make the magic happen, and we are barking thankful they have. Walk, run or sprint your way over for a barkuterie board now. One thing’s for sure, they will get those tails wagging. BYO ball. RECOMMENDED: The best dog-friendly pubs and bars in Sydney Here are all the best things to do in September Check out all the nominees for the Time Out Sydney Food & Drink Awards 2023

Most Mondays, I’m wading through my inbox and writing up the latest Sydney food and drink news, and usually in track pants (WFH on Mondays for the win). Not yesterday. I, along with Time Out Sydney editor Alice and a handful of food writers, were lucky enough to be invited to lunch at Australia’s best restaurant, Quay, to celebrate and taste the San Pellegrino Young Chef Pacific Region winner’s dish by chef Robin Wagner. There are worse ways to start the week. Photograph: Avril TreasureAvril Treasure and Alice Ellis An annual event, the San Pellegrino Young Chef Academy Competition identifies the best young chefs from around the world to showcase their talent and support the next generation of culinary wizards. In other words, it’s a Pretty Big Deal in the food world. The Pacific regional competition went down in Sydney in October 2022, where chefs cooked their dish for a line-up of star-studded judges, including Saint Peter’s Josh Niland, Nomad’s Jacqui Challinor and Quay’s Peter Gilmore. Robin Wagner – who has worked at Sepia, has been the head chef at Artisans of Barossa and most recently was the sous chef at Magill Estate Restaurant – came out on top with his winning dish that Niland said: “was the best dish I’ve had all year.” And the dish? Smoked celeriac with Granny Smith apple and crispy taro. Oh, and it’s 100 per cent vegan, which Wagner says is a nod to the economic environment we find ourselves in, as well as the actual environment. We sat in Quay’s Upper Tower,

In 2023, Sydney is well and truly alive with a flurry of delicious dining and drinking options. After a couple of years of turbulence, followed by a hospitality-industry resurgence last year, Sydney’s food and drinks scene is buzzing. There seem to have been more new restaurant and bar openings in the past 12 months than we’ve seen for a long time. As well as more fresh offerings from existing establishments. More innovation. More diversity. And we’re absolutely here for it. So Time Out’s food and drink critics have had their work cut out for them, doing what they do best – eating and drinking their way around Sydney to give our readers what Time Out has long specialised in: independent critical reviews of the city’s best. Now, we’re almost ready to share with you our findings. The Time Out Food & Drink Awards Sydney 2023, in partnership with Tyro, are almost here! The nominees will be announced on September 18, and the winners revealed at a special event on October 9. Presented in exclusive partnership with Tyro (and their partners Abacus and Workplacer), the Time Out Food & Drink Awards Sydney will showcase venues across the following categories:  Restaurant of the Year Bar of the Year Best Fine Dining Restaurant Best Relaxed Dining Venue Best Cheap Eat Best Cocktail Bar Best Wine Bar Best Casual Drinking Venue Best Innovation Legend Award People’s Choice: Favourite Restaurant People’s Choice: Favourite Bar People’s Choice: Favourite Pub People’s Choice: Favourite Café Peo

Highly regarded chef Chase Kojima is no longer the executive chef of the Star’s flagship restaurant Sokyo, and his two Senpai restaurants have now closed, according to a report seen in Good Food. Kojima has been the executive chef of the Pyrmont restaurant since it's 2011 inception, winning praise and accolades for his innovative and creative spins on traditional Japanese cuisine. Outside of Sokyo, his two Senpai ramen restaurants in Burwood and Chatswood are now closed, with the website stating they “....are temporarily closed. Stay tuned for an exciting new concept coming soon!” However, Good Food is reporting that both restaurants are closed, with Kojima facing liquidation as one option. As well as Sokyo in Sydney, Kojima will no longer be the executive chef of Kiyomi at the Star Gold Coast. A representative from the Star said: “This decision was reached by mutual consent and will see Chase pursue other opportunities.” We hope this won’t be the last we see of Kojima, and wish him all the best. RECOMMENDED: Our guide to the best cheap eats in Sydney These are the best new restaurants in Sydney right now

In news that’s sure to put a smile on your dial, Merivale has announced they are offering 49 per cent off booze at 36 of their venues for the whole month when you come in with a group of eight or more. Think bottles of wine, cocktails, pints of beer and more. If you needed an excuse to book a girl’s day out, family lunch, or team celebration, this is it. The offer can be redeemed at 36 Merivale venues across Sydney including the Alex, the Vic on the Park, the Newport, the Beresford, the Royal Bondi, and cocktail bars such as Charlie Parker’s, Palmer and Co, and Little Felix. All you need to do is make a booking with seven or more mates, and you will score the nearly half price drinks for the first hour. The offer will kick off from the first day of spring, that's Friday, September 1, and will run until Thursday, September 28. Just heads up: the offer excludes the October Long Weekend and applies to drinks under $350.00 per item. Check out the list of venues that are taking part here.  Recommended: These are the best pubs in Sydney right now Check out our guide to the top bars in Sydney These are our favourite happy hours in Sydney

Redfern Convenience Store – AKA ‘The greatest convenience store on earth’ – is opening another shop in Newtown, and this is not a drill. With more than 30,000 Instagram followers, the Redfern corner shop is arguably the world’s most famous convenience store. Not to mention the most loved, with locals and tourists alike dropping in for colourful retro candy and hard-to-find snacks sourced from all across the globe, from Wow Butter to bacon soda. Owner Hazem Sedda opened Redfern Convenience Store back in 2021, and has been a one-man operation ever since. So this is Pretty Big News, and yes, we’re very excited. Photograph: Supplied The new store, which is set to open on Thursday, August 24, will be located on 137 King Street, next door to rocking pizza joint Bella Brutta and close to Cafe Paci. In a nice nod to the reputation of the OG, the new Newtown store will have the same name. Yes, it will be called Redfern Convenience Store. We’re serious. It’s not just the name that will be familiar – the Newtown outpost will have the same look and feel of the original, and will stock all 5,000 of Redfern Convenience Store’s products. Next week, drop in to say hey to Sedda, and stock up on all the good stuff. We sure will be. Recommended: A solar-powered plant-based supermarket is now open in Newtown The Inner West has gained a female-owned wine bar and bottle shop, spotlighting female winemakers and offering restaurant-quality vino at retail price These are the best restaurants in Re