Chris Singh is an Editor-At-Large at the AU review, loves writing about travel and hospitality, and is partial to a perfectly textured octopus. You can reach him on Instagram: @chrisdsingh.
Frequented by Australian travellers at all times of the year, the Thai island of Phuket remains one of the most accessible and affordable holidays for those down under. Though a truly luxe stay can still be quite costly on the island, which leaves a sweet spot for new mid-range hotels like OZO Phuket. The brand…
Perth four-piece The Limbs are sliding into a busy second half of 2019 with their new single “Here”, showing off a soaring, atmosphere-building clash of guitars and melodies. The track reiterates just why The Limbs have become one of the West Coast’s most treasured rock outfits, pulling on fibres cut from the same cloth as…
After a successful venture into fried chicken sandwich territory in collaboration with Belle’s Hot Chicken, the team behind Malaysian chain PappaRich have announced a different kind of indulgent carb-loading treat to be introduced to their 29 Australian stores in July. It’s the triumphant return of their incredibly popular Nasi Lemak Burger, which first debuted in…
You know Sunnyside, right? The Melbourne six-piece that bring all kinds of funk and jazz wherever they go, slithering through the pits of sweaty nightclubs and steamy jazz clubs with misshaped textures and hypnotic time signatures. Yeah, those are the guys. And they’re about to make their exciting debut in Japan, heading on over to…
Melbourne emcee Maundz is taking zero prisoners on new track “Red Velvet”, bringing fellow local Remi along for a smooth lesson in swift, punchy lyricism. Benefitting from two vastly different deliveries, Maundz’s energetic and Remi’s infectiously laid back, “Red Velvet” makes the most of this retro production from Perth’s Rob Shaker. It serves as the…
A smart home in 2019 wouldn’t seem so clever if it didn’t take advantage of Dyson’s incredible run with cooling, air purifying devices over the past few years. The powerful Pure Cool should have been evidence enough of the company’s vital place in the modern home, doing away with intensive wall units and making a…
Across the entire 31-day stretch of August, New Zealand’s trendy capital of Wellington will once again host Visa Wellington on a Plate (VWOAP). The long-running food and wine festival, which touches everywhere from Wellington City to the Kāpiti Coast, picturesque Hutt Valley, and Wairarapa, is set to reach unprecedented levels in 2019, thanks to an…
In an effort to offer a more immersive and quirkier experience for Sydney’s cinema enthusiasts, the team behind Event Cinemas George Street in the CBD have launched two brand new concepts collectively dubbed Australia’s “first Instagrammable cinema” as Event Boutique. Marrying Event Cinemas with the rich heritage of the EVENT-owned State Theatre and the signature…
The team behind the seductively playful QT Sydney have recently overhauled the hotel’s street-level diner and transformed it into the city’s newest Italian eatery, Parlour Cucina. Inspired by the café scene in Milan during the 1960’s, the space moves away from the beloved Parlour Lane Roasters and onto something entirely dedicated to traditional, uncomplicated Italian…
Flipping his 1994 classic “I Used to Love H.E.R”, Chicago emcee Common has decided to hype his forthcoming album Let Love Have The Last Word with “HER Love”. A sequel to one of hip hop’s most treasured concept cuts, the soulful ode to culture has Common rhyming over a previously unheard J Dilla beat, broken…
All The Colours are barking into the latter half of 2019 with the lo-fi grumble of “Tear It Down”. The Melbourne trio’s penchant for injecting moody, rich textures into classic garage alt-rock is as vital as ever on this new single, which features a hefty list of credits having been produced by Grizzly Bear’s Chris…
Now that Flying Lotus’ new album Flamgra is out it’s time for the eccentric produce to throw us another single, following tracks with the likes of David Lynch, Little Dragon and Anderson. Paak with a hammering boom-bap rap track called “Black Balloons Reprise”. As you might have guessed from the name, it’s a sequel to…
As one of the top rated boutique hotels in Victoria, British Columbia, The Oswego Hotel gets by beautifully on the simple pillars of good hospitality, great guest rooms, and excellent food and wine. Although you’d expect nothing less; as BC’s capital and one of the most pleasant small cities in the world (something that’s been…
Melbourne soul outfit The Teskey Brothers are sticky true the wholesome, Motown-indebted sound that has turned them into one of the country’s finest bands with new single (and video) “Hold Me”. It’s more of that irresistible foot-stomping and hand-clapping funk, leaving the city behind for the open air of the country, both in song and…
Indie-rap four piece We Move Like Giants have been making a strong impact on the scene with debut single “Devilry”, showcasing a distinct style that playfully blurs the line between dark, indie sounds and a commanding hip hop presence. We’d expect nothing less of ARIA-winning producers SIXFOUR, emcee Daydream Fever, and vocalist Luke Carlino who…
Softly spoken and infectiously calm, “Down to the Minute” is the latest single from Nearly Oratorio, the latest project from Australian duo Kllo’s Simon Lam and a remarkable showcase for his new EP, A Comforting Fact. The highly ornate and plucky instrumental that floats through this minimalistic song is as pillow-soft as Lam’s whispered vocals,…
If you’re after some funky neo-soul to help lift your day then you could do worse then getting straight across Kaiit and her charming new single “Miss Shiney”. Following a big 2018, and praise from the likes of legends Jill Scott and Erykah Badu, the Melbourne-based singer-songwriter continues her honey-sweet discography with this confident jam…
One of Sydney’s most luxurious hotel’s (and pet friendly), The Langham, has linked up with Pink Hope to launch the city’s first ever “charity suite”. Basically what that means is that a guest room at The Langham has been completely transformed by the partnership, offering guests a luxurious and immersive experience bathed in dreamy all-pink…
Marriott has the W, IHG have Hotel Indigo, and Sofitel (owned by Accor) have the rapidly growing “SO/”. Hotel brands known for their warm luxurious embraces have, in the past decade especially, finessed their respective languages and funnelled them into younger, energetic off-shoots that fully commit to the “luxury boutique” label and thrive on individuality….
In response to a recent survey that found 88% of Australians preferred having their coffee with milk, Nespresso have readied a new range of five blends for their Original and Vertuo machines, each designed especially for that creamy shot of dairy (or soy, of course). The range comes from six years of Nespresso experts exploring…
Some of Phuket’s most beautiful national parks and jungle trails are actually found north of the airport. While much of the island’s often chaotic nightlife kicks off in the opposite direction, it’s the unspoilt natural beauty and lush landscapes that make heading up the right choice for visitors to the famous island. Though that doesn’t…
For the 2019 edition of Sydney Contemporary, more than 85 galleries from across the country and around the globe will come together at Carriageworks for four days of Australasia’s largest and most diverse art fair. Five different continents will be represented, showcasing over 300 artists from more than 30 different countries, including France, Japan, New…
Often cited as one of the best Italian restaurants in Sydney, Machiavelli Ristorante Italiano has edged forward with something the institution has never before done. After three decades of serving high flying corporates, visiting celebrities, and most famously Australia’s political elite, the Italian restaurant is now extending trading hours to include Saturday nights. Historically, the…
You’d be mistaken if you thought Sydney was all about the summer months. As soon as winter hits, the city seems to spring to life with some of its greatest yearly events, as well as a whole host of other fun things to do. And the next few weeks will certainly showcase that, with the…
One look at the Sydney Opera House and the surrounding Circular Quay during Vivid Sydney is all it needs to fall in love with the festival all over again. Despite the train delays and constant crowds, something about this buzzing and energetic festival of lights, music and ideas captures the imaginations of both visitors and…
No one who has been to Canberra in the past few years would dare say the city lacks character. Though Australia’s capital may be better known as the seat of a chaotic political scene, its not hard to be won over by world-class museums, stunning urban vineyards, classic markets, spectacular light festivals and an exceptional…
Starting today, McDonald’s outlets across Australia will be the first across the globe to introduce some subtle improvements to the burgers that have made Maccas the dominant chain it is today. The classics, which include the Big Mac, Quarter Pounder and Cheeseburger, are said to have undergone a number of careful improvements to the way…
From cronuts to freakshakes, most of Sydney’s zany dessert trends involve doughnuts in some capacity. The latest: the Zippoli. The traditional Italian version of the classic doughnut has been officially put forth as Sydney’s next deep-fried food obsession thanks to restauranteur Anthony Furfaro, who has opened a new dessert bar in the South-West suburb of…
Tokyo may be one of the most popular travel destinations for Aussies right now, but it doesn’t necessarily have a reputation for being a “digital nomad” city. Given that space is a premium, language barriers still very much exist, and Japan’s love of rules and paperwork, it’s a reputation that in the past has been…
Head of Sony Pictures Men in Black: International, the studio has teamed up with Booking.com to faithfully recreate the film’s London based headquarters, and open it up for public accommodation. Available exclusively on the booking website, two guests per night will be able to book into this very unique stay which will come with a…