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.
You should never count the incendiary trio of Liam Howlett, Keith Flint and Maxim out of the game. As legendary English band The Prodigy, they have proven time and time again to have one of the most exciting shows in live music history. We’re no stranger to their monolithic fusion of rave and rock down…
It’s time to update that bucketlist because Lonely Planet have revealed their annual “Best in Travel” lists for 2019, collating lists of the hottest destinations, experiences and travel trends for the year ahead. Each year, the accompanying travel book sells well around the world, highlighting various hot-ticket destinations and events that should be on every…
Whether you engage with the race itself or not, Melbourne Cup is always a good excuse to get out of the office and sneak a long festive lunch in with the colleagues. Sydney’s best restaurants and bars always put their best food forward when it comes to “the face that stops the nation”, putting together…
Delicious World Pasta Day is upon us, an open celebration of what is quite possibly (definitely) one of the top 10 things ever created. And since today is the best time to show appreciation for the diverse Italian-born food, we thought it best to have a quick chat with Aussie chef Dario Manca (well known…
Sheffield rockers Arctic Monkeys have today announced a triumphant return to Australia and New Zealand, bringing Tranquility Base Hotel & Casino down our way for a tour across Sydney, Melbourne, Perth, Brisbane and Auckland. What’s more is that they will be bringing friends and collaborators Mini Mansions along for the ride, the L.A band filling…
There have been a few straight copies of Niantic’s mega-successful Pokémon Go (yes, people still play it; someone trade me a Mewtwo please) but none quite as odd as this one. Follow JC Go!, an augmented reality adventure app inspired by the same people that bought you Catholicism (the religion, not the game), has been…
Oh Mega Man, such a treasured relic of the past, and one of the great gaming franchises of the 8-bit era. It was — is — one of the few series that could get away with being so repetitive and frustratingly difficult because there’s something about its simple premise and nostalgia-inducing schtick that just stuck…
Ever since Kerry Hotels launched as a brand back in 2011, it has been well received as a fascinating, and interesting, expression from Shangri-La Group, who are best known for their opulent namesake properties. While Hotel Jen, another critical darling from the group, plays more in the mid-range category with a strong commitment to design…
After-dark museum spooktaculars, scary Inner-West pub raves, Bojack Horseman dress-up parties, and ghoulish dog shows. Yeah, it’s Halloween in Sydney alright. Each year some of the best venues in the city attempt to out-do themselves and lure you into webs of themed events and expensive drinks. Not all are made equal though, so we’ve done…
Renowned chef Jessi Singh has returned to Australia to bring his “unauthentic Indian” cuisine to Sydney, opening Surry Hills’ newest restaurant Don’t Tell Aunty. The space, which replaces the old 4Fourteen, is marked by Singh’s fun and casual atmosphere, inspired by the home of a traditional Indian aunty – that being a place where you…
Applejack, the group behind beloved Sydney venues like The Butler and The Botanist, will finally be making their way into the CBD for the first time with a new restaurant and bar on Carrington Street. Named Bopp & Tone for the Applejack founders’ grandfathers – Keith “Bopp” Evans and Anthony “Tone” Adams – the Mediterranean…
Now connecting Hong Kong with Zhuhai and Macau is the world’s longest bridge and tunnel sea crossing, a megaproject measuring in at 55km, which is 20 times longer than San Fran’s Golden Gate Bridge, and containing enough steel (400,000 tonnes to be exact) to build 60 Eiffel Towers. Costing approximately $20bn, it’s one of the…
It has been two years since U.S fast-food giant Carl’s Jr opened their first ever Australian store in Bateau Bay on New South Wales’s Central Coast. It was a success, as was the steady roll out of stores that followed as part of a very ambitious expansion set to see around 300 stores open across…
Union Square has long been a useful anchor for visitors set to explore San Francisco, one of the most consistently impressive and dynamic cities in the world. It’s why many big-name hotel chains can be found spread throughout the heart of metropolitan heart of San Fran, with Hilton Union Square remaining one of the most…
The final three months of 2018 bring plenty of opportunities for gastronomic tourism (the best kind of travel), whether you’re heading over to North America, travelling around Asia or just keen on a road trip in your backyard. These six highly curated food festivals are well worth getting off the couch for, from historic long-running…
We know you’ve been waiting for this one. Announced via triple j today, Ruby Fields fans in Melbourne and Sydney won’t have to wait until next year’s Laneway Festival to catch the singer-songwriter live thanks to a brief two-date East Coast tour set in support of her breathtaking latest single “Dinosaur”. Much like her debut…
Unless you’re heading there on business, chances are the riverina city of Albury isn’t too far up the bucketlist when it comes to those essential Aussie road trip destinations. Although, the major regional city, located on the banks of the Murray River, is a convenient and completely worthwhile stop-off on the way to (or from)…
Chatswood burger joint Royal Stacks is celebrating a whole two years since it’s first shop in Sydney, moving up from Melbourne to great acclaim with a total of 130,00 burgers and 3000 liters of frozen custards sold to date. On Saturday 27th October, those celebration will hit their peak with a huge party, featuring a…
Multi-platinum pop megastar Post Malone will be making a huge return to Australia next year, announcing a nationwide tour that’ll be taking the “Rockstar” singer across Perth, Adelaide, Melbourne, Brisbane and Sydney. Set for April and May 2019, the string of performances will mark Malone’s first arena tour down under. Known for his vigorous stirred-pot…
It appears that Sean Bean has spilled…the beans? The former Game of Thrones cast member, who portrayed patriarch Ned Stark in the show’s first season, has let slip that HBO has been busy filming a reunion special ahead of the final run of episodes. The one-off special, which was reportedly hosted by Conan O’Brien, was…
If any domestic service calls for a slight upgrade, it’s the coast-to-coast flight from Sydney to Perth. While not exactly a gruelling long-haul, the five hour service is testing enough that a little bit of extra comfort goes a long way. We tested Virgin Australia’s Economy X product on the service to see if the…
Australia’s beloved Art Series Hotels have just introduced a slick new concept for hotel guests looking for a little participatory art project for dabble in. From now until December 30th, Melbourne gems The Blackman and The Olsen, and Brisbane’s The Johnson, will offer a “Colour Your Stay” package where guests can grab a spray can,…
Melbourne’s watery rooftop oasis is almost here, ushered in with the launch of Reunion Island Pool Club, re-shaping the former open-air digs of St Jerome’s – The Hotel into a breezy mecca of swish plunge pools, pop-ups from local hospitality heroes, and more. The sprawling and highly anticipated venue, a first for the Australia, officially…
Tasmanian producer Akouo has followed up last year’s incredible “Feel That” (featuring Montaigne) and his recent collaboration with LANKS (the dreamy “Yours”) with head-nodding new track “So Long” co-written by and featuring friend and vocalist Janeva. Seamlessly blending electronic production with his Akouo’s background in underground hip hop, the track is a festival-ready banger that…
Boutique hotels are at their best when you can see the sincerity in their design. Soulful touches and nostalgic nods to the property’s primary source of inspiration, whether that be a neighbourhood, a concept or a nearby institution, is always appreciated and is what ends up the most memorable part of any stay. The Fleming…
Some of the Inner West’s greatest culinary minds have come together to open a pizzeria on King Street, Newtown. This is a big deal. Talks of Bella Brutta (meaning “Beautiful Ugly”) began earlier this year, speaking of a pizza diner spearheaded by co-owner Luke Powell of Chippendale institution LP’s Quality Meats along with the crew,…
Australia’s first premium online cocktail subscription service has launched, paving the way for Cocktail Porter to deliver bartender-designed cocktail kits directly to front doors across the country. A concept birthed in Sydney, Cocktail Porter was founded by Cameron Northway of Sweet&Chilli and Bondi restaurant Rocker, aimed at pushing a modern, on-demand product for those wanting…
Craft beer rockstars Young Henrys have hooked up with Byron Bay clothing brand and hemp advocates Afends to release one of the first legal hemp beers in Australia, and the first to use brand new water soluble hemp oil technology. Simply dubbed the Hemp IPA, the beer was brewed to reinforce Afends’ initiative of promoting…
Out of all the excellent new openings populating Sydney’s hospitality scene before 2019 kicks off, few are as high-profile as this one. Employees Only, the award-winning speakeasy born in New York’s West Village and often referred to as one of the world’s best, is finally ready to open it’s doors in Sydney’s CBD. It will…
Starting from next week, Virgin Australia will roll out a total of seven new international lounges across the country and in New Zealand, significantly expanding their network and adding to the airline’s existing 12 premium domestic lounges. Australia will get three new international departure lounges, while New Zealand will have four. Award-winning British lounge specialist…
