Author: Chris Singh

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.

Icebergs Dining Room & Bar introduces a daily crudo menu (Sydney)

In addition to turning Japanese for four nights next month, Bondi icon Icebergs Dining Room & Bar have switched things up with their daily offerings, offering a specialised crudo menu alongside their existing options, a big nod to the restaurant’s sublime location and the local seafood suppliers they regularly deal with. An extensive seafood supplier…

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Sydney’s legendary Goodbar has reopened as both a cocktail bar and a nightclub

Now a few weeks into operation, Paddington’s revitalised Goodbar has breathed some necessary new life into Sydney’s nightclub scene, representing a move forward despite the weight of lockout laws still looming over the city. Owner Scott Robertson and Division Agency are behind the big refresh, taking on the iconic building at 11a Oxford St –…

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The Rocks’ 12th annual Australian Beer Festival returns this October (Sydney)

12 years in and Australian Beer Festival still remains one of Sydney’s most loved brew-focused events, bringing more than 120 beers and ciders from across the country to the historic surrounds of Cumberland and Gloucester streets in The Rocks. 30 different breweries are on board this year, preparing to set up stalls for the two-and-a-half-day…

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Urban Orchard brings wholefoods to Circular Quay (Sydney)

Now that $60 million development The Gateway has opened in Circular Quay, it’s time for the notoriously touristy area to start building a quality dining scene to fully integrate into the new-look harbour city. The Gateway has a wide enough scope to welcome in some really big openings, as well as some smaller ones that…

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Johnnie Walker launches Blenders’ Batch series with Red Rye Finish

Never a brand to rest on their laurels, Johnnie Walker have announced that they will push forward with a number of limited edition releases in the near future with their “Johnnie Walker Blenders’ Batch” range. The acclaimed scotch whisky will use this as a change to offer experimental expressions, lifting the lid on the skill…

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Review: Tequila Mockingbird – Paddington (Sydney)

Paddington’s famed Five Ways intersection has welcomed a new tenant with Tequila Mockingbird, a contemporary Latin American restaurant and bar that’s been gaining some serious traction with locals and visitors since opening a bit over a month ago. Co-owner Michael Fegent (ex-Sake) and Executive Chef Regan Porteous (Riley Street Garage) sit at the head of…

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Hong Kong’s famous Yardbird is popping up in Surry Hills this weekend (Sydney)

Hong Kong’s Yardbird will be taking flight and landing in Surry Hills this weekend to co-run the kitchen at Harpoon Harry with the one and only Morgan McGlone. It’s the latest in McGlone’s “Friends of Harry’s” series which he launched shortly after he took up residency in the inner-city hotspot, bringing in the likes of…

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Saké Restaurant & Bar celebrates Cherry Blossom season with special menus (Sydney)

Go grab a Saffron Gin based Good Time Geisha cocktail at either Saké Restaurant & Bar in Sydney and you’ll be joining the acclaimed modern Japanese restaurant in celebrating the arrival of spring and the stunning Japanese Sakura flowers that come with the season. Once again, Saké have introduced a few specials to mark the…

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Gelato Messina and Burn City Smokers plan Southern BBQ pop up for Sydney

As their awesome Messina Eats series rolls on, dessert lords Gelato Messina have tapped the folk behind Burn City Smokers to fire up for their latest weekend pop-up, bringing a heady mix of ice cream and good ol’ southern BBQ to Rosebery. For previous pop-ups Messina have gone with the likes of

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What made Season Six of The Walking Dead work, and what held it back

Say what you want about The Walking Dead, there’s few who could genuinely deny the show its enormous success; the powerhouse series has continued to effectively reinvent itself for the past six years and really justify its impressive numbers. Word has it that the TWD audience grew 27% globally between the fifth and sixth season,…

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You can now get Golden Gaytime milkshakes and doughnuts in Australia

OTT dessert drinks are here to stay, get used to it. Those who embrace the trend have been one-upping each other for awhile now, and legendary queue magnet Burgers By Josh may have just won the game by introducing an alcoholic Golden Gaytime milkshake to the burger joint’s menu at The Annandale. Though a spiked…

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Icebergs Dining Room and Bar is turning Japanese for October (Sydney)

For four nights – every Tuesday – in October, Bondi icon Icebergs Dining Room and Bar will be doing things a little bit differently. As part of their participation in the annual Good Food Month program, Executive Chef Monty Koludrovic and his handy kitchen team will be blending their Italian influence with Japanese cuisine, even…

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Hophaus’ Oktoberfest brings sausages and sausage dogs to Southgate (Melbourne)

Melbourne’s Hophaus are getting into the thick of their annual Oktoberfest celebrations, spreading an extended program of German themed events from now until Sunday 23rd October. There’s a whole heap of activities planned like a German degustation dinner with the Head Brewer of Weihenstephaner to the return of the Teckelrennen Annual Daschund Race, which will…

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Watsons Bay Boutique Hotel team with Robert Oatley Wines for spring social dinner (Sydney)

Few scenes in Sydney really telegraph spring as much as super-venue Watsons Bay Boutique Hotel. The bay-side retreat is a constant source of inspiration for sun-hunting Sydneysiders so when they announce something like a cider street festival or a spring social degustation, we listen. The venue’s kitchen will be welcoming Australia’s legendary NSW growers Robert…

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Grumpy Donuts are giving away free donuts this weekend in Camperdown (Sydney)

All has been confirmed; It’s finally happening. What started as an online-only delivery service has rapidly expanded for Grumpy Donuts, now the brand are opening their very first store and they’ll be doing so this Saturday 23rd September. Earlier this month news broke that the adored donut business will be setting up a bricks and…

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The Streets of Barangaroo: here’s what to expect from the waterfront precinct (Sydney)

With the successful Wulugul Pop Up at Barangaroo winding down in August everything seems to be moving into place for The Streets of Barangaroo to truly spring to life. Over the next few months Sydney is going to start to see the permanent bars, restaurants, and retailers who will making up the character of this…

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Time Out Melbourne Food Awards 2016 winners announced

As award season for the Australian food scene continues, the Time Out Melbourne Food Awards have announced who they have celebrated above all others this year. Melbourne’s best restaurants, cafes, and food trucks have been named across 14 different categories, exploring all levels of dining in the world’s most liveable city to arrive at the…

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The Grounds of Alexandria are opening a new site on the lower north shore (Sydney)

It’s the dining oasis hidden in Alexandria that has pretty much become a suburb of its own. The Grounds of Alexandria remains one of the brightest beating hearts of Sydney’s cultural scene, consistently attracting sizable crowds of all-ages to play around in the garden, relax in the atrium, and make pig noises at heavy-set superstar…

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A look inside Tramsheds Harold Park: what to eat and drink at the new Sydney destination

The intersection of Glebe and Annandale, at the Northern End of the Harold Park development is where Sydneysiders will find that the historic 1904 Rozelle Tram Depot has been gutted, restored, and turned into an impressively slick European-style dining hall. It’s part of a huge redevelopment of the area by Mirvac, and one of the…

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Food Truck Park plans three-day fried chicken festival for November (Melbourne)

From Roadrunner Fried Chicken to Korean Fried Chicken Truck, there are plenty of mobile food vendors in Melbourne who dabble heavily in the art of fried chook. It’s about time some grease-loving geniuses rounded all those trucks together for one very big, super crispy festival. The folks behind Preston’s The Food Truck Park are those…

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Cake Bake and Sweets show announces 2016 line up (Melbourne)

Slide into a world of sugary, over-the-top cakes and chocolate sculptures this October at Melbourne Convention & Exhibition Centre because the Cake Bake and Sweets show has announced it’s yearly return. For three sweet days – 21st to 23rd October – the massive space will host home bakers, food-lovers, dessert enthusiasts, and some of Australia’s…

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Bartender Magazine Australian Bar Awards announces 2016 winners

To cap off yet another busy Bar Week, the industry came together last night at the 16th annual Bartender Magazine Australian Bar Awards to celebrate the past 12 months of outstanding bars across Australia. Always an authoritative lens through which to examine the massive scale of quality bars across the country, the awards ceremony celebrated…

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Recipe: Root’d Spiced Panna Cotta

Melbourne-based wellness company Heal’r.com.au are edging into the market with a new spice mixture going by the name of Root’d. It’s an organic turmeric spice blend made with dandelion root, formulated after extensive research aimed at balancing taste with health, bringing together several certified organic herbs and spices to create an adaptable blend made of…

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The 15th annual Amber Affair festival returns to The Argyle (Sydney)

The Argyle will be bringing back their Amber Affair beer festival this October, encouraging folks to raise a glass to help gather some much needed funds for Sydney Children’s Hospital in Randwick. Hundreds of beer lovers will be coming together on Thursday 20th October for the annual event, a showcase for various delicious and unique…

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Heineken to launch flagship bar at Sydney Airport

Ice cold beer and food by renowned chef Wolfgang Puck is what one will find at Heineken House, the brand’s very first flagship venue in Australia, opening at Sydney Airport’s T1 Internatinal terminal. The busy airport will be hosting the new venture as part of an ongoing evolution to their food and beverage scene, providing…

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Swig & Nibble to make Australian debut at Polperro Wines with Michelin trained chef (VIC)

A “Swig & Nibble” may sound like a modest night out but this outdoor dining series, held over three days on the lush grounds of Polperro Winery, sounds like a feast. After seeing success in Manila, Ubud, and Jakarta, the concept event by Bali’s Cuca Restaurant will be making its exclusive Australia debut at the…

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Review: Gilt Lounge (spring 2016 menu) – CBD (Sydney)

Much has been said about the character of QT Sydney, that charming, eccentric hotel sitting side-to-side with the historic State Theatre. Just one brief ride in the elevator should be enough to tell you that this is a playful time capsule that exists in a lane entirely of its own, step out into the lobby…

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Review: Weekend High Tea Buffet, Sheraton on the Park – CBD (Sydney)

After improving the design of their lobby-level dining space The Gallery, luxe Sydney hotel Sheraton on the Park have flipped the ‘on’ switch to their new afternoon high tea experience, a decadent buffet-style approach to the elegant tradition. There aren’t many high tea offerings around Sydney which allow you access to a buffet, so this…

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The Bucket List readies summer menu with poke and frosé (Sydney)

Now in its fifth year, Bondi staple The Bucket List is ready to once again take on the season it was built for, edging into spring with a new menu that’s been put together with those beaming beach-side days in mind. The colourful venue has become well-known as a primary choice for locals and visiting…

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Zeta Bar gets a big refresh with globetrotting spring cocktail menu (Sydney)

The historic Hilton Sydney is a regular go-to for their two stunning bars, one of which is the legendary Marble Bar, the other: Zeta Bar. While Marble has always attracted a relaxed, classic cocktail-loving crowd looking to escape the streets of Sydney by heading underground, Zeta has been known as a staple for lavish nights…

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