Travel & Lifestyle

The best things to do in Sydney this month: May 2017

Festivals dominate Sydney whenever winter approaches. Food & Wine festivals, light festivals, writers festivals, fashion festivals, beer festivals – you name it. On the produce side of things, the cool climate starts to bring in some incredible eats and drinks, filling you up with all kinds of intense flavours and fuel to help you make…

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Barbecue lovers come out in full force for Meatstock, the Music & Meat Festival

World renowned three time Barbecue World Champion Tuffy Stone; cook, author and TV host Jess Pryles; Australia’s greatest BBQ-ers battling it out for supremacy (and for the benefit of the hungry, hungry public); and a whole slew of live music acts. Meatstock certainly brought the goods to Melbourne this past weekend, and with the annual…

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Travel Tips: Adelaide’s The Coconut Kids share lessons learned at the South by Southwest Festival in Texas

Adelaide group The Coconut Kids recently completed a successful debut run at SXSW in Austin, Texas – taking part in what is easily, one of the world’s biggest showcases of new music. For the French-inspired indie folk group, the trip took them all the way from South Oz to some of the richest areas of music in…

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The most affordable way to attend Dark Mofo may just be by a P&O Cruise

Dark Mofo hits Hobart in June, a winter festival that has fast become a favourite and mainstay of the national circuit; attracting incredible music, arts and food events, and an iconic nudie run that is always the talk of the town. There are a lot of ways that punters can get to the event from…

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Review: The North Melbourne Hotel delivers on quality European cuisine in their new Autumn menu

In the spirit of the cooler change in weather, The North Melbourne Hotel have crafted a new Autumn menu, perfectly suited for those looking for modern European cuisine with a North Melbourne twist. Owners Sandra and Jose De Oliveira are in fact celebrating thirty years in the hospitality industry this year, with their first ever…

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Burger Watch: Guilty brings mi goreng fried chicken sandwiches to Sydney

Welcome to Burger Watch, where we acknowledge the constant creativity bursting from all sides of the epic burger wave that regularly sweeps Australia. The highest-of-high demand is reserved for this timeless food staple and just about every interpretation of it, whether it to be an over-the-top glutton-fest or a focus on simple burgers done well….

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Over 100 events planned for Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane during World Class Cocktail Week

Returning for another year of boozy, balanced and innovative fun, World Class Cocktail Week is bringing over 100 experiences to Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane, spread across seven days with some of the country’s finest bartenders and chefs getting involved. A range of masterclasses, tasting events and tutorials will be spread through the three cities, underlining…

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OAK give their flavoured milk some more muscle with OAK Plus

Stalwart flavoured milk brand Oak have been serving the Australian people for what feels like forever. Earlier this year, interest in Oak spiked with chocolate milk slurpee machines popping up around the country, and now the brand has used that momentum to spring a new product on us unworthy flavoured milk fiends: OAK Plus. As…

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Jamie Oliver is coming to Australia to help kickstart a new era for Jamie’s Italian

If Keystone Group goes down, it certainly won’t be taking Jamie’s Italian with it. With six wildly popular restaurants across the country, Jamie Oliver’s dominant Italian restaurant chain is about to receive a substantial and much-needed shake-up now that is has been officially bought back by the Jamie Oliver Restaurant Group. To celebrate, the renowned…

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Pyrmont Festival set to host Mudgee Region in massive two-week showcase event (Sydney)

The Pyrmont Festival is back again in 2017 with a two-week long event to advertise the best of both the Pyrmont and New South Wale’s stunning Mudgee region. Pyrmont will play host to the event from May 13th – 27th, giving visitors the opportunity to experience the country charm of the Mudgee Region as well…

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Joe & The Juice is on the path to redefining Sydney’s juice bar scene

Joe & The Juice is a hip, healthy juice bar chain originating from Denmark that has been successfully blitzing up nutritious juices across America and Europe. The man behind it all is Kasper Basse, a former martial arts champion and black belt, who decided to create a healthy juice café that offers a unique experience….

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Review: Tommy Ruff proves there’s more to affordable seafood than just fish’n’chips (Melbourne)

In February, following their success in the suburbs of Elsternwick and Mordialloc, John and Helen Stamoulis opened their third Tommy Ruff Fish Bar in Windsor. Located on Chapel street, the newest Tommy Ruff joint is a bright and relaxing addition to one of the busiest hospitality precincts in Melbourne. Despite its overall physically narrow structure,…

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Review: Burger Project proves essential to Parramatta’s growing food scene (Sydney)

For the past few years there has been a major shift in how Parramatta is being used. Western Sydney’s enormous hub has been crafted to a higher standard than it has in the past, pushing away from dusty old RSLs and substandard food to give locals and visitors a hospitality scene that’s actually exciting. With…

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Reynold Poernomo opens Koi Dessert Kitchen in Ryde (Sydney)

After finding great success as part of the Kensington Street precinct in Chippendale, former Masterchef favourite and one of the country’s most celebrate “dessert kings” Reynold Poernomo has expanded upon KOI Dessert Bar. Now, in addition to the wildly popular Chippendale dessert destination, Poernomo has opened up KOI Dessert Kitchen Ryde. In partnership with members…

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Review: Catalina is more than sparkling Rose Bay views and celebrity spotting (Sydney)

Sparkling views of Rose Bay stretch from Catalina, one of the most high-profile and sought-after dining spots in Sydney. The exclusivity may be overwhelming to some at first, but despite the dazzling clientele and prices to match, there’s a warmth to the restaurant that’s immediately welcoming. The charm undercuts what some people may see as…

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Review: Efendy remains at the forefront of contemporary Turkish cuisine – Balmain (Sydney)

We’re seated outside at Efendy in Balmain on a beautiful sunny Sunday. The courtyard has a casual atmosphere that’s friendly and inviting, extending through to the contemporary Turkish food. There’s nothing too fussy going on with everything we order, just authentic and bold flavours. With a new focus on charcoal grilling, chef Somer Sivrioglu was inspired by…

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Chur Burger has opened its doors at Hoyts Chadstone (Melbourne)

Since October 2016, the newly renovated doors at Chadstone Shopping Centre have been open for shoppers and tourists alike, with hundreds of new stores, restaurants, and meticulously designed architectural elements to admire. For most, the opening of Hoyts Cinema after two years gone was a big step forward for the property, especially given that the…

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There’s now a bottomless rosé happy hour in Sydney

Just because summer’s over doesn’t mean the fun has to stop. See these coming months through rose-coloured glasses, because thanks to Nour, those sunny summer vibes will last long into autumn and winter this year. The contemporary Lebanese restaurant in Surry Hills has just elevated happy hour, with free-flowing rosé for two hours straight, Monday…

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The team behind Mary’s and The Unicorn announce big plans for The Lansdowne Hotel (Sydney)

We have news and it’s yuuuuge!!! Chippendale’s iconic live music venue The Lansdowne Hotel is re-opening and there just aren’t enough exclamation points in the universe to contain or express our excitement. After the closure of many a wild and wonderful place such as The Newtown Social Club, The Annandale Hotel and Goodgod Small Club…

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Dewar’s whisky brings their Scotch Egg Club to Sydney this May

This May, Sydney’s CBD will he home to an unique pairing when Dewar’s Scotch Whisky take the flavors of Dewar’s 12 yo and create a series of cocktails that will match with Scotch Eggs. For those unaware, a Scotch Egg is a UK delicacy that sees a boiled egg wrapped in meat and coated in bread…

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Egyptian food truck El Qahirah coming to Sydney’s World Square this week

El Qahirah, Sydney’s only Egyptian food truck is bringing the tastes of Cairo to the streets of the CBD this April. El Qahirah launched at the beginning of last year and have been supplying healthy, filling and nutritious traditional Egyptian dishes across Sydney since. The food truck serves the three most common dishes in Cairo…

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Hotel Review: The Adina Apartment Hotel Adelaide Treasury highlights history beneath the CBD

Adelaide’s architecture has long been a selling point of the city. Of course, with South Australia being the only Australian capital to be established as a free colony (ie. No convicts), there’s a certain type of gravitas that the historical buildings throughout the CBD maintain. It may be a small city, but the way in…

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Tella Balls Dessert Bar’s Concord location is keeping things interesting with new menu (Sydney)

Remember the milkshakes topped with Nutella-filled doughnuts that were strewn across the Internet (particularly Instagram)? Well it’s time to get Insta ready again this Long Weekend as Concord’s Tella Balls Dessert Bar has launched a new dessert menu timed nicely for Easter. Aki Daikos, co-owner of the flagship Tella Balls Dessert Bar in Sydney’s Dulwich…

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Review: Koi Dessert Bar brings Asian flavours to a sweet and savoury degustation – Chippendale (Sydney)

Delectable desserts with Asian influences are at the forefront of Chippendale’s Koi Dessert Bar. Reynold Poernomo of Masterchef fame along with his brothers Arnold and Ronald opened the dessert bar on Kensington Street. A food destination in its own right, the street has quickly become one of the most exciting precincts in the inner city, dotted with cafes,…

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Sydneysiders can get their mouths around coffee-infused fried chicken this weekend

It’s always a good time when an established brand reaches out to some of Sydney’s finest to do a collaboration. It often leads to inventive franken-foods, and this one right here is absolutely no exception. The brand is Nespresso. The Sydney vendor is “sneaker ‘n’ fried chicken” shop Butter. The collaboration: well, the headline says…

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The Cheese Lovers Festival is returning to the Hunter Valley this June

There’s no better combination that cheese, wine, and the Hunter Valley. Nick Haddow leads the cream of artisan cheese makers descending on the Hunter Valley for two days this June for the popular Cheese Lovers Festival; sponsored by Kurrajong Kitchen. Held in spectacular Hunter Valley, the two-day festival, taking place on Saturday 17th June and…

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Sydney’s getting an espresso martini festival next month

All hail the espresso martini, a genius fusion of caffeine and alcohol created by a fellow named Dick and a never to be named supermodel. Regardless of how it came to be, the more important thing is there’s an official festival idolising the signature cocktail heading our way. Following its recent success in Melbourne last…

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Randwick’s The DOG Hotel has something special planned for ANZAC Day (Sydney)

As we approach Australia’s national day of remembrance, ANZAC Day, some of the country’s best pubs are preparing for one of their busiest days of the year. Something about kicking back with friends and drinking beer has somehow become attached to the national public holiday, and for years these drinking institutions have been putting on…

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Five things to do in Coachella Valley, other than attending Coachella Music & Arts Festival

Over the next two weekends, Coachella Valley in Indio, California, will be overtaken by tens of thousands of festival goers, attending the annual, iconic Coachella Music & Arts Festival. But there’s much more than just music waiting for you in this idyllic desert getaway. Here’s just five things you should do while in the valley,…

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Los Angeles is getting its very own museum dedicated to Ice Cream

With more museums than any other city in the U.S.A., it seems natural that Los Angeles (California) would need to start thinking outside the box when it started to add new additions to its roster. In the case of a new pop-up museum due to arrive, it seems they started thinking inside the cone, as…

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