Kylie Minogue Credit: Darenoted Ltd
Kylie Minogue to headline Sydney WorldPride opening
#feelnewsydney
It’ll be Raining Glitter during Sydney WorldPride 2023 as a dazzling kaleidoscope of LGBTQIA+ colour takes over the harbour city from 17 February to 5 March 2023 – and the iconic Showgirl herself, Kylie Minogue, headlines the Live & Proud Opening Concert. Fall head over heels with the harbour city and if you Should Be So Lucky, perhaps you’ll find Love at First Sight between partying at more than 300 events, from the sparkling city to gritty-glittery Darlinghurst, Bondi, Newtown and beyond.
Your Disco Needs You in the City Centre
Sydney’s abuzz as a bonanza of stellar events brings the whole city out to play, with the harbour’s grandest icons gleaming as they gear up to showcase WorldPride – including the Pride March across the Sydney Harbour Bridge and the Blak & Deadly First Nations Gala Concert at the Opera House. And whether you’re donning your best eleganza for the Mardi Gras Sissy Ball or hitting The Ivy for POOF DOOF on a Saturday night, there’s a new way to play all year round. Rendezvous At Sunset for drinks at Shell House, where you’ll sip sophisticated tipples in five glamorous watering holes including the Sky Bar – famous for its Mile High Club cocktail, Art Deco opulence and extraordinary city views. Head to Mary’s Underground and The Argyle for a rolling roster of queer-friendly parties and shows, then make your way to MuMu for a late-night kiki over South-East Asian street food, Yuzu Slushee cocktails and banging beats. Afterwards, prepare to slay another day with a luxury stay at Pier One Sydney, where the chic harbourside suites ooze laidback glamour and boast views so extraordinary they’ll make you go Wow!
Find your Real Groove in Darlinghurst
Gloriously loud and rightfully proud, Darlinghurst is the epicentre of Sydney’s LGBTQIA+ nightlife and the historic heart of Australia’s queer culture. Step Back in Time at Taylor Square, where the iconic Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras was born from a civil rights protest in 1978, then check out Oxford Street’s colourful boutiques – including the famous House of Priscilla, where drag icons shop for frocks. Warm up for a night of Dancing at stylish street-level bars like Café Freda’s and The Colombian, or walk over to Dulcie’s and Parlar for a delectable selection of tipples. Then, grab a pre-boogie bite nearby at Pellegrino 2000 or The Paddington before hitting the tiles. Start at the historic Stonewall Hotel for Sydney’s top DJs, drag performers and dancers every night of the week; or let the night guide you to the Oxford Hotel, Palms On Oxford and Universal Sydney for rainbow-themed parties, live entertainment and late-night feasts of burgers, pastas and parmies. Once you’re all boogied out, tuck yourself in at the stylish Paramount House Hotel, where heritage details and contemporary amenities create an inspired setting fit for an Impossible Princess.
Tower Bar, Shell House, Sydney Credit: Jonny Valiant,
Tower Bar at Shell House, Sydney
#feelnew #feelnewsydney
Tower Bar, Shell House, Sydney Credit: Jonny Valiant,
Tower Bar at Shell House, Sydney
Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras 2019, Sydney Credit: Jeffrey Feng
Celebrating the colourful collision of creativity and culture across our communities, the world renowned Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras Parade unites hundreds of thousands of revellers for the biggest night on the LGBTQI+ calendar.
#feelnewsydney #ilovesydney
Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras 2019, Sydney Credit: Jeffrey Feng
Celebrating the colourful collision of creativity and culture across our communities, the world renowned Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras Parade unites hundreds of thousands of revellers for the biggest night on the LGBTQI+ calendar.
All The Lovers flock to Bondi
Just moments from effervescent Darlinghurst, laidback Bondi Beach is where Sydney’s glam fam come together for sunset sessions that inevitably roll into Golden nights, the balmy, salty breeze adding extra sparkle to happy hour. For relaxed, old-school vibes, pull up a stool at The Royal Bondi, where you can create your own party playlist on their digital jukebox and enjoy a game of pool. At Neighbourhood, there’s low-key décor, delicious bottomless drinks packages and a sophisticated cocktail menu to sip as live DJs pump the tunes. Nearby, buzzing Don Pedros offers bottomless margaritas while Hotel Ravesis ups the glamour with innovative cocktails, jaw-dropping views over Australia’s most famous stretch of sand and shucked-to-order Sydney Rock oysters. At acclaimed North Bondi Fish, casual banquets feature quality seafood, melt-in-your-mouth steaks, salads and moreish sliders, while Rocker serves all-you-can-eat mussels as its resident DJs spin well into the night. Ready to linger a little longer? Slip off your dancing shoes, get some sand between your toes and hit refresh in a chic suite at QT Bondi.
Spinning Around Newtown and surrounds
Playful, eclectic and delightfully eccentric, the Inner West is Sydney’s creative heart – and the pot of gold at the end of the rainbow flag, with LGBTQIA+ bars, clubs and a welcoming community inviting one and all to party well into the night. Rub shoulders with local artists as you wet your whistle with specialty cocktails and a vibrant wine list at Newtown’s Continental Deli, before heading to the Newtown Hotel for drag, cocktails by the jug, and outstanding DJs. Down the road at the historic Imperial Erskineville, queer entertainment and good food come together at Drag N’ Dine, where you can catch legendary performers, feast on everything from Mushroom Tostada to Snapper Ceviche, then head downstairs to The Basement for a variety of live shows and DJs. In nearby Redfern, The Bearded Tit has welcoming neighbourhood queer bar vibes, creative space for emerging artists, live music, a covetable whiskey menu and a lip-smacking cocktail list. When you’re ready to call it a night, retreat to the Old Clare Hotel for tastefully remixed heritage architecture and a lush rooftop pool to refresh you between disco naps.
Drag Performance, Sydney Credit: Destination NSW
A drag performance lights up the stage, Sydney. For media use only in Australian markets to promote NSW.
#feelnewsydney #ilovesydney
Drag Performance, Sydney Credit: Destination NSW
A drag performance lights up the stage, Sydney. For media use only in Australian markets to promote NSW.
The Imperial Erskineville Credit: Destination NSW
Drag artists getting ready for Drag n' Dine at The Imperial Erskineville in Sydney's inner west.
#feelnewsydney #ilovesydney
The Imperial Erskineville Credit: Destination NSW
Drag artists getting ready for Drag n' Dine at The Imperial Erskineville in Sydney's inner west.
More Inspirational Stories
Firedoor, SydneyCredit: Nikki To
Chef Lennox Hastie in the kitchen at Surry Hill's Firedoor restaurant.
#feelnew #feelnewsydney
Renowned for the sparkling harbour and balmy evenings, Sydney reveals a slew of new flavours as the hot days turn to cool and colourful nights this winter. Where comfort food reigns supreme, from fine dining takes on classic dishes to cult-status budget friendly eats – refuel with some delicious winter warmers in the harbour city.
Firedoor
The hottest seat in town is the counter at Firedoor. Literally. Escape the winter breeze and be warmed by the heat of the wood-fired oven, which can reach 1600C, as you watch Lennox Hastie and his team cooking over charcoal, embers and open flames. Everything is kissed by smoke, from fat oysters to fresh vegetables and memorable steaks - dry aged for around 150 days, it’ll thrill your taste buds in a way you never thought possible.
Fred’s
The crackling fire over the open hearth is a sign of what’s to come at Fred’s. From a daily changing menu featuring freshly caught seafood and mouth-watering steaks - you can see and hear the chefs prepare your meal so that it feels as if you’re part of the kitchen. The rhythmic chop of the knives, the bubbling water as it boils and the hiss of the hot grills makes you forget bustling Oxford Street is just behind you as you immerse yourself in the theatre of a fine dining kitchen that has the rustic charm of a country farmhouse.
Ester
The concrete walls and woodfired oven at Ester create the sensation of stepping into a bunker, albeit one with deliciously scorched food. The modern Australian menu is peppered with native ingredients and while it’s not bush tucker, it is a unique taste of this land of sweeping plains. Think handpicked mud crab with claypot rice, king prawns with fermented shrimp butter and dry aged pork chop with a flavourful native spice rub cooked over charcoal.
Margaret
Retreat from the cool wintry nights with a heartwarming dining experience at acclaimed chef Neil Perry’s first solo restaurant – Margaret. Named in honor of his late mother, the 170 seat fine-diner combines the homestyle heart of mum’s cooking with a surprise twist of a chef at his peak. The chicken is done over a wood rotisserie, the fish has a gremolata crumb and the baked pear and raspberry pudding with vanilla sauce is just the thing to warm you up from the inside out.
Margaret, Double Bay, Sydney Credit: Petrina Tinsley
Margaret by Neil Perry AM, presents modern Australian cuisine with Mediterranean and Asian flavours with a large focus on fresh local produce.
#feelnew #feelnewsydney
Margaret, Double Bay, Sydney Credit: Petrina Tinsley
Margaret by Neil Perry AM, presents modern Australian cuisine with Mediterranean and Asian flavours with a large focus on fresh local produce.
Margaret, Double Bay, Sydney Credit: Petrina Tinsley
Margaret by Neil Perry AM, presents modern Australian cuisine with Mediterranean and Asian flavours with a large focus on fresh local produce.
#feelnew #feelnewsydney
Margaret, Double Bay, Sydney Credit: Petrina Tinsley
Margaret by Neil Perry AM, presents modern Australian cuisine with Mediterranean and Asian flavours with a large focus on fresh local produce.
Bennelong
Set inside the iconic sails of the Sydney Opera House, Bennelong’s curated menu offers a one-of-a-kind dining experience. Peter Gilmore’s dishes are as whimsical, memorable and quintessentially Australian as the restaurant’s setting. His lamington has all the nostalgic flavours of the beloved classic, with the addition of cherry jam, coconut cream ice-cream and chocolate ganache.
Chaco Ramen
For a delicious soul-soothing dish on a cool winter eve’, pay a visit to Chaco Ramen for one of their cult-status dishes - The Fat Soy ramen. The equivalent of a big, warm hug on a chilly day – this delectable velvety mix of broth, pork, chicken and fish, made rich and thick by the addition of pork fat is a true crowd pleaser, so pack a jumper and get in line.
The Duke of Clarence
A roaring fireplace, cozy Chesterfield couches you can sink into and wall-to-wall bookshelves make The Duke of Clarence a place to linger. Hidden in the centre of the harbour city, this 18th-Century inspired London Tavern is renowned for wholesome British eats ideal for cooler days – from home-cooked pies, to bangers and mash. Warm up your weekend with a memorable roast, and pick from one of four options every Sunday, each served with delicious Yorkshire puddings to soak up the rich gravy.
Restaurant Hubert
Descend the curved, wood-paneled staircase to Restaurant Hubert and lose yourself in a world made for bon vivants. Time is irrelevant here; this is the kind of place that makes you want to stretch your night out. Martinis in the bar turn into a dinner of French bistro classics with a twist, think roasted snails with XO butter, and live jazz that will convince you to linger a little longer over a digestif.
Aalia
Reveal a world you didn’t know existed at Aalia as you take your taste buds on an adventure through the lands of the Levant and Northern Africa. With chef Paul Farag at the helm, Middle Eastern food is elevated to fine dining status. He combines tradition with modern techniques to offer diners a time-travelling odyssey. Discover the old-world flavours of molokhia, geymar and kabsa as Farag spins his new-world interpretation of classic dishes.
Bennelong Restaurant, Sydney Credit: Destination NSW
Bennelong Restaurant chef prepping in the kitchen. Bennelong Restaurant, Sydney.
#feelnew #feelnewsydney
Bennelong Restaurant, Sydney Credit: Destination NSW
Bennelong Restaurant chef prepping in the kitchen. Bennelong Restaurant, Sydney.
Restaurant Hubert, Sydney Credit: Destination NSW
Couple enjoying food and drink at French restaurant Restaurant Hubert, Sydney.
#feelnew #feelnewsydney
Restaurant Hubert, Sydney Credit: Destination NSW
Couple enjoying food and drink at French restaurant Restaurant Hubert, Sydney.