ATC - Racing CarnivalCredit: Paul McMillan
ATC - Racing Carnival
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Sydney’s spring calendar is in full swing – and now, a world-class line-up of sporting events invites you to become part of the action. From the roar of basketball stadium crowds to the trackside rush of luxe marquees, plus football clashes at outdoor arenas and everything in between. Score tickets for the T20 World Cup, the FIBA Women’s Basketball World Cup, the Sydney Everest Carnival, the NRL Grand Final and, for something a bit different, Aqua Rugby! Plus, we’ve picked venues close by for post-match celebration (or commiseration).
Sydney Everest Carnival | 17 September - 5 November
High stakes, high fashion, and the world’s richest race on turf are set to take place in Sydney this spring. The Sydney Everest Carnival boasts eight weeks of world-class racing including the top tier $10 million Golden Eagle at Rosehill and the $15 million TAB Everest at Royal Randwick. A coveted ticket to the Moët and Chandon Spring Champion Stakes Day is a favourite for the ladies, with its glamorous, pink-themed fashion and gourmet picnics on hand. Throughout the entire carnival, guests can expect stacks of entertainment by way of live music in lush garden settings and DJs playing on stylish rooftop bars. If you're looking for a delicious meal and celebratory drinks after you've spent the day trackside, visit Clovelly Hotel.
FIBA Women’s Basketball World Cup | 22 September - 1 October
Women’s sport is powering ahead across all codes, all over the globe and this spring, Sydney proudly becomes the epicenter of the women’s international basketball scene for the FIBA Women’s Basketball World Cup held at the iconic Sydney Olympic Park. Watching a fast-paced basketball playoff featuring elite athletes is an adrenaline-inducing experience that you won’t want to miss. Eleven other nations will descend on the city for the tournament – make sure to keep an eye out for rising star of the Opals, Ezi Magbegor as she storms up the court. And, if you watch an early game, stop by Abattoir Blues for a late brunch, or if it’s a balmy night, opt for a classic pub meal outside at The Albion Hotel.
NRL Telstra Premiership Grand Final | 2 October
Footy fanatics and sporting enthusiasts unite for one of the biggest events on the Australian sporting calendar – the NRL Telstra Premiership Grand Final. The atmosphere at Accor Stadium will be electric! You’ll want to nab a great seat and witness the winning team take home the trophy. The 2022 NRL season has been a thrilling journey for fans already and they can’t wait to see who reigns supreme as the premiership team. Elevate your Grand Final experience with some pre-game cocktails and snacks at the lively Alex & Co. in Paramatta.
ATC - Racing Carnival Credit: Paul McMillan
ATC - Racing Carnival
#feelnewsydney #ilovesydney
ATC - Racing Carnival Credit: Paul McMillan
ATC - Racing Carnival
Australian Opals Basketball Team Credit: FIBA
The Australian Opals Women's Basketball Team are set to take on the world's top female basketball players at the FIBA Women's Basketball World Cup 2022.
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Australian Opals Basketball Team Credit: FIBA
The Australian Opals Women's Basketball Team are set to take on the world's top female basketball players at the FIBA Women's Basketball World Cup 2022.
ICC Men’s T20 World Cup | 22 October – 9 November
Warmer days and balmy nights punctuated by the excitement of premier events brings a buzz to the city that’s entirely unique. You’ll feel the crackle in the air when the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup rolls into town. There are seven matches in this hotly contested cricket competition that will be hosted at the iconic Sydney Cricket Ground. First up is a classic New Zealand versus Australia match-up, meaning there will be lots of grandstand bantering from fans. As the Aussies are the defending champs, we’re confident you’ll see the green and gold make a ton of runs.
Looking for a cool space to celebrate or commiserate pre or post a T20 game? Then put Loam, at the newly opened Ace Hotel in Surry Hills on your radar. Enjoy fun dishes like a portobello tonkatsu burger with perfectly executed drinks and cool company.
Aqua Rugby Festival | 10-12 November
Combine rugby, yachts and sunny afternoons by water’s edge and you’ve got a festival that could only happen in Sydney. Aqua Rugby is a relatively new sporting phenomenon held in Manly Cove, where players go full contact mode as they duck and weave across a 30m x 30m pontoon to score a try (by jumping in the ocean). There’s plenty of excitement for sports fans as they watch from the shoreline or soak up the water views from the luxury of a private yacht for the afternoon. Ready to refuel? Manly has plenty of sleek bars, elegant restaurants and classic pubs but The Tropic at the Wharf Bar is the top spot to sit and celebrate the Aqua Rugby Festival. After something more intimate but no less cool? Then a session at Italian eatery Belgrave Cartel is for you.
Sydney Super Cup | 17, 20 and 23 November
The inaugural Sydney Super Cup sees English Premier League club Everton clash against Scottish Premier League champions Celtic in an on-field battle of the ages. Ange Postecoglou is the Australian coach of the Celtic team and one of the most decorated Aussie soccer coaches in history. Will he lead the Celtics to victory, or will Everton seal the deal? All will be revealed in this nail-biting match between world class teams - it’s an evenly matched game that could go either way and part of a blockbuster series that will see Everton take on Western Sydney Wanderers on November 20 at the CommBank Stadium and Celtic take on Sydney FC at the newly opened Allianz Stadium on November 23. Salute the day and toast to the evening at the nearby Ruse Bar and Brasserie.
Australian cricket team Credit: ICC Men's T20 World Cup 2022
Three members of the Australian cricket team celebrating
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Australian cricket team Credit: ICC Men's T20 World Cup 2022
Three members of the Australian cricket team celebrating
Aqua Rugby Festival Credit: Aqua Rugby Australia
Catch all the action at the Aqua Rugby three-day floating rugby festival in Manly Cove, Sydney, from 10-12 November 2022.
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Aqua Rugby Festival Credit: Aqua Rugby Australia
Catch all the action at the Aqua Rugby three-day floating rugby festival in Manly Cove, Sydney, from 10-12 November 2022.
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Aster Bar Credit: InterContinental Sydney
Aster Bar, InterContinental Sydney
#feelnewsydney #ilovesydney
Dazzle your date when you take them to one of these hot new Sydney bars and restaurants. Or rekindle the romance with your partner on a memorable evening out, sipping cocktails on a newly opened hotel rooftop or sharing plates in a buzzy wine bar.
Embrace the skyline
Feel like you’re on top of the world — or at least on top of Sydney — at reservations-only Aster Bar, on the rooftop of the recently refurbished InterContinental Sydney in the city centre. Drink in the uninterrupted views of the Sydney Harbour Bridge, Sydney Opera House and Royal Botanic Garden from 32 floors above the ground. Sip a signature cocktail such as the Golden Hour , with Juniper Gin, Tumeric, Italicus, Cocchi Americano, citrus and chilli, and nibble on oysters with finger lime and ginger dressing or beetroot and gin relish duck pâté.
Indulge in opulence
A rooftop bar open til 2am with live DJs, quality booze, good food and views of the city sounds like a unicorn. ESCA (the same restaurant group responsibly for Nour, Aalia, Henrietta and Ito) has made the dream happen, and it’s called Joji. Good Food Guide Chef of the Year winner Paul Farag is behind a Japanese-influenced menu divided into raw, robata grilled and not-raw (mostly snacks like karaage, Japanese sandos and curry bread). If you’re there late, dig into the bar menu that includes a Japanese burger with a layer of Bolognese.
Pump up the volume
Share a passion for old-school forms of music with your partner? Bond over the curated LP playlists at Rekodo as you soak up the views of Darling Harbour from this Japanese restaurant and vinyl bar. You’ll find Rekodo on level one of the visually striking Barangaroo House at Barangaroo (look for what appears to be three giant bowls stacked on top of each other). Geek out over the top-shelf audio system as a DJ spins records, with popular musicians curating their favourite vinyl tracks on a monthly rotation. Sip from sake flights, choose a sake-inspired cocktail such as the Wild & Peaceful, a gin cocktail made with ginger and jasmine tea, or pick one of the 50-plus whiskies on offer.
Feel the heat
Experience a wave of umami flavours as you share a series of memorable small plates at Kiln, on the 18th floor of Ace Hotel Sydney in Surry Hills, on the fringe of the city centre. And feel the buzz of the glass-walled communal dining room as tempting creations by chef Beau Clugston showcase a coming together of Australia's unique alphabet of ingredients and the simplicity that roots Scandinavian culinary philosophy. Or soak up the warmth of a Sydney summer night on Kiln’s spacious terraces, which feature retractable ceilings.
Rekodo Restaurant and Vinyl Bar - Barangaroo House Credit: Steven Woodburn
Menu items at Rekodo Restaurant and Vinyl Bar - Barangaroo House
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Rekodo Restaurant and Vinyl Bar - Barangaroo House Credit: Steven Woodburn
Menu items at Rekodo Restaurant and Vinyl Bar - Barangaroo House
Kiln, Ace Hotel Sydney Credit: Anson Smart
Kiln, the new restaurant from Chef Mitch Orr is a rooftop dining destination crowning the recently opened, Ace Hotel Sydney.
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Kiln, Ace Hotel Sydney Credit: Anson Smart
Kiln, the new restaurant from Chef Mitch Orr is a rooftop dining destination crowning the recently opened, Ace Hotel Sydney.
Bask in the flavours
Embark on a culinary adventure complete with moody lighting and an inner-city buzz at Gildas wine bar, a few minutes’ walk away from the Ace Hotel in Surry Hills. Put yourself in the hands of chef Lennox Hastie, whose Firedoor restaurant is mere steps away down the side street, and settle in for an evening of incredible Spanish and Australian produce expertly prepared in bite-sized Basque-style snacks, or pintxos. Wow your taste buds with pencil squid with ajo negro (black garlic) and fennel, ‘retired dairy cow tartare’ or Pork pluma, Tropea onions, chimichurri as you sip a sherry or a glass of Spanish wine.
Discover new negronis
Savour the difference a good vermouth makes when you order a negroni at Bar Conte, on Riley Street a block downhill from busy Crown Street in Surry Hills. A café by day and a negroni aperitivo bar by night, Bar Conte was named for the cocktail’s inventor, Conte Camillo Negroni. Take your time choosing between variations of the classic Milano-Torino recipe, spice it up with a Mexican version using mescal, or try the Japanese-inspired Samurai. Then sip your drink as together you take in the dark green marble bar, chic parquet floors and exposed beams overhead of the cosy space.
Experience electric vibes
Feed on the energy of your fellow guests and the flow of traffic far below as you gaze out to the neon-lit inner-city skyline at Kasbah, Strand Hotel’s rooftop bar. Soak up this Moroccan-inspired rooftop oasis of this Darlinghurst hotel with its prime position on William Street, around halfway between Hyde Park and the famous Coca-Cola sign at Kings Cross. Nibble on a parade of French-Moroccan dishes while sipping on their adventurous range of cocktails & beers.
Step back in time
Seize the moment and treat your partner to a spontaneous date night at Bar Louise on Enmore Road, Enmore, a short walk from the heart of Newtown in Sydney’s Inner West. (You can book ahead, but this tapas wine bar also welcomes walk-ins.) Take in Bar Louise Salón de Tapas’s distinctive facade, a pink and mauve shopfront dating back to the 1950s, before settling into your seat and browsing a tapas menu that features plenty of seafood such as kingfish crudo and anchovies from the Cantabrian Sea off Spain, as well as jamón and Iberian-style craft sausages. Sip one of the many aperitifs on the wine list or go with the retro flow with a sherry — there are plenty to choose from.
Gildas, Surry Hills Credit: Nikki To
Lennox Hastie's 60-seat Surry Hills wine bar, Gildas.
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Gildas, Surry Hills Credit: Nikki To
Lennox Hastie's 60-seat Surry Hills wine bar, Gildas.
Dishes at The Strand Hotel, Darlinghurst Credit: Trent van der Jagt
The Strand Hotel on William Street, Darlinghurst has completed the final phase of its multi-level restoration of the 99-year-old pub with the new 17-bedroom The Strand Hotel and Rooftop Bar now open - joining the French-inspired Strand Bistro.
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Dishes at The Strand Hotel, Darlinghurst Credit: Trent van der Jagt
The Strand Hotel on William Street, Darlinghurst has completed the final phase of its multi-level restoration of the 99-year-old pub with the new 17-bedroom The Strand Hotel and Rooftop Bar now open - joining the French-inspired Strand Bistro.