Crane Lodge, Palm Beach Credit:
Hanging in the lush canopy of Sydney’s Northern Beaches, Crane Lodge is suspended at the apex of endangered angophora bushland.
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Explore the newest Sydney openings and find your next favourite place to eat, drink or play. From incredible restaurants offering menus inspired from all over the world to luxury retreats in the city or on the coast, here’s our guide to what’s new in Sydney this month.
NEW FOOD AND DRINK
A pocket of New York in Surry Hills
Former Surry Hills dive bar The Wild Rover has reopened as The Rover, a sophisticated NYC-style cocktail bar, as part of the Liquid & Larder group (Bistecca, The Gidley). The food menu champions seafood, with Batemans Bay oysters and hot-smoked sardines, while drinks focus on whisky and an extensive list of biodynamic and organic wines.
Omakase-style Korean
Inspired by Japanese omakase (chef’s menu), new CBD restaurant Kobo serves up a refined Korean banquet at its eight-seater restaurant – the first of its kind in Sydney. Chef Jacob Lee serves up dishes inspired by his home of Jeolla, in Korea, including abalone claypot rice and pork belly bossam.
Paddington’s newest Italian
Former Pilu and Jonah’s chef Matteo Zamboni has opened his new neighbourhood Italian restaurant, Civico 47, in Paddington. The seasonal menu is inspired by Italy’s most famous regions as well as local Australian produce – think king prawn mafalda pasta, market fish with orange and saffron emulsion, and sage milk gelato.
Say cheers to Bob Hawke
Hawke’s Brewing Co. have opened the next chapter of their Marrickville brewery: The Bob Hawke Beer & Leisure Centre. The sweeping space features ground floor Public Bar, the Bob Hawke gallery and museum in The Pool Room, upscale 1980s-themed cocktail bar at Sanctuary Cove on the mezzanine, and Australian-Chinese restaurant Lucky Prawn. The restaurant, headed up by ex-Cho Cho San chef Nic Wong, plays on 80s-era Chinese takeaway meals, including crispy skin chicken, XO noodles and a deep-fried Viennetta.
The Rover, Sydney Credit: Dominic Loneragan
The Rover in Surry Hills, Sydney
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The Rover, Sydney Credit: Dominic Loneragan
The Rover in Surry Hills, Sydney
Topikós Bar & Dining Room, Sydney Credit: Topikós Bar & Dining Room
Topikós Bar & Dining Room in Bondi, Sydney
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Topikós Bar & Dining Room, Sydney Credit: Topikós Bar & Dining Room
Topikós Bar & Dining Room in Bondi, Sydney
Da Orazio reopens in Bondi
Celebrated chef Orazio D’Elia has reopened Bondi’s much-loved restaurant, Da Orazio, after Sydney restauranteur Maurice Terzini’s Cicciabella (which occupied the pizzeria’s former space) closed last year. Da Orazio 2.0 will feature beloved classics as well as new dishes, like brick chicken and osso buco pappardelle.
Open the Blue Door
With a philosophy focused on provenance, executive chef Dylan Cashman has personally visited all the farmers that provide produce for his menu at Surry Hills restaurant The Blue Door. To accompany the all-NSW food menu, sommelier Angelica Nohra’s wine list features NSW-only wines by the glass, and a 90 per cent Australian wine menu.
Greek on the beach
Inspired by the islands of the Mediterranean, new Greek taverna Topikós Dining Room & Bar has opened its doors on Bondi Beach. Launched by the hospitality group behind Shell House and The Dolphin, the new restaurant features a charcoal grill and woodfire oven, with an emphasis on fresh seafood and share plates.
From Highlands to Harbour
Former two-hatted Biota Dining chef James Viles has made a sea change from Bowral to Sydney, becoming the new culinary director of the Park Hyatt’s The Dining Room. The produce-focused chef will redesign the restaurant’s menu, as well as transforming all other food and beverage offerings at the five-star harbourside hotel.
Civico 47, Sydney
Civico 47 in Paddington, Sydney
#feelnew #feelnewsydney
Civico 47, Sydney
Civico 47 in Paddington, Sydney
Da Orazio. Sydney Credit: Da Orazio
Da Orazio in Bondi Beach, Sydney
#feelnew #feelnewsydney
Da Orazio. Sydney Credit: Da Orazio
Da Orazio in Bondi Beach, Sydney
NEW EXPERIENCES
A coastal safari
A must for marine animal lovers, My Sydney Boat’s new Sydney Sea Safari experience cruises the coast in search of fur seals, dolphins, penguins, sea eagles or migrating humpback whales (depending on season). The private boat tour takes a thrilling ride past secluded beaches and coves and through the headlands into the Pacific Ocean toward Bondi or Manly.
Design by the harbour
Upmarket design store Koskela has opened its new home in North Sydney, a two-storey concept space at a former submarine base. Featuring ethically curated Australian-designed homewares and furniture, as well as art, the heritage-listed harbourfront space will also feature rotating exhibitions by First Nations artists.
NEW ACCOMMODATION
French luxury in Sydney
After a significant refurbishment, Sofitel Sydney Wentworth has reopened its doors to offer five-star luxury in the city. All 436 rooms and suites have been upgraded with new mattresses, linens and soft furnishings, while the property’s Garden Restaurant reopens on May 1.
Palm Beach escape
Surrounded by serene bushland and with a premium design focus, new five-bedroom Crane Lodge offers guests ‘wild luxury’ in Palm Beach. Guests can relax in a heated swimming pool or 38-degree cedar hot tub, or cosy by an open fire pit with forest views. Concierge can arrange private yoga or meditation classes on the large deck, while the native landscape garden offers potential for forest bathing experiences.
Koskela, Sydney Credit: Anson Smart
Koskela's new store in Sydney
#feelnew #feelnewsydney
Koskela, Sydney Credit: Anson Smart
Koskela's new store in Sydney
Crane Lodge, Palm Beach
Hanging in the lush canopy of Sydney’s Northern Beaches, Crane Lodge is suspended at the apex of endangered angophora bushland.
#feelnew #feelnewsydney
Crane Lodge, Palm Beach
Hanging in the lush canopy of Sydney’s Northern Beaches, Crane Lodge is suspended at the apex of endangered angophora bushland.
More News
Vivid Sydney 2024Credit: Destination NSW
The 'Nest' installation at the Stargazer Lawn, Barangaroo during Vivid 2024. Artist: Leila Jeffreys & Melvin J. Montalban. An expansive circular structure welcomes you to bear witness to the ritualistic mating dance of the Brolga, one of only two species of crane native to Australia. Projected onto a transparent surface, the huge bird apparitions appear to float in the air and are visible from both out and inside the Nest.
#feelnewsydney #vividsydney
Calling All Dreamers: Vivid Sydney Wants You
Vivid Sydney 2024 Credit: Destination NSW
#feelnewsydney #vividsydney
Vivid Sydney, the Southern Hemisphere’s largest multi-artform festival, is calling on the best creative minds to submit ideas for next year’s event.
Vivid Sydney 2025 will take place from Friday 23 May to Saturday 14 June 2025, with a program centred around the theme of Vivid Sydney, Dream.
Artists, musicians, thought leaders and food creatives are encouraged to submit Expressions of Interest (EOI) for the opportunity to be part of Australia’s largest event and showcase their work to a mass audience across the festival pillars of Light, Music, Ideas and Food.
Destination NSW CEO Steve Cox said: “Since 2009, Vivid Sydney has grown to become Sydney’s vibrant cultural showpiece, driving significant visitation to Sydney and regional NSW and positioning our state as the arts and creative industries capital of the Asia Pacific.
“Vivid Sydney is more than a light show, it is Sydney’s living legacy that captures imaginations and shares with visitors and locals alike the very best talent from our creative, entertainment and hospitality industries.
“I encourage the brightest talents to join Destination NSW in creating an event that elevates the Harbour City as the Asia Pacific’s leader in world-class cultural experiences.”
Vivid Sydney 2024 Credit: Destination NSW
Patrons enjoying a night out at Machine Hall during Vivid 2024
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Vivid Sydney 2024 Credit: Destination NSW
Patrons enjoying a night out at Machine Hall during Vivid 2024
Vivid Sydney Festival Director Gill Minervini said: “Vivid Sydney 2025 is pushing the creative boundaries across our theme of “Dream” to deliver another unforgettable global celebration.
“Dreaming is something we all do. It’s as old as time and as universal as life itself. Dreams don’t discriminate – they are borderless, ageless and endless. They can be personal or public. When shared, our dreams can become a movement. They can inspire, motivate, spark excitement and connection.
“The whole world dreams, it is something we have in common, something that unites us. Our human story is embedded in dreams, they help explain our existence and our past.
“We want the very best in homegrown talent to be part of our vibrant Vivid Sydney event program, with a unique opportunity to foster community connection, spark imagination and showcase the multitude of ways creativity can enrich our lives.
“Each year Vivid Sydney aims to deliver unparalleled artistic brilliance and we look forward to welcoming the inspirations within our community that will help shape Vivid Sydney 2025 into a show-stopping cultural phenomenon.”
The Vivid Sydney EOI outlines opportunities for artists, designers, creative industry professionals, equipment suppliers, architects, engineers, promoters, restaurants, event companies, chefs, producers and educational institutions to present their ideas, designs, concepts and interest for inclusion in the annual event.
Light and Cross Art Form EOIs will close on Monday 2 September 2024 with Ideas, Music and Food closing on Friday 27 September 2024.
This year’s Vivid Sydney attracted 2.42 million attendees, making it the third largest on record. Highlights included a record-breaking opening night and the busiest single night in the festival’s history on Sunday 9 June.
While Vivid Sydney 2024 attracted millions of people from across Australia and the globe, it also had a profound impact on the creative minds who helped bring the event to life, including Sydney’s retail, hospitality and accommodation sectors.
Vivid Sydney 2024 Credit: Destination NSW
Shifting Perspectives at Walsh Bay Arts Precinct for Vivid Ideas during Vivid Sydney 2024
#feelnewsydney #vividsydney
Vivid Sydney 2024 Credit: Destination NSW
Shifting Perspectives at Walsh Bay Arts Precinct for Vivid Ideas during Vivid Sydney 2024
Leila Jeffreys the artist behind popular Vivid Light 2024 installation Nest said: “Thank you to Festival Director Gill Minervini and all at Vivid Sydney for giving me and my artistic collaborator Melvin J. Montalban the opportunity to create art on a scale that we could not have achieved on our own.
“I visited Nest many times throughout the festival and was always moved to see people from all walks of life and ages stand together to witness the courtship dance of the Brolga, a moment where we all felt the link between the natural world and the human journey.”
Tekno Train creator and composer Paul Mac said: “When I set out to create Tekno Train I wanted to make an experience that fused my love of techno and trains with lights and to share this joy with as many people as possible. The positive reactions I have received from people on the train, as well as the drivers, guards, and random folks on social media has absolutely blown me away.
“Vivid Sydney 2024 has been an unexpected career highlight, and I am forever grateful to everyone who helped bring this together.”
Club Broadway MC & Music Producer DJ Dan Murphy said: “Bringing our Club Broadway show to a Vivid Sydney audience has been an absolute joy. We loved making our show accessible to a whole new audience who love the world of musical theatre.
“Vivid Sydney is such an amazing and important festival for our city, and we were thrilled to be on the program. From old to young, we had them all on the dancefloor for Club Broadway at Tumbalong Park. The night was absolutely magical and a great way to celebrate our community.”
Vivid Sydney 2024 Credit: Destination NSW
Sex Work; A Social History Walking Tour at Elizabeth Bay for Vivid Ideas during Vivid Sydney 2024. This fascinating walking tour is an invitation to see the area and profession in a new light. Led by writer, performer and Kings Cross local Vashti Hughes and the Inner City Legal Centre's Managing Solicitor Katie Green, you will be immersed in the sights, history and contemporary challenges of sex work in Australia's most famous redlight district.
#feelnewsydney #vividsydney
Vivid Sydney 2024 Credit: Destination NSW
Sex Work; A Social History Walking Tour at Elizabeth Bay for Vivid Ideas during Vivid Sydney 2024. This fascinating walking tour is an invitation to see the area and profession in a new light. Led by writer, performer and Kings Cross local Vashti Hughes and the Inner City Legal Centre's Managing Solicitor Katie Green, you will be immersed in the sights, history and contemporary challenges of sex work in Australia's most famous redlight district.
Service and Creative Skills Australia (the Jobs and Skills Council for Arts, Personal Services, Retail, Tourism and Hospitality) CEO Natalie Turmine said: “Vivid Sydney showcases brilliantly our talented and vibrant creative arts, tourism and hospitality workforce, demonstrating the wealth of exciting career opportunities available in this sector.
“Thank you to all the creative artists, technicians, performers, hospitality staff and event organisers for delivering another successful Vivid Sydney.”
Plate it Forward CEO and restaurateur Shaun Christie-David said: “Vivid Sydney shows the diversity of Sydney, shining a positive light on our city, culture and produce. As a social enterprise hospitality group, it was a privilege to partner with Vivid Sydney to bring the 2024 festival theme humanity to life through food. Food is all about sharing, love, respect and community.
“There is so much pride, joy and power that can be found in food, it is a platform to celebrate culture, make meaningful connections and create jobs. Through working with Vivid Food and selling more than 1000 tacos, more than 1500 meals will be donated to community kitchens for people in need.”
Tourism & Transport Forum CEO Margy Osmond said: “Between the lights, the music, the ideas, the food and the incredible vibe…Vivid Sydney has once again delivered a spectacular event for visitors and locals of all ages, with the big winners being local tourism and hospitality operators.”
“The bright lights of Vivid Sydney have showcased first-class hospitality, creativity and our beloved Sydney CBD and Harbour icons to audiences across the globe, demonstrating the value and huge potential of this event and the need to continue investing in world class events.”
Vivid Sydney 2024 Credit: Destination NSW
Couple enjoying the Fire Kitchen at The Goods Line during Vivid 2024. It's back and blazing brighter than ever. Vivid Fire Kitchen returns, igniting its new home at The Goods Line with flame-seared street food from around the globe. Come and enjoy the universal language of BBQ, the best NSW produce and the diversity of Sydney's food scene as we gather round the fire once again.
#feelnewsydney #vividsydney
Vivid Sydney 2024 Credit: Destination NSW
Couple enjoying the Fire Kitchen at The Goods Line during Vivid 2024. It's back and blazing brighter than ever. Vivid Fire Kitchen returns, igniting its new home at The Goods Line with flame-seared street food from around the globe. Come and enjoy the universal language of BBQ, the best NSW produce and the diversity of Sydney's food scene as we gather round the fire once again.
Accommodation Australia’s Michael Johnson said: “Once again, the juggernaut that is Vivid Sydney illuminated the city, shining a light on the beauty and culture of the city.
“Over the course of the event, hotels in the CBD enjoyed 75 per cent occupancy with bookings reaching as high as 90 per cent on weekends. There is no denying major events such as Vivid Sydney, that have the capacity to draw a high level of overnight visitation in the middle of winter, create an incredible boost for the city’s visitor economy.”
Vivid Sydney is owned, managed and produced by Destination NSW, the NSW Government’s tourism and major events agency.
For more information and to submit an Expression of Interest for Vivid Sydney 2025, go to www.vividsydney.com