Sydney's dining scene continues to grow, with innovative venues opening every week – find bold Korean flavours in a wine bar, native ingredients at the Sydney Opera House and an exploration of the NSW coast. Plus read about Sydney’s brand new, underground arts and music festival.
FOOD & DRINK
Korean snacks and sips
Crunch into cheesy-corn croquettes, sip on Korean rice wine and get excited about chestnut tiramisu for dessert. That’s the experience at Bar Soul, a stylish Surry Hills restaurant-wine-bar hybrid from Daero Lee and Illa Kim, the Soul Dining and Soul Deli team who’ve made mixing bold Korean and European flavours their signature.
Native flavours at the Opera House
Pre-colonisation, Tubowgule (also known as Bennelong Point) was a place for Aboriginal people to meet and feast. That legacy will be honoured at Midden, a harbourside restaurant run by celebrity chef and Bundjalung man Mark Olive. The restaurant, opening in the former Portside space at the Sydney Opera House this month, will give diners a taste of gum-smoked barramundi and quandong-glazed chicken stuffed with warrigal greens.
Shore to plate
Discover the diversity and depth of the NSW coast at Longshore, the new restaurant by Jarrod Walsh and Dorothy Lee, the team who ran beloved Newtown restaurant Hartsyard. Opening in the former Automata site in Chippendale, the restaurant is a luxe spot for after-work snacks or indulging in an innovative, seafood-forward set menu.
Bagels on the street
Next to a forest green and white trailer, with a soft, lox-filled bagel in one hand and a coffee in the other you could be in London, New York, Bondi or, now, Marrickville. This street-food opening is the latest from famous Bondi operators Lox in a Box. Currently it offers bagels, lox and coffee, but a breakfast menu is en route.
Wine bar by wine makers
Try a style of wine you’ve never had before – that’s the attitude winemaking father and son team Bob and Tom Colman want to foster at their Blue Mountains wine store and bar Frankie and Mo's. The cute Blackheath venue pours only organic and biodynamic wines, which they serve alongside a vegetable-focused menu of Mediterranean influenced bites.
Blackheath, Blue Mountains Credit: Tyson Mayr
Man enjoying views of the sunset near Hanging Rock, Blackheath in the Blue Mountains National Park.
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Blackheath, Blue Mountains Credit: Tyson Mayr
Man enjoying views of the sunset near Hanging Rock, Blackheath in the Blue Mountains National Park.
The Sydney Opera House and Sydney Harbour Bridge Credit: Destination NSW
The Sydney Opera House and Sydney Harbour Bridge at sunrise
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The Sydney Opera House and Sydney Harbour Bridge Credit: Destination NSW
The Sydney Opera House and Sydney Harbour Bridge at sunrise
More pasta please
When Lola Level 1 opened in Bondi, the remit was to explore the Mediterranean coast but now the team that gained fame for Italian dining at Fratelli Paradiso and 10 William St are going back to what they’re known for. The newly named restaurant Lola’s Italian Bar is now a homage to pasta, foosball (there’s a table next to the bar) and Italian wine. The sparkling water views remain unchanged.
Old school Hong Kong done new
A meal at Kowloon Cafe Eastwood is like being transported to Hong Kong – the food is just like the western-inspired fare at Hong Kong’s cha chaan tengs (no-frill Hong Kong diners and tea houses) and, thanks to custom-built tram parts, the interiors riff on both the city’s iconic transport and its bright streetscape. The new opening is the third Kowloon Cafe, so expect to find their classic pineapple buns, Hong Kong style French toast and iced lemon teas.
Brunch in New York
Discover what a luxurious New York lunch looks like by joining Woodcut for their new brunch service. The $95 set menu at Barangaroo’s Crown Sydney hotel includes innovative dishes like a hemp seed fried-prawn sando and oven-baked eggs with za’atar. While you’re eating, a Champagne trolley roams the room offering bubbles with cassis or peach nectar.
ACCOMMODATION
Italian stay in the city
Feel like you’ve been transported to a luxury Italian palace at Hotel Morris, an Art Deco, boutique hotel in Haymarket that’s part of Accor’s Handwritten Collection. During your stay, head to the hotel’s marble-topped bar at Bar Morris for a southern Italian breakfast, the pasta of the day or full-on feast followed by a cocktail and some funk and soul.
EXPERIENCE
Loud underground
The Art Gallery of New South Wales’ underground tank gallery space will be flooded with noise this September as it hosts Volume, a music, art and film festival headlined by Solange. The festival will bring in trailblazing artists like Sampa the Great, Mount Eeire and Sonya Holowell, as well as international artists, filmmakers and multidisciplinary performers.
A new look at contemporary art
Discover an unexplored side to some of the most significant Australian artists’ works at the Museum of Contemporary Art from June 16, as the galleries’ Artists in Focus program presents works from the permanent collection in single dedicated galleries. See Aboriginal bark paintings plus the works of Joan Brassil, Tracey Moffatt and more.
Bar Morris Credit: Destination NSW
Interior of Bar Morris, Sydney.
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Bar Morris Credit: Destination NSW
Interior of Bar Morris, Sydney.
MCA Collection: Artists in Focus Credit: Donated through the Australian Government's Cultural Gifts Program by Mordant Family, 2013, image courtesy and c-o-p-y-r-i-g-h-t the artist, photograph: Jessica Maurer
Tracey Moffatt, First Jobs, Pineapple Cannery 1978, 2008
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MCA Collection: Artists in Focus Credit: Donated through the Australian Government's Cultural Gifts Program by Mordant Family, 2013, image courtesy and c-o-p-y-r-i-g-h-t the artist, photograph: Jessica Maurer
Tracey Moffatt, First Jobs, Pineapple Cannery 1978, 2008
More News
Dorothy Smith & Yes Theory, Sydney Credit: Bluesfest
102-year-old visits Sydney and officially completes her seven-continent lifelong dream
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Destination NSW has teamed up with the popular YouTube channel Yes Theory, with its impressive 9.2 million subscribers, and Qantas, to fulfil 102-year-old San Franciso local, Dorothy Smith’s lifelong dream of visiting Sydney, Australia, completing her remarkable journey to every continent in the world.
Yes Theory producers Ammar Kandil and Staffan Taylor first met Dorothy in October 2024 when they moved into The Redwoods Retirement Village for 48 hours. Moved by Dorothy’s heartfelt regret of not yet reaching her final frontier, Australia, Ammar and Staffan felt compelled to help her complete this remarkable journey.
Reflecting on her motivation to travel and time in Sydney, Dorothy shared, "Travel is important to me because it’s a big world, and each country is different and has something different to offer; I want to see them all and I don’t want to miss anything!
“I loved visiting Sydney; it’s a beautiful city. The people are charming, the food is good, the scenery is just wonderful, and even the weather is nice! We saw the little koala bears, of course the Sydney Opera House, we went to the Botanic Gardens, and the Museum of Contemporary Art, good restaurants, and the lovely Bondi Beach where we got our feet a little wet and the water was really cold! And the people – they are all so nice, and so friendly!”
Sydney Harbour aerial at dawn Credit: Ethan Rohloff; Destination NSW
Sydney Harbour aerial at dawn featuring Royal Botanic Gardens and Mrs Macquarie's Chair, Sydney CBD and Opera House
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Sydney Harbour aerial at dawn Credit: Ethan Rohloff; Destination NSW
Sydney Harbour aerial at dawn featuring Royal Botanic Gardens and Mrs Macquarie's Chair, Sydney CBD and Opera House
Dorothy Smith & Yes Theory, Sydney Credit: Bluesfest
102-year-old visits Sydney and officially completes her seven-continent lifelong dream
#feelnewsydney
Dorothy Smith & Yes Theory, Sydney Credit: Bluesfest
102-year-old visits Sydney and officially completes her seven-continent lifelong dream
A living link to history, Dorothy is more than twice the age of the Sydney Opera House. In 1922, the year she was born, the NSW Government passed the Sydney Harbour Bridge Act, laying the foundation for the construction of the iconic bridge. Today, the Sydney Harbour Bridge stands as a powerful symbol of Australia’s resilience and connection to the world—a fitting backdrop for Dorothy’s own journey of exploration and discovery.
With Qantas’s support, Dorothy embarked on her adventure to Sydney in comfort, and received an exclusive invite to the cock-pit to meet the pilot, before she was warmly welcomed at Sydney Airport with personalised displays and a crowd of Yes Theory fans eager to celebrate her arrival. Her stay at the luxurious Shangri-La Sydney became a “home away from home,” offering Dorothy the chance to wake up to the breathtaking view of the Sydney Opera House—a landmark she had always dreamed of seeing firsthand.
Ammar Kandil, co-founder of Yes Theory, was driven to support her adventure saying, “Dorothy’s story is a powerful reminder that life is meant to be lived to the fullest, and we’re incredibly happy to help her achieve this lifelong dream to visit Sydney and tick of Australia as her seventh and final continent.
“Our mantra is ‘seek discomfort’ and embrace adventure, and Dorothy’s journey truly embodies the spirit of our channel. Her incredible story is set to inspire millions around the world to pursue their own adventures, no matter the obstacles.”
The Rocks, Sydney Credit: Destination NSW
Family exploring The Rocks in Sydney
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The Rocks, Sydney Credit: Destination NSW
Family exploring The Rocks in Sydney
Sydney Luxury Cruise, Sydney Credit: Destination NSW
Sydney Luxury Cruises operates on Sydney Harbour exploring the harbour beaches, waterfront mansions and icons.
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Sydney Luxury Cruise, Sydney Credit: Destination NSW
Sydney Luxury Cruises operates on Sydney Harbour exploring the harbour beaches, waterfront mansions and icons.
Dorothy’s time in Sydney has been nothing short of iconic, filled with experiences that capture the heart of NSW. Her itinerary included:
- An afternoon cruising on Sydney Harbour, marvelling at the iconic Sydney Harbour Bridge and Sydney Opera House
- An up-close encounter with Australian wildlife at WILD LIFE Sydney Zoo in Darling Harbour, where Dorothy met koalas, and even a kangaroo named Dorothy.
- A tour of the Sydney Opera House adding yet another milestone to her journey.
- A visit to the iconic Bondi Beach, where Dorothy enjoyed splashing her feet in the waves and seeing one of the world’s most famous beaches.
And Dorothy’s secret to a long, healthy life? “You have to exercise, you have to eat lots of fruit and vegetables and stay hydrated. And also, FUN! You have to have fun so you’ll stay healthy, and you can also enjoy 102 years! And if there’s anything else you want to try, go ahead and try it!”
To follow Dorothy’s journey and see Sydney through her remarkable perspective, check out Yes Theory’s latest video at youtube.com/@YesTheory.
For inspiration for your own Sydney adventure, visit sydney.com
Australian Wildlife Tour Credit: WILD LIFE Sydney Zoo
Australian Wildlife Tour at WILD LIFE Sydney Zoo
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Australian Wildlife Tour Credit: WILD LIFE Sydney Zoo
Australian Wildlife Tour at WILD LIFE Sydney Zoo
Bondi Beach, Sydney Credit: Destination NSW
The scenic Bondi coastline in Sydney's Eastern Suburbs.
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Bondi Beach, Sydney Credit: Destination NSW
The scenic Bondi coastline in Sydney's Eastern Suburbs.