This month, Sydney opens a new part-Parisian wine bar, part-Mediterranean grill by a trendy Sydney hospitality group. There’s also pizza by the slice in the city, a new life for an inner west favourite, a second home for some of Sydney’s best croissants and lots more.
FOOD AND DRINK
New from Swillhouse
The team behind Sydney’s beloved restaurants Hubert and Alberto’s Lounge have opened Le Foote in The Rocks. The highly anticipated, heritage-listed venue brings a part-Parisian wine bar, part-Mediterranean grill dining experience to the city.
Pizza by the slice
Arguably one of Sydney’s most Instagrammed restaurants, Totti’s, has opened Oti’ a sandwich and pizza-by-the-slice joint in the CBD. Find schiacciata bread sandwiches stuffed with prosciutto, rocket and mozzarella; smoked chicken, and beef tongue. Pizza slices come topped with pepperoni; truffle mushroom and potato.
A New York-style steakhouse
Clam Bar is a new seafood grill and steakhouse by the Pellegrino 2000 and Bistro 916 team. Visit this new CBD spot for extreme opulence. There's premium caviar, beef-fat potatoes, tableside-filleted fish and steaks cooked on the bone in a state-of-the-art Josper charcoal oven.
Japanese with an Australian twist
Moku is Darlinghurst’s newest restaurant, combining Japanese cuisine with native Australian ingredients. Step inside the sleek spot for corn tempura, hojicha-smoked duck breast, matcha tiramisu and lots more. There's also a $75 banquet option for the indecisive.
Croissants in a new home
Leichhardt’s famous Penny Fours bakery has moved and set up shop in Balmain. Head to the new location for its classic croissants of many varieties, seasonal danishes, sourdough loaves and coffee by Reuben Hills.
New from Pazar
Much-loved Canterbury venue Pazar has been made over into Pidzaria, a new restaurant from the same team. Head to Pidzaria for pidza (Middle Eastern-inspired flatbreads) topped with harissa prawns, spiced beef and lamb mince, and egg and haloumi. On Friday and Saturdays book in for its set menu featuring old Pazar classics.
Afternoon tea for pooches
Pastry chef extraordinaire Anna Polyviou has introduced Doggy Afternoon Tea at the Langham. Give your furry friend an afternoon of extra good treats with Anna’s ‘roast chicken’, ‘carrot cake’, fruit salad’ and more. Doggy Afternoon Tea is served in the Langham’s lobby and can be enjoyed alongside its regular afternoon tea offering.
A casual wine and snack spot
Newtown has scored a new small wine bar with snacks and pantry items via Huelo General Store. Visit to stock up on artisan food goods and ceramics, and indulge in $2 oysters and ’80s-style drinks from its 12-seat bar out the back.
Vietnamese and natural wine
Late-night Vietnamese is what the CBD’s Hey Chu is all about. The food offering isn’t super traditional, but it’s just as delicious. Find a twist on prawn toast, tableside hibachi snacks, a killer wine list and bar snacks available til 3am.
French meets Japanese
Bistro Nido combines French bistro food with a touch of Japan. The 40-seat restaurant’s French classics are elevated with Japanese cooking techniques and condiments. Find prosciutto and gruyere croquettes, a buckwheat galette with confit duck leg, a wagyu cheeseburger, charred pumpkin and nori pangrattato, and more.
Spicy, seaside pan-Asian
The team behind Bondi institution Raw Bar has opened a sister venue, Lulu Bondi. This new pan-Asian restaurant brings prawn banh mi, fresh nigiri, gochujang fried chicken, Peking chicken and much more to Hall Street.
EXPERIENCES
Vivid, on the water
Experience this year’s incredible Vivid Sydney on the harbour with Tribal Warrior’s Vivid Sightseeing Cruises. Aboard the new Wirawi ferry you’ll see the lights from the water, receive a drink on arrival and see a cultural performance on board.
The Langham, Sydney Credit: The Langham
Nestled in the historic rocks district, The Langham, Sydney offers privacy and tranquility in the heart of the bustling city.
#feelnewsydney #ilovesydney
The Langham, Sydney Credit: The Langham
Nestled in the historic rocks district, The Langham, Sydney offers privacy and tranquility in the heart of the bustling city.
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
#feelnewsydney #vividsydney
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