Promenade Bondi Beach Credit: Jiwon Kim
Promenade Bondi Beach
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Eat across the globe in Sydney this month, via the bounty of new food experiences open around the city. There’s a small-scale saké bar, a pizza pop-up, and nonna-approved sandwiches to whet your appetite. Plus, a new market-leading hotel and much more.
FOOD AND DRINK
Small-scale saké
Enter a cosy world of Japanese saké at Amuro, a new 20-seat saké bar in Darlinghurst. With minimalist design combined with a touch of nostalgia, a range of boutique saké and a rotating snack list based on in-season produce, Amuro aims to make guests feel at home while exploring new tastes and flavours.
New from Nomad
Set in a laneway in Surry Hills, Beau & Dough is both a bar and deli serving Mediterranean- and Middle Eastern-inspired fare alongside a well-considered, local-heavy wine list from small-scale winemakers. Sister venue to much-loved restaurant Nomad, just a few steps away, Beau & Dough shares the same casual and welcoming vibe complemented by deliciously moreish fare.
Pizza bar pop-up
From Marrickville distillery Poor Toms and two pro pizzaiolos Ben Fester and Drew Huston of portable pizza company Oltra Disc, comes City Oltra a pop up in Central Station’s new shopping and dining hub, Eddy. The team serve American-style pizzas alongside drinks by Poor Toms, Grifter Brewery and a range of local and natural winemakers.
Nonna-approved sandwiches
Operating out of Sydney’s little Italy, Leichardt, Dom Panino is Sydney’s first paninoteca (Italian sandwich shop), specialising in artisan panini, homestyle pastas, salads and coffee. Using recipes from the owner’s nonna, menu items include slow-cooked bolognese panini, chicken schnitzel with vodka sugo panini, wagyu hoagie, Sicilian chickpea fritters and even classic fairy bread.
New pasta in Balmain
Sydney CBD pasta shop Fabbrica has opened in The Exchange Hotel, Balmain. The new outpost is plating up house-made pasta and cotoletta alla Milanese (Milan-style breaded veal loin), alongside a drinks menu of local brews and low-intervention Italian wines. The new venue is from the Love Tilly Group, who also have plans to open a new 200-seater restaurant in the CBD, Palazzo Salato, in April.
Breezy all-day eating
Bondi Pavilion has scored the second Glory Days outpost. Unlike its inaugural spot set on the ground floor of an office building in North Sydney, Glory Days Bondi resides in arguably one of Sydney’s best locations: the Bondi Beach-facing Bondi Pavilion. Head to the all-day café for Australian breakfast and lunch classics, and the ability to dust off your toast crumbs and dive straight into Bondi beach.
New inner-west bakery
Head into Stanmore’s Hearthe for the brand-new offering by Christopher Thé, the founder of Black Star Pastry and Sydney’s famous Strawberry Watermelon Cake. At the Stanmore station café, Hearthe show off their incredible cakes as well as a new-found dedication to Australian indigenous ingredients. Try desert lime goat’s curd cheesecake, edible paperbark, CWA-style scones and lots more.
A taste of Greece
Set in one of Sydney’s Greek community hubs, Marrickville, is new bakery-cafe Koul. Koul offers an incredible selection of handmade koulouria (Greek Easter biscuits, including flavoured versions such as wild cherry and Nutella; and ham, cheese and mustard), plus classic Greek coffee (and modern Australian coffee, too), a spanakopita salad and tsoureki (Greek Easter bread) French toast.
New Chinese-Thai fare
Mangkon Rd delivers a Bangkok-like dining experience in Sydney’s Chinatown. Roll into the restaurant for Chinese-Thai street food classics from a former Long Chim chef. The menu combines char-grilled squid and pork skewers with barbecue duck and Thai noodle dishes.
A jewel in Bondi’s crown
Meet another one of Bondi Pavilion’s new residents: Promenade Bondi Beach. Promenade is a restaurant, bar and kiosk all in one. The menu doesn’t adhere to one cuisine or region and is instead influenced by what people enjoy eating by the sea. While nestling into one of the many seaside dining spaces, you may find Sydney rock oysters with mignonette, picked mud crab on perilla leaves or snapper curry.
Japanese fine dining
Oborozuki brings Japanese kaiseki dining to Sydney. While often mistakenly interchanged with omakase (a ‘chef’s choice’ dining experience), kaiseki is a traditional meal emphasising seasonal ingredients and presentation. At Oborozuki there’s a multi-course degustation of hot and cold dishes, each a snapshot of seasonal produce. Oborozuki also offers teppanyaki and has a dedicated saké bar.
An onigiri outpost
Parami is a new onigiri café in the heart of Sydney selling the handmade Japanese rice balls. Drop in for an extensive list of onigiri options, egg or strawberry and cream sandos and iced gyokuro (green tea). Parami is a must-visit if hoping to ignite feelings of Tokyo laneways and holidays in Japan.
Hot bread and other staples in Sydney’s south
The team behind NY-style pizzeria My Mother’s Cousin has segued into bread and sandwiches with Self Raised. The takeaway-focused Carlton shop offers a primo lunch offering: mortadella focaccia sandwiches, tuna on house-baked ciabatta, smoked beef and pickle toasties and a range of baked goods.
Tofu and soy in the city
Toya Tento is a new, sweet Chinese snack spot in Waterloo. This little shop celebrates the “joy of soy” with a tight menu of soy drinks and desserts. There's soy milk and smoothies in a range of flavours, plus a range of tofu puddings including one with ginger and brown sugar.
Dinner with a coveted late-night license
Zaffi is a new 150-seat Lebanese restaurant on Little Hunter Street in Sydney's CBD. As well as a menu from ex-Rockpool chef Graeme Hunt, the new venue seeks to bring back energy to the CBD – an injection of late-night economy. Here dining, dancing and indulgence is key with slow-cooked ribs, baklava soft serve and drinks till 4am.
Up-market Korean barbecue
Follow the smoke to The Zungle, Parramatta’s new Korean barbecue restaurant specialising in ribs. Head to bustling Church Street for an array of Korean dishes including an extensive rib menu, kimchi bulgogi, short rib stew and complimentary Korean rice-based soft drink.
EXPERIENCES
Queer excellence
A new hub honouring LGBTQIA+ heritage, Qtopia is the newly founded queer culture and history museum at the old Darlinghurst Police Station. The not-for-profit organisation aims to empower, include, celebrate, challenge and educate. Visit this one-of-a-kind, incredible space for public exhibitions, education programs and community engagement, with the queer community at its heart and underpinning its values.
ACCOMMODATION
Art-Deco elegance
Stays in Surry Hills have levelled up once more. Boutique hotel Elizabeth 202 brings Art Deco, pet-friendly goodness to Elizabeth Street via 38 design-centric suites. Upon entry, be greeted by Sochi, the K9 director of Pet Relations. Once checked in, head into your room to find a super-deluxe bathroom, chic design touches, and soundproofing for total privacy. There’s a courtyard garden, sun-drenched rooftop and, of course, the best of Surry Hills at your doorstep.
High-end luxury in the CBD
For those wanting to truly indulge on their Sydney stay, the extremely luxurious 192-room Capella Sydney has now opened on Bridge Street. The first Capella outpost in Australia, the hotel sets a benchmark for luxury accommodation in the city and beyond with its rooms filled with lush furnishings, high ceilings, deep-soaking tubs and more. On site there’s a brasserie and bar, plus swimming and vitality pools, a yoga platform and the Auriga Spa.
More News
Dorian RestaurantCredit: Dorian Restaurant
Fred's x Max Coen, as part of the Vivid Chef Series in Vivid Food.
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A line-up of globally renowned chefs will feature across Vivid Residence, Vivid Chef Series and Vivid Fire Kitchen as part of Vivid Sydney 2024
Tickets on sale from Friday 19 April at vividsydney.com
Imagery: here
From near and far, some of the hottest names in the culinary world will appear at Vivid Sydney this year as part of Vivid Food, embracing the festival’s 2024 theme, Humanity, and highlighting food as a fundamental part of the human experience, connecting us through the universal language of cuisine.
This year’s roster of renowned local and international culinary talent across Vivid Residence, Vivid Chef Series and Vivid Fire Kitchen will craft diverse, innovative menus that celebrate our shared heritage and the rich tapestry of global cultures present in Sydney’s food scene, through a series of dynamic events spanning intimate fine dining experiences through to communal fire-cooked feasts.
Vivid Residence will bring Latin America’s best female chef 2022, Manoella ‘Manu’ Buffara of Manu Restaurant, to take over Peter Conistis’ waterside venue, Ploós, while hatted restaurants Fred’s, AALIA and The Charles Brasserie & Bar will be among the top dining spots hosting Vivid Chef Series events and unmissable foodie collaborations with Michelin-starred chefs including Max Coen, Sally Abé and Ivan Brehm.
Vivid Fire Kitchen returns to the Vivid Food program in a new home on the Vivid Sydney Light Walk with the world’s best pitmasters and BBQ heroes including Christine Manfield; Firedoor's Lennox Hastie; Texas' Jess Pryles; Michelin-starred Swedish chef Niklas Ekstedt; LA’s Shalamar Lane and more, firing up The Goods Line with cooking demonstrations and tasty BBQ fare from tandoor and teppanyaki to First Nations tucker.
This announcement bolsters an already impressive Vivid Food 2024 program including the Our Shared Humanity series featuring leading Australian chefs; Atelier by Sofitel – A Culinary Connection; VividPlace Food Trail, A Culinary Canvas by Danielle Alvarez, the return of Aster Vivid 2024 and much more, all with a nod to Vivid Sydney, Humanity.
John Graham, Minister for Jobs and Tourism, Minister for the Arts, Minister for Music and the Night-time Economy, said:
“After a successful launch last year, I am pleased to see Vivid Food returning for a second year. Food is a cultural cornerstone, a fundamental part of the human experience, something we can all share and through that shared experience, enjoy new flavours and perspectives.
“Sydney has a wonderful food scene and Vivid Food is a great chance to explore that local scene. The Vivid Food program will range from headline experiences including the free BBQ demonstrations at Vivid Fire Kitchen. We invite Sydneysiders and visitors from across the globe to join us and enjoy one of Sydney’s great strengths.”
Vivid Sydney Festival Director and Vivid Food curator Gill Minervini said:
“Vivid Food captures the essence of our shared humanity through the global language of food. It’s a celebration of how cuisine can mirror the diversity of cultures, while also being a bridge that connects us all. We’re thrilled to announce the incredible local and international culinary talent joining the Vivid Food program across Vivid Residence, Vivid Chef Series and Vivid Fire Kitchen, who will bring to life the rich tapestry of Sydney’s food scene. Our diverse range of Vivid Food events, from intimate dining experiences to communal feasts, promises to bring people together and showcase the unique and collective culinary heritage that makes our city so special.”
Stephanie Calape, Vice President of Culinary Events at IMG, which produces Vivid Residence, Vivid Chef Series and Vivid Fire Kitchen in collaboration with Vivid Sydney, said:
“Following the phenomenal popularity of last year’s inaugural Vivid Food experiences, which saw Vivid Residence sell out within 48 hours, we are excited to bring back another incredible, diverse array of experiences and chefs for 2024. From world-renowned Chef Manoella Buffara’s one-of-a-kind fine dining Vivid Residence experience at Sydney’s Ploós, to Vivid Chef Series’ unmissable mash-up of Sydney and the world’s most exciting chefs, and the star-studded, immersive Vivid Fire Kitchen festival, there’s something for everyone to enjoy.”
Manoella Buffara Credit: Manoella Buffara
Manoella Buffara for Vivid Residence
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Manoella Buffara Credit: Manoella Buffara
Manoella Buffara for Vivid Residence
Vivid Residence
Culinary artistry meets social responsibility at Vivid Residence as Latin America’s Best Female Chef 2022, Manoella Buffara of Manu Restaurant, Brazil, which was awarded the The Flor de Caña Sustainable Restaurant Award 2023, graces Peter Conistis’ waterfront venue, Ploós, right in the heart of the Vivid Sydney Light Walk. Renowned for putting Curitiba on the global culinary map, Buffara’s approach integrates local produce with a commitment to environmental and social sustainability. During her Vivid Sydney residency, Buffara will showcase her pioneering approach to fine dining for the first time in Australia, celebrating New South Wales’ produce alongside her team and Ploós's esteemed chefs.
Chef Manoella Buffara said: “I’m incredibly excited to be part of Vivid Food in Sydney, an event that highlights the importance of cuisine in our culture. As the culinary capital of Australia, Sydney becomes a hub for vibrant flavour exchanges, bringing together top chefs and local producers to create memorable food experiences. In the heart of this bustling city, I will launch a pop-up that showcases my love for high-quality ingredients and authentic flavours. Sharing my cooking and stories with Sydney is a true honour, and I look forward to being part of this amazing food event that Vivid Food offers.”
Buffara and the team will create two menus, with a nine-course tasting menu for dinner, and a seven-course tasting menu for lunch. Tickets for the nine-course dinner menu are $420 per person, with the shorter lunch tasting menu costing $320, with bespoke beverage pairings also available. Vivid Residence will run from 24 May to 2 June 2024 offering a unique dining experience in the middle of the Vivid Sydney Light Walk. Tickets go on sale Friday 19 April at vividsydney.com/food.
Vivid Chef Series
The Vivid Chef Series will take over Sydney’s food scene, with the city’s best hatted restaurants and chefs pairing with some of the world’s most exciting culinary talent to bring the global contemporary culinary scene to Sydney for a limited number of nights.
The series of exclusive dinners will see local and international talent collaborate to create a never-to-be repeated menu that celebrates the best NSW produce and suppliers, imbued with global culinary sophistication.
London chef Sally Abé, who will take over The Charles Brasserie & Bar as part of Vivid Chef Series, said: “As a passionate chef, I am thrilled to be a part of the Vivid Food series in Sydney. It is an incredible platform that celebrates the intersection of art, culture, and gastronomy, allowing me to showcase my culinary skills in a vibrant and innovative setting. I am excited to immerse myself in the diverse food scene of Sydney and collaborate with talented chefs from around the world, creating unforgettable culinary experiences.”
Chef collaborations include:
- The Charles Brasserie & Bar x Sally Abé | Once comrades in arms on the other side of the globe whilst working at the three Michelin-starred restaurant The Ledbury in London, Sally Abé of The Pem will be reuniting with Billy Hannigan of Sydney’s hatted The Charles Brasserie & Bar, for three unmissable lunches and dinners. The menu will merge Hannigan’s European-inspired cooking style with Abe’s passion for nostalgic British cuisine. Joining them in the kitchen will be head pastry chef Rhiann Mead, who will add her signature sweet and innovative flair to the evening.
- AALIA x Ivan Brehm | Ivan Brehm of Michelin-starred Singapore restaurant, Nouri and Paul Farag of AALIA (two hatted Sydney restaurant, previously named Gourmet Traveller’s NSW restaurant of the year, 2023) will collaborate on two exclusive dinners that celebrate global food traditions. The dinners will blend AALIA’s expertise in Middle Eastern cuisine with Nouri’s celebration of global food traditions, for a menu that honours diversity of cultures paying tribute to the richness of our collective culinary heritage.
- Fred’s x Max Coen | Max Coen of London Michelin-starred Dorian and Ben Greeno of acclaimed Sydney restaurant, Fred’s will unite for four exclusive dinners that fuse their culinary philosophies. Chef Coen’s meticulous focus on ingredient-focussed wood-fired grilling will meet Greeno’s farm-to-table approach and hyper-seasonal cooking, for a menu that celebrates the beauty and artistry found in simplicity, all while utilising the best in local produce.
Tickets go on sale Friday 19 April at vividsydney.com/food.
The Charles Brasserie Credit: Steven Woodburn
The Charles Brasserie & Bar x Sally Abe, as part of the Vivid Chef Series in Vivid Food.
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The Charles Brasserie Credit: Steven Woodburn
The Charles Brasserie & Bar x Sally Abe, as part of the Vivid Chef Series in Vivid Food.
Fred's x Max Coen Credit: Steven Woodburn
Fred's x Max Coen, as part of the Vivid Chef Series in Vivid Food.
#feelnewsydney
Fred's x Max Coen Credit: Steven Woodburn
Fred's x Max Coen, as part of the Vivid Chef Series in Vivid Food.
Vivid Fire Kitchen
Vivid Fire Kitchen will light up its new home of The Goods Line across 23 nights, with the world’s best pitmasters and BBQ heroes joining forces with acclaimed local flame-focused restaurants for a festival of accessible fire demos, cooking sessions and exclusive BBQ dishes, with drinks, DJs and entertainment ablaze with Fire Sculptures, Flame Shooters and fire drums. Using the best NSW produce, a line-up of acclaimed local and international chefs will serve up a selection of flame-seared street food from around the globe, from tandoor and Argentinian Asado, First Nations tucker, alongside hearty sausages, tender brisket, charred eggplant, and aromatic satay, offering a nightly multicultural feast.
Guests will enjoy demonstrations combining local produce and raw-fire cooking from chef and restaurateur Lennox Hastie of Sydney’s two-hatted Firedoor who returns for Vivid Food 2024; one of Australia’s most celebrated chefs and culinary ambassadors Christine Manfield; reigning Seafood Champion in the World Food Championships, John McFadden; chef, restaurateur, proud Bundjalung woman and owner of Karkalla restaurant, Mindy Woods; Michelin starred chef of Sweden’s Ekstedt at The Yard, Niklas Ekstedt; Texas-based live fire cook, author, TV personality Jess Pryles; Pitmaster of LA-based My Father’s Barbeque, Shalamar Lane and more.
Australian chef and restaurateur Lennox Hastie who will appear at Vivid Fire Kitchen, said: “For me, food is an integral part of my creative expression because it engages all my senses and allows me to connect with ingredients and people on a deeply personal level. Vivid Food celebrates the rich and diverse nature of our food culture of Australia, reminding us that food is not just about sustenance but a powerful form of connection supporting community, evoking emotions, and creating lasting memories.”
Alongside BBQ offerings and the blazing atmosphere on the Vivid Sydney Light Walk, Vivid Sydney audiences will also be able to enjoy dishes from a curated selection of Sydney’s hottest dining concepts at Vivid Fire Kitchen, from casual eateries to acclaimed restaurants, including Messina Milk Bar, a culinary time capsule that transforms beloved chocolate bars and classic sweets into modern gelato delights. A menu highlight: a warm Milo fudge sundae, specially developed to warm you up on cold winter nights.
Vivid Residence, Vivid Chef Series and Vivid Fire Kitchen events are produced by IMG in collaboration with Vivid Sydney. IMG is the global events company behind the likes of Gourmet Escape, Taste Festivals, The Big Feastival, New York Fashion Week: The Shows and Frieze art fairs.
Vivid Food is part of Vivid Sydney, the Southern Hemisphere’s leading multi-artform festival, which will run from 24 May to 15 June 2024. Tickets for Vivid Residence and Vivid Chef Series will go on sale Friday 19 April via https://www.vividsydney.com/food. Vivid Fire Kitchen events, taking place at The Goods Line in Ultimo, are free for all to attend. Food and drink can be purchased on site.
For more information and tickets, visit vividsydney.com
Niklas Ekstedt Credit: Niklas Ekstedt
Niklas Ekstedt for Vivid Fire Kitchen 2024
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Niklas Ekstedt Credit: Niklas Ekstedt
Niklas Ekstedt for Vivid Fire Kitchen 2024
Vivid Fire Kitchen 2024 Credit: Destination NSW
Vivid Fire Kitchen 2024 as part of Vivid Food.
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Vivid Fire Kitchen 2024 Credit: Destination NSW
Vivid Fire Kitchen 2024 as part of Vivid Food.
Media contacts:
Hannah Fedeli, +61437166571 or hannah.f@thecru.agency
Shannon Blanchard, +61432543377 or shannon@thecru.agency
James Toovey, Vivid Sydney PR Manager, +61407828310 or james.toovey@dnsw.com.au
About Vivid Sydney
Vivid Sydney is the Southern Hemisphere’s leading multi-artform festival, celebrating creativity, innovation and technology, and transforming Sydney into a kaleidoscope of colour and events for 23 nights. Staged for its 14th year in 2024, Vivid Sydney will bring together mesmerising displays from the world’s brightest light artists, exhilarating live music performances, deep-dive discussions with thought leaders, and innovative experiences from food creatives. Vivid Sydney attracts domestic and international visitors, fuelling economic growth while fostering a cultural celebration across Light, Music, Ideas and Food. Vivid Sydney is owned, managed and produced by Destination NSW, the NSW Government’s tourism and major events agency. For more information and tickets, visit vividsydney.com
About Destination NSW
Destination NSW is the champion and voice for the visitor economy within the NSW Government. Spearheading a whole-of-government approach to visitor economy growth, Destination NSW influences and shapes the visitor economy through strategic research, policy and thought leadership, stakeholder engagement and consultation, commercial partnerships and investment in visitor experiences, business support, marketing and events. Destination NSW is also the major investor in Business Events Sydney (BESydney) for the purpose of securing more international and domestic conventions, incentive travel reward programs, corporate events and exhibitions.
About IMG
IMG is a global sports, events and representation company. It is a leader in rights management, multi-channel content production and distribution, consultancy and fan engagement; owns, produces and commercially represents hundreds of live events and experiences; and manages licensing programs for the world’s best-known brands and trademarks. IMG is a subsidiary of Endeavor, a global sports and entertainment company.