The end of the year brings with it a plethora of new openings; there's no slowing down for the Sydney hospitality scene. Dine on fried chicken by the beach, pastries prepared by Sydney gelato chefs and Japanese izakaya-meets-Italian fare. There’s also a new harbourside hotel, coastal track and more.

FOOD AND DRINK

Light French with a view

The restaurant piece of Circular Quay’s Martinez puzzle has opened its doors (the rooftop terrace bar opened a few weeks prior). This new Quay Quarter venue brings light, produce-driven French fare to the CBD. Find a plateau de fruits de mer (a cooked- and raw-seafood platter), scallops topped with sea urchin butter, bouillabaisse and more. Slip over to the bar, before or after your meal, for an al fresco drink.

Beachside fried chicken

Belles Hot Chicken has opened its third Sydney shop just around the corner from the iconic Bondi coastline. Like its CBD counterparts, the Bondi outfit serves its famous Nashville-style fried chicken, sandwiches, fries and mac ‘n’ cheese. The fit-out is reminiscent of an American 1960s diner with timber-clad walls, stained glass lampshades and leather booths.

Izakaya meets Italian

A Japanese izakaya with a little Italian flair, Surry Hills’ Ito thoughtfully combines the two cultures in its menu. Dine on spaghetti with spanner crab and togarashi (Japanese chilli mix), duck ravioli with brown butter and ponzu (citrusy soy), and charred Roman beans with barley miso and furikake (Japanese seaweed condiment). Go for the spanner crab chawanmushi (Japanese egg custard dish, already a fan-favourite), stay for the mochi sorbetto.

A fine wine festival

Come thirsty to The Finer Drop Festival at the Royal Randwick Racecourse, as more than 30 of Australia’s prized beverage brands, distillers and breweries gather in one spot from 18-19 November. Tickets garner access to the showcase, an array of food vendors, a Finer Drop souvenir glass, entry to the Finer Drop silent disco and much more. 

A CBD sirloin steakhouse

The team behind The Gidley and Bistecca restaurants has opened a third steakhouse, Alfie’s, which serves only one cut: a $38 sirloin. Here, you order your steak, then choose sides such as roast mushrooms, fire-roasted baby carrots or hot chips to accompany. The space is moody yet edgy – brutalist and dimly lit – with walls adorned with colourful, graffiti-esque artworks.

Snacks of Basque country

Pintxos (snacks served in Basque country) can now be ordered just steps from Sydney Harbour at Deux Freres in Circular Quay. The menu offers gildas, tomato with serrano ham, brioche with foie gras and onion jam pintxos alongside fried potatoes, potato tortilla, gazpacho, hibachi-grilled meats and a range of vermut and cocktails.

Inner-city bakery born of gelato

After years selling its viennoiserie at Rosebery’s monthly Cannery Markets, Shadow Baking has opened a brick-and-mortar bakery in Darlinghurst. Owned and operated by three Gelato Messina chefs, the bakery, which is only open Friday to Sunday, bakes croissants, custard tart danishes, pandan and coconut brioche, reuben pretzel croissant sandwiches, and much more.

Natural wines and spinning records

Inside Paddington’s Oxford House is where you’ll find just-opened natural wine and record bar, Busby’s – another opening from the Public Hospitality group. At the Oxford Street venue, Mike Bennie (P&V Wine and Liquor) is responsible for the natural wine list, the Maybe Sammy team is behind the cocktails and Clayton Wells (Public Hospitality’s creative culinary director) is behind the share-style menu spanning snacks to substantial dishes.

Be charmed at the bistro

An enchanting neighbourhood bistro swings its doors open this month in Rozelle. Chez Blue brings relaxed French dining to the suburb via simple yet refined dishes – such as a chicken liver brulee, tuna tartare Niçoise, steak frites and Paris-Brest – by a former Bistro Moncur chef.

Italo disco in Dee Why

Pizza, cold cocktails and natural wine land in Dee Why this month at Ullo. Expect DJs Friday, Saturday and Sunday nights alongside your slice, courtesy of award-winning pizzaiolo Enrico Sgarbossa.

ACCOMMODATION

Stay in CBD modern luxury

The long-awaited W Sydney has opened in Darling Harbour. The looming hotel boasts 588 stylish rooms and suites, a two-level rooftop bar, infinity pool, the W’s signature Living Room (a meeting place by day, a sake and raw bar venue at night), an all-day dining venue and a dessert bar by Singaporean dessert genius, Janice Wong.

EXPERIENCES

Go nocturnal at Taronga

Come face-to-face with Australian wildlife usually only seen during the night with Taronga Zoo’s nocturnal experience, nguwing nura. The walking-meditation-like sensory journey is a 100m exhibit housing more than 200 animals including the greater bilby, yellow-bellied glider, chuditch (western quoll) and more. The experience is the final stage of Nura Diya Australia, Taronga’s newest immersive experience.

A post-Christmas Harbour cruise

Experience the thrill of the Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race with a three-hour lunch cruise around Sydney Harbour on December 26. Journey Beyond Cruises’ Boxing Day Cruise will host the long lunch onboard a luxury vessel with an incredible vantage point for the race, an all-inclusive canape and beverage package, live music and onboard trivia.