Kiln, Ace Hotel Sydney Credit: Anson Smart
Kiln, the new restaurant from Chef Mitch Orr is a rooftop dining destination crowning the recently opened, Ace Hotel Sydney.
#feelnewsydney
From new bars and eateries that invite relaxed catch-ups, to revitalised hotels for stylish stays and experiences to enliven, Sydney is ready to celebrate the arrival of longer and warmer days.
NEW ACCOMMODATION
Wellbeing on the harbour
Sydney’s self-care rituals will be elevated with the opening of the two-storey Sofitel Spa at Sofitel Sydney Darling Harbour in January 2023. The luxurious urban retreat will deliver a holistic and indulgent experience tailored to deeply rejuvenate body, mind and soul.
Crystalbrook connection
The Rydges Sydney Harbour will be welcomed into the five-star, environmentally responsible Crystalbrook Collection. This new acquisition adds to Crystalbrook’s growing luxury hotel portfolio in NSW, which includes Crystalbrook Albion, Crystalbrook Byron and Crystalbrook Kingsley.
A Rydges revamp
After being closed for an extensive refurbishment, Darling Harbour’s former Radisson Hotel and Suites Sydney relaunches with a revitalised offering under The Rydges brand. The 98-room property has transformed into the cosmopolitan Rydges Darling Square Apartment Hotel with an update on the apartments and studio rooms, restaurant, bar, and conference rooms elevating the hotel with a relaxed urban elegance.
Paris via William Street
Sydney adds to its collection of refined boutique stays with the opening of William Street’s The Strand Hotel. A sensitive restoration sees the 99-year-old Darlinghurst pub emerge as an elegant 17-room, French-accented inn, paying homage to the style of bohemian Paris. Once dusk settles on the city guests and locals can also head to the adjoining The Strand Bistro and The Strand Rooftop bar.
NEW FOOD & DRINK
Cronulla cantina
Cronulla’s new Mexican eatery, El Rey, serves up vibrant plates overlooking The Kingsway and undulating blues of the ocean. Adopting a contemporary treatment of fresh seafood, slow-cooked meats and well-tended cocktails in a breezy beachside locale, its casual style accommodates both post-swim bites and special occasions.
Park picnic
Visitors to the UNESCO-listed Parramatta Park will be able to end their walk with a satisfying meal at new eatery Misc, by Gogglebox star and restaurateur Jad Nehmetallah. Dishing up Middle Eastern- and Mediterranean-inspired fare from head chef Joel Bennetts (formerly of Fish Shop, Bondi), the restaurant is open just in time for long summer lunches.
Dinner for good
Diners can feel good about this new nine-course dinner ‘Degustation for Change’, where each dish is inspired by an individual’s story of change. Held from October 19 to 21 in Darling Harbour, the dinners are the brainchild of Shaun Christie-David (founder of Colombo Social, Kabul Social and #PlateItForward), and Nelly Robinson of nel. restaurant. Robinson has mentored each person to turn their dish into a masterpiece and all proceeds will go to Plate It Forward.
Dishes at The Strand Hotel, Darlinghurst Credit: Trent van der Jagt
The Strand Hotel on William Street, Darlinghurst has completed the final phase of its multi-level restoration of the 99-year-old pub with the new 17-bedroom The Strand Hotel and Rooftop Bar now open - joining the French-inspired Strand Bistro.
#feelnewsydney
Dishes at The Strand Hotel, Darlinghurst Credit: Trent van der Jagt
The Strand Hotel on William Street, Darlinghurst has completed the final phase of its multi-level restoration of the 99-year-old pub with the new 17-bedroom The Strand Hotel and Rooftop Bar now open - joining the French-inspired Strand Bistro.
The Rooftop at The Strand Hotel, Darlinghurst Credit: Trent van der Jagt
The Strand Hotel on William Street, Darlinghurst has completed the final phase of its multi-level restoration of the 99-year-old pub with the new 17-bedroom The Strand Hotel and Rooftop Bar now open - joining the French-inspired Strand Bistro.
#feelnewsydney
The Rooftop at The Strand Hotel, Darlinghurst Credit: Trent van der Jagt
The Strand Hotel on William Street, Darlinghurst has completed the final phase of its multi-level restoration of the 99-year-old pub with the new 17-bedroom The Strand Hotel and Rooftop Bar now open - joining the French-inspired Strand Bistro.
Only the Negroni
Bar Conte is the negroni-focused aperitivo bar Sydney didn’t know it needed. Launched in September with perfect timing to leverage spring drinks, the Surry Hills bar whips up 20 iterations of the classic and much-adored cocktail to delight aficionados.
Lobster breakfast club
Dine on a decadent lobster-filled breakfast experience 36 levels-high at the Shangri-La Sydney’s lofty Altitude Restaurant. Running from Thursday to Sunday, this crustacean-centred menu sets a luxurious tone for a perfect Sydney day.
Perfect pintxo
An homage to the original pintxo (small snack) of San Sebastian, which comprises three simple ingredients – a guindilla pepper, an olive, and an anchovy – chef Lennox Hastie’s new wine bar, Gildas, unleashes the flavours of Basque country in Sydney’s Surry Hills.
Hair salon to tapas salón
Adding to the swag of excellent establishments from the Porteño Group (which includes Porteño, Continental Deli, and Bastardo), the new Bar Louise whips up incredible Spanish tapas accompanied by good pours. Serving from the retro neighbourhood treasure that is the Mary-Louise Salon on Enmore Road, this is must-stop on a summer bar tour.
Kiln’ it
As if Sydney’s Ace Hotel wasn’t hot enough, the new rooftop, wood-fire restaurant is sure to set the city alight with head chef Mitch Orr’s (CicciaBella and ACME) flame-licked menu. Teetering 18 levels above Surry Hills, Kiln’s food offering draws from the culinary catalogues of Italy, Japan and Southeast Asia, and tote a drinks list curated by P&V’s Mike Bennie.
Delicate indulgence
Designed by master pâtissier and moment-maker Adriano Zumbo, QT Sydney’s QTea high tea experience now invites indulgence that caters to dietary differences with a new plant-based and gluten-free menu.
Hops to fresh brews
Freshwater Brewing Company has delivered the beer-loving Northern Beaches a new taproom, which opened on 21 September to become the eighth brewery in the local area. The Brookvale taproom is open Wednesday to Sunday and offers eats, such as fish sangas, to enjoy with your beer.
NEW EXPERIENCES
A walk through Gadigal history
The nine-kilometre curated walk from Pirrama (Pyrmont) to Wallamool (Woolloomooloo) offers an enthralling connection to Country with eleven interpretive markers highlighting historically significant Aboriginal people and places. Called Yananurala, a name from the Gadigal language that translates to ‘walk Country’, it is led by Indigenous curator Emily McDaniel and is part of the Eora Journey that brings Aboriginal histories and stories to life through public artworks and installations.
Dinner and a show
For one night only on Thursday 20 October, Sydney’s beautiful Beckett’s in Glebe will show the fourth instalment of their exciting theatre-dinner vignette series. Served as a theatrical intermission within a four-course meal, two excerpts from Walkley Award winner Victoria Midwinter Pitt’s brilliant new Australian play I’m With Her will be performed in the beautiful sandstone cellar by stage icons, Lynette Curran and Deborah Galanos.
Gildas, Surry Hills Credit: Nikki To
Lennox Hastie's 60-seat Surry Hills wine bar, Gildas.
#feelnewsydney
Gildas, Surry Hills Credit: Nikki To
Lennox Hastie's 60-seat Surry Hills wine bar, Gildas.
Kiln, Ace Hotel Sydney Credit: Anson Smart
Kiln, the new restaurant from Chef Mitch Orr is a rooftop dining destination crowning the recently opened, Ace Hotel Sydney.
#feelnewsydney
Kiln, Ace Hotel Sydney Credit: Anson Smart
Kiln, the new restaurant from Chef Mitch Orr is a rooftop dining destination crowning the recently opened, Ace Hotel Sydney.
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