As spring ushers in a season of change, now’s the time to explore Sydney‘s innovative experiences, with different cultures, creators and styles being combined and iterated on. This September see new takes on French pastries, Sri Lankan cuisine and high-end steak dining. Check into Penrith’s new luxury precinct and explore how a dive bar is transforming into three levels of Sydney style.
Woodfired fine dining
Before you enter Poetica Bar and Grill, smell the smoke, charcoal and steak you’re about to eat. Then walk in to see a light-filled dining room with stone tabletops, amber-coloured cocktails and a view of a flaming grill that’s the restaurant’s showpiece. The restaurant is a new high-end grill in North Sydney from the hospitality group behind The Charles Grand Brasserie and Bar, Loulou Bistro, and Tiva.
Hangover cure, Korean style
Perfect for party people needing a recovery, Yeodongsik is a cute Lidcombe restaurant that specialises in haejang-guk, a dish that literally translates to ‘soup to chase a hangover’. The menu has only a few soups, a trio of shared dishes (including a perfectly crunchy pancake) and the house made banchan (free Korean side dishes).
Britain reimagined on the plate
What would English fish and chips look like at an award-winning restaurant? How would Paddington Bear’s marmalade sandwich taste if a fine-dining chef made it? Nel provides the answers. From Wednesday 16 August to Saturday 30 September, the CBD restaurant will reimagine the classics of British cuisine across an eleven-course degustation under the title Great British Memories.
Pub reborn
When Jacksons on George reopens at Circular Quay this September, it will be one of the biggest transformations in Sydney hospitality. What was once a famous dive bar will become a sophisticated three-level wine-and-dine palace. Starting from the ground floor up, there will be a stylish pub, a restaurant headed by an ex-Iceberg's chef, and a rooftop cocktail bar up top.
Steak for all
This is the Alfie’s promise: 15 minutes after you walk into the bistro, you’ll be eating a dry-aged sirloin worthy of Sydney’s best steakhouses. The new fast-fine-dining steak house is from the team who brought us Bistecca and The Gidley, when doors open next month, expect locally sourced, high-quality beef, a slick fit-out and exceptional service.
Hoppers and beer
Taste Sri Lankan spices and wash them down with a craft beer or Colombo gin at Kurumba, Surry Hills’ brand-new Sri Lankan restaurant and bar. From the same owners of popular, now-closed cafe The Fold in Dulwich Hill, Kurumba offers creative renditions of traditional street food plus a modern bar serving both local- and Sri Lankan-influenced drinks.
Oaxaca in Glebe
Delve into the indigenous flavours of Oaxaca, Mexico with Nu’u, a new mid-range, modern-Mexican restaurant by Manuel Díaz (an alumni of Michelin-starred restaurants in France) and Diana Farrera. Find mezcal on the drink menu and, on the food menu, a 40-ingredient mole sauce used to cure pork belly.
Korean croissant
Imagine the surprise and joy in finding your chocolate croissant has not just two central batons of chocolate but a swirl enveloping your entire croissant. That is just one innovation at Layers, St Leonards’ new patisserie and specialty coffee spot bringing a twist to traditional French baking.
Mangan’s latest
Luke Mangan fans take note, the celebrity chef is launching a French- and Japanese-inspired restaurant in Potts Point. Named Luc-San after the chef-owner and the Japanese honorific, the smart-casual restaurant and bar will serve high-end Japanese whiskey and sake with French wine alongside a creative Mangan menu that twists the two cuisines together.
Five stars in Penrith
Experience $110 million of luxury development at Accor Penrith Pullman. Across 153 rooms, a new Modern-European bar and restaurant, a state-of-the-art fitness and wellness centre (designed in partnership with the Penrith Panthers) and an incredible function centre, the new hotel is a destination stay between the Blue Mountains and Sydney’s west.
NEL Credit: Cole Bennetts
NEL Great British Memories menu
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NEL Credit: Cole Bennetts
NEL Great British Memories menu
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Dorothy Smith & Yes Theory, Sydney Credit: Bluesfest
102-year-old visits Sydney and officially completes her seven-continent lifelong dream
#feelnewsydney
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.