Getting your collective sweat on in a Pilates or reformer class is one of the best ways to feel good—but turning up the heat and making it a hot one Luckily for us, beloved Pilates and yoga studio CorePlus has finally opened its first Sydney outpost in Darlinghurst they're gifting you your first class for free CorePlus prides itself on offering a diverse range of classes led by dedicated instructors You can choose from three heated mat Pilates classes (Hot Mat To redeem your free first class, download the CorePlus app for free and use code CONCRETEPLAYGROUND on your booking before Thursday Moku is a Japanese inspired restaurant on Riley Street in Darlinghurst with an a la carte and omakase menu depending on the day and time The menu has a mixture of Japanese dishes with playful Western accents and we were drawn in by the promise of a standout sandwich Come and see what Moku is like and if it's worth a visit Monica and I are on a countdown until she moves back to Italy and we've got a list of places that we wanted to go The thing that lured us towards Moku was a sandwich (what's new right?) Moku is the Japanese word for timber and this sandstone building has noren curtains lazily undulating with the slight breeze It's an unseasonably hot and sticky Autumn Saturday when we arrive for lunch at Moku The restaurant is spread over two levels and as we are the only patrons when I arrive we have our pick of table I gravitate towards the top level with more light although I wish I had chosen a position under the air conditioning unit The menu during the weekend day is a la carte and on and on certain evenings there is a sushi omakase option The steamy temps sap our strength and our usual gusto so we decide on a few things to share The potato gem snack is literally a single potato gem topped with hojicha smoked cream pepperberry and tonburi which are seeds from the summer Cyprus plant that resemble caviar and is often called vegan caviar We both like the rich smoked cream and the tonburi although I was hoping that they'd make their own potato gems We are both fans of a meatball and these grilled chicken and leek tsukune meatballs are brushed in tare and sit in a pool of truffle ponzu sauce with an egg yolk You are supposed to mix the yolk around so that it becomes a creamy The meatball itself is delicious especially swirled around in that sauce although the truffle is quite indiscernible in this The bacon katsu sando is the item that we both honed in one when we saw their Instagram page It's a thick golden crumbed bacon rasher with pickled red cabbage and mustard seed miso on soft white bread The crunch doesn't come from the bacon but from the crumbing and this is both of our favourite item It's also perfect to share as it comes in two halves Whenever I see chicken karaage on the menu I want to order it but sometimes bypass it in favour of other more interesting options but they actually recommended it here The chicken comes as piping hot and juicy boneless pieces of chicken with a lemon myrtle salt and a pot of Sriracha mayonnaise I really like how juicy the chicken is and the lemon myrtle salt gives it a nice We were trying to decide whether we wanted a salad or a cooked vegetable but they recommended the cauliflower to us The roasted cauliflower comes on a bed of lightly spicy chilli miso with shaved macadamia "snow" on top and nori seasoning It's a good side salad although I think adding parmesan instead of macadamia snow would tip it more into umami territory I definitely have plans to try and recreate chilli miso as a seasoning at home The wagyu don is a rice bowl topped with wagyu beef scattered with wattleseed We are instructed to mix it all up before eating The wagyu is very cooked through and some bites are a bit tough which is not what you expect with wagyu we just didn't really enjoy the wagyu which is supposed to be the star of the dish We woujld have normally gone for the mochi but these are brought in so we order the matcha tiramisu served in a hinoki masu or a wooden sake glass box It's layered with sponge and a cream cheese cream filling with a layer of matcha powder dusted on top It's not overly sweet but it is a very creamy tiramisu so try as we might Error: no decision tree source folder detected cocktails and breakfast pizzaReviving a sandstone cottage in the inner city it’s also got a gelato machine pastries and “not your mum’s” rissole sandwich Remove items from your saved list to add more Add articles to your saved list and come back to them anytime ShareIn a move that caught Sydney’s sandwich chasers by surprise, the highly popular All Purpose Bakery has just opened the doors to A.P Bread and Wine in Darlinghurst The brand new A.P Bread and Wine.Janie Barrett A.P’s chief baker says the new 80-seat venue will have a strong breakfast offering and “morph into a casual bistro at lunch” He has an early recommendation from the lunchtime menu too where “leftover bread pasta” is paired with zucchini and anchovy and a “not your mum’s” rissole sandwich has made the cut “I think my favourite is the mackerel sandwich,” the baker says Diners can expect to encounter their blue mackerel encased in thick-cut Japanese-style white bread and sharpened with green zhug sauce The “not your mum’s” rissole sandwich.Janie BarrettAdvertisementIn an A.P first a gelato machine will pump out flavours including strawberry and umeboshi (pickled Japanese plums) The bakery’s pastry staples will be on hand including a sugar plum brioche and whisky canele while the breakfast offering is headlined by a gruyere and asiago cheese “breakfast pizza” and “drowned eggs” in chicken broth with a toasted baguette There’s a recycled paper acoustic ceiling (similar to Poly’s) to help soften noise smart red table tops and leather banquettes The space was originally slated to be A.P’s first proper venue but treading carefully with the building’s heritage listing pushed it back in the group’s rollout pre-batched cocktails and Japanese digestives Muffet says dinner-time trade is on the horizon The breakfast pizza.Janie Barrett Speaking to Good Food, he also confirmed the group’s rumoured plan to add a new mega location to its portfolio, joining Bread and Wine plus A.P’s existing locations in Newtown and the rooftop of Surry Hills’ Paramount House Hotel The next All Purpose venue will be housed in a handsome corner building in Fitzroy Street where restaurant supplier Two Providores traded before its relocation Bread and Wine’s front courtyard at the former home of the Commons Local Eating House.Janie BarrettThe sprawling Marrickville site “has everything we want” “None of us has focused on growth; every step has come organically,” he says 32 Burton Street, Darlinghurst; apbakery.com.au news and the hottest openings served to your inbox Darlinghurst coffee shop patrons is that software giant Atlassian billionaire Mike Cannon-Brookes has bought a bachelor pad but reputedly the $15.2m New York warehouse-style penthouse on the top level of nearby Angus House It was knocked down to a buyers’ agent at a one bid auction in early March by estate agent Maclay Longhurst who marketed it as a “ultra luxe trophy penthouse.” The 585 sqm apartment won the Master Builders Association of Best Renovation 2023 which had been commissioned by its vendors They had paid $5.555m for the apartment that has recently been a high-end rental Alternative dance group Rüfüs Du Sol took the apartment for their Sydney shows MORE: Where world’s richest men really hide their billions Mike Cannon-Brookes is rumoured to have bought a bachelor pad in Darlinghurst MORE:Billionaire blowout – secret $3bn of 15 ‘super’ rich The four-bedroom apartment occupies the entire top floor of the former head office of Moran Health Care which was redeveloped by developer duo Theo Onisforou and James Packer into 18 apartments in the late 1990s The building at the corner of Stanely and Palmer streets was constructed in the 1930s having been a tyre warehouse in its early years The rooftop deck has a barbecue area and outdoor dining space set in landscaping MORE: Aussie crypto millionaires’ secret money stash The Darlinghurst pad is worth a hefty $15m MORE: Huge prediction for Aussie house prices No confirmation of the rumoured buyer has come from Sydney Sotheby’s according to the recent The List: Australia’s Richest 250 of 2025 by The Australian Rumours of the Darlinghurst property purchase follow closely on the heels of news that Cannon-Brookes bought a private jet as big as a house The Atlassian co-founder bought a Bombardier Global 7500 – the personal jet of choice of Hollywood luvvies including Matt Damon and Mark Wahlberg reality TV star Kylie Jenner and fellow Aussie rich lister Andrew ‘Twiggy Forrest MORE:Worst hoarder homes in Australia exposed Bombardier’s Global 7500 jet will set you back $100m+ and that doesn’t even factor in running costs MORE: Aussie couple in 30s turn $60k into $153m The Bombardier 7500 comes with a price tag of around $120m – even more than the Cannon-Brookes spent when he laid down $100m for his Sydney Harbourside home in 2018 The tech guru’s new Bombardier is a house in the sky and offers the space and luxuries most Aussies don’t even enjoy in their on-ground residences This jet-home features a number of living configurations and boasts a four-zone cabin that can seat up to 19 passengers and sleep eight costs around $15m a year to run – which based on an average of 450 owner-operated hours comes down to about $16,000 to run the Global 7500 has a range of around 14,300km which gets it from Sydney to Los Angeles with fuel to spare and has a top cruising speed of 956kmh MORE: Trophy homes of Roxy and other Aussie celebs Mike Cannon-Brookes and Annie Cannon-Brookes have split after 10 years third parties have written and supplied the content and we are not responsible for it completeness or reliability of the information nor do we accept any liability or responsibility arising in any way from omissions or errors contained in the content We do not recommend sponsored 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By accessing or using our platform, you agree to our Terms of Use. The Apache Salute cafe owner is a doyen of the Italian-style caffeine fix – think a chit-chat at the bar while you down your espresso before work Originally based in Victoria Street before moving to Boundary Street 10 years ago It’s a telling glimpse into this inner-city suburb which has morphed from a working-class precinct into a vibrant and highly coveted enclave the number of professionals calling Darlo home has more than doubled from 21 to 45 per cent “I think it’s become a lot more corporate in terms of owner-occupiers,” Paonessa says “You’ve got those people who live in a stable home and then you’ve got a whole bunch of transient neighbours who you’ll become real close and intimate with for six months or so and then they move on to a new neighbourhood.” Menai: Looking for ‘good schools and better value’ Mudgee: This country town’s ‘affordability shines compared to other regional areas’ Hurstville: The unexpected ‘burb to get a one-hat meal and award-winning coffee excellent bars and the annual Sydney Mardi Gras the suburb is home to a diverse demographic young families with kids enrolled at Darlinghurst Public and Sydney Grammar schools give their terrace houses a makeover medical staff love walking to work at St Vincent’s Private Hospital and downsizers snap up designer apartments with harbour views The suburb’s walkability is one of its many highlights to the harbourfront via Rushcutters Bay Park and to galleries Allianz Stadium and countless restaurants in under 20 minutes “You’re situated on the fringe of Surry Hills which offer great shopping and lifestyle amenity,” says agent Nic Krasnostein of Ray White Double Bay to the hospital and to in-demand schooling will always be an advantage for asset values in the area.” with Nic Krasnostein from Ray White Double Bay I love the cul-de-sac section of Thomson Street. You get a beautiful city view from the west-facing terraces there. Most of them have been upgraded over the last 10 or 15 years and they’re fairly tightly held. I go to Apache Salute on Boundary Street for coffee and breakfast and they do fantastic toasted sandwiches. It’s a family-run business that used to be in Victoria Street and they moved about 10 years ago now. I love Fabbrica Pasta Bar on Victoria Street. It’s the second pasta bar opened by this team and it’s a popular deli, wine bar and pasta shop. They feature six or seven pastas on the menu each day and they’re all handmade. 1 Bath1 ParkingView listing One of eight apartments in the 1860s Earls Court manor, this elegant one-bedroom property has been given a new lease of life by Marco Meneguzzi Design. With a brief to design a space that resembles and functions like a suite in a luxury hotel, the apartment features parquetry flooring, a Louis XV-style fireplace, a Shaker-style marble kitchen and a marble bathroom. The information on this website is intended to be of a general nature only and doesn't consider your objectives, financial situation or needs. where we are privileged to live and operate Share via...Gift this articleSubscribe to gift this article Gift 5 articles to anyone you choose each month when you subscribe This month’s interest rate cut brought more aspiring buyers to home auctions within days of the Reserve Bank’s decision and they were throwing in bids and sizing up opportunities The 0.25 of a percentage point cut that took the RBA’s benchmark cash rate to 4.1 per cent on Tuesday did not deliver a great improvement to buyers’ borrowing capacity but had an immediate impact on sentiment SQM Research founder Louis Christopher said SaveLog in or to save articleShareCopy link Gift 5 articles to anyone you choose each month when you subscribe. Follow the topics, people and companies that matter to you. Cult-favourite Pilates and yoga studio Core Plus is known for low-impact Founded a decade ago in Melbourne by Amy and Mike King the studio has expanded to over 30 studios across Victoria The team’s opening a studio in Darlinghurst on Saturday April 5 The new space will be led by Sydneysiders Sally Uglow and Danni du Preez a sense of movement and connection that aligns perfectly with Core Plus,” du Preez said in a statement “From the moment you walk through our doors you’ll feel it – like-minded people coming together The debut New South Wales studio will offer a dynamic line-up of classes Expect three different infrared-heated mat Pilates classes (hot mat Pilates hot strength and hot strength cardio) and four reformer classes (including and pre- and post-natal) travel spots and more – curated by those who know To celebrate its opening, Core Plus is offering free classes from Saturday April 5 to Friday April 11, 2025. The offer is available to any new customers who book through the Core Plus app Nightclub Meets Cardio and Strength at Barry’s: What To Expect From the Famous Workout Class Six of the Most Beautiful Kayaking Spots in Sydney – And Where to Hire a Boat The Best Walks in or Near Sydney to Get Your Nature Fix (and Pit Stops for Food and Coffee Along the Way) IT SEEMS THE PAGE YOU'RE LOOKING FOR HAS GONE ASTRAY GO BACK TO THE HOME PAGE Cross Section is a sandwich shop on McLachlan Avenue in Darlinghurst This small but popular sandwich shop has a menu with 8 regular sandwiches plus their own version of the viral NYC Chicken Caesar wrap as a special So is it worth the hype and what is the best thing to do to avoid the queue (and how can you get $5 off your order?) The message came from Laura asking me if I had tried the viral NYC chicken Caesar wrap at Cross Section I had just arrived back from a month on holiday and marvelled at how quickly things happen in Sydney I love chicken Caesar salads and combining it with a wrap is just genius and I made a date to try it with Mr NQN on a weekday The reason for a weekday visit is because I had read that you can wait up to 45 minutes on a Saturday for a wrap and I wanted to avoid that at all costs There is one way around the queue and that is to pre-order your sandwich but unfortunately the chicken Caesar wrap isn't on the pre-order menu which is rather vexing So we arrive at around 11:30am on a Tuesday (they advised arriving before 12:30pm) with Teddy and Milo in tow The two guys behind Cross Section are Josh Said and Brent Wasserman There is no queue so I take my time downloading the app which gives you $5 off your first order (there's a QR code for this on one of the tables) and step inside and ask for advice The chicken Caesar wrap is a given but I'm happy to take advice on the other two Between 7am-10:30am they also have deals like a breakfast burrito and coffee for $15 We start with a white chocolate matcha latte ($6) for me which is nice albeit very sweet Mr NQN has a cappuccino ($4.50) while Teddy and Milo each have a Puppacino ($1 each) with bits of bacon on top Although dogs aren't really supposed to have bacon I don't have the heart to take the bits off the top because Teddy and Milo's noses are twitching excitedly at the smell of bacon Teddy patiently licks at his daintily while Milo finishes his in about 10 seconds flat The first sandwich to arrive is The Bear which is best eaten in rather than taken away because it is served hot and it comes with a cup of beef dipping sauce The ciabatta bread is filled with generous amount of thin slices of corned beef finely diced giardiniera pickles and Swiss cheese with beef dipping sauce This is probably better for a cold day than today's warm almost summer weather but it is very moreish with a good balance of the tangy giardiniera At first glance the serve of dipping sauce seems a bit paltry but that's all you need really (and it's a bit salty to drink by itself) They explain that the number 1 sandwich since day 1 is the #11 This is again all about a balance of textures and flavours from the mortadella cooling stracciatella and flavour bombs from the red pesto and olive tapenade and the rocket just because greens are good for you These are huge sandwiches and they are thick with fillings I think the most I could have is half a sandwich and we see a lot of people taking the second halves with them But it's the chicken Caesar wrap that I love along with The Bear Everything is nicely mixed up and dressed from the finely shredded lettuce parmesan and Caesar dressing with the occasional crunchy crouton There's not really a lot of bacon in this which I think would add even more flavour but it's definitely worth stopping for And as we leave just around 12.15pm the queue has started to form have you tried a NYC viral chicken Caesar wrap it’s not the sweltering Tokyo summers and frozen Hakuba winters I dream of their generosity and marvellous ancient culture It’s always the first sando of many – but none hit quite like that one I’d say siblings Lexy and Lachlan Allouche of new Darlinghurst cafe Punpun dream about Japan and its sandos “Every time someone asks when and where I wanna go overseas “The rest of the world doesn’t exist to me.” The self-styled “inner city sandwich committee” has taken on the old Fu Manchu space opposite the hospital and swapped dim sum for sandos on steroids But while Japan’s konbini sandos are stone cold and come in a plastic wrapper Punpun’s sesame fried chicken katsu number emits a plume of steam as you pull apart the hot Where konbini-style sando eggs are scrambly and spun with kewpie here they’re steamed – not unlike Japan’s custard egg chawanmushi blanketed in cheese and slicked with chive mayo Punpun’s tight menu of four sandos is powered by Pasco shokupan from Japan It’s always soft and it’s always beautiful,” says Lexy who admits the business would be “fucked” if anything happened to the Pasco suppliers The siblings take their coffee game seriously, hence why they’ve enlisted Sydney micro roaster Diggy Doo’s to supply their beans tinned beers and – another konbini fave – Pocari Sweat The sliver of a space feels almost like a sushi counter A long timber bar runs its length; the opposing wall is punctuated by hanging Japanese baseball jerseys The siblings have plans to open the space at night she also dreams of manga – so much that she named her cafe after one and [Oyasumi] Punpun is the one series that really got me into it,” she tells Broadsheet @punpuncity Charcoal Chicken and Rosewater Desserts: A Local’s Guide to Merrylands Where Chefs Eat: Peter Gilmore Really Knows Crows Nest Ex-Tradies Grill Hard-to-Find Mexican Street Snacks First Look: Berta’s Deli Knows “Everyone Loves a Sandwich” Offering a unique vibrancy and cultural richness that sets it apart from its neighbours “Darlo” is known for its dynamic blend of heritage architecture creative endeavours and evolving urban lifestyle Positioned at the crossroads between the CBD the suburb provides residents with unparalleled access to some of Sydney’s finest dining They have just successfully hosted their first international artist in residence “What we love about Darlinghurst is that there’s a big creative community around here,” Gillett says “There’s a lot of art and design that is heavily supported throughout the neighbourhood and by other small businesses.” Gillett says the locals love the “colourful brightness” Rainbow Studios brings to Darlo “I think there’s a really unique feeling when you are strolling around,” she says likening the ambience and style to her birthplace of North London “There’s a lot of energy that I think is quite positive around the area and it’s just a little bit more raw and a little bit more unique than places like Bondi and the city centre You’ll discover the built gems of the 19th century from tiny terraces and fine villas to the stately sandstone of the National Art School with Hyde Park forming the western border and the Royal Botanic Garden through the Domain to the north “We can walk down to Rushcutters Bay and have a beautiful moment down by the water you can also walk down into Paddington,” Gillett says “I think it’s a beautiful place for people looking to invest in their business or even their home.” The suburb is attracting increasingly sophisticated residential development, as evidenced by developer Abadeen Group’s handsome Henri House Designed by Woods Bagot with interiors by Studio McCue and landscaping by Dangar Barin Smith The executive chairman and founder of Abadeen Group says the location and design team have made Henri House a compelling proposition Abadeen intends Henri House to embody the concept of a “modern classic”: luxurious and contemporary yet deeply respectful of Darlinghurst’s architectural heritage “The feedback has been overwhelmingly positive,” Brown says. “Buyers are drawn to the boutique appeal of Henri House and its premium location, appreciating its focus on oversized, thoughtfully designed apartments that seamlessly blend modern luxury with a strong connection to the local landscape and heritage. “The light-filled interiors and premium finishes are also a hit.” Brown says the communal rooftop garden has also been a key talking point. “Everyone living in Darlinghurst should have access to these kinds of views,” he says. “But it’s not just about the scenery. “We also wanted the rooftop to promote wellbeing – things like sunlight, fresh air and greenery are key to a healthy, balanced lifestyle.” The rooftop features lush gardens, plenty of seating, and open areas that give people a chance to unwind, socialise, or just take in the incredible views of Sydney Harbour, the Harbour Bridge, and the city skyline. It’s a space designed to help foster a sense of community and offer a peaceful retreat in the very heart of hip and happening Darlinghurst. Believe it or not, Fabbrica Pasta Bar has been winning over Darlinghurst diners with its knockout cacio e pepe and hot honey and ricotta zucchini flowers — among numerous other delights — for a year the Victoria Street pasta purveyor is inviting you to celebrate its first anniversary with free drinks and the return of some of its most popular dishes if you stop into Fabbrica Darlinghurst between 9–13 April (that's this Wednesday to Sunday) you'll be treated to a complimentary limoncello head chef Damiano Balducci is bringing back two original (and once widely devoured) creations slightly spicy and velvety smooth tonnarelli with blue swimmer crab and chilli before being served with crispy sage and creamy aioli You can think of it as Balducci's signature take on a schnitty We reckon this is going to attract fans in their legions. Don't want to miss out? Then be sure to book online as soon as you can vinegars and sausages are all made from scratch at small Darlinghurst spot Avia ShareSydney hit list See all stories.1 / 8Avia is run by two young hospitality professionals who are giving neighbourhood dining a red-hot go.Steven Siewert2 / 8Go-to dish: Sedanini pasta house-made pork sausage with cavolo nero pesto.Steven Siewert4 / 8Bottoni are round cushions of fine pasta filled with a mixture of salt cod and potato.Steven Siewert5 / 8 Steven Siewert6 / 8Snapper tail is scored seasoned and dry-aged for 24 hours before a slow grill on the hibachi and a quick roast.Steven Siewert7 / 8Rose geranium custard tart with hazelnut and nutmeg.Steven Siewert8 / 8 Steven SiewertPrevious SlideNext Slide14.5/20How we score Their booking systems can be punishing; their menus complex There are rules about where to sit and what to drink mortar and glass that aims its narrowest point towards Taylor Square North it’s in the hands of two young hospitality professionals who are giving neighbourhood dining a red-hot go Go-to dish: Sedanini pasta, trippa a la parmigiana, $31.Steven SiewertAdvertisementThey met years ago at Potts Point’s perpetually packed The Apollo. Stefano Marano was head chef for eight years, and Jack Reid was front-of-house. With a small horseshoe bar and an open window lined with stools that looks across to the Darlinghurst Law Courts, it’s a charming site that has had several restaurant lives, Bei and Casoni being just two. The menu at Avia, which is Latin for grandmother, has been shaped by the cooking and the sense of hospitality passed on by Marano’s Neapolitan grandmother – and the philosophy is very much hands-on and handmade. Focaccia, pasta, vinegars, sausages are all made from scratch. Even the rich, eggy rose geranium tart ($15), a wedge that echoes the shape of the room, gets its start when Marano picks fragrant rose geranium leaves in the morning to infuse the milk and cream. You might expect the food to be rustic and rough-hewn, but no, there’s plenty of refinement in the layering of flavours, and a few surprises in store. One is the chunky beef tartare ($24), seasoned with garum (made with chicken wings and shiitake mushrooms) and buried under a foaming parmesan dressing, hedge-hogged with crisp, tiny potato chips. Slightly crazy, but good. It’s not a snack-heavy list, but you could easily start with the squat little escarole pie, the leafy green seasoned with capers, olives and salted ricotta ($18), or the lovely crudo of kingfish ($25) under the gentle sweetness of melon and clean crunch of celery. Bottoni ($36) are perfectly round little cushions of fine pasta filled with a mixture of salt cod and potato, and topped with squishy orange splodges of apricot done in the style of mostarda di frutta. There will always be a house-made sausage on the menu. Tonight, it’s a chunky pork sausage sitting on a pond of cavolo nero pesto ($36) – clean-tasting (no fillers) and dusky with spice. Only one dish feels overly subtle: small potatoes in anchovy butter ($13) are pleasant, but it feels as though they are there only to tick the potato box. Snapper tail is scored, seasoned and dry-aged for 24 hours before a slow grill on the hibachi and a quick roast.Steven SiewertWhere other restaurants offer dishes that are easy on the kitchen – the platters of salumi, the bought-in buffalo mozzarella – Avia swims against the tide by making it hands-on. “We wouldn’t have it any other way,” says Marano. Wines share the same philosophy. The L’Escale sauvignon blanc ($21/$106) from Clos Roussely in the Loire Valley shows the impact of Vincent Roussely replacing machinery in his vineyard with good old-fashioned DIY. Snapper tail (market price) is a signature move – scored, seasoned and dry-aged for 24 hours before a slow grill on the hibachi and a quick roast. The dressing is a zingy tomato piccante with fresh grapefruit and parsley, and the fish cleaves from the bone. There’s a gentle humility and pride to Avia that makes it a pleasing place. The palate throughout is of gentle sweetness and balanced spicing, nothing raucous, and the modesty extends to the casual but warm dining experience and the sense of pride from host Jack Reid. It may not ask a lot of you, but it gives a lot back. Vibe: Warm, cosy Euro-tratt with made-from-scratch mentality Go-to dish: Sedanini pasta, trippa a la parmigiana, $31 Drinks: Summery cocktails, two Italian beers, and a short, well-judged wine list of Euro-Med labels Luxe taverna Olympus launches at Redfern’s $500 million food precinctIf you like Ouzo Coladas, The Apollo team’s new Greek restaurant opens this week. Popcorn chicken loaded with caviar makes its Double Bay debut at this new eateryHe worked with the best, but it was Faheem Noor’s four-year-old daughter’s favourite (with added caviar) that helped inspire the menu at his new restaurant, Ruma. How this converted warehouse became Sydney’s most trailblazing restaurantThe Good Food Guide’s inaugural Bill Granger Trailblazer winner is redefining its “suburban cuisine”. ShareIt’s one of the most happening corners in Sydney At the junction of Oxford and Flinders streets Cafe Freda’s has been the intersection of the city’s nightlife for the past four years people-watching over pasta and natural wine green and red plastic chairs will soon be packed away with owner David Abram announcing the venue will close at the end of summer The outdoor tables at Cafe Freda’s are hot property.Edwina Pickles“We knew it was going to happen,” Abram says “We were only ever on a rolling lease there as it was always going to be a development site at some stage with COVID and everything that happened over the last few years Abram says he is happy to have had four years in the space “This location draws people in from so many areas Oxford Street and Taylor Square is an iconic area and really interesting people live around there Edwina PicklesAbram opened the original Freda’s bar and nightclub in Chippendale in 2011 After nine years of non-stop dance parties the venue was forced to close due to redevelopment Freda’s relocated to Darlinghurst just a couple of months later and the focus moved from dancing and live music to drinking and snacking Now the venue will be reinvented once again Abram confirmed to Good Food that Freda’s will reopen at a new location in 2025 crispy chilli and fennel seed at Cafe Freda’s.Edwina PicklesAdvertisement“There’s another new transition to look forward to,” he said “We’re definitely excited about what’s coming next It will be exciting for people who like what we do.” While remaining tight-lipped about the details Abram confirmed: “It will be an evolution of what we’ve already done not just with Cafe Freda’s but with the old Freda’s too Abram said he wanted to leave guests with happy memories of the space we decided to just do the summer period and leave on a high Cafe Freda’s last day of service will be Saturday which coincides with Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras 2025 This place opened recently and has the whole city talking Where to Find Australia’s Best Inner-City Bakeries By Katya Wachtel By Katya Wachtel By Matheus The definitive guide to Sydney’s most essential food and drink experiences – updated every week It feels like AP is everywhere in the inner city But one of the many things we love about the bakery is that each location has a unique selling point This one especially so – in a first for the brand In an 80-seat sandstone cottage with heritage features a grown-up dining room (with fireplaces and open shelving housing bottles of wine) double-height ceilings and a jacaranda tree in the back garden a frilly carrot cake and old faves like buttermilk croissants and Aleppo scrolls All-day breakfast includes a saucy chicken egg and cheese muffin that’s “kind of a Japanese rissole meets a McDonald’s muffin”; a whopping oat pancake topped with whipped honey butter; and more At lunch there are interesting sangas and a big salad and daily pasta that change regularly ice-cream machine and the team’s pastry expertise playing key roles plus savoury dishes like vol-au-vents and pate en croute you can also score drinks including pre-batched freezer cocktails and non-alcoholic shrubs and a dozen wines by the glass This place was added to the Hot List recently and has the whole city talking Website: apbakery.com.au We do not seek or accept payment from the cafes, restaurants, bars and shops listed in the Directory – inclusion is at our discretion. Venue profiles are written by independent freelancers paid by Broadsheet. Knafeh, Charcoal Chicken and Rosewater Desserts: A Local’s Guide to Merrylands Where Chefs Eat: Peter Gilmore Really Knows Crows Nest, Willoughby and More First Look: At El Taco, Ex-Tradies Grill Hard-to-Find Mexican Street Snacks Pagan’s exit comes just one year after the departure of Jason Resch and Matt Darvidis. one half of chart topping and Golden Guitar winning band Darlinghurst has today (January 17) announced her official exit from the duo Following the sudden departure of members Jason Resch and Matt Darvidis in late 2023 Darlinghurst continued as a duo - consisting of the remaining members Newman and Cassie Leopold - throughout 2024 The duo released three hit singles - the number one smash Unapologetic I Shouldn’t Be Drinking - and also earned a nomination for Group or Duo of The Year for the 2025 Golden Guitar Awards. “Being part of Darlinghurst has been something I will never forget I feel very lucky to have had the opportunities that came with that including playing with some of Australia’s most iconic artists developing amazing friendships with other artists and music lovers I now must step back and down from Darlinghurst Thank you so much to everyone for your support and I will hopefully see you around soon”. Leopold is the sole remaining member of Darlinghurst Countrytown has reached out to her for comment with half of the original quartet leaving in 2023 over “visions” that were “not aligned” In a statement provided to Countrytown at the time, Newman and Leopold said, “Having launched their career in late 2019 just before a two-year COVID lockdown, Darlinghurst have chalked up five #1 radio singles, a debut #1 ARIA Country Album, a Golden Guitar for Best New Talent, a growing live fanbase, and close to 5 million streams. “In the years since, the members have faced personal and business challenges and differing ideas about how best to take the band forward while continuing to give their best to Darlinghurst. Join our community with our FREE weekly newsletter “Earlier this year, it became clear the members’ visions for Darlinghurst were not aligned. The members have now agreed that Darlinghurst will move forward with Cassie and Pagan as the remaining original members. Cassie, Pagan, Jason and Matt are incredibly proud of what they have achieved together and grateful for their fans’ ongoing support.” American thrift chain Savers is putting down serious roots in Sydney Just a few months after opening its first store in Hoxton Park a second store in Darlinghurst has been announced The San Francisco-born brand has been operating in Australia for 25 years, meeting an increasing consumer demand for sustainable and affordable preloved clothing a more compact offering and the brand’s first store of this kind Australia “The new store will not only showcase the best in preloved fashion but will also strengthen our commitment to sustainability,” said Savers Australia managing director Michael Fisher The Darlinghurst boutique will be smaller than the western Sydney “superstore” “[The] Oxford Street store provides a unique opportunity to experience this in a smaller format continuing to showcase the one-of-a-kind fashion finds that Savers is known for right in the heart of Sydney,” says Fisher The Hoxton Park store sells everything from washers to glassware to kids’ toys the Darlinghurst store will still offer “a little bit of everything” As well as giving you the chance to respond to any outfit compliments with the smug “Thank you – it’s thrifted” The existing 13 Australian stores have reportedly diverted over 7.5 million kilograms of textile waste from landfill and the new store will continue to contribute in this way Shop Till You Drop: The Best New Sydney Store Openings This Summer Top Melbourne Spa Sense of Self To Open a 1000-Square-Metre Bathhouse in Sydney fresh fare and candlelit vibesFrom day to night cafe-restaurant-bar Theeca serves up uncomplicated and super-fresh seasonal dishes Remove items from your saved list to add more. Add articles to your saved list and come back to them anytime. 2 / 8Battered cod.Janie Barrett3 / 8Ted’s flatbread.Janie Barrett4 / 8Roast barramundi.Janie Barrett5 / 8Chicken liver parfait with sourdough and pickled vegetables.Janie Barrett6 / 8 Janie Barrett7 / 8The Paloma mocktail and Tommy’s margarita.Janie Barrett8 / 8Salmon and snapper crudo.Janie BarrettPrevious SlideNext SlideCafe$$$$ Defining Theeca, a cafe, restaurant and wine bar in a jacaranda-lined Darlinghurst side street, is tricky. It is partly al fresco, with wooden tables on a terrace edged by sandstone buildings and stone pillars, conjuring visions of a small European streetscape. Roast barramundi.Janie BarrettAdvertisementHere, breakfasters eat buttermilk pancakes, truffle mushroom omelettes and a roasted fish plate with black rice salad, among a raft of other brunch dishes. They drink strawberry bomb smoothies (made with coconut milk, vanilla and collagen) and peach oolong tea before considering a glass of chilled red wine as the clock ticks into mid-morning. At night, these tables are lit by flickering candles under the low tree branches. Special long table dinner bookings bring linen tablecloths and jugs of tulips, sunflowers, daisies and lilies just metres from Oxford Street’s juiced-up roar. Inside is different again. A mildly cavernous basement space is a low-lit dining room of wooden tables, windows open to the terrace and candlelight flickering across ceiling pillars, swooping archways and diners’ faces. Tonight, they clink glasses at two communal tables while sharing olives, butterbean and garlic dip and Cantabrian anchovies. Are we in Spain? Is this an Italian basement restaurant, edged, as it is tonight, by long racks of wine bottles, two record players and a hefty sound system? Why is the entree called Ted’s Flatbread, from Theeca’s sophisticated Mediterranean-Australian menu, so marvellous? And who is Ted? Theeca, which opened in 2019, is a restaurant and wine bar owned and run by Junsao Park, known as Lake, Eunseok Lee, known as Oscar, and Tacho Kang, chef and the original owner, who is Ted. The Paloma mocktail and Tommy’s margarita.Janie BarrettI could hug Ted for his flatbread alone. It is a crisp, golden, beautifully dense and salt-scattered triumph served with whipped butter. But then comes chicken liver parfait served with A.P Bakery sourdough and pickled vegetables. Please order this parfait. Flocked with a wig of parsley, we swoosh tangy tendrils of carrot and turnip through its dark pink creaminess with lustiness. Another starter, the snapper crudo with finger lime and capers, is very good. Accompanying it with a glass of Dormilona’s chenin blanc natural wine from Margaret River, or a Paloma mocktail made with grapefruit and lime juice mixed with maple syrup and sparkling water. Theeca’s menu is seasonal, so our happiness at eating tonight’s meatballs, ribboned by wide curls of pappardelle pasta scattered with parmigiana and chilli oil, is now a sweet memory. Ted’s flatbread.Janie BarrettRoasted barramundi with oxheart tomato, olives, capers and anchovy, is a mainstay though. Arriving in a folded paper parcel cut open theatrically at the table, it is aromatic and tender. Ted, if it’s you behind this marvel, know it should never leave the menu. After some confusion surrounding a cheesecake dessert, which turns out to be a platter of gruyere, blue cheese, lavosh, pear slices and apple chutney (lovely but unexpected), a tiramisu arrives. Some tiramisus are prim, and some are unrestrained jalopies that explode sideways at the mere nudge of a spoon. Theeca’s tiramisu is like a cloud fell onto the plate and rolled happily around in spirits and dairy. A trembling cocoa-dusted slab of inordinate creaminess, it wields keen coffee flavour between heavenly mascarpone. Photo: Janie BarrettTed, our love for you is strong. Eunseok Lee says Theeca is evolving into a wine bar alongside its food menus. “We want to establish ourselves as a casual wine bar with a full wine list for all tastes,” he says. “We have 90 wines, but by the end of October we’ll have 100 in stock.” Friday and Saturday feature post-dinner DJ nights with vinyl spun from a collection of 1000 records. He also explains the menu’s inspiration comes from Ted’s childhood, when, as a young but seriously ill boy, his family focused on food to help his health. Theeca’s dishes are inspired by the healthy food Ted’s mother and grandmother made him. “Beautiful, uncomplicated and super fresh. We want them to bring happiness because spreading love through our food service and our ambience is our ultimate goal.” Vibe: Inner east modern Australian food and wine under trees between sandstone buildings or semi-underground by candlelight Go-to dish: Chicken liver parfait with A.P Bakery sourdough and pickled vegetables Fill up on first-rate pizza then fill your trolley five metres away at this supermarket spotThe Tonino’s International menu is built around pizza and pasta with a big ol’ fried chicken sandwich thrown in for good measure. This $20 beef soup was so popular it spawned a whole new noodle barSisters Rowena and Kate Chansiri of Ickle Cafe in Kingsgrove share lovingly made bowls of goodness at this light-filled spot in Surry Hills. ‘Wisps of magic’: Messina Creative’s six-course degustation is all-ages funThe gelato-maker’s dedicated team produces mind-blowing dishes that are a marriage of art, science and theatre. I arrived at Avia on Wednesday night in an absolute state. I huffed and puffed and existential-dreaded my way to its door in the former Bei Bar & Bistro space (just down from Taylor Square) Then something magical happened: I stepped inside Avia and enough teething issues to add a zero to a proverbial dentist’s bottom line and groups of friends ordered “one of everything and a few bottles” A few hours into its very first service, Avia already seemed like it was part of the furniture of the suburb, running with the same fluency of its neighbours Cafe Freda’s, Paski and Theeca Marano told Broadsheet that opening his own restaurant has been a dream for a decade but when it comes to the menu he’s reached even further back Avia means “grandmother” in Latin and the legacy of Marano’s Nonna Pina can be felt throughout the space “It’s not necessarily a reflection of my grandmother’s cooking it’s more a celebration of what she’s passed on to me about the importance of cooking for others and being a good host,” Marano tells Broadsheet The first dish on the menu – a house-baked focaccia with sugo – is a nod to mornings he spent waking up in his grandmother’s house and dipping bread into a sauce simmering on her stove The baby escarole pie topped with aged cheddar winks to both Marano’s Neapolitan heritage and his time at The Apollo and Le Foote “I always have a pie on my menus,” he says The one at Avia is more of a spicier version than at [my previous] venues Other standouts on the menu are the raw beef swimming in a rich cheesy sauce topped with golden potato chips; coffee-baked pumpkin served with curd and flaky sea salt; and a zingy house-made spaghettoni with lemon Two other pasta dishes – the sedanini with tripe potato and mustard fruit – proved popular among the first diners and Marano hopes guests keep up that spirit of adventure scored and grilled to produce a tender-fleshed fish with impossibly crispy skin It’s served with roast tomato picante and fresh and zesty grapefruit The 60-seater venue has a polished concrete floor The prime seats in the house are along the front window – which opens onto Taylor Square where there’s a smattering of al fresco seats – the perfect perch for people-watching The fit-out toes the line between modern and lived-in SearchReview: A Model Murder at Darlinghurst Courthouse - Sydney FestivalTheatre TravelsJan 134 min readReview by Scott Whitmont vision and recent technological advances in the Australian performing arts scene theatregoers these days might be excused for believing they have “seen everything” It’s increasingly hard to be surprised or to find something truly original in local theatre which has its world premiere as part of the Sydney Festival this month has originality and entertainment in abundance Performed in the unique venue of the Darlinghurst Courthouse it recreates the story (with artistic licence and tongues firmly placed in cheek) of the 1954 trial of 22-year-old Sydney model Shirley Beiger After advising Shirley that he had a late dentist appointment she instead found Arthur at the ritzy Chequers nightclub in the company of one of its cabaret showgirls An argument ensued outside the club and Shirley claims that the shotgun she was holding in the backseat of her mother’s car went off accidentally shooting Arthur in the face at point blank range women lined up around the Courthouse block with their thermoses and snacks vying for a seat to view the drama and support the girl whose man had ‘done her wrong’ “We love you Shirl” they called out from the gallery Whilst introducing appropriate gravitas to highlight issues of the period’s serious gender inequalities and legal drama playwright Melanie Tait and her co-writer and brilliant director Sheridan Harbridge have created an unexpected farce filled with laughter musical numbers and choreography performed on and around the courtroom bar table and witness stand Audience participation plays a key role in the evening’s levity headscarves and glasses to become jurors (men only in 1954) displaying their shock when the ‘murder weapon’ is introduced as a piece of evidence One unsuspecting audience member is even elevated to the bench to play the judge’s role order!” It’s entertaining enough to witness the spectacle of A Model Murder but this participatory device ensures that everyone truly feels a part of the show In the courtroom of the actual trial 70 years ago the ‘50s 2KY radio host Lyal Richardson (Amber McMahon) sets the scene and quickly makes the audience realise that recounting a murder trial may not be as serious a business as they may have expected Her command of the storyteller role is exemplary She/he welcomes us with the words “Come to court to see a trial treachery - everything that Sydney holds dear.” As the alleged murderess who acts like butter wouldn’t melt in her mouth Sofia Nolan easily wins over the hearts of all in attendance (as she did in real life) with would-be-innocence despite the cold-blooded nature of the crime for which she’s on trial As the dour but drole Detective Blissett (Ryan Morgan) describes her from the witness stand His description of the killing of Arthur Griffith is all the more entertaining given he also plays the role of Arthur Other cast members in dual roles who simply radiate talent in both their personas are the super-versatile Blazey Best and Maverick Newman Best threatens to faint throughout the trial in her attempt to win jury sympathy for her daughter not to mention her inappropriately offering them home-baked ginger snap biscuits Her theatrical alter ego is Arthur’s ‘other women’ particularly when she anachronistically croons Kylie Minogue’s Can’t Get You Out of My Head and wows with a revised version of Australia Crawl’s Reckless Newman brilliantly plays the exaggeratingly aged and piano-playing court stenographer Junee for laughs Shirley’s neighbour/friend and Chequers Club waiter (When Donny is giving testimony from the stand Junee is conveniently on a short ‘smoko’!) Ably representing their respective sides in theatrical legal combat are Prosecutor W.J Knight QC (Marco Chiappi) and Defence Attorney Phillip Roach (Anthony Taufa) complete with his “BDE” (Big Defence Energy) Appropriately donning their robes and wigs they cheekily peel back the robe to reveal the very NON-uniform compliant sparkling pantyhose is all-too-often stranger than fiction and the outcome of this trial which kept Sydney on tenterhooks is a fine example of that cliché Sydney Festival director Olivia Ansell must be congratulated for her inspired suggestion of the Darlinghurst courthouse as the show’s venue A Model Murder is totally immersive and given its sold-out season one can only hope that the Sydney theatre gods will deem it possible for a return run The brilliance of the production and the people of Sydney deserve it Broadway Diva The Sweet Science of Bruising Past ProductionsMore You are using an outdated browser. Please upgrade your browser to improve your experience A post shared by Cafe Freda’s (@cafefredas) “The last four years running Café Freda’s have been so rewarding but we’ve always missed the energy of a dance floor,” Abram shares we’d have never closed the original Freda’s but circumstances forced us to say goodbye it feels like serendipity to return to Chippendale Abram and Uriarte are blending the essence of Freda’s and Café Freda’s into a dual-concept nightlife experience Bar Freda’s promises an intimate yet electric vibe next door to The Abercrombie which will host Club Freda’s nights – paying homage to the venue’s party-forward roots This partnership with Solotel also signals a new chapter for Sydney’s nightlife “The opportunity to create something special at one of the city’s most iconic late-night venues is a dream come true,” Abram says “Working with Elliot Solomon and the Solotel team allows us to build a destination that reflects the love we have for this city.” and a dedication to fostering connection on and off the dance floor Freda’s 2.0 is set to reignite Chippendale’s after-dark scene and a sense of nostalgia infused with the bold vision of what’s next Feature images via the Cafe Freda's Instagram Enter your details below to receive 30% off Amber Sceats jewellery “There are a few books that I have to keep on buying because I always end up impulsively giving them to friends.” It’s been over 15 years since 27 Dresses first graced our screens Here’s why fans (and the ‘RUSSH’ team) think new music is en route +61 2 9293 0999 RUSSH.com is published by RUSSH Media Pty Ltd Fund Australia’s home of LGBTQ+ journalism The suburb of Darlinghurst has begun construction on the new Progress Pride flag raised crosswalk at the intersection of Bourke and Forbes streets The new crosswalk is dedicated to celebrating the achievements and resilience of people in the LGBTQIA+ community and beyond The estimated finish date is Mardi Gras 2025 The raised intersection will be painted with the Progress Pride flag design, as a permanent installation that leads pedestrians alongside Taylor Square to Qtopia, the newly opened centre for queer history and culture that is located in the former Darlinghurst police station “We understand visibility and inclusion are key to a vibrant welcoming and safe city and Sydney is committed to loudly declaring our support for LGBTIQA+ locals and visitors,” Lord Mayor of Sydney The plans for the new raised crosswalk include adding new tactile surface ground indicators and a shared zone driveway ramp for accessibility The Progress Pride flag was created in 2018 by non-binary artist Daniel Quaser who redesigned the classic rainbow flag to include the trans flag and black and brown stripes to pay homage to the thousands of people of colour who lost their lives during the HIV/AIDs pandemic in the 1980s and 1990s the stripes also encompass First Nations people The City of Sydney Council decided to paint new rainbow road works as well as update old ones to the Progress Pride flag as a result of a council decision in 2023 The City has updated the rainbow crossing between Bourke and Campbell streets at Taylor Square and updated the 90 metre rainbow footpath in Prince Alfred Park in Surry Hills to the Progress Pride flag to show their commitment to diversity and inclusivity Renovations are also being done across three blocks on Oxford Street to preserve its status as a beacon of Queer culture in Sydney The Lord Mayor said that the planning controls for Oxford Street were recently updated to unlock more development investment and to create a new cultural and creative space “During consultation for the new controls we heard that people value the strong connection between Oxford Street and LGBTIQA+ communities and wanted to see its social and cultural heritage recognised and maintained,” the Lord Mayor said “The City of Sydney’s long-term vision is for a greener Oxford Street with slowed traffic We want the strip to be a celebration of LGBTIQA+ culture and community and a destination and workplace for culture and creatives with more businesses and local services in the street’s heritage buildings.” The refurbishments and construction in Darlinghurst and Surry Hills are set to be completed by February of 2025 in time for the Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras Editorial Submissions and Enquirieseditor@starobserver.com.au Advertising and Salessales@starobserver.com.au Accountsaccounts@starobserver.com.au Bar Vincent is a beloved Sydney dining room where an ever-changing Italian-leaning menu is characterised by pared-back plates executed perfectly but with a lived-in charm that makes it feel like it’s been there forever Now owners Sarah Simm and Andy Logue are looking for a break Nathan and Sali Sasi) are making it happen Sali’s and Morgan’s favourite restaurant,” Nathan tells Broadsheet It’s just one of those things we naturally fell into.” The timing’s not ideal though. It comes just four weeks after McGlone and the Sasis opened restaurant-bar pair Bessie’s and Alma’s in January The woodfired restaurant’s a much bigger undertaking than its sibling Copains But they couldn’t let the opportunity pass “If [saying no] means that they might sell it to someone else or they might potentially close the doors It’s just coming back to the fact it’s our favourite place It’s a touching passing of the torch: casual staff work across both Copains and Vincent a little bit similar to the Chef’s Warehouse site where we are with Bessie’s You’d hate to see such a great place – that people go to from Sydney and internationally – man So we don’t need to come in and try to fix it We just want to continue the legacy they’ve built “We would love for people to come in and realise the transition from them to us has been seamless and the business is just operating as usual I love the philosophy around really seasonal Where you’d previously have to email or call to secure a spot at Vinny you can expect a new online booking system when the incoming owners take the reins Nathan Sasi and Sali Sasi will take over Bar Vincent on April 1 Look out for your first newsletter in your inbox soon We help you navigate a myriad of possibilities Sign up for our newsletter for the best of the city By entering your email address you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy and consent to receive emails from Time Out about news Sign up for our email to enjoy Sydney without spending a thing (as well as some options when you’re feeling flush) Our newsletter hand-delivers the best bits to your inbox Sign up to unlock our digital magazines and also receive the latest news By entering your email address you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy and consent to receive emails from Time Out about news, events, offers and partner promotions. Sydney ✍️ Time Out Sydney never writes starred restaurant and bar reviews from hosted experiences – Time Out covers restaurant and bar bills, and anonymously reviews, so that readers can trust our critique. Find out more, here Next up on the playlist is Neil Young followed by Talking Heads The first is that I am really looking forward to eating pasta The second is that any restaurant going from ‘Murder on the Dancefloor’ to ‘Harvest Moon’ and ‘This Must Be the Place’ is Fabbrica Pasta Bar Darlinghurst opened its doors in April this year, taking over the former home of A Tavola on Victoria Street in Darlinghurst 80-seat restaurant is decked out in a blue and white colour palette with blue textured wall art and the same long communal table in the middle Guests can hang their coats along the mirrored wall and there’s more seating out the back illuminated by hanging moons that run along the centre of the room Group chef Scott McComas-Williams and Darlinghurst head chef Damiano Balducci are behind the menu hand-made pasta is the focus here alongside share-style Italian-leaning plates A post shared by avriltreasure (@avriltreasure) and a starter of a ricotta-stuffed zucchini flower fried until crisp with a cellophane-like batter and finished with a drizzle of the stuff proves why House-made sourdough is lathered in puttanesca butter and topped with a meaty Cantabrian anchovy and a sprinkling of chives and an umami anchovy are on most wine bar menus for good reason and here the tomato and herbs add interest and flavour and first up is lumache with Tathra Place pork and fennel sausage and beans and the shape of it allows it to capture the glorious sauce We weigh up ordering the mafaldine with prawns and ’nduja but land on tonnarelli with blue swimmer crab and chilli the tonnarelli is twirled in a luscious and buttery sauce with sweet crab meat stirred throughout and I can picture myself eating this by the sea in Italy A side salad of shredded cabbage arrives under a mountain of salty Parmigiano-Reggiano snow Fresh mint and a sharp vinegar make it a banging salad We finish with a smooth and creamy panna cotta with an orange and rum caramel which has been seamless and intuitive all evening We head out to leave and I see "Ciao" is painted in big blue letters on a white door I reckon you should swing by Fabbrica Pasta Bar Darlinghurst and say ciao Stay in the loop: sign up for our free Time Out Sydney newsletter for more news, food & drink inspo and activity ideas Thanks for subscribing! Look out for your first newsletter in your inbox soon! twitter instagram pinterest About us Contact us Bennett is savvy when it comes to biz. First it was the design-focused lifestyle shop on Riley Street. Then it evolved with Tasmanian holiday rental Provider House. “I originally wanted to open more stores, but this market’s hard,” Bennett told Broadsheet when Maido opened “The house in Tassie is more like a showroom – it’s like our next store but you can stay And [Maido] is another reflection of what we do Instead of opening the same things over and over again.” Maido’s two-week build time saw a coffee bar replace the candle-making bench and a glass-walled workshop – ideal for perving on the Provider team pour candles – replace a storage space in one corner Bennett made garlands of white paper flags that hang from the ceiling and she draws Pocari’s mood each day and displays it on the counter Vintage shelves are stacked with a retail offering reflective of Provider: ceramic dishes and signature candles bottles of natural Japanese laundry liquid and artful tabletop brooms it makes room for more exciting projects,” the post continues “We’ve got big dreams and plans at Provider in the works.” candle-making workshops and private events The store’s named after a sweet greeting used in Osaka in the morning Maido’s final day of trade will be Sunday March 16 ShareWhen Bei Bar & Bistro served its last steak with house-made fig custard last weekend the modern Mediterranean restaurant’s closure felt like another nail in the coffin for a corner of Darlinghurst already on its knees Bei’s owner, the seasoned Sydney restaurateur Leigh Cholakos, had been holding out for an uptick in the precinct where the sprawling Oxford & Foley development on the northern side of Oxford Street – which promises to eventually inject new food operators and commercial tenants – is under construction Former head chef at The Apollo Stefano Marano (right) and business partner Jack Reid will open Avia, a 60-seat European restaurant, near Taylor Square.Traianos PakioufakisIn May, Big Poppa’s restaurant closed on Oxford Street and Cholakos warned she might also be looking to close in Darlinghurst “This site needs young energy,” Cholakos says of Bei’s home a modernist building on the corner of Bourke and Foley Streets “The area feels like when we opened Apollo and everything grew around us,” Marano says of the choice of location for Avia certainly have the required experience for the challenge Meanwhile, Reid set off and managed the floor at Melbourne’s Supernormal, and Brisbane’s Greca. “Everything I do [with food] is related to my grandmother in Naples,” Marano says of his food philosophy. The opening menu will feature sausage with black cabbage pesto and fennel ice-cream with spiced carrot and burnt honey, plus freshly baked bread customers can dip in sugo of the day. While there’ll be plenty of Italian, “we also cross into the south of France, or Spain”. With Big Poppa’s to return when the Oxford & Foley development is completed and new attractions such as the recently opened 45-seat Qtopia substation theatre, Cholakos believes revitalisation of the precinct will happen, “but might take a few years”. “It’s probably a crazy time to be opening a new restaurant,” Marano says of Avia’s impending launch. “So it’s just as well that we’re both a bit crazy.” A hot French bistro and a late-night Italian are closing, but not for reasons you might expectRestaurant reviews truffle and foie gras spins hit Sydney menusLuxury spins on the popular toasty treat have become the plats du jour at restaurants across town ShareSydney hit list See all stories.The humble prawn toast may not be humble for much longer if the latest menus around Sydney are any guide the popular toasty treat made with Cantonese prawn mousse is receiving an upgrade courtesy of the fresh seafood tank and luxury ingredients fresh arrival Wan’s Cantonese restaurant has upped the stakes with an opening volley of lobster toast Song Bird’s prawn toast uses Spencer Gulf king prawns and Baker Bleu sourdough.SuppliedOther opulent spins on the crunchy snack have become the plat du jour at Sydney restaurants prawn toast is accessorised with foie gras the kitchen marries prawn and black truffle That’s quite the step up for the suburban Chinese restaurant staple that used to taste like it had journeyed straight from the freezer to the deep fryer Classic dishes retold with premium fresh Australian produce is the menu blueprint With its ultra-slick dining room of timber and marble on Victoria Street the 120-seat Wan’s Cantonese isn’t the only new arrival in Sydney championing Cantonese food in luxe surroundings Neil Perry’s new $10 million Song Bird restaurant in Double Bay also fixed its gaze on Cantonese after the celebrity chef initially toyed with a wider cuisine brief. Perry, who explored other regions of Chinese cuisine at his previous CBD venue Spice Temple, argues Cantonese suits our climate and Sydneysiders’ love of lighter cooking. Lobster toast (right, rear) is on the opening menu at Wan’s Cantonese in Darlinghurst.Supplied“There’s a lot of steaming and roasting with Cantonese,” Perry says. He points to Cantonese techniques and staples such as ginger and shallot as the perfect companions to let great fish shine. “There’s a lightness, the moisture content is great, it’s a celebration of great produce,” Perry says. The president of the Chinese Precinct Chamber of Commerce, Wayne Tseng, says the immigration wave that populated Australia with Cantonese restaurants has played a part in its popularity. “The revival is due to nostalgia, familiar palate and the variety,” Tseng says. While some dishes can hide less premium produce, Perry points to Song Bird’s version of prawn toast as a platform to show off the quality of Spencer Gulf king prawns used in the dish. Built on a base of Baker Bleu sourdough, Song Bird’s version includes chunks of prawn meat to highlight the ingredients. The lobster toast at Wan’s Cantonese has become an early hit since the venue opened earlier this month. “It doesn’t matter what nationality, female or male, it’s popular with everyone,” Wan says. “We use rock lobsters from Tasmania and South Australia. It’s a little taster of fresh local seafood rather than imported, and that’s what we’re all about.” Wan’s Cantonese is open for dinner Thu-Sat (hours to be extended from mid-October). Good Food hat15.5/20ReviewDoes Neil Perry’s new Chinese restaurant Song Bird hit all the right notes?Continue this series From breakfast to late-night lattes, this all-day eatery is a buzzy beachside spotMakaveli Bondi’s footpath window bench is the perfect perch, day or night, to enjoy a chia bowl or a plate of silky beef carpaccio. ✍️ Time Out Sydney never writes starred restaurant and bar reviews from hosted experiences. We always review anonymously and cover our own restaurant and bar bills, so that readers can trust our critique. Find out more here It’s brunch time, and in front of me is a delicious looking bitta-this, bitta-that breakfast plate I’m obsessed with them – the whole of Sydney is really – and this one looks particularly good There’s baked-fresh-that-day sourdough toast with a smear of salted butter an open soft-boiled egg with a bright and jammy centre On a separate plate sits a bronzed croissant with butter and jam I know it’s not best practice to drink before noon (sorry but I’m in carb heaven – also known as A.P Bread & Wine It's the first-ever all-day offering from A.P Bakery A post shared by avriltreasure (@avriltreasure) A.P Bread & Wine is housed in a heritage-listed sandstone cottage, with a smart dining room and two courtyards designed for catching up with friends over hot Reuben Hills coffee and buttery pastries. Loaves of sourdough, ham and cheese baguettes, pretty Danishes and cracking pies make up the grab-and-go options If you’re here for brekkie or brunch choose from things like toasted brioche with whipped ricotta honey and fried rosemary; breakfast pizza with a tomato base asiago and prosciutto; and a protein-rich breakfast muffin with chicken On the lunch menu, there's a blue mackerel sandwich amped up with green zhug and herbs as is a bowl of pasta made from leftover bread paired with zucchini and anchovy breadcrumbs Dinner features a selection of snacks and share-style plates The succinct wine list mostly features Australian varietals (bar two French drops) and there’s a handful of beers The mystery buyer of billionaire Francesca Packer Barham’s $27.5 million sub-penthouse has emerged as Dr Chris Douglas medico founder of pathology practice Histopath Diagnostic Specialists The sleek Darlinghurst apartment within the landmark Harry Seidler-designed Horizon building is the latest prestige acquisition by Douglas and his wife in a portfolio now worth more than $77 million across three Sydney properties Sibling-founders Lexy and Lachlan Allouche (St Kai) are reimagining the crustless fluffy konbini sando – a Tokyo convenience store staple is an “inner city sandwich committee” bringing fresh energy and a tight little menu to the old Fu Manchu space While Japan’s konbini sandos are stone cold and wrapped in plastic The pillowy shokupan (milk bread) from a Japanese supplier dials it up a notch The siblings take their coffee game seriously, enlisting Sydney micro roaster Diggy Doo’s to supply the beans A timber bar runs its length and the opposing wall is punctuated by Japanese baseball jerseys Website: bio.site We do not seek or accept payment from the cafes bars and shops listed in the Directory – inclusion is at our discretion Venue profiles are written by independent freelancers paid by Broadsheet Back in May, Sydney’s thrift-shoppers went wild when the doors opened to the first-ever Savers store in NSW The Western Sydney outpost of the global second-hand superstore was just phase one of Savers’ Sydney takeover with the brand now revealing plans to open a huge first-of-its-kind-for-Australia ‘Savers Thrift Boutique’ in the heart of Darlinghurst Located on one of Sydney’s most famous streets the Oxford Street store will be a trendy boutique with a thrift-store twist with thousands of items added to the stock every week all without the hefty vintage price tags. Although the Savers Thrift Superstore in Hoxton Park is the first Savers outlet in the Harbour City the brand has been operating in Australia for 25 years with its 13 Aussie stores responsible for diverting 7.5 million kilograms of textile waste from landfill every year The new Darlinghurst outpost will bring another boost to Savers’ circular economy model providing an inner-city outlet for pre-loved clothes Set within a huge shop space on the Darlinghurst/Surry Hills border the new boutique will be the answer to Sydney's treasure-seekers’ dreams accessories and books all for far less than you'd pay in most vintage stores in the city You’ll find the new store at Shop 31-33 Oxford Square – it’s set to open in late October so vintage-fiends: clear your diaries (and your wardrobes) You can learn more about Savers Thrift Boutique and their existing Sydney store over here Stay in the loop: sign up for our free Time Out Sydney newsletter for more news Tom Cruise’s $40m Aussie party pad for saleKirsten Craze $40m mansion where Tom Cruise and Nicole Kidman partied in Australia when they were a couple has just hit the market When Hollywood heavyweights Baz Luhrmann and Catherine Martin sold Iona almost a decade ago the grand Italianate manor played a very different role to the one it does today The Luhrmann-Martins had run their production company Bazmark from behind the stately gates of 2 Darley St After buying Iona in 2006 for $10m from Jan Gowrie-Smith the former wife of entrepreneur Ian Gowrie-Smith the couple conceived cinematic hits such as The Great Gatsby and Australia from the ground floor office MORE: 20yo OnlyFans twins’ bizarre $6m demand Nicole Kidman with Tom Cruise arriving at Iona for a Baz Luhrmann party the pair had rented the residence for nine years the showbiz parties held at the lavish estate had a veritable VIP guest list of international stars MORE: Crowded House star snaps up new Aussie home Iona is up for sale with a $40m price guide The house was famous for the parties held there by Baz Luhrmann and Catherine Martin Nicole Kidman and Ewan McGregor rubbed shoulders with cast and crew at a post-production party for the film Moulin Rouge Luhrmann’s Great Gatsby stars such as Toby Maguire and Joel Edgerton also partied in the mansion Iona hosted the glamorous Sydney Children’s Hospital Silver Party attended by local celebrities such as Jesinta Franklin who is Mercury Private’s principal adviser and his partner Salvador Panui have put their own elegant stamp on the iconic Darlinghurst property since buying it from the movie moguls for $16m in 2015 MORE: Why Australia’s priciest home isn’t one of our best It’s far more family friendly now than it was There’s a commercial-grade kitchen and butler’s pantry Now the pair are ready to downsize from the 22-room residence family-friendly home than it was,” says listing agent Ben Collier of The Agency it was half set up as an office as well as a home But now it feels like a grand family estate,” said “The current owners have done a lot of things you can’t necessarily see but they have modernised it and also completely redone the kitchen.” “The other thing that’s significantly different from when the current owners bought it to now is that the gardens are far more established the vast landscaped grounds represent the most significant land parcel so close to the CBD MORE: Massive ‘show pony’ problem with The Block let alone for a high-density urban environment such as Darlinghurst; it really is an anomaly the landholdings were chopped up and subdivided as Sydney grew But for a house like this to still retain in excess of 2700sq m it’s pretty unique,” Mr Collier said Listed through an expressions of interest campaign Collier is marketing Iona with a $40m price guide “That’s where we feel it sits in the market today Once the site of the much smaller Iona Cottage the larger original estate known as Darlinghurst Heights was subdivided in 1845 wealthy pastoralist Edward Chisholm built the ‘new-look’ Iona in 1888 The property was also once a private hospital and had been slated for demolition in the 1970s but was later saved and placed on the National Trust’s heritage list by 1976 MORE: Latest in home prices from PropTrack Enjoy laps in the 19.6m long mosaic-tiled pool There are seven bedrooms and seven bathrooms The vast internal footprint of today includes the original footprint with additions but covers a palatial 1035sq m over two expansive levels Iona is filled with meticulously restored period touches such as elaborate stained glass windows and ornate 4.3m high ceilings alongside sympathetic contemporary updates including much of the bespoke wallpaper designed by former owner and Oscar-winning designer Catherine Martin the layout plays host to a collection of formal spaces such as a large drawing room all with fireplaces and access to the traditional wraparound veranda which in turn spills onto the sprawling north-facing grounds and an open plan dining zone feeding off the commercial-grade kitchen and full butler’s pantry MORE: Experts warn: Don’t buy in these Aussie suburbs All of the rooms on the ground floor have access to the traditional wraparound verandah The billyard room is also on the ground floor a library wraps around a central void with all seven bedrooms on the same level balcony access and a huge dressing room with fireplace Other bedrooms have ensuites and built-in wardrobes while one nursery-style room features a private kitchenette An additional self-contained apartment with separate balcony access is an ideal caretaker or au pair’s accommodation A basement level houses a wine cellar with cool room and multiple storage rooms Iona has two street entries; one driveway access via Darley St and a second pedestrian entry off Tewkesbury Ave complete with gates that once hung at Grosvenor House in London the former palace of the Duke of Westminster The romantic manicured grounds have elaborate water features at both entrances a private Grotto with Japanese garden designed by Ken Lamb established bamboo and frangipani trees plus a 19.6m long mosaic-tiled pool Iona is in a small cul de sac close to the Paul Ramsay Foundation SCEGGS Darlinghurst and the National Art School MORE: $50k secret could get you a new home sooner in a counter-cyclical play it expects can deliver its investors a 6 per cent income return The purchase of the Darlinghurst property is the fund manager’s third such office building buy this year a sign of its confidence that there are opportunities to be discovered in the battered sector five-storey office at 223 Liverpool Street Acquired from ST Real Estate for $64.5 million the building is leased to co-working facility operator Hub Australia The deal price represents a passing yield of 6.7 per cent and a fully leased yield of 8.2 per cent Forza director Adam Murchie is bullish on inner-city offices such as the one at Liverpool Street arguing that they are an outlier to the broader office sector from being located “where the cool kids hang out” “The Surry Hills and Darlinghurst office market is an outlier design and venture firms in the precinct creates its own flywheel of opportunity These occupiers are not typically candidates for CBD office alternatives.” he said “Land holdings there are also small [and] heritage listed so it’s hard to create meaningful supply That has meant there aren’t many new things going up there so when offices become available Forza projects a 6 per cent distribution yield and an internal rate of return of between 14 per cent and 16 per cent net of fees for 233 Liverpool Street ST Real Estate had earned about a 12 per cent annual return on cost of owning 223 Liverpool Street Underlying such returns is the demand created by the high concentration of young professionals living in inner-city suburbs and wanting to work locally The populations of Surry Hills and Darlinghurst comprise relatively higher proportions of 25 to 34-year-olds – 33 per cent and 31 per cent respectively – compared with 22 per cent for greater Sydney Sydney’s inner-city offices also have a vacancy rate of just 3.4 per cent significantly lower than the 11.6 per cent vacancy rate of the Sydney CBD Darlinghurst offices have posted 8 per cent annual rent growth for the past 7 years The Darlinghurst deal is the latest example of Forza Capital investing into its counter-cyclical strategy for the office sector It follows the purchase of 117 Clarence Street in the Sydney CBD for $130 million in January and of 3-8 Hamilton Street in Victoria’s Mont Albert for $15.5 million in July The Mont Albert deal price represented a 45 per cent discount to the $28.3 million the vendor had paid for the property in 2021 Mr Murchie said Forza Capital raised $43 million in less than 30 days from its wealthy client base despite the negativity around offices The strength of that demand showed property investors were also confident that some inner-city office opportunities could outperform the headwinds challenging the broader sector The Darlinghurst property was brokered by Knight Frank’s Jonathan Vaughan Sydney commercial real estate Melbourne commercial real estate Brisbane commercial real estate Adelaide commercial real estate Perth commercial real estate Canberra commercial real estate Darwin commercial real estate Hobart commercial real estate NSW properties for sale VIC properties for sale QLD properties for sale SA properties for sale WA properties for sale ACT properties for sale NT properties for sale TAS properties for sale NSW properties for lease VIC properties for lease QLD properties for lease SA properties for lease WA properties for lease ACT properties for lease NT properties for lease TAS properties for lease Rural & Farming for sale in NSW Rural & Farming for sale in VIC Rural & Farming for sale in QLD Rural & Farming for sale in SA Rural & Farming for sale in WA Rural & Farming for sale in NT Rural & Farming for sale in TAS Rural & Farming for sale in ACT Sydney Toowoomba City Surry Hills Melbourne Dandenong Brisbane Morton Vale Noosaville Iona in Darlinghurst is the perfect expression of old-school Hollywood, near to the CBD. Movie director Baz Lurhmann and his wife, designer Catherine Martin, formerly owned the estate, and stories from the Moulin Rouge launch bash report Tom Cruise and his wife Nicole Kidman were the life of the party and Leonardo DiCaprio, the star of Lurhmann’s The Great Gatsby, posed for a photo shoot in the lush garden. Collier said one of the amazing features of the landmark house is how private it is. He said no traffic noise, only the sweet din of birds in the established garden, punctuate the peace and quiet. As such, it feels a long way from Sydney’s inner suburbs. “It is a well known home for a number of reasons, one of which is it an absolute rarity to find something like it this close to the CBD,” Collier says. “Secondly, it has had high profile owners in the past. “But fundamentally, all of that aside, you could literally be anywhere else in the world other than in Darlinghurst.” This humble Darlinghurst terrace is fit for modern-day living Tiny home with huge price tag will stun with its clever use of space This $3500-per-week rental comes with an unexpected extra Built in about 1880 for pastoralist Edward Chisholm, the estate is the largest residential block in its high-end area, spanning 2716 square metres of verdant, landscaped gardens. The mansion is only a 20-minute walk to the city. The layout encompasses grand entry hall and multiple living areas including a sitting room, drawing room, and billiard room. Seven bedrooms and seven bathrooms provide space for guests. The main suite has a private balcony, dressing room and en suite. The owner will also acquire a self-contained apartment with its own balcony and private entry. They can enjoy a home office, gym, cellar and a cool room. A 19.6-metre mosaic-tiled swimming pool has Gatsby flair. The property also features a Grotto with a Japanese garden designed by Ken Lamb. The entrance is graced by gates from the Duke of Westminster’s London palace. Looking for an utterly delicious way to make a difference? We have the answer. Neil Perry is Two Good Cafe chef of the month this March – and you're invited to eat his delicious creations to help raise funds for at-risk women affected by domestic violence homelessness and trauma in their search for employment The star of the month-long menu is undoubtedly Neil's Cubano Roll packed with pork carnitas lathered in chipotle mayo and stacked with dill pickles – a brilliant fusion of bold flavours for $18 and a perfectly soft-boiled egg (also $18) finish up by indulging in Neil's carrot cake ($8) knowing that with every bite you're making a difference Perry's delights will be served at the Two Good Cafe at Yirranma Place in Darlinghurst so you can share all the goodness with colleagues Add articles to your saved list and come back to them any time Five months after it staged a show set in a public bathroom the Darlinghurst Theatre Company’s finances have gone down the toilet prompting the City of Sydney to offer free rent of a council-owned venue to prop up the ailing arts organisation Theatregoers are among creditors owed money after the company was placed in voluntary administration this week – days after it solicited donations on social media Darlinghurst Theatre Company staged a production of Overflow as part of this year’s Sydney Festival.Credit: Steven Siewert A statement on the company’s website said all trading had been suspended “and no events will go forward until further notice” including musical theatre club Thirsty Thursdays scheduled for June 20 The NSW government has refused to give more money to the company which announced a “pause on Darlo-produced programming for 2024” citing escalating cost pressures and an unsustainable financial model The City of Sydney will offer free rent of the Eternity Playhouse to the Darlinghurst Company.Credit: Brett Boardman the City of Sydney will vote next week to increase a rent subsidy for the Eternity Playhouse in Darlinghurst to more than $200,000 despite concerns about the company’s management and staff turnover Darlinghurst Theatre Company currently pays $77 had failed to meet performance criteria and reporting requirements because of staffing disruption and “subsequent gaps in organisational knowledge” left in 2023 and was followed out the door by executive director Suzanne Pereira Administrator BRI Ferrier principal John Keenan said he had suspended shows while he seeks to recapitalise and restructure the theatre company so it can resume operating Keenan said it appeared that cost-of-living pressures had reduced demand for tickets to the company’s shows “The effect of that has been a reduction in revenues and donor support and resulted in acute financial issues,” he said Keenan said the company “probably needs a few hundred thousand dollars” which he said was modest compared to other troubled businesses he has dealt with He said ticket holders should try to get repaid via a chargeback through their credit card provider The company bills itself as creating culturally diverse which is set in a nightclub toilet and focuses on the fight for transgender acceptance and equality Financial documents lodged with the Australian Charities and Not-for-profits Commission show the charity that runs the theatre company posted a profit of $191,000 in 2023 after receiving just under $1 million in government funding It also received emergency funding from philanthropic sources last December and was seeking donations on social media earlier this month the company’s program did not strike a chord with audiences with box office sales falling to $2.4 million last year from $3.3 million in 2022 There were also significant declines in bar sales and donations in 2023 compared to the previous year Sydney Lord Mayor Clover Moore said the council would work with the administrators to determine the company’s financial position “and consider options for the future operation of the theatre once we have more information” “This comes at a tough time for the creative sector and many organisations continue to struggle to recover from the impact of the pandemic,” Moore said A Create NSW spokesman said it was always concerning when a cultural organisation goes into administration but the NSW government will not rescue the theatre company the government has no plans to provide additional support to the business,” he said Find out the next TV, streaming series and movies to add to your must-sees. Get The Watchlist delivered every Thursday the Darlinghurst Theatre Company\\u2019s finances have gone down the toilet Theatregoers are among creditors owed money after the company was placed in voluntary administration this week \\u2013 days after it solicited donations on social media A statement on the company\\u2019s website said all trading had been suspended \\u201Cand no events will go forward until further notice\\u201D which announced a \\u201Cpause on Darlo-produced programming for 2024\\u201D the City of Sydney will vote next week to increase a rent subsidy for the Eternity Playhouse in Darlinghurst to more than $200,000 despite concerns about the company\\u2019s management and staff turnover had failed to meet performance criteria and reporting requirements because of staffing disruption and \\u201Csubsequent gaps in organisational knowledge\\u201D Keenan said it appeared that cost-of-living pressures had reduced demand for tickets to the company\\u2019s shows \\u201CThe effect of that has been a reduction in revenues and donor support and resulted in acute financial issues,\\u201D he said Keenan said the company \\u201Cprobably needs a few hundred thousand dollars\\u201D the company\\u2019s program did not strike a chord with audiences Sydney Lord Mayor Clover Moore said the council would work with the administrators to determine the company\\u2019s financial position \\u201Cand consider options for the future operation of the theatre once we have more information\\u201D \\u201CThis comes at a tough time for the creative sector and many organisations continue to struggle to recover from the impact of the pandemic,\\u201D Moore said the government has no plans to provide additional support to the business,\\u201D he said streaming series and movies to add to your must-sees Among these pioneering contemporary curry houses is Madam Ji in Darlinghurst which has taken over the storied spot on Burton Street once occupied by Pocket Bar — one of the original vanguard of small bars that flourished after NSW's licencing laws were amended in 2017 Offering a menu that mixes tried-and-true favourites alongside radical fusions this colourful addition to Darlo's thriving dining scene is ready to welcome those in search of classics like butter chicken and biryani as well as epicurean adventurers hungry for something surprising among those unexpected dishes are riffs on two of the most predictable starters you can find on countless menus across Sydney and beyond are enlivened by a fiery house-made tadka — a mix of fresh and dried chillies — while a ceviche of kingfish balances its citrus edge with the earthy spice of curry leaf oil but cut their teeth in the hospitality industry in top Sydney venues and hotels While Executive Chef Rakshit Sondhi commands the kitchen who studied at the prestigious Le Cordon Bleu Sydney before taking on senior roles with the Hilton group Adorning the walls of the dining room are portraits of Indian women wearing vibrant saris Sondhi and Singh wanted their new venture to be "a celebration of empowerment and individuality inspired by the resilience and freedom of women in Indian culture" the restaurant's fitout — much like its menu — is a mix of traditional cues such as dark-stained wood panelling and mosaic floors most notably the bar's eye-popping pink neon sign Madam Ji also offers a tasty addition to Sydney's increasingly diverse array of bottomless brunches guests can enjoy free-flowing house wines for $79 or bottomless cocktails for $99 per person for two hours Soaking up those drinks is a multi-course feast with sides including a starter of papadams served with signature dips and chutneys; the aforementioned tadka-spiked burrata; buttery flakey parotta drizzled with chilli oil; and ribs of bhutta (a variant of white corn popular on the Indian subcontinent) served with sigdi chicken tikka The main course stars Madam Ji's signature butter chicken with all the trimmings A 24-year-old man has been charged with an alleged homophobic hate crime after an incident between three men in Darlinghurst last night (Sunday November 24) At around 11:30pm on Palmer Street in Darlinghurst two men aged 34 and 31 were reportedly walking along Palmer Street when they were approached by another man not known to them NSW Police allege that the older man was threatened before he and the other man left the scene the unknown man is alleged to have driven back and forth past the pair on ‘several occasions’ and said a number of ‘offensive comments of a homophobic nature’ were made to the two men officers from Kings Cross Police Area Command stopped the vehicle that was yelling the homophobic comments near Bourke Street Two men were in the vehicle — the driver was arrested and taken to Kings Cross Police Station the man was charged with stalk/intimidate intend fear physical etc harm (personal) and common assault and will be appearing to face the charges at Downing Centre Local Court on 10 December police all around the country have reported a variety of alleged homophobic hate crimes and attacks of gay men Victoria Police made 13 arrests after an investigation into gay men being catfished on Grindr and lured to locations where they then experienced assaults ACT Policing reported last month that they intensified their investigation into the alleged homophobic assaults of three men in Canberra all of whom were targeted through the dating app Grindr in a similar catfishing scheme Almost identical attacks occurred in Perth too where multiple teenage boys after a series of alleged homophobic aggravated assaults and robberies of gay men WA Premier called the crimes “insidious” and “sickening” One of the state’s oldest all-boys schools is planning to expand into a second inner-city campus after purchasing a three-storey converted commercial warehouse for $39 million headmaster Richard Malpass said the school had bought 1-19 Hargrave Street in Darlinghurst a large office block east of the CBD that was once Sony Australia’s headquarters “This acquisition will provide our school with a major opportunity to extend the delivery of a Grammar education at our senior campus including significantly enhancing our capacity to provide indoor sports facilities and recreational space close to College Street,” Malpass said on Wednesday Sydney Grammar has purchased 1-19 Hargrave Street for just over $39 million.Credit: Nick Moir The selective private school settled on the building on October 8 purchasing it from Canberra-based property developer which bought the site from Mirvac in 2007 for $14 million Sydney Grammar’s main senior school has held a prime position on College Street since 1857 while it also has preparatory school campuses in St Ives and Paddington for kindergarten to year 6 students Malpass said the additional Hargrave Street site had “extraordinary potential value and historical significance” to the school with the almost 1500 square metre building about 300 metres from its main College Street campus The school has separately been planning its controversial $54 million Rushcutters Bay Weigall Sports Complex which was referred to the Independent Planning Commission after receiving 102 submissions The Weigall proposal sparked fierce backlash from dozens of nearby residents including about 100 public housing tenants concerned about overshadowing and loss of views Malpass told parents that the new Hargrave site would deliver “some of the functions originally planned for Weigall” in addition to other academic and co-curricular facilities “The acquisition will enable us to preserve Weigall as the focal area for outdoor sports,” he said with the school set to develop a new tennis centre and practice cricket nets at the Rushcutters Bay site Sydney Grammar did not elaborate on any revisions for its plans for the Weigall facility Malpass wrote that the Hargrave Street building had “long played an important role in the Darlinghurst precinct” and the site had been “on the school’s radar” before it came up for sale in June “The school places great store on providing holistic education for our pupils We are also mindful of the unique inner-urban nature of our campuses and the logistical and financial challenges this can present,” he said Multiple high-fee Sydney private schools are planning major sports and performing arts centre upgrades which has lodged a proposal with the Department of Planning for a $108 million performing arts Malpass said the Hargrave Street purchase was assisted by a “generous starter donation” but said the school would need more donor support from families and alumni to develop the new campus Start the day with a summary of the day’s most important and interesting stories, analysis and insights. Sign up for our Morning Edition newsletter One of the state\\u2019s oldest all-boys schools a large office block east of the CBD that was once Sony Australia\\u2019s headquarters \\u201CThis acquisition will provide our school with a major opportunity to extend the delivery of a Grammar education at our senior campus including significantly enhancing our capacity to provide indoor sports facilities and recreational space close to College Street,\\u201D Malpass said on Wednesday Sydney Grammar\\u2019s main senior school has held a prime position on College Street since 1857 Malpass said the additional Hargrave Street site had \\u201Cextraordinary potential value and historical significance\\u201D to the school The school has separately been planning its Rushcutters Bay Malpass told parents that the new Hargrave site would deliver \\u201Csome of the functions originally planned for Weigall\\u201D in addition to other academic and co-curricular facilities \\u201CThe acquisition will enable us to preserve Weigall as the focal area for outdoor sports,\\u201D he said Malpass wrote that the Hargrave Street building had \\u201Clong played an important role in the Darlinghurst precinct\\u201D and the site had been \\u201Con the school\\u2019s radar\\u201D before it came up for sale in June \\u201CThe school places great store on providing holistic education for our pupils We are also mindful of the unique inner-urban nature of our campuses and the logistical and financial challenges this can present,\\u201D he said Malpass said the Hargrave Street purchase was assisted by a \\u201Cgenerous starter donation\\u201D but said the school would need more donor support from families and alumni to develop the new campus Start the day with a summary of the day\\u2019s most important and interesting stories After a month-long hiatus, Darlinghurst Filipino eatery Takam is back with a new look and direction. More exciting is that owners Aileen Aguirre, Francis Dela Cruz and Lesley Roque have teamed up with Ralph Libo-On and Michael Mabuti of Melbourne diner Askal which raised the bar for that city’s Filipino dining scene when it opened earlier this year Aguirre says Takam 2.0 hopes to do the same for Sydney “The intention is to showcase the richness of Filipino food and also educate the community.” the team pays homage to traditional Filipino recipes and techniques and incorporates native Australian produce sourced from local farms Lumpia (spring rolls) come wrapped in betel leaf with saltbush tomato ketchup hidden between the pastry and the leaf “litson” beef brisket with pepperberry salsa is a spin on the Philippines’ national dish The crowd-pleaser – lemongrass chicken inasal cooked over coals on the hibachi – is here to stay Diners can also expect a more complex bar offering “I’ve applied modern bartending techniques and paired it with the richness of being Filipino.” His Galleon de Manila cocktail was inspired by the maritime trade route between Manila and Acapulco a distilled Filipino palm liquor also known as coconut wine the house take on the Martini with Archie Rose dry gin It’s served with a pickle at minus 14 degrees Celsius and poured tableside worked with long-time collaborator Stefan Bagnoli of Bagnoli Architects to create an inviting and functional space extending the venue’s capacity from 26 to 51 some bar seating and tables both on the restaurant’s main floor and on the mezzanine The centrepiece is a multi-toned countertop pieced together from marble offcuts Mabuti says it’s symbolic of the Filipino diaspora “Creating spaces with a point of difference grounded in culture has always been the goal.”  Takam represents a statement of intention from a generation of young Filipino Australians “[The idea of] ‘Filipino food forward’ was born at Takam,” he says “We are here because we are proud Filipino Australians ready to share our culture with the community.”