Category: CITIES

Melbourne Latin fusion brunch you didn’t know you needed

Repeat Offender food table flat lay

Ask anyone what their favourite cuisine is and ‘Mexican’ is usually found in the top 5* answers. So, when Melbourne southside local and favourite, Repeat Offender brings in a new Latin-inspired brunch menu, you know most people – you, too – are gonna sit up. Staying true to its legacy, the new summer menu is completely gluten-free and has added a new lineup of tacos, a spectacular confit leg of lamb, as well as a pan-fried blue-eyed cod with sautéed spinach, red mole, and crispy kale. For their plant-based friends, they’ve also introduced a series of new small and large plates including the stuffed zucchini with vegetable mince, pasilla, almond, lemon cheese and micro-herbs grown in Elwood. And because they’re good like this, for those who don’t want to miss out on all the action, Repeat Offender is now offering several Banquets for any palette or budget, with seven course banquets starting at just $55pp right through to an $80pp feast featuring all the most craved menu items. Good food should be served with great wine, and Repeat Offender has refined its wine menu to serve local Central and South America drops, paying homage to its menu. Bringing the heat, Repeat Offender has now an extensive range, including 8 different Margarita’s – try each flavour from spicy to coconut, this is your excuse to indulge in a margarita everyday of the week. *Totally made-up, but you know it’s true.

Legendary food and wine master series in Melbourne and Sydney you don’t want to miss

Food red wine table

December is the season to treat yourself – and if doing Christmas right is your thing, then a little bit of overeating is the best way to do it! That’s why the news of Botswana Butchery, in partnership with leading Barossa winery, St Hallett, offering both Sydney and Melbourne food and wine lovers a luxurious dining experience not to be missed this November and December hit the desk, we got excited. Angel Fernandez – guys behind Botswana Butchery – has selected some of Botswana Butchery’s signature dishes, showcasing distinctive flavours and food mastery to curate an exclusive matched menu, paired perfectly with a selection of premium St Hallett wines. The decadent and limited time Little Black Book exclusive four course menu includes venison tartare and grilled quail both signature dishes on Angel’s menu. And the wine! St Hallett will be laying down bottles of the Butcher’s Cart Shiraz 2019, Higher Earth Shiraz 2018, Blackwell Shiraz 2019 and from this year’s vintage release collection, the Old Block Shiraz 2018. The wines have been handpicked by Helen to showcase the exceptional quality, rich textures, depth, and versatility of Barossa wine. Signature four course menu $180. Signature four course menu matched with premium StHallett wines $250. Prices are per person and the full table must participate. 23rd November – 18th December, Monday – Saturday between 12pm and 11pm. Offer availableat all sittings without pre-ordering. Book Melbourne and Sydney at the links below: St Hallett X Botswana Butchery Masters Series Sydney St Hallett X Botswana Butchery Masters Series Melbourne

Opera’s now free to all thanks to Opera Australia

Opera Australia Melbourne

From Europe to Australia, Opera Australia is teaming up with BMW for Opera for All. It’s been staged in Munich, Berlin, London and Moscow, and this year leading opera companies like Opera Australia is presenting world-class opera to the public for free. The Australian premiere of this global initiative will include a one-hour open-air concert that will take place on 4 February 2023 at Federation Square in Melbourne and include the most popular arias in opera. The performance will feature four of Australia’s finest opera singers accompanied by Orchestra Victoria. Think of it as a different incarnation of the renowned Opera in the Domain in Sydney or Opera in the Bowl in Melbourne; a massive outdoor opera spectacle open to all! Whether you’re new to opera or an old hat; been wanting to hear the music in real life for a first or keen to try something new, this event is an excellent way to dip your toe in. With some of the world’s most famous pieces of music and vocal work to go along with them, you’ll be hard done by to find something that doesn’t appeal to you! If you need a glimpse, take a look at some of our opera content, or listen to one of my favourites of all time: BMW Opera for AllSaturday 4 February 2023, 4:00 – 5:00pmFederation Square, Cnr Swanston Street & Flinders Street, MelbourneVisit opera.org.au for further event information.

Melbourne pubs and restaurants that are open for visits this Christmas

Prince York Sydney pub 1

Forget Christmas at your place – who needs the cleaning up?! This Christmas in Melbourne, it’s all about pubs and taking those you love on a gastronomic journey around the city at a range of the city’s finest that are open for all sorts this festive season. We’ve gathered some of the details for you… Garden State Hotel 101 Flinders Lane, Melbourne Tippy-Tay is putting an Italian spin on all the Christmas classics with a delicious Italian Christmas Feast. Enjoy your lunch in the perfect Italian setting at Garden State’s Tippy-Tay that includes a four course banquet menu, inclusive of 3-hour beverage package. Adults priced at $185pp, bambinos $75pp, from 12pm-3pm. Book here Middle Park Hotel 102 Canterbury Rd, Middle Park Enjoy a relaxing festive lunch near the bay at Middle Park Hotel with the family because you can. You’ll enjoy a glass of bubbles on arrival and a mouth-watering three-course lunch in the refined surrounds of the Middle Park Hotel. Adults priced at $140pp and kids are $45pp and there are two seatings available; 11:00am & 2.30pm. Book here The Local Port Melbourne 22-24 Bay Street, Port Melbourne Enjoy all the Christmas classics at this Port Melbourne favourite, right in the heart of the city’s elite inner south. You’ll enjoy three courses with all of the favourite Christmas classics. Adults priced at $115pp and kids under 12 are $35pp. Book here The Duke of Wellington 146 Flinders Street, Melbourne Think a share-style festive feast in the heart of the city at The Duke of Wellington…. Read More

World Pride exhibition in Sydney with The Huxleys and an installation by Paul Yore

The Huxleys drag performers

Gay Sydney and The Huxleys are almost synonymous. Their glitter, their glam and their avant garde approach to drag, art and immersive exhibitionism is seconded by very few around the world. And this year, the Huxleys duo, artist Paul Yore and other contemporaries will put on a show worthy of World Pride in Sydney for the millions of punters from across the globe. MORE: Kylie Minogue will headline World Pride Sydney In 2024, Carriageworks in Eveleigh Sydney, one of Australia’s most significant contemporary multi-arts organisations, today announced a dynamic program spanning visual arts and live performance to be presented as part of Sydney Festival 2023. Presented from 5 January – 5 March 2023, a major new exhibition Bloodlines by Melbourne-based collaborative duo The Huxleys will honour legendary queer artists lost to the HIV/AIDS epidemic. Utilising the artists’ skills in costume design, performance and photography, the exhibition will include large-scale photographic works, video art and an opening live art party on 4 January. The exhibition will also feature a durational collaborative installation that invites the community to contribute panels to be sewn together into a quilt, reminiscent of the AIDS Memorial Quilts created during the 80s and 90s. Bloodlines is a heartfelt tribute to LGBTQIA+ artists, including Leigh Bowery, Robert Mapplethorpe, Keith Haring and Sylvester, that continue to inspire the practices of The Huxleys and countless artists working today. Artist Paul Yore will present Paul Yore: WORD MADE FLESH, a major immersive installation, from 5 January – 26 February 2023. WORD MADE FLESH is a new… Read More

Where is open in Sydney on New Years’ Eve and New Years’ Day

A plate of chicken on a table with hands holding cutlery going to cut into it

Welcome to 2023 – almost. They say that where and how you ring in the new year will set you on the right – or in some cases, wrong! – path for the next 12 months of the year. So, choose wisely. Here are some places in Sydney that are offering options for New Years Eve and New Years Day. Anason  A modern Turkish restaurant and mezebar inspired by the seaside meyhanes of Istanbul. NYE Open Hours: 12pm – 10pm: NYE & NYD Maydanoz  An Aegean Turkish coast inspired bar and restaurant paying homage to the region’s vegetarian and olive oil driven casual meze bars. NYE Open Hours: 5pm – 10pm: NYE  Closed: NYD Portside Sydney Harbour A full house ticket ($995pp) includes outdoor seating with unobstructed views of the Sydney Harbour Bridge and firework display, access to the private VIP lounge with seating and table service, 5.5hr premium beverage package of free flowing French Champagne, premium wine and beer, continuous food service of canapes and grazing stations and live entertainment with the incredible mega DJ line up. $995 for a 5.5 hour food and drink package. More info here Barangaroo House: House Bar @ Barangaroo House NYE party with Sydney’s hottest DJs playing from 4pm and into the night. The bar will open for service with drinks and snacks. Book here.  Rekodo @ Barangaroo House NYE party with live vinyl DJs, Omakase menu, and a 3-hour beverage package for $250pp including a cocktail on arrival, free-flowing wine and Asahi and midnight Champagne. Book here.  Smoke Bar @ Barangaroo… Read More

Sydney’s Twilight Christmas Market coming to Carriageworks Sydney

People walking around Carriageworks Sydney

Everyone’s beloved Christmas Twilight Market returns on Wednesday 21 December 2022. Running from 4pm to 9pm, the market will feature over 80 of New South Wales’ leading growers, farmers and artisans, offering  a one-stop-shop for fresh produce, food-related gifts and festive feasting essentials, where visitors can pick up all they need for holiday entertaining just days before Christmas. At the risk of over-selling what will obviously be an adorably Christmassy time, there’ll be Bondi Oysters, Christmas hams from LP’s Quality Meats, biodynamic beef from Greenhill Farm, lamb from Mimosa Valley, saucisson by La Bastide and smoked seafood by Brilliant Foods. Entertaining is made easy with a range of delicious cheeses and dairy from Vannella, Willowbrae, The Pines, Pecora Dairy, Country Valley Dairy and Pepe Saya. A range of vegan alternatives will also be on offer from La Petite Fauxmagerie, Uproot Foods and Suzy Spoon’s Vegetarian Butcher.  And some more. Now is the time to eat, drink, be merry and get ready for the season of the Fat Man. More info at the website Carriageworks Christmas Twilight Market Wednesday 21 December 2022, 4 – 9pm  Carriageworks, 245 Wilson St, Eveleigh NSW 2015

Alexander McQueen: the exhibition in Melbourne at the National Gallery of Victoria

NGV Alexander McQueen announcement 1

Alexander McQueen: Mind, Mythos, Muse, the spectacular drama of Alexander McQueen’s design genius and the late ‘90s London scene inspires the musical line-up and design of this season’s NGV Friday Nights.  From 16 December, Melbourne’s favourite and famous gallery, the National Gallery of Victoria (NGV) will host its renowned Friday Nights sessions, opening up the gallery in a more accessible and entertaining way for guests from all over than ever before. This year, the 18-week live music series will feature some of Melbourne’s most creative musical minds spanning disco, glam rock, punk, jazz, and soul. Nai Palm’s magnetic neo-soul sound will fill the NGV’s Great Hall on opening night, with further highlights throughout the series including Electric Fields, Kee’ahn, Banoffee and Billy Davis.  And if that’s not enough and you’re really hankering for a visit to the McQueen exhibition, then NGV Friday Nights offers late-night access to Alexander McQueen: Mind, Mythos, Muse, the first major Australian exhibition to explore the work of Alexander McQueen (1969 – 2010). The exhibition, organised by the Los Angeles County Museum of Art (LACMA), in partnership with the NGV, will showcase 60 garments and accessories drawn from LACMA’s holdings of important works by McQueen alongside more than 50 designs by McQueen from the NGV Collection, making this Australian-exclusive presentation especially rich and comprehensive.   Go to the NGV website for more info and to organise your visit

Rent a pool by the hour in Sydney with Swimply

Flynn Cairns hotel pool

The need for your own backyard pool has officially taken a back seat, thanks to Swimply. Rent a pool by the hour for all your summertime relief needs for just $25 per hour, You can bring together their family and friends and rent a private pool, with many venues on the platform also providing access to BBQ facilities and pool toys, making it the perfect (and affordable) ‘daycation’ or local escape.  Pool owners can now earn extra income by becoming a Host and renting out their pool on Swimply, with many hosts finding that the money made on Swimply not only covers maintenance expenses, but also provides them with a lucrative side hustle.   According to newly appointed Managing Director for Australia, Sam McDonagh, average pool maintenance costs in Australia are between AUD $2400 – $4800 per year – an amount that pool owners can reasonably expect to cover by listing their pool on Swimply. Get your toggs on and get going! See more at the Swimply website

Places doing Thanksgiving in Melbourne this year

Roast cauliflower being spooned onto a plate

Thanksgiving is an American tradition, sure, but why can’t we take the best bits and make it our own? Enter King & Godfree on Melbourne’s Lygon Street, offering a faultless American style banquet feast option for anyone who’s thinking about taking on the tradition, or just after a quality – and massive – feed. Bringing the iconic American festivities to Melbourne, King & Godfree is cooking up a celebratory feast drawing on traditional Thanksgiving fare with an Italian spin. For one night only, a set menu will be available for $85 per person for a 7pm sitting including a special cocktail on arrival. As per tradition, the centerpiece of King & Godfree’s Thanksgiving spread is a classic roast turkey with cranberry sauce, served with mashed potatoes and gravy and either vegetarian or Italian pork and fennel sausage stuffing. Cacio e pepe mac and cheese, green bean casserole, cornbread with honey butter, and a sweet potato casserole with marshmallows will also make a welcome appearance, best enjoyed alongside the evening’s special cocktail, a cranberry sour. On a sweet note, pecan pie with fior di latte gelato will be the final dish of the evening. With limited spaces, bookings and pre-payment is required and reservations can be made here.