What's On in Sydney: Your Ultimate Guide for July & Beyond
Here's what's on in Sydney this month.
Winter has arrived on tiptoes and the weather is getting crispy. We're leaning right in with trips to cosy bars and romantic restaurants. There's never been a better time to explore the city with Sydney alive with festivals and events aplenty.
To help you make the most of this July, we've rounded up the best of what's on in Sydney this month.
What's On in Sydney: Eat & Drink
Mum Cha at Colombo Social
Cutest collab ever? It may well be. Colombo Social has just announced the launch of their new monthly lunch series 'Mum Cha' and it's as wholesome as it sounds. Plate It Forward CEO Shaur Christie-David and his mother Shiranie will be cooking and serving a 10-course set menu on the last Saturday of the month with a roster of Australian personalities and their mums.
The first Mum Cha event will see chef Dan Hong and his mother Angie Hong take to the kitchen to whip up a selection of Sri Lankan and Vietnamese dishes. Get in quick if you want in!
$150 per person (includes 10-course menu, cocktail on arrival and unlimited red and white wines for 90 minutes)
Last Saturday of the month
159 Enmore Road, Enmore
Indulge in this Viral Raclette Igloo Experience
Sydney is COLD and we're leaning into the winter weather with every seasonal delight we can get our hands on. This Raclette Igloo Experience is right at the top of our Wishlist. Enjoy views out over Sydney's skyline whilst ensconced in your own French-Alps-inspired igloo complete with falling snow, fire pits and fairy lights. Sip mulled wine, dine on oozing, melted raclette cheese and finish your night off with fire-roasted marshmallows. What could be better?!
$99 per person, book your place here
Friday June 28th to Sunday July 28th
Broadway Sydney Rooftop
Celebrate Bastille Day at Loulou
There's nothing quite like a Bastille Day celebration at one of Sydney's finest French restaurants. Book in for a 3-course shared feast at Loulou and you'll be sure to be feeling the joie de vivre. Begin with salade of bay lobster with grapefruit and endive and Loulou's iconic steak tartare classique followed by a swathe of moreish mains. Warm madeleines and crêpes suzette will round out the offering. You can peek the full menu here.
$130 per person
Sunday 14th July
61 Lavender Street, Milsons Point
Score $8 Mini Martinis and Scrummy Bar Snacks at this Elite New Bar
Fancy a spot of midweek luxury? The park views from The Bar at Sydney Common are calling your name. Swing by between 4:30pm and 6:30pm, Tuesday to Friday, and you can grab yourself $8 mini martinis, $12 negronis and $6 wines, G&T's and Sydney Beer Co lagers. The curated selection of bar snacks means you won't have to leave if you feel peckish. Think Sydney Rock Oysters dressed in finger lime and rice vinegar, roasted artichokes with parmesan custard, fried whitebait with Sichuan salt and prawn katsu sandwiches.
Level 1, Sheraton Grand Sydney Hyde Park
Celebrate NAIDOC Week with Harbord Hotel and Bush to Bowl
Indigenous social enterprise Bush to Bowl has teamed up with Harbord Hotel to serve up a five-course feast this NAIDOC Week. Bush to Bowl connects First Nations people to country with a focus on traditional foods. The menu will feature the likes of bream fillet with prickly pear and salted finger lime, smoked wallaby with Davidson plum and warrigal greens and lemon myrtle powder amongst other delicacies. With $10 from each ticket going back to Bush to Bowl it's a great way to get involved this year whilst sampling some of the best bush food Australia has to offer.
$99, with $10 from each ticket going back to Bush to Bowl
Thursday 11th July, 6pm
29 Moore Road, Freshwater
Don't Miss this Longrain Pop-Up in Sydney for Two Nights Only
Not only does Four Pillars Gin nourish us after a long week with the best G&Ts known to mankind but this month they're going one up and bringing Melbourne icon Longrain to Sydney for two nights. Huzzah! You can order a la carte or grab a great value set menu for $58 per person for six courses.
And, of course, there will be plenty of limited-edition cocktails from the Four Pillars team. The 'My Thai Revisited' with Four Pillars Fresh Yuzu Gin, lemongrass and cucumber distillate, ginger and chilli sounds right up our alley! Book your spot here.
Friday 12th July and Saturday 13th July
Four Pillars Lab, 410 Crown Street, Surry Hills
Asado Sundays at Casa Esquina
Fond of Argentinian BBQ? Well, your dream Sunday feast has just dropped at Casa Esquina. Throughout winter this new dining gem is transforming their alfresco courtyard into a fire-cooking arena with meats cooked over the open flame. There will also be live music to complete the vibe. Gather the gang and book it in! You can peep the full menu here.
$150 per person
Sunday 30th June, Sunday 28th July, Sunday 25th August
79 Elliott Street, Balmain
Celebrate 60 Years with Sofitel (and You Might Just Score 1st Class Euro Rail Passes and a Stay in Paris)
Luxury hotelier Sofitel is celebrating its 60th birthday in style at Sofitel Darling Harbour's hatted restaurant Atelier. Naturally, the celebrations will be stylish as anything with a six-course dining experience, goodie bags filled with French brands and an incredible lucky door prize. The menu includes classic French dishes like hen egg custard, lobster bisque, dry-aged duck breast and tarte tatin amongst other delights. A pleasant evening, indeed!
$220 per person including paired wines, tickets available here
Thursday 25th July
12 Darling Drive, Sydney
Mould Cheese Festival
If you count cheese as a hobby, not a food group, you’ll want to pop by Australia’s premier cheese event when it touches down in Sydney. What can you expect? Over 100 varieties of cheese of every kind, ready and waiting to be sampled in a fun festival atmosphere. There will also be plenty of cheese-adjacent producers present slinging everything you need for an at-home cheese festival of your own.
$49 per person, tickets available here
Friday 26th July to Sunday 28th July
Carriageworks, Sydney
Festival of Fire at Gin Lane
What's better than a cocktail? A cocktail on fire! This winter, Gin Lane is celebrating the season with a limited-edition menu celebrating fire, spice and smoke. This is your chance to order the Goblet of Fire (shoutout to our HP fans) as well as a hot gin and tonic made with an original 1850s recipe.
Monday June 10th to Saturday August 31st
16 Kensington Street, Sydney
Swing by Mode Kitchen & Bar to Sample Their Truffle Menu
If we trust anyone with nailing a truffle menu, it's Executive Chef Francesco Mannelli of Mode Kitchen & Bar. This year, he is serving up truffles for a good time, not a long time and we recommend popping in. Look forward to the likes of zucchini flowers with buffalo ricotta and peas with white truffle, vegetarian tagliatelle “ripiene” with fresh black truffle and risotto Acquerello and black truffle.
Monday 1st July to Wednesday 31st July
199 George Street, Sydney
Indulge in a High Tea Buffet
Winter is a time for feasting and Sheraton Grand Sydney Hyde Park's buffet high tea is the place to do it. Feast on honey-drizzled dishes (from the Sheraton's own urban beehive), savoury bites, cakes, eclairs and mini pavlovas, all topped off by a chocolate fountain. The perfect winter's day out.
161 Elizabeth Street, Sydney
RAFI Records
Looking for somewhere to spend your Saturday? Head to RAFI for a Saturday sesh and you can enjoy bottomless brunch accompanied by vinyl tunes. They'll be theming RAFI Records Saturdays by the four natural elements, kicking off with water in June, fire in July, Earth in August and Air in September. Pop by monthly to get a taste of all four!
$110 per person
Every Saturday, from 12pm or 2:30pm
99 Mount Street, North Sydney
Shell House Launch a Two Month Winter Program Packed with Events: Our House
Looking to jazz up your calendar over the next few months? Sydney institution Shell House have littered the cal with events and you'll want to attend more than one. The program involves wine, music, food, arts and culture.
There will be dinners exploring Tasmanian seafood, a traditional Japanese tuna cutting show, the world's smallest champagne bar, live music, floral installations, creative sessions in the Clocktower and so much more. Truly, the full schedule must be seen to be believed. Catch it here and send to the group chat.
From Wednesday 8th May
37 Margaret Street, Sydney
Pier One Sydney x Pottery Boy
The collab of dreams! Pier One Sydney and Pottery Boy have teamed up to elevate Pier's Glass Room experience even further. A pop-up on Pier's luxury Balcony Suites, each room has been designed in collaboration with Guy Vadas aka Pottery Boy and decked out with his bespoke ceramic pieces. Enjoy share plates and cocktails whilst kicking back with your favourite people in a private dining experience highlight or book as a romantic retreat and sleep out under the stars. You can even book a package inclusive of a pottery experience or a private guided ceramic class from Pottery Boy himself. Head over here for all the details on the pop-up suites.
Thursday 23rd May to Sunday 29th September
11 Hickson Road, Walsh Bay
What's On in Sydney: Arts & Culture
Enjoy a Free Aboriginal Bush Tucker Tour or Aboriginal Harbour Heritage Tour from the Royal Botanic Garden Sydney
In celebration of NAIDOC week, Royal Botanic Garden Sydney is offering their popular bush tucker and Aboriginal harbour heritage tours free for a whole week. If you haven't yet had the chance to book one of these tours, we can't recommend them highly enough. Packed with information on traditional First Nations practices on Gadigal country, it's a great chance to delve deeper into history directly from First Nations educators. There will also be plenty of opportunities to sample bush tucker from the garden itself.
Monday 8th July to Saturday 13th July
Royal Botanic Gardens Sydney
Incognito Art Show
If you're keen to add to your art collection for just $100 a pop, head to Incognito Art Show. 15 000 A5 artworks will be up for grabs with the event supporting Studio A, a company providing artistic and professional development for artists with intellectual disabilities, and We Are Studios, a disability-led studio.
Both amateur and professional artists will have their works in the show including Archibald Prize winner Laura Jones. Aiming to lower barriers to both exhibiting and collecting, the show conceals all artists names until after the work has been purchased. Fun!
Saturday 13th July to Sunday 14th July, from 8am
Online sales will open on Thursday 18th July
Alphonse Mucha: Spirit of Art Nouveau
Opening in mid-June, Alphonse Mucha: Spirit of Art Nouveau is set to be one of the best art exhibitions in Sydney to see this year. Mucha, a pioneer of modern European art, mesmerised late 19th-century Paris with his seductive, sinuous creations, defining the essence of art nouveau.
Curated in collaboration with the Mucha Foundation in Prague and supported by Destination NSW, this exhibition unveils treasures from the Mucha Family Collection. Explore Mucha's illustrations, jewellery, and more, witnessing his enduring influence on today's art scene.
From iconic posters to his quest for 'art for the people,' Mucha's legacy unfolded throughout the years, guided by his political and spiritual fervour.
15th June to 22nd September, 2022
Naala Badu, North Building, Lower Level 2, Art Gallery of NSW
Get a little 'Hygge' with it at Ovolo Woolloomooloo
Ovolo Hotels has a winter sale deal we're craving this month in Sydney - and it's the Hygge package. 'Hygge' in Danish means to create a calm, comfortable time with the people you love, which is why Ovolo is offering 20% off stays of two nights or longer in any of their hotels across Australia.
Each guest will receive a pair of slippers to take home. But the best part? For those cosy nights in, you'll enjoy 10% off Booktopia, so you can snuggle up with a good read while sipping on Ovolo's signature winter cocktails.
From 1st July to 29th August
Book here
Ovolo Woolloomooloo, 6 Cowper Wharf Roadway, Woolloomooloo
Unwind with Free Jazz Sessions in The Rocks Every Thursday
We can't think of a better way to welcome the end of the week. Free to attend, this weekly soiree is ideal for an affordable night out this winter. Wet weather? There's a plan for that! Each week will see a new artist take the stage. You can find the lineup here. Sessions will kick off at 6:30pm before a short break between 7:30pm and 8pm and a second set from 8pm to 9pm. Kick back with a cocktail from Hickson House and let the tunes nudge you through to the weekend.
From 6pm, every Thursday until Thursday 29th August
The Rocks Square, Playfair Street
What's On in Sydney: Get Outside
Go Whale watching
Pack a thermos of tea and head out for a whale spotting adventure this month - it's prime time! With whale spotting ops plentiful throughout June and July, you'll have loads of chances to make your way through our edit of the best whale watching spots here. Best part? It's free!
Partake in a Retro Run
Need a bit of a winter challenge? Sign up for an 80s-themed retro run and kick some fitness goals this month. The Real Insurance Sydney Harbour 10K and 5K event is perfect for newbies to the running scene and also a great op to get your pals together for a good old dress-up. Neon spandex and big hair are encouraged, and a pre-run 80s aerobic warmup is part and parcel of the experience. There will even be pop culture pit spots! Best of all, it's a great chance to raise funds for the Australian Cancer Research Centre. Head over here for more info and to sign up.
Sunday 28th July
Celebrate Global Climbing Day
The North Face, one of our all-time favourite outdoor apparel brands, is again celebrating Global Climbing Day this year with a wholesome and inclusive message. With the theme of community, they're encouraging newbies and regulars alike to join in and become part of a global community.
BlocHaus Bouldering is just one of the gyms that will be participating in this year's celebrations with food trucks, games and workshops. Find out more here.
Saturday 13th July
Gyms across Sydney
What's On in Sydney: Road Trip
Visit This Luxury Lodge in the Heart of the Hunter Valley
Just two hours from Sydney, Tower Lodge is the perfect place to call your home away from home while exploring the epicurean experiences and incredible scenery the region has to offer.
With Spanish-style architecture, generously appointed (and individually styled) and exceptional cuisine, it exudes a relaxed elegance that elevates it above your average Hunter Valley stay. From roaring fireplaces to on-site whiskey tasting and unmatched dining, escape to Tower Lodge for some well-deserved rest and relaxation.
Learn more about Tower Lodge here.
6 Halls Road, Pokolbin
Head on an Adventure to the Inaugural Bellingen Food & Wine Escape
If a winter road trip is on the cards and you'd like to tee up some fab foodie adventures, consider booking in for the inaugural Bellingen Food & Wine Escape. A hub for nature enthusiasts, foodies and relaxation seekers, Bellingen is ideal for a winter sojourn.
Three Blue Ducks and The Lodge Bellingen are the brains behind the offer that includes two-night accommodation at luxury boutique hotel The Lodge. What else is in store? Daily breakfast for two at Three Blue Ducks, a wine masterclass and long lunch for two hosted by Three Blue Ducks chefs Andy Allen and Darren Roberston. Sounds like a dream to us!
$1400 per couple, make your booking here
Friday 12th July to Sunday 14th July
Head Off on a Truffle Hunt
A treasure hunt for adults! If you're down for a little road trip, we recommend popping down to Beltana Farms to explore their 800 truffle trees. You can dine on the good stuff at the Beltana Farm farmhouse or head off for a truffle hunt to learn about the process from start to finish. They're offering hunts throughout the winter truffle season so be sure to book in if you don't want to miss out.
14 Beltana Road, Pialligo
What's On in Sydney: Coming Soon
Snag Tickets to Ryan Holiday's Stoic Life Tour
Stoicism is on the rise, and we love to see it. A branch of philosophy that encourages self-mastery, perseverance and wisdom, the modern-day applications are endless and needed now more than ever.
Host of The Daily Stoic podcast and #1 New York Times bestselling author, Ryan is hitting up Australian shores this July to share ancient philosophical wisdom and his contemporary perspectives and it's going to be good.
If you're new to stoicism, don't sweat. Ryan will be covering all the basics plus practical applications throughout the lecture and there will be a live audience Q&A at the end for all your burning questions.
$103 per person, tickets are available here
Wednesday 31st July, 7:30pm to 9:30pm
Sydney Town Hall, 483 George Street, Sydney
Looking for more fun things to do in Sydney? We have plenty to keep you entertained. From Sydney's best new degustation menus and best bottomless brunches to the best Mexican restaurants in town and where to go for a dreamy Sydney staycation, here's all you need for a weekend in the city.
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