NEW SOUTH WALES

Freshie Clubhouse has officially opened on Sydney’s Northern Beaches. Located at the Freshwater Brewing Company site at Brookvale, it’s the latest venue from Folly’s Bar & Bistro at Cammeray owners Lachy Sturrock and Sam Smith, who bought into the craft beer company earlier this year. The new pub and brewery leans into the nostalgia of Australia’s beachside towns, with a menu that includes bite-sized potato scallops, hot chips topped with native ingredients salt, a signature parmi alla vodka and red frog-topped cocktails.

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The Bonobo by Raes has opened the doors to its Lobby Lounge, an all-day dining destination at the centre of Byron Bay’s most anticipated new hotel. More than a hotel lobby or restaurant, the Lobby Lounge has been conceived as a neighbourhood gathering place, a space designed for the local community as much as hotel guests. With seating for up to 100 guests across an indoor dining and lounge area and an outdoor terrace and courtyard, the Lobby Lounge has been designed to evolve seamlessly throughout the day.

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Winnie’s, a new all-day café & bar positioned along the waterfront of the Sydney Opera House has officially opened. Offering morning coffees through to late night cocktails, the venue is named after Winifred Atwell, the Trinidad-born pianist who became the first ever woman to perform at the Opera House. It includes an extended shopfront of pastries and house-made goods, an entirely new electric kitchen and an upgraded, fully operational bar now servicing more than 330 seats across the terrace and seawall, allowing even more visitors to enjoy the venue’s show-stopping views.

More info here

This September, Matt Moran’s acclaimed CBD steakhouse Chophouse Sydney is making premium lunches more accessible with the launch of Thursday Smash Burger, a limited four-week series serving up $15 smash burgers every Thursday throughout September. The lunchtime-only special will see Chophouse introduce a takeaway burger for the first time, giving city workers a quick and affordable way to enjoy the quality the venue is known for.

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The Bridgeview Hotel has launched Bridgey & Barrel, a new monthly wine dinner series pairing iconic Australian labels with seasonal three course menus. Held every second Thursday for $89pp, each dinner will be hosted by a different winery or wine expert, giving guests the chance to hear the stories behind the bottles while enjoying a guided tasting and paired menu, courtesy of Bridgey’s Chef Rob.

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Johnnie Walker is bringing B-Sides, a new vinyl-led event series celebrating music discovery, expertly crafted cocktails and late-night dining at Rekōdo, Barangaroo House on 3rd September. Inspired by the hidden gems found on the B-side of a record, the new series invites Sydneysiders to swap predictable playlists for cult classics, unexpected favourites and deep cuts curated by some of Australia’s most respected vinyl selectors, all paired with a bespoke cocktail menu showcasing Johnnie Walker Black Label in a new light.

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Elysium Manly has officially opened, bringing Australia’s newest luxury hotel brand to Sydney and one of the country’s most iconic beachfront destinations. With six new Wellness Suites, the incredible Elysium Suite with its own private barrel sauna overlooking the Pacific, a rooftop magnesium mineral pool and hatted Cibaria downstairs, there’s plenty to discover.

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La Buvette, a new French wine bar has officially opened in Potts Point. Offering classically French dishes, but with a modern, playful edge and a strong focus on French wine and French varietals from Australia and around the world.

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Happening on 5th September, Chefs in the Vines, a one-off food and wine event will be taking place in the Hunter Valley. The event will bring together five restaurants and five winemakers for an interactive afternoon of live cooking, regional produce and exceptional wine at Spicers Guesthouse.

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Chiswick Woollahra will host ‘From Orange with Love’ on 24th September, a special wine dinner celebrating the acclaimed wines, producers and seasonal flavours of Orange, NSW, hosted by Aria Sommelier Mimi Mrazikova. Inspired by Mimi’s recent visit to Orange, the evening will showcase some of the region’s most distinctive wines alongside a shared seasonal menu that reflects Chiswick’s philosophy of honest produce and artful cooking.

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Island Radio’s Dim Sum Saturdays has now stretched into the full weekend. Running across Saturday and Sunday lunch, Dim Sum Sessions pulls together some of the broader Asian influences now shaping the kitchen in a long, shared menu.

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Table Manners has launched a Monday (not Sunday) Roast Series; a premium seasonal comfort food offer where each Monday brings a different roast with proper sides and dessert. This will run through to the end of August and costs $60 per person.

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Munich Brauhaus The Rocks is bringing Oktoberfest back to Sydney from 19th September until 25th October, with this year’s celebrations also marking the venue’s 50th anniversary. For five weeks, Munich Brauhaus The Rocks will celebrate Oktoberfest with Bavarian food, German bier, live Oompah music, traditional dancing, ceremonial keg tapping and classic competitions.

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On 13th September, The Rocks is getting an epic Mexican cocktail Sunday session curated by Oscar and Miguel Valle, the team behind one of Mexico City’s best-known cocktail bars, Licorería Limantour. Called Precopeo, it takes its name from the Mexican ritual of meeting for drinks and snacks before heading out for the night, and this version stretches the idea from margaritas in the afternoon sun through to late-night cocktails. Drop in for one part or settle in for all three.

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PARKROYAL Parramatta has completed the final stage of its multi-million-dollar transformation, unveiling a refreshed lobby, newly refurbished PARKROYAL Suite and enhanced spaces for dining, meetings and events. The latest updates build on the refurbishment of two thirds of the hotel’s guestrooms in 2025, bringing a fresh new look and elevated experience to the hotel as Parramatta continues to grow as one of Western Sydney’s key destinations.

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Nour, the esteemed Middle Eastern restaurant in Surry Hills, celebrates its ten-year anniversary this September. To mark the milestone, Nour will present ‘Decade of Dishes’, an anniversary menu that showcases the dishes and the chefs that have helped shape the restaurant’s legacy. The menu will be available for 11 days from 3rd until 13th September.

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Stanley has officially opened its doors at Manly Wharf, marking the highly anticipated Sydney return of award-winning chef Louis Tikaram and bringing his acclaimed Cantonese cooking to the harbourfront. The menu brings Stanley’s ethos of ‘great food, friends, fishermen and farmers’ to Sydney, celebrating exceptional Australian seafood, premium meat and seasonal produce through the traditions and techniques of Cantonese cooking.

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The Mama Breakfast Club is taking over The Botanica Vaucluse on 27th September, swapping the usual mums’ meet-up for mocktails, a beautiful breakfast and a room full of mums looking to meet some new faces. Mama Société is behind the morning, and they’ve also teamed up with Midnight Mischief on limited-edition PJs made especially for the event.

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NOMAD has launched The Sunday Table, a new $72pp shared lunch inspired by unhurried Middle Eastern hospitality, with wood-fired Wollemi duck with baharat, molasses and fesenjan jus at the centre of the table. It’s served alongside confit duck leg dolma with sour cherry and spiced bulgur, saffron and turmeric rice, saj, pickles and local herbs.

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victoria

Melbourne’s favourite floating bar and restaurant, Afloat, will return for its eleventh season on the Yarra River (Birrarung) in September, unveiling Yamas Greece. Taking its name from the Greek toast meaning “to our health,” the venue’s latest transformation draws inspiration from the country’s coastal colours, sun-ripened flavours and spirit of the glittering Greek Islands.

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Cha Ching has introduced the perfect winter dessert with its Warm Jujube Pudding, with roasted hazelnut ice cream, rich rum caramel and a delicate tuile, this comforting dessert combines warming spices and luxurious textures for the ultimate cold-weather indulgence.

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Hilton Melbourne Little Queen Street has launched Art of Elegance, an exclusive stay package built around NGV’s blockbuster Melbourne Winter Masterpieces®: CARTIER exhibition. As the official travel partner of NGV, Hilton has created a package that includes everything a lover of art, fashion and fine jewellery could want: an overnight stay in a beautifully appointed room, breakfast at in-house restaurant Luci, two exhibition tickets, and a sparkling crystal lobby installation on arrival.

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On 15th September, Mediterranean restaurant Bessie’s will open its kitchen to Dan Hunter, chef and owner of three-hatted restaurant Brae in Victoria, for a one-night-only collaboration that launches The Goodies Hospitality’s new event series, Goodies & Friends. Running throughout the year, Goodies & Friends collaborates with guest chefs and acclaimed restaurants and bars for one-off events across the group’s venues (Bar Copains, Bessies, Alma’s, Vin-Cenzo’s, and La Buvette), each built around a bespoke, never-to-be-repeated menu.

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Truffle season has landed at Common Cuts, and for fungi lovers, the Melbourne steakhouse is introducing a limited-edition Truffle Dinner Set Menu for $78pp, making it one of, if not THE best-value truffle dinners in Melbourne.

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Preston Market is staying open after dark for its first Night Festival on 11th September, transforming the market for one huge evening of food, wine, live music, pop-up stalls and entertainment! Visitors are advised to arrive hungry and graze their way through the evening, with freshly shucked oysters paired with a glass of bubbles from Bobo’s Oyster Bar, pizza by the slice at Vinnies or Peters Pizza, burgers and chips from 5TW Burgers, french toasties at Croque N roll, a range of cocktails by Rustic Bean and so much more.

More info here

Yum Sing House, will now be open for lunch unveiling their Yum Sing Lunch Set. The “affordably bougie” lunch set pairs a choice of one of five new proteins with a curated selection of sides, pickles, rice and a rotating dessert. Priced at $45 for meat or fish, or $35 for the vegetarian option. Available from Thursday to Saturday from 12 pm, the Yum Sing Lunch Set brings the charm and hospitality Yum Sing House is known for to the daytime in a format that is generous and considered, but built for speed and convenience.

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