Welcome back to my unsolicited monthly round-up of newly opened restaurants, a cocktail special, chefs to take note of, where to stay and venues you’ll find us making a reservation or two. 

Enjoy!

NEW SOUTH WALES

Saint Peter x Taste of Talisker Pairing Dinner

Talisker’s wild spirit beckons diners to join a Taste of Talisker by Josh Niland at Saint Peter for one final night – Monday, December 12. Inspired by the untamed, wild spirit of Australia’s oceans, restaurateur and chef Josh Niland has joined forces with Talisker to create a unique, sustainably sourced seafood menu, taking cues from and weaving in the distinctive flavours found in Talisker: salt, smoke, and spice. The resulting menu is Talisker’s siren song to the sea, offering guests a unique four-course adventure with paired Talisker.

Booking and more information here

Lightyears reopens in a new location with a new head chef

After closing the original venue in early October, Light Years Byron Bay has reopened in the new Jonson Lane precinct with expanded food and drink menus, and new head chef Joachim Borenius (ex Mjolner Sydney). The elevated new menu stays true to the classic and much-loved Light Years style of share plates tailored to group dining, with highlight dishes including a prawn toast donut served with a yuzukoshu dipping sauce, salt and pepper tofu seasoned with szechuan pepper umami salt.

Bar Topikós lauches this summer

The team that brought us Topikós present Bar Topikós. It’s an extended, relaxed and causal dining offering from its neighbouring restaurant. Right in the heart of Bondi, Bar Topikós caters for all – step off the beach for drinks and snacks or start your night with a cocktail. Bar Topikós will offer a rotating menu of specials, including a $10 Bellini, $10 wine and the $25 Souvlaki plate, along with a selection of meze offerings.

Toby Estate celebrates 25 years with elevated dining cafe

Specialty coffee roasters, Toby’s Estate, have opened the doors to their new café,  25 Martin Place. Positioned in Sydney CBD’s newest and most luxurious retail and dining precinct, the striking venue showcases an elevated dining experience that pairs perfectly with it’s coffee offering.

A Mediterranean-inspired surf-side motel opens on the South Coast

Following a multi-million-dollar refurbishment of a former beachside motel, the highly anticipated Motel Molly has officially opened. Offering the perfect blend of classic South Coast charm with a cool, curated twist. Motel Molly is in a calibre of its own on the spectacular NSW South Coast, positioned just a few sandy steps from the glistening ocean. A mix of generously sized three, two, and one-bedroom apartments and several king suites are all completed by Smeg appliances from their 50’s retro Aesthetics Line, with some suites enjoying the added luxury of Moroccan-style sunken baths.

Spice Trader Opens In Porter House

Nestled into the crown of the heritage-listed, 1870s Victorian Porter House building, cocktail tavern Spice Trader fills the top floor of Porter House, offering a sense of warmth and intimacy that belies its generous footprint. The cocktail list of 12 signature drinks is an evocative field guide to four key trade items of the era–ginger, coconut, cassia bark and coffee; a nostalgic nod to the trading post of the Porter House building. To complement the cocktails, Porter House Executive Chef Emrys Jones (Fish Butchery, Qualia) has created a small list of snacks designed to share.

Italian restaurant Sala to open in one of Sydney’s most stunning locations

Celebrated hospitality couple Kerrie and Con Dedes (Dedes Waterfront Group), and executive chef Danny Russo (The Russolini Group) have teamed up to open a modern Italian restaurant, Sala. Located in the historic Flying Fish site at the end of Jones Bay Wharf, Sala offers the best of Australian seafood in unique Italian dishes. The 160-seat venue holds two bespoke private dining rooms, including one with direct waterfront access and a terrace. Sala’s food offering will extend past the venue, as the kitchen will cater for boat hospitality on Sydney harbour.

Queensland

QT Gold Coast opens unique cabin accommodation

qtQT is an urban oasis within QT Gold Coast, a destination in its own right. qtQT is a unique open-air sanctuary oozing contemporary coastal cool. An escape where laid-back flirts with luxe, the six qtQT Cabins each feature a private balcony, set within a tropical green oasis and a golden horizon. Guests can book one or secure all six cabins exclusively, with each cabin suited for up to two guests or perfect for a solo escape.

A EUROPEAN-STYLE APERITIF AND WINE BAR

Noosa’s restaurant and bar scene just got better. Acclaimed chef Justin North and wine and beverage industry expert David Singer have joined forces to open Apéro, a new wine and aperitif bar in Noosa. Celebrating the European tradition of meeting friends for an aperitif and a bite to eat, Apéro offers classic cocktails and an extensive, curated wine list that showcases wines from around the world.

Victoria

Amphlett House is a new taphouse in Melbourne’s CBD

It’s easy to find a bar in Melbourne, but a good pub in Melbourne’s CBD is hard to come by. Enter: Amphlett House, a new taphouse on the corner of Little Bourke Street and Amphlett Lane. The 120-seat taphouse will see exceptional drinks and elevated pub classics come together in a welcoming and upbeat atmosphere. Highlights from the menu include smoked bone marrow on toast, with parsley and shallot salad; oysters with mignonette dressing and shaved horseradish; breaded chicken breast with Italian coleslaw; and fish and hand cut chips with peas, zucchini and yoghurt tartare.