NEW SOUTH WALES

This Summer, Manly Pacific showcases the art of in-room dining with a set menu personally curated by Cibaria executive chef, Alessandro Pavoni, bringing hatted Italian cuisine directly to the private suites overlooking Manly Beach. Exclusive to those staying in the Infinity Residence (the hotel’s penthouse suite) or Coastal Villas, this is an intimate, chef-led dining experience. A dedicated chef arrives to finish and plate each dish in your room, bringing the theatre of Italian dining directly to your table.

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The Bentley Restaurant Group, owned by leading Australian hospitality operators Nick Hildebrandt and Brent Savage, has returned to Barangaroo, opening Watermans, an Eastern Mediterranean restaurant with respected chef Darryl Martin (formerly of Barzaari) as executive chef. The 120-seat venue combines indoor and outdoor dining areas and has been designed by Chris Grinham from H&E Architects and long-term Bentley Restaurant Group creative collaborator Pascale Gomes-McNabb. The outdoor area houses two striking pergolas wrapped in mature greenery, with the modern-luxe interior featuring timber veneer finishes, bespoke lighting and an open kitchen with a custom-made wood-fired grill and oven.

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Sydney cocktail bar bar tilda is serving a triple scoop of nostalgia this summer, thanks to a new collab with one of the country’s sharpest bar minds. Great Australian Cocktails is a limited-edition collection by Melbourne bartender Darren Leaney (Caretaker’s Cottage), available now until the end of February at bar tilda — the martini-slinging, whisky-loving cocktail bar tucked inside Sofitel Sydney Wentworth. Leaney, known for popularising the clarified milk punch with his cult tiramisu creation, turns his attention to Aussie desserts with three high-craft, cheeky-yet-elegant drinks.

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Rick Stein at Coogee Beach has officially opened, welcoming guests to the highly anticipated Australian flagship restaurant perched above the shoreline of Coogee Beach. Led by Rick and Sarah Stein alongside head chef Colin Chun, the restaurant brings Rick’s celebrated philosophy of fresh seafood, simply prepared to one of Sydney’s most loved coastal destinations. The opening menu showcases exceptional local seafood, hand selected via Frank Theodore of Get Fish, based at the Sydney Fish Market.

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The acclaimed team behind Pilu at Freshwater have opened the doors to Flaminia in Circular Quay. Marking their first new restaurant in over 20 years: a harbourside Italian dining room shaped by the flavours, rituals and rhythms of Italy’s port-side cities.

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InterContinental Sydney Coogee Beach has officially opened, marking the arrival of Sydney’s first luxury hotel positioned directly opposite Sydney’s Coogee Beach. The reimagined hotel features 198 rooms and suites, many offering sun drenched interiors and expansive ocean views, creating an elevated new base for beachfront living. Marking an exciting addition to the Eastern suburbs dining and hospitality scene, the hotel is today also opening the doors to Shutters Restaurant and Bar, the hotel’s new-look in-house restaurant. A full reveal of the infinity swimming pool, Day Spa, pickleball courts and Club InterContinental will be unveiled in the coming months.

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voco Gosford has officially opened and is transforming Gosford into a buzzing hotspot and the ultimate place to be for sky-high cocktails, fire driven dining and endless summer vibes. With sleek new venues, stunning waterfronts and a growing food and nightlife scene, Gosford and the Central Coast has undergone an incredible metamorphosis, emerging as the region’s hot new go-to destination. Part of IHG Hotels & Resorts’ premium portfolio, is flipping the script on coastal getaways. With its fresh take on accommodation, bold dining and a buzz of social energy, it’s redefining what it means to stay by the coast.

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The Golden Sheaf is turning up the heat this Summer with an unmissable line up of rooftop parties, live music and unbeatable drink specials every Friday-Sunday until 28th February. From $12 Margaritas all Friday long, golden-hour rooftop sessions on Saturdays, Espresso Martini prime-time happy hour and easy Sunday sessions in the beer garden where Kids eat free, The Sheaf is shaping up as one of Sydney’s must visit Summer hot-spots.

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VICTORIA

98 Lygon St Bar and Bistro in Brunswick East has unveiled its summer courtyard and a daily Aperitivo Hour from 4 to 6 pm, complete with a complimentary snack for every two cocktails. The refreshed space brings a Mediterranean, holiday-mode feel to Melbourne; the kind of courtyard where “one drink” quietly turns into dinner. Head Chef Brian Macalister’s European-leaning summer menu includes Shell-Baked Scallops with wild garlic butter, a Shallot Tart Tatin and Market Fish with leek beurre blanc.

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The team behind Carlton North’s cult favourite, Sleepy’s Cafe & Wine Bar, Steve Chan, Jesse Kourmouzis and Jacob Muoio, has opened Moondrop, a Chinese-inspired cocktail bar in Fitzroy. Taking over former institutional The Everleigh, the new venue will pay homage to Chan’s heritage and the old-world glamour of 1920s Shanghai, celebrating traditional flavours of the east. The sultry, low-lit drinking den offers an elegant world of craft cocktails and a creative menu of Chinese bar snacks – think drinks laced with Baijui and MSG, mahjong tables and mooncakes.

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Set within a beautifully restored 165-year-old heritage-listed courthouse and framed by an expansive covered garden, Ciao Cielo offers one of the most atmospheric outdoor dining spots for long, leisurely summer lunches. ​This season, Ciao Cielo has introduced a coastal twist on the classic Sunday roast, drawing inspiration from the shores of Alghero in Sardinia – a town shaped by strong Catalan heritage. Their Paella di Catalan is a Sardinian interpretation of the Spanish paella, swapping rice for fregula and served steaming in a cast-iron pan.

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The StandardX will be hosting Another Bloody New Year on New Year’s Day.
Ease into the first day of 2026 with a welcome glass of champagne, rotating snacks designed to revive you, and a DJ soundtracking the first afternoon of the year. The main event? Three hours of ‘build your own’ free-flowing Belvedere Bloody Marys, or Volcan de mi Tierra Bloody Marias for tequila lovers – loaded with all the good stuff: cheery tomatoes, olives, cured meats, blue cheese, celery, pickles and other tried-and-true hangover cures.

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Hilton Melbourne Little Queen Street (HMLQS) has teamed up with Zoos Victoria to bring back its much-loved holiday package. Available exclusively during the Victorian school holidays (21st December 2025 until 26th January 2026), the package includes Melbourne Zoo tickets for two adults and a meaningful connection to wildlife conservation, alongside signature perks guests adore, including interconnecting rooms, daily breakfast, and playful kid-themed touches.

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