ISSUE 26. What’s on in Sydney this week: techno and taco takeovers

Sydney is firmly in winter mode this week. Nevertheless, a dose of club nights, emerging fashion shows, World Cup action and some hefty food specials are making it feel like staying home would be a bad life decision. Newsflash: it is.

Highlights this week include Denis Sulta taking over Plaza Hotel, Raw Form putting Sydney’s next wave of designers on the runway, and the Socceroos facing Paraguay in their final World Cup group match. Elsewhere, Uncle Ajays brings tacos to OTiS Leichhardt and Fabbrica teams up with Penny’s Cheese Shop for a six-course dinner built almost entirely around cheese. Bring your Lacteeze.

In other words, there’s no real excuse to spend the week doing nothing. Here are the best things to do in Sydney this week.

HIGHLIGHTS

Denis Sulta at Plaza Hotel

Glasgow DJ and producer Denis Sulta is taking over Plaza Hotel this Saturday, bringing the euphoric house, disco and high-energy chaos that has made him one of the UK’s most loved club exports. Coming up through Glasgow’s Rubadub scene and labels including Numbers and Dixon Avenue Basement Jams, Sulta has built a reputation for sets that are technically sharp but sufficiently unserious. It will be fun.

• WHEN: Saturday 27 June, from 10pm
• WHERE: Plaza Hotel Sydney, CBD
• HOW MUCH: $53 tickets
• CHECK IT OUT HERE.

RAW FORM 2 at Oxford Art Factory

Raw Form is returning to Oxford Art Factory this Thursday with more than 20 local designers taking over the runway, backed by live music, poetry and DJs until late. Created by Instagram zine Shut The Front Gate and Debaser, the event is built around young Sydney creatives making opportunities for one another across fashion, music, photography and publishing. Expect poetry from Diptych, runway soundtracked by Autosuggest, a live set from G.U.N, and DJs Lily FM, Ari Kiko and Bluegum.

• WHEN: Thursday 25 June, from 7pm
• WHERE: Oxford Art Factory
• HOW MUCH: $23 tickets
• CHECK IT OUT HERE.

Fabbrica x Penny’s Cheese Shop Dinner

Fabbrica Darlinghurst is teaming up with Penny’s Cheese Shop for the third time this Wednesday, serving a six-course winter menu built around some very good cheese. Expect the likes of prosciutto-wrapped baked Bruny Island O.D.O., Oak Blue-filled zucchini flowers, potato and mint ravioli with Lilyarra Aran, baked pizzoccheri with mushrooms and Ironbark, and mascarpone mousse with poached persimmon. An optional wine pairing will also be available, and a Lacteeze highly recommended.

• WHEN: Wednesday 24 June, from 5pm
• WHERE: Fabbrica Pasta Shop, Darlinghurst
• HOW MUCH: $85 per person
• CHECK IT OUT HERE.

Uncle Ajays x OTiS Leichhardt Takeover

Uncle Jay’s Food Truck is taking over the kitchen at OTiS Leichhardt for two nights only this week, bringing its cult-followed tacos and Mexican street food to Norton Street. Expect carne asada, pollo asada and chipotle portobello tacos, elote, chicharron with guacamole and chilli chocolate tiramisu. There’ll also be $15 Pina coladas during happy hour, which we think will fix most mid-week woes.

• WHEN: Tuesday 23 and Wednesday 24 June, from 5pm
• WHERE: OTiS, Leichhardt
• HOW MUCH: Varies
• CHECK IT OUT HERE.

Australia V Paraguay FIFA World Cup

The Socceroos face Paraguay this Friday in their final World Cup group-stage match, with a place in the knockout rounds on the line. After opening with a win over Türkiye before falling to the USA, Australia now needs at least a draw to make the cleanest possible escape from Group D. Better yet, kick-off is at midday, meaning no 4:45am alarms are necessary.

• WHEN: Friday 26 June, from 12pm
• WHERE: SBS and SBS On Demand
• HOW MUCH: Free-to-air
• CHECK IT OUT HERE.

FASHION & CULTURE

The Incognito Art Show at Carriageworks

The Incognito Art Show is returning to Carriageworks this week with around 20,000 original artworks. Every piece is A5-sized and costs exactly $100, but you won’t find out whether you’ve bought the work of a school student, an emerging artist or an Archibald Prize winner until after it’s yours. Kicking off on Wednesday, the first three days are viewing-only, meaning you’ve got some time to develop your acquisition strategy before sales begin on Saturday. Better still, every purchase helps fund professional development programs supporting artists living with disability.

• WHEN: From Wednesday 24 June
• WHERE: Carriageworks
• HOW MUCH: Free entry
• CHECK IT OUT HERE.

MINKPINK & Staple The Label Warehouse Sale

Staple The Label and MINKPINK are clearing out the warehouse in Surry Hills this week, with literally nothing priced over $50. There’ll be fresh stock dropping every hour, and the first 100 shoppers on Saturday will score a free Gelato Messina. Anyone spending $120 will also receive a complimentary gift. Dangerous information for anyone trying to save money before tax time.

• WHEN: From Wednesday 24 June to Sunday 5 July
• WHERE: 103 Foveaux Street, Surry Hills
• HOW MUCH: Nothing over $50
• CHECK IT OUT HERE.

Archibald, Wynne & Sulman Prizes

The Archibald, Wynne and Sulman Prizes have returned to the Art Gallery of NSW, which means Sydney’s annual portraiture pilgrimage is officially back on. Having kicked off earlier this month, the exhibition brings together the 59 finalists and winners across portraiture, landscape, sculpture and subject painting. This year’s winner? Richard Lewer’s portrait of Pitjantjatjara Elder, artist and healer, Iluwanti Ken.

• WHEN: Until Sunday 16 August
• WHERE: Art Gallery of NSW, Darlinghurst
• HOW MUCH: From $25
• CHECK IT OUT HERE.

COME ALIVE! The Greatest Showman Circus Spectacular

COME ALIVE! has officially landed at the Hippodrome in the Entertainment Quarter, so consider this your sign to go if you’ve ever enjoyed the movie, a circus performance, or really any kind of theatre for that matter. Inspired by The Greatest Showman film, the production features an all-Australian cast led by Des Flanagan and Ruby Clark. We scored a BTS sneak peak into production and fair warning, this is actually a seriously impressive show.

• WHEN: From Tuesday 19 May
• WHERE: Hippodrome at Entertainment Quarter, Moore Park
• HOW MUCH: Tickets from $69
• CHECK IT OUT HERE.

Art After Hours at NSW Art Gallery

If you’re looking for a midweek date night that’s not just drinks and discussing your favourite colours, the Art Gallery of NSW has you sorted. Every Wednesday, the gallery stays open late for Art After Hours. Think free exhibitions, guided tours, live music, films, and enough dim lighting to make you look very cultured. Grab a drink, stay for dinner, or join one of the interactive workshops. It’s also free, which is always a win. 

• WHEN: Every Wednesday, from 6-10pm
• WHERE: Art Gallery of NSW, CBD
• HOW MUCH: Free
• CHECK IT OUT HERE.

MUSIC & NIGHTLIFE

Hooligan Hefs at The Bat & Ball Hotel

Hooligan Hefs is playing a free, intimate show at The Bat & Ball this Wednesday as part of Spotify’s Turn Up Aus series. The Redfern set lands just two days before the release of his nine-track album Sixth Sense, so expect an early run of new material alongside the tracks that made him one of Australia’s biggest hip-hop names. Entry is limited, with passes available through Spotify’s ticket competition rather than general sale.

• WHEN: Wednesday 24 June, from 7pm
• WHERE: The Bat & Ball Hotel, Redfern
• HOW MUCH: Free
• CHECK IT OUT HERE.

Jazz Sessions in The Rocks

Jazz Sessions are back again for June, transforming The Rocks Square into a free open-air jazz spot every Thursday night. Curated in collaboration with the Sydney Improvised Music Association, the upcoming lineup includes the Magdalena Mira Quartet, Murmations, Driftwood and Lisathe across the next month. There’ll also be a pop-up bar pouring mulled wine, and $10 pizza slices up for grabs. Consider this your new go-to date night idea.

• WHEN: Every Thursday night, 6:30-8:30pm
• WHERE: The Rocks Square
• HOW MUCH: Free
• CHECK IT OUT HERE.

FOOD & DRINK

$30 Ramen & Highballs at Prefecture 48

Prefecture 48’s courtyard ramen cart has been thankfully extended, serving Tokyo-style shio ramen beneath glowing Ukiyo-e projections as part of its Luminous winter activation. The chicken broth is simmered for more than 10 hours for a clear, flavoured finish, and each bowl comes with a complimentary Toki Highball. Happy hour has also been extended until close daily, which feels like a fairly complete argument for staying out.

• WHEN: Until Saturday 27 June
• WHERE: Prefecture 48, CBD
• HOW MUCH: $30 ramen and highball combo
• CHECK IT OUT HERE.

Zaffi Bottomless Pasta Party

This one’s for the CBD corporates working from home on Friday because “it just makes more sense”. Zaffi’s Bottomless Pasta Party has just launched and is tempting us with free-flowing drinks and chef-selected pasta for just $69 per person. It’s also perfect for bottomless enthusiasts who are frankly sick and tired of another burrata and garlic bread moment. Built on late-night Lebanese hospitality, Zaffi’s also offering DJ’s throughout the night and the option to kick on after the 1.5 hours has timed out, so you can avoid the impending “where do we go now” predicament that we all know far too well.

• WHEN: Every Thursday, from 5:30pm
• WHERE: Zaffi, CBD
• HOW MUCH: $69 per person for 1.5 hours
• CHECK IT OUT HERE.

Chiswick Lasagne Series

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Chiswick is leaning into cosy Sunday dining this winter with a six-week lasagne series, bringing a different chef-created take on the comfort classic to the restaurant each week. Running every Sunday, the series includes a rotating lineup of lasagne-takes, including pumpkin, truffle and fior di latte, wagyu beef and pine mushroom. We think it’s the perfect antidote to the Sunday scaries.

• WHEN: Every Sunday night until Sunday 19 July
• WHERE: Chiswick, Woollahra
• HOW MUCH: $55 per person
• CHECK IT OUT HERE.

Greek Month at Yulli’s

Yulli’s Surry Hills is going full Greek every Wednesday in June, and while it might not be exactly the same as a trip to the Aegean, we think it’s a nice second prize. For $48 you can expect a Greek-inspired vegan feast with live bouzouki, and of course, an optional $47 drinks pairing. A dangerously good mid-week food option.

• WHEN: Every Wednesday in June, from 12pm
• WHERE: Yulli’s, Surry Hills
• HOW MUCH: From $48 per person
• CHECK IT OUT HERE.

Disco Yum Cha at NBF

You’d be surprised that Bondi in winter is a surprisingly elite combination, especially when dumplings and disco balls are involved. Thankfully, North Bondi Fish is going full throttle on weekend lunches thanks to them bringing back their renowned Disco Yum Cha serie. The bottomless-style event will be running every Saturday and Sunday from 12pm, and include the likes of soy cured ocean trout, prawn toast, and of course, 70s DJs.

• WHEN: Every weekend from 12pm, until Saturday 1 August
• WHERE: North Bondi Fish, Bondi
• HOW MUCH: From $65 per person
• CHECK IT OUT HERE.

Burwood Chinatown Night Markets

Newsflash: the best Chinese food in Sydney isn’t coming with a $38 price tag. Instead, it’s more likely found at the Burwood Chinatown Night Markets. Here, a mere $10 goes a lot further: think dumplings, skewers, desserts and a crowd that’s very committed to the cause. This might as well be regarded a Sydney institution.

• WHEN: Every Thursday to Sunday, 5-10pm
• WHERE: Burwood Chinatown
• HOW MUCH: Varies
• CHECK IT OUT HERE.

Velvet Hour at the Razz Room

York Street just scored a daiquiri discotheque, and it’s leaning fully into the bit. Odd Culture Group’s Razz Room has opened underground in the CBD, pairing a retro-leaning bar upstairs with a sunken dance floor below, plus live entertainment from 7pm to late. The real draw, though, is the daily “Velvet Hour” from 4-6pm, where classic, dirty or strawberry daiquiris go for $13. Frankly, we think that’s reason enough to show up.

• WHEN: Every day from 4-6pm
• WHERE: Razz Room, CBD
• HOW MUCH: $13 daiquiris
• CHECK IT OUT HERE.

Sakura Sandos

CBD workers, this one’s for you. Sakura House is launching a limited-run sandos menu that is beyond. It’s a three-sando lineup by ex-Cho Cho San head chef Nick Sherman, featuring a ramen egg sando, fried chicken sando and ebi katsu prawn sando. They’ll be available Thursday and Friday from 12pm until sold out. Honestly, it’s a strong lunch proposition.

• WHEN: Every Thursday and Friday, from 12pm
• WHERE: Sakura House, CBD
• HOW MUCH: From $19
• CHECK IT OUT HERE.

Oyster Happy Hour at Morrison’s

I see no reason why the cost of living should get in the way of good taste, and neither does Morrison’s. If you didn’t already know, they’re kind of the go-to place for happy hour oysters in town. In fact, they sell a minimum of 6,000 oysters every week. Every Wednesday from 6-7pm, you’ll be able to snag those little gems for $2 each, which is kind of insane. Or if you want to check out the other oyster happy hours currently happening around town, head over here.

• WHEN: Every Wednesday, 6pm to 7pm
• WHERE: Morrison’s Oyster Bar & Grill, CBD
• HOW MUCH: $2 per oyster
• CHECK IT OUT HERE.

$28 Steak and Chips at The Waratah

Anyone actually in the know will tell you Thursday nights are for The Waratah. The Darlinghurst pub, which won Australian Pub of the Year last year, slings some of the best steak and chips in town for the measly price of $28. Yes, you heard me correctly. The catch? None really, other than the fact that they sell out most nights, so it’s best to book an earlier table.

• WHEN: Every Thursday, until sold out.
• WHERE: The Waratah, Darlinghurst
• HOW MUCH: $28 
• CHECK IT OUT HERE.