ISSUE 28. What’s on in Sydney this week: things to convince you to get out of that goddamn Oodie

It’s a rainy start to the week, we’re deep into winter, and yes, the temptation to put on the Oodie and cancel everything is strong. Resist it.

Why, you may ask? Because Sydney has plenty going on this week. For starters, King Street Crawl is back and once again taking over the Inner West, meaning your live music plans are immediately sorted. Caness in Paddington sorting your midweek dinner plans with free carafes and bottles of wine for locals. Black Myth has opened at White Rabbit Gallery, and Freda’s is moving into Unholy Playhouse for one night only.

Honestly? That’s just the start of it. So grab your Google calendars, you know what to do.

HIGHLIGHTS

King Street Crawl

King Street Crawl returns this Sunday, taking over Newtown, Enmore and Erskineville with over 250 artists across 40 venues. It’s also the first time that Enmore Theatre is joining the festivities, opening up with a ticketed headline stage. Artist highlights include Tropical Fuck Storm, Winston Surfshirt, Miss Kaninna and Human Movement, with most of the festival also remaining completely free.

• WHEN: Sunday 12 July, from 11am
• WHERE: King Street, Newtown, Enmore & Erskineville
• HOW MUCH: Free
• CHECK IT OUT HERE.

Locals Table at Caness

There’s a reason we keep coming back to Caness, and it’s because the food really is that good. The Paddington restaurant’s new $95 Locals Table menu includes dishes like tuna tartare, jamón croquettes and seared tuna Andaluz, with residents of the 2010, 2021 and 2025 postcodes also scoring a complimentary carafe or bottle of wine for the table. It’s available Tuesday, Wednesday and Sunday nights, which is pretty exceptional value for this part of town.

• WHEN: Every Tuesday, Wednesday and Sunday night
• WHERE: Caness, Paddington
• HOW MUCH: $95 per person
• CHECK IT OUT HERE.

Freda’s at Unholy Playhouse

Unless you’ve been living under a rock, you’d know that Unholy Playhouse (the deconsecrated church turned creative club) opens its doors this week. So naturally, Freda’s is hosting a one-night residency to celebrate. They’re bringing Ciara and Setwun together for a B2B, handing the decks to DJ Crabby and DJ Salami, and throwing in a live, synth-soaked set from Ex-Citizen for good measure.

• WHEN: Friday 10 July, from 9pm
• WHERE: Unholy Playhouse, CBD
• HOW MUCH: $22 tickets
• CHECK IT OUT HERE.

A.P x CCC Run Club Rave

It’s not a true weekend in Sydney without some version of a run club. This weekend, it’s getting spiced up thanks to A.P Bakery’s collab with Chinatown Country Club. It kicks of at 8am at CCC with a 5km harbour foreshore loop, only to be followed up by a full-blown run rave. Expect DJ sets from Sicatsicatsicat and Benny Chiu, specialty drinks, pastries and prizes.

• WHEN: Sunday 12 July, from 8am
• WHERE: Chinatown Country Club, CBD
• HOW MUCH: Free
• CHECK IT OUT HERE.

Black Myth at White Rabbit Gallery

Our favourite Sydney art gallery is officially back in action with its newest exhibition, Black Myth. Drawing from the wildly successful video game, the exhibition explores how ancient mythology can still tell us things about the modern world. Inspired by Journey to the West, Black Myth brings together artists including Sun Xun, Zong Ning and Hou Chun-Ming to explore transformation, transcendence and the darker side of myth through woodcuts, ink painting, photography and plenty of strange, otherworldly figures.

• WHEN: Until Sunday 15 November
• WHERE: White Rabbit Gallery, Chippendale
• HOW MUCH: Free entry
• CHECK IT OUT HERE.

FASHION & CULTURE

State of Origin Game III

After NSW pulled off a cracking comeback in Game I and Queensland levelled the series in Melbourne, the Blues head into enemy territory for a winner-takes-all State of Origin decider at Suncorp Stadium this Wednesday. Kick-off is at 8.05pm, so clear the evening and expect every pub in town to be full. Best deals go to Forrester’s in Surry Hills and Taphouse in Darlinghurst, who are slinging $7.50 drinks from 4pm until Queensland scores.

• WHEN: Wednesday 8 July, 8:05pm kickoff
• WHERE: Pubs across Sydney
• HOW MUCH: Varies
• CHECK IT OUT HERE.

Christmas in July Festival

Kicking off this Friday, Christmas in July markets are returning to The Rocks for ten days of festive overindulgence. The precinct will transform into a European-style winter village complete with all the bells and whistles. Think falling snow, wooden chalets, fairy lights, mulled wine, melted cheese, live music and a fire pit cinema screening Christmas classics under the stars. You can probably also expect lots of people on somewhat awkward first dates.

• WHEN: Friday 10 to Sunday 19 July
• WHERE: The Rocks
• HOW MUCH: Free entry
• CHECK IT OUT HERE.

Midwinter Festival Parramatta

Parramatta Square is leaning all the way into winter with two weeks of fire, food and general cold-weather extracurriculars. The Midwinter Festival features a huge 360-degree dome cinema, the flaming Firehawks tunnel, artisan markets, vintage rides, free live music and plenty of fire pits to loiter around with something warm in hand. Perfect alternative for those who don’t want to trek it to The Rocks for their Christmas in July moment.

• WHEN: Saturday 4 to Saturday 18 July
• WHERE: Parramatta Square
• HOW MUCH: Free entry
• CHECK IT OUT HERE.

Bondi Festival

Bondi Festival is officially back this week, turning Bondi Beach into a 17-day packed winter program. Naturally, all the festival favourites are back, including the ice rink and ferris wheel. Other highlights include the Waverley Art Prize, the Bondi Comedy Gala, NAIDOC Week live music and the large-scale Accordion light installation celebrating Bondi’s postcode year. Because yes, Bondi is 2026 in 2026. Of course we must celebrate it.

• WHEN: Friday 3 to Sunday 19 July
• WHERE: Bondi Beach
• HOW MUCH: Free entry
• 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.

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

SHOUSE LIVE! Collective Ecstasy

SHOUSE are bringing their debut live show to Sydney this weekend, turning the duo’s iconic house anthems into a full-room singalong. Built around tracks from Collective Ecstasy, the set leans into the audience-as-choir concept that made them famous. Special guest vocalist Daniel Merriweather will also be joining for what should be something in between a club show and live performance.

• WHEN: Saturday 11 July, from 7pm
• WHERE: Oxford Art Factory, Darlinghurst
• HOW MUCH: $49 final release tickets
• 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

Three Blue Ducks Truffle Dinner

The answer to cold weather is almost always truffles, and you can’t convince us otherwise. Thankfully, Three Blue Ducks Rosebery also gets on board and is going full truffle mode this Thursday with an eight-dish dinner built around the beauties. The $109 menu takes the ingredient from savoury through to dessert, with an optional $59 wine pairing for anyone committed to making a proper evening of it. After sampling it recently, let’s just say you get some serious bang for your buck.

• WHEN: Thursday 9 July
• WHERE: Three Blue Ducks, Rosebery
• HOW MUCH: $109pp set menu
• CHECK IT OUT HERE.

Winter Arbour at RAFI

RAFI’s Winter Arbour is back by popular demand for its second season, turning its North Sydney entrance into a moody winter dining space with botanical installations, immersive lighting and a menu built around Westholme Wagyu. The $128pp banquet includes Wagyu tartare, toothfish with koji, crispy eggplant, slow-braised Wagyu cheek and several other very serious sides.

• WHEN: Until Sunday 6 September
• WHERE: RAFI, North Sydney
• HOW MUCH: $128 per person
• CHECK IT OUT HERE.

Bottomless Frites Wednesdays at Hamsi Taverna

Hamsi Taverna has launched Bottomless Frites Wednesdays at Sydney Fish Market, which is exactly as sensible as it sounds. For $55, choose between a lobster roll, mussels, steak or snapper, then keep the fries coming all night, with $15 Martinis and Negronis, $12 house wine and $8 beers from 5pm.

• WHEN: Every Wednesday, from 5pm
• WHERE: Hamsi Taverna, Sydney Fish Markets
• HOW MUCH: $55 per person
• 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.

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.