ISSUE 30. What’s on in Sydney this week: carpark boogies and the Ministry of Sound are doing the heavy lifting
BY: Kartya Vucetic
Yes, it’s cold. Yes, half of Sydney appears to be posting from somewhere in Europe. But for the rest of us still here, there are plenty of reasons to get out of the house this week.
First up, Ministry of Sound Testament is back at White Bay Power Station for another round of 00s club nostalgia, and Good Groove is taking over a Brookvale carpark for its tenth Carpark Boogie. Elsewhere, Black Myth is still showing at White Rabbit Gallery, Disco Yum Cha is bringing a little chaos to Bondi, and Caness is hosting its latest Locals Table menu.
If there were ever a sign to not stay in your Oodie all weekend, consider this it.
HIGHLIGHTS
Ministry of Sound Testament 00s at White Bay Power Station
Image: White Bay Power Station
Ministry of Sound is bringing the golden age of 00s club culture back to White Bay Power Station this Saturday, with a third Sydney show added after their previous two sell outs. Booka Shade will be headlining live, joined by Crookers, Riva Starr and Sinden for a full-throttle night of house and electronic music. Expect some serious noughty classics being brought back.
- WHEN: Saturday 25 July, from 4pm
- WHERE: White Bay Power Station, Rozelle
- HOW MUCH: Final release tickets $155
- CHECK IT OUT HERE.
Disco Yum Cha at NBF
Image: Supplied
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.
Black Myth at White Rabbit Gallery
Image: XHBT
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.
Good Groove X DeDoof Present: Carpark Boogie
Image: Resident Advisor
Good Groove’s carpark parties are officially into the double digits, with DeDoof joining the crew for the tenth instalment in Brookvale this Saturday. Robbie Lowe, Jevon Le Roux, Jaxx and Jack Jones will be taking things from 3pm until midnight. With the event having a self-proclaimed ‘festival pedigree’, this might be the closest thing you get to a Euro summer daytime sesh this weekend.
- WHEN: Saturday 25 July, from 3pm
- WHERE: Manly Spirits Co, Brookvale
- HOW MUCH: $25 final release tickets
- 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.
FASHION & CULTURE
Winter Fermentation Workshop & Lunch
Supplied
If you’ve ever been in the market to learn the art of sauerkraut, this is probably your moment. This Saturday, Art Department Studio is hosting a five-hour fermentation class and feast, covering everything from Ukrainian soured cabbage and adjika to beetroot ferments and apple kvass. Tickets are $200 plus booking fee, but that includes the full workshop, lunch, tastings and a few jars to take home.
- WHEN: Saturday 25 July, from 11am
- WHERE: Art Department Studio, Woolloomooloo
- HOW MUCH: $200 tickets
- CHECK IT OUT HERE.
Quest Bar Talk at The Roosevelt
Image: Instagram @therooseveltpottspoint
Newly launched series Quest Bar Talks is bringing big ideas into a much more relaxed setting, with two leading professors taking over The Roosevelt this Thursday for a pair of short, easy-to-digest talks. Evolutionary biologist Robert Brooks will unpack why so many people are falling in love with chatbots, while cognitive scientist Amanda Barnier will explain what hypnosis actually does to the brain. Who knows, you might learn something new.
- WHEN: Thursday 23 July, from 6:30pm
- WHERE: The Roosevelt, Potts Point
- HOW MUCH: Free entry
- CHECK IT OUT HERE.
Cold Dip Club Sydney
Image: Instagram @colddipclub.sydney
The Cold Dip Club has officially landed in Sydney, and it’s bringing Copenhagen-coded discipline to anyone willing to enter the Coogee surf mid-winter. The community club meets every Wednesday for a sunrise swim, followed by $2 post-dip coffees at Bathers Coogee. Perfect if you’re into making new friends, moving your body and mild suffering.
- WHEN: Every Wednesday, from 6:30am
- WHERE: Coogee Beach
- HOW MUCH: Free
- CHECK IT OUT HERE.
Archibald, Wynne & Sulman Prizes
Image: Amora Hotel
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
Image: Art Gallery of NSW
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
Jazz Sessions in The Rocks
Image: Supplied
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
Après Harbour at Pier One Sydney
Image: Supplied
Pier One has launched Après Harbour, the perfect option for anyone who likes the idea of après skiing but not enough to actually go near a mountain. Running daily from 3pm, the harbour side winter setup comes with fire pits, mulled wine, table side s’mores and Wildbrumby tasting flights. From 5-6pm on weeknights, you’ll even score $2 oysters and $18 cocktails for their ‘Schnappy Hour’, which is far cheaper than heading to Thredbo.
- WHEN: Daily from 3pm
- WHERE: Pier One Sydney, Walsh Bay
- HOW MUCH: Free entry (minimum spend for groups)
- CHECK IT OUT HERE.
Winter Arbour at RAFI
Image: Supplied
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
Image: Supplied
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
Image: Supplied
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.
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.
Oyster Happy Hour at Morrison’s
Image: Sydney, Australia
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.
