ISSUE 32. What’s on this week in Sydney: City2Surf, $10 steak rolls and very cheap oysters

Sydney is entering its annual pre-City2Surf lockdown, meaning everyone either has a bib, knows someone with a bib, or is planning their entire Sunday around avoiding a bib.

But before the city briefly grinds to a halt, there’s $10 entrecôte rolls in Coogee, free Thai lunches in Haymarket, retro dinners at Chiswick and enough oyster specials to make one feel suspiciously indulgent.

All set? Here are the best things to do in Sydney this week.

HIGHLIGHTS

City2Surf

If running in Sydney has become a personality trait, then consider the City2Surf the Myers-Briggs test of it all. This Sunday, thousands of runners, run clubs and people who only started training two weeks ago will make the 14-kilometre journey from the CBD to Bondi, tackling Heartbreak Hill before earning the right to spend the rest of the day talking about their pace. We’ll be covering the best place for afters shortly.

• WHEN: Sunday 9 August
• WHERE: CBD to Bondi
• HOW MUCH: Sold out
• CHECK IT OUT HERE.

Cosmos Midnight at Oxford Art Factory

Cosmo’s Midnight are taking over Oxford Art Factory this Saturday night, bringing their groove-heavy mix of electronic, pop and dance music to the Darlinghurst venue. The Sydney duo have built a reputation as one of Australia’s strongest electronic acts, with three albums, and collaborations spanning Tkay Maidza, KUČKA and BTS. Final release tickets are still available, but expect this one to sell out asap.

• WHEN: Saturday 8 August, from 8pm
• WHERE: Oxford Art Factory, Darlinghurst
• HOW MUCH: $49 final release tickets
• CHECK IT OUT HERE.

Homer Rogue Taverna First Birthday

If you’re in the mood for a Greek feast this weekend, look no further than Homer Rogue Taverna, who’s celebrating its first birthday this Sunday. The $85 set menu will bring together plenty of the restaurant’s crowd favourites, alongside ouzo on arrival and performances from the Sydney Greek Dancing School. It all kicks off from 6pm, so expect a suitably loud Greek birthday dinner.

• WHEN: Sunday 9 August, from 6pm
• WHERE: Homer Rogue Taverna, Cronulla
• HOW MUCH: $85 per person
• CHECK IT OUT HERE.

World Oyster Day

World Oyster Day is happening this Wednesday, which feels like as good an excuse as any to work your way through Sydney’s best oyster specials. Pier One Sydney Harbour is serving $2 Sydney rock oysters, Anason and Hamsi are offering half-price oysters, and The Morrison’s classic Wednesday Oyster Hour is back from 6-7pm. For even more cheap shucks, head to our full Sydney oyster happy hour guide.

• WHEN: Wednesday 5 August
• WHERE: Across Sydney
• HOW MUCH: Varies
• CHECK IT OUT HERE.

Friends of The Clock

There’s nothing quite like sitting on The Clock’s terrace, drink in hand on a sunny winter afternoon. This August, the Surry Hills pub is making the case even stronger with Friends of The Clock, a limited-edition menu created with local favourites Tonton Bread, Bourke Street Bakery and Veneziano Coffee Roasters. Expect popcorn chicken with Bourke Street Bakery hot sauce, a meatball focaccia pocket, tiramisu and several very winter-appropriate cocktails, available all month from $16.

• WHEN: Throughout August
• WHERE: The Clock, Surry Hills
• HOW MUCH: Dishes from $16
• CHECK IT OUT HERE.

FASHION & CULTURE

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.

Cold Dip Club Sydney

The Cold Dip Club has 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

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

City2Sheaf Afterparty

It’s no secret that the Golden Sheaf in Double Bay nails their annual City2Surf afterparty. So whether you’ve competed in the race, cheered from a distance or just feeling like a Sunday kick on, City2Sheaf is back this Sunday from 8am. Expect post-run brunch menus, icy drinks, complimentary massages and DJs across the courtyard and rooftop from 10am. There’ll also be free shuttle buses running from Bondi to Double Bay on a first come, first served basis.

• WHEN: Sunday 9 August, from 8am
• WHERE: The Golden Sheaf, Double Bay
• HOW MUCH: Free entry
• CHECK IT OUT HERE.

Apres Ski Party at Woollahra Hotel ft. Yolanda Be Cool

Woollahra Hotel is once again bringing Europe’s apres-ski party culture to Sydney this Saturday, transforming its Upstairs Terrace into an alpine-style chalet complete with faux snow, winter cocktails and late-night jaffles. What’s more? Yolanda Be Cool will be headlining, meaning solid music is guaranteed with your $18 ticket.

• WHEN: Saturday 8 August
• WHERE: Woollahra Hotel, Woollahra
• HOW MUCH: $18 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

Suntory House Takeover

Suntory House is returning to Sydney for its third rendition, taking over Sakura House in the CBD until early October. Inspired by Japan’s nomikai tradition of post-work drinking, the limited-time residency will serve highballs, sours, beer on tap and bespoke cocktails like the ‘Mazda Zoom Zoom’ melon float. Of course, it comes alongside all the elevated izakaya snacks Sakura House has become well-known for.

• WHEN: Friday 31 July to Saturday 3 October
• WHERE: Sakura House, Martin Place
• HOW MUCH: Free entry
• CHECK IT OUT HERE.

Island Radio Bottomless Yum Cha

As Sydneysiders, we’re almost all well-versed by now in the weekend bottomless brunch session. But bottomless yum cha, however, is something that we hadn’t tried until now. Introducing Island Radio’s bottomless Dim Sum Saturdays, which serves up the likes of dumplings, steamed buns, wagyu nigiri and other yum cha classics alongside 90 minutes of bottomless booze for $90 a head. Honestly, after trying it for ourselves recently this one has instantly shot up to the top of our list.

• WHEN: Every Saturday and Sunday
• WHERE: Island Radio, Redfern
• HOW MUCH: $90 per person
• CHECK IT OUT HERE.

Krung Thai Restaurant & Bar Opening Giveaway

Newly opened Krung Thai Restaurant & Bar in Haymarket is celebrating its founding week with free lunch for the first 50 customers each day until Thursday. A different dish will be up for grabs daily, including braised beef noodles, holy basil chicken rice and Hainanese chicken rice, while the first 50 dinner guests can also score a complimentary Carabao Beer with any main.

• WHEN: Every day until Thursday 6 August
• WHERE: Krung Thai Restaurant & Bar, Haymarket
• HOW MUCH: Free for first 50 customers
• CHECK IT OUT HERE.

Retro Sundays at Chiswick Woollahra

Chiswick Woollahra is turning back the clock this August with Retro Sundays. It’s a four-week dinner series serving nostalgic favourites like Beef Wellington, Chicken Kiev and corned beef with parsley béchamel, alongside throwback desserts and playful retro cocktails. Running every Sunday and setting you back $60, we think it’s a rather dignified way to treat the scaries.

• WHEN: Every Sunday until 30 August
• WHERE: Chiswick, Woollahra
• HOW MUCH: $60 per person
• 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.

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.

Entrecôte Rolls at Will’s

In news that feels suspiciously generous for the eastern suburbs, Will’s are serving up $10 entrecôte rolls every Thursday throughout August. Head to the Euro-inspired cocktail bar adjacent to Mimi’s for steak frites-filled rolls drenched in that iconic green sauce that no one still really understands. They’re also available all day, ideally with a drink in hand.

• WHEN: Every Thursday in August
• WHERE: Will’s, Coogee
• HOW MUCH: $10
• 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.