ISSUE 29. What’s on in Sydney this week: for all the people who aren’t currently in Europe

It’s true, most people do currently appear to be in Europe or Bali right now. And yet, despite popular misconception, Sydney is still booked and busy this week.

For starters, the Bastille Festival in Circular Quay is back for another year of fromage and French market energy. Cold Dip Club is continuing its weekly Coogee sunrise swim for those game enough, the Beer, Footy & Food Festival is taking over Henson Park in Marrickville, and Subsonic is getting started early with a 12-hour launch party at the Factory Theatre.

Believe it people. It’s time to grab those calendars out, you know what to do.

HIGHLIGHTS

Bastille Festival at Circular Quay

If we’re honest, there are few problems that cheese can’t solve. So thankfully, in celebration of Bastille Day today, the Bastille Festival returns to Circular Quay and The Rocks this week. This time round, they’re going bigger and better than ever, with 110 free performances, over 130 stalls and 80 types of French dishes. They’re also bringing a new French-inspired flea market, so prepare for money to be spent.

• WHEN: Thursday 16 to Sunday 19 July
• WHERE: Circular Quay and The Rocks
• HOW MUCH: Free entry
• CHECK IT OUT HERE.

Beer, Footy & Food Festival

The Beer, Footy & Food Festival returns to Henson Park this weekend, celebrating ten years of exactly what it says on the tin. Expect craft beer, street food, and DJs all while the Newtown Jets take on the Newcastle Knights. And just for funsies, Pro Wrestling Australia will once again be bringing their hillside antics to the game.

• WHEN: Saturday 18 July, from 12pm
• WHERE: Henson Park, Marrickville
• HOW MUCH: Tickets from $24.50
• CHECK IT OUT HERE.

Subsonic Launch Party

If you’re feeling impatient for November, you’re in luck this weekend, because Subsonic is kicking off early with a one-day Sydney launch party at the Factory Theatre. Running from 2pm to 2am on Saturday, the party will take over four stages with sets from Back To Boogie Wonderland, Banana Bombs Records and Bodywork x Naughty Corner. There’ll also be a hefty lineup spanning techno, bass, house and everything adjacent.

• WHEN: Saturday 18 July, from 2pm
• WHERE: Factory Theatre, Marrickville
• HOW MUCH: Tickets from $34
• CHECK IT OUT HERE.

Cold Dip Club 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.

Après Harbour at Pier One Sydney

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.

FASHION & CULTURE

Christmas in July Festival

Having kicked off last weekend, the Christmas in July markets are continuing to take over The Rocks for ten days of festive overindulgence. Having transformed into a European-style winter village complete with all the bells and whistles, expect the likes of falling snow, wooden chalets, fairy lights and mulled wine. There’s even 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.

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.

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 in its final week of programming after a packed 17-day schedule of arts and entertainment. 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.

No Flowers Mahjong Club

No Flowers Mahjong Club is back again at Ace Hotel this Thursday for another round of low-pressure, high-vibe Back Alley Mahjong in Surry Hills. The night is designed for both seasoned players and total beginners, with table assistance on hand and the bar open throughout. Basically, a midweek social activity that doesn’t involve pretending to enjoy run club.

• WHEN: Thursday 16 July, from 6pm
• WHERE: Ace Hotel, Surry Hills
• HOW MUCH: Tickets are $27
• 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

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

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.

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 16 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.

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.