Lifestyle

Sydney lifestyle

Food, drink, style, wellness and travel — original stories from people who actually live here.

Skip the Highway: Sydney Cellar Door Brings 35 Regional Wineries to the Harbour
Food & Drink

Skip the Highway: Sydney Cellar Door Brings 35 Regional Wineries to the Harbour

Over 30 regional NSW winemakers are descending on the harbourfront, with satellite tastings across Enmore and Newtown.

by Mia Chen·3 min read
Ditch the Bondi Pill Habit: Why You Should Fire Your Supplement Cabinet
Wellness

Ditch the Bondi Pill Habit: Why You Should Fire Your Supplement Cabinet

Stop dropping hundreds on designer multivitamins and synthetic powders—Sydney’s fresh markets have everything your body actually needs.

by Tom Whitaker·3 min
The Mall Rat Is Back: Why Sydney’s Teens Are Rescuing Westfield
Style

The Mall Rat Is Back: Why Sydney’s Teens Are Rescuing Westfield

Forget infinite TikTok scrolling—Sydney's youth are staging a tactile retail renaissance across the city's mega-centres.

by Ava Robinson·3 min
Eastern Suburbs Grit: Inside Allegra Spender’s Daily Routine
Wellness

Eastern Suburbs Grit: Inside Allegra Spender’s Daily Routine

Wentworth MP Allegra Spender dishes on the dawn coastal discipline keeping her sharp in Canberra and at home.

by Eleanor Marsh·3 min
Silicon Valley Wants to Surveil Your Kids—Leave Sydney Out of It
Culture

Silicon Valley Wants to Surveil Your Kids—Leave Sydney Out of It

Tech billionaires think parenting is just an efficiency problem waiting for an AI tracker, but raising kids isn't a corporate KPI.

by Priya Raman·3 min
Forget Frankston: Sydney’s Coastline Demands Unlimited Beachside Pizza
Food & Drink

Forget Frankston: Sydney’s Coastline Demands Unlimited Beachside Pizza

Melbourne thinks it invented seaside carb loading, but Sydney’s coastal strip is overdue for its own rowdy, bottomless pizza revival.

by Harper Lin·3 min
The Observer Hotel Is Back: Skip the Sausage Roll, Order the Pie
Food & Drink

The Observer Hotel Is Back: Skip the Sausage Roll, Order the Pie

A colonial-era Rocks watering hole gets an ambitious culinary revival that mostly hits the mark, provided you order smartly.

by Noah Bennett·3 min
Why Sydney Can’t Stop Bingeing Disney’s Unhinged 'Rivals'
Culture

Why Sydney Can’t Stop Bingeing Disney’s Unhinged 'Rivals'

As breakout star Bella Maclean turns Jilly Cooper’s romp into must-watch TV, Sydney drops the prestige drama for pure Eighties chaos.

by Daniel Pham·3 min
How to Fix Your Sad Sydney Balcony for Under Fifty Bucks
Home

How to Fix Your Sad Sydney Balcony for Under Fifty Bucks

You don't need a sprawling waterfront deck in Mosman to host a decent summer dinner party—just fifty bucks and better lighting.

by Liam Hayes·3 min
Forget the Granny Flat: Sydney’s New Renovation Flex Is Subterranean Hedonism
Home

Forget the Granny Flat: Sydney’s New Renovation Flex Is Subterranean Hedonism

A California bungalow rebuild pairs heritage frontage with an underground sauna and a dedicated martini lounge.

by Eleanor Marsh·3 min
Stop Ruining Your Flat White With Collagen Powder
Wellness

Stop Ruining Your Flat White With Collagen Powder

Sydney's obsession with stirring bovine peptides into morning espresso is pricey, questionable, and deeply insulting to local baristas.

by Isabella Ferrari·3 min
200 Pairs and Counting: The Absurd Reality of Jet-Set Wardrobes
Style

200 Pairs and Counting: The Absurd Reality of Jet-Set Wardrobes

Chloe and Paul Fisher’s 200-pair footwear habit is wild, but their zero-effort airport uniform offers a masterclass for Sydney travellers.

by Tom Whitaker·3 min
When IVF Tests Your Inner Circle: Navigating Grief and Baby News
Wellness

When IVF Tests Your Inner Circle: Navigating Grief and Baby News

The journey through fertility clinics is brutal enough without the fragile, heartbreaking choreography of your best mate falling pregnant first.

by Harper Lin·3 min
The Long Bob Has Taken Over Sydney—Here’s How to Stop It Looking Limp
Beauty

The Long Bob Has Taken Over Sydney—Here’s How to Stop It Looking Limp

Margot Robbie made the collarbone chop ubiquitous, but keeping a blunt lob razor-sharp in Sydney’s humidity takes real discipline.

by Daniel Pham·3 min
Ditch the Saints: Why Sydney Needs to Remember the Dead Honestly
Culture

Ditch the Saints: Why Sydney Needs to Remember the Dead Honestly

From Waverley cliffs to Inner West backbars, the best way to honour those we’ve lost is keeping their glorious flaws intact.

by Priya Raman·3 min
Emma Louise on Starting Over, Creative Survival, and Life After Heartbreak
Culture

Emma Louise on Starting Over, Creative Survival, and Life After Heartbreak

At 35, the indie-pop songwriter trades comfortable domesticity for creative sovereignty and a hard-won artistic reset.

by Tom Whitaker·3 min
Why Sydney Can't Stop Talking About the Big Screen Age Gap
Culture

Why Sydney Can't Stop Talking About the Big Screen Age Gap

Bella Maclean sparked a global debate on generational dating, but in Sydney's eastern suburbs, the dynamic has always been right at home.

by Tom Whitaker·3 min
Scorpio Energy: How to Turn Sydney’s Daily Friction Into a Win
Wellness

Scorpio Energy: How to Turn Sydney’s Daily Friction Into a Win

If life feels like an uphill battle this week, stop fighting the city’s chaos and start using the pressure to your advantage.

by Daniel Pham·3 min
Ditch the Crowded Coast: Why Your Next Sicilian Trip Belongs Inland
Travel

Ditch the Crowded Coast: Why Your Next Sicilian Trip Belongs Inland

Sydneysiders love a Euro summer pilgrimage, but trading seaside influencer traps for Sicily’s rugged heartland is the smartest travel flex you can make.

by Mia Chen·3 min
Derby Day Monochromes That Actually Work in Sydney
Style

Derby Day Monochromes That Actually Work in Sydney

Forget Flemington's stuffy dress codes—here is how Sydney is reworking sharp monochrome tailoring for humid spring afternoons.

by Daniel Pham·3 min
Ditch the Plastic Pumpkins: Sydney Has Better Real Nightmares
Culture

Ditch the Plastic Pumpkins: Sydney Has Better Real Nightmares

If we’re going to indulge Halloween, let’s trade imported American fluff for Sydney’s genuinely grim, convict-carved ghost stories.

by Stephanie Darling·3 min
Forget Mary Poppins: The 45-Letter Monster Winning Sydney Trivia Nights
Culture

Forget Mary Poppins: The 45-Letter Monster Winning Sydney Trivia Nights

If you want to shut down an argument at your local inner-west pub quiz, memorise this lung-busting 45-letter monstrosity.

by Stephanie Darling·3 min
The Death of White Tablecloths: Why Sydney Dining Just Shifted Coastal
Food & Drink

The Death of White Tablecloths: Why Sydney Dining Just Shifted Coastal

Manly is having its golden era, suburban kitchens are outcooking the CBD, and Sydney's stuffiest dining temples are losing their grip.

by Noah Bennett·3 min
Melbourne’s New Pastry Boom Is Cute, But Sydney Still Wins the Sugar War
Food & Drink

Melbourne’s New Pastry Boom Is Cute, But Sydney Still Wins the Sugar War

Melbourne is celebrating a fresh wave of soft serve and retro bakeries, but Sydney’s homegrown sweet scene isn’t losing any sleep.

by Tom Whitaker·3 min
The Radical Cure for Screen Brain: Go Completely Analogue This Weekend
Culture

The Radical Cure for Screen Brain: Go Completely Analogue This Weekend

Ditching your smartphone for an unscripted night across the Inner West is terrifying—until it becomes the best night of your year.

by Eleanor Marsh·3 min
The Master Returns: Why Sydney’s Six-Seat Sushi Counters Still Reign Supreme
Food & Drink

The Master Returns: Why Sydney’s Six-Seat Sushi Counters Still Reign Supreme

Charcoal skewers were fun, but elite sushi masters returning to hyper-intimate omakase counters are setting a new standard for Sydney dining.

by Ava Robinson·3 min
Derby Day Dressing: Why Sydney Men Need to Kill the Shiny Suit
Style

Derby Day Dressing: Why Sydney Men Need to Kill the Shiny Suit

Spring racing's black-and-white mandate does not mean dressing like a corporate intern. Here is how to master monochrome tailoring with restraint.

by Tom Whitaker·3 min
Sydney’s Gen Z Is Terrified of AI—Right Before Asking It for Therapy
Wellness

Sydney’s Gen Z Is Terrified of AI—Right Before Asking It for Therapy

Young Sydneysiders dread algorithmic job cuts, yet treat ChatGPT like a free pocket therapist. It is a messy paradox.

by Harper Lin·3 min
Why Sydney Traded Dining Out for Retro Comfort Food This Spring
Food & Drink

Why Sydney Traded Dining Out for Retro Comfort Food This Spring

As erratic spring southerlies and eye-watering bills bit, local kitchens leaned hard into nostalgic bakes, one-pan chicken, and old-school comfort.

by Daniel Pham·3 min
Why Jelena Dokic’s Radical Honesty Strikes a Chord in Sydney
Wellness

Why Jelena Dokic’s Radical Honesty Strikes a Chord in Sydney

As Jelena Dokic releases her new book Live Free, her message of vulnerability cuts straight through Sydney's exhausting culture of curated perfection.

by Daniel Pham·3 min
Jelena Dokic Isn’t Here for Sydney’s Filtered Approval
Wellness

Jelena Dokic Isn’t Here for Sydney’s Filtered Approval

Ahead of her new book 'Live Free', the former tennis prodigy cuts through eastern suburbs wellness noise with a hard-won masterclass in self-worth.

by Daniel Pham·3 min
The $10K First Birthday: When Did Sydney Toddlers Get Wedding Budgets?
Culture

The $10K First Birthday: When Did Sydney Toddlers Get Wedding Budgets?

If you’re hiring balloon stylists and custom grazing tables for a kid who eats dirt, take a deep breath and put down the AMEX.

by Priya Raman·3 min
Mourning Bar Vincent? Orazio D’Elia’s New Outpost Brings Proper Trattoria Energy Back
Food & Drink

Mourning Bar Vincent? Orazio D’Elia’s New Outpost Brings Proper Trattoria Energy Back

Orazio D’Elia’s candlelit new room delivers the soulful, no-nonsense Italian dining Sydney has sorely missed.

by Stephanie Darling·3 min
Andrew McConnell’s New Grill Is Causing a Stir—Is It Worth the Flight South?
Food & Drink

Andrew McConnell’s New Grill Is Causing a Stir—Is It Worth the Flight South?

Melbourne hospitality heavyweight Andrew McConnell has opened Cote Basque, but Sydney’s wood-fire obsessives might already have the upper hand.

by Tom Whitaker·3 min
Your Next Routine Eye Exam Could Save Your Heart
Wellness

Your Next Routine Eye Exam Could Save Your Heart

A routine trip to update your frames in Paddington might soon double as an early-warning radar for serious cardiovascular disease.

by Tom Whitaker·3 min
The Great Sydney Sex Drought: Blame Rent, Not Romance
Culture

The Great Sydney Sex Drought: Blame Rent, Not Romance

Young Sydneysiders still crave intimacy, but punishing rent and app burnout have turned modern dating into an unaffordable chore.

by Eleanor Marsh·3 min
Why Sydney Desperately Needs LA’s No-Nonsense Taco Truck Culture
Food & Drink

Why Sydney Desperately Needs LA’s No-Nonsense Taco Truck Culture

Forget $22 sit-down tacos in dimly lit dining rooms—it’s time Sydney embraced gritty, foil-wrapped California-Mexican street food.

by Priya Raman·3 min
Waterfront Overhaul: Why Sydney Diners Demand More Than Just a Billion-Dollar View
Food & Drink

Waterfront Overhaul: Why Sydney Diners Demand More Than Just a Billion-Dollar View

Waterfront icons have relied on harbour vistas for too long. A proper overhaul proves the food finally matches the setting.

by Priya Raman·3 min
Ditch the French Onion: Why Raita and Hot Chips Is Sydney’s Elite Summer Snack
Food & Drink

Ditch the French Onion: Why Raita and Hot Chips Is Sydney’s Elite Summer Snack

Local food hero Adam Liaw is making the case for pairing spiced raita with hot salty chips—and honestly, your Sunday park picnic will never be the same.

by Mia Chen·3 min
Smoke, Spice, and Embers: Why Fire-Fuelled Sri Lankan Dining Demands Your Attention
Food & Drink

Smoke, Spice, and Embers: Why Fire-Fuelled Sri Lankan Dining Demands Your Attention

Forget polite curries—live fire, blistered spices, and charred coconut are rewriting the rules of modern Sri Lankan cooking.

by Ava Robinson·3 min
Melbourne’s Pastry Royalty Is Eyeing Sydney — And Our Bakeries Should Be Nervous
Food & Drink

Melbourne’s Pastry Royalty Is Eyeing Sydney — And Our Bakeries Should Be Nervous

Cult Melbourne artisan bakery Cobb Lane brings its slow-fermented sourdough and razor-sharp laminated pastries into Sydney's cut-throat weekend carb scene.

by Daniel Pham·3 min
Why Sydney’s Pub Counters Need an Alpine Shake-Up
Food & Drink

Why Sydney’s Pub Counters Need an Alpine Shake-Up

Ditch the tired parmas—our local bistros are overdue for an upgrade of golden rösti, blistered Gruyère, and crisp European lagers.

by Noah Bennett·3 min
Ditch the Tuesday Takeaway: Adam Liaw’s One-Pan Chicken Pilaf Is Midweek Gold
Food & Drink

Ditch the Tuesday Takeaway: Adam Liaw’s One-Pan Chicken Pilaf Is Midweek Gold

Skip the lukewarm delivery drop and the three-hour biryani faff—this one-pot baked chicken pilaf is Sydney midweek dinner perfection.

by Liam Hayes·3 min
Ditch the Pumpkin Spice: Why Sydney Needs Black Velvet Cupcakes
Food & Drink

Ditch the Pumpkin Spice: Why Sydney Needs Black Velvet Cupcakes

Forget imported autumn tropes. Sydney October calls for moody black velvet cupcakes that actually suit our sun-drenched spring.

by Isabella Ferrari·3 min
The Gilmore Effect: How Quay’s Mastermind Forever Reshaped Sydney Dining
Food & Drink

The Gilmore Effect: How Quay’s Mastermind Forever Reshaped Sydney Dining

As Peter Gilmore claims Legend status and plots a southern outpost, we look back at the chef who turned Circular Quay into Australia's culinary centre.

by James Okafor·3 min
Why You Shouldn't Dodge Jury Duty at the Downing Centre
Culture

Why You Shouldn't Dodge Jury Duty at the Downing Centre

Getting summoned to Liverpool Street feels like a chore—until you're forced out of your Sydney bubble and into the jury box.

by Daniel Pham·3 min
Forget the Registry: Why Sydney Desperately Needs Divorce Ceremonies
Culture

Forget the Registry: Why Sydney Desperately Needs Divorce Ceremonies

Weddings get all the fanfare, but surviving a bitter split deserves its own high-stakes Sydney celebration.

by Daniel Pham·3 min
Grit, Guts, and No Regrets: Joanna Wietrzyk Returns to the HYROX Floor
Fitness

Grit, Guts, and No Regrets: Joanna Wietrzyk Returns to the HYROX Floor

Months after a viral incident that broke the fitness internet, the Aussie powerhouse is stepping right back onto the race floor.

by Stephanie Darling·3 min
Vito’s Takes Over Bridge Street With $8M Worth of Mid-Century Swagger
Food & Drink

Vito’s Takes Over Bridge Street With $8M Worth of Mid-Century Swagger

The storied former Rockpool address is reborn as a lavish New York Italian steakhouse fronted by Lauren Eldridge.

by Eleanor Marsh·3 min
Flemington’s Trackside Food Flex Proves the Spring Racing Stakes Have Changed
Food & Drink

Flemington’s Trackside Food Flex Proves the Spring Racing Stakes Have Changed

Melbourne is wheeling out luxury dining for its spring carnival, but Sydney’s trackside scene at Randwick has already set a higher bar.

by Harper Lin·3 min
The Dining Reset: Where Sydney Is Actually Eating Right Now
Food & Drink

The Dining Reset: Where Sydney Is Actually Eating Right Now

Statewide dining hit lists are back, but Sydney’s culinary pulse lives in vibrant wine bars and neighbourhood gems over stuffy white tablecloths.

by Isabella Ferrari·3 min
Why Your Immediate 6am Flat White Is Sabotaging Tonight's Sleep
Wellness

Why Your Immediate 6am Flat White Is Sabotaging Tonight's Sleep

Step away from the espresso machine: hitting the caffeine before the sun even hits your face is why you are tossing and turning at midnight.

by James Okafor·3 min
Feeling Fragile in Your Forties? The Desk-Bound Slump Has a Name
Wellness

Feeling Fragile in Your Forties? The Desk-Bound Slump Has a Name

Pre-frailty is quietly hitting Sydney professionals in their prime. Here is why your weekend coastal stroll is no longer cutting it.

by Noah Bennett·3 min
Laneway Treachery: When A Neighbour Contaminates Your Recycling Bin
Home

Laneway Treachery: When A Neighbour Contaminates Your Recycling Bin

In the high-stakes theatre of Sydney bin night, rogue rubbish disposal demands immediate and deeply petty retaliation.

by Eleanor Marsh·3 min
Brisbane Just Got Australia’s First Self-Serve Gelato Bar. Who’s Bringing It South?
Food & Drink

Brisbane Just Got Australia’s First Self-Serve Gelato Bar. Who’s Bringing It South?

A DIY gelato parlour with pull-your-own levers just landed up north, and Sydney’s dessert scene needs to copy the blueprint immediately.

by Mia Chen·3 min
Why This Award-Winning Chatswood Pop-Up Is Exactly What Sydney Dining Needs
Food & Drink

Why This Award-Winning Chatswood Pop-Up Is Exactly What Sydney Dining Needs

A North Shore social enterprise training young adults with disabilities has taken home top honours at this year's Good Food Guide awards.

by Tom Whitaker·3 min
Sydney's Culinary Swagger Heads South: Brunswick East's Etta Hires Ho Jiak Alum
Food & Drink

Sydney's Culinary Swagger Heads South: Brunswick East's Etta Hires Ho Jiak Alum

Melbourne loves claiming dining supremacy, but Brunswick East's latest kitchen coup was forged in Sydney's top wok dens.

by Daniel Pham·3 min
Forget White Tablecloths: Australia Street Proves What Sydney Dining Does Best
Food & Drink

Forget White Tablecloths: Australia Street Proves What Sydney Dining Does Best

Statewide dining roundups always make noise, but Newtown's Australia Street strip proves our local food culture lives far beyond high-end CBD dining rooms.

by James Okafor·3 min
Guzman y Gomez Finally Drops a New Meat Filling—and It’s Worth the Queue
Food & Drink

Guzman y Gomez Finally Drops a New Meat Filling—and It’s Worth the Queue

After five quiet years on the menu innovation front, GYG’s tender new charred beef lands across Sydney stores this week.

by Tom Whitaker·3 min
Hat Season Arrives: What Sydney’s Latest Dining Accolades Actually Mean
Food & Drink

Hat Season Arrives: What Sydney’s Latest Dining Accolades Actually Mean

The restaurant hats have dropped, but Sydney's real culinary pulse isn't found in stuffy harbourfront dining rooms anymore.

by Daniel Pham·3 min