Sydney Archives - Travel Wine Food

Secret Sydney Bars Walking Tour Guide #1

A guide to finding over 27 interesting, unique and hidden bars in Sydney City, from The Rocks to the City Centre (City Bars Walking Tours) Do you love craft beer, wine, whiskey, sake and other alcoholic drinks? Do you love exploring different bars? Are you always trying to find a new bar to experience? Sydney features a lot of hidden bars in many strange and wonderful places – in forgotten laneways, at the back of basement shop hallways and down fire escapes. Even locals don’t know where many of them are. This guide will show you where to find some…

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SlowTV. Riverina XPT Train Sydney to Yass Junction NSW Australia 1992. Tribute to SBS ‘The Ghan’. Slow TV. Great Rail Journeys.

Riverina XPT Train Sydney to Yass Junction NSW Australia Recently, thanks to the SBS channel’s TV show ‘The Ghan’ the SlowTV movement (Slow TV) has finally taken off in Australia. The Ghan trip is one of the great rail journeys of the world. But there are plenty of other smaller journeys you can take that can be almost as good! There aren’t enough videos out there of those, so I thought it was time to start uploading some of my attempts at Slow TV which I started recording about 25 years ago! Great Rail Journeys In 1992 I began recording a…

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Sushi Studio Japanese Restaurant Neutral Bay Sydney Review

Sushi Studio Japanese Restaurant Sushi Studio Japanese Restaurant is usually booked out. It’s rare to be able to just walk in and get a table. You would not be able to figure that out simply based on the entrance. A standard, basic restaurant sliding door entrance with common white Formica top tables in a minimalist eating area makes this look more like a glorified food court than the premier Japanese sushi gastronomy fantasy that it really is. The place is legendary among other sushi restaurant chefs and you are likely to find other restaurant owners and sushi experts dining here too. So, not…

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Australia Trade Tasting Wine Event Sydney Review AuTT

Australia Trade Tasting The Australia Trade Tasting Wine Event was an informative session in Sydney for people in the industry Recently, thanks to my involvement with TravelWineFood.com and our Wine Education Services, as well as our plan to open a wine bar, we were eligible to attend the Australia Trade Tasting event in Sydney. This was an amazing event and well worth the admission. Only being able to spare a couple of hours, we had to be a bit choosy as to which wine stalls to visit, and then which wines to try, so some minutes were spent reading the brochure, checking…

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Sydney Italian Wine and Food Festival Review and Video

The Sydney Italian Wine and Food Festival I just had the pleasure of attending the Sydney Italian Wine and Food Festival inside Sydney’s Town Hall. I was quite impressed to see such a well-organised event with, according to Facebook, over 11,000 attendees across the weekend. I very much enjoyed being able to taste quite a lot of wine from many parts of Italy. It was amazing to try so many Italian wines. It was even more incredible to experience the taste of so many grape varieties that are hard to find in Sydney. We tried Acitana, Albaranzeuli Nero, Barbera del Sannio,…

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Photography Exhibition Sydney with Slawo Plata at the Goethe Institute

Photography Exhibition Sydney with Slawo Plata at the Goethe Institute If you’ve searched for photography exhibition Sydney then you’ll want to visit one of the most interesting in recent years. One of my many hobbies is photography, so I was very happy to receive an invitation from the Swiss Consulate to attend the launch of a photography exhibition Sydney ‘s East, from one of Switzerland’s lauded photographers, Mr Slawo Plata at the Goethe Institute. Slawo’s passion is to digitally photograph people in remote regions in a way that gives us an enormous amount of information in an enhanced black and white photograph.…

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Persian Restaurant Iranian Farsi Restaurant Ryde Sydney Australia

Persian Restaurant serving Iranian food in Ryde, Sydney Persian Restaurant Review. We were invited to attend a banquet by a good friend of ours at an Iranian restaurant in Ryde. For those of you who aren’t aware, Iran used to be called Persia by the rest of the world until 1935. Iran is actually the original Farsi word for the country, much like Deutschland is the native word for Germany. But many have never connected the beautiful heritage buildings, fun skiing, beaches and other wonders of Persia with the negative media spin for Tehran and Iran so, let me just say, you’re missing…

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The Canopy Cafe Restaurant. Modern Australian.

I’ve been twice to The Canopy. Once for a meal and the second time for a coffee with a student. Love the tree theme. However, while I don’t really expect that much service in Australia anyway and am usually pleasantly surprised when I get it, Canopy was so popular and so full of people whenever I went there that the staff were simply constantly run off their feet and really didn’t have much time for niceties. Food took time to serve, coffee took ages, everyone looked stressed. I’m guessing the high lease price for this location means they can’t afford…

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Cheeky Czech Bar and Restaurant Newtown

Cheeky Czech in Newtown was another restaurant that has closed since I’ve been there. I tend to visit pop-up restaurants, restaurants with interesting themes or restaurants representing other countries so these kinds of restaurants usually do well for a couple of years and then disappear. So, if you’re like me and enjoy always visiting new restaurants, don’t put it off if you see something new. It might disappear within 12 months! Cheeky Czech had some interesting Czech drinks and also a very delicious melt in your mouth rabbit dish we shared that made the visit memorable. As it was a…

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The Muglan Nepalese Restaurant Sydney

Well, I had planned to review this restaurant months ago but I’ve recently found out that they’ve closed their Pitt street restaurant and moved to Liverpool Street. As they have other places around Sydney the food must be similar, so I’ll post anyway! I went to their old Pitt Street restaurant with a group and we tried a number of different things. The Nepalese food, on the whole, was closer to Indian food and was a bit too oily and had too much dairy product in it for me to truly enjoy it. The others around the table were quite pleased…

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Lucky Tsotsi. Lucky’s Shebeen & Bar. South African Bar and Restaurant Darlinghurst, Sydney

Lucky Tsotsi was a lucky find. There are hundreds of small door places along Oxford Street and if you’re walking fast it is easy to miss. Lucky Tsotsi interested me due to its South African vibe so I had to check it out. Lots of African style food was on offer including Bunny Chow, Mozambican Peri Peri Chicken, Boerewors rolls, Samp & beans and Durban Samoosas! – List from their website. The guys behind the bar were very friendly and patient, giving us details on the South African beers they had available, and the interior with an ecclectic assortment of African pictures,…

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Embers Mezze Bar on Oxford Street in Darlinghurst, Sydney. Cocktails.

Embers Mezze Bar is a tidy little Lebanese restaurant and bar in the iconic and heritage listed #52 building in the middle of the main part of Oxford Street. I’ve been to this place a few times over the past but each time was to a different restaurant. Rococo, then Sitar Indian have occupied this building. I’m sure many others will in the future. There is a food area up the steps to your left and the current restaurant owners have added a small cocktail bar up the steps on your right. Being the old 1920s style building (commissioned in 1912) there are carpeted steps to everywhere.…

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Market City Tavern in Haymarket, Sydney

Market City Tavern is one of those places that come alive at night but are ideal for a dusk retreat during the week, spring to autumn. The balcony on level 3 has plenty of tables and chairs with a neat skyline view, and you can sit and relax, sipping some wine for awhile with only the slight pinging of gambling machines in the background. I chose a light and slightly peppery shiraz and did some work on my novel when I was there last. Worth checking out if you’re looking for some solitude.

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Kanzi Fashion Cafe and Dutch Coffee Haymarket Sydney

One of my favourite cafes in Sydney is Kanzi Fashion Cafe on Sussex Street in Haymarket. It is nice to have cold dutch coffee with sugary flavouring, though it isn’t that consistent day to day. Sometimes it’s great and sometimes it’s just okay. The cafe has an eccentric and eclectic appeal, though, apart from the dutch coffee and a couple of other unique additions, the menu is a bit limited. Also, not many of the people working their speak Australian so if you speak Korean, or you know how to point, you’ll be fine! The men’s toilet and sink is a bit…

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Cafe Harris Sydney. Breakfast.

An Aussie breakfast at a cafe in Ultimo while working on one of my stories. Cafe Harris is a nice and quiet little getaway with reasonably priced food next to the Ian Thorpe Aquatic Centre. I’m usually served by friendly Koreans who know how to make a good coffee. There are a number of coffee shops in the area, but I prefer this one for the wood style chairs and the informal and relaxed atmosphere.

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Surry Hills Restaurants. Japanese Small Bar and Yakitori Restaurant. Tokyo Bird.

A short walk from Central Station on the Surry Hills side quickly brings you to a hidden Japanese restaurant featuring cozy seating, many Japanese whiskeys and a great little atmosphere. Being a Yakitori restaurant too, expect delicious chicken hearts and livers on sticks, carved ice in high ball glasses, and a range of Japanese drinks to make your mouth water. We ordered the chicken hearts, chicken livers, meatballs and eggplant. The food was amazing. We also tried a couple of their cocktails and some nice sake. The sake was served in a Tokyo Bird bottle, which was a nice touch. Highly recommended.…

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Harts Pub Sydney The Rocks. Restaurant and Bar Review.

Harts Pub The Rocks Sydney If you haven’t tried craft beer yet, head to Harts Pub in the Rocks in Sydney and get started! Harts Pub in The Rocks in Sydney is one of those hidden gems that many Sydney residents hold dearly in their hearts. While fantastic restaurants, pubs and bars have continued to arise, such as Quarryman’s in Pyrmont, The Local Taphouse in Darlinghurst, or Keg and Brew in Surry Hills, Harts Pub remains a perennial favourite. Celebrating 6 years on the craft beer scene, and owned by The Rocks Brewing Co, you’ll see a lot of their beers on…

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Löwenbräu Keller. German Restaurant. The Rocks, Sydney

Löwenbräu Keller German Restaurant Recently I had the opportunity to eat at Löwenbräu Keller, a German Restaurant in The Rocks area of Sydney. It is part of the Urban Purveyor Group which owns other similar places such as the Bavarian Beer Cafe, The Argyle and Sake. As it was my partner’s birthday she was able to take advantage of the ‘free main meal with ID proof of same day birthday’ deal. If you have a birthday coming up and have at least one other with you ordering a main meal, you can get your main meal free. (Subject to change.) My…

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The Stoned Crow. Small Craft Beer and Wine Bar. Food and Drink Review. Broadway, Sydney

On Saturday we went to the Stoned Crow. It’s on Broadway and has replaced the old Hotel Broadway. This is a great redecoration with wood panels everywhere, a more friendly mood lighting, and the ubiquitous craft font on all the faux chalk boards above the drinks area. Glasses start at around $8 each though there were some specials, such as house wine for $5. I chose an $8 glass of cabinet sauvignon block 50 from the Central Ranges which, while not as juicy as a cab sav from the coonawarra region, definitely worked well with Stoned Crow’s style of meat…

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Hinky Dinks Darlinghurst 1950s Dining Small Cocktail Bar Review

Hinky Dinks in Darlinghurst is one of those bars that you just don’t believe exists. Hiding behind a tiny door and window not far from the dazzling King’s Cross, this bar serves some amazing cocktails. As King’s Cross and surrounds are becoming THE place for cocktails, it’s difficult to be innovative, yet Hinky Dinks does this in style with their 1950s diner atmosphere, professional service, and easy to watch cocktail preparation. (Drink and a show!) We chose four different cocktails and all of them were a delight. We had the Dark Dinky n Stormy, the Honey Badger Punch, the Black Forrest…

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Vivid Sydney. Get ready for 2016! Part 4. Darling Harbour and Vivid Sydney compilation video featuring Sydney University, Martin Place, The Opera House, The Sydney Harbour Bridge, The Rocks and more.

The final part of my Vivid Sydney report. Darling Harbour featured regular fireworks and laser light shows during the Vivid Sydney Festival, as well as a new edition of a ferris wheel. The ferris wheel not only took you to the top and down, it also allowed you to turn your car around 360 degrees. Apparently it was $8 per person for one loop. The video below features a quick compilation of various Vivid Sydney displays around Sydney including at Sydney University, in Martin Place, of The Opera House, on the Sydney Harbour Bridge, across to the Art Gallery of New…

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Vivid Sydney. Get ready for 2016! Part 3. The Opera House. The Harbour Bridge. The Rocks.

We walked down Elizabeth Street to avoid much of the crowds but still took a quick detour to near Customs House for one of the geometric displays. The queue was at least half an hour long just to look at some mirrors inside a geometric shape so we decided to avoid it, go back the way we came and get to The Opera House that way. The Opera House Vivid Sydney display was different to last year. Last year’s was basically images in the shape of the Opera House with some creative animation, but still showing the geometric structure…

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Vivid Sydney. Get ready for 2016! Part 2. Martin Place Sydney Vivid Display.

We were expecting the display in Martin Place to feature buildings covered in lights, and displays such as creatures crawling up the sides of office blocks. As it turned out, that was so last year. Instead Martin place had been taken over by several corporations intent on promoting their brands. One of them was Intel, which on one day had a guy dressed as a giant robot. I didn’t get to seem him during the time I was there. Maybe next year! Other features included trees made of slices of wood that would make sounds and change colour when you…

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Vivid Sydney. Get ready for 2016! Part 1. Sydney University Vivid Display

Well, what an amazing ride Sydney’s Vivid festival was. While arguably not as good as the previous year, depending on who you speak to, Vivid Sydney’s 2015 event was still a refreshing and artistic light show organised by both amateurs and professionals. There was something for everyone. For me, seeing Intel’s drones on display in Martin Place was the highlight, but then I like anything robot-like! I also like artistic manipulation of geometric shapes, so creative use of shadows in light forms to change the shape of a building, or structures closely resembling dodecahedrons or tetrahedrons, or even some basic…