Make merry and ring in the festive season with impressive new restaurants and bars and immersive new tours in Sydney. From seafood and Italian sweets to a tour that takes you on a bar crawl to the city's best-hidden drinking dens, here's where to say cheers in Sydney and NSW this summer.

NEW FOOD & DRINK

Markets in the Quay
CBD workers can now access fresh produce, new lunch options and seasonal flowers at the recently launched Quay Quarter Lanes Markets. Held at Customs House Square and snaking into the surrounding laneways, it will offer stalls from local retailers Zini Gelato, Adora Chocolates, Bubble Nini Teas as well as bread, coffee, organic meats, fresh seafood and more from quality producers. Held on the second Wednesday of the month, the next edition is on December 14 and is held from 8am-2pm.

Margaret's new neighbour
Everybody needs good neighbours, and Neil Perry has opened a delicious one adjacent to his award-winning Margaret restaurant, fittingly called Next Door. The new wine bar is open for lunch and dinner and features a relaxed menu of antipasto, sandwiches, Perry's famous cheeseburger, plus native-inspired cocktails and a wine list borrowed from Margaret.

Coastal Italian by the wharf
A taste of the Mediterranean will dock at Pyrmont, as Sala, a new seafood-inspired Italian eatery, opens in the 100-year-old waterfront space Jones Bay Wharf. From the founders of Flying Fish, the new restaurant will be headed up by executive chef Danny Russo and feature a crudo bar and a modern coastal Italian menu.

Gantry makes a comeback
One of Sydney's best waterfront lunch views has returned: The Gantry has reopened after a renovation. Led by new head chef Rhys Connell, the fine dining restaurant within the Pier One hotel will have a more relaxed approach to match its warm and earthy new space, with dishes featuring local premium ingredients such as wagyu, abalone and lobster.

Sweet Italian
Former Rockpool pastry chef Riccardo Falcone and Orazio D'Elia from Bondi's Da Orazio have come together to create Mia Dolci Italiani, a pasticceria in a converted Alexandria warehouse opening 12 December. Part Italian cake shop, part chocolate shop, and part café, the playful menu will feature both classics (ricotta cannoli) and works of art (lemon custard and mousse cake).

Meet Pinky-Ji
Renowned restauranteur and chef Jessi Singh has extended the family with the unapologetic, unauthentic and unmissable Pinky-Ji. Paying homage to Jessi's Punjabi roots, former Chin Chin head chef Johan Jay and Jessi have created a crowd-pleasing menu, including the signature Balls Of Happiness to delectable Crab Curry Croqueta, plus a special wok-fired menu.

NEW EXPERIENCES

Slow down
Touring company Trip Slow offers something different even for those well-versed in Sydney's many stunning walking tracks: guiding walkers on mindful and informative journeys that layer the city's waterfront and beaches with history and context. With walks ranging from easy to medium and from three to five hours, Trip Slow encourages a connection to nature for a truly grounding experience.

A secret Sydney bar crawl
Sydney's bar scene has gone from strength to strength with an explosion of openings in the past few years. Local Sauce Tours has launched a new twice-weekly tour, the Drink & Discover Secret Bar Crawl, exploring some of the city's most vibrant neighbourhoods, The Rocks and the YCK precinct. Guests are taken to three to four bars, with a welcome drink and share food included.

Discover Sydney by water
There's no better way to explore Sydney than via its glittering blue harbour, and Sydney Princess Cruises has launched a delicious new tour to do just that. The two-hour lunch cruise departs seven days a week and fascinating commentary and an expansive seafood buffet.

The famous big red bus returns
The famous red double-decker bus has been taking tourists on sightseeing tours through the Blue Mountains since 1974 – and after disruptions due to bushfires and Covid-19, it's back from December 17. The Blue Mountains Explorer Bus is a hop-on, hop-off service that runs seven days a week, stopping at major tourist attractions and key towns.

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