The silly season is in sight. Here are the best things to fill your diary with in October.
Daylight savings is just around the corner. And that means late starts, long nights and plenty of reasons to explore our sparkling city. If you’re looking for the best things to do this October, you’ve come to the right place.
SoCal Throws a 3-day Taco-Fest for World Taco Day
Neural Bay’s SoCal Taco Fiesta is here to add a little spice to your week. To celebrate World Taco Day (October 4th), SoCal will be serving all-you-can-eat-tacos for three whole days from October 2nd to 4th. For just $30 per person, this taco-rific menu delivers 4 of the venue’s iconic tacos – Baja Fish, Smoked Brisket, Octopus and Chorizo plus King Brown Mushroom. Wash it down with a Spicy Senorita or Tommy’s Margarita ($12). Bookings are a must, click here to secure your spot.
A Huge Indoor Plant Warehouse Sale (And Tropicana Party) Is Coming
Spring is undeniably the season to add a touch of greenery to your interiors. Luckily, the crew at The Jungle Collective has your back. To celebrate their birthday month, they are hosting a Tropicana Party and selling all your indoor plant favourites including rare tropical plants. Plus they’ll be playing funky Tropical-inspired tunes. Across two days (October 5th and 6th), this huge indoor plant sale will take place at the creative hub Precinct 75 in St Peters. Wear a Hawaiian shirt to save $5 on every purchase.
Sundown Sessions at The Glenmore
In case you’ve forgotten, the long weekend is fast approaching. If you’re looking to kick back and make the most of three days of glorious freedom, may we suggest heading to The Glenmore Hotel. On Sunday, October 6th The Glenmore x POOLCLVB present Sundown Sessions, a massive rooftop party to celebrate the glory of daylight savings. Enjoy an extra hour of blissful sunshine with a jam-packed line-up of music, jugs of 4 Pines brews ($22) and bespoke cocktail jugs ($34) from Ketel One Botanical. Doors open from 11am with live music kicking off from 1pm. Oh, did we mention entry is FREE?
Paramount Rec Club to Host Avotherapy, the Ultimate Wellness Weekend
Avo lovers, this one’s for you. Across two jam-packed days (October 12th-13th), Avotherapy brings a free wellness festival to Surry Hills’ Paramount Recreation Club. The pop up event is set to deliver everything from avocardio fitness classes (with a free post-workout avo-loaded smoothie), avocado facials plus cooking demonstrations and workshops all centred around the humble avo. Entry is free, but booking online is recommended. Secure your spot here.
Aria Celebrates 20 Years with a Birthday Tasting Menu
Since opening its door in 1999, Aria has been an iconic Harbourside dining destination. With Matt Moran at the helm, the venue is celebrating its 20th anniversary with a limited edition eight-course tasting menu (available exclusively during October). Serving a curated selection of Aria’s most beloved dishes from the past 20 years, expect the likes of Moran’s famous Peking duck consommé from 2000, Kurobuta pork with apple from 2004 and the champagne lobster with brioche and caviar from 2016. Explore the full menu here.
Have an occasion worth celebrating? Nab tickets to Aria’s lavish birthday party, hosted by Matt Moran on October 23rd. Tickets don’t come cheap ($350 per person) but include a five-course dinner curated by Execute Chef, Joel Bickford. To book your seat, click here.
Watsons Bay Boutique Hotel’s Rosé Street Festival Returns
Now in its second year, the Rosé Street Fest will be held Sunday 27th October from 11am-7pm, with rosé-themed festivities spilling out on to Military Road adjacent to Watsons Bay Boutique Hotel. On the day, you can expect live entertainment and rosé tasting stalls from over 20 leading Australian and international producers. For the sweet tooths, the festival is also giving you the chance to sample fruity coconut pops from Proud & Punch, plus pink desserts and frosé from the revamped Watsons Bay street food cart.
This year, the festival’s prepaid packages now include a BBF package ($49) which includes 18 wine tasting tokens and up to two rosé tasting glasses. Alternatively, you can nab a $32 prepaid ticket which includes a complimentary rosé tasting glass and 9 wine tasting tokens to sample wines throughout the day. Otherwise, on-the-day entry to the Rosé Street Fest is free of charge and guests can purchase wine tasting tokens for $3.50 each and the tasting glass for $7.
PARKROYAL Parramatta Hosts An International Seafood Festival
Sydneysiders will need to loosen their belts this October for an unmissable seafood experience, coming to PARKROYAL Parramatta’s TABLE 30 restaurant as part of their Taste of Asia festival from October 15th to 20th. Internationally acclaimed Singaporean chef and author, Tony Khoo’s six-day residency will showcase three varying menus, each available from 6pm-9pm Tuesday to Saturday and 12pm-3pm on Sunday October 20th (and just $79 per person). For more information on the Taste of Asia seafood experience click here.
ROKU Gin’s Sakura Pop Up Bar Lands in Surry Hills
To celebrate Japan’s iconic cherry blossom season, Suntory’s premium craft gin brand ROKU has launched a pop up bar in partnership with Tokyo Bird and KOI Dessert Bar. Across 12 nights, experience a menu of six bespoke cocktails paired with a dinner bento box and sweet treats from KOI Dessert Bar. To grab tickets to the pop up bar ($39 per person) click here, or to book in for their exclusive botanicals cocktail masterclass with Tokyo Bird’s expert bartenders ($69 per person) click here. Get in quick, the pop up concludes on October 19th.
Power Living Yoga are hosting the ultimate Yoga & Wine Weekender
Power Living Yoga are challenging everything that we know about your typical ‘health retreat’. Hosted in the picturesque and zen vineyards of the Hunter Valley, this weekender is designed for those who enjoy a spot of yoga, but who equally can’t live without wine and delectable food. The retreat (October 25th-27th) starts at $999 per person, which includes daily yoga and meditation, luxury twin share accommodation, all meals freshly prepared on-site, a wine excursion and long lunch. For more information and to secure your tickets, click here.
All Aboard the Vino Express from Sydney to Orange
Ready to escape the city? Having first launched in 2016, Vino Express is a luxury experience across three huge days and two big nights of premium wine and food experiences in Orange. Departing from Sydney’s Central Station across two weekends, 18-20 October and 25-27 October, the fun starts the moment you board the dedicated festival train carriage, with wine tastings hosted by a local wine maker. For more information, click here.
Smirnoff Infusions Arrives at Watsons Bay Boutique Hotel
Set to be this summer’s ultimate light spirit-based drink, Smirnoff Infusions delivers a new low-ABV (20%) drink infused with natural botanicals. To celebrate, they’ve launched a blissful botanical pop up at Watsons Bay Boutique Hotel up until October 27th. Swing by to sip on fresh mixes like Cucumber Lime and Mint and Passionfruit and Lime. We’ll say cheers to that.
Nour’s New Spring Boozy Brunch Menu is Here
Now serving all weekend (both Saturdays and Sundays), Nour has expanded their brunch menu with the addition of their take on the iconic McMuffin, the Al-muhuffin. Yes, it’s as glorious as it sounds. Expect house made spiced lamb merguez sausage topped with a fried egg and batata harra hash brown. Plus, Nour’s bottomless offering now includes Aperol spritz ($39), Espresso Martini ($39) or Persian spritz ($39) to top off their 2 set menu options ($45 or $69 per person). Stop by Saturday’s from 12 pm to 2:30 pm, and Sunday’s from 10 am to 2:30 pm to try it for yourself.
The Golden Sheaf and Bombay Sapphire Launch Canvas Cinema
Craving a dose of culture this spring? Head upstairs at The Golden Sheaf every Thursday night in October to experience four iconic film screenings. In partnership with Bombay Sapphire, the Canvas Cinema will be showing a series of beloved films including the Academy Award-winning Lost in Translation, seminal music flick Almost Famous and the fashion-forward documentary Bill Cunningham: New York. Sip limited edition Bombay Sapphire G&Ts and snack on their special finger food-style menu. Tickets ($10) are available online and include a complimentary G&T on arrival. To book your spot, click here.