From virtual festivals to delicious dining experiences, embrace the change of season with the best things to do in September.
Ah, spring. The time of year when we stash away the winter blankets, throw open the curtains and pull out the sandals. With winter behind us, now is the perfect time to embrace the best things Sydney has to offer. Even in 2020, there’s still plenty of great things to eat, drink and do this month (whether you’re staying home or not). Need some inspiration? Check out our guide below!
BAD Sydney Crime Writers Festival (September 10th to 13th)
BAD Sydney Crime Writers Festival has been giving Sydneysiders their fix of crime fiction and true crime every September for the last few years. To make sure Australian’s get their crime fix, eight leading international writers at the top of their crime game will be taking part in the first virtual BAD Sydney Crime Writers Festival International from 10-13 September, with morning and evening events over four days. Find out more and secure your spot here.
Barangaroo House Reopens With Progressive Dining Experiences
To celebrate Barangaroo House’s reopening, there are two exciting new experiences to take advantage of. First up is Barangaroo Bounce, a progressive drinking and dining experience taking place on Saturdays between BEA and Smoke. Find out more here.
Chiswick “In Bloom” (Various dates)
This September, Chiswick is celebrating the start of spring with ‘Chiswick In Bloom’, featuring two-months of exclusive menus, activities and masterclasses paying homage to the change of seasons. Chiswick Woollahra will come alive with exclusive menus celebrating the beautiful, fresh produce of spring. Find out more here.
Festival of Dangerous Ideas Digital Edition (September 10th & 24th)
While FODI Digital won’t replicate the original 2020 event program, fans can expect to tune into three intimate online conversations this spring, taking place on Thursday, September 10, Thursday, September, 24, and Saturday, October 11. Taking inspiration from the 2020 event theme of ‘dangerous realities’, this trio of virtual events will tackle everything from surveillance to climate change and everything in between. Find out more here.
Glass Islands Returns To Sydney Harbour (September 19th onwards)
Opening to guests on Saturday, September 19th, Glass Island will run in Sydney every weekend throughout spring. The floating bar’s large open plan middle and top decks are perfect for punters to safely visit and take in the stunning views and sea breeze with a cocktail in-hand. Sydneysiders are encouraged to gather their crew and book a private table online aboard Glass Island, with an all-new food and cocktail offering (complete with a contactless ordering system). Find out more here.
Melbourne’s under $35 all-you-can-eat Japanese sensation is coming to Sydney
Dig into all-you-can-eat Japanese at Okami, now opening Marrickville and opening mid-September in Silverwater. With over 20 restaurants in Melbourne, expect over 30 Japanese dishes in its ‘all-you-can-eat’ feast for just $34.80. Plus, the Okami team is planning to expand across Sydney (with hopes to have 10-15 restaurants across the city by the end of 2021). Find out more.
LP’s Quality Meats reopens in Chippendale
Open for dine-in every weekend from 11:30, the venue will be serving an ever-changing menu showcasing the best, freshest cuts and ingredients in the kitchen. The best bit? The reduced trading hours have given the chefs even more culinary freedom with a full 5 days to curated each weekend menu. Find out more here.
Misfits Bar and Dining 3rd Birthday (September 1st to 30th)
Need a reason to celebrate this month? Redfern’s Misfits Bar and Dining celebrates turning three with a month of special offers and live music throughout September. Swing by this neighbourhood favourite for delicious daily specials including oyster shooters, a famous trio mini cocktails ‘the Bee Gees’ for the price of one, triplets of food and even a $100 bar tab to be found around the venue. Find out more here.
FREE Virtual Parklands Food Fest (September 5th)
In 2020, the annual Parklands Food Festival is going digital with a jam-packed day of live-streamed entertainment. Hosted on Facebook Live, this FREE virtual event is headlined by celebrity chef Matt Moran who will be running two workshop sessions at 11am and 1pm on Saturday, September 5th. Find out more here.
Salt Meats Cheese presents Soul Meets Cheers Vegan Series Part 2 (September 8th)
Salt Meats Cheese’s monthly 5-course banquet-style plant-
Soul Saturdays at Bopp & Tone (Various Dates)
Due to popular demand, Bopp & Tone’s monthly Soul Saturdays sessions have been shifted to a fortnightly event with 4 new dates added. The delicious 6-course share menu includes Bopp & Tone favs such as the juicy Riverine bone-in rib eye, the absolutely drool-worthy Roast cracked potatoes and Salt cod fritter.
Plus, enjoy 2 hours of bottomless drinks, accompanied by the exquisite harmonies and cool atmosphere created by live band, PU-SIKI (who kick off from 1pm). Find out more here.
Sydney Underground Film Festival Online (September 10th to 20th)
The first-ever online program of SUFF delivers 10 jam-packed days of experimental, subversive and unhinged cinema, with film lovers able to screen each and every film from the comfort of their couch. The best bit? Tickets start at just $10 per session (with a season pass setting you back just $55). Find out more here.
Tequila On York CBD Pop-Up Bar (September 2nd onwards)
Swinging open its doors today (September 2nd), Tequila On York is the epic new pop-up venue from the team at Tequila Mockingbird. Finding its home at 50 York Street, this CBD spot finds its home in an old printing shop hidden off York Street (complete with exposed sandstone walls, towering archways and timber beams). Find out more here.
Van Gogh Alive: Sydney (September 18th onwards)
Coined as the ‘next generation’ of art, Van Gogh Alive brings a temporary, 3-month exhibition to the heart of Sydney. Weaving powerful imagery through 150 HD projectors and sound equipment, the artworks will be displayed across a tapestry of surfaces. The full experience takes about 90 minutes, carefully curated to its own musical score, layered with diffusers that emit aromas that will ignite your imagination to the fullest. Find out more here.
Young Henrys’ Exclusive Nobel Cut Gins Launch (Available from September 5th)
Prepare your tastebuds: the crew from Young Henrys’ are releasing two new spirit styles, The Noble Cut Barrel Aged Gin and The Noble Cut Newtown Strength Gin. Both are super limited-edition run spirits (just 600 bottles of each) and are available from Monday, September 5th in selected bottle shops, at the Young Henry’s Tasting Bar and via their online store.
Since launching their distillery backing in 2014, the Young Henrys’ team have been ingeniously using hops as part of their distilling process, leading to the birth of the Young Henrys Noble Cut Gin.
This latest release is limited due to both being only single batches, creating an aged gin from a single barrel that’s been aging in the YH’s warehouse for 9 months. Get your hands on these limited edition gins ($100 per bottle) once they launch on September 5th here.
