From staycations and arty affairs, to foodie feasts and mind-blowing musicals, Sydney has plenty to keep you occupied for the rest of the year. Avoid FOMO with our top picks of things to do in Sydney this April.
Things to do in Sydney this Month: Eat & Drink
Special Semana Santa Menu at Alma Avalon
This Easter, celebrate the Mexican way at Alma Avalon. With the special Semana Santa menu, head chef Ricardo Minor will be bringing a taste of Mexico to the shores of the northern beaches. Seafood lovers will be especially taken by the salt-crusted whole bream ($50) and the taco gobernardor with hickory-smoked prawns, pico de gallo and a jack cheese crust ($7). For those of us for whom a good margarita is a downright spiritual experience, the mezcal thyme margarita ($16) simply cannot be missed!
Tuesday 30th March- Sunday 4th April
47 Old Barrenjoey Road, Avalon
Brunch With Soul on Good Friday and Easter Monday at Untied
Take Easter brunch to new heights at Untied, Barangaroo’s rooftop oasis. With a southern-style brunch, two hours of bottomless cocktails and soulful live entertainment, this is the place to be this Easter.
Easter long weekend
$79 - $89 per person
Barangaroo Avenue, Barangaroo
Fratelli Fresh Easter Sunday Roast
There are few things better than a delicious and hearty Sunday roast except maybe a Sunday roast that you don’t have to cook yourself! Fratelli Fresh is pulling our all the stops with a special 12-hour slow-cooked lamb shoulder for Easter Sunday. Available for both lunch and dinner on Sunday, the Easter feast comes with sides of rosemary roast potatoes, honey-roasted vegetables, mint salsa verde, gravy and a house made hazelnut tiramisu. At $39 per person or $79 for a takeaway feast, it’s a downright steal! Pre-booking is a must, make a reservation now.
Sunday 4th April
$39 per person
Various Fratelli Fresh locations
Celebrate Easter at The Gantry
In a tribute to the classic Cadbury crème egg, the team at The Gantry has create their own special take on the classic Easter treat. At $22 this certainly an elevation of the classic egg with a Valrhona dark chocolate shell that cracks to reveal a centre of with silky white chocolate mousse and a passionfruit ‘yolk’ all nestled on a kataifi pastry nest. If you’re in the market for an even bougier Easter treat, The Gantry has upped the ante with a caviar service and toasted brioche from $55 - $120. Easter really is the most delicious time of the year.
April
The Gantry Restaurant, Walsh Bay
Chiswick x Four Pillars Garden Table ‘Garden Table’
Check out one of the best unique dining experiences in Sydney with this exciting collaboration between Chiswick and Four Pillars Gin. Enjoy the last of the warm weather, with a private dining experience for four at the Chiswick garden table. Seating just four guests, this section of the Chiswick’s chef’s kitchen will be transformed into a private dining room. An immersive, sensory experience, start with a garden tour and the settle in to enjoy a four-course vegetarian feast curated by head chef Francois Poulard with paired cocktails for each course. Enjoy an unforgettable meal and then leave with a complimentary bottle of Chiswick garden soda! What more could you possibly want?
One seating over lunch and dinner between Tuesday – Friday in April
$150 per person
65 Ocean Street, Woollahra
ANZAC Day at The Squire’s Landing
Once a year, Australians young and old gather on ANZAC Day to commemorate the sacrifice of Australian soldiers and to play the good old game of two-up. Squire’s Landing at the Overseas Passenger Terminal in The Rocks will be hosting a day of two-up against the backdrop of one of the city’s most sought after views. Open from 10am with live music, brews and delicious feeds, this is a great place to spend your ANZAC day.
Sunday 25th April
Overseas Passenger Terminal, The Rocks
Sip Your Way Through Sydney's Best New Bars
With COVID-19 putting a dampener on our foodie plans in 2020, we are hopeful that we will be reunited with the bar scene in 2021. From intimate wine bars to cosy underground hangouts, we welcome all kind of wondrous new watering holes to Sydney this year. So, whether you’re after cocktail and a bite or wine with a beautiful view, we've found the best new bars in Sydney. These are the drinking spots your 2021 calendar is crying out for.
Shake up Easter with the Saké Dragon Egg
As far as deserts go, the Saké dragon egg is equal parts delicious and dramatic. For $26 you can enjoy this visually stunning treat. A delicate white chocolate shell is splashed with vibrant shades of blue and gold and the hollow shell is filled with five unique components from chocolate and banana cream, yuzu jelly, raspberry caramel and almond crumble. On a bed of chocolate soil, fresh raspberries and honeycomb, the dish is served on a dramatic platter of dry ice and hot caramel is poured over tableside melting a mystical hole in the dragon egg. More great news? Though it’s inspired by Easter the dragon egg is set to be a permanent addition to the menu.
Saké Restaurant & Bar in The Rocks, Manly and Double Bay
Loving our Edit of the Best Things to do in Sydney? You May Also Like...
Things to do in Sydney this Month: Arts & Culture
Blank Canvas Central Coast
Celebrate the local creatives of the Central Coast with Blank Canvas, a month-long showcase and retail pop-up is all about harnessing the creative spirit of the Central Coast and their local makers and artisans. Twelve local creatives will be highlighted during the festival, hosting weekly takeovers at the Blank Canvas spaces at Ettalong Beach and Long Jetty. Showcasing everything from local fashion brands like House of Lacuna, to photography and even leather making. Homewares and ceramics from TRADE the MARK make the perfect souvenir or keepsake. Through this month-long celebration of creativity, you can meet local artisans, hear them talk about their work, buy direct from creators and support small business owners. Whether you’re a local or a visitor, this is the perfect way to give back to makers and creators who had been adversely affected by the bushfires and the COVID-19 pandemic.
Thursday 1st April – Friday 30th April
Retail pop-up store locations:
199A Ocean View Road, Ettalong Beach
Shop 11, 314 – 316 The Entrance Road, Long Jetty
FROTH FEST x Harbord Hotel
Coinciding with the 2021 World Surfing League Rip Curl Narrabeen Classic, Freshwater’s very own Harbord Hotel is hosting FROTH Fest, a 10-day festival celebrating everything that makes surg culture great. The Northern Beaches have become the de facto capital for Sydney’s surfing scene for decades. FROTH FEST will be celebrating the art, films and culture, basically, the entire salty tapestry of the beaches and their famous surfing culture. Events include an intimate lunch with Layne Beachley, a live podcast recording of ‘Ain’t That Swell’, an exhibition from esteemed artist Steve Gorrow, a charity board action and a film screening. Don’t miss out!
Friday 16 April - Monday 26 April
29 Moore Road, Freshwarer
Concrete Jungle: Photography Exhibition
This April, Yasmin Mund, a young travel and documentary photographer, is debuting her new solo show at Tamarama Surf Club. Her most recent project, Concrete Jungle, explores the history of one of Sydney's most controversial buildings and the lives of its residents. Glenview Court is a brutalist concrete block overlooking Tamarama Beach, loathed from the outside but loved from within, through Mund's photographs you can see the love that seeps from this - quote unquote - incredibly ugly building.
Wednesday 14th April – Sunday 18th April
Tamarama Surf Club
La Traviata, Handa Opera on Sydney Harbour
Love is in the air in Sydney as Handa Opera on Sydney Harbour’s spectacular production of La Traviata returns. A giant chandelier will shimmer over the harbour as the talented ensemble of artists tell the beautifully tragic story of courtesan Violetta and romantic Albert Germont. La Traviata is considered one of the most popular operas, globally, and the story inspired the cult classic film, Moulin Rouge.
Friday 26th March– Sunday 25th April
From $99 per person
Mrs Macquaries Point
Monet and Friends – Life, Light and Colour
Following the epic success of Van Gogh Alive, this epic events space in Moore Park is being taken over once again for an epic sensory immersive experience. Monet and Friends – Life, Light and Colour celebrates not just Claude Monet but other great impressionists of his era including Cézanne, Degas, Toulouse-Lautrec and Manet. Throw yourself into the world of these French masters as light, music and fragrance dances around you. We can’t travel overseas this year but, through the magic of this exhibition, you’ll be transported to a world of waterlilies, Parisian dancers and to the backstreets of 19th century Paris!
From now until Saturday 1st May
Royal Hall of Industries, Moore Park
Don't throw away your shot! See Hamilton in Sydney
A seriously loved musical, Hamilton became an instant phenomenon when it debuted on Broadway. With awards from Tonys, Grammys and even a Pulitzer Prize to its name, it's hardly a surprise that Hamilton has opened to sold out crowds in Sydney. Many Star Sydney venues are offering exclusive - and often themed - pre-show menus for theater lovers. Check out BLACK Bar & Grill, Flying Fish, Cucina Porto and Sokyo and make sure you order the signature cocktails each named after a specific founding father.
March - November
Sydney Lyric Theatre
ESTEBANd
From the team behind Paddington’s Tequila Mockingbird, ESTEBAN is a renowned Mexican restaurant as well as the bar with the most tequila and mezcal in all the land (literally). You’ll find this laneway bar in the heart of Sydney’s CBD but with the traditional cuisine, street art and mezcal you’d be forgiven for thinking you’d found yourself in Mexico. Owing to a collaboration between the venue and the Rediscover Sydney campaign, ESTEBAN is launching a new live music night called – wait for it – ESTEBANd. Every Thursday night, for the next three months the laneway will host traditional Latin music nights with performers from local samba, tango and rumba groups. If we ever needed a reason to go out in the CBD, the chance to enjoy authentic Latin music and delicious Mexican meals would surely be it!
1 Temperance Lane, Sydney
Sounds in the Square
Sydney's hottest new food and culture precinct, Darling Square is celebrating with 16 free events over 6 weeks. One event we're particularly excited about is Pianos For The People.Beautifully restored pianos will be dotted around the square for both the pubic and professional pianist to play. They are also celebrating the return of dance in Sydney with Sydney Square Dance, a series of interactive classes and performances andSquare Dance Cinemawith dance related movies playing on the big screen.
Darling Square
Bush Country Voices
In March 2020, a group of artists moved into Western Sydney Parklands. During their residency program, they were challenged to creatively respond to the landscape around them. Bush Country Voices is the result. Filmed in the Cumberland Plain of Western Sydney Parklands, Bush country voices is a multi-screen video projection that explores the melding of Darug and Gundungarra Country. In conjunction with the exhibition, Western Sydney Parklands is offering a program of nature-themed school holiday activities for both little one’s and grown-ups alike.
Tuesday 6th April - Sunday 9th May
Casula Powerhouse Arts Centre
Things to do in Sydney this Month: Explore
Weekend Trip: Newcastle
From the city to the coast to the glorious countryside, the Newcastle region is a place of beauty and intrigue, spanning everything from Merewether’s surf-ready beaches to the stylish streets of the CBD, and everything in between. With the Pacific on one side and the Hunter River on the other, you’ll find crashing surf swells, rolling hillsides and rustic cellar doors, but head into the city, and you’ll stumble on stylish eateries, hip bars, quirky boutiques and a diverse arts scene that comes dripping in culture. Novocastrians have got it all with their pick of stunning beaches, historical architecture and a dreamy, sun-drenched climate. And just a short two-hour drive from Sydney, up the M1 or along the Pacific Highway, it’s no wonder Sydneysiders are leaving the city for a taste of Newcastle’s quirky, laid-back lifestyle. This is a place that demands some attention, and click here to discover it for yourself.
Visit Marrakesh Via The Grounds of Alexandra
The Ground's newest pop-up involves a quick trip to Marrakesh; think colourful glass lanterns, flowing curtains and patterned rugs. Known for going all out on their themes, this new Morrocan pop-up is no exception. The new installation also extends to their food offering with falafel, pitas and fire-roasted lamb skewers all on the menu. Delish!
Until Sunday 18th April
Sydney Royal Easter Show
What's Easter without the Easter Show? With petting zoos, rides, show-bags and delicious food there's so much to love about this Sydney tradition. Don't miss out!
Thursday 1st April - Monday 12th April
From $32
Sydney Olympic Park
Eden Garden Sustainability Weekend
Calling all eco-warriors and plant lovers, this April event is perfect for you! Head to Eden Garden to explore all things sustainable. Their Green Film Festival will show a range of inspiring movies in their outdoor amphitheatre - think Wall-E, 2040and Fern Gully- and there will also be a range of workshops and activities on offer for kids and adults alike. Plus, there's always the opportunity to pick up a new plant, trust us, you definitely have room for one more!
Friday 9th April - Sunday 11th April
Cnr Lane Cove Road & Fontenoy Road, Macquarie Park
Things to do in Sydney this Month: Shop
CAMILLA AND MARC “Ovaries. Talk About Them”
Twenty-seven years ago, Camilla Freeman and Marc Freeman lost their mother to ovarian cancer. In tribute to their mother, the pair behind CAMILLA AND MARC launched “Ovaries. Talk About Them” to raise awareness and to directly fund research to help create an early detection test for ovarian cancer. Debuting a line of limited-edition t-shirts and hoodies available in store and online, CAMILLA AND MARC will donating 100% of the profits from this limited-edition clothing line to Professor Caroline Ford and the UNSW Ovarian Cancer Research Group to help fund their incredibly important work.
Various locations and online
Buy shoes, plant a tree!
B-Store, Australia's largest retailer of Brikenstocks and other stylish and comfortable shoes, have launched their 1-for-1 tree project initiative. Through this program they have pledged to plant a tree for every pair of shoes sold as part of a major reforestation project. Shopping you can truly feel good about? Sign us up!
Various Locations
Check out the new offerings from Australian Distilling Co.
Known for their craft gin, Australian Distilling Co. are expanding their horizons and launching a range of vodkas. Through their existing offering of 13 Gin flavours - including one for every capital city as well as Bondi, Freemantle, Geelong and Gold Coast gin - Australian Distilling Co. has learnt how to delicately balance flavours. Their new vodka range includes a flagship Australian vodka made using the purest grain in the land and their Adelaide vodka which is triple distilled with premium grapes and spring water from the Adelaide Hills. It's like you're taking a trip with every sip!
Grab some of the brand new boozy bottled soda from Ampersand
As the craze over hard-seltzers and sodas sweeps the globe, Ampersand (&), an alcohol brand born in Sydney's Eastern Suburbs, has been receiving some well deserved hype. Low-cal, zero-sugar and gluten-free this really is the guilt-free ready-to-drink option! Previously served in cans, their pre-mixed drinks Vodka Soda &, Gin Soda & and Pink Gin Soda & will now be sold in lightweight aluminum bottles. With extra-wide openings to add garnishing, resealable lids and 100% recyclable, these new bottles have taken a good drink and made it even better!
Available at independent bottle shops
Looking for more fun things to do in Sydney? We have plenty to keep you entertained. From Sydney's best new restaurants and bars, to cosy pubs, cafés and late-night cocktail haunts, here's all you need for a weekend in the city.
