Jamie Foxx enlisted NFL star Tom Brady to give Cameron Diaz some advice on how to “un-retire.”

Eight years ago, Cameron Diaz – best known for Charlie’s Angels, There’s Something About Mary and Vanilla Sky – retired from acting. The four-time Golden Globe nominee last appeared in the 2014 film Annie and then confirmed in 2018, at an event hosted by Gwyneth Paltrow, that she had indeed given up acting.

However, Diaz has come out of retirement and will soon be gracing our screens again. Jamie Foxx, the Oscar-winning actor, took to Twitter to announce that his next film Back In Action will also star Diaz.

He also shared an audio recording (which you can listen to below) of a phone call between himself and Diaz… And Tom Brady – the greatest quarterback of all time. At the beginning of the call, Diaz admits she’s “anxious” so Foxx then says he’s got someone else on the other line who can help her.

Brady then jumps on the call and says,

“I was talking to Jamie and he said you need a few tips on how to un-retire. I’m relatively successful at un-retiring.”

Tom Brady

Of course, Brady is referencing how earlier this year he announced he was retiring from NFL and then just six weeks later, changed his mind…

Foxx then says he’s going to jump off the call and let Brady share his ‘un-retiring tips’ with Diaz – which is where the audio cuts out; so we sadly have no idea what advice Brady actually gave to Diaz.

As for Back In Action, Foxx confirmed the film will start production later this year and is a Netflix Original. Seth Gordon, who’s previously directed Horrible Bosses (a 2011 film Foxx starred in), is set to direct Back In Action, which according to IMDb will be an action-comedy.

Personally, we can’t wait for Back In Action since it’ll star both Foxx and Diaz; and hey, hopefully, Brady will make a cameo appearance in the film. It’s not too much of a stretch considering he helped Diaz to un-retire and that he’s clearly interested in the film industry – Brady owns a production company and is set to star in the upcoming film Eighty For Brady.

• Tom Brady’s Idea Of A ‘Cardio Workout’ Is An Absolute Joke
• Jamie Foxx Rocks The World’s Most Lavish Cartier Watch

The post Cameron Diaz Coming Out Of Retirement May Be Thanks To Tom Brady appeared first on DMARGE Australia.

An Emirates A380 landed in Brisbane, Australia, on Saturday, with a big fat hole in its wing root fairing. It remains unclear what portion of the journey the hole was there for. A video now circulating on Twitter is giving people a fairly close look at the hole. Check it out below.

An Emirates A380 landed in Brisbane over the weekend with a gaping hole in its wing route fairing (a fairing is a structure whose primary function is to produce a smooth outline and reduce drag). There was reportedly a loud bang about 30-45 minutes into the flight. The flight left from Dubai, and Brisbane was always its intended destination.

The A380 kept flying after the alleged bang. Upon arrival to Brisbane, the crew told air traffic control (ATC) they suspected they had a blown tire and asked for emergency services to be on standby. The A380 then landed in Brisbane at 11:44pm. The flight took 13.5 hours. Some reports say the hole may have been caused by a detatched bolt in the nose gear (though this has not been confirmed).

Emirates Airbus A380-800, registration A6-EVK performing flight EK-430 from #Dubai to #Brisbane #michelin Tyre’s doing their best here pic.twitter.com/AYvdqy94ZO

— Aviation2500 (@aviation_2500) July 3, 2022

Emirates has released the following statement in response to the incident: “Our flight EK430 flying from Dubai to Brisbane on 1 July experienced a technical fault. One of the aircraft’s 22 tyres ruptured during cruise, causing damage to a small portion of the aerodynamic fairing, which is an outer panel or the skin of the aircraft.”

“At no point did it have any impact on the fuselage, frame or structure of the aircraft. The aircraft landed safely in Brisbane and all passengers disembarked as scheduled. The fairing has been completely replaced, checked and cleared by engineers, Airbus and all relevant authorities. The safety of our passengers and crew has always been our top priority.”

Emirates

Emirates Airbus A380 (A6-EVK) departed rwy 30L at Dubai (OMDB), VAE on flight #EK430 to Brisbane, Qld, Australia where it landed safely. After landing, a large hole was seen in the left fuselage, allegedly coming from a detached bolt in the nosegear.https://t.co/o1EqBuJ0bA pic.twitter.com/s4p6tIpXDw

— JACDEC (@JacdecNew) July 2, 2022

As for the aircraft in question, Simple Flying reports that the jet was just over three years old, and had been “spotted in Melbourne, Washington DC, Toronto, Los Angeles, and San Francisco in recent weeks.”

Twitter user Pontius Pilate has posted a video giving their followers a closer look at the hole. The video was cheekily captioned: “Anyone know the drag fuel factor penalty for this one?”

Anyone know the drag fuel factor penalty for this one? #emirates #a380 pic.twitter.com/uPzsH9KVAk

— Pontius Pilate (@pontius_is_goat) July 2, 2022

There you have it. A closer look at the hole – and yet another reason to grip your armrest and grimace the next time you take off…

• A380 Completes ‘Never Seen Before’ Manoeuvre At Heathrow Airport
• Why The Airbus A380 Was A Commercial Failure

The post A Closer Look At The Big F***ing Hole In That Emirates A380 appeared first on DMARGE Australia.

Josh Giddey is quickly shaping up to be one of Australia’s top basketball talents – and he’s also got pretty tops taste in cars, as his stunning new BMW demonstrates…

The 19-year-old Melbourne native is currently living every teenager’s dream. Last year, the talented basketball player signed a contract with the NBA’s Oklahoma City Thunder until 2023, with his salary for the 2021-22 season a tidy US$5.9 million (small potatoes by NBA standards, but big money for a young man).

He’s been putting that money to good use, too, buying plenty of designer clothes, a few nice watches and a few nice cars, including a Chevrolet Corvette C8. His latest automotive investment is particularly impressive, though: a BMW M8 Competition Coupe.

Giddey loves driving the ‘everyday supercar’ to and from practice – and it’s not hard to see why.

Big and long (4.85m long and 1.9m wide to be exact), the M8 Competition is the most powerful ‘M car’ ever made, and is in many ways a spiritual successor to the E31 8 Series of the 90s.

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Powered by a meaty 4.4L twin-turbo V8, this Batman-esque grand tourer makes 460kW/750Nm and rockets from 0-100km/h in 3.2 seconds and 0-200km/h in 10.6 seconds.

It has a limited top speed of 250 km/h, but that can be raised to 305 km/h with the optional M Driver’s package which also adds high-speed-rated tyres to the car. The M Driver’s package comes as standard on Aussie-delivered M8 Competitions, by the way.

While you can get the M8 Competition in four-door ‘Gran Coupé’ guise (as an aside, what is it with German car brands calling sedans coupes these days?), Giddey has opted for the more pure two-door variant. Considering his 6ft 8in (2.03m) height, he probably needs those big coupé doors anyway…

We’re also slightly tickled by the fact that this young Aussie has bought the most Aussie BMW ever made. Get it? M8? Mate?

• BMW M3 Touring Finally Unveiled, And It’s Coming To Australia
• BMW’s New Race Car Might Be The Prettiest Thing They’ve Ever Made

The post Josh Giddey’s New BMW Is The Fastest ‘M Car’ Ever appeared first on DMARGE Australia.

Other than perhaps an Aperol Spritz, chilled glass of white wine or a mojito, few other drinks are as refreshing as a gin and tonic. A drink that is easy to savour and easier to enjoy, gin is a spirit that can introduce a multitude of flavour profiles. And, staying close to home, we wanted to uncover Australian gin brands you need to know.

With its history being traced back to 13th-century Netherlands (although some reports claim it was invented in Italy) and a surge in popularity in England being responsible for its global appeal today, gin now comes in a huge number of varieties deriving from distilleries all around the world.

That includes Australia. Just as our nation has pretty much carved out a unique craft beer scene of its own, we’ve seen plenty of distilleries dishing out their own interpretation of what a good gin should taste like, many of which have been the recipient of awards.

As ever, there is always place to recommend the very best bottles to buy right now, which is exactly what we’ve done with this list of best Australian gin brands.

Whilst there are a few classic gins in this list, we noticed a strong shift away from tradition, and a firm embrace of raw flavours and ingredients endemic to Australia.

But first: a lesson in alcohol.

How Is Gin Produced?

Delve a little beyond the Bridget Jones reputation that gin has, and you’ll find that it’s actually a spirit of incredible finesse, balance and complexity. Starting life as a relatively neutral-tasting alcoholic spirit, all gins are then flavoured primarily with juniper berries as a rule, before being distilled multiple times with barks, roots, spices, and a range of other ingredients that impart a unique blend of tangy, spicy flavours to the drink.

With so much freedom afforded to those who make it, it’s little surprise that so many styles of gin have arisen across the world (for example, an ‘Old Tom’ gin like Hernö has a distinctly different flavour compared to a ‘London Dry’ like Bombay Sapphire), and it’s this freedom that has helped gin become probably the most diverse and popular craft spirit in Australia today. Seriously, go and look at how many great Aussie gins there are out there. It’s quite astounding. Here are just a few!

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The post 10 Best Australian Gin Brands To Try In 2022 appeared first on DMARGE Australia.

Former NRL player Rogan Dean may have lost part of his leg, but he’s committed as ever to working out and keeping his body strong.

Keeping fit isn’t always easy. For that reason, we sympathise with those who do give it a red hot crack but often fail to see results. It can be all too easy to throw in the gym towel and call it quits – although when you see the amount of muscle you could lose due to inactivity that might convince you to keep at it – but ultimately, the harsh truth is there are usually very few genuine excuses to not give the gym a second chance.

That latter point is hammered home by former Australian NRL player Rogan Dean and a video he recently posted to his Instagram. The video shows Rogan lifting and shifting serious amounts of weight and putting his body through a gruelling workout, despite having one prosthetic limb.

The 29-year-old former winger for the Ipswich Jets, based in Queensland, lost his left foot after being involved in a motorbike accident towards the end of 2020. According to NRL.com, Dean then elected to “undergo a mid-shin amputation to give him access to a wider range of prosthetics and a better quality of life.”

And, judging by the video in question, we’d say he’s certainly got the quality of life he pursued, which even includes running the New York City Marathon. “I still want to be able to fulfil my competitive side whether it be sprinting or having a look at the Paralympics.”

“I want to do everything I did before the accident and more, so I have got a few mates [including former teammate Ben Shea] I’ve teed up to run the New York City Marathon again,” he told NRL.com

In Rogan’s recent Instagram video, he can be seen performing a snatch – an Olympic weightlifting move – with ease, showing that his prosthetic limb doesn’t hinder him one bit. He follows this up with burpees, alternating his position by jumping over the bar. Burpees are widely regarded as an incredible bodyweight exercise, but one that virtually the entire gym community hates with a passion.

He also performs some ab crunches using a hyperextension machine and extends his back all the way down until his head is virtually touching the floor. What this exercise and the weightlifting exercises prove, is that not only does Rogan’s prosthetic limb not hold him back from exercising, but also just how much force they’re able to withstand.

We’ve previously discussed how your very own mind can be a huge obstacle in your quest for gains, but German man Andre Patris silenced those thoughts by overcoming being overweight and having heart surgery, to become ripped as hell.

Irish MMA fighter Conor McGregor, also, has shown how he didn’t let a broken ankle affect his commitment to fitness. Put simply, if you find an exercise ‘too hard’, quit your whining and persevere. If you have to drop the weight in order to make the reps, that’s perfectly fine. Besides, we’ve also discussed how lifting lighter weights can actually be more beneficial for you.

See, no excuses.

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• David Goggins Shares The Secret To Being Always Motivated

The post Former Australian NRL Player Puts Your Workout Skipping Excuses To Shame appeared first on DMARGE Australia.

A personal trainer has taken to Instagram to explain why exercising for long periods of time to ‘earn’ AKA burn off all the calories ‘bad’ foods have is unhealthy and unrealistic.

Social media can sometimes be beneficial to health and fitness; however, it’s mostly a hindrance.

For example, many social media accounts and posts promote unsafe detoxes, diets and workouts. Plus, it’s been proven that constantly seeing ridiculously fit people (most of whom are actually photoshopped or heavily edited digitally) on social media can cause people to develop body image issues and eating disorders.

Social media is also filled with tons of misinformation.

Thankfully, some are using social media for good. For instance, one health writer recently pointed out that while it’s true that 100 calories of broccoli has more protein than 100 calories of beef, it’s unfeasible to eat 100 calories of broccoli in one sitting.

Another example is Anthony Coffey, a personal trainer and owner of Bloom Training, who has taken to Instagram to highlight why you can’t and shouldn’t strive to ‘earn’ the calories you eat with exercise.

In his post, Anthony calls out a popular TikTok video that claims you’d have to walk for “1 hour and 19 minutes” to “burn off” a large serving of Mcdonald’s fries. He says this TikTok’s misinformation is likely to cause eating disorders and “that is not how your metabolism actually works.”

Anthony then goes on to explain how it does work as well as why deliberately exercising for long periods of time to burn off ‘bad’ food, firstly, is not good for you and secondly, doesn’t really work.

“If you’re aware of something called your TDEE [total daily energy expenditure], you know that you only burn about 5 to 15 of your daily calories from exercise. The rest is coming from places like digestion, non-exercise movement and your basal metabolic rate.”

Anthony Coffey

“So thinking that you have to ‘earn’ the calories you eat through exercise is just a non-educated way of thinking and you are much better off looking at the whole picture, like sleeping well, getting your daily step count in and not sitting all day. All [these] things have a much larger impact on your metabolic rate.”

Bravo to Anthony for shedding light on the common misconception that you can exercise away all the calories you get from food and for using his social media platform in a positive way.

• Training To Failure: What It Really Does To Your Body
• How To Stay Lean While Eating A Tonne Of Food

The post You Shouldn’t Try To ‘Burn Off’ Food With Exercise, According To Personal Trainer appeared first on DMARGE Australia.

If you thought the 2010’s ugly sneaker trend had died, think again. It’s actually alive and well; evolving into new, even more questionable forms and reaching ever more ridiculous heights, as Converse’s latest sneaker demonstrates.

Meet the Converse Sponge Crater: an unexpectedly avant-garde, high-tech foam sneaker from a brand that’s most famous for producing classic, low-tech canvas basketball shoes, namely the iconic Converse Chuck Taylor All-Star.

The mule-cut sneaker, which was launched last week, is formed with a sculpted foam body with a knitted sock-like upper. it has no traditional outsole: the foam midsole is formed into pods on the sole of the shoe for traction.

Specifically, the foam is Nike Crater Foam (Nike owns Converse), a material that’s previously been used for sneakers like the Nike Space Hippie. It contains Nike Grid, a recycled scrap product made up of rubber, fibre, leather and textiles, which gives it a gnarly look and texture.

It’s kind of similar to the Yeezy Foam RNRR in appearance – and that’s not by mistake. It seems the current ‘big thing’ in sneaker design is foam or rubber clog designs, with brands as diverse as Adidas, Bottega Veneta, Louis Vuitton and New Balance all getting in on the action. Converse is just the latest trend follower – and that’s the issue.

Regardless of the way you feel about these sorts of clog-like sneakers, the issue is that this doesn’t look like a Converse. It looks like a Nike, uses Nike technology, and probably should be branded as a Nike.

We’re not so sure about the whole cage design. Making the structure, midsole and outsole out of the same material might look distinctive but what are the implications for durability? How long will this foam and knit sneaker last? Of course, this is a problem with all clog-like sneakers, but the Converse Sponge Crater seems particularly volatile.

RELATED: Adidas & Allbirds Sneaker Collaboration Reveals Ugly Truth About Sustainable Fashion

Converse is almost a victim of its own success. While the brand has previously experimented with more modern designs (e.g. in the 80s, the Converse Weapon was the must-wear sneaker in the NBA, with Larry Bird and Magic Johnson both rocking them), the enduring success of Chucks means that’s really all the brand’s known for – and its success has stymied their technical growth, both internally and in the eyes of consumers.

It’s a conundrum: futuristic clog sneakers like the Sponge Crater don’t really make sense for a brand like Converse; they’re not identifiable as Converses… But if Converse doesn’t experiment, they’ll just stay in their pigeonhole and make nothing but Chucks. It’s a catch-22.

We might not be fans of the Sponge Craters but we’re not enemies of progress. Converse has also produced more modern-looking sneakers in collaboration with rapper and tastemater Tyler, the Creator – like the Gianno and the recently-released GLF 2.0.

The inclusion of Nike tech in their sneakers is also not in itself a bad idea. Ever tried on a pair of Chucks with a Nike Lunarlon insole? It’s like walking on air.

But you’d have to pay us to be caught out in public with these Sponge Craters.

• Nike Shames Its Own Customers For Common Sneaker Habit
• America’s #1 ‘Dad Shoe’ Brand Develops Surprisingly Futuristic Sneakers

The post Converse Jumps On Board 2022’s Ugliest Sneaker Trend appeared first on DMARGE Australia.

The Kia EV6 has quickly become one of Australia’s most in-demand cars – but Kia has become a victim of its own success, with some buyers now ‘flipping’ their cars for a huge profit and making it harder for real customers to get behind the wheel.

Pricing for the lithe electric vehicle officially starts at $67,990 but would-be entrepreneurs are capitalising on the insane demand for the car (and new EVs in general) by flipping EV6s for insane premiums over their MSRP.

DMARGE browsed Carsales for EV6 listings and found that the cheapest listing as of publishing – a Moonscape Grey GT-Line RWD single-motor model in Sydney with just under 2,500kms on the clock – was asking $99,900. That’s about a 33% premium over MSRP. Multiple listings can be found for the same price on Gumtree, too.

Other listings were climbing into the six figures, especially for top-spec GT-Line AWD dual-motor vehicles. It’s a frustrating problem for the South Korean car manufacturer, as well as real customers, who are finding themselves missing out in the queue or price-gouged by flippers.

“The major problem that we’re facing at the moment is the flipping… That seems to be a far bigger issue in the market than dealer delivery,” Kia Australia CEO Damien Meredith told The Driven.

“We’ve heard stories of people buying a car – on the East Coast, the Sydney Metro – and they’re turning up in Western Australia, with a premium of $8,000 to $10,000 on them.”

Damien Meredith

Our research suggests that profiteering is even worse than that.

This is the same sort of aggressive speculative buying that you typically see with luxury goods, like Rolex watches. Popular stainless steel Rolexes like the Daytona, Submariner ‘No Date’ or GMT-Master ‘Pepsi’ are so in-demand that waiting lists at dealers are literally years-long… And prices on the aftermarket are sometimes 150% or even 200% over retail.

RELATED: Why Rolex Watches Are So Hard To Get

Speculation on Rolex watches has only got worse over COVID and the ensuing global economic slump. Makes sense: people are just trying to make a quick buck and these sorts of things always get worse when the economy is in a bad place.

But (as hard as it is for me personally to admit) you can live without a Rolex. Aussies can’t live without a car – and while the EV6 is by no means the only new car on the market, Australia desperately needs to transition to electric motoring to help combat rising emissions levels, so people playing silly buggers with new EVs like this is hugely detrimental.

Fingers crossed that as COVID-induced supply chain issues finally work themselves out – and that both state and federal governments in Australia make buying EVs easier, therefore making it easier for brands to justify bringing more EVs Down Under – we’ll see less flipping happen.

• Best Electric Cars Australia In 2022
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The post Kia Facing ‘Rolex Aftermarket’ Problem With EV6 In Australia appeared first on DMARGE Australia.

Sydney restaurants – Something many residents of Sydney experience is getting bored with the best restaurants they frequently visit. But it can be equally frustrating trying to find a new restaurant to enjoy a delicious meal. 

This is because it’s always a risk going to a restaurant you’ve never been to before; the atmosphere could be off, the service might be really poor, and the food could taste awful but be expensive.

These risks are also faced by people just visiting Sydney; people who simply want a decent dinner from one of the city’s fanciest, or coolest restaurants, but one that’s not an overhyped tourist attraction.

Never fear, we’ve taken those risks for you. So, if you’re looking for a restaurant in Sydney to visit on your next night out on the town, these are the ones you need to go to.

This guide to the best restaurants in Sydney caters to all budgets, cuisines, and atmospheres; so, whether you want a pleasurable dinner with friends, or really want to impress a date, you’ll find a place perfectly suited to your dining needs below. And it goes without saying, but all of these restaurants have the best food.

How do we know? We’ve eaten at every single one.

Totti’s

The best Italian restaurant in Bondi… and Sydney

283 Bondi Rd, Bondi – $$

While some may think the only top-notch place to eat in Bondi is Icebergs (and don’t get us wrong, it is a great place to go) Totti’s is somewhat of a hidden gem that is slowly getting the hype it deserves. With a sandstone courtyard filled with olive trees and flowering bougainvilleas, you’ll feel like you’ve actually flown to Italy for the night; plus, the Italian eatery has one of the most competent wood-fire chefs in the country. 

With delicious antipasti, pasta, steak, schnitzel, and more on offer, we highly recommend getting a few dishes and sharing them, so everyone can taste the various mouth-watering Italian dishes Totti’s have to offer.

“The food was exceptional as was the personal service! Having been in the Industry for many years the team here have all bases covered!”

Lushas_Long (TripAdvisor)

Firedoor

The best ‘cooked over charcoal’ restaurant

23-33 Mary St, Surry Hills – $$$$

With a name like Firedoor, it’s no surprise that chefs at this restaurant work exclusively with fire in all its forms. The kitchen uses no gas or electricity, instead, opting to use two wood-fired ovens, three grills, and a wood-burning hearth. Plus, the kitchen is open to allow guests a clear view of the action that unfolds in the fiery kitchen.

Using seasonal Australian ingredients, Firedoor’s menu is ever-changing but always delicious. An amazing Sydney dining experience.

“By far the best fine dining experience I have had in Australia! The food and cocktails were amazing!”

cell101010 (TripAdvisor)

Fred’s

380 Oxford St, Paddington – $$$$

Warm and welcoming, Fred’s in Sydney offers farm-to-table cooking, so naturally, the decor has been set up to make you feel like you’ve stepped into a friend’s rustic country home. All of Fred’s meat and seafood sources have been sustainably farmed and fished, the pasta is made from organic local wheat and semolina flours, and the Crème Fraiche is house-made using organic local cream.

If you’re after a dinner that’ll make you feel cosy and appreciate life’s simple luxuries, Fred’s is the restaurant for you.

“If you only had one meal left this is the place where you would go. Dear as poison, but worth every cent.”

David C

Bennelong

Bennelong Point, Sydney Opera House, Sydney – $$$$

Wanting to celebrate the iconic Sydney Opera House and its extraordinary architecture? Then Bennelong should be on your list. It allows Australian produce and wine to take centre stage, with a three-course à la carte menu offered across all three dining levels of the restaurant.

A rarity for a fine dining venue, the cooking is not overly technical and tricky – it’s robust and direct – allowing the pure flavours of the ingredients to sing; meaning the food is always impeccably delicious. Considering it’s situated inside the Sydney Opera House, Bennelong is an absolute must-visit for tourists.

“What an experience- the moment you walk up to the steps of the Opera House and enter this seamless restaurant under the iconic sails you are greeted with warmth and professionalism”

PhotoHutt (TripAdvisor)

Restaurant Hubert

The best French restaurant in Sydney

15 Bligh St, Sydney – $$$

Restaurant Hubert in Sydney is “a restaurant for people who love restaurants”. The menu reflects a passion for Paris with exquisite French cuisine. The decor present throughout the venue – which includes three bars, a large central dining room, a pair of intimate private dining rooms, and the Theatre Royale (an art-house cinema) – give Hubert an unmistakable French bistro vibe; one that is extremely pleasurable.

It can be tricky to get a booking at Restaurant Hubert, but if you do manage to snag one, you’ll dine at what is often regarded as one of the most exclusive restaurants in Sydney.

“After a long wait to get in (booked months in advance) it was so worth it. The food was on point, but its the overall vibe and attention to detail that really sets this french with spice restaurant apart.”

mytravelromance (TripAdvisor)

Nomad

The best Australian cuisine in Sydney

16 Foster St, Surry Hills – $$$

Nomad offers fine dining in one of the best restaurant venues we’ve come across in Sydney. Effortlessly cool and fresh-looking, the venue is one you’ll want to spend considerable time in. The food on offer is inspired by the team’s travels through Spain, Morocco, and the Middle East, and is cooked with fire and smoke. Plus, the wine list has been curated to highlight the very best of Australian wine, all of which pair beautifully with Nomad’s delicious dishes.

“Unmissable experience! excellent food perfectly prepared and impeccably presented. nice cozy atmosphere and great service.”

Y2299WUrobertot (TripAdvisor)

Mr Wong

The best Chinese food

3 Bridge Ln, Sydney – $$$

Despite being spread over two levels, Mr Wong feels intimate with many nooks for two to share a table, with dim lighting and moody jazz being spread all around. With an extensive menu and over 80 Cantonese-style dishes, you’ll be spoilt for choice when you visit Mr Wong. A favourite crowd-pleaser at one of the best Chinese restaurants in Sydney is the barbecue duck, which is simply mouth-watering.

“Mr Wong never fails to deliver brilliant food, wine, cocktails, and the staff are always professional and efficient. A true gem.”

soniapG9500DO (TripAdvisor)

Mercado

4 Ash St, Sydney – $$$

If you’re after a casual yet elegant dining experience in Sydney you have to try Mercado. This is because Mercado offers a share-style menu inspired by the Mediterranean, with Spanish cuisine being a particular focus.

If you’re a meat lover, you’ll be impressed with Mercado’s use of traditional kitchen techniques: whole animal butchery, inhouse meat curing, and dry-aging of premium cuts of beef. These techniques really enhance the flavour of Mercado’s already fine food.

“The service was efficient and friendly, with our server offering us food and wine recommendations that we enjoyed. We would go back again.”

juliethatcher (TripAdvisor)

Bistecca

The best Florentine steak in Sydney

3 Dalley St, Sydney – $$$

Dedicated to (and even named after) Tuscany’s revered cut of steak, bistecca alla Fiorentina, Bistecca is the best restaurant in Sydney for, you guessed it, Florentine steak. The steak, after which the restaurant is named, is cut and weighed, then presented to diners before being cooked fireside over charcoal to a perfect medium-rare.

This paired with the ambience of Bistecca, which is unashamedly Italian, makes for one of the coolest dining experiences you’ll find in the city.

“Bistecca is the dinner experience of a lifetime – we had so much fun as a group. Watching the steak being cut in front of you to selecting the sides and having them confiscate your phone is all part of the experience.”

carlym757 (TripAdvisor)

The Apollo

The best Greek restaurant

44 MacLeay St, Potts Point – $$

The Apollo is one of Sydney’s best Greek restaurants. It’s no wonder, this beloved contemporary Greek taverna serves memorable food for modern tastes, and you go to experience the elegant, spirited atmosphere and stay for the top-notch Mediterranean food.

Oh, and the classic Greek wine list. Inspired by the pleasures of eating together, The Apollo’s dishes are designed for sharing so everyone can enjoy the various scrumptious meals.

“Well, this place is definitely a MUST experience. Nice atmosphere and decoration. Friendly and knowledgeable staff that really know what they are doing. The chic-casual style combined with excellent food brings s brilliant match.”

wherethaylostherboot (TripAdvisor)

Saint Peter

362 Oxford St, Paddington, 2021 – $$$$

Following a makeover during its shutdown during the Covid period, fish restaurant Saint Peter is back with a whole new look and a whole new way to dine. The restaurant now seats fewer people, at 22, but those diners now get a more intimate dining experience thanks to a huge new open cooking area, allowing them to see the chefs in action up close.

What remains the same, however, is Saint Peter’s commitment to cooking sustainably-sourced fish, so much so, it even lists where the fish was caught and who it was caught by. It’s not the most affordable restaurant on this list, we’ll admit, but if you love seafood, and seafood cooked exceptionally well at that, Saint Peter is easily one of the best restaurants in Sydney to oblige. Just note, there can be a long waitlist for a table, so get your booking in early!

“Saint Peter had truly delivered on my expecttations, which takes you on a journey of discovering under the sea. Head Chef Josh, has truly revolutionised the concept of seafood cuisine, taking all parts to create delicious food with no wastage.”

ciaramay_food_travel (TripAdvisor)

Arthur

544 Bourke St, Surry Hills, 2010 – $$-$$$

If you don’t like making a choice when you go to a new restaurant, then you’ll probably like Arthur in Surry Hills. Working on a set-menu-only model, Arthur delivers dishes to your table that reflect the best the current season has to offer. Not only does this mean the freshest ingredients, but also a menu that changes regularly, meaning there’s plenty of reason for you to make this a must-visit restaurant in Sydney several times a year.

Don’t be intimidated into thinking this is a high-end dining experience either, as Arthur’s atmosphere is decidedly casual. We’d still recommend you wear a button-down and a good pair of jeans, of course, but you don’t need to throw on your fanciest suit.

“Had a lovely Sunday lunch, beautiful little restaurant, it was so nice to be in relaxing, quite place. Beautiful food, great friendly service. Excellent wine, all Australian which I absolutely love.”

Hadleethecat (TripAdvisor)

Margaret

30-36 Bay St, Double Bay, 2028 – $$$$

Only opened in 2021 by notorious Sydney chef Neil Perry (former Rockpool chef Richard Purdue assumes the head chef role), Maragaret has quickly become one of Sydney’s best restaurants for those who love both seafood and meat. The best dishes to come out of the kitchen are cooked on a wood fire grill, and include everything from swordfish to flathead and beef fillet to Wagyu Scotch fillet.

All produce, including the spirits for the cocktails, are sourced as locally as possible, making Margaret one of the finest showcases of modern Australian cuisine.

Franca Brasserie

Shop 2/81 MacLeay St, Potts Point, 2011 – $$-$$$

Occuyping the space where Fratelli Fresh once stood, Franca Brasserie offer Sydneysiders the chance to experience some of the finest French and Mediterranean cuisine in the city. With pasta dishes, seafood and meat-based dishes all adorning the menu, there’s certainly something for everyone.

The restaurant itself is an incredibly open space, and you’ll be seated in velvet chairs whilst tucking in to your meal. Franca Brasserie ultimately offers diners a welcome atmosphere with a laidback vibe, making is a must-visit Sydney restaurant.

“The food was delicious. Great cocktail and wine list. The atmosphere in the restaurant was vibrant. Highly recommended for your special occasion.”

HellyHK (TripAdvisor)

The Butler

123 Victoria St, Potts Point, 2011 – $$-$$$

Moving away from the fancy, high-end décor and into more tropical surroundings this time with The Butler. Numerous plants adorn the outside terrace, which also gives diners some incredible views of the Sydney skyline. But, onto the food, which takes inspiration from Ibero-America cuisine. One word: incredible.

Expect to find some classic dishes given a Latino overhaul, such as roasted barramundi fillet with mole verde or potato gnocchi with chorizo ragù. The Butler can get busy, however (it’s an Instagram dream) so make sure you get your booking in early.

“5 star experience. Beautiful location, delicious food. Wonderful staff. Very enjoyable view. Well priced. So much fun. Perfect for larger groups.”

RosieTB (TripAdvisor)

There you have it, the must-try Sydney restaurants to experience this year.

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