Snack Bar: Bar Heather’s Sydney Pop-Up, a Filipino Block Party and More Local Food News This Week

What’s on around town

• There are six outstanding food events that you should book now – like Mimi Wong’s one-night-only Lunar New Year dinner, Bar Heather’s Sydney takeover, the Ace Hotel’s mahjong night (with the Fratelli Paradiso chef) and a Mexican pub night at The Bat & Ball.

• Opera Australia’s Madama Butterfly is returning on Thursday January 29. Dine at Aria beforehand to enjoy a colour-shifting butterfly pea tea and a sweet cherry blossom dessert, from Aria’s pastry chef Luke Jardine. Bookings encouraged.

• You can now find granita at all Mapo stores, team. Topped with mascarpone soft serve or a scoop of your choice in Bondi, Newtown or Darlo. 

• Kariton Sorbetes is moving into the new Taguan Cafe in Darlington, and the teams are putting on a block party to celebrate. Head to their patch of Abercrombie Street on Sunday February 1, from 11am till 3pm, for Filipino food, Kariton scoops, DJs and more, organised by Alon Collective.

• Young Henrys is the official beer of Laneway, which hits Centennial Park on Sunday February 8. There’ll be Newtowners, of course, and tins of ginger beer too. 

• Yan Yan Chan is behind two new specials at Pina: a ginger matcha affogato (with Mapo ice-cream) and a scallion pancake wrapped around an omelette, cucumber and herbs. The menu is available until the end of Lunar New Year on March 3, and all proceeds will go to the Soul of Chinatown Rice Fund. 

• Coming soon: Sydney Restaurant Group, the team behind Sails, Akti, Ripples and more, are opening its next in the CBD. The James, a refined British dining room, is expected to open in The Langham in late February 2026. 

• Find Tokyo Lamington gelato at Gelatissimo stores for just three summery weeks, from January 16. Swirls of chocolate, coconut and raspberry gelato are dotted with hunks of Tokyo Lamington. Or, hit Tokyo Lamington in Newtown and Marrickville for a salted macadamia and dulce de leche number (one of Gelatissimo’s top flavours). 

• Beat the heat at Barbetta. The Paddington spot’s added gelato-stuffed brioche to the menu. Enjoy in-store or takeaway for $10 each. 

What we covered this week

• Is King Clarence’s milk bread Sydney’s most decadent starter? Writer Howard Chen thinks so.

• First look: Junda Khoo goes big on surf’n’turf (and Malaysian flavours) at the new Sydney Fish Market. 

• First look: Aalia’s most hotly requested dishes find a home at the wine room next door.

• The last of Sydney’s “diabolical” lockout laws have been scrapped – meaning 3.30am will no longer mean last drinks. 

• First look: at Marrickville’s new family-run pizzeria, you should order a sandwich. Pick from focaccia, panuozzo or baciata, then fill it with traditional Italian fillings (like mortadella and stracciatella or slow-cooked meatballs). Plus, aperitivo hour coming soon.

• Green Peppercorn Express goes big on Thailand’s Isaan flavours, out the back of a Marrickville pub.

• First look: find hefty K-barbeque salad bowls (and house-made sodas) at a new Korean Deli in Darlinghurst.

• Heaps Normal’s new bar is a health club like no other. And it’s boozy if you want it to be.

• The new Sydney Fish Market is here – and Broadsheet was there to check it all out.

• After a false start, Cherry’s Goods reopens in the CBD. And with on-site ovens, now everyone will leave with a fresh cookie (and outlandish matcha, if you fancy).

• Saigon Supper Inn is the new waterside live music joint – with excellent Vietnamese food. It’s all about stir-fried seafood and locally brewed beers.

You might’ve missed

• Kiki Dessert supplies Ultimo with zingy madeleines, custardy canelés and fruit-studded cream cakes in a Studio Ghibli-inspired arcade space.

• First look: olive oil is sacred at Olivetta, inside the new Sydney Fish Market. It’s more art gallery than retail store, with a tasting bar for the range of cold-pressed, extra-virgin drops.

• Koda, Sydney’s newest Japanese-ish grill restaurant, revamps the old Monopole site. Find robata-kissed seafood, lasagne gyoza and a lobster ramen that’s already the most-ordered.

• Korean doughnut chain Knotted debuts in Australia with flavours like matcha, Earl Grey, milk cream and roasted sweet corn. And there’s a CBD outpost coming soon.