I am a chronic host-er. The bliss of no booking restrictions, always Bringing Your Own and the sweet chaos of too many people in my apartment – heaven.

“Where should we go for dinner tonight? Should I just come to yours?” is more frequent than not in my messages. And it’s one of my favourites to receive. So you’re happy to catch up and I don’t have to leave the house? You’re going to bring some wine, and maybe a dessert, and all I need to do is cook pasta and open a bag of chips? I would have done that without you here, so consider it a deal.

In saying this, I also love dining out. A lot. There’s no washing up, no prep work, no “is it cooked?” drama. My favourite haunts have the right playlists, can’t-miss specials and endless Campari sodas on hand (without the need to wrangle an unreasonably difficult silicone ice mould). So whenever I’m hosting, I think of the places I love to dine out and how I can lasso that vibe and re-create it at home.

We think you might like Access. For $12 a month, join our membership program to stay in the know.

SIGN UP

March takes the edge off the sun’s heat, without losing golden afternoons. There’s no time to waste, so ditch anything complicated: nothing ruins the vibe like a frantic, frazzled host (who leaves their guests side-eyeing each other, raising eyebrows over awkwardly sipped drinks).

Take the laid-back virtuosos at Cafe Freda’s: the music is vibe-y and fun, and the staff equally so. And that buzzy crowd feels much the same as neighbourhood street drinks – with better beverage options. This kind of simplicity is key to keeping your cool at home. Pre-batched just-add-soda Americanos in some late afternoon Sydney sun is all you need for a good time; you, and the Freda’s crew, know it.

Even if your own home doesn’t legally require you to serve food with alcohol, it’s always a good idea (for reasons my memory has tried to erase). Take another lesson in simplicity from the ones that know: the team at Enmore’s intergalactic space bar, Bar Planet. Toss together a big bowl of your own secret-spiced popcorn, liberally seasoned with Chinese chicken bouillon powder and cracked black pepper. Heard of a bag of chips? This works too (hello, Chappy’s habanero mango). Keep drinks breezy with pre-batched pours of the bar’s own signature Martini, or pull out your noughties milkshake maker and whizz up a Sgroppino.

Simplicity is the secret, evidenced in sun-soaked happy-hour Negronis on a Darlinghurst corner and paper bags plump with a spiced snack next to starry cocktails.

Gemma Plunkett is a Sydney-based dinner party tragic. She works as a food writer, recipe rambler, producer and content strategist. Find her (but mostly food) in pictures or fortnightly in your inbox via her newsletter Ding!