Seven Ways – and Seven Days – To Tick Venues Off the Hot List Next Week

The Hot List is the definitive guide to Sydney’s most essential food and drink experiences, updated weekly. Learn more.

There’s no official date for the start of silly season – it’s more of an individual vibe thing. But for our money, now that daylight saving has kicked off, and November’s within reach, things are starting to feel pretty darn silly.

It’s the time of year to audaciously over-book yourself. When every weekend in the calendar is full, so you make a few too many, potentially ill-advised, midweek reservations: that’s silly season. It just gives you too many reasons to go out every day. Luckily, Sydney is full of great options to try every day of the week. From Monday through to Sunday, The Hot List has you covered. Here are some of the best places – and deals – to check out next week. Or the one after that.

Monday: Martini Mondays at Bar Planet

Martinis on a Monday could be an absolute recipe for disaster, or the perfect way to start the week. Thanks to the Martini maestros over at Bar Planet, it’s more likely to be the latter. Every Monday, without fail, the Martinis here are $12. That’s a deal worth rolling the dice on.

Tuesday: Takeover Tuesdays at PS40

Everyone comes to eat at PS40 on Tuesday nights. Because it’s Takeover Tuesday night, a running special where both up-and-coming talent and chefs at the top of their game take over the bar’s kitchen for two consecutive Tuesdays. It’s one of the best deals in Sydney. The $65 booking gets you a set menu, plus a free cocktail on arrival. (Though you’ll be hard-pressed to resist ordering some add-ons and more rounds of drinks.)

Wednesday: pasta and wine night at Busta

Obviously, every night at this Italian spot in Manly is a pasta and wine night, but Wednesdays are even more pasta-centric than usual. For $30, you get that evening’s pasta special, plus a nice glass of vino. What an excellent way to tackle hump day.

Thursday: jazz night at Firepop

Sydney’s pulsing with jazz right now. The more, the better, we say. And Enmore Road favourite Firepop has just joined in on the fun. There’s a live band playing from 6pm to 9pm every Thursday, and seats by the musos are available on a first-come, first-served basis. Don’t worry though – those dulcet tones are pumped through the speakers throughout, so every table gets into the swing of it.

Friday: Chat Thai Supper Club

Chat Thai is a true living legend: it refuses to coast by on its reputation, and it’s always trying fun new things. Chat Thai Supper Club, which debuted last week, is the restaurant’s latest effort. And it’s as wallet-friendly as it is delicious. Every Friday and Saturday, from 10pm to 2am, every dish, cocktail and dessert at the Haymarket original is a flat $10. Plus, there are giveaways, lucky draws and DJs, too.

Saturday: happy hour at Earl’s Juke Joint

Happy hours are designed to entice people through the doors during off-peak times. So they’re not usually a thing on weekends. Not so at King Street institution Earl’s Juke Joint. The happy hour here – $8 beers, $10 wines, $15 cocktails – runs every night from 6pm to 8pm, Tuesday to Sunday. Cheap drinks and Saturday night don’t usually go together. But at Earl’s, they do. Every week.

Sunday: The Bat and Ball Hotel’s Sunday Blues

If you’re jazzed out but still want to eat or drink to a bit of live music, The Bat and Ball has you covered. Why not lean into the Sunday Scaries with a bit of blues? Every Sunday in November, a different act will take the main stage at the beloved pub. That’s how you end the week the right way.

The Hot List is proudly sponsored by Square.