What’s on around town

• Head to The Dolphin tomorrow for a free Margarita. It’s the Australian launch party for primo tequila Flecha Azul, and the 2020-born Mexican label is shouting 300 Margs to punters at the Crown Street spot from 4pm.

• Head to Rainbow Studios from 9am on Sunday April 14 to try your hand at hand-building with Tamarama ceramicist Ryan Der. It’s a wholesome (and free) way to spend your Sunday, and there’ll be an old-fashioned sausage sizzle and brews by Curly Lewis. RSVP via info@rainbowstudios.com.au.

• Tokyo Confidential, the rambunctious bar in Tokyo’s Minato City, is taking over the Rekodo for one night only in May. There’ll be four signature TC drinks on offer – including the Banana Colada, inspired by a train-station snack.

• Morena, chef Alejandro Saravia’s 200-seat Latin-Peruvian restaurant, opens in the old Martin Place GPO on Monday April 15.

• Hey Chu on Castlereagh Street is turning one, and to celebrate it's roping in Lana head chef Alex Wong for the first of its chef’s series Hey Lana. The first was last night, but there’s one more chance to catch Wong on Thursday April 18. Book here.

• Jim Beam is hosting a rooftop session at Coogee Pavilion this Saturday, April 13, to celebrate – belatedly – the final day of daylight saving time (it was rained out last weekend). Starring DJs Cosmo’s Midnight. Entry is free, so it’s first in, best dressed.

• Chef Big Sam Young is throwing a pop-up dinner at Bouillon L’Entrecote on Tuesday April 16. We caught up with him last week to get his favourite places to eat in Sydney.

• Liquid Death, the Martha Stewart-endorsed sparkling water brand dubbed “gen Z’s La Croix”, is now available in Australia.

• Bottega Coco, Barangaroo’s flashy Italian diner, has two new chefs. Dario Nencioni has joined as executive chef and Valentina Mora as head pastry chef. Both hail from Italy, where they were trained. Head to the digs for a regional wine tasting on the third Wednesday of each month. Next up: Sicily’s Mt Etna region on April 17.

• Bird in Hand has extended its partnership with the Sydney Swans as official wine partner.

• Rafi has a new happy hour. From 3pm till 6pm Monday to Saturday, nab $7 wines and beers, $10 cocktails, and a snacky food menu. As a start, there are $12 miso-prawn pizzas and $7 grilled Abrolhos Island scallops.

• Wednesdays at late-night basement lounge Tiva – underneath The Charles – are all about bao. Bottomless bao. From 5pm till 7pm, get your fill of tempura chicken, pork belly or a vego option, along with endless prawn crackers. There are $12 Tommy’s, too.

• Totti’s Bondi has a new private dining room, ripe and ready for your celebration needs.

What we covered this week

• First look: Melbourne fave The Happy Mexican has moved north to the Lansdowne. Owner Julian Romero has taken over operations of the Chippendale boozer, adding birria tacos, a trio of Margs, and sundowners on the rooftop.

• First look: Domo 39 is the konbini-inspired cafe in St Peters from the team behind Sydney cafes Kurumac, Cool Mac and Poketto, and Mapo Gelato. The new station-side spot is doing onigiri, bento boxes and swirls of soft-serve.

• First look: It’s all about meat at Compa, Matt Moran’s inaugural Canberra restaurant. The kitchen at the Italian steakhouse is captained by an ex-Bistecca chef, and there’s a sandwich shop attached too.

• First look: Pauly’s Deli brings subs stuffed with eight-hour brisket and an array of house-made Greek desserts to Western Sydney. The kiosk-style spot is named for its burly owner, whose hospo “apprenticeship” was a childhood spent in his parents’ takeaway shop.

You might’ve missed

• Earlwood’s got a simple new sanga shop, Ol’ Mates. You’ll find some new-school sandwiches there, as well as some quite old-school sandwiches.

• Zendaya spent last weekend in Sydney – and had a quintessentially Sydney weekend. We recapped her eating and shopping itinerary.