What’s on around town

• You’d be a dill to miss Huge Moves, which returns to the Ace Hotel on Saturday May 18. There’ll be over 35 winemakers, producers and distributors on pouring duty, and snacks (like Yamba prawn rolls and local oysters) from Loam. Tickets essential.

• Head to Cafe Freda’s on Sunday for a cameo shift by Aplenty’s Michaela Johansson. Her Lunch in Marseille menu delivers bouillabaisse, panisse and pastis.

• Sip and snack excellently this month with the Four Pillars Martini Collective. The distillery’s Olive Leaf Gin is the hero of a mini Martini, and it’s available at 11 of our favourite restaurants with a special snack created especially by the chef.

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• Sydney Place is the place for brekkie this month: there’s a free croissant with the first 200 coffees each day at Kingswood, and the same with muffins at Toby’s Estate; a free coffee with a pastry purchased from The Associate; an $8 bacon toastie and coffee deal at Toastie Smith; and a Friday coffee and cronut for $4 at C9.

• It’s a taco and tequila fiesta at SoCal this month. The annual chilli eating contest is on May 16, and then on May 23 there’s a banquet menu and a live dance performance.

• Sydney Common’s just-launched pre-theatre menu offers your choice of two courses for $65 per person. Start with tiger prawns or a Spanish onion tart, then dig in to the roast chook, fresh from the woodfire. Then walk 400 metres round the corner to the Theatre Royal.

• Mud crab is a Spice Temple signature, and this month they’re back for $99. They’re sourced live, then steamed to order – keeping the meat tender. The crustacean is served with your choice of sauce: XO, ginger and shallot, or black bean and salted chilli.

Australian Fashion Week 2024, May 13 to 17 at Carriageworks

• Allpress Espresso is the official coffee sponsor this year, and it has a pop-up cafe in Carriageworks. Nab complimentary cold-brew cocktails and pour-overs, or stick to a classic flattie.

• Head in to Cho Cho San from 5pm between May 13 and 16 to slurp noodles at the Dion Lee late-night ramen bar. The set menu is $50 per person, and includes Dion’s Martini; a shoyu ramen (with sansho peppers, roast tommies and tempura shiso leaf); and black sesame soft serve to finish. Bookings recommended.

• Maybe Sammy is teaming up with Glenfiddich for the Valley of the Deer Disco. Head to the Blacksmith Workshop at Carriageworks during fashion week to sip cocktails in a reconstructed train carriage, and catch a conversation series with industry insiders.

What we covered this week

• Coming soon: Cibaria, Alessandro Pavoni’s piazza-style joint, brings Italian street food to Manly. The chef and restaurateur’s been busy; Postino Osteria is opening soon in Summer Hill, too.

• Seven to try: Sydney’s best new sandwich shops for a winning lunch.

• Cheery Redfern bar The Sunshine Inn is closing soon. But it’s bowing out with $15 Negronis and a menu of favourites. Plus, another Sydney hospo talent is moving in.

• We reimagined this year’s Met Gala looks as Sydney restaurants and bars. There’s Taika Waititi as a Western speakeasy, a supermodel as one joint’s iconic view and a star as a South Dowling sanga (before you unwrap).

• The “Fendi of fish shops”, Uncut Seafood Delicatessen, fires fresh catch over a lava grill in an oceanside neighbourhood. And there are no hot chippies in sight.

• Now open: Fei Jai, the beloved Potts Point restaurant, brings its Cantonese charm to Rose Bay. Expect all the favourites (like a fluffy crab omelette and handmade dumplings), plus weekend yum cha.

• First look: Fior, the Jane team’s good-times Italian diner, opens in the Shire. It’s a family-friendly, group-ready 120-seater. It’s got antipasti aplenty, half a dozen pastas and a roving gelato cart.

• First look: Melbourne’s Kariton Sorbetes arrived in Sydney to immediate fanfare. Lines snaked down a busy stretch, waiting for scoops of ube halaya, Milo dinosaur and Vietnamese coffee custard. Plus, a vegan taho, where tofu soft serve meets panna cotta and warm oolong syrup.

• Coming soon: Lune’s flagship Sydney store arrives this year. We were expecting the renowned croissanterie to hit Oxford Street, but instead it’s heading for an inner-south neighbourhood.

You might’ve missed

• Cleveland Street stalwart The Bat & Ball is being revamped by an all-star team. When it opens, there’ll be a menu of pub classics and “really good, long happy hours”.

• Coming soon: Chase Kojima’s back, returning to the Sydney scene with Tokyo Samba. The 100-seat Japanese steakhouse has a Brazilian edge, and the entire menu’s halal.

• The Nilands have an opening date for the new (and bigger) Saint Peter, due to open in Paddington’s Grand National Hotel in winter.

• First look: Bar Lettera is the swish all-day spot making a strong case for hotel restaurants. The all-day newcomer joins a flurry of fresh (or soon-to-come) openings in North Sydney.