Sydney Eat Street: Mardis Gras
While Oxford St may be the hive of Mardi Gras activity, foodies will find there’s a colourful array of food and drinks off the main drag.
While Oxford St may be the hive of Mardi Gras activity, foodies will find there’s a colourful array of food and drinks off the main drag.
Take a tour of the area’s best eateries right here with The Sunday Telegraph’s Eat Street. Are you hungry for more inspiration? Follow us on Instagram.
For a chance to feature your food picture in The Sunday Telegraph, tag #SydneyEatStreet.
THE CLOCK
This iconic Surry Hills hotel with its wraparound veranda and signature clock face has been a part of Sydney’s pub scene for decades.
Part of that history will be on full display on March 3 as The Clock welcomes a special exhibition featuring 41 years of Mardi Gras posters spread out between the outdoor courtyard, main bar and upstairs cocktail lounge.
You’ll, of course, want to peruse the scene with drink in hand and mixologists here are happy to oblige with unique concoctions such as RuPaul’s Martini which comes with its own sachet of sprinkles or the decadent Splice Up Your Life — Bombay sapphire, Midori, citrus, sugar, full cream and Aquafaba.
When hunger strikes, try their famous “Big Ben” beef burger, which along with the cocktails, $1 from the sale will be donated to The Bobby Goldsmith Foundation.
— 470 Crown St, Surry Hills; clockhotel.com.au
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CHARGRILL CHARLIE’S
For all those waking up with a Mardi Gras hangover, one of the culinary cure-alls is said to be a towering hamburger.
In the spirit of caring and sharing, Chargrill Charlie’s hears your pain and on Monday, March 4, they’re offering a $15 “recovery voucher”.
Simply go their app and enter the word “LOVE” to access the voucher.
— Various locations; chargrillcharlies.com
KINGS CROSS MARKETS
A Kings Cross institution, the Saturday markets in Fitzroy Gardens have been providing organic produce, homemade small goods and freshly baked treats to both locals and visitors for more than 15 years.
Thankfully, it’ll be running on Saturday so you’ll still be able to get the requisite bowl of pho from Eat Fuh, but in keeping with the weekend’s festivities, there’ll also be stallholders offering a fair share of colour, including 13-year veteran Birgitta Koomen with her deliciously sweet creations.
Her rainbow cakes, in particular, have become a market favourite. Made with vanilla cake tinted with natural food colouring and it’s layered with cream cheese icing.
Birgitta says her inspiration comes from the colours of the community, which is “an integral fabric of life around the Cross”.
Her baked goods go quickly so get in early to avoid disappointment.
— Fitzroy Gardens, MacLeay St, Potts Point; kingscrossmarket.org
MV BISTRO AND WINE BAR
The fabulous frenzy on Oxford St may be a partygoer’s dream but for those who prefer a more muted celebration, this cosy wine bar fits the bill.
While their list of more than 100 wines is an obvious drawcard, it’s the Italian share food that has people lingering over lunch or well into the evening.
For Mardi Gras however, they have a few specials drinks that are quite tasty yet still mirror co-owners Aaron Le Saux and Rhaad Fogarty’s quality standard.
They’ll have a rainbow of cocktails but a must is the aquamarine-coloured tipple made with vodka, blue Curacao and blueberries.
To make a meal of it, Aaron suggest ordering the pulled lamb shoulder with roast celeriac, radicchio & red wine date jus
— 397 Crown St, Surry Hills
BELLY BAO
From a small pop-place in World Square to a full-time spot on Kings St in Newtown, Belly Bao has created a cult following with its Taiwanese-inspired street food, bao.
These pockets of fluffy dough typically hold a generous helping of pork belly or braised beef, but here, they’ve moved beyond the norm and taken their housemade bao dough and created such thing as the bao-ger, stacked hamburgers with toasted bao buns, flat noodles and, especially for Mardi Gras, the colourful Rainbaonut.
Using their signature dough, they first deep fry it, then dip it in rainbow icing, and finally adding a generous dusting of sprinkles.
For a bit more decadence and a bit of fun, they’ll add rainbow ice cream and the childhood favourite, popping candy.
— 184 King St, Newtown; bellybao.com.au
WHAT’S FRESH?
Take a culinary trip through Greece in one afternoon at Australia’s largest and longest running cultural event, The Greek Festival of Sydney.
Held over two days at Tumbalong Park you’ll have the chance to taste the flavours of Greece’s varied cuisines from the many food stalls. Grab a bite then sit down and enjoy the live entertainment or continue your stroll and check out the many vendors selling Greek wares.
— March 2-3; darlingharbour.com
MUST TRY
GAYTIME CROISSANT
His buttery croissants with their thin flaky layers were already famous on the pastry circuit, but it’s Textbook Boulangerie Patisserie’s owner John Ralley’s innovative approach flare that has garnered him a cult following.
Starting off with a plain croissant, his amazing creations include one with lamingtons for Australia Day, a red one with salted egg yolk for Lunar New Year, a Christmas pudding version for the holidays and even one using seasonal truffle.
For Mardi Gras however he has given the croissant a rainbow ribbon exterior, added colour to the flaky layers and filled it with an Aussie ice cream favourite, Golden Gaytime.
Available Saturday and Sunday, March 3 and 4.
— Textbook Boulangerie Patisserie, 274 Botany Rd, Alexandria; textbookpatisserie.com.au
COLOURFUL FROSÉS
Tramsheds in Forest Lodge has made quite the name for itself not just as the restored Rozelle Tram Depot but also as one of Sydney’s latest dining districts with the likes of Butcher and the Farmer, a favourite spot for its simple, honest, local and seasonal foods.
That same approach applies to their wine selection, which for mardi gras will include your choice of colourful Frosés: pink, blue, green or yellow, each one topped off with a lifesaver ice block.
— Butcher and the Farmer, Tramsheds, 1 Dalgal Wy, Forest Lodge
PARTY AND PIZZA
Once the parade is done, the real party gets started. Two events not to be missed, the ALL SORTS Blackout and SATURgAY disco are running together at The Lansdowne where from 9:00pm, 30 artists DJs and entertainers will split between the two floors.
Of course you’ll need some nourishment to keep on dancing so head up for some Detroit-style pizza from Mary’s Pizzeria (those of Mary’s Burger fame). Tickets are $20.
— The Lansdowne Hotel, 2 City Rd, Chippendale; thelansdownepub.com.au
RECOVERY BRUNCH
It’s full-on festival season at this neighbourhood pub and Surry Hills hotspot with a full calendar of events with movie nights, trivia and the popular Laneway party on Sunday, March 3.
However, it’s the popular Recovery Brunch (March 4) with its bespoke menu that steals the show.
For $40 you get a choice of five mains including ‘The Bero Toastie’ with Sonoma sourdough, smoked ham, comté, mustard and preserves plus an Absolut Peach Mimosa or Absolut Citron Mary to start, followed by a cocktail with your meal.
— The Beresford, 354 Bourke St. Surry Hills; merivale.com/mardi-gras
RAINBOW PRIDE COCKTAIL
There’ll be plenty of colours all around with cocktails as vivid as the festive decorations. From 8pm on Saturday, March 2, dance the night away while sipping on their limited-edition Rainbow Pride cocktail, a mixture of Blackberries, Crème De Violette, lemon juice, Crème De Mure, gin, cranberry juice, vanilla syrup, finished with sugary purple foam and unicorn sparkles.
It’s $24 and available through the weekend.
— Hacienda, Pullman Quay Grand, 61 Macquarie St, Sydney
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