We hope you had a fabulous holiday season and are feeling fully re-charged for the year ahead. This month we are going for early morning walks, before Sydney heats-up for the day, and indulging in luxurious harbour swims of an afternoon. Our season is still ongoing but is less back-to-back in terms of bookings between dining tours and airport meet n’ greets.
In January we celebrated our 12th Birthday with a quick bite and a couple of drinks at new kid on the block: Letra House, the latest opening from the very successful Love Tilly Group, and another great venue to add to the YKC precinct. We followed dinner enjoying a stand-out soul music performance by Jalen Ngonda at The City Recital Hall. A wonderful night out in the city we love, feeling grateful for everything that our small business has bought us.
Bar Conte, Surry Hills
Dining Tour Memories
A recent comment on Insta’ from the lovely Heidi, reminded us just how much our guests enjoy our dining tours!
Her family of six adults booked our Surry Hills Tour last October via one of our trusted Travel Partners. On the night we met in the foyor of the eternally elegant Shangri-la Sydney. Before whisking them off to Toei our new Korean/ Japanese find located on the border of Surry Hills and Darlinghurst. Talented Chef/Owner Kevin Jeon has created a special snack menu just for us, including Corn Tart, Smoked Tuna Toast, and Fried Mantou, paired with matched cocktails.
We then move onto Mille Vini on lively Crown Street, via leafy Bourke Street admiring the many beautiful terrace houses as we stroll past. Mille Vini is housed in a former Stonemasons sandstone cottage in amongst the fashion and design shops, and specialises in rich Mediterranean-style food and an impressive wine collection. We enjoy our entrees of Zucchini Flowers, Arancini and Wagyu Bresaola Brioche matched with fabulous wine whilst seated on the mezzanine level, floating above the busy main dining room.
After 45 minutes we head for Bar Conte on Riley Street. Known for its extensive Negroni list, the restaurant also has a menu of fresh handmade pasta, rich risotto, and Northern Italian salads. Lines of fluent Italian float above our heads as the floor staff focus on perfecto service. We depart BC after some good conversation, digestion and appreciation of the jazz musician playing a live-set in the corner.
On our arrival at Messina there is a line of excitable young people awaiting their chance to order from the colour-filled countertop. This gives us time to fill our guests in on the story behind Messina (including owning a herd of Jersey cows in Victoria ) and what’s on offer on the chalked-up Specials Board.
Once everyone has finished licking their way through various gelato flavours, the big black Merc’ van swoops in to take the family safely back to their hotel.
Another wonderful evening of dining with The Sydney Connection comes to an end.
2024 Wrap
We know its February but would like to extend a BIG Happy New Year to our wonderful restaurants, bars, travel partners and guests. Thank you for your continued support of a small business in challenging times.
Here is an edit of what makes TSC life good: food cooked with love by local restaurants; our guests; nature; art + culture and a dam good breakfast with carbs, protein & coffee!
Our hope for 2025 is to continue celebrating our beautiful city and dining well. Meeting people from other parts of the world and dining together is still a privilege we value dearly. May 2025 be more fulfilling, calmer and kinder to us all.