The 46th Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras is a celebration of all things fabulous and queer in this beautiful town. Fortunately for the hungry among us, it’s also a celebration of all the colours, er, flavours of the rainbow. From bottomless brunches on Oxford Street to bougie caviar bumps in Haymarket, the city is a playground of delicious snacks and drinks this month.
Are you DTF? Din Tai Fung, that is. The dumpling giant has given its hand-stretched noodles a colourful makeover for Mardi Gras, celebrating all the colours of the Pride flag and supporting the LGBTQIA+ community. Available in a spicy sauce or as a noodle soup, the limited-run noodles are available at all Din Tai Fung restaurants in Sydney from February 26 to March 3. dintaifung.com.au.
Sydney’s house of Australiana, the Waratah is hosting a very vibrant bottomless brunch on March 2. The set menu includes never ending wine, beer, and Waratah Spritz as well as a selection of pastries, their famous taramasalata potato scallops and an absolute stunner of an avocado bagel. Sittings start at 12pm, from $99 or $119. 308-310 Liverpool Street, Darlinghurst; thewaratahsydney.com.
Sydney’s new house of elegance, Bar Morris is holding a very bougie Drag Bingo, complete with caviar bumps and frozen vodka. Hosted by drag royalty Dakota Fann’ee, the event runs from 12-2pm on Saturday, March 2. Tickets to the event are $25 per person and include 10 rounds of bingo and guaranteed good times. 412 Pitt Street, Haymarket; barmorris.com.au.
There are few things we love more than a good yum cha session. Add in drag queen Jackie Daniels and one of our favourite watering holes, the Bob Hawke Beer & Leisure Centre, and we’re in heaven. On both Saturday March 2 and Sunday March 3 from 11am-4pm, each sitting will bring very different vibes. Saturday will be an amped up party to set you up for a wild night, while Sunday will feature low-key vibes and $12 Bloody Marys for your recovery. 8-12 Sydney Street, Marrickville; hawkesbrewing.com.
We love when rock and roll meets rainbows and that’s exactly what’s in store at Bridge Street izakaya, Kid Kyoto this Mardi Gras. Specialty cocktails like the “Sass-erac” and the “Her-icane” will be available to sip on while you make your way down Affirmation Alley – a space to leave your mark and share positivity with uplifting messages. 17-19 Bridge Street, Sydney; kidkyoto.com.au.
Dust off your feather boa, pour yourself into some flares and put on your boogie shoes – Chin Chin is having a disco party! Dubbed the Mardi Gras: Disco Sessions, this bottomless brunch series will be shaking up each weekend from February 17 to March 3. Disco DJs will provide the soundtrack to two hours of the best Chin Chin South-East Asian dishes, never ending craft beers, and wine, plus a signature cocktail to raise funds for LGBTQIA+ youth organisation, Twenty10. From $109 per person. 69 Commonwealth Street, Surry Hills; chinchin.sydney.
Cabaret, a rum or two and free-flowing Brix Spritz is a strong way to kick off your night but hey, we’re willing to give it a try. Sydney’s home of rum, Brix Distillers is serving up bottomless drinks and tasty charcuterie before a night of cabaret, hosted by queen Kiama Blowhole. $99 will get you two hours of never-ending drinks, dinner and a show. Friday, March 1 from 6pm at 350 Bourke Street, Surry Hills; brixdistillers.com.
Set your night off right with a very colourful cocktail soiree at the Pullman Hotel. Positioned at the mouth of Oxford Street, the Pullman pre-game is a fabulous launching pad for a wild night. Entertainment is provided by drag queen Maxi Shield, tunes by Alfie Arcuri and DJ sets courtesy of Carla From Bankstown. Roving canapes of Peking duck pancakes, bresaola and beetroot tarts, fried school prawns and more will be on hand to fill your tank and free-flowing drinks (including sparkling, beer, and vodka Red Bulls) to loosen up before the dance floor. Tickets start from $229. 36 College Street, Darlinghurst; pullmansydneyhydepark.com.au.
A sparkling harbour, pre-gaming, and dazzling sunshine – name something more Sydney than that. The Ovolo Hotel in Woolloomooloo will be rolling out the rainbow carpet for a boozy brunch by the water to get parade day rolling. Alibi Bar and Dining will provide a swag of tasty bites, fabulous cocktails and entertainment from Victoria Anthony, Hollywould Star and The Thin Lizzi. If you get a bit carried away on the mimosas, Lulu Lemon will be on hand with complementary ice bath recovery sessions from 10-11am to clear the fog. $99 includes brunch and two-hours of bottomless mimosas, bloody marys and espresso martinis, yeowza. Ovolo Hotel, 6 Cowper Wharf Roadway, Woolloomooloo; ovolohotels.com.
From February 16 to March 3, Four Pillars Sydney is painting Surry Hills with glitter (and pride) and transforming their Gin Lab into the Fab Lab to celebrate Mardi Gras, with a different event every weekend. Melbourne’s Bar Liberty is making the journey north to host a dazzling party on February 18; Potts Point favourite Raja are up next for a weekend takeover on February 23-24; and the Parade Day Party kicks off from 3pm on Saturday, March 2. Naturally, gin cocktails will be the name of the game, with a portion of all proceeds from the limited-run ‘Pretty in Pink’ going to Queer Screen. 410 Crown Street, Surry Hills; fourpillarsgin.com.
