Take the party outside this December with South Eveleigh’s Alfresco Disco. The perfect way to kickstart the festive season, South Eveleigh’s tree-lined Innovation Plaza will be transformed into a one-day festival of food, drinks, tunes (and a boogie for those who are game), celebrating the vibrancy of the city’s inner south. Two of Sydney’s most influential names – Kylie Kwong (Lucky Kwong) and Matt Whiley (Re) – will join forces to deliver a drool-worthy menu of noodles and cocktails, welcoming back the food-inclined after months of separation and solitude. The Alfresco Disco will run across two sessions on 3 December, lunch and dinner, and will become Sydney’s biggest party for the day. Tickets are $30 and include a choice of one Lucky Kwong dish and one drink from Re. Part of Destination NSW’s ‘Sydney’s Open For Lunch’ campaign, foodies will see South Eveleigh transformed in this one-day summer event aimed at kick-starting the recovery of Sydney’s pandemic-affected hospitality industry. Book your tickets now here.

Add Chiswick’s front lawn to your must-book list for December. This weekend marks the launch of Picnics on the Lawn, kick-starting summer dining in style. In partnership with Bombay Sapphire, Woollahra’s best front garden will become an alfresco aficionado’s daydream – think patterned umbrellas shading elevated picnic tables, throw pillows galore, seasonal blooms and a pop-up garden gin bar serving up bespoke cocktails. You’ll be treated to a selection of Chiswick’s most-adored dishes, such as the woodfired flatbread; Vanella burrata with heirloom tomatoes and olive tapenade; Milawa camembert with crackers and a smashing strawberry and passionfruit trifle for dessert. Don’t miss the house favourite barra-masalata, a staple on the Chiswick menu. All guests will receive a cocktail on arrival from the Bombay bar, before grabbing their own personal picnic pack from inside, so they can dine at their own pace (and not have to fight for the burrata). Say cheers to the rebirth of park picnics, and book your Picnics on the Lawn pack here. Love what you taste? Be sure to book a table in Chiswick proper to sample new head chef Taylor Cullen’s fresh menu.

This summer, artisan producers Cloudy Bay and East 33 have come together to create a series of luxurious, food and wine experiences, perfect for gifting season. Choose from three bespoke experiences, all centred around wine and oysters. The signature Natural Wonders Experience will see guests taken by seaplane for a hands-on oyster shucking and tasting amongst the pristine waters where they’re grown. Dine in-water with a glass of Cloudy Bay’s Pelorus Sparkling in hand followed by a bespoke oyster-inspired lunch with matching Cloudy Bay wines at Thirty Three Degrees overlooking the marina on Wallis Lake. Natural Wonders at The Boathouse and Natural Wonders at Home are just as decadent and awe-inspiring – these are three experiences you don’t want to miss. The winemakers of Cloudy Bay and the oyster farmers of East 33 are united by a shared commitment to provenance and craftsmanship, so these experiences are guaranteed to be as tasty as they are unforgettable. Treat someone you love this festive season (full credit to you if that person is yourself) and book one of these oyster and wine experiences here.

Bring the party home with you with Batch & Bottle’s limited edition flat-pack cocktail bar. Designed in collaboration with Aussie furniture collective IsoKing, the build-your-own bar is made from sustainable birchwood ply, and can be assembled in minutes. The pack also includes four premium, pre-batched cocktails, created alongside some of the world’s very best bars. Keep an eye out for Sydney-based Maybe Sammy’s concoction, alongside a Glenfiddich Scotch Manhattan, Monkey Shoulder Lazy Old Fashioned and a playful Reyka Vodka Rhubarb Cosmopolitan. Don your hard hat and chill the martini glasses, to celebrate the launch of the Batch & Bottle flat-pack bar, it’s available at half price for a limited time only. Order yours now for $300 here.

Ditch the turkey and head straight for the roast pork at this Vietnamese take on a Sunday roast. Initially put on hold due to Sydney’s lockdown, New-school Vietnamese eatery Hello Auntie’s inventive take on a classic roast serves as a lesson in well-balanced abundance. For $35 per person, diners will be treated to a feast of smoked lemongrass chicken, juicy roast pork belly, wagyu bo la lot (ground wagyu blade wrapped in a betel leaf and grilled over charcoal) with vermicelli sheets with shallot oil and salad leaves. Start with a lettuce leaf and a sprig of mint, then add noodles, protein and mountains of tangy carrots, then roll to your heart’s content. Book now at the Darling Square and Marrickville venues here.

Winesmiths is throwing their support behind Australia’s Koala population with a new limited edition wine pack. Two of Winesmiths casks – Cabernet Sauvignon and Dry Rosé – will feature colourful caricature artwork designed by Sydney-based Mulga The Artist and contain a reusable koala ‘nozzlehead’ tap that can be fixed to the cask – helping to generate awareness and raise funds for the Australian Koala Foundation. One dollar from every specially marked pack sold will be donated to the Quinlans research station and environmental centre, dedicated to researching and preserving Koala habitats – especially important as we head into the hottest and driest part of the year. Helping koalas really can be as easy as buying and sipping cask wine, so what are you waiting for? The two litre packs are available now at Dan Murphy’s for just $16.

The late-November slog is one we’re all familiar with, so here to save your Spring are Curious at W Melbourne’s new coffee-centric cocktails, providing a delicious twist to the classic espresso martini. Venue manager Stephen Zappelli has created the three imaginative new tipples: the first starring vodka infused with roasted hemp seed, house-made spent coffee liqueur, Oloroso sherry and cold brew; the second incorporating macadamia seed liqueur, mead and brandy; and the last (inspired by modern day Melbourne coffee culture) features a fig caramel syrup and local Starward whisky, and is served in a porcelain mug with rice paper latte art. We’re all for the caffeine hit transcending morning coffee hour, and these new creations serve up just the right amount of reinvention. Pop by Curious at W Melbourne now to try the selection.

Say goodbye to hangovers with a new, award-winning organic Sauvignon Blanc from New Zealand’s number one wine brand. Stoneleigh Organic Sauvignon Blanc is 100% organic and vegan certified, opening up the proverbial winery door for all to enjoy. As Aussies look for more sustainable options in the products they buy and consume, Stoneleigh’s placing a bid to convert wine lovers to organic sippers this summer and beyond. The new season tipple is described as being powerfully aromatic with punchy flavours of citrus and green herbs. Pick up a bottle now at independent liquor stores nationwide for $19.99.