Author: Chris Singh

Chris Singh is an Editor-At-Large at the AU review, loves writing about travel and hospitality, and is partial to a perfectly textured octopus. You can reach him on Instagram: @chrisdsingh.

Princess Cruises introduce Whisky Bars and new features on board Sea Princess and Dawn Princess

Two of the most well known cruise ships in Australia, Princess Cruises’ Sea Princess and Dawn Princess have gone through some massive refurbishments recently, introducing numerous new venues and features on board in an attempt to adapt to contemporary trends and demand. Furthering their commitment to appealing to a large range of passengers, both ships…

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Young Henry’s Real Ale is now available on tap across Australia

Young Henry’s have seen their popular Real Ale soar in popularity, and even win a gold medal at last year’s JD Wetherspoons’ Spring International Real Ale Festival. Put forth as an Australian interpretation of a classic British Bitter with a half-half blend of English and Aussie malts, YH Real Ale remains one of their most…

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Juniperlooza is Melbourne’s first ever Gin festival

Two Melbourne bars, Pilgrim Bar and Riverland Bar, are coming together to host Australia’s first-ever Gin festival, titled Juniperlooza. Both venues will be hosting the event over two-days this month, showcasing Australia’s best Gins across a variety of tastings, Gin-inspired food stalls, and roaming entertainment set on the banks of the Yarra at Federation Wharf….

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Beer DeLuxe in Federation Square introduces weekly brewer garden series (Melbourne)

Aiming straight for the heart of Melbourne’s summer, Beer DeLuxe at Federation Square will be offering up their lush beer garden as a dedication to Australia’s rich and diverse beer scene. Kicking off their Summer Hop Up series on November 18th, the team will transform the venue in a brewers’ garden every week throughout summer,…

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Surly’s teams up with Coca-Cola to introduce Cola-infused meats for one week only (Sydney)

The iconic Coca-Cola contour bottle turns 100 this month, and to celebrate Coca-Cola South Pacific have teamed up with Sydney American BBQ joint Surly’s to create some exclusive, temporary menus blending the distinctive flavour of coke with the perfectly smoked meats the bar-restaurant has become known for. Surly’s American Head Chef Bendhan Bennison has put…

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Papa Gedes enter their third year with a brand new cocktail menu (Sydney)

Sydney’s Papa Gedes have recently turned two, entering into their third year operating as one of the most charming small bars in the CBD. Themed towards the voodoo history of New Orleans, the tiki-esque bar has maintained a balance that doesn’t go over-the-top yet remains playful with a distinctive aesthetic that is clear in both…

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Exclusive Single Premiere: John Depth Ft. SLik d “Juicetown” (2015)

Following their excellent debut single, “Couches”, local production team John Depth – awarded producer Tim Carr and singer-songwriter Paul Conrad – have hooked up with Long Beach rapper-singer SLik d to release “Juicetown”. The duo’s second single continues their love for the darker side of electronica, lifting SLik d’s slick raps with a forceful blend…

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Jackie Onassis stealth release their debut studio album “Pristine Alley” today

Sydney’s Jackie Onassis, part of larger hip hop collective One Day, have been killing it on nationally for a few years now. Ever since their debut single “The New Dumb”, they have helped lead Australian hip-hop onto a completely new wave, pushing tradition and bringing in outside influences for a well-rounded, melodic, and endearing sound….

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Brooklyn trio Wet release new single “It’s All in Vain”

Brooklyn indie-pop trio Wet released their self-titled EP last year and almost instantly became one of the year’s biggest buzz bands, racking up a dedicated fan base and selling out shows both around the states and overseas. They’ve been fairly quiet since then; releasing two singles, “Deadwater” and “Weak”, from their forthcoming debut and patiently…

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Three Williams hooks up with Tomislav Martinovic to introduce a new burger to their menu (Sydney)

Redfern’s Three Williams has teamed up with acclaimed Chef Tomislav Martinovic to beef up the burger offerings at the popular cafe. And it’s not some limited edition burger either; from today (Friday November 13th) their burger creation, Mr Davis, will be available on Three Wills’ lunchtime menu, giving you something else to scoff down aside…

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A Tribe Called Quest will reunite for Jimmy Fallon on The Tonight Show this week

Largely considered one of the greatest hip hop groups of all time, A Tribe Called Quest will be reuniting this week for a special one-off performance on The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon to celebrate the 25th anniversary of their debut album, the classic People’s Instinctive Travels and the Paths of Rhythm. The news came…

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Missy Elliott releases full video for “WTF” with Pharrell Williams

The undeniable Missy Elliott has solicited a trunk-rattling bass monster of a beat from Pharrell Williams, who helps her make her long-awaited comeback with single “WTF (Where They From)”. Idiosyncratic like all great Missy songs, “WTF” showcases that golden flow that saw her quickly become one of the most recognisable names in hip-hop back in…

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Drake’s “Hotline Bling” goes to church with a gospel cover from Anthony Hamilton and The Hamiltones

Anthony Hamilton and The Hamiltones decided to get together backstage this week and film a freestyle gospel version of Drake’s “Hotline Bling”. Offering a decidedly different take on hip hop’s biggest viral hit of 2015, the soulful collective tackle the track acapella, backed by nothing but some hand-clapping, finger-snapping soul and take-em-to-church adlibs. Hamilton was…

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Goodtime Hospitality rework The White Cockatoo into West Village, Petersham (Sydney)

Petersham pub The White Cockatoo has gone through a substantial revamp by new hospitality group Goodtime Hospitality – co-owned by entrepreneur James Bodel and Locky Paech (ex The Norfolk; The Forresters). Now know as West Village, the conveniently located venue is a blend of local pub familiarity and modern design with an acute attention to…

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Film Review: Spectre (USA, 2015)

Spectre is the 24th James Bond film, 52 years into a franchise that has defined and redefined espionage thrillers, showing absolutely no signs of stopping both financially and creatively after Skyfall’s overwhelming success in 2012. Sure Daniel Craig’s iteration of Bond has given us some dull moments (see Quantum of Solace), but the 47 year…

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Single of the Day: Jackie Onassis Ft. Spit Syndicate “Stay In” (2015)

Melodic and lush, “Stay In”, a new offering from Jackie Onassis and Spit Syndicate, toasts to the night in and continues the hype for Kai Tan and Raph Lauren’s long-awaited debut album. Kai, Nick Lupe, and Jimmy Nice bounce off the package of deep drums and percussion Raph serves up, giving us something more intimate…

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One Day add their own live show to Sydney festival One Day Only

As Sydney hip hop collective One Day prep their first ever boutique festival One Day Only they’ve decided to jump on the line-up as a collective, meaning that we’ll get to see all seven members on stage performing tracks from last year’s epic Mainline, and hopefully some new material. This is, of course, in addition…

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Erykah Badu shares single “Phone Down” ahead of new mixtape

Recent news that Erykah Badu will be releasing a new mixtape, titled You Cain’t Use My Phone, sent her many fans around the world into frenzy. We don’t often get full projects from the Queen of Neo-Soul nowadays, so her being inspired enough to give us a bunch of new material is a big deal….

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Nina Las Vegas heads to Florida on new track “Contagious”

Continuing to build her new label NLV Records by releasing a series of tracks showcasing the roster, Nina Las Vegas has hooked up with Miami bass champ Snappy Jit for a dance-floor killer titled “Contagious”. Making the track available for free download for seven days only, Nina has offered this production up as the third…

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Belle’s Hot Chicken to open at Barangaroo (Sydney)

We already know that the Barangaroo precinct will be home to Sydney’s Noma pop-up, but details are slowly starting to roll in of the other exciting venues looking to complete the development’s food element. Melbourne’s hugely sought-after Belle’s Hot Chicken will open at Barangaroo from November 19th, staying on at the harbour-side hub for 10…

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Merviale’s intimate Whisky bar, J&M, opens in Sydney

Hospitality group Merivale will officially open doors to J&M, an intimate Whisky Bar located on Level 2 of Angel Hotel, from 11th November 2015. Initially, J&M will function as an exclusive showcase for Chivas Regal, driven by the sensory experience of Chivas 18. Aimed at a complete but intimate experience, J&M will be one for…

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Gelato Messina launches new flavour inspired by Wellington, New Zealand, for one week only

In what is one of the more unique collaborations Gelato Messina have offered Australia, the renowned dessert kings have teamed up with New Zealand’s capital city, Wellington, to create a Welly inspired flavour that will be available across all Messina stores for just one week. With the cheeky name of “Sweet As”, the very limited…

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TV Review: The Walking Dead Season 6 Episode 5 “Now” (USA, 2015)

The last time we were in Alexandria was during The Wolves’ big invasion, leading to chopped up bodies, brutal action, and a whole lot of death. “Now” marks the first time we have properly caught up with Alexandria (Michonne stumbling into a broken down Alexandria, and Morgan entertaining his Wolf hostage with his backstory do…

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Kučka lets us in on the Red Bull Music Academy application process

She’s already won awards and been sampled by the likes of A$AP Rocky, but Perth bedroom-producer Kučka still values the kind of growth and development that an institution like Red Bull Music Academy will bring. It’s well known now that RBMA is one of the most challenging, provoking, and rewarding experiences for any producer or…

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First line-up announced for Melbourne’s first ever solar powered music festival

This December Melbourne will be hosting a festival that blends music with renewable energy solutions. Titled OFFtheGRID, the event will be presented by Finding Infinity and will take over the forecourt at Australian Centre for Contemporary Art for a summer solstice aimed at both providing punters with an awesome local line-up and raising awareness and…

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Ananas Bar & Brasserie’s Halloween Champagne Brunch – The Rocks (Sydney)

French hotspot Ananas Bar & Brasserie has been hosting special Champagne Brunches once a month for awhile now, pulling on various themes from Willy Wonka to Winter Wonderland. The well-received concept is refreshing and playful, spinning the traditional champagne brunch into lively buffets with free-pour packages, and a DJ for background music (themed, of course),…

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Cake Wines plan community feasts in gardens and markets around Sydney

From now until mid-December, popular wine champs Cake Wines will be staging a series of weekend lunches and dinners in local community gardens and farmers markets with the help of some of Sydney’s best chefs, including Mike McEnearney (of Kitchen by Mike fame) and Richie Dolan (of Chiswick). With such talent on board, the Cakes…

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Candelori’s (Spring 2015) – Smithfield (Sydney)

Candelori’s is a long-running, well-known restaurant in Western Sydney that more recently went through a major rework and now stands as, quite possibly, the best looking restaurant in the area. Step through that massive door and you’ll be met with an imposing space, designed to fit over 200 diners by stalwart design group DS17, who…

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La Puerta Latino Flavours opens in Neutral Bay (Sydney)

Neutral Bay’s growing dining scene has just taken a big step forward, welcoming Oscar Espinosa, ex-Head Chef of Mexicano, for his first solo venture, tapping into authentic South American food with La Puerta Latino Flavours. Just off the Military Road strip, on Waters Road, you’ll find the restaurant-bar and it’s heady tapas-style approach to flavours…

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Guylian Belgian Chocolate Café – The Rocks (Sydney)

Guylian Belgian Chocolate Café in The Rocks has a prime location for foot traffic, whether it’s tourists from the many cruises that ship in and out of Circular Quay or regulars who recognise the area as a regular haunt. As a chocolate-cafe chain (they have two other locations in Sydney, both by the water), Guylian…

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