Below you'll find insider tips on getting the best from Sydney, from hints on finding a home to reviews of the hottest restaurants in town.
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Alcohol
A shop that sells alcohol in Sydney is known as a bottle shop or ‘bottle-o’. Most offer a good selection of wines, beers (including local, imported and boutique), spirits and mixed drinks. Common outlets include Dan Murphy’s, Vintage Cellars, Liquorland, and Porter’s, which are franchises found all over Sydney with reasonable prices. These shops are usually open seven days, and typically close around 19:00. You can’t buy alcohol in supermarkets, corner shops or petrol stations.
Australia is swimming in local wine and as a result, Sydney has plenty of quality wine at excellent prices. You can get a decent bottle for around $10, and some exceptional wines are available for under $20, although premium vintages can cost much more. In most shops you can save around 10% on the bottle price if you buy by the dozen.
Many also hold free wine tastings at weekends and in the evenings. There will be a table set up with a few wines to taste and usually a sales person to discuss them with. Sometimes they can be a little pushy, so don’t be afraid to say no. Tasting does not oblige you to buy; you can simply thank the attendant and walk away.
If you are interested in finding out more about Australian wines, Quaff by Peter Forrestal is a good guide to wines under $15, or the annual Australian Wine Guide, by Jeremy Oliver, reviews both popular and premium wines. You can also learn a lot on a wine tour, or by reading the wine columns in the Sydney Morning Herald and the Daily Telegraph.
Most shops also sell local, international and boutique beers. Cheaper beers include VB (Victoria Bitter) and Toohey’s New, which cost around $10-$14 for a six pack. Good local beers include James Boags, Cascade, Little Creatures, James Squire and Hahn, which sell for around $14-$17 for a six-pack.
If you like to brew your own beer, shops like Brewcraft Retail Store and Brew-Maker (see table) sell home brew equipment and ingredients and give advice on how to best brew in Sydney’s climate.
Spirits such as vodka, whiskey and rum are almost all imported, so the range can be limited and more expensive than in Europe or America. Most 700ml bottles of spirits sell for $25 or more. Alcoholic drinks are labelled showing the percentage of alcohol they contain – around 5% for beer, 11% for wine and 25% for spirits.
When you enter any bottle shop you’ll be met by a number of prominent signs explaining the various laws governing alcohol in Australia.
Firstly, you must be over 18 to buy alcohol, and this is strictly enforced. You risk a $5,000 fine if caught supplying alcohol to an under-18, and so does the proprietor. If asked for ID, you can show your passport or an Australian driver’s licence. If you can’t provide either, you may be refused service.
It is also illegal to supply alcohol to an intoxicated person in Australia, but this law is interpreted more loosely. Generally, someone unsteady on their feet or slurring their speech may be refused service at a bottle shop. Unsurprisingly, if you become aggressive or violent you will also be refused service.
Many pubs also sell take home alcohol – either via a small internal shop, a drive-through service attached to the side of the pub, or over the counter. Pubs need a special licence to sell ‘takeaways’, so not all establishments do. Pubs usually have a limited range of drinks and it can be more expensive, but the benefit is you can buy alcohol up until midnight – a good option if your local bottle shop is closed.
Cleanskins
A glut of Australian wines has led to a rise in the sale of ‘cleanskins’, sold cheaply through bottle shops and companies like CK Direct. A cleanskin is a bottle sold without the commercial label or winemaker’s name. Wineries often offload excess bottles this way, but they can be a gamble. You may get something fantastic for under $10, or you may get something not much better than vinegar. It’s important to only buy wines from cleanskin sellers who carefully select their wines, so it’s best to avoid the large chain bottle shops. CK Direct sells a good range by phone and internet. The website has thorough descriptions of each wine, and staff can offer advice over the phone. An excellent range is available from $3-$20 per bottle with free delivery throughout Australia and a money back guarantee. See www.ckdirect.com.au.
Australia is swimming in local wine and as a result, Sydney has plenty of quality wine at excellent prices. You can get a decent bottle for around $10, and some exceptional wines are available for under $20, although premium vintages can cost much more. In most shops you can save around 10% on the bottle price if you buy by the dozen.
Many also hold free wine tastings at weekends and in the evenings. There will be a table set up with a few wines to taste and usually a sales person to discuss them with. Sometimes they can be a little pushy, so don’t be afraid to say no. Tasting does not oblige you to buy; you can simply thank the attendant and walk away.
If you are interested in finding out more about Australian wines, Quaff by Peter Forrestal is a good guide to wines under $15, or the annual Australian Wine Guide, by Jeremy Oliver, reviews both popular and premium wines. You can also learn a lot on a wine tour, or by reading the wine columns in the Sydney Morning Herald and the Daily Telegraph.
Most shops also sell local, international and boutique beers. Cheaper beers include VB (Victoria Bitter) and Toohey’s New, which cost around $10-$14 for a six pack. Good local beers include James Boags, Cascade, Little Creatures, James Squire and Hahn, which sell for around $14-$17 for a six-pack.
If you like to brew your own beer, shops like Brewcraft Retail Store and Brew-Maker (see table) sell home brew equipment and ingredients and give advice on how to best brew in Sydney’s climate.
Spirits such as vodka, whiskey and rum are almost all imported, so the range can be limited and more expensive than in Europe or America. Most 700ml bottles of spirits sell for $25 or more. Alcoholic drinks are labelled showing the percentage of alcohol they contain – around 5% for beer, 11% for wine and 25% for spirits.
When you enter any bottle shop you’ll be met by a number of prominent signs explaining the various laws governing alcohol in Australia.
Firstly, you must be over 18 to buy alcohol, and this is strictly enforced. You risk a $5,000 fine if caught supplying alcohol to an under-18, and so does the proprietor. If asked for ID, you can show your passport or an Australian driver’s licence. If you can’t provide either, you may be refused service.
It is also illegal to supply alcohol to an intoxicated person in Australia, but this law is interpreted more loosely. Generally, someone unsteady on their feet or slurring their speech may be refused service at a bottle shop. Unsurprisingly, if you become aggressive or violent you will also be refused service.
Many pubs also sell take home alcohol – either via a small internal shop, a drive-through service attached to the side of the pub, or over the counter. Pubs need a special licence to sell ‘takeaways’, so not all establishments do. Pubs usually have a limited range of drinks and it can be more expensive, but the benefit is you can buy alcohol up until midnight – a good option if your local bottle shop is closed.
Cleanskins
A glut of Australian wines has led to a rise in the sale of ‘cleanskins’, sold cheaply through bottle shops and companies like CK Direct. A cleanskin is a bottle sold without the commercial label or winemaker’s name. Wineries often offload excess bottles this way, but they can be a gamble. You may get something fantastic for under $10, or you may get something not much better than vinegar. It’s important to only buy wines from cleanskin sellers who carefully select their wines, so it’s best to avoid the large chain bottle shops. CK Direct sells a good range by phone and internet. The website has thorough descriptions of each wine, and staff can offer advice over the phone. An excellent range is available from $3-$20 per bottle with free delivery throughout Australia and a money back guarantee. See www.ckdirect.com.au.
9555 2294
1800 113 111
