The Playmaker
Let's play
PLAYMAKER
  • It's Saturday
    What day is it?
  • Now
    What time is it?
  • Anywhere in Sydney
    Where are you?
  • What do you feel like?
    What do you feel like?
  • And what else?
    And what else?
  • LET'S PLAY

CONTRIBUTOR

Ben Hansen

Ben Hansen is the Junior Editor at Concrete Playground. Ben is Sydney's biggest advocate — a passionate supporter of the city's hospitality and art scenes. You can catch him sipping a negroni at your local bar, barracking for the Eels at CommBank Stadium or on your radio as host of FBi Radio's Mornings every Wednesday.

Favourite restaurant in Sydney: Baba's Place. Minimal-intervention wines, inventive eats, great tunes, friendly staff and a love for all things suburban, all hidden in a Marrickville warehouse. What more could you want?

  • Matkim Is the Tiny Korean Omakase Restaurant Now Open in Circular Quay's Sydney Place

    This intimate dining experience serves inventive and artistic Korean dishes to just eight people each night.

  • Ayrburn Is the Dreamy New Drinking and Dining Destination That's Opened Near Queenstown

    Queenstown isn't just a winter destinations — and this dining precinct is here to prove that with six stunning venues (and more to come).

  • Manly's New Small Bar Henry G's Is Here to Level Up the Northern Beaches' Wine and Snack Game

    The team behind Donny's Bar has opened a cosy new venue specialising in vino, pintxos and tinned fish.

  • Inner-City Italian Diner Secolo Has Reopened as a Pop-Up at The Exchange Hotel in Balmain

    Secolo is back to revive the Fabbrica Balmain space for a little while before The Exchange Hotel gets a makeover.

  • Fred again.. Is Performing a Last-Minute Show at the Sydney Opera House Tonight

    Fred again.. mania is about to hit Australia again.

  • Zensi Is the New Luxury Accom and Wellness Retreat That's Opened in the Mudgee Wine Region

    This absolutely stunning property in regional NSW is facilitating wine-fuelled group weekends away — and hosts all-inclusive wellness retreats.

  • Eight Unmissable Events to Add to Your Schedule for Mardi Gras 2024

    Free dance parties, a side-splitting comedy fest, the southern hemisphere's biggest vogue ball and 'Murder on the Dancefloor' on Bondi Beach — they're all part of the 2024 Mardi Gras lineup.

  • Burdekin Rooftop Parade Viewing Party

    Saturday 2nd March
    @ Burdekin Hotel

  • Mardi Gras Laneway

    Sunday 3rd March
    @ The Beresford

  • Absolut X

    Friday 23rd February - Sunday 25th February
    @ The House of Music & Booze

  • Queer Records Pop-Up at Ace Hotel

    Saturday 17th February
    @ Good Chemistry

  • White Bay Power Station's Restoration Is Officially Complete Before It Reopens as an Arts Venue in March

    The historic power station will open to visitors for the first time in 40 years as an artistic, cultural and community hub.

  • Influential Inner West Cafe Cornersmith Is Closing Down at the End of February

    The beloved Annandale cafe is shutting its doors — but the team promises "Cornermsith isn't over!".

  • Groovin the Moo Has Cancelled All of Its 2024 Dates, Citing Insufficient Ticket Sales

    Big sad news from the beloved touring music festival, which was set to return in April with a lineup featuring GZA, Melanie C, The Kooks and Jet.

  • Casa Esquina Is Balmain's Friendly New Argentinian Restaurant From the Tequila Mockingbird Team

    Affordable midweek meals, whole suckling pig, South American wines, and a Fernet-Branca and Coke cocktail — they're all on offer in the former Efendy space.

  • Two Queers Comedy Festival

    Friday 16th February - Thursday 29th February
    @ Various Sydney venues

  • Maiz Has Moved Its Vibrant Mexican Eats and Bottomless Brunch to a Sleek New Enmore Road Space

    Maiz 2.0 brings weekend brunch with loaded tortas, an affordable set menu and a special Yulli's corn cerveza to the old Hartsyard digs.

  • Sydney Lunar Festival

    Saturday 10th February - Sunday 25th February
    @ Chinatown

  • Now Open: The Lower North Shore Has Welcomed Its Latest BYO Stunner Niche Mosman

    This crowd-pleasing breakfast joint offering bottomless rosé brunch transforms into a cosy neighbourhood diner with brown butter swordfish and $8 happy hour wines as the sun sets.

  • A Blueprint for Ruins

    Wednesday 20th December - Sunday 12th May
    @ White Rabbit Gallery

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