By Marie-Antoinette Issa.
This Saturday and Sunday, August 23-24, The Rocks is handing Sydneysiders the keys to a weekend of food, flavour and live music and despite the region’s convict history, you won’t want to lock yourself out of this one this time round!
The place to be is the Unlock The Rocks Weekend festival - which will serve up two full days of indulgence, discovery and delight - that’s completely free to attend.
Running from 11 am-4 pm across the harbourside precinct, this jam-packed event is part of the month-long Unlock The Rocks celebration, which has already transformed Sydney’s oldest neighbourhood into a foodie playground.
However, this weekend is when the fun really turns the key - with five self-guided food trails, free jazz, free beer tastings and more than 60 offers across 20 venues to keep you busy (and well fed).
First stop: First Fleet Park
Kick off your adventure at First Fleet Park, where artisanal food stalls, NSW wineries and smooth live jazz set the scene. For just $5 you can sample three wines from regional stars like Hungerford Hill, Tyrrell’s and PepperGreen Estate, or grab a glass from $10 and sip along to sets by the Kate Wadey Quintet, Big Little Quartet and more.
Feeling peckish? You’ll find cheese from La Bastide, charcuterie plates, oysters fresh from Sydney Oyster Farm and Bar Coco Coffee’s fresh-filled cannoli.
Jazz, beers and hearty bites
Next, follow the sound of the saxophone into The Rocks proper. The Australian Heritage Hotel is hosting free live jazz alongside guided beer tastings with 7th Day Brewery. Expect blind tastings, behind-the-scenes stories and a few prizes for good measure - but spots are limited so make sure you book ahead.
From there, take the live jazz trail through Le Foote, The Rawson and 4 Doors Down, where you can warm up with a $12 cocktail or tuck into the kind of hearty pie that feels tailor-made for Winter weekends.
If you’re more in the mood for oysters and ocean flavours, stop by the new Hooked and Harvest for a customisable plate of freshly shucked oysters or head to Snake Bark where Thai flavours meet DJ beats from Christy and friends at The Rocks Square stage. With food and music around every corner, it’s like stumbling across a hidden treasure chest with every turn of the key.
For the coffee crew
If your idea of a perfect weekend involves a caffeine fix, Unlock The Rocks also has you covered. Aslan Coffee Roasters is running coffee cupping and roasting workshops ($22), where you’ll taste a variety of flavour profiles, learn the ins and outs of roasting and even score a complimentary 250 g bag of beans to take home. Over at Mule Coffee Roasters, founders Cesar Vela and Nicolas Tobon are sharing the stories behind their bold blends in a free talk, plus you can grab a complimentary coffee when you order breakfast.
Choose your own flavour adventure
One of the best parts of Unlock The Rocks is the five foodie trails that run right through the precinct. You can snack your way through the Cheese Trail (Basque cheesecake, triple-cheese toasties and charcuterie platters with truffle honey), savour your way along the Seafood Trail (lobster, oysters, tataki and more), or explore the Native Ingredients Trail which brings wattleseed, finger lime and kangaroo to the table in delicious new ways.
The always-popular Cocktail Trail is also back with 21 venues shaking and stirring $25 cocktail-and-canape pairings (yes, please). For those who can’t start the day without a flat white, the Coffee Trail hands you the master key to happiness in beverage form.
With more than 20 venues throwing open their doors and 60 special offers, Unlock The Rocks Weekend is Sydney’s ultimate key to the city - a choose-your-own-adventure for foodies, coffee lovers and cocktail connoisseurs alike. Whether you’re planning a girls’ day out, a casual date or just want an excuse to wander through Sydney’s most charming harbourside neighbourhood, there’s something waiting for you down every cobblestoned laneway.
So, bring your appetite, your mates and maybe a stretchy waistband - because this is one weekend you’ll want to lock into your diary.
Unlock The Rocks Weekend runs Saturday and Sunday, August 23-24, 11 am-4 pm. For more info, maps and bookings, head to therocks.com.
