James Williams

Gallery: Broadsheet’s One-Off Dinner With Christine Manfield and Melissa Leong at Hopper Joint

28 Nov 2024

Food & Drink The legendary chef took over the kitchen with head chef Ronith Arlikatti at Brahman Perera and Jason Jones’s Greville Street diner for a battle-of-the-ages Sri Lankan meal. Everybody won. Here’s how it went down.

Gallery: Broadsheet’s One-Off Dinner With O Tama Carey and Melissa Leong at Palazzo Salato

28 Nov 2024

Food & Drink In the Love Tilly Group’s grand trattoria, executive chef Scott McComas-Williams and Lankan Filling Station’s O Tama Carey remixed classic pastas with Sri Lankan flavours. Here’s how it went down.

Australia’s Hottest Club is … Yo-Chi?

28 Nov 2024

Food & Drink Co-founded by a billionaire toy-maker and later sold to George Calombaris’s Made Establishment, the froyo chain has always been successful. But it was never really cool – until now.

Studio Visit: Into Carry Turns Everyday Waste (and Your Old Jeans) Into Stylish Bags

28 Nov 2024

Fashion Luke Phillips first began selling his upcycled designs via Instagram. Now the Melbourne-based label has customers around the world (including Chile and Brazil), runs sewing workshops and hosts community potlucks with a house party feel.

Untouched Wilderness and Waterside Food Stalls: The Lesser-Known Pockets of Japan

28 Nov 2024

Travel Already been to Tokyo and Osaka? There’s a lot more to explore outside the big cities – you can get closer to the flavour at smoky food stalls and on remote subtropical islands. In partnership with the Japan National Tourism Organization, here are five spots to go beyond city limits, whichever season you visit.

Korean Margaritas, Old-World Glamour and Karaoke Till Dawn: A Night-Time Guide to Melbourne’s CBD

28 Nov 2024

Food & Drink Melbourne is one of those cities that takes on a new life after dark. In partnership with Hilton Melbourne Little Queen Street, here’s how to explore the city centre by night – from old-world dining to a sleek new-wave Korean spot to late night karaoke and cocktails.

Am I Wrong For Loving Melbourne’s New Pop-Up Hello Kitty Cafe?

28 Nov 2024

Food & Drink Broadsheet’s James Williams has loved Hello Kitty since his early teens. Here are six thoughts he had while visiting the themed cafe, which is here for a cute time, not a long time. Most surprising? The food is legit.

Old-School Greek Delis, Rolling Hills and a Coastal Treehouse: A Road Trip from Sydney to Wollongong With Chef Mischa Tropp

28 Nov 2024

Travel The Keralan chef shares his food-oriented tips for driving from Sydney Airport to the coastal city. In partnership with Avis, he takes us to an eco treehouse at the foothills of Mount Kembla, with detours for Taiwanese rice rolls and an old-school Greek deli.

Troye Sivan Is the Pop Star Next Door

28 Nov 2024

Entertainment The Aussie musician and actor talks about his “overnight” rise to fame, his Brat summer, and how he still gets nervous going on The Project.

On the Runs: It’s the Day Before Your Race – Here’s How To Prepare

28 Nov 2024

Active You’ve trained for weeks, broken in your running shoes and now race day is just one sleep away. In partnership with Bref, here are five practical tips for the day and night before your race – whether it’s a chill 5K, a competitive marathon or a scenic event like City2Surf.

Troye Sivan’s Fragrance Label Tsu Lange Yor Is Now Available at Mecca

28 Nov 2024

Fashion It’s a little easier to make your digs feel like Sivan’s internet-famous Carlton home. The Melbourne-born fragrance and homewares label is the first Australian brand available at Mecca’s Perfumeria.

Absurdist Comedies, Horror Flicks and More: What To Watch From MIFF’s MINI Headliner Films 2024

28 Nov 2024

Entertainment Some of its most anticipated headliners are by established and emerging directors from across the globe – including Francis Ford Coppola’s decades-in-the-making magnum opus and a surrealist satire with Cate Blanchett.

From Tokyo to Tea Fields: Being Spirited Away in Rural Japan

28 Nov 2024

Travel It starts with a journey deep into Japan’s rail network to the mountain town of Kawane. In partnership with Intrepid Travel, our writer boards the train for a Studio Ghibli-esque trip to green tea fields and a traditional homestay, where he encounters Japan’s cutest tunnel.

24 Hours in Osaka: How To Eat, Drink and Explore as Much as Possible in One Day

28 Nov 2024

Travel From smoky food arcades and highballs to sashimi at 3am. In partnership with Intrepid Travel, a Broadsheet writer and a local leader taste the best bites in Osaka and practice kuidaore, the local word for “eat yourself broke”.

Tatami Dining, Lanterns and Lots of Noodles: What To Eat, Drink and See in Kyoto

28 Nov 2024

Travel It’s hard to narrow down all the options for a day off in Kyoto – but, luckily, we went with a local expert. In partnership with Intrepid Travel, our writer and his tour leader spend a leisurely day exploring a riverside city replete with ramen, wading herons and more than a millennium of history.

Rug Making, Gemstones and a Rom-Com: A Weekend in Jaipur

28 Nov 2024

Travel Jewellery designers and garment makers spill out of their shops and onto the streets in Jaipur. In partnership with Intrepid Travel, here’s how I fell in love with a gem of a city over a weekend.

Postcards From Abroad: The Seven Spots I’ll Never Forget in India

28 Nov 2024

Travel A burgeoning creative village, a handwoven-rug factory and a room filled with mirrors you can’t take a selfie in. In partnership with Intrepid Travel, these are the places I can’t stop thinking about after a trip to India’s Golden Triangle.

Delhi Delights: The Best Things I Ate, Drank and Saw in India’s Capital

28 Nov 2024

Travel Between the chilli-infused air of spice markets and sticky-sweet jalebi fresh off the street cart, Delhi is the best kind of sensory overload. In partnership with Intrepid Travel, our writer hailed a rickshaw with the tour leader and explored a city that left them overstimulated, overfed and overjoyed.

First Look: Muli Express, a Chinatown Oyster Bar From the D&K Live Seafood Family

28 Nov 2024

Food & Drink Carlton crustacean haven Muli now has a tiny sibling on Little Bourke Street. It’s about as close to a farm-fresh oyster experience as you can get in the middle of the city.

The Scenic Route From Brisbane to Noosa – And Where To Stop Along the Way

28 Nov 2024

Travel Dotted with food and coffee breaks, markets and scenery stops, and with Noosa’s famous beaches as a final destination, this is a road trip worth the drive. In partnership with Avis, here are the highlights of the hinterland on the way to the Sunshine Coast.

First Look: Westgarth’s Samuel Pepys Has Transformed Into a Sunny New Wine Bar

28 Nov 2024

Food & Drink The boutique bottle shop opposite Palace Cinemas Westgarth has relaunched as a wine bar. Buy a bottle or a wine by the glass, snack on tinned fish and charcuterie, and spend an afternoon watching cinemagoers pass by the sunny windows.

First Look: Curtain’s Up at Hotel Indigo, a Theatrical New Sydney Stay Behind Kings Cross’s Coke Sign

28 Nov 2024

Travel The latest chapter in Hotel Indigo’s Australian expansion brings 105 boutique rooms inspired by the area’s bohemian past to a former office block on the iconic Potts Point corner.

First Look: Purple Pit, an Underground Cocktail Den by Two Hospo Heavyweights, Opens in a Collins Street Basement

28 Nov 2024

Food & Drink We’ve been waiting almost all year for this basement bar from Joe Jones (Romeo Lane) and Maurice Terzini (Sydney’s Icebergs) to open. It’s as dark, romantic and sophisticated as they promised.

Worth Travelling For: 13 of Victoria’s Best Bakeries

28 Nov 2024

Food & Drink Hitting the open road? Stop off at a charming time capsule of a bakery, a three-time winner of Australia’s best pie, or a discreet bakehouse where sponge cake rules.

Now Open: Muli, an Oyster and Crustacean Haven in Carlton From the Fishmonger Family Behind Beloved D&K Live Seafood

28 Nov 2024

Food & Drink The family behind the famed Footscray seafood market has brought expertise to this cosy 12-seat north-side restaurant. Oyster-lovers can also get a hands-on dining experience at Muli’s interactive Shuckmaster dinners.

“I’ve Made Melbourne Gayer”: Josh Thomas on His New Tour and One Food America Does Better

28 Nov 2024

Entertainment Thomas’s upcoming Aussie tour, Let’s Tidy Up, is all about working out how to do the small stuff – and “how much we’re meant to accept how shit we are”.

Blockbuster Sports, Live Music and Plenty of Sun: Six Events To Catch in Western Australia This Summer

28 Nov 2024

Travel Dreamy Indian Ocean sunsets are only half the appeal of Perth (Boorloo) and Western Australia in the warmer months. In partnership with Tourism Western Australia, here are six of the best events on the state’s calendar this season.

First Look: A Group of High-Achieving Hospo Friends Opens Maggie’s Snacks and Liquor on Lygon Street

28 Nov 2024

Food & Drink Aussie-inspired cocktails (we’ll be ordering the Margot Robbie) and Kiwi plates are on offer at this sprawling venue from industry legend Nathan Toleman.

First Look: Ghost Donkey Opens at Crown Melbourne – And It’s the Over-the-Top Bar We Want From a Casino

28 Nov 2024

Food & Drink The first Australian outpost of a NYC-born tequila and mezcal bar leans into the sensory whirlwind surrounding it at Crown Melbourne, with giant cocktails-for-two, Baja kingfish tacos and plenty of fairy lights.

First Look: It’s a Floating Fiesta at Arbory Afloat’s “Boldest, Brightest Ever” Transformation

28 Nov 2024

Food & Drink The sun is back in town and so is Arbory Afloat. And this year, it’s drawing inspiration from Mexico and the vibrant colours of Guadalajara, Oaxaca and Tulum. Head to the Yarra now for Spicy Margarita carafes, a new pool area with double day beds, and an al pastor taco hut.

First Look: Good Heavens Expands to Another Building, Becoming the CBD’s Biggest Rooftop Bar

28 Nov 2024

Food & Drink The CBD al fresco favourite has taken over the mid-century building next door, doubling the size of its rooftop in the process. From today, nearly 400 punters can enjoy a dedicated Martini menu, smoked brisket party pies, and brews and cocktails from 40 taps.

First Look: Fraek Vin Brings an All-Natural Wine Bar and Bottle Shop To Bridge Road

28 Nov 2024

Food & Drink This stylish Richmond newcomer focuses exclusively on minimal-intervention wines. Come for European-focused natties, approachable tastings and a great range of bottles to take away.

First Look: It’s Big Nonna Energy at Super Norma, a Pasta Pop-Up in a Former Carlton Grocer

28 Nov 2024

Food & Drink Come to the former Tanaka shopfront for rigatoni doused in rich Napoli-style ragu, Italo-disco tunes and a yarn with “Melbourne’s youngest nonnas.” Get in while you can, though – Super Norma is due to shut up shop in a month.

First Look: Hotel Indigo, a New Laneway Hotel With Interiors Inspired by Helmut Newton and a Vibrant Spanish Restaurant

28 Nov 2024

Travel After a $20 million refurbishment the former Holiday Inn on Flinders Lane now offers 216 boutique rooms with a street-facing restaurant helmed by an ex-Lee Ho Fook and Anchovy chef.

Now Open: The Motley Hotel, Inspired by a Local Costumier, Is Neatly Woven Into Bridge Road

28 Nov 2024

Travel Richmond recently gained an 80-room boutique hotel where, a long time ago, a seamstress workshop once operated. It brings with it an Aussie nostalgia-filled restaurant, cafe and rooftop bar.

Now Open: Vegan Antipasti and Eurovision Parties at Follies, Fitzroy’s New Retro Bar

28 Nov 2024

Food & Drink After taking off on Tiktok, the vegan antipasti bar has officially opened its doors on Johnston Street. Come for vegan cheese fondue, an array of arancini and lots of Abba.

Good Neighbours Will Become Good Friends at Carlton’s Cosy and Kinda French New Cocktail Spot, Bar Bellamy

28 Nov 2024

Food & Drink Rathdowne Street has gained a friendly Euro-leaning neighbourhood bar by a husband-and-wife duo with a combined CV that includes time at Gimlet, The Everleigh and Archie’s All Day. Come for hot sauce-drizzled oysters, devilled eggs and chicken-liver-parfait cannoli; stay for the revolving Martini roster and a yarn with the staff.

Bathe in the Shadow of the Grampians at Nook on the Hill, a Tiny Home With Ample Character

28 Nov 2024

Travel Take in the spectacle of a Grampians sunset from a comfy bed – or soak it up from the warmth of an outdoor clawfoot bathtub – at a tiny (but two-level) house that has it all.

Now Open: Convenience is Key at Sunhands, Carlton’s New All-Day Venue in the Former Ima Project Corner

28 Nov 2024

Food & Drink The Heartattack and Vine team has taken up residence in the sun-drenched corner shop with a cafe, wine shop, deli and general store. Stop by for dippy eggs and a vibrant morning plate, or grab a bottle of wine and a bouquet to-go.

First Look: Le Meridien Returns to Australia With an Ode to Mid-Century Melbourne – And a Gorgeous Rooftop Pool

28 Nov 2024

Travel It’s been almost 20 years since the French hotel brand had a property in Melbourne, and its return includes a showpiece pool overlooking Parliament House, a subterranean cinema-inspired diner and 235 luxe rooms that pay homage to mid-century Melbourne.

Gallery: Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras 2023

28 Nov 2024

Entertainment All the looks and the love from Oxford Street on Saturday night.

Melbourne’s Most Anticipated Restaurant and Bar Openings of 2023

28 Nov 2024

Food & Drink Sydney giant Merivale makes its interstate debut, 1800 Lasagne dials up the Italiana with two new venues, and cheeky brewer Moon Dog hops at the chance to take over the iconic Franco Cozzo building. Plus, a Sri Lankan diner by the duo behind Entrecote.

Eight To Try: Melbourne’s Best Tuna Melts

28 Nov 2024

Food & Drink One sandwich shop “goes hard on pickles and dill”. Another uses a heap of hacks to keep your melt crispy AF. And there’s a Japanese-inspired spin that the chef is so proud of he named a Spotify playlist after it (listen while eating).

Wild Graffitiing Stories From Some of Melbourne’s Best Artists Are Immortalised in a New Photo Book

28 Nov 2024

Art & Design Across 362 pages, Wall Stories traverses 40 years of the city’s graffiti history – pulling back the curtain (somewhat) on the mysterious art form and committing to written history what is often reduced to urban legend.

Rone’s New Blockbuster Exhibit Drops You in Abandoned, Frozen-in-Time Scenes From Mid-Century Melbourne

28 Nov 2024

Art & Design Renowned for his all-encompassing large-scale works, the Melbourne street artist has transformed Flinders Street Station’s long-abandoned ballroom and upper level into a nostalgic 11-room time capsule. With painstaking detail and reverberating soundscapes, it has a cinematic quality that makes it one of the year’s most exciting art openings.

A “Cultural Archaeologist” Is Uncovering the History Behind Melbourne’s Fading Facades on Instagram

28 Nov 2024

Art & Design Now with more than 17,000 followers, Footscray local Sean Reynolds is documenting ghost signs, typography and architecture from bygone businesses and brands – and looking into the stories behind them.

Haulier’s New Collection – a Label by the Former Creative Director of RM Williams – Is a Postcard From Euro Summers of Yesteryear

28 Nov 2024

Fashion Designed to pair with the Sydney label’s all-purpose tote bags, the unisex range features striped button-ups and shorts offering the comfort of outdoors-appropriate pyjamas, smart blazers you’re encouraged to dress down, and an open-collared velvet shirt best worn poolside like an off-duty rock star.

It’s Just Off Swanston Street, but Leonie Upstairs – Carlton’s New Sake and Sushi Sanctuary – Feels a World Away

28 Nov 2024

Food & Drink It might take you a minute to find the door, hidden inside Hareruya Pantry. But up the discreet staircase lies a beautifully minimalist bar with expertly crafted (and DIY) temaki rolls, and a 50-strong sake list.

First Look: Get Family-Sized Pies With All the Trimmings at Seddon’s Reborn Mona Castle Hotel

28 Nov 2024

Food & Drink The 1874-built pub’s fate hung in the balance after closing in 2020. But the corner spot has been returned to its former glory – with hearty Sunday roasts, shareable sausage rolls and plenty of west-side pride.

Fresh Aussie Menswear Label Joseph & James Makes the Stylish Streetwear Your Capsule Wardrobe Longs For

28 Nov 2024

Fashion Made with longevity in mind, the Melbourne brand’s debut collection is intentionally timeless so the pieces complement each other, as well as your existing wardrobe. Shop elegant cotton-cashmere knits, statement jackets and ankle-crop trousers with waist buckles.

First Look: Hareruya, a Sunny Japanese Eatery With Full-to-the-Brim Bento Boxes and Mochi-Wrapped Gelato

28 Nov 2024

Food & Drink The roller door goes up at 10.30am, and it’s worth getting in early to secure your picnic-ready lunch and Japanese-inspired gelato – from the owner of popular Melbourne cafes Le Bajo and 279.

Hustle Like Russell (Crowe): 98 Gym, Which the Movie Star Co-Founded, Opens in Melbourne

28 Nov 2024

Active The high-octane strength and conditioning training will have you channelling your inner Gladiator.

Gallery: A “Music Box” House, an Iconic Theatre’s Rebuild and a Restaurant Inspired by Blade Runner 2049 Make the Victorian Architecture Awards Shortlist

28 Nov 2024

Art & Design It’s the annual awards’ longest shortlist ever. And mammoth new arts precinct Collingwood Yards – in a 6500-square-metre former school – was recognised in three separate categories.

First Look: A Lune Alumnus Gives Her Instagram Bakery, Holy Sugar, a Bricks-and-Mortar Home in Northcote

28 Nov 2024

Food & Drink Pastry chef Audrey Allard’s decadent dessert boxes were a lockdown saviour. Now, find her popular butterscotch crullers and nutty dulce de leche tarts – plus hulking focaccia sangas – at a homey new shopfront.

Bam Is a Milk Bar for the Modern Day in Essendon, With Lofty Club Sandwiches and Fancy Pantry Staples

28 Nov 2024

Food & Drink The new family-owned corner store – a blue beacon on a residential strip – is like the pantry you wish you had. Come for bread and milk and leave with a whole lot more than you bargained for.

Swim With Skyscrapers in a (Heated) Rooftop Infinity Pool at Melbourne’s New Marriott Hotel

28 Nov 2024

Travel There’s an unexpectedly resort-style feel to the recently opened Docklands hotel – in a petal-shaped building – which has a laid-back rooftop bar and a restaurant in a dramatic, bunker-like space.

Melbourne’s Best Easter Treats for 2022 (Including Many, Many Inventive Riffs on the Hot Cross Bun)

28 Nov 2024

Food & Drink We’ve got tarts, cruffins, cocktails and more inspired by the humble HCB. And even an intriguing “cold cross bun” by Piccolina – it’s gelato-filled and a whole lot more delicious than it sounds.

Medics, Mayhem, and Mr and Mrs Potato Head: What We Saw (and Overheard) at Maximum Chips

28 Nov 2024

Food & Drink The all-you-can-eat hot-chip party was one of Melbourne Food & Wine Festival’s most anticipated events. Broadsheet was there when the French-fry floodgates opened – here’s what went down.

Now Open in Fitzroy: A Vegan-Friendly Sanga Shop With $9 Toasties and Rock’n’Roll Vibes

28 Nov 2024

Food & Drink Hot-pink signage marks the spot at Token Toasties, where the walls are plastered with rock’n’roll merch and the sandwich names are riffs on songs (like the Reuben Tuesday).

Phenomenal Chicken Sandwiches and Oven-Ready Dinners at a Sleek Corner Grocer in Armadale

28 Nov 2024

Food & Drink Top Melbourne caterer Blakes Feast has transformed a charming late 19th-century building into the new flagship for Blakeaway, its spin-off business focused on ready-made meals.

This Gorgeously Converted 19th-Century Farmhouse Is Your Home (Away From Home) Among the Gum Trees

28 Nov 2024

Travel Wake up to sweeping mountain views and freshly laid eggs at this secluded bluestone cottage on the Grampians’ edge. With the adjacent shearer’s quarters it sleeps 14, so plan a group trip.

This Melbourne Hairdresser Is the King of Curl – And Some of His Clients Fly Interstate Just for an Appointment

28 Nov 2024

Fashion Neel Loves Curls can transform the unruliest kinks and coils into envy-inducing ringlets. A booking here is hotly contested, but the lessons shared last long after you’ve left the salon.

“Out of Office – Ziplining Across the Yarra” Is Not an Auto-Reply I Ever Thought I’d Need

28 Nov 2024

Active A zipline has popped up in the CBD – it’s 130 metres long, 14 metres high and can propel you at up to 40 kilometres per hour. After a thunderstorm-related delay, we went for a zip. Here’s the verdict.

The Historic Robbie Burns Becomes Hotel Collingwood – The First Pub From a Prolific Cafe Group

28 Nov 2024

Food & Drink It’s a bit lighter and brighter, thanks to Bentwood, Clubhouse and Stanley’s Julien Moussi. And the easygoing menu flits between classic pub grub and modern, Asian-inspired “beer food”.

Now Open: It’s All Bagels, Baby at This Reborn Butcher’s Shop in Pascoe Vale

28 Nov 2024

Food & Drink The corner store is fast becoming a local favourite, serving classic lox and bacon-and-egg bagels alongside options such as brisket and Gruyere and the cannoli-inspired ricotta and strawberry.