Hidden Gems & Must-See Shows – Your Sydney Week Starts Here!

This week for the grinders amongst us I have the perfect café recommendation. Also a couple of special suggestions for those that have an affinity with music from the 1990s and the tunes that emanate from Nashville.

As always just five minutes of recommendations to start your week.

1. Love the grind? Get into the Valhalla Grind ☕️ 

Valhalla Grind is so named as it is a café in the old Valhalla Cinema which closed down in August 2005, almost 20 years ago.

An excellent choice of café for breakfast, brunch or lunch in the quieter part of Glebe Point Road. The Google reviewers have spoken and give it a 4.5 star rating.

As Chad noted in his Google review “…The food is amazing and unique with excellent service from our cheeky but friendly hostess…”

The team operate an all day breakfast and all day lunch! What a great idea 😃 I recommend the breaky burger (bacon, 2 eggs, hashbrown, rocket and BBQ sauce) or the pea & haloumi fritters (soft poached eggs, labneh, avocado, tomato and aleppo pepper - yum.

Located at 166 Glebe Point Road, Glebe and open from 7:00 am to 3:00 pm, seven days per week.

2. A Nashville Inspired Country Music Bar 🎸 

The distance from Sydney to Nashville is 14,799 kilometres and so the smart Aussie owners (from Windsor and Townsville) decided to bring Nashville to Sydney and open Jolene’s Sydney.

The team at Jolene’s describe their fine establishment as a Nashville inspired American whiskey, cocktail and country music bar. The live music roster is excellent and they feature both types of music “…country and western…” 😉 

The punters have given Jolene’s a 4.6 Google star rating 🤩 maybe because happy hour runs each days until 6:00pm.

Located in the basement of 73 York Street. Sydney and open Tuesday to Saturday from 4:00pm until late. Bookings can be done via the website but only apply for the five booths. FYI - no bucks or hens parties 🙃 

3. "… And all I can taste is this moment …" - Yes the Goo Goo Dolls are in town 🎼 

The Goo Goo Dolls are back in Sydney after a 20 year hiatus. They are playing the Horden Pavlova on Friday 21 February 2025.

With a long list of amazing songs since the band formed in 1986 including; Iris, Slide, Black Balloon, Better Days and Come to Me. Check out their YouTube channel where Iris has been played 596 million times !!

Doors open at 6:00pm and the music kicks off at 7:00pm with special guest Thirsty Merc. Don’t wait another 20 years, get your tickets today.

Tickets start from $152.85 (+ booking fees), VIP has all been sold out. Tickets can be purchased from Ticketek

4. Henry … where's your Head at ?

Henry hasn’t lost his head what I meant to say is this weeks recommended walk is the Henry Head walking track at La Perouse.

It is an easy 4 kilometre round trip and has awesome coastal views, birds and other wildlife. All up the round trip is less than two hours.

Start the walk at either La Perouse Museum at Cann Park on Anzac Parade, or the carpark near the park entry gates on Anzac Parade, opposite Goorawahl Avenue.

Don’t forget your hat and sunscreen.

5. A little taste of Barcelona at The Spot 🍽️ 

OMG Barcelona. If you have dined in the tapas bars of Barcelona or for that matter San Sebastian you will be more than chuffed with Del Punto in Randwick.

They serve Spanish tapas (including pinchos) and cocktails in a stylish, cozy restaurant with a large mural of a Barcelona street. I makes me want to book a flight to Spain!

The dishes are for sharing and include olives, patatas, chorizos, empanadillas, various pinchos, vieras and gambas. My recommendation is the Empanadillas which is four golden parcels of 14 hour slow cook beef brisket 😋 

Located at 40 St Pauls Street, Randwick and open Monday to Friday 4:00 to 11:00pm and Saturday and Sunday from midday until 11:00pm.

Bookings are recommended which can be done via the website or by calling the team on 0423 643 196

Thanks for reading!

Cheers and beers,

Mick

Founder of Mick’s Five