Little Sista aims to offer big flavours

Heading for the Blue Mountains and feel like a warming foccacia before, or after, tackling a brisk winter walk?

Leura has a new eatery in Little Sista, a focaccia-driven café that also spins vinyl.

From the family behind the long-lived Cafe Leura, Little Sista sees daily fresh-made focaccia take centre stage on the menu, along with coffee, house-squeezed juices, and that vinyl soundtrack.

Each focaccia is made as a sandwich with the crowd favourite, ‘Everything She Wants,’ stacked with prosciutto, mortadella, sopressa, ham, mozzarella, pesto, sundried tomatoes, and rocket.

For something with a Mediterranean accent, 'The Grecko' layers slow cooked lamb, tzatziki, semi dried tomato, onion, feta, peppers, and oregano, while The Big Veg' stars grilled eggplant, mozzarella, roasted peppers, and pickled onions.

Toasters imported from Italy crisp each focaccia in just 90 seconds, which the owners say "preserves the bread's texture while keeping meats tender, lettuces fresh, and every bite perfectly balanced".

The space is intimate by design with seating for 16 inside and eight outside,

At the centre, a Rega Planar 6 record player spins from open to close, while Wharfedale Linton speakers and a Marantz Model 40n amplifier deliver the warm, rich sound: I'm told that 1960s aesthetics meet modern audio precision.

Co-owner Andrew Tsaroumis says Little Sista marks an exciting new chapter for his family, with the next generation bringing fresh energy to the space.

“Our kids have grown up in this world and have been hands-on in shaping LittleSista - it feels vibrant and full of life," Tsaroumis says.

"Everything centres around the focaccia, made fresh and served the way we love to eat it - simple, generous and made to be shared. You can grab one on the go or stay for the music and great company. It’s fresh, it’s fun and it still feels like home.”

Little Sista is open Monday to Sunday, 8am-4pm, for dine-in and takeaway.

Head to https://www.littlesista.com.au/ to learn more.

Refurb and new branding for one of Australia's great country estates

The landmark Lilianfels Blue Mountains Resort & Spa is to undergo a complete refurb and will be re-branded as an Ardour Hotels & Estates property after the renovation.

The Salter Brothers Hospitality Group announced today that Lilianfels will follow Ardour Milton Park Bowral and become the second country estate to join the new grouping.

Currently undergoing a multi-million-dollar renovation, the new Ardour Lilianfels Blue Mountains will be unveiled in 2026.

“The addition of Lilianfels to the Ardour Hotels & Estates collection is a powerful expression of our vision," says Tash Tobias, CEO of Salter Brothers Hospitality.

"It’s about crafting exceptional hotels and estates and a new guest experience in regional destinations that is a deeply meaningful and modern expression, honouring heritage and connection to place.”

Originally built in 1889 as the summer residence of eminent Chief Justice, Sir Frederick Darley, Lilianfels became one of the Blue Mountains most celebrated retreats in the early 1990s.

It's new chapter is being crafted by design firm Luchetti Krelle, drawing inspiration from English garden estates while honouring Lilianfels heritage.

Beyond the accommodation, the resort "will offer elevated dining, refreshed event spaces and enhanced wellness facilities".

“Lilianfels has a unique place in the heart of the Blue Mountains community and Australia’s hospitality heritage,” said Sandra Kloprogge, regional general manager overseeing the transformation.

“The integration of this respected resort into the Ardour Hotels & Estates collection marks a pivotal moment - a thoughtful renewal that respects its history while setting a new standard for luxury, wellness, and immersive guest experiences in the region.”

See https://ardourhotelsandestates.com

# Ardour Hotels & Estates is a new portfolio of boutique luxury lifestyle destinations in regional locations.

New look and new menu for Blue Mountains eatery

 

Popular Blue Mountains venue Miss Lilian has reopened with a new look and new menu showcasing the flavours of south-east Asia.

Located on the grounds of Lilianfels Blue Mountains Resort & Spa - next to the iconic Three Sisters - the new menu has been created by experienced international chefs Quang Vinh Pham and Vu Mai Truong Nguyen, utilising their extensive experience cooking in kitchens in Vietnam and Hong Kong,

The chefs have combined their passion for bold flavours and innovative cuisine with a menu featuring street food favourites including modern Vietnamese and Thai dishes, and Cantonese-inspired dim sum.

The venue offers a casual atmosphere with an open-plan kitchen. 

Signature dishes include Mongolian braised beef short rib, crispy skin spatchcock with calamansi plum sauce, and a beef noodle pho soup.

The dim sum menu includes traditional flavours such as lemongrass Pork, prawn siu mai and barbecued pork bun. 

The refreshed beverage menu features a range of Asian-inspired alcoholic and non-alcoholic cocktails including Green Dragon Margarita (tequila, wasabi, cucumber, agave, green chilli salt) and Mandarin Spritz (mandarin, lychee, orange, lemon and soda).

Miss Lilian is now open for dine-in and takeaway five days a week from Thursday to Monday from 11:30am-5:30pm.

See https://www.lilianfels.com.au/dining/miss-lilian

Go foraging for your own dinner ingredients

Ever wanted to go foraging for wild mushrooms, but not sure which ones are edible, and which are poisonous? 

Kyah Boutique Hotel in the Blue Mountains, west of Sydney, is hosting three wild mushroom foraging weekends this April, wrapped into a play and stay experience.

Sign up to enjoy a morning of wild mushroom hunting, lunch in the woods, a three-course foraged mushroom dinner at Kyah’s onsite restaurant, Blaq, and top it off with a night’s stay at Kyah.

 

Hosted by mushroom farmer Mate Herceg (below), who also happens to be Kyah’s general manager and executive chef, you will be foraging and feasting pine and slippery jack mushrooms in the prime of the season. 

The experience kicks off on a Saturday morning, with the chef accompanying you to the woods for a few hours of foraging following by a light lunch and refreshments under the canopy of trees. 

Following your exploration of the wilds, you’ll head back to Kyah to spend the afternoon as you wish; enjoy a cocktail on the deck at Blaq, snag a spot in front of one of the three fireplaces in Blaq to warm up, sneak in a post-hunt nap or take in town of Blackheath. 

For dinner, you’ll enjoy a three-course meal based on those freshly foraged fungi .Of course, optional matched wines will be available.

 

Wild mushrooms are only available for a short window of time each year and groups are limited to a maximum of 12 people. 

The cost is $315 per person twin-share or $450 per person for single occupancy on Saturdays, April 9, 23 and 30. 

See www.thekyah.com.au/whats-on

Mountains resort high on chic appeal

The Blue Mountains are a delightful weekend escape destination for anyone living in Sydney and the village of Blackheath has recently welcomed Kyah Boutique Hotel, a 1970s-era motel that has been reimagined with a ‘luxe’ touch by Sydney-based design firm MKD Architects.

Less than two hours drive from Sydney, the 46-room, family-owned hotel offers a modern mountain retreat with easy access to all the region's attractions. 

The design has been inspired by Palm Springs, with archways, curves and cutaway interiors and Art Deco furnishings. 

The best news is that rooms start from $220 a night - great news for travellers on a budget. 

The revitalised hotel comprises three separate accommodation buildings (each named after one of Katoomba’s famed Three Sisters) that flow into a central lobby and entertainment hub. 

Each of the rooms and suites has its own external entry to bypass the lobby - a retained ‘motel’ feature and great for anyone who does not want to be seen. 

Travellers can choose from king suites (which sleep up to three people), twin queen rooms (which sleep up to four), and two-bedroom suites and spa suites (sleeping up to five people). I can feel a party coming on!

There are also rooms designed to cater for family groups. 

Regardless of your room type, each room comes with complimentary wifi, a smart TV to cast content from your own device, USB charging points and reverse-cycle air-conditioning. 

Other hotel amenities include a hairdryer, tea- and coffee-making facilities, and bar fridge, along with  ethically sourced bathroom amenities. 

Blaq restaurant and bar is overseen by executive chef Mate Herceg who is also the hotel’s general manager (and, presumably, a very busy boy). 

Herceg is a veteran of several regional standouts, including the Hydro Majestic Hotel, Lilianfels and  Blackheath Bar & Bistro). 

"The majority of our suppliers are located within a 80km radius to Kyah - and that’s important to me," Herceg says. "We really do have an abundance of sensational produce in the Mountains from which to choose - and I want to showcase that as much as possible.” 

The drinks list at Blaq bar also champions local suppliers, from Karu Distillery, Katoomba-based Blue Mountains Gin and Mountain Culture Beer Co., through to the 100% New South Wales wine selection. 

Kyah Boutique Hotel is located near the highest point of the Blue Mountains between Katoomba and Mount Victoria. 

Rates start from $220 per room per night for a king suite (above).

For more information or to make a reservation visit www.thekyah.com.au

Images: Steven Woodburn

Doctor duo distils a liquid idea

A visit to the doctors sounds a whole lot more appealing when the doctors in question have a whisky bar. 

Dr Jerry Schwartz (top) and Prof John Rasko (below) have crafted Two Doctors Whiskey and launched a new whiskey bar at Fairmont Resort Blue Mountains. 

The two Sydney doctors have unveiled a three-year-old cocktail whiskey made by Prof Rasko to celebrate the launch of the Two Doctors Whiskey Tavern. 

The first batch of six-year-old single malt whisky, meanwhile, is nearing the bottling stage at the Two Doctors' Hunter Valley distillery. 

At one of their early meetings in 2012, Prof Rasko discovered that Dr Schwartz operated a brewery in the Hunter Valley, and the two friends decided to establish a distillery to create the first super-premium whiskey distilled in NSW.  

Bespoke wash and spirit stills were sourced from Tasmania, and Prof Rasko set out to craft the finest pure malted barley spirit for maturation in vintage oak barrels sourced from premium Hunter Valley vineyards.  

 

Bottling of Two Doctors whiskey is about to get underway, with the first bottles expected to be unveiled in 2022. 

Dr Schwartz said that the partnership to create the Two Doctors whiskey brand was the result of a happy combination of his brewery in the Hunter Valley and Prof Rasko’s interest in creating a whiskey from scratch. 

 

“Expert barrel tastings of the Two Doctors whiskey have been universally praised and reflect both the investment we’ve made in the process and John Rasko’s passion and skills,” said Dr Schwartz. 

 

“What will set Two Doctors whiskey apart is that most ‘new world’ distilleries start their process with gin, vodka or rum so that they can get an early return on investment. But we are focussing exclusively on single malt whiskey and we have filled some 200 hogsheads over the past seven years. 

"No other distillery in Australia is likely to invest such high levels of dedication and patience into their whiskey. 

 

“As a logical extension to the production of the whiskey, I thought we should open a dedicated whiskey bar given that I had a perfect space for such a venue at my Fairmont Resort. With Prof Rasko’s integral role in our whiskey journey, the bar just had to be called the Two Doctors Whiskey Tavern.  

 

“There is a medical theme to the bar, with various pieces of medical equipment installed as ‘furnishings’, though we are confident that a ‘visit to the doctors’ will be a far more attractive proposition than the usual doctor’s appointment.  

 

“The Fairmont is a brilliant location for a whiskey bar because the Blue Mountains, with its mist and chill are very reminiscent of many Irish and Scottish locations steeped in whiskey – or whisky – heritage."

See www.fairmontresort.com.au/restaurants-bars/two-doctors-whisky-tavern/