When Puerto Rican musician Bad Bunny landed in Sydney for his debut Australian tour, the first cafe he was spotted at lived up to his name. The Rusty Rabbit cafe in Darlinghurst – which Bad Bunny visited on Thursday – is known for their ricotta pancakes and also their team, the South Sydney Rabbitohs.
But Bad Bunny – real name: Benito Antonio Martínez Ocasio – hasn’t always had a favourable relationship with the furry creature. In a 2020 interview with Jimmy Fallon, Ocasio described how he was forced to wear a bunny costume to school for Easter. He told Fallon this is where his name came from, pointing to a picture of himself as a child in the costume and saying: “I don’t look mad, but I remember I was mad.”
We created a comprehensive itinerary of the best spots Ocasio should hop to next in Sydney – all fit for the baddest of bunnies.
Take in art at White Rabbit Gallery, Chippendale
Home to one of the world’s most significant collections of contemporary Chinese art, this is a fitting place for Ocasio to start his day. Their current exhibition, The Hooligans, matches his willingness to speak out – “I do whatever I want,” as Ocasio said during his Saturday Night Live monologue in 2023. These artworks show the ways Chinese artists responded to censorship during the Mao era.
Eat a carrot (sorbet) at Cafe Paci, Newtown
Bad Bunny can kick back with an early evening snack at the European-Australian restaurant Cafe Paci. Their signature dessert – a carrot sorbet with a yoghurt mousse and liquorice cake underneath – will hit his sugar craving while cutting through the humidity. For something a little less sweet, he should try the fermented carrot and nduja (fermented Italian sausage) on rye.
Snack on hoppers at Colombo Social, Enmore
Just down the road, Ocasio can snack on Sri Lankan hoppers – hollow bowl-shaped crepes made out of a coconut milk and rice flour batter, accompanied by sambal and curry. If he wants to meet his protein goals, he can order one with a fried egg inside it. Light and crunchy, they’re the perfect starter before a big pub feed.
Have a pub meal at Warren View Hotel, Enmore
The place to be if you’re a bunny-head, this pub is a meeting place for Rabbitohs fans in Sydney’s inner west. He will be able to truly feel the love for the mammal when he’s here on a game night.
Enjoy a drink at Burrow Bar, Sydney CBD
As the sun sets, it’s time for Ocasio to go underground. He can escape the hustle of the city and enjoy the basement’s 10th anniversary before they close for renovations. All drink options are covered with classic cocktails and the option to go off menu and let the bartenders decide. If he’s feeling like a late-night snack, they have a selection of Vietnamese bar food too.
Honourable mention: South Sydney Rabbitohs game, Accor stadium
In a perfect world, Ocasio’s night would finish at a Rabbitohs match, surrounded by bunny fans of a different nature (although those familiar with the team may know it is named after a person who hawked rabbit meat and pelts). Unfortunately, their next game isn’t until 8 March and in Brisbane, but hopefully he will be cheering from afar.
