Paint & Sip Sydney CBD & Surrounds

Paint and sip suits the CBD and its fringe better than most places, because the whole idea is to turn up after work or on a Saturday afternoon with a bottle, sit at an easel and let an artist steer the room. On Party Hero there are three studios in this part of the city so far: Pinot & Picasso on Shelley Street near Barangaroo, Cork & Chroma on Holt Street in Surry Hills, and Art Masterclass Sydney on William Street in Darlinghurst. All three are BYO, supply the brushes and materials, and send everyone home with their own finished piece.

Choosing between them comes down to a few practical points:

• Getting there: this is the best-connected part of Sydney, so public transport is the easy option. Cork & Chroma is walkable from Central and near the Surry Hills light rail, Art Masterclass Sydney is close to Museum and Kings Cross stations, and parking around the studios is limited.
• The experience: Pinot & Picasso and Cork & Chroma run guided canvas paintings, while Art Masterclass Sydney also offers Turkish mosaic lamp and ceramic painting workshops alongside paint and sip.
• Group size: Art Masterclass Sydney takes private groups of 8 to 35, Cork & Chroma's private events start at 10 paid seats, and Pinot & Picasso offers reserved sections for groups under 15 and private functions from 15 guests.
• Booking lead time: weekend hens and birthday dates go early, and Cork & Chroma asks for evening private events to be arranged well in advance.
• Food and drinks: all three are BYO for drinks. Pinot & Picasso offers pizza and graze packages from $25 a head for private functions, and Art Masterclass Sydney serves apple tea and Turkish delight during classes.

Prices start from $69 per person at Pinot & Picasso and Cork & Chroma, and from $79 per person for paint and sip at Art Masterclass Sydney. Between a themed hens package, a hands-on workshop and a simple canvas night, most groups will find a fit.