We talk to the recently married lovebirds about their nuptials, making time for each other, and exactly where to go (and what to order) for the perfect Sydney date night.
They’re the couple who made Australia (read: me) believe in true love. It’s been five years since Laura Byrne and Matty ‘J’ Johnson met on the set of The Bachelor, and their relationship has aged like a fine wine – layered, full of flavour, and impossible not to look upon with serious admiration. Their Instagrams – full of skits, family photos and the odd sponsored post – scrolls like a lesson in healthy relationships. The love and respect between these two is loud and clear.
We set Laura and Matt a challenge: ditch the kids (just for a night) and take each other on a date. Below, we chat to them about all things relationships, their recent wedding, and exactly where to go (and what to order) for the perfect Sydney date night.
Laura and Matt have been busy since their season came to a close in 2017, growing their careers and family. She’s the founder of leading Australian jewellery label ToniMay, an author, and co-host of the outrageously successful Life Uncut podcast. He’s a regular host on TV’s Studio 10, recently scored his first movie role (playing Sam the firefighter in Christmas Ransom, a Stan Original coming out shortly), and is about to join the cast of Play School – a turn of events that will come as thrilling news to the two adorable children they share, three-year old Marlie-Mae and one-year-old Lola.
It’s fair to say Laura and Matt’s lives are somewhat chaotic. Date night just isn’t the priority when you’ve got podcasts, TV shows and two young children to attend to. Add planning a wedding to the list – the two finally tied the knot this past week after their original plans fell victim to Covid – and you’ve got yourself a neverending to-do list. In fact, Matt remembers during the conversation that he’s about to fill in as a weatherman on Channel 9’s Weekend Today. “I don’t know if I told you this yet, babe,” he says to Laura. “Let’s pretend I have. I’ll be gone from Friday until Sunday next weekend.” Laura laughs, “Love that you tell me this during an interview so I can’t say anything. Let me have a look at my diary and tell you how much of a pain in the ass that is later.” As the observer of this domestic exchange, there’s zero awkwardness. These two might be famous, but they’re also just two working parents, who love each other very much, doing the best they can to juggle it all and have a laugh along the way.
And the dust is finally settling – the lovebirds have a little more time these days to make googly eyes at each other over a plate of pasta and a bottle of rosé. “We’re coming to the end of a really crazy, busy period where the focus has definitely been the kids and work, first and foremost,” says Matt. “Now we’re hitting a new stage where we’re kind of thinking, ‘Oh, we deserve a bit of Matt and Laura time.’”
That together time is crucial. “To book a babysitter and just go and have a proper date night – you have to! Otherwise you might spend time together, but just at home on the couch, going through the motions, reading emails,” says Laura. “You’re in each other’s company, but that time is not quality time. Date night gives us the chance to actually have a proper conversation with each other and be completely engaged in what the other person has going on in their life. It’s so nice.”
During lockdowns, date night looked like ordering takeaway Margaritas (Laura’s fave) from Mexican restaurant Carbón in South Bondi, and tuning into the Hot Dub Time Machine livestream. Now that things have loosened up, their idea of the perfect night out together starts with a 6.30pm booking for dinner, followed by well-crafted cocktails. They both agree that small and cosy are high on their list of date spot prerequisites – somewhere you can nestle into a corner and set the mood for a relaxed evening. Nothing too extravagant, but still with a tinge of special.
Tasked with taking each other out on the perfect date night in Sydney, they nailed the assignment. They kicked the evening off at Dear Sainte Éloise – an intimate laneway wine bar on the cusp of Potts Point and Kings Cross that pairs neighbourhood friendliness with exceptional food, wine and service. “It’s almost as if you’re ducking over to a friend’s house for dinner, rather than sitting down at a restaurant,” says Laura. But unless your friend is an accomplished chef, the fare at Dear Sainte Éloise is far more impressive. “They do a Fraser Island spanner crab, folded through mascarpone, chives, crispy chilli oil, and house-made pickles, served with butter-soaked brioche,” drools Laura. Then there’s the burrata, which makes Laura’s eyes light up in a way not dissimilar to how she looked at Matt in the final episode of their Bachelor season. Of course it’s not date night without pasta – “The trottole ‘nduja with charred asparagus was to die for”.
“The restaurant is really considered. It feels as though each item, from the wine list to the food pairing, has been carefully chosen,” she says. “If you consider yourself a bit of a wine lover, this is the perfect place – the menu has detailed information about each of the producers.” Meanwhile Matt admits he gets decision paralysis when faced with a comprehensive menu. “The waiter recommended the La Morella ‘Il Monte’ Cortese [Piedmont, Italy, 2020] and it couldn’t have complimented the food any better!”
After dinner, it’s a five-minute ride to Charlie Parker’s in Paddington. Of course the food at Charlie’s is equally exceptional, but it’s the cocktails Laura and Matt have Ubered for. Buried underneath sister restaurant Fred’s on Oxford Street sits this hidden cocktail bar – “It’s one of those places you could walk past a million times and never know it existed,” says Matt. “It has a speakeasy feel to it, surrounded by cut-away sandstone, stacks of candles, Persian rugs and leather couches. It reminds me more of a private club than a cocktail lounge. It’s the perfect mix of being unpretentious while still feeling like you’re in a really cool, exclusive venue.”
Charlie’s has made a name for itself with its commitment to a garden-to-glass philosophy. A near-fanatical obsession with seasonality, plants and unusual ingredients makes for spectacular cocktails – “You won’t get a better cocktail in Sydney!” Matt declares. After consultation with the knowledgeable bartender, Matt went for the Lemon Myrtle & Geranium, a twist on the classic Naked and Famous cocktail that mixes Aperol, mezcal and bergamot oil. Laura, on the other hand, opted for the Coconut Rum Punch, a modern take on a Piña Colada packed with clarified coconut, lavender and almonds. Both cocktails feature ingredients grown on the venue’s very own rooftop – complete with a 20,000-resident beehive.
“Both Dear Sainte Éloise and Charlie Parker’s tick all the boxes – delicious food and wine and amazing service in a venue that feels like you have your finger on the pulse when it comes to finding the best hidden gems our city has to offer,” says Matt.
As for whether or not to dress up for date night? “These days, as long as the clothes on our backs are clean, that’s all that matters. In terms of what happens afterwards though, I think Laura would prefer to keep that private, if you know what I’m saying,” jokes Matt. “Please ignore him,” Laura counters.
Of course, when they first met, they had the budget (and production team) of The Bachelor behind them. “We did everything. We had the boats, we had the helicopter, we went swimming with elephants in Thailand. We literally had it all,” recalls Laura. Matt adds to the list, “We bought and named a star, we went paragliding. We had a really great smorgasbord of dates from the really romantic to the adventurous and everything in between.” When I point out they definitely had it better than some of the Bachie hopefuls on later seasons (when budgets began to wane), Laura laughs, “Yeah, we were lucky we weren’t like Lorena, who just went and got a pie on the side of the street.”
Relationships forged through reality TV tend to disintegrate once the cameras disappear and the realities of life kick in. “For quite a while, I would even say the first year, we didn’t really go out in public,” explains Laura. “We really wanted to spend time together, but it felt so exposing to be out and about. It was only after things calmed down that we then started to finally go out for nice dinners and do things together as a couple.” For some, it’s the loss of the glitz and glam of fame that erodes the relationship, but this suits Laura and Matt just fine. “I think I’m very lucky that my partner is someone who’s super easy-going. Laura is equally happy having fish and chips on the beach as having lobster and Champagne in a fancy restaurant,” says Matt.
When I ask about their other date spot recommendations, this happy blend of luxe and lax shines through in Matt’s reviews:
- 10 William Street – “A really cool, hidden Italian eatery and wine bar in Paddington. Only downside is that it's so popular and intimate, it ain't easy getting a booking!”
- Archie Rose Distilling Co. – “For anyone who loves spirits, there's no better venue to enjoy whiskies, gins, vodkas and rums showcasing native ingredients. It's one of Sydney's first distilleries in 160 years and has interactive spirits experiences from masterclasses to fascinating distillery tours. Very cool!”
- Una Más – “If you're looking for the perfect spot to eat Mediterranean style seafood while drinking a crisp rosé and staring out to the ocean – look no further.”
- Tio's Cerveceria – “This is the ideal spot if you're looking for a fun night out. They do five or six mixed tequila drinks, including a sour with grapefruit and soda, a smoky combination of coke and lime in salt-rimmed glass, and another called Roberto's Especial with fresh apple juice and cucumber. To top it all off, there's also free popcorn.”
- The Butler – “Coming into summer, it would be remiss of me not to mention a venue with a cracking terrace. The Butler is a dreamy, colonial, French garden rooftop offering breathtaking panoramic views of the city. They could serve me muddy water and I'd keep coming back (although I do prefer their Aperol Spritz).”
I couldn’t let Laura and Matt go without asking about the wedding. After all, a wedding is the ultimate date night. “It kept on expanding,” says Laura. “Originally it was just the wedding, then we were like, let’s do a dinner the night before, let’s do a party the next day, let’s just stay there forever and ever.”
It was Matt who took charge of the wedding planning, booking florists, make-up artists and cars (they went with a Chrysler limo, a throwback to the one Laura stepped out of on The Bachelor). “Laura is definitely one of the easiest clients I’ve ever had,” says Matt. “Have you organised many other weddings?” I ask. “No, but I’m thinking about it. Maybe it’s in my future. I’ll give you a really good rate when you get married, Lara,” he jokes. Seeing how gorgeous their Mollymook wedding was, I wouldn’t say no.
“For us, because we got engaged three and half years ago, it’s been such a long time coming,” says Laura. “I guess a lot of people get married with the intention that once they do, they’re going to start their life together – maybe have kids or buy a house or whatever it is. We’ve done things very back to front, so for us it wasn’t this defining moment where we’re like, now we can start our lives together, it’s just a celebration of what we already have, and the kids got to be a part of it, which was just so amazing.”
Their kids, and maybe one day even their grandkids, will have quite the story – Mum and Dad met on a reality TV show. “We finally got a copy of the whole season on a USB,” says Laura. “But I feel like Marlie and Lola will probably need to be a bit older to be able to comprehend what’s going on, like, ‘Why is daddy kissing all these girls?’” Matt chimes in – “If they misbehave, we’ll make them watch it. You eat your dinner or otherwise I’ll force you to watch Mum and Dad do our first kiss all over again.” Adorable and traumatising all at once.
Laura and Matt’s advice for maintaining a happy, healthy relationship is simple: marry your best friend. “I’m very lucky in that I’ve managed to pick the perfect woman,” says Matt to a chorus of ‘awwws’ from Laura and I. “I’m very, very fortunate that I don’t feel like it’s something I have to work too hard for because, every day, I look at Laura and think, man, I’m so bloody lucky that she’s my wife.”
“I agree with everything Matt said,” says Laura, “you have to pick well in the first place. A partner who is your best friend, who even when you don’t have the opportunity to go out on a whole lot of date nights, when you get into the routine and pressures of normal life, you’re still with someone who you can have fun with no matter what you’re doing. Carving out that really special time is amazing and important, but also just doing the general day-to-day living and being together can be so fun.”
