HIP TRIPS: SYDNEY. When heading to a new city we always want to fit in as much as we can. Top of our to-do lists are usually eating & drinking, arts & culture, getting lost on the city’s public transport & walking around aimlessly looking for a place/venue that we realise has actually closed down or doesn’t open on the day we have chosen to visit.
So armed with some killer hints and tips of Sydney’s eating and drinking hotspots and must-see places to visit from friends, family and colleagues we’re as prepared as we have ever been. Which when traveling to the other side of the World seems about right. We’ve chosen our favourite picks of the trip to share – and yes most of them do centre around food and drink.
WHY GO…
An abundance of beautiful beaches, hot sunshine and blue skies, amazing food options and plentiful sightseeing all wrapped-up within one of the World’s most cosmopolitan cities Sydney should certainly be in your top 10 of must-visit metropolises.
WHERE TO STAY…
If a hint to the style of a hotel’s guest room can be made via its in-room magazine selection the QT is certainly reflective of its choices: With Vogue & Harpers Bazaar representing the fashionistas and Art Guide Australia & Design Hotel’s Direction publication the artists and designers it is a fitting selection for this stylish city retreat.
Greeted by sassy girls in red-bobbed wigs and bell boys in flat caps & braces the stunning art-deco building (once the historic State Theatre) keeps its original style and ethos firmly intact and makes you feel like you are entering a Tim Burton film set.
Located on the bustling shopping mecca of the aptly named Market Street, and just a two-minute walk from beautiful Hyde Park and St Mary’s Cathedral, the hotel is perfectly situated for sightseeing with transport links very close by.
Our room is on the top floor and we can just see Darling Harbour, which in the middle of all the high-rises, isn’t too bad a view. Ceramic animals adorn our room walls, funky geometric rugs cover the floor and an abundance of assorted cushions, alongside a fur rug (which in the heat of Sydney seems a little odd) covers our bed. We have our own crystal-ware cabinet complete with cocktail making paraphernalia and an emergency bow-tie in our mini bar for those emergency reservations at El Swankys. This is certainly a hotspot for fashionistas on a hip city trip.
Raw walls and minimalist design is the order of 1888. Light on fuss but with plenty of style it makes us think of stays in NYC but the illustration of Nick Cave in the corridor reminds us we are in fact on the other side of the globe.
The ideal retreat for a couple of nights in Sydney it’s not bogged down with facilities or adornments but is classically understated with enough style touches (the open glass elevators, the cool pastel bikes available for exploring, the cute little cafe/bar on the ground floor) to keep it interesting, boutique and independent.
Based in the Pyrmont district of the city it is close to the CBD and Darling Harbour making it just a short walk away to jump on the ferry to explore the city via its waterways.
WHERE TO EAT…
Friday evening and QT’s restaurant Gowings is heaving. The noise levels take some getting used to as the post-work crowd enjoy cocktails at the bar. We shout our requests to the waitress and get involved ordering a bottle of Pinot Noir from Victoria.
There’s a pleasant mix of ages in the restaurant giving off a refreshingly unpretentious vibe whilst still in that chi-chi hotel bar setting.
The food is good honest gastro pub style; with a healthy mix of seafood and meats on offer we go for one of each. The Seafood Pie is filled to the brim with Snapper, Ocean Trout, Prawns and Scallops swimming in just the right amount piping-hot creamy sauce and covered with a puff pastry lid.
The Minute Steak Rib Eye is cooked pink. It is 100% Black Angus from New South Wales and comes with Anchovy butter, watercress, shallots a Horseradish Salad and Shoestring fries. The food, like the atmosphere, is great.
Housed in a magnificent warehouse style 2-level building the design feels like pre WWII Shanghai rather than metropolitan Sydney. Raw walls, copper piping and shelves with dried ingredients and adornments fill the space. The part-banquet style seating, little intimate nooks and atmosphere makes for a unique experience and ideal for celeb spotting.
Set behind the fashionable Establishment Hotel the restaurant is tricky to find for those unfamiliar with the city (thank goodness for Google maps). Down a little alleyway you feel like you’ve found a secret place – that is until you go inside and find the hundred or so people already seated that found it too.
Booking is essential as Mr Wong’s gets packed out and once you taste the food it is very easy to understand why! The portions are substantial and this is by far the BEST Cantonese cuisine we have ever tasted.
We go for a Steamed Dim Sum Platter, the gorgeously sticky barbecued honey glazed “char siu” pork, Sichuan style king prawns and asparagus, broccoli and sugar snap peas with garlic and rice wine. If we could have possibly fitted in more food we would certainly have tried but we’ve eaten just about as much as we can.
Everything is delicious, full of taste, cooked beautifully – it can’t be faulted. After a brief break our waiter tempts us to finish off with his recommended favourite dessert: the baked chocolate ganache with green tea ice-cream and raspberries. We share and plunge in to chocolate heaven. Just like our dinner it is wonderfully tasty. Amazing atmosphere, unique decor and tasty food; by far a highlight of any culinary trip!
This sounds like we’re off to visit a castle or historical site but no, the Grounds are indeed more of a leafy oasis in an otherwise industrial area of Sydney. You have to wonder where people come from when at 12.15pm on a Monday afternoon you find hundreds of people trickling in to brunch and lunch.
Partly resembling a garden centre it is actually a series of buildings that house a remarkable cafe, a coffee shop (serving coffee filtered in more ways we even knew existed) and a bakery serving on-site produced fresh breads and cakes. There may well have been more in there but it was so packed with bodies queuing and sitting we couldn’t see most of it.
An oasis of greenery The Grounds also includes farm yard animals (why not), a florist and a lovely deli store selling some seriously good looking culinary delights.
A sprawling collection of dining options are on offer. From casual outdoor snacking in the lovely grounds to BBQ and weekend market stalls. The slightly more formal cafe dining experience is based in the Potting Shed (pictured); A lively bustling space with hanging baskets overhead and where fresh locally harvested produce is served.
This concept restaurant caters for anyone with foodie leanings and is a great way to escape the city heat.
It is time to get down to the beach so we head to Coogee for weekend brunch. Like everywhere else we’ve been in Sydney it is packed full to the brim however this venue has more of a casual vibe and is filled with families.
We’re by the sea so of course we go for seafood. Freshly shucked oysters and grilled split prawns topped with sparkling butter and espelette pepper. They don’t last long!
The venue is huge and includes a rooftop area with a Mediterranean menu that has more of an adult feel. Downstairs there’s a ‘nostalgic games arena’ complete with petanque, giant magnetic scrabble and ping pong.
WHERE TO DRINK…
Kings Cross / Darlinghurst Area
Hinky Dinks – A beautifully retro-designed kitsch little bar with great cocktails.
Kings Cross Hotel – A sprawling space with chilled out lounges, live music rooms, DJ’s and a rooftop. A little something for everyone.
CBD Area
Mojo –
Booze, tunes and rock ‘n’ roll. At the front there’s a second-hand record store and at back a cosy little bar selling a range of Australian beers and a fine selection of seasonal and classic cocktails all accompanied by a mighty fine soundtrack.
Uncle Mings –
Nondescript office block from the front and red-lit speakeasy on the inside. Making up one of the new trend of “secret bars” in the city although it isn’t too much of a secret anymore.
Bondi Area
Mamasan & Bad Mama –
Tasty Asian tapas is served up in fine cosy surroundings with great decor and saki.
North Bondi RSL –
If you can befriend a member of this servicemen’s club you’ll be rewarded with discount priced beer and food plus one of the best views of the beach thanks to its substantial balcony.
THINGS TO DO…
Museum of Contemporary Art Australia
With a rolling programme of contemporary exhibitions the gallery, located opposite Sydney Opera House, sees big name artists exhibiting throughout the year. With a primary focus on Australian artists you’ll also see international names like Chuck Close and Grayson Perry (10 Dec 15 – 1 May 16).
Art Gallery of NSW
A stunning gallery space that houses impressive collections of Australian, European, Asian and contemporary art set within the city’s Botanical Gardens.
The Royal Botanic Garden
Free to enter and with an awesome view of the Opera House spending a day picnicking under the shade wouldn’t be a bad move.
Sydney Ferries
A very cheap way to get around the city and take in the sights from the water the ferries are an ideal way to get around and visit a few of the city’s fine beaches and must-see places.
Coogee to Bondi Coastal Walk
There are great photo opportunities to take in along some of the cliff tops making it a beautiful way to see many of the city’s beaches along this 6.3km stretch. It took us several hours to walk with plenty of refreshment stops along the way as most beaches offer tempting picnic shelters, play areas, kiosks, toilets and change-rooms with some (Tamarama, Bronte, Coogee and Maroubra) offering free electric barbecues for you to get the full Oz experience.
The 19th annual Sculpture by the Sea exhibition will be staged along the walk (between Bondi and Tamarama) from 22 October – 8 November, 2015.
Featherdale Wildlife Park
We couldn’t visit Australia without getting the chance to stroke a Koala or feed a Wallabie so walking around leafy Featherdale, where some of the countries native animals are cared for, is an ideal place to see them up very close.
TIPS
Pick up the Urban Walkabout Maps for indie bars, restaurants and shopping. They are available free in outlets around different districts of the city.
For places to visit, information and further help see Destination NSW.
