10 Little Gems in Sydney as Suggested by a Local

Born and bred Aussie, Isobel Daly has lived in Sydney most of her life: “It’s such a vibrant city, with so much on offer, one moment you can be sunbathing at the beach, yet just round the corner you can be lost in beautiful gardens or immersed in the business district; and this isn’t even touching on the harbour or attractions such as the hundreds of bars, cafes, restaurants and shops Sydney has to offer!”

Here, she spills the beans on her favourite hidden gems for eating, drinking and generally relaxing, resulting in some great advice for people going on Australia holidays.

My favourite hang out
I love hanging out at Icebergs at Bondi Beach. It has large balconies and windows from which you can see some amazing views across the beach. The place is stylish, sophisticated and relaxing making it a very popular hangout. I like to go there for evening drinks but if you fancy eating in there, I would advise you to book a table as it often gets really busy.
Tip: Try to visit around sundown as it’s a great spot to see some amazing sunsets across the beach
1 Notts Avenue, Bondi Beach 2026, Australia +61 2 9365 9000 ‎

My favourite bar
The interior of the Ivy Bar is amazing; in fact the whole building is gorgeous and it’s worth going there just to see the bar alone. Through eight zones and on different levels, the décor’s influence is a mix of very modern with very grand and all the soft furnishings and muted colours help to still give a sophisticated, yet homely feel. If you’re there early evening, I’d recommend their cocktails but it’s also a great place to end the night as they throw some awesome parties so you can dance the night away.
Tip: It’s more of a standing/dancing establishment so wear appropriate shoes and if you want a seat or there’s a group of you, you may want to phone ahead to book an area.
330 George St, Sydney, NSW, 2000 +61 2 9240 3000

My favourite restaurant
Tetsuya’s is a great place to go if you’re celebrating something special like an anniversary. Be prepared for a lot of courses as the degustation (set menu) has nine courses of fine food for you to devour, with influences from France, Japan and modern Australia. While eating you can enjoy views across a Japanese-inspired courtyard of maples and waterfalls which results in a really relaxed atmosphere. You don’t need to take my word for this one as Tetsuya’s has been included in The S.Pellegrino World’s 50 Best Restaurants for years!
529 Kent Street, Sydney 2000, Australia +61 2 9267 2900 ‎

Where to share cheap and cheerful drinks with friends
Zanzibar rooftop bar is beautiful for early evening drinks while the sun goes down. The joint has a vibrant chatty atmosphere, making it a great place for a relaxing night catching up with friends. It’s the type of place where the night seems to fly by when you’re sharing some sangria and yummy tapas style tasting plates.
Tip: They have great cocktail happy hours on Friday and Saturday night.
323 King Street, Newtown NSW 2042, Australia +61 2 9519 1511 ‎

Where to grab brunch with friends
To have a lazy Sunday morning, to get over a hangover, or just to catch up with friends, Vargabar is a cute and cosy café which is great for brekky or lunch. Whilst they have an extensive drinks menu, milkshakes, smoothies and so on, their coffee is always good and highly recommended. You can find it on Wilson St in Newtown. Being a converted old second hand clothing store, it has a funky vibe and stands out from other cafés.
Tip: The café is quite small and often busy. If you arrive mid morning you may have to wait a little while for a table but it’s worth it.
10 Wilson St, Newtown NSW 2042, Australia +61 2 9517 1932 ‎

Where to head for the perfect day out
My perfect day out, as stereotypical as it is, is a BBQ at the beach. If you visit Australia you have to throw at least one shrimp on the barbie! My favourite beach to recommend is Coogee beach. It’s less touristy than Bondi and if you fancy a walk, there’s a path from Bondi to Coogee. The walk takes about two hours, weaves around the cliffs of the coast and has fantastic views, rock pools and small beaches all the way.
Arden St, Coogee 2034, Australia

Where to escape from the crowds
When I really want to escape the crowds, I head off to the Botanic Gardens. Despite being in the centre of Sydney (just opposite the Sydney Opera House), it’s one of the most beautiful urban gardens I have been to. You can wander through; lose yourself in the exotic trees and spot wildlife such as cockatoos and fruit bats. There are also numerous lakes and benches which are great for relaxing with a picnic. From the gardens you can still see the Sydney skyline which looks fantastic, yet the gardens are so peaceful you’ll feel far away from the city.
Tip: Enthusiastic volunteers conduct free walks every morning at 10.30 which last 90 minutes and they teach about the vast flora and fauna of the gardens.
Mrs Macquarie’s Road, Sydney 2000, Australia +61 2 9231 8111

Where to find a relaxing cup of coffee
If I want to get lost in a crowd, I love to sit in one of the many coffee shops in the Queen Victoria Building and watch the world go by. Once a concert hall, the QVB is such a beautiful, elegant building which was built back in the 19th Century. It still keeps its elaborate Romanesque architecture, which was designed to resemble a Byzantine palace, has a cast iron circular staircase and you can’t miss the central copper dome and the glass roof.
455 George St, Sydney, NSW 2000, Australia +61 2 9264 9209 ‎

My favourite bookshop
I love browsing the bookshops of Sydney and my favourite has to be Kinokuniya. In the centre of town, the enormous shop stocks every book you can imagine; from foreign or obscure to graphic novels or new releases, the knowledgeable staff can always find what you’re looking for. And of course, no bookshop would be complete without lots of comfy couches and armchairs to relax in while you browse the books.
Tip: Pop into the coffee shop where they often have art galleries and exhibitions.
Level 2, The Galleries Victoria, 500 George St, Sydney, NSW, 2000

Where to go for shopping
For mainstream shopping I tend to go to Bondi Junction – there’s a huge Westfield shopping centre there with over 300 shops so you’re bound to find what you’re looking for. However, if you prefer browsing boutique shops for unique gems, try the smaller shops in Queen’s Street in Paddington.
Westfield: Bondi Junction 2022, Australia and Queen’s Street, Woollahra 2025, Australia

If this has whet your appetite to visit Sydney, Austravel has some great deals on flights to Australia at the moment, with prices available from as little at £679pp.

This entry was posted on Thursday, June 9th, 2011 at 1:30 am and is filed under Australasia. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.