An Inside Guide To Sydney
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Where To Stay
Ace Hotel: Housed in the former Tyne House brick factory – a site that once contained Australia’s first ceramic kilns – the Ace Hotel is the perfect place to stay after a day of meetings in Sydney. Fitted out by Melbourne firm Flack Studio, the space takes an Australian approach, with design that nods to the colours and textures intrinsic to the landscapes – terracotta tiles, deep ochre carpet and eucalyptus tiles. In Surry Hills, it’s one of the best options for location.
Three Rooms Sydney: Offering apartment-style accommodation, Three Rooms has collaborated with Australian designers McMullen & Co, MCM House and Sarah Ellison to curate three unique spaces. In the leafy neighbourhood of Potts Point – steeped with Victorian and art-deco buildings – you’ll be in a good spot to get around, while getting to enjoy a calmer pace.
Paramount House Hotel: Also in Surry Hills, Paramount House Hotel provides a refined yet comfortable stay. Once the home of Paramount Pictures Studios, the hotel is set in a 1940s art-deco, heritage-listed building. A retro-chic cinema and bar is joined to the hotel, meaning you can indulge in a drink before watching a film. Make sure to book a bedroom with a timber Japanese-style tub.
Sun Ranch: For those who want to venture outside of Sydney, Sun Ranch in the Northen Rivers’ Hinterlands is a quintessential retreat into nature. Surrounded by lush greenery and rolling hills, the sun-soaked, 1970s-style property is steeped in nostalgia. The perfect place to slow down, disconnect and spend days lounging poolside. We love the floating sauna and ice bath.
Where To Swim
Clovelly: Between Bronte and Coogee, Clovelly is a small and tranquil beach at the end of a narrow bay. Concrete platforms and promenades have been constructed on both sides, providing ample space for sunbathing. A favourite spot of ours, we have spent many hours oscillating between a cold plunge in the saltwater pool and soaking up the warmth of the sun on the concrete. With its graphic shores and geometric concrete platforms, Clovelly served as a location for one of our recent campaigns.
Wylie’s Baths: A swim here is a must while in Sydney, and costs around $6AUD. Tucked away on the southern end of Coogee Beach, Wylie’s Baths are tidal swimming pools that first opened more than a century ago. Waves break over the sides ensuring the water is always fresh.
Resolute Beach: For those seeking seclusion, this is a hidden gem. Accessible only by foot, it offers pristine sands and calm, emerald waters. Surrounded by native bushland and rugged rocks, you feel a world away from the city. It’s a steep walk down, but so worth the descent. One of our favourite spots to unwind and reconnect with nature.
Sauna at Nimbus & Co: Take a restorative infrared sauna at Nimbus & Co in Bondi. With a large sauna that can fit three people, it’s a great way to catch up with a friend. There are also ice baths so you can enjoy the benefits that come from contrast therapy. Detoxify and leave feeling completely renewed.
Where To Eat & Drink
10 William: This is an intimate, candle-lit bar and restaurant. Drinking and dining in this Paddington nook is a quintessential Sydney experience. It’s got one of the best natural wine lists in town, and the pretzel with whipped bottarga is a must.
Pellegrino 2000: At this warmly lit, neighbourhood trattoria and bar in Surry Hills, the homemade pasta transports you straight to the streets of Italy. It’s a restaurant that is always in our rotation – familiar and reliable, it’s like a warm hug. Order the crème caramel which comes with a dramatic silver platter of banana-infused whipped cream.
Ragazzi: Dark, cosy and intimate, Ragazzi is for when you need a late-night pasta fix. Order the anchovy with whipped chive butter on sourdough. It’s sublime.
MyFlowerMan: Serving as a florist and coffee bar, MyFlowerMan in Tamarama is a must-visit to grab a coffee, soak up the sun, and pick up a bunch of flowers for the week. Partial to a simple, single varietal, MyFlowerMan always has the most beautiful selection to choose from. Located ever-so-slightly off the beaten track, it’s a calm spot where you can forgo the queue for your morning coffee.
Alberto’s Lounge: Hidden down an alleyway in Surry Hills, Alberto’s is the perfect spot for an aperitif on a winter’s day. Small and intimate, it serves the most delicious Italian food.
Sean’s: Homely, relaxed and unpretentious, Sean’s is a bit of a Sydney institution. As you dine in the sun-bathed room, Bondi’s crashing waves are audible from within. The menu is local and seasonal, with most sourced from chef Sean Moran’s Blue Mountains farm.
Piccolo Bar: This is a tiny, European-style aperitivo bar and diner. It’s the cutest place to grab a pre-dinner cocktail and snack. It has limited seating, but it’s worth the wait. Make sure to visit during aperitivo hour from 4pm to 6pm.
What To See & Do
Sydney Opera House: With over 40 shows per week, the Opera House is one of the world’s busiest performing arts centres. If you can’t make it to an actual performance, join the daily architectural tour and uncover how the Unesco World Heritage-listed masterpiece was built – it’s really worthwhile.
Gallery of NSW: Spanning two buildings connected by a public art garden, the Art Gallery of NSW houses some of the most beautiful Australian and international masterpieces. The perfect place when looking for design inspiration, we often find ourselves lingering longer in the 19th-century Grand Courts where many of the modernist pieces are housed.
Three Sisters Walk: Take a scenic drive to the Blue Mountains for the Three Sisters Walk. Meander along well-maintained paths with dramatic valley views, and serene bushland of eucalypt forests. It’s an entry-level hike and, depending on your pace, takes up to 45 minutes.
Where To Shop
Provider Store: In Surry Hills, Provider Store acquires highly considered pieces rooted in Japanese design. Among its sustainably sourced and slow-made products, you can find unique handmade ceramics, linens and homewares.
Lee Mathews: You will always discover a functional yet beautiful piece you didn’t know you needed at Lee Mathews, so make sure to visit the Australian womenswear designer’s boutique in Paddington. With pieces crafted from high-quality, natural materials, you’ll find elevated essentials that will be on high rotation in your wardrobe. As one of Baina’s first Australian stockists, Lee Mathews is one of our eternal favourites.
Poepke: Paddington is a go-to destination for Australian designer fashion labels. However, tucked down William Street you’ll find the discreet boutique Poepke. The discerning collection showcases a mix of local and international pieces. It also has some beautiful pre-loved pieces.
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