Australia
For a place to stay, Shangri-la draws the suited and booted but is also the hangout for beautiful people. The Horizon Club serves canapés in the lounge every evening and there’s wireless broadband throughout.
The restaurant Forty One at the top of Chifley Tower has private dining rooms. You can enjoy breathtaking views of Sydney Harbour and the city’s impressive skyline, and the food is also excellent – there's a six-course dinner menu with wines chosen by the sommelier.
Great view. If you're from out of town, you can sign in as a guest downstairs for free.
Bondi, south end of beach. www.icebergs.com.au/
This is a restaurant in Manly, a ferry ride away from Sydney's Circular Quay. Despite its name, and the fact that I am a vegetarian, I can definitely recommend it for meat eaters and non-meat eaters alike.
My husband - a meat eater - tells everyone he meets about the steak that he had there, whilst I - a non meat eater - can say that the meal I had there was the most generous and varied vegetarian meal I have ever tasted.
It consisted of every type of vegetable imaginable, fresh and beautifully cooked. Add to this, the fantastic view overlooking Manly Beach and the ocean and the buzzing atmosphere; yes, I would definitely cross the world to eat there again!
Manly, New South Wales - a ferry ride away from Sydney Circular Quay
I've been around the world and have had a lot of pizza, and this pizza was something else. The slice didn't sag, it was sort of in between pan and thin base. The crust was mildly crunchy with a scent of oregano and basil wafting through each crunch. The sauce was just right. The cheese was thick and plentiful, and the pizza had the 'right' amount of garlic (don't you hate overdone or underdone garlic on a pizza?). I can't wait for my next hit... it's a small shop in Harbord (behind freshwater beach). Was staying with friends in Manly, and they specifically took me there (even though Manly has a million pizza joints) and wow. What a pizza.
Shop 15, 1-3 Moore Road, Harbord 2096
Tel: 02 9938 2199
www.kokospizza.com.au
During a trip to Australia in 1997, I was lucky enough to have been invited to have dinner at Doyle's on the beach in Sydney.
One of the enduring images and impressions I have of that very warm February evening, was to see the sun set over the harbour looking towards the city far away in the background.
The sun was sinking fast behind the skyscrapers - it was an amazing sight, and at that moment I had the urge to call home. I took the mobile out of my pocket, and rang to speak to my mum and brother. It was early in the morning in the UK (11 hours behind Sydney at that time of year) and I said to them, "Has the sun come up over there yet?". They replied: "Yes, just about. Why?"
My response was: "I just realised this is about the only time of the day we can see the sun at the same time from opposite sides of the world."
This is a great open air cafe in a quiet(ish) street off the main drag in Manly. Worth visiting on those busy summer mornings!
Darley Road, Manly
I actually don't recommend it. It is AWFUL!!! Rude staff. Over-priced. Noisy. With delusions of grandeur. It is on a suburban beach in Australia and imagines itself to be some cool nightclub.
Arden St Coogee
The Somerset Hotel on Elizabeth Street is a brilliant place to stay. It has amazing views over Hyde Park and the Anzac Memorial. There is very good room service with people coming to clean your apartment everyday when you are out. It is near the centerpoint tower and not far from a good pool called Boy Charlton. It is salt water and suspended on stilts over the actual harbour so you get really good views. There is also a brilliant open air cinema on Lady Mcquaries Point. The screen apparently folds down (we didn't get to go there but i reccommend it anyway.)
There are two really good places to eat. One is called Sushi King - it is on George Street and it does the best sushi in the world. The other is the Lindt Cafe on Martin Place - it is really good and they do this great hot chocolate (you get this jug with hot milk in and a jug with melted chocolate in and you pour them in the mug at the same time the result is an amazing rich lovely cup of hot chocolate).
Of course I also reccommend the Sydney Harbour Bridge and the Opera House (my dad conducts there.)
Somerset Hotel, Elizabeth street (museum station)
www.somersetdarlingharbour.com
Boy Charlton pool (Mcquaries Point)
www.abcpool.org
Sushi King (George Street).
Lindt Cafe (Martin Place).
Great bar near Bondi.
Campbell Parade
A good breakfast is a Sydney institution. From fresh fruit to slap up eggs and bacon with all the trimmings. Washed down with a cup of the best coffee to set you up for the day. Don't miss out, avoid the hotel smorgasbord rip offs and you won't blow the budget either.
The best cafes are in the Inner West (Glebe, Rozelle, Balmain), Eastern Suburbs and the sea side suburbs (Bondi,Bronte, Manly). The locals have their favourites and don't like to broadcast their location. But just head for the ones with a crowd and enjoy.
The Excelsior is just a short walk from the SCG and is one of two offical England supporters pubs for the Ashes. There are rooms available for $20 a night, but weekly discounts are given.It has great beer and superb food for pretty cheap prices. Plenty of screens to watch matches and live bands most evenings. Open late at weekends. *****
64 Foveaux Street, Surry Hills, Sydney
www.happychappytravellers.com
+61292114945 nearest station-Central
Modern Vietnamese restaurant and bar. The bar is great if you want a cocktail/beer and some nibbles, try the crispy squid. The restaurant has a outdoor terrace filled with chinese laterns and has very reasonable beautifully presented food. Try the sticky ribs/scallops on papaya salad.
1 kellet st, Kings Cross. 3 mins from Kings Cross station. check out website, www.libertine.net.au
It's close to the SCG, the beers are reasonably priced and the staff and regulars are friendly. Oh, and you can get a decent meal there too.
Crn Moore Park Rd & Flinders St, Sydney.
www.thecaptaincookhotel.com.au/index.htm
Indian restaurant in Randwick, not too far from the SCG, in case the Army are suffering from Indian cuisine withdrawal symptoms. Great food and nice price. BYO too, bottle shop near-by.
Bombay Bloomers Indian Restaurant
Randwick
NSW 2031
Australia
www.totaltravel.com.au/travel/nsw/sydneyarea/easternsuburbssydney/listing/cafes/10526781
Bar and cafe; amazing location, good food and drink (reasonably priced considering its location) and the most breathtaking views from the terrace. Great flathead and chips, risotto, wine, cocktails etc. Also, if you happen to be around on a Sunday afternoon they also have live jazz.
Terrace below Opera House, nearest station Circular Quay.
www.operabar.com.au
Glorious Sydney suburb with excellent pubs, bars, cafes, restaurants and harbour views. Recommend drinks in the Welcome Hotel, the Exchange, the William Wallace, the Bald Rock and for any homesick Cockneys a beer on the balcony of the London with the harbour bridge in the background. Birchgrove Oval is probably the best place to kick a football (Association) or chuck a few balls down in the nets.
10 mins by ferry from Circular Quay to East Balmain, Balmain Thames street or Birchgrove. Any bueses from the Queen Victoria Building - 441 or 442.
This is the best pizza place in the inner city. No, I would go as far to say in all of Sydney. Hidden away behind the Star Casino in the revived suburb of Pyrmont, this place never fails. Pizzas are great, pastas excellent, salads fresh and large and it is BYO (bring your own alcohol). Nothing flash, and seating is limited, but Made In Italy always impresses.
104 Miller Street, Pyrmont;
tel: 9518 8182;
Fish Market light rail stop
This place in Circular Quay is worth popping into. The two exhibitions I saw, by Edwin Wurm and Ron Mueck, were both been fun and thought provoking. You don't need to be a great art lover to like this place. The cafe attached has great food too
140 George Street, The Rocks;
tel: 9245 2400;
www.mca.com.au
The Opera Bar, situated under the Opera House, has the most stunning views in the world. It could therefore serve bad food and drink and charge a premium for the pleasure, but it doesn't.
Food is bistro-style, very reasonably priced and of decent standard. Bar staff are friendly and knowledgeable. Cocktails are mixed without pretension but with care. My bloody mary was the best I've had outside my house.
Lower concourse level, Sydney Opera House;
tel: 9247 1666;
www.operabar.com.au
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