I spent 48 hours finding Sydney's hottest spots
The sweeping harbour views are equally breathtaking at sunrise or sunset. This is what a weekend in Sydney looks like.
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Forget everything you thought you knew about Sydney. This isn’t the postcard-perfect city of pristine beaches and opera house silhouettes – it’s a living, breathing urban ecosystem that shapeshifts between historic charm and razor-edge innovation.
There’s a story on every street corner, and every precinct pulses with a different rhythm, issuing a challenge to travellers to look beyond the surface. Here’s how to dive in.
Day 1
Morning
Accommodation in the heart of the action makes it easy to soak up the city’s energy. Base yourself near The Rocks at The Langham, and you’ll be within walking distance of museums, galleries, and restaurants that showcase Sydney’s dynamic culinary scene.
Start early with a stroll up the Agar Steps to Observatory Hill Park, where you’ll be rewarded with sweeping harbour views, equally breathtaking at sunrise or sunset. From there, head down the Argyle Street stairs and wander under Sydney Harbour Bridge to explore The Rocks Markets (if you’re there on the weekend). Along the way, uncover treasures like Hunting Hue’s Sydney Opera scarf, a perfect souvenir celebrating the city’s artistic soul.
Have breakfast at Bondi cult favourite Shuk’s new branch in The Rocks. Known for its vibrant blend of Israeli, Mediterranean and Argentine flavours, Shuk offers an all-day menu with something for every craving, from warm cinnamon doughnuts to shakshuka, humshuka and hummus lamb. Best of all, you can still grab a small coffee for just $4.50, making it an affordable indulgence in this historic neighbourhood.
Just a few steps away is the Museum of Contemporary Art Australia, where an exhibition of one of the world’s most influential living painters awaits. Julie Mehretu: A Transcore of the Radical Imaginatory invites you to celebrate the present and discover new ways of seeing. It’s showing until April 27.
Afternoon
Wander through Circular Quay and lunch at Martinez Rooftop Terrace Bar, where the menu celebrates the lighter style of food and seafood-driven dishes typical of the parts of France that skirt the Mediterranean. Expect prawn toast hash browns, stuffed zucchini flowers and panzanella.
One of Australia’s most innovative and awarded cocktail bars, Maybe Sammy, is a short walk away on Harrington Street. Pop in and pick up one of their take-home cocktail trios.
While away the afternoon in The Langham’s Observatory Bar with a gin cocktail inspired by your star sign, or their signature Pink Rose cocktail matched with Queensland tiger prawn toast.
Evening
A Sydney visit must include the latest new dining hotspot. This time, it’s The Grill at The International, in Martin Place.
This restaurant doesn’t confine itself to one cuisine but rather celebrates seasonality, provenance, and top-tier ingredients, all paired with a novel-size wine list. Classic white tablecloths set the stage for elevated dining, although the heirloom vegetable share plate left something to be desired in portion size.
Star of the meal was undoubtedly the massive Gooralie Berkshire pork chop, cooked to perfection. The biggest surprise? A dessert stand out: the mango paired with a creamy koshihikari rice pudding – a modern twist that stole the show.
Day 2
Morning
Ease into your morning with a leisurely dive into the indulgent Kitchens on Kent breakfast buffet at The Langham, where every bite feels like a treat.
Fuelled for the day, step out to explore the latest cultural sensation at the Australian Museum. Machu Picchu and the Golden Empires of Peru is a breathtaking exhibition that brings ancient Peruvian civilisation to life. From tales of human ingenuity and bloodthirsty sacred rituals to awe-inspiring treasures and mystical deities, this blockbuster is not to be missed.
Take a deep breath and strap yourself into the must-try VR ride, where you’ll soar like a bird over the ancient citadel of Machu Picchu. The immersive flight offers a perspective so vivid you will be holding on tight, but be quick. The exhibition closes on May 11.
Afternoon
Stay in Peru with lunch at Callao, where the Nikkei Japanese Peruvian cuisine dates back to the 1890s when Japanese workers were lured to Peru with the promise of jobs.
Expect exciting flavours that will leave you wanting more, as well as highlights such as scampi tartare and cheesecake with toasted corn and finger lime.
Callao is a short walk from Crown Sydney at Barangaroo. Enjoy the 26th-level rooftop Sydney Harbour Bridge views at Cirq or the brand-new glamour of Icebergs Harbour Bar.
Evening
After a quick refresh, make your way to the water view Pool by Pier Bar at Pier One Sydney Harbour, where a private pontoon has been stylishly reimagined as a beach-club-inspired oasis. Perched over the water with breathtaking views of Walsh Bay, this is the ultimate spot for relaxed summer vibes.
Sip on refreshing cocktails and indulge in a menu designed to showcase Sydney’s finest flavours. I’m talking about plump Sydney rock oysters, perfectly crisp potato scallops dusted with samphire salt, and succulent eastern rock lobster from Palm Beach. The grass-fed dry-aged rib eye promises to be a standout for heartier appetites. This postcard-worthy setting is Sydney dining at its most irresistible.
Where to stay in Sydney
The Langham Sydney combines boutique charm with luxurious comfort, offering 96 beautifully designed rooms and suites that feel more like a sanctuary than a hotel. Each room is spacious and sophisticated, featuring plush king size beds, elegant marble bathrooms, French-inspired furnishings and a hefty touch of pink.
The writer travelled as a guest of Destination Sydney.
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