Built between 1805 and the mid-1860s, the sprawling Vaucluse House estate and manicured gardens have been immaculately preserved as a slice of Victorian Sydney. Eastern suburbs residents take full advantage of the on-site restaurant and idyllic surrounds for breakfast, lunch and a spot of tea. Ladies sit at white-clothed tables in the bright, converted house with stained glass windows during the week, while the weekend sees families with grandparents in tow. Sundays are a favourite for their set menu and live jazz on the outdoor patio. Food is less dazzling than the locale, but signatures such as beer-battered fish with thick-cut chips make for an enjoyable sojourn.