Where the locals go: Sydney

Welcome to the first post of our ‘Where the locals go’ series. Here we will be spilling the details on the local hotspots of various cities around the world. These aren’t always “secret” places but they are definitely places to visit and ones that you’ll find less cameras and more of the bubbly. What better way to start off the series by detailing our hometown of Sydney, the beautiful harbour city. Lex and I absolutely adore Sydney and there’s no where else in the world we’d rather live (although occasionally I do crave the tranquility of beachy towns like Byron or Port…but I digress). In the last couple of years Lex and I have really, properly, explored Sydney. We’ve uncovered some amazing restaurants, cafes and local hotspots where people-watching and laying in the sun go hand-in-hand.

1. Take an afternoon stroll up The Gap and finish off with a well-deserved glass of vino. You’ll feel like you’ve stepped back in time along the historic walk and you’ll see some amazing views of Sydney Harbour. It’s normally a quiet walk (even on the weekends) and feels so tranquil. Look out for the lighthouse on the hill and the cool tunnels. After all that walking take in the sunset with a glass of wine at Watsons Bay Hotel.
2. See a game at the SCG – Aussies love their sport and in our opinion the SCG is one of the best places to catch a live game. Why? Well, there really isn’t a bad seat in the house. Lex and I got last-minute tickets to see the Swannies v. Essendon on the weekend and even though we were in the nose-bleed section we could still see all the action and actually even loved our seats.
3. Watch a movie under the stars at the Moonlight Cinema. Lex and I have always wanted to go to the Moonlight Cinema and last summer we tried to make that dream a reality three times. Unfortunately for us each time the movie started so did the rain. We had to sprint back to the car and pack up our picnic – disaster! But! I haven’t lost hope! The Moonlight Cinema is on every night during summer in Centennial Park. There’s food stands and a drink bar. It’s also really cute snuggling up on the bean bags and relaxing. If you’re lucky you might get seated next to a furry friend for some pats during the film!
4. Grab a tea or coffee at The Grounds of the City. This coffeehouse-inspired inner-city hub is the super trendy new addition by the makers of The Grounds of Alexandria. It has a distinctive old school charm and is perfectly placed smack bang in the heart of Sydney’s CBD on George Street. The Grounds of the City is open from dawn ‘til dusk 7 days per week, offering breakfast and lunch daily with late trading on Thursday evenings.
5. Sip on cocktails at the top of Hotel Pallisade. This renovated pub has placed a cocktail lounge spanning across two floors at the top of its building and called it Henry Deane. A perfect idea! One thing that I feel Sydney lacks is its selection of rooftop bars and Henry Deane really is the crown jewel. Sip on cocktails whilst you soak in breathtaking views of Sydney, almost 360 degree views! Go for the share plates here, amazing!

Do you have any Sydney must-dos?

Let me know!

Lis x

The amazing view from Hotel Pallisade, as seen on their website.

 

The team from Event Cinema’s know how to do outdoor viewing in style!