Sea breezes, skyline clinks & always one more bite
Sunshine, pasta, ocean swims, cocktails with a view — Sydney has a delicious swagger.
Every day can start with pastries and end with saltwater hair and a martini… which is, frankly, how life should be.
Here’s where to eat, sip and soak up Sydney’s coastal cool.
🥐 Breakfast & Bakery Hits
AP Bakery — Surry Hills (Paramount House)
A rooftop bakery hidden above the city’s creative hub — coffee and pastries in the sunshine. Their croissants crackle as you tear them open, revealing buttery interior layers that melt instantly. Sit upstairs by the rooftop garden, watch the city wake slowly, and treat yourself to a morning that feels like winning.
Bills — Darlinghurst / Paddington
The brunch icon. The ricotta hotcakes are legendary: fluffy, cloud-like stacks topped with banana and honeycomb butter. There’s a relaxed elegance to Bills — bright morning light, friendly staff, and that Sydney feeling that everything is going to be okay because breakfast tastes this good.
Pina Potts Point
Always a queue — always worth it. The scrambled eggs are silky, the coffee strong, and the vibe is casual cool: colourful plates, chatty diners, music that makes you want to stay longer than you should. Sit outside for peak people-watching.
🍝 Restaurants Worth Planning Your Day Around
Mr Wong — CBD
Dimly lit, theatrically styled Cantonese dining with exceptional dumplings and iconic roast duck. Arrive hungry and let the team recommend a spread — they’ll build the ultimate dinner experience for you.
Restaurant Hubert — CBD
Paris romance meets Sydney swagger: velvet booths, low lighting, steak frites, live jazz drifting through the red-curtained room. It’s moody, indulgent and absolutely must-do for a late dinner that lingers.
Fratelli Paradiso — Potts Point
Chalkboard menus, bustling tables and pasta that tastes like it’s been perfected over generations. The linguine al nero (squid ink) is rich, intense and unforgettable. No fuss — just bliss.
Sean’s Panorama — Bondi
Beachfront dining where simplicity sings. Seasonal produce, gentle flavours and ocean views that make you order a second glass. Arrive before sunset — the colours will make you emotional.
Bar Copains & Gilda — Surry Hills
European-style share plates paired with an exceptional wine list that encourages low-stress indulgence. Sit at the bar, order charcuterie and settle into the neighbourhood rhythm.
Bennelong — Sydney Opera House
Dine inside the sails of one of the world’s most famous buildings. The menu is refined yet comforting — Australian produce at its most poetic. A celebratory meal you’ll talk about for years.
Clam Bar — CBD
Big New York energy — seafood towers, martinis, leather booths and a soundtrack that makes you feel cooler than you are. A perfect Friday night.
Margaret — Double Bay
Chef Neil Perry’s love letter to Australian seafood and coastal dining. Polished but not pretentious — just beautifully made food that respects the ocean.
King Clarence — CBD
Playful Asian-inspired flavour mash-ups executed with serious skill. You’ll leave thinking about the textures, flavours, and the fact you definitely need to return.
🍸 Bars Worth Dressing Up For
Maybe Sammy — The Rocks
Ranked among the world’s best bars — and for good reason. Pink-blazered bartenders pour inventive cocktails with effortless charm. It’s glamorous, but friendly, the way good hospitality should be.
Icebergs Bar — Bondi
Swim at Icebergs… shower… then sit high above the turquoise pool with a spritz as the waves crash below. It’s Sydney’s personality distilled: sunny, casual, a little fancy.
PS40 — CBD ⭐ Added! With your personal twist
Experimental cocktails in a design-forward, futuristic space. There’s creative genius behind the bar — flavours that surprise but absolutely deliver. Their iconic Afrikola cocktail is smoky, citrusy and completely addictive — it’s the one that hooked me and made me return with friends. A must for curious drinkers.
🍦 Best Ice Cream
Gelato Messina — Various
The flavour list is wild — think inventive combinations that somehow make perfect sense. If pistachio is on the board, it’s a winner. Pro tip: always get two scoops.
🎨 Art, Culture & Design Stops
MCA — Museum of Contemporary Art
A perfect waterfront wander and quick dose of art-fuelled inspo.
Art Gallery of NSW
Major exhibitions, soaring galleries and a stunning new wing worth exploring. Check what’s showing — blockbusters are common.
🌊 Coastal Walks & Cinematic Views
Bondi to Coogee Coastal Walk
Rock pools, cliffs and beachy cafés dotted along the way. One of the world’s greatest walks — and it’s free.
Sydney Harbour Bridge Walk
No matter how many postcards you’ve seen, the view still steals your breath.
Icebergs Pool Swim (Bondi)
Brave the chill, enjoy the thrill — reward yourself with a drink upstairs.
🛍 Indie Shopping Stop-Offs
Sorry Thanks I Love You, Incu, HAY, Above the Clouds
Gifts, fashion and homewares with a point of view. Perfect for grabbing something stylish (and suitcase-friendly).
🧺 What to Wear
Swimsuit under everything. Sunnies always. Something a little glam for the bars.
✦ Written by Rebecca Caughey ✦
Co-founder of Cook & Nelson — believer in sunshine, snacks and spontaneous swims.
