See Sydney in style after the SailGP

Eat

If you’re looking for a meal with a view, they don’t come much more spectacular than Quay, which looks out over Sydney Harbour’s icons. Be wowed by an eight-course degustation menu featuring rock lobster sashimi, bone marrow noodles and confit pig jowl, plus elegant wines to match. For something more relaxed by the harbour, wash down a dozen oysters with a bottle of French bubbles at the effortlessly chic Whalebridge bistro, set right on the edge of the water.

Whalebridge, Circular Quay - Credit: Whalebridge

Discover Sydney’s breathtaking northern coastline with lunch at Bert’s where the best way to arrive is by seaplane. With views over Pittwater – another popular sailing spot – it has the feel of a classy 1930s bistro with impeccable service. Start with black pearl white sturgeon caviar or blue fin tuna tartare, then choose a live lobster from the tank. In the east, Mimi’s has a similarly luxe vibe and looks out over the bustling Coogee Beach. You can start with a caviar bump here also, paired with an ice cold shot of vodka, before moving on to blacklip abalone, handpicked mud crab or heritage wagyu ribeye.

The light filled room at Mimi's restaurant on the middle level of the Coogee Pavilion, Coogee

For moody French fare, head underground to Restaurant Hubert, where red leather booths, vintage prints and live jazz evoke post-war Paris. It’s one of the few places in Sydney where the kitchen is open until 1am, so there’s time for late night caviar, oysters, wagyu tartare and duck a l’orange. The martinis are excellent too. See and be seen at a’Mare, set at the base of Crown Sydney, where pesto for your pasta is pounded at the table in a 30kg Carrara marble mortar. Twenty-six floors up, Oncore by Clare Smyth has a three-Michelin-star pedigree, harbour views, and an indulgent seven-course menu.

Restaurant Hubert, Sydney City

Play

No trip to the Harbour City is complete without visiting the icons, but there’s more than one way to see them. Climb to the top of the Sydney Harbour Bridge for a spectacular perspective on the city that will make your spirit soar. Tours run with BridgeClimb throughout the day, but sunrise is particularly special. See a show in the storied Concert Hall of the Sydney Opera House or take a look behind the curtains on a fascinating backstage tour. Bangarra Dance Theatre tell the stories of the world’s oldest living culture through their contemporary routines. Their new theatre in the Walsh Bay Arts Precinct is one of the city’s most inspiring spaces.

BridgeClimb, Sydney

Sydney was a city built on booze – rum was even the officially currency of the colony in the 1790s – and there’s still plenty of it being made here today. Visit Brix Distillers in Surry Hills to taste the range of craft rum, spice your own blend, fill a bespoke barrel or just sit back and enjoy a cocktail. At Archie Rose Distilling Co, a whisky masterclass will teach you to tell the malt from the peat. Urban Winery is the only true winery in the city, producing vintages under the A.Retief label in the heart of the Entertainment Quarter. Stop by for a tour, tasting, masterclass or a lazy long lunch.

Archie Rose Distilling Co., Rosebery

If you prefer to have someone else take care of all the details, book in for a customised tour with Local Eyes Sydney or Splendour Tailored Tours. They can organise everything from harbour cruises and yoga on the beach to Indigenous experiences, chauffeured shopping expeditions or a private meal cooked by one of Sydney’s best chefs. Lift the lid on the city’s foodie scene with Local Sauce’s secret bar crawls or a progressive walking dinner with The Sydney Connection. To play a round on Sydney’s most exclusive members-only courses, speak to the pros at Lux Golf. They’ll even provide Callaway clubs and transport you in a black Porsche Cayenne.

Hear stories about the gangs of Surry Hills and Darlinghurst with Local Sauce Tours, East Sydney 

Stay

For a glitzy stay by the water, you can’t go past Crown Sydney. This striking glass tower at the end of Barangaroo offers up some serious luxury with huge rooms, a sparkling infinity pool overlooking Darling Harbour and the indulgent Crown Spa. The Langham Sydney is just a few hundred metres away but it’s worlds apart, occupying an elegant 19th century Georgian building in The Rocks. It’s worth a stay for the pool alone; a tranquil turquoise retreat set beneath stone columns and a star-dappled ceiling.

Couple enjoying the luxurious pool at Crown Towers hotel - Barangaroo

Set inside the 1851 Treasury building, InterContinental Sydney has just undergone a $120 million top-to-toe refurbishment that includes redesigned rooms and suites, revamped restaurants and an incredible new rooftop bar with views over the harbour. The Porter House Hotel is one of the city’s newest places to stay, offering a charming blend of history and modernity. It’s spread across a heritage building from the 1870s and a gleaming new tower, with 122 rooms, a slick French fusion brasserie and a European-style bar.