So we spent a couple days in Sydney with our first day at the launch of Ms fit. The next day we wanted to explore the city and dine at some recommended restaurants.
And I have to say, we did a lot of eating.
We started our day off with breakfast at the hotel buffet breakfast and our coffee to start off the day, and I think we’ll go back for seconds.
Best things to do in Sydney
Sydney is a vibrant and exciting city that offers something for everyone. From world-class museums and art galleries to beautiful beaches and parks, Sydney has it all. Whether you’re interested in culture, history, or just want to relax and enjoy the great outdoors, there is no shortage of things to do in Sydney.
One of the most iconic landmarks in Sydney is the Sydney Opera House, which is a must-see for any visitor. The Opera House is home to a variety of performances, including opera, ballet, and concerts, and is an architectural marvel that can be appreciated from the inside or out.
If you’re looking to explore the city’s history and culture, there are plenty of museums and galleries to visit, such as the Australian Museum, the Art Gallery of New South Wales, and the Sydney Jewish Museum. These institutions offer a wealth of information and exhibits on a variety of subjects, including Australian history, art, and the Holocaust.
For those who love the great outdoors, Sydney has no shortage of beautiful parks and gardens to explore. The Royal Botanic Garden, for example, is a stunning oasis in the heart of the city, and is home to a wide variety of plants and animals. Another popular destination is Bondi Beach, which is known for its beautiful sand and surf, as well as its vibrant beach culture.
No matter what you’re interested in, Sydney has something for everyone. From world-class cultural institutions to beautiful beaches and parks, there is always something new and exciting to discover in this vibrant city.
Ovalo at Willamalu
For our accommodation, we stayed at the Ovalo at Willamalu. The room we’re standing in was great. It was generous with its space and it had large windows with a river and city views.
The spinach breakfast, and now we’re out to explore.
Botanical Gardens
So we’re heading to the Botanical Gardens, and there are some cliff divers this weekend, so we’re gonna check that out as well as the classic Opera House and a bridge.
As the hotel was located by the Royal Botanic Gardens, we walked around the gardens and next to the Shoreline and we got to see large ships and really cool rock formations.
And once we get to the Norway end, it’s a popular spot to take photos with the iconic Sydney Opera House and Harbor Bridge right next to each other, and of course we took some happy snaps.
Further up the road, we could hear cheering from a crowd that led us to the Red Bull cliff diving competition.
Honestly, I’m amazed at how these divers do what they do. So it’s a 21-meter high diver platform, and it was that high that it hurt my neck from just looking up.
Because this one diver who started backwards, with her toes just touching the platform, and there was a gust of wind that went by. You could see her slightly get her balance, with the crowd watching intensely and giving out a ‘whoa’. So honestly, it’s super intense.
Sydney Opera House
After this, we made our way to the Sydney Opera House. I’ve visited countless times and it never gets old. I love the shape, the lines, and the structure, and we literally just sat around and enjoyed the Opera House, the Sydney Harbor Bridge, and also just people watched.
Bar Mamoni
Our plan was to have lunch at one of the restaurants at the harbor, but we weren’t as hungry, so we wanted a small snack and we stumbled upon Bar Mamoni through a laneway. They do snacks and drinks, and it was perfect for what we were after.
So the location and the exterior of the bar reminded me of when we were in the south of France, having a spritz and enjoying the summertime. Adding to the atmosphere, they played the perfect music in the background with Italian and European spy music.
So after a big walk, we stumbled across this bar. It’s called Mamoni, and we are going to have a little bit to eat. It’s going to go on a couple of apricot streets and a strawberry spritz. I’m enjoying the music. We got a few snacks off the menu, and damn, the pastries were so good. So we just finished at Mamoni and I’ll give it a 10 out of 10. Great snacks, great vibes. Honestly, I would recommend and I’ll definitely come back for more.
Calyx
After our snacks, we headed back to the botanical gardens to check out the Calyx, which is home to the largest green wall in the southern hemisphere.
With the leafy walls on one side, all different colors, different types of plants, succulents, like a bird sanctuary. It also has a cafe with a beautiful outdoor seating area. It’s a really cool spot to have coffee and relax.
So after we went back to the hotel, got changed, and made our way to some reviews for our dinner booking. We met up with some friends, and Wes is a great photographer, and Jesse is a lifestyle content creator. You guys should definitely check out their work.
So what do we have? We’ve got a fava bean hummus with deep-fried harbor beans. The cook at the restaurant, cooks all their food with fire and smoke, and is inspired by the travels through Spain, Morocco, and the Middle East.
The mains that we had was a dry-aged pork cutlets, a barbecue special, and we also had additional sides. And of course, we had to get some dessert to finish off with their famous olive oil ice cream sandwich.
The Rover
After we went for drinks down the road to a neighborhood bar named The Rover, and I have to say, they serve really good cocktails here. The bartender went through all the cocktails with the selections and picked out the best cocktail that suited what we were after. I went for the apple crumble to start off and had a couple of different ones, which I kind of can’t remember now, but they were all delicious, that’s what I remember.
AP Bakery in Surrey Hills
The next day, we had to check out a place called AP Bakery in Surrey Hills, which is located in the Paramount House. So there is a cafe at the bottom, but we took the lift up and it opened up to a sunny rooftop oasis. It had minimalistic design, with a white and wood finish, and the best part was the view of the city.
Outdoor seating and a lovely greenery. They have all their baked goods stacked on the shelf, and wow, they have such a good selection of pastries. So we’ve got our coffees, our friends were panty tart, and a couple of croissants. They also have made-to-order breakfast, but we’re just stuck with the pastries. If you’re after good vibes and super tasty pastries, this is the place to go.
Chinatown
As we’re closer to Chinatown, we thought we would head over to the cream puff hole in the wall. They sell cream puffs, and it’s super cheap, and that’s the reason why there’s always a lineup. They’re okay, they’re not as good as I remember a few years back.
King’s Cross
After walking through Chinatown, we went to High Park through the city, and then we’re headed to King’s Cross, which is the red light district. It’s where the iconic Coca-Cola sign is, and these areas are a little bit seedy with interesting types of people hanging around. Then, up the road, it completely changes into a posh neighborhood where we booked in for lunch at Churchill.
So walking in, they have a beautiful minimalistic interior, and they serve up izakawa-inspired dishes. So we had the poor katsuban, the kingfish sashimi, and the king crab omelette. Japanese curry and the fried brown rice, while we chased them all down with the Yuzu Spritz. It was nice. Lisa really liked it, but I thought, as an overall, it wasn’t mind-blowing. But don’t get me wrong, they do serve up some great food.
Alright, so it feels like we ate our way through this Sydney trip. So I’ll visit again and do a full Sydney travel guide.