Feature: Best places to be and be seen in...Sydney

Friday, 30 September 2011 12:11 PM

Sydney is sophisticated, sexy and stylish yet at the same time its relaxed, chilled and gives off that typically laidback Australian vibe. It’s a city where the rich and famous, surfers and beach bums seem to fuse together seamlessly.

It’s no wonder foreigners come here and fall in love with the place, it’s beautiful setting on the sparkling Sydney harbour with miles of world class sandy beaches right in the city itself, is so wildly different to any city here in UK. Yet there is something vaguely familiar about the city that we just can’t put our finger on.

Sophisticated sleeping with a touch of history
Sydney has some world class hotels that have become city landmarks, renovated from old historical buildings; they provide modern sophistication and luxury with stunning city and harbour views.

The award winning Westin Sydney sits right in the heart of the city CBD, providing modern luxury in a historic city landmark. This year the hotel was named Best Australian Hotel Gold List by Luxury Travel Magazine and Top 10 Best City Hotels in Travel + Leisure Magazine.

Blue Sydney combines contemporary boutique hotel design with modern five star luxury, located on the Wharf at Wooloomooloo, next to the stunning Botanical Gardens. Rooms retain the features and feel of a docklands warehouse with funky lighting and sleek furniture.

Park Hyatt Sydney has been a city icon for years and is due to re-open its doors to guests this November, following a multi-million dollar refurbishment. The new design will feature an indoor-outdoor feel with all rooms enjoying floor-to-ceiling windows and private balconies that look out over the famous Sydney harbour and Opera House. Renowned Australian artists and photographers have been commissioned to create exclusive pieces for the hotel.

Contemporary fusion restaurants with stunning views
Sydney is at the forefront of innovative fusion cuisine, taking inspiration from Aboriginal dishes, modern Asian and classic Mediterranean, it certainly has a unique twist. Australians love their food and Sydneysiders are no different, the city is filled with excellent gourmet and elegant eateries.

Sepia is currently one of the most talked about places on the Sydney restaurant scene has been hailed as the place to watch out for in 2012, having won three chefs hats. Sepia provides an atmosphere of sophistication and old world charm with a touch of art deco design and serves an excellent seafood-inspired menu with an extensive wine list.

Catalina provides understated elegance in true Sydney style, located in a stunning setting in Rose Bay, overlooking Sydney Harbour. Having won many awards this is also one of the only Sydney kitchens that is open from noon until late. Situated close to the seaplane airport, many guests choose to fly in for lunch or take a stunning flight around the harbour before dinner. Head Chef Mark Axisa’s menu is inspired by classic French and Mediterranean cuisine with a focus on seafood - try the Sydney rock oysters with home-baked sour dough bread, followed by smoked salmon served with buffalo mozzarella and marinated red peppers. And on Wednesdays through Sundays Master Sushi Chef, Yoshi Fuchigami serves excellent sushi and sashimi.

Summit Restaurant is one of Sydney’s most iconic restaurants and offers some of the best views in the city as it revolves 47 floors high above the famous Australia Square. Run by celebrity chef and owner Michael Moore the restaurant has won many awards. Enjoy sumptuous tapas while overlooking the Harbour Bridge, followed by braised wagyu beef cheeks with smoked beetroot and forest mushrooms, accompanied by views of the elegant Sydney Opera House.

Swanky nightlife of the rich and famous
Sydney has an eclectic nightlife full of places filled with swanky sophistication; however you’ll find plenty of grungy underground clubs here too.

Chinese Laundry is one of Sydney’s biggest and longest running nightclubs and has been rated as the number one club in the city. If you’re a fan of electro, house or techno then this is the place to be, pumping out tunes from internationally acclaimed DJs all night long.

Ivy Bar is the sophisticated playground of rich and famous Sydneysiders, oozing elegance and luxury from its intimate spaces filled with lounge chairs and chandeliers. There are also large spaces for dancing too with great bands and DJs. If there’s one place you want to be seen in Sydney, it’s here.

Hugos Lounge gives guests a sense of partying in their own living room with that added touch of sleek style. A few years ago it was named as the best nightclub in the city and still manages to retain its place in the top ten. It’s a great place to enjoy a classy cocktail and one of their famous pizzas. Dancing starts late, to popular catchy tunes.

Elegant Victorian shopping
One of the most famous places to shop in the city, as much for the architecture as for the shopping, is the grand Queen Victoria Building covering an entire city block. Every corner is ornately decorated with tiled mosaic floors, Byzantine copper domes, stained-glass shop fronts and a famous royal clock. It even has its own ballroom with tuneful grand piano.

For more shopping with an elegant atmosphere head to the Strand Arcade, decked with stained-glass windows and iron-lacework balconies. This beautiful Victorian arcade will have you browsing its designer boutiques for hours. And when you get tired try out one of the old-fashioned coffee shops.

Leafy Queen Street has a swanky village-like feel not unlike London’s Hampstead and is the place to go to for exclusive boutiques, elegant antiques and chic delis.

So what are you waiting for? Come and visit this stunning city playground for yourself.