Whether you're visiting Sydney for the summer or enjoying it as a local, the city is full of decadent and relaxing adventures this holiday season. Book a waterfront lunch or a rooftop party, head out on a sparkling cruise on a superyacht, go on a bar crawl in Sydney's neighbourhoods and find new art to inspire you.

FOOD AND DRINK

Rooftop oasis

A new place to party has landed sky-high on top of the Kimpton Margot Hotel on Pitt Street: Harper Rooftop Bar. Find a delicious summer-inspired menu (think lobster rolls, grilled octopus, soba bowls) combined with creative cocktails and a tight list of mainly European wines, seltzers and beers. Plus, there's a pool, live music on Sundays and pets are allowed.

Med in the south

Ocean views, prime seafood, light and bright interiors, and a beachfront locale – Bobby's Cronulla brings the Mediterranean to Sydney's south. With breakfast and lunch Mondays to Wednesdays and all-day dining Thursdays to Sundays, Bobby's is set to be Cronulla's new favourite.

Waterfront pop-up

While the Terrigal Sailing Club is under renovation (transforming into the Terrigal Pavilion), revellers can still enjoy a drink by the water at The Pav Pop-Up until the Central Coast venue reopens. The menu features plenty of seafood – oysters, tiger prawns on ice, Moreton Bay bug rolls – as well as a range of margaritas, wines and beers.

City jungle diner

There's a new garden spot to dine and drink in at Darling Square. Pumphouse Sydney's Terrace has opened, featuring hundreds of plants throughout the indoor/outdoor space. The tranquil balcony offers an a la carte menu, curated cocktails and live music.

Pier party

You can party all summer long at harbourfront hotel Pier One, as the hotel launches Pier Bar, a new place to eat, drink and socialise by the water. Pier Bar will feature a diverse line-up of DJs over the summer and has $12 cocktails and $2 oysters for its 'sunset hour' on weekdays.

North Shore neighbour

Cosy new neighbourhood bar and bistro Folly's has graced the North Shore suburb of Cammeray. The small but sophisticated spot has an impressive menu, featuring yuzu gin-doused oysters, rib eye with bone marrow butter, rigatoni alla vodka, punchy cocktails and an extensive chilled red wine selection.

A rose by any other name

Beloved waterfront institution The Boathouse Rose Bay has a new name and menu. Rose Bay House serves dishes that draw on chef Natali Mikailoglu's Turkish upbringing, including za'atar lamb, saffron prawn pasta and eggplant dolma.

RAFI hits the surf

The team behind hatted North Sydney restaurant RAFI is opening a second location in Homebush, RAFI URBNSURF Sydney. This Western Sydney dining experience follows through with the RAFI ethos of using fresh, seasonal produce but with some new twists. While the menu will keep many of the original crowd favourites, a new cocktail menu is being created for RAFI URBNSURF.

Australiana-inspired cocktails and snacks

Darlinghurst has landed a new bar with The Waratah. A 120-seat space spanning two levels, it champions the story of modern Australia by connecting with growers and Indigenous communities, and heroing sustainability and seasonality. Find oysters topped with rosella granita, fries tossed with 'bush' salt and fermented potato damper.

EXPERIENCES

Sparkling summer

Luxury Sydney Harbour superyacht The Jackson is adding some sparkle to its summer harbour cruises with the launch of a Veuve Cliquot partnership. Departing select Saturdays in January, February and March, the four-hour onboard experience will include glasses of Champagne, Veuve-inspired canapes, a deluxe oyster bar and live DJs.

Urban artworks

Chippendale's always-engaging White Rabbit Gallery launches its new exhibit, A Blue Print for Ruins, on 20 December. Curated by David Williams, the exhibition shines a spotlight on the dispossessed within China's urban metamorphosis and runs until 12 May 2024.

Tour top small bars

A new guided tour takes visitors on a journey to explore Sydney's hidden gems on a Local Sauce Tours small bars and street art tour. Running Wednesday nights in Newtown and Enmore and Friday nights in Redfern and Chippendale, the tours offer a fun night out in Sydney's coolest boutique bars, while also showing off the neighbourhoods' best street art.

ACCOMMODATION

New Paddington pad

Launching in December 2024, 25hours Paddington will see a new luxury place to stay the night in the heart of the Oxford Street Village Centre. The Paddington outpost will be the first 25hours hotel in Australia and aims to be uniquely characterised by the neighbourhood's diverse cultural scene.

 

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