Sydney by the sea By Genevieve Paiement
Opera Bar
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Sydney's all about the wet stuff. Whether surfing the waves, loafing about the beach or strolling along the harbor, locals and tourists alike prefer to stay close to the deep blue sea. Indeed, some of Sydney's hottest haunts feature prime waterfront real estate. Here are five suggestions for living it up while soaking up the gorgeous ocean views.
Jonah's |
1. Swept away
Jonah's, the ultimate beachside escape, is perched atop a cliff overlooking Whale Beach and offers lavish and elegant accommodation in total seclusion (think Bulgari toiletries and massages on your private balcony). The award-winning restaurant boasts shockingly picturesque panoramic ocean views and serves French-inspired modern Australian cuisine like seared rare yellow fin tuna. It's a pretty 45-minute drive from downtown Sydney to the tip of the lush Northern Beaches Peninsula, but time-poor high rollers may opt for the even more scenic 12-minute seaplane ride.
69 Bynya Rd., Whale Beach, 61-2-9974-5599
2. Art on the harbor
Sydney's Museum of Contemporary Art exhibits works by important modern artists from Australia and around the world, such as London-based Lebanese artist Mona Hatoum and acclaimed Australian photographer Tracey Moffatt. But it's not just art that pulls in the crowds. The MCA sits directly opposite the Opera House, and its harborside setting has made it a favorite venue for events and weddings. Browse the gift shop for choice art books and design objects; then take in the view over a glass of wine on the restaurant's charming terrace.
140 George St., The Rocks, 61-2-9245-2400
3. Beachside book lovers
Australia's most famous stretch of sand may be overrun with Frisbee-toting backpackers and bleached-blond rollerbladers, but even bookworms can find their place under the sun. Just a block or so back from Bondi Beach stands the stylishly disheveled bookshop-café Gertrude and Alice (named after Gertrude Stein and Alice B. Toklas). Second-hand books are piled high to the ceilings amid mismatched shabby-chic furniture. Locals swear by the superb coffee and scrumptious lunches – pumpkin-feta ravioli, anyone?
40 Hall St., Bondi Beach, 61-29-13-05-155
4. Cocktails at the opera
The Sydney Opera House, an architectural icon the world over, just happens to be located in one of the world's most beautiful harbors. What better place to find yourself at cocktail hour than at the Opera Bar, nestled on the lower level of the Opera House? Offering uninterrupted views of the harbor, city skyline and Harbour Bridge, it's the premier destination for pre-theater nibbles and exotic after-work drinks set to a live funk or Latin jazz soundtrack. The Opera White Tea (tequila, pear liqueur, Cointreau, vodka, pear purée and white cranberry juice) is a firm favorite.
Lower Concourse Level, Sydney Opera House, 61-2-9247-1666
5. Life aquatic
Acquaint yourself with the denizens of the deep at the Sydney Aquarium in lively Darling Harbour. It's great for kids, but fun for everyone, and the effect of being surrounded by water and sea creatures for a few hours is highly relaxing. Stroll through the various glass-enclosed Australian aquatic environments; then sit back and be mesmerized by the Reef Theatre. Part of the Great Barrier Reef exhibit, the theater offers a floor-to-ceiling window onto a dazzling world of tropical fish that rivals anything you've ever seen on an IMAX screen.
Aquarium Pier, Darling Harbour, 61-2-8251-7800
(Genevieve Paiement is a Montreal-based freelance writer who once called Sydney home. Her twin passions are travel and food.)
Getting There
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