SYDNEY
City Guide
S Y D N E Y – this is one of those places that’s alwayyyss been on my bucket list. Ever since I was a little girl, I remember hearing about Bondi Beach so it feels surreal to have finally checked it off my list! Traveling to Australia, you’re literally as FAR AWAY as you can be. The 16+ hour time difference is no joke, but totally worth the jet-lag.
One of Australia’s largest cities, Sydney is best known for its Opera House — completely surrounded by water and totally breathtaking. Because of it’s design, there are no bad views of the opera house. Every shot was structurally breathtaking. Felt pretty iconic finally seeing it in person. I sat on the steps below taking it all in and watching all the tourist come and go.
Lunch was at a restaurant called Ripples. The food was yummy and the view was even better. Nestled under the Sydney Harbor overlooking water, the Sydney Harbor Bridge AND the Opera House — perfect spot for a birthday lunch with my team and Navy. Champagne, loads of food, and halfway through it started pouring. The view was magnificent.
The vibe of the city was so much more relaxed than I was expecting. It actually felt familiar — other than the accent 😉 Everyone was incredibly warm, and no one was in a rush. It felt similar to the Pacific Northwest — friendly people, relaxed atmosphere, no big crowds, lines, not even too many waits for restaurants. Sydney was it’s own little peaceful oasis down under!
The weather was perfect! Just wrapping up winter, early October felt very similar to Nashville fall – brisk sweater weather that feels so good. I did miss swimming at Bondi but we’ll plan that for next time!
Everything about this restaurant feels bright and has such a good energy! This place better matched my view of Australia before traveling here — the food and atmosphere really do capture the people well, perfectly described by the owner ;)…”Australian’: sunny, easy-going and generous.” We sat outside on the patio and enjoyed the lovely weather. NOTE — The ricotta pancakes are a MUST here!!
The food is incredible – fresh seafood (the calamari was my fave as a starter!!) – but the views are EVEN BETTER. Right outside the restaurant you can walk the harbor and see the Sydney Opera House — one of my favorite moments from the trip with Navy.
Such a cute café with some of THE best coffee. Also a great spot if your looking for a place to grab a light bite for lunch (great vegetarian options too)! I had the eggs Benedict and it was yummy!
I LOVED this coffee shop – super bright with the coolest vibe – their beans are roasted in house! It can get a little crowded during lunch time, so if you’re wanting a spot to sit down and grab a bite, snag a table early!!
Absolute must go! Mainly greek cuisine, everything about the Apollo has a kind of rustic feel but everything is also BEAUTIFUL! We ordered a lot of small things and shared – would definitely recommend this spot!
I LOVED the vibe of this place! Super bright with pops of color – really good specialty drinks if your looking for a good latte & ALL DAY breakfast! Definitely getting the French toast next time! Someone ordered it at the table next to us and it looked divine.
Sydney has some amazing designer consignment and this place is definitely worth a stop in! Their bags especially were SO cool! If you’re looking for a really unique hero piece to add to your closet – THIS is your place!
This was one of the things that was top on my list to do as soon as we booked our flights to Sydney! Even in October, it was breathtaking!! The Bondi to Coogee coastal walk is a MUST — it’s a little under 4 miles starting at the Iceburgs Ocean Pool, ending at a clifftop trail between Tamarama and Coogee beaches. It took us a little over an hour (with a baby :)). Some people even swim along the way! Maybe next time ;).
360° views all the way around and surrounded by water– the architecture is amazing! It’s always one of my favorite things to experience something historic that is such a defining element of a place. This was no exception — a total MUST!
True to its name! This place had the coolest vintage books & music. I could have spent hours here looking at all of the amazzinnggg gems they had. From vinyl to coffee table books, this place was a haven for everything unique that has a story! It’s right next to Four Ate Five, so it’s the perfect pop-in with a cup of coffee.
The cutest strip of fashion boutiques and unique art galleries with some flagship stores from some really cool Australian designers – definitely worth checking out :). Also, lots of fun pubs & restaurants!!
This was one of my favorite shops in Sydney – we spent a LOT of our time here! They carry brands from all over the world, hand-picked. Everything in the store has an attention to detail — it all feels unique and special. And it’s right next to Title (Music, Film & Books) and Four Ate Five!
We stayed at an Airbnb while in Sydney — there are TONS to choose from. If I’m honest, ours wasn’t in the best location (so make sure you keep location in mind when your looking for a place to stay!) Overall though, Airbnb is a great option when I travel with Navy… with it being so such a long trip to Australia, I liked that this setup gave us the option to spread out and settle in!
V I E W S !! The Sydney Grand Harbour was one of my favorite spots in Sydney so this spot is on the list for places to stay if we ever make a return visit! The floor to ceiling windows completely immerse you in your surroundings.
Will definitely be staying here on my next trip! The boutique hotel is small and intimate, but SO beautiful! It was actually a former convent that’s been renovated. It’s also in a great location for exploring the rest of the city.
It’s not open yet, but if you have a trip on the books, THIS is your spot!! Voco Sydney is scheduled to open in 2020 — and all the guest rooms have been designed with “me time” in mind. Located in the heart of Sydney’s CBD, it’s on the bucket-list for places to stay for sure!