The Musuem of Contemporary Art. Credit: Destination NSW
The Museum of Contemporary Art overlooks Circular Quay in the city’s Rocks precinct.
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If a visit to a gallery or a museum is a holiday must for you, Sydney won’t disappoint. The city’s cultural institutions are housed in grand and architecturally significant buildings, and world-class exhibition rosters mean there’s always something exciting to see or do. Spend a day exploring the highlights, taking in historical sites and joining a tour to discover Aboriginal traditions, with a delicious meal or two in between.
Morning explorations
Start the day with a delicate double-baked almond croissant and coffee in at La Renaissance, a family-owned patisserie making cakes, pastries and macarons since 1974, an inner-city neighbourhood of historic laneways in the shadow of the Sydney Harbour Bridge. Pull up a chair at one of the outdoor tables and you might even get a visit from a cheeky rainbow lorikeet looking for crumbs.
It’s a short walk from here to the Museum of Contemporary Art (MCA), also in The Rocks. The museum’s extensive permanent collection covers photography, sculpture, painting and moving images from Australian artists at all stages of their careers, while the changing roster of exhibitions is dynamic and thought-provoking.
Pop in to the MCA Store afterwards for a tightly curated survey of Australian design and books — the perfect memento. Alternatively, head to the MCA Café on level 4, which is as popular for its sweeping views over Circular Quay as its good coffee. If you’re visiting on a Friday, you might want to consider coming back in the evening, as the entire space stays open until 9pm, which means dazzling city lights.
If you’d prefer to learn about the history and culture of Sydney’s Aboriginal people and their connection with Sydney Harbour, join Dreamtime SouthernX’s The Rocks Aboriginal Dreaming Tour (Illi Langi), departing daily. On this leisurely 90-minute stroll around the waterfront, you’ll hear Dreamtime creation stories, visit significant sites under the Sydney Harbour Bridge and learn about the Aboriginal fishing economy.
Sydney Arts and Culture Highlight Selects Credit: Destination NSW
Highlights showcasing art and culture experiences in Sydney including Museum of Contemporary Art, Dreamtime SouthernX Tours, Art Gallery of New South Wales.
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Sydney Arts and Culture Highlight Selects Credit: Destination NSW
Highlights showcasing art and culture experiences in Sydney including Museum of Contemporary Art, Dreamtime SouthernX Tours, Art Gallery of New South Wales.
Dreamtime Southern X Tours, Sydney Credit: Destination NSW
Learn about Aboriginal history with Dreamtime Southern X’s The Rocks Aboriginal Dreaming Tour.
#ilovesydney
Dreamtime Southern X Tours, Sydney Credit: Destination NSW
Learn about Aboriginal history with Dreamtime Southern X’s The Rocks Aboriginal Dreaming Tour.
Art Gallery of NSW, Sydney Credit: Destination NSW
Couples viewing artwork at The Art Gallery of NSW in The Domain, Sydney.
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Art Gallery of NSW, Sydney Credit: Destination NSW
Couples viewing artwork at The Art Gallery of NSW in The Domain, Sydney.
Afternoon adventures
Have lunch on the outdoor terrace at 6HEAD steakhouse, which sits you in a prime position to enjoy people-watching around The Rocks waterfront. It also offers unbroken views of the UNESCO World Heritage-listed Sydney Opera House, which puts on 40-plus shows a week and also offers backstage tours. 6HEAD specialises in premium cuts of steak to share, but there’s also an extensive menu of seafood offerings including oysters, sashimi and caviar — save room for the roving cheese trolley.
Next stop is the Art Gallery of New South Wales, a pleasant half-hour walk through the city and The Domain, 34 hectares of open parkland adjoining the Royal Botanic Garden, which you can also use as your leafy route. The Royal Botanic Garden has areas dedicated to native Australian plants, many of which have been used by Aboriginal communities as food and medicine for millennia.
When you arrive at the Art Gallery of New South Wales, spend the afternoon perusing the latest exhibition, or check out the photography collection to admire works by hugely important Australian artists including Tracey Moffatt, Bill Henson and Fiona Hall.
Stroll back west into the heart of the city, where design, fashion and architecture fanatics are drawn in equal measure to the 19th-century grandeur of the Queen Victoria Building and nearby Strand Arcade. Today, both are home to elegant boutiques, dressmakers, hatters, antiques stores and cafés, as well as beauty boutiques and high-street stores.
Continue west to Darling Harbour, then wander north along the waterfront to the Barangaroo precinct, replete with cafés and restaurants where tables spill out onto the sidewalk. If you’re interested in uncovering more Aboriginal history, join an Aboriginal Cultural Tour through Barangaroo Reserve, which is home to 75,000 native trees and shrubs.
Or simply peruse the arty curation of vinyl at Title Barangaroo, Australia's largest independent retailer of music, books and film. The staff are knowledgeable and you can easily lose yourself in here for an hour or two.
Evening escapes
Still in Barangaroo, seafood restaurant Cirrus Dining is an elegant option for dinner; the owners also run three other of Sydney’s most lauded restaurants: Monopole, Yellow and Bentley Restaurant and Bar. If you’re after something a little more casual, Ume Burger offers one-of-a-kind Japanese-inspired burgers and a Tokyo-style vending machine. Squeeze in gelato at the excellent Rivareno Gelato, where everything is made fresh daily, and end the evening with a whisky at NOLA Smokehouse and Bar, inspired by the hospitality of the American South.
Shopping, Queen Victoria Building Credit: Destination NSW
Four levels of shopping in the Queen Victoria Building, Sydney CBD.
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Shopping, Queen Victoria Building Credit: Destination NSW
Four levels of shopping in the Queen Victoria Building, Sydney CBD.
NOLA Smokehouse and Bar, Barangaroo Credit: Destination NSW
Couple enjoying a whiskey tasting at NOLA Smokehouse and Bar in Barangaroo, Sydney.
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NOLA Smokehouse and Bar, Barangaroo Credit: Destination NSW
Couple enjoying a whiskey tasting at NOLA Smokehouse and Bar in Barangaroo, Sydney.
More Inspirational Stories
Oxford Art Factory, DarlinghurstCredit: Destination NSW
Patrons enjoying live music at the Oxford Art Factory, Darlinghurst.
#feelnewsydney
There’s nothing like the thrill, buzz and energy of a live music gig, and Sydney has plenty of performance spaces that have played host to some of the world’s biggest acts as well as local up-and-comers. From intimate venues to big stages, in the city centre and on the city’s fringe, here are nine spots to get a fix of live entertainment.
Enmore Theatre, Enmore
The longest-running live music venue in New South Wales, the Enmore Theatre has been drawing crowds for over a century. Despite having a capacity of just 2,500, the venue’s storied history and standing within the industry means legends across generations – including Bob Dylan, the Rolling Stones, Coldplay and Oasis – have performed on this stage. The strip of pubs, bars and restaurants (ranked 17th coolest neighbourhood in the world by Time Out) comes alive when a gig at The Enmore is on – some pre-gig Enmore Road favourites to check out include Earl’s Juke Joint, Cairo Takeaway and Little Lagos.
Enmore Theatre, Enmore Credit: Destination NSW
Patrons arriving at the Enmore Theatre, Enmore.
#feelnewsydney
Enmore Theatre, Enmore Credit: Destination NSW
Patrons arriving at the Enmore Theatre, Enmore.
The Lansdowne Hotel, Chippendale
No Sydney venue inspires memories of thriving dance and sweaty late nights better than The Lansdowne Hotel. The Chippendale pub, in Sydney’s inner city, has been hosting rock, punk and indie gigs for decades and continues to platform local up-and-coming acts as well as a late-night party vibe. Combine that with a menu of sangas, burgers and fried chicken plus local beers and natural wine, and you have a legendary student haunt – charmingly grungy and welcoming to all.
Lansdowne Hotel, Chippendale Credit: Destination NSW
Exterior view of the Landsdowne Hotel, Chippendale.
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Lansdowne Hotel, Chippendale Credit: Destination NSW
Exterior view of the Landsdowne Hotel, Chippendale.
Oxford Art Factory, Darlinghurst
Inspired by Andy Warhol’s famed Factory in New York, the Oxford Art Factory, in Darlinghurst on the fringe of the city centre, has been bringing live music and art to Sydney for more than a decade. The two stages, supporting just over 600 in total, have hosted some of the biggest names in music – Lady Gaga played her first ever Australian show here in 2008 when the space was barely a year old. This tiny venue allows performers to interact with the audience, giving the crowd an intimate connection to the artists and each other. As it’s located on Sydney’s famed Oxford Street, there are plenty of spots for a feed and a drink beforehand including Bitter Phew, Big Poppa’s and Chaco Ramen.
Oxford Art Factory, Darlinghurst Credit: Destination NSW
Patrons enjoying live music at the Oxford Art Factory, Darlinghurst.
#feelnewsydney
Oxford Art Factory, Darlinghurst Credit: Destination NSW
Patrons enjoying live music at the Oxford Art Factory, Darlinghurst.
Hordern Pavilion, Moore Park
Originally built in the 1920s as extra space for the Sydney Royal Easter Show and an exhibition hall for the wonders of new technology, Hordern Pavilion became Sydney’s home of international rock concerts in the 1970s. The historic venue has hosted countless huge-name acts, including Eric Clapton, The Eagles, Queen, Billy Joel and AC/DC. In the 1990s, it introduced bands like Nirvana, The Smashing Pumpkins, Public Enemy and Green Day to local audiences. But despite those huge names, it still has an intimate feel, giving you a rare chance to connect with your favourite acts outside a giant stadium. Before the show, grab a nearby burger at Mary’s Entertainment Quarter or a traditional Italian feast at Cipri’s Italian.
The Metro Theatre, Sydney CBD
Every local live music hunter has spent at least one epic night pressed against the barriers of the mosh pit at The Metro. Since the 1990s, the inner-city venue has been the place for high-energy gigs from the likes of The Prodigy and Foo Fighters, as well as respected indie acts including Jeff Buckley, Lorde and Aphex Twin. Smaller shows are also held in The Lair, a secondary space that holds just a few hundred people on the dance floor. Pre-party eating options are endless with Chinatown, Thaitown and Darling Square just a stone’s throw away.
HONEY, Darling Square Credit: HONEY
HONEY has officially launched in Sydney’s Darling Square precinct. Inspired by the nightlife of Seoul, HONEY is serving up the very best in Korean cuisine, with Pocha-style shareable dishes, Korean Fried Chicken with cold beer, soju and Korean-style cocktails.
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HONEY, Darling Square Credit: HONEY
HONEY has officially launched in Sydney’s Darling Square precinct. Inspired by the nightlife of Seoul, HONEY is serving up the very best in Korean cuisine, with Pocha-style shareable dishes, Korean Fried Chicken with cold beer, soju and Korean-style cocktails.
Mary’s Underground, Sydney CBD
Mary’s Underground rose from the ashes of Sydney most iconic jazz bar, The Basement. Like the original and aptly named subterranean bar, Mary’s Underground has the feel of an old school, alternative live music venue – dimly lit, full of characters and playing a little bit of everything. But unlike The Basement, which was famous for jazz and funk, you can get anything from R&B to punk. It’s only open for events but that doesn’t mean it’s ticket only, check the line up for both big ticket shows and free events. If you need a feed, they serve the same burgers they’ve made their name with back when Mary’s Newtown opened in 2013.
Phoenix Central Park, Chippendale
Of all Sydney’s alternative, cutting-edge music venues, Phoenix is by far the most exclusive. Every show, often experimental artists at the forefront of their genre, takes place at the base of an architecturally unique, winding staircase. The audience either stands at on the staircase, peering over the performer, or sits in a circle literally a metre or two from the stage. To get one of the prized free tickets, you have to go into a ballot. Before you head in, check out the street food, small bars and fine diners around Chippendale.
Spice Alley, Chippendale Credit: Destination NSW
Couple walking through Spice Alley, Chippendale.
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Spice Alley, Chippendale Credit: Destination NSW
Couple walking through Spice Alley, Chippendale.
Marrickville Bowling Club, Marrickville
You could be forgiven for thinking the Marrickville Bowling Club is just another great Australian community bowlo: it’s humble, welcoming and provides cheap drinks to locals. But at night the club transforms into one of the most energetic venues in Sydney. The stage welcomes both up-and-coming Sydney artists looking to launch the next great album and DJs looking to set the dance floor alight.
Sydney Coliseum Theatre, Rooty Hill
This new, state-of-the-art theatre is an architectural wonder befitting its epic name. The Cox Architecture design is like the bow of a futuristic ship rising out of the ground. The 2,000-seat theatre has provided a stage for everything from the Sydney Symphony Orchestra to Keith Urban. In between acts it has hosted the live portion of Australia’s Got Talent and other big shows. Options to eat include Pizzaperta Manfredi – from one of Australia’s most influential Italian chefs, Stefano Manfredi – and the nearby Filipino hub on Rooty Hill Road.
Before a Performance, Sydney Credit: Destination NSW
Heading to a performance at Sydney Coliseum Theatre, Sydney. For media use only in Australian markets to promote NSW.
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Before a Performance, Sydney Credit: Destination NSW
Heading to a performance at Sydney Coliseum Theatre, Sydney. For media use only in Australian markets to promote NSW.