After another year of soul-crushing lockdowns, Sydney is back, brimming with possibility and begging to be explored. Enter the city break, a short but chic getaway guaranteed to inspire your senses, feed your travel bug and fill your belly and feed your soul. Whether you’re a local or an interstate visitor, there’s no time like the present to embrace new experiences – from hot hotel launches to the latest foodie destinations and nature’s hidden gems…

Stay

Kick off either sojourn or staycation by checking into the Kimpton Margot Sydney, an Art Deco sanctuary in the beating heart of the city. The new hotel serves up sophisticated design with all the comforts of home (think luxe linen, a coffee machine and in-house yoga mats). Beyond the four walls of your room, sip on cocktails in the 1930s-style lobby bar, soak up sunshine and views at the rooftop pool and lounge, and indulge in tantalising flavours at Luke’s Kitchen.

Book here: Kimpton Margot Sydney

Eat

Ritzy restaurants and iconic eateries are part of the fabric of Sydney, but right now, a new wave of culinary must-visits are making their mark on the map. There’s LODE Pies, a pastel-pink shopfront on Surry Hills’ Crown Street, for melt-in-your-mouth deliciousness (puffy pithivier, tiramisu tarts and gourmet galettes, brought to you by the chefs behind LuMi Dining).

In the evening, check out Ursula’s – Paddington’s latest neighbourhood bistro – or Bar La Salut, a Redfern bolthole specialising in Spanish share plates, natural wines and buzzy energy.

Explore

For a city break with a side of greenery, spend an afternoon seeking out secret gardens. First stop: the Lex and Ruby Graham Garden, a hidden oasis of tropical foliage, flowers and frog ponds. Nestled on the east side of Cremorne in north Sydney and winding down to a harbour rock pool, it’s a labour of love that was planted by its namesake founders in 1959, and is now maintained by volunteers and local council.

Next, trade crowded coastal walks for the Badu Mangrove Boardwalk, a series of elevated pathways traversing wetlands and centuries-old forests. Brimming with birds and wildlife, the Badu Mangroves are set over more than 50 hectares between Homebush Bay and Bicentennial Park, though they feel a world away from the urban sprawl of western Sydney. Take a moment to get back to nature, before returning to the big smoke.

Play

Little kids and big kids alike should make their way to PURIKURA Photoland, a little taste of Tokyo in the centre of Sydney. Located in an old mall in Haymarket, the wonderland of arcade games and amusements promises hours of innocent and quirky fun, especially the Purikura, traditional Japanese photo booths.

Prefer to perfect your swing? Head to the Pixar Putt pop-up at the Entertainment Quarter, Moore Park. The open-air, interactive mini-golf course will catapult you into some of Pixar’s most beloved films, with after-dark, adults-only sessions available on Thursday, Friday and Saturday nights.

Swim

A stay in the Harbour City wouldn’t be complete without a glorious dip in the salty sea. Swap crowds for seclusion at Kutti Beach, Vaucluse, a petite and private paradise with golden sand, impossibly jade-green waters and a backdrop of resplendent mansions.

Alternatively, chase the sun to Kongwong Beach, an under-the-radar gem in Kamay Botany Bay National Park. Swim, snorkel, scuba dive or fish, then picnic in the surrounding parkland and keep an eye out for passing dolphins.

Drink

Time for a tipple? That’s just as well, because Sydney has been blessed with a host of new openings right on time for summer. For something cosy and unpretentious, settle in at About Time, a bar inspired by group getaways and weekend road trips, dreamt up by seven mates. The drinks speak of crazy, creative cocktail-making sessions (boozy slushies and cordial negronis, plus craft beer and plenty of wine for good measure), while the food is the stuff of backyard barbecues and midnight snacks (French onion dip with Jatz, anyone?). It’s set in a CBD site due for demolition in late 2022, and the tagline reads “Here for a good time, not a long time” – so check it off your list while you can.

Then, if you’re keen to venture beyond the city centre, make your way to Marrickville Springs, a resort-style rooftop bar above inner-west brewery Philter. It’s a little bit Miami Vice, a little bit Palm Springs – and the ideal spot to close out the weekend with a cool margarita in hand.

Kimpton Hotel is helping to bring the vibrant lifestyle back to Sydney. For more information on how you too can experience the ultimate city break, click here.