Sydney in 48 Hours
Our tips on where to stay, eat and shop...
The foyer at Capella Hotel, on our way to Aperture
A quick trip to Sydney is always a welcome change of pace. We recently spent 48 hours across the harbour visiting our friend at Baina, a brand we were proud to champion as one of its first stockists. Between catching up, wandering familiar streets and discovering new places, we gathered a few new favourites along the way.
From places to stay and memorable meals to shops worth taking the time to explore, this is our guide to spending 48 hours in Sydney. A collection of places we love, and recommendations to keep close for your next visit…
STAY
The rooms at the Ace are always fun, with thoughtful details and a great bathroom, but the real joy of staying at an Ace is its communal spaces. The Surry Hills location features a distinctly 70s-inspired sunken lounge, with wide leather seats and chocolate-brown carpet, while the dining room, bar and coffee counter branch off in different directions. There’s a lovely sense of activity throughout the building, making it feel as much like a neighbourhood meeting place as a hotel. An unexpected highlight was the camera booth tucked into the hallway — a fun little ritual and a great holiday memento to take home.
Alternative option: Paramount House Hotel
Housed in the beautifully restored Paramount Pictures building, this is next on our list. With its considered interiors, independent creative spaces and excellent coffee downstairs, it feels like the kind of place that would make a very good base for a few days in Sydney.
The communal area at the Ace Hotel
The entrance to Adeliade’s Kitchen
EAT
Lunch at Paramount Coffee Project
80 Commonwealth Street, Surry Hills
Just a two-minute walk from our hotel, Paramount Coffee Project is a favourite for good reason, with a strong coffee offering and a menu that goes well beyond the usual café fare. We ordered a plate of spring vegetables — yellow zucchini, broad beans and mint, dressed in a bright vinaigrette — alongside a side of fried chicken and an iced matcha. Fresh, vibrant and satisfying without being too heavy, it was the perfect post-plane pick-me-up before setting out to explore the city.
Dinner at 10 William St
A Paddington icon, this intimate wine bar and restaurant has thrived in the same location for over a decade, drawing people back for its relaxed atmosphere, excellent service and easy approach to shared plates. We started with wet martinis, fried zucchini flowers, fresh asparagus and sashimi, before moving on to roasted pork, potatoes and a fresh green salad, all paired with a chardonnay. It’s the kind of place that makes an evening feel effortless, where the food is generous in spirit and the wine list gives you every reason to linger a little longer.
Breakfast at Adelaide’s Kitchen
9 Regent Street, Paddington
A quaint little café on a Paddington street corner, with two generous windows and outdoor seating that invites you to settle in for a while. Hand-painted signs and a hand-stitched quilt on the wall were our first indications that we’d found a good spot. We ordered gooey eggs and soldiers, finished with crisp sage leaves and a tiny spoonful of salt flakes, alongside black coffee. Naturally, we left with a few things in tow: a jar of homemade plum jam, Weekend Recipes by Jess Elliott Dennison, an Adelaide’s cap embroidered with a dancing strawberry, and a takeaway bag of lemon amaretti. A breakfast that turned into a very good little shopping trip.
The hand drawn posters in the entrance at 10 William St.
Our starter plates at 10 William St. restaurant
EAT
Aperitif at Aperture, Capella
24 Loftus Street, Sydney
Aperture is the courtyard bar at the Capella Hotel, and a particularly lovely place to pause between afternoon plans and dinner. We ordered a gin spritz and sat beneath the cascading fabric flowers suspended from the rooftop, marvelling at the detail and the unexpected softness they brought to the space. With its elegant setting and unhurried atmosphere, it’s an ideal spot for an early evening drink — a little moment of calm tucked away in the city.
Dinner at Neptune’s Grotto
A minute’s walk from Capella, this bustling little bar sits beneath Clam Bar on the corner of Young and Bridge Streets. The atmosphere is lively and intimate, with a Northern Italian menu centred on handmade pasta and comforting, produce-led dishes. We ordered pickled vegetables, charred zucchini, ricotta dumplings and eggplant parmigiana — a generous spread of flavours and textures that made sharing everything feel like the obvious approach. A great option for an informal dinner that still feels like a destination in its own right.
Brunch at Superfreak
333A Enmore Road, Marrickville
Recommended by our local friend, Superfreak is well worth the trip to Marrickville. The café serves wholesome fare, smoothies and batch brew in an exceptionally beautiful space, with a relaxed, neighbourhood feel. Sitting across from a green park, it’s the sort of place where brunch can easily stretch into a slow morning, especially if you take an extra coffee to go. We ordered the Market Plate: jammy eggs, whipped ricotta, fresh fruit, cheese, pickles and housemate bread, alongside a flat white. A lovely way to experience a different pocket of Sydney, away from the familiar streets of the inner city.
The dining booths at Neptune’s grotto
The peaceful courtyard at Aperture
The playful interior of Superfreak
Another beautiful florist’s shop spilling out into the streets
SHOP
47 William Street
A well-edited multi-brand store with a strong point of view, bringing together labels including Dries Van Noten, Simone Rocha and Lemaire. The selection feels considered rather than crowded, with an interesting mix of silhouettes, textures and pieces to discover. A particular bonus was the rack of recycled and pre-loved wares tucked away at the back — an added layer of discovery that made the visit even better.
326 Oxford Street, Paddington
We spent a very long time in here, happily wandering between excellent sections dedicated to children’s books, interiors, art and classic literature. The selection is wonderfully curated, with the feeling that each title has been chosen with care rather than simply stocked to fill a shelf. It’s the kind of bookshop that rewards a slower visit, whether you arrive looking for something specific or simply want to see what catches your eye.
1a Victoria St, Paddington
An irresistible trove of antiques and objects, Tamsin Johnson’s new Paddington showroom is a destination for those drawn to pieces with a sense of history and character. Bringing together sculptural forms, collected antiques and distinctive decorative objects, the space reflects Johnson’s instinct for finding beauty in the unexpected.
SHOP
381B Riley Street, Surry Hills
A distinctive collection of Japanese ceramics, woven pieces and vintage objects, brought together in a way that feels personal and quietly unexpected. There’s a lovely balance between useful everyday objects and more unusual finds, making it a good place to look for something that will stay with you long after the trip. The scented candles were particularly tempting, alongside the carefully selected pieces that make the store feel more like a cabinet of curiosities than a conventional shop.
501 Crown Street, Surry Hills
Another excellent independent bookshop, with a particularly good selection of music across both vinyl and CD formats. The art section winds its way down the stairway, creating a sense of discovery as you move through the space. There’s something special about a shop that brings books, music and visual culture together so naturally, inviting you to browse without a particular agenda. We left hoping that places like this will always have a home in our cities.
41 William Street, Paddington
Founded and run by designer Ruth Fairbairn, this Paddington boutique is a thoughtful expression of slow fashion and considered craftsmanship. The collection centres on beautiful, often one-off handmade garments, with an emphasis on natural fibres and premium European linen.
The window installation of Japanese crafts at Provider Store
Darling residential properties, indeed a distraction
Charming hand painted tiles found along our way
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