CBD
Sydney is the richest city in Oceania, and by far the most economically important hub in Australia; it is also (by about a million residents) the largest city in Australia. All this wealth and power is on prominent display in Sydney downtown.
The area of the city is quite extensive, and it is useful to break it up into North and South, as the locals do. South CBD includes prominent landmarks such as Central Station, Sydney's
Chinatown, and the World Tower, which at 230 metres, is one of Sydney's tallest buildings. At its borders, the Southern CBD shades off into funky Darlinghurst, ugly but busy Darling Harbour, and Redfern/Chippendale, a down-at-hell but rapidly gentrifying precinct. With the exception of Chinatown, of course, there is no real reason to spend a lot of time in this part of town, especially if you won't be around that long.
The real action is in the North, where most of the cultural institutions, shopping and sights are to be found. The big money is centred in the temples of glass, steel and concrete that surround Wynyard and Martin Place train stations. Walking around this area and North towards
Circular Quay, the eagle eyed will come across plenty of beautiful buildings, while the cumulative impact can make the region seem like a mini-Manhattan. Meanwhile the best shopping is to be found in the area around the QVB, just up from
Town Hall Train Station, where designer stores are to be found, along with bookshops, jewelers and the like.
The most famous sights are to be found in the Circular Quay area - the site of the original 1788 British settlement of Sydney Cove (an earlier, failed attempt at settlement had been made a little down the coast, at Botany Bay – the waterway over which you will have flown upon arrival in Sydney – it's where the airport now is). Circular Quay is almost-but-not-quite spoilt by some hideous architectural decisions, most notably the Cahill Expressway, a highway that runs overhead, and by 'the toaster', a residential development that has filled in much of the open space between the city and the
Opera House, and obscured views across to the
Botanical Gardens. Almost… but not quite – because the Harbour is irrepressible. The glare of the brilliantly blue water can be hard to take, especially on a sunny day (ie, on most days) so bring sunglasses. That way, you will be able to really feast your eyes on the splendors of
Sydney Harbour Bridge and the Opera House.
Most recommended CBD activity? Walk from Circular Quay down through the
Botanical Gardens. The views are amazing, and the gardens are beautiful. In the Summer there are evening outdoor cinemas, showing mostly classic films.
Lovely.
Nightlife
Pancakes on the Rocks
Side Bar
Paradiso
ABX Bar
Amicci Coffee & Tea
Sepia Restaurant & Wine Bar
Bambini Espresso Bar
Dendy Bar and Bistro
Hoyts Cinemas
Grace Wine Bar
Bar Europa
Dendy Opera Quays
Bilson's Restaurant
bel mondo
Cafe (The)
The Domain
Bodhi Cafe
Tre Scalini
Cafeteria Pelayo
Cantinetta
Chinese Laundry
Pontoon
Sydney Opera House
Concrete
Delifrance
Sydney Opera House Concert Hall
Sydney Opera House Drama Theater
EasyWay Tea
Internet Cafe Hotel Sweeney's
Studio at The Sydney Opera House (The)
Sydney Opera House Opera Theater
Quay Bar
Jackson's on George
Alexander's at Town Hall
Sydney Opera House Playhouse
Globe Bar
Portobello Cafe
Mezz Bar at Hotel Coronation
Hive Bar
ECQ Bar
Quay Restaurant
Hugo's Lounge
Cafe Balconi
Shirt Bar
Level Three
Stitch Bar
Slip Inn
Lobby Lounge At Shangri-La Hotel (The)
Loft (The)
Soho Bar
Metro Theatre
Cafe Morso
Bistro CBD
MoS Cafe
Aqua Luna Bar and Restaurant
Muffin Break
Orbit Lounge Bar
Wing's Bistro & Restaurant
La Renaissance Patisserie Francaise
Privilege Bar
Glass Brasserie
Retro Cafe
Grandma's
Spanish Terrazas
LG IMAX Theater
Caffe Citta
Soup Plus
Zaaffran
Capitan Torres
Greater Union Cinema - Liverpool
Tank
The Ivy
Theater Royal
City Recital Hall
Le Grand Cafe
Trust Vodka Lounge
Star City Casino
VIVO Cafe World Square
St. George OpenAir Cinema
Greater Union Cinemas
Bambini Wine Room
Greater Union Cinemas - George Street
Star City Lyric Theater
Bristol Arms Retro Hotel
The Lord Nelson
Star City Showroom Theater
Fortune of War Hotel
Green Park Hotel
Trophies Bar
The Old Fitzroy Hotel
Old Vienna Coffee House
State Theatre
Marble Bar
Lobby Lounge Bar at Pier One Parkroyal
Sydney Fish Market
Sydney Showboats
One World Sports Bar
Mercantile Hotel
The Hero of Waterloo
Australian Hotel
Opera Bar
Genesian Theater
Chinta Ria: The Temple of Love
Home
Capitol Theater
Customs House
Sydney Conservatorium of Music
Scruffy Murphy's
Harbour View Hotel
City Extra Circular Quay
Hotel CBD
Australian Theater For Young People's Studio One
Sydney Entertainment Centre
Basement (The)
Mint Room
Wharf Theater
Hoyts Cinema - Broadway
Attractions
Helen Kaminski
Bug Sports
Newtown Old Wares
FJ Tours
Ashwoods Books and Records
St Mary's Cathedral
AAT Kings Sydney Day Tours
Millers Point
National Rugby League Grand Final
Australian Opal Cutters
Parliament House
Cotton On
Sail Venture Cruises
Sydney Fish Market
Allianz Stadium
Strand Arcade (The)
FCUK
Esprit
Chinese Garden of Friendship
Cook & Phillip Park
Red Eye Records
Capitol Theater
Government House
Australian Museum
Sydney Harbour Bridge
Mid City Centre
Sydney Harbour Bridge to Lavender Bay Walk
Artexpress
R.M. Williams
Belmore Park Art Market
HMV Music Store
Osh Kosh B'Gosh
Morrissey
Andrew (Boy) Charlton Pool
St Stephen's Uniting Church
Goat Island - Heritage Tour
Sydney Aboriginal Discoveries
Tin Soldier (The)
Opera House to the Botanic Gardens Walk (The)
QVB Gifts and Souvenirs
Pitt Street Mall
Lisa Ho
Country Trader (The)
Museum of Sydney
Royal Botanic Gardens
Oz Sea Kayak Adventures
Sydney Convention and Exhibition Centre
King George V Recreation Centre
Sydney Aquarium
Clyde Bank
Sydney Visitors Centre (The)
Gray Line
Thomas Cook Boot & Clothing
Hardy Brothers Jewellers
Justice & Police Museum
Susannah Place Museum
Darling Harbour
WonderBus
Unsound Records
Purely Australian
Sydney Observatory
Mrs Macquarie's Chair
Darling Harbour Circus and Street Theatre Festival
Jessie Street National Women's Library
Sydney Showboats
St Andrew's Cathedral
Sydney Harbour Bridge Pylon Lookout
WonderBus
Abbey Bridal
City Recital Hall
Grand Tour (The)
Real Sydney Tours
Compleat Angler
Cenotaph (The)
Art Gallery of New South Wales
Hyde Park Barracks Museum
Sydney Cricket Ground Trust
St. George OpenAir Cinema
Australian National Maritime Museum
Hyde Park Cellars
St Patrick's Catholic Church
Sydney Opera House Guided Tours
Manly Ferry Trip
Birdland Records
Sydney Fish Markets
Fort Denison
Kookai
Skygarden
Escada
Fine Music King Street
Blackwattle Deli
Hunt Leather
Tiffany & Co.
David Jones Food Hall
Central Railway Station
Bug Sports
Simon Johnson
Strand Hatters
Hugo Boss
Oxford Street
Utopia Records
Jaye-M Underfashions
Sydney by Sail
Surf Dive 'n' Ski
Australian National Maritime Museum - Children's Activities
Tumi
Great Sights
Cadman's Cottage
Sydney Theatre Company
Captain Cook Cruises
Anzac Day
Hobbyco
Dal Myles Special Tours
Hyde Park
Jinta Desert Art Gallery
Evelyn Miles
Alan Landis Antiques
Easyrider Motorbike Tours
Gowing
Powerhouse Museum
Rocks Walking Tours
Australian Museum - Children's activities
Hedrena - Skygarden
David Jones
Monorail - Metro Transport
Angus and Robertson
Skywalk at Sydney Tower
St James' Church
Anzac War Memorial
Gallery at the Wentworth
Opera House to the Botanic Gardens Walk (The)
Bunda Fine Jewels and Antiques
Rookwood Anglican & General Cemetery
Chifley Plaza
MLC Centre
MaxMara
Barkins
AMP Tower (Centrepoint)
Picadilly Centre
Tea Centre Sydney (The)
Kinokuniya Bookstores
Sanity
Castlereagh Street
Nielsen Park
World Square Shopping Centre
Queen Victoria Building
Australia Day
Argyle Stores
Taylor & Khoo
General Pants Co.
djamu Gallery
Games Paradise
Salvatore Ferragamo
Bush Food Tour
Sydney Town Hall
Betty's Soup Kitchen
Sydney Hospital
S H Ervin Gallery
Canturi
Great Synagogue
Reliance Cruises
State Library of New South Wales
Circular Quay
New Year's Eve Fireworks
Grant Pirrie
Oz Sea Kayak Adventures
Nomadic Rug Traders
Clarence Street Cyclery
Play House
Chinatown
Shirt Shop (The)
Only Fitness
Star City Casino
Sydney Day Tours
Sydney Opera House
Customs House
Day Spa & Health Club (The Observatory Hotel)
Sydney Harbour National Park
The Rocks
Shark Island
Mick Simmons Retail
The Domain
Mountain Top Trike Tours
Paddy Pallin
Lacoste
ProDive
Motor World Museum Gallery
Restaurants
La Renaissance Patisserie Francaise
Wine Banc
Delifrance
Spanish Terrazas
BBQ King Restaurant
Paradiso
Sydney Fish Market
Caffe Citta
Becasse
City Extra Circular Quay
Poolside Cafe and Events @ Andrew Boy Charlton Pool
Bistro Papillon
Bodhi Restaurant
Fishface
Tre Scalini
Trust Vodka Lounge
Bodhidharma
Rockpool
Marigold Restaurant
Bohem
Casa Di Nico Italian Restaurant
Passion Flower Cafe Dessert Bar
Eating World Food Court
Concrete
Pontoon
Diethnes Greek Restaurant & Bar
Marble Bar
Guzman Y Gomez Westfield Sydney
One World Sports Bar
Alexander's at Town Hall
Portobello Cafe
Mercantile Hotel
Bouilion Restaurant
Sailors Thai
Bar (The)
Machiavelli Ristorante
Malay Chinese Takeaway
Spice Temple
Mezz Bar at Hotel Coronation
Orbit Lounge Bar
Little Snail (The)
Late Graze
Cafe Morso
Sydney Showboats
Secret Cave Café
Wing's Bistro & Restaurant
Wharf Restaurant (The)
Red Lantern
Tharen's
Bistro CBD
Aria Restaurant
Flying Fish
Shimbashi - Soba on the Sea
Eden Bar & Restaurant
Glass Brasserie
Manta Restaurant
Café Sydney - Customs House
Golden Century
Capitan Torres
Basement (The)
Portobello Cafe
The Malaya
Rigoletto Ristorante Italiano
Zenergy Vegetarian Foods
Zilver Restaurant
Opera Bar
bel mondo
Cargo
Quay Restaurant
Australian Hotel
Stella Restaurant
Casa Asturiana
Altitude Restaurant
Grand Taverna Spanish Bistro
Ash Street Cellar
Eat Streets at Night
Bacco Wine Bar Pasicceria
Baja Cantina
Summit Restaurant (The)
Cafe Balconi
Azabujuban
Bilson's Restaurant
Guillaume at Bennelong
Bistro-Fax
Sushi Bar at Fishmarket Pyrmont
Café (The)
Harbour View Hotel
Le Grand Café
Old Vienna Coffee House
Cafe Mix
Cafeteria Pelayo
Spice I Am
Harry's Café de Wheels
Omega
Chatts
Baia San Marco
Din Tai Fung
Alexander's at Town Hall
Hellenic Club
Aqua Luna Bar and Restaurant
Bodhi Cafe
Hero of Waterloo (The)
Chinese Noodle Restaurant
Level Three
sushi e
Bambini Cafe Bar
Mad Cow
MoS Cafe
Pancakes on the Rocks
Zaaffran
Retro Cafe
Old Vienna Coffee House
Star City Casino
Scruffy Murphy's
Sushi Choo
Bambini Espresso Bar
Teppanyaki
Pancakes on the Rocks
Uccello
Chinta Ria: The Temple of Love
Jackson's on George
Muffin Break
VIVO Cafe World Square
Hotels
Metro Suites On Sussex
Rydges Capitol Square
BLUE, Woolloomooloo Bay, Sydney
Novotel - Darling Harbour
Hotel Ibis Darling Harbour
Novotel Century Sydney
Travelodge Hotel Sydney
Travelodge Martin Place
Sebel Pier One
Trendwest Suites Sydney
Oaks Hyde Park Plaza
Sheraton on the Park
Capitol Square Hotel
InterContinental Sydney
Harbour View Hotel
Central Park Hotel
Sir Stamford at Circular Quay
Cambridge Hotel Sydney
Oxford Koala Hotel and Apartments
Meriton Serviced Apartments Campbell Street
Carlton Crest Hotel Sydney
Pacific International Apartments Sydney
Sofitel Wentworth Sydney
Country Comfort Sydney Central
Clarion Suites Southern Cross Darling Harbour
Pacific International Hotel - Sydney
Vulcan Hotel Darling Harbour
W Hotel
Westin Sydney
Crowne Plaza Hotel - Darling Harbour
Y on the Park
Diamant Hotel Sydney
Park Regis Hotel Sydney
Macquarie Boutique Hotel
Aaron's Hotel
Parkroyal at Darling Harbour
Mercantile Hotel
Establishment Hotel
Pensione Hotel Sydney
Amora Hotel Jamison Sydney
Manly Waterside Holidays
Swissotel Sydney
Merchant Court Hotel
Four Points
Saville 2 Bond Street
Four Seasons Hotel
Marriott Sydney Harbour
Sydney Central Private Hotel
Meriton Kent Street
Four Seasons Hotel Sydney
Quay Grand Suites Sydney
Maze Backpackers
Sydney Central Youth Hostel
Sydney Hilton (The)
Rydges World Square Hotel
Grace Hotel (The)
Grand Hotel
Radisson Plaza Hotel Sydney
Bellevue Terrace
Grand Mercure Apartments
Mercure Hotel Ultimo Sydney
Harbour Rocks Hotel
Rendezvous Stafford Hotel Sydney
Mercure Hotel Sydney
Menzies Sydney (The)
Royal Hotel - Darlington
Rockfort (The)
Metro Hotel Sydney Central (formerly RG Hotel)
Blacket Hotel
