New Week, New Adventures: Top 5 Sydney Hotspots Inside!

I hope you had a great Australia Day. Yes today is a public holiday in lieu of Australia Day falling on the weekend, so most of us get a a long weekend.

Well the warm weather has hit us today and Tuesday will be a scorcher. So keep wise and stay out of the midday sun, there is allot to enjoy in the shade so no excuses 🙂 

1. Get a Dutch Smuggler … even on Australia Day ☕️ 

The Dutch Smuggler Coffee Brewers are located in such a cool shop along the steps of the EY building at 200 George Street, Sydney. They also operate out of the QVB and Martin Place.

The Dutchie is home to the Mie Goreng toastie which is a must try, a real taste bud delight. But you can also tuck into a Rendang toastie, Kim my chi toastie, the reuben, nacho libre, truffle garlic noodles, avo on toast, smuggler toll and some other tasty options.

Their coffee beans are sourced from Indonesia and Ethiopia. To take home or to the office, they can be purchased in vacuum sealed bags with whole beans or ground from $22 for 250 gms.

Open 6:00 am on week days and 8:00 am on Wednesday. Closing at 3:00 to 4:00 pm.

2. Gin & tonic? Or some other gin combo ? 🍶 

Hickson House is the home of a brilliant Sydney craft spirits distillery, set in the historic Metcalfe Bond Stores, The Rocks.

They have won recent awards including Best New Bar 2022, Best Distillery Bar 2022 and Best Distillery & Restaurant, Sydney in 2023. The punters have also give it a solid thumbs up at a 4.6 Google star rating.

The bar stocks around 600 bottles of spirits with a strong focus on Australian made including hard to find whiskies. Check out the High & Dry Bar for your next event, seating 25 guests or up to 38 people standing.

If you love the Hickson House gin then you can take a bottle or two home with prices starting at $75.

Closed on a Monday but open varying hours from Tuesday through Sunday - check the website before you visit.

3. Jimmy Cameron - Challenging the Deep 🌊 

Today is your last chance to see Challenging the Deep by James Cameron at the Australian National Maritime Museum, Darling Harbour.

Experience how James Cameron’s passion for understanding and exploring the ocean has shone a light on one of the most important and least explored parts of the Earth including dives to Titanic and the German battleship Bismarck.

Tickets can be purchased via the museum online

4. Time for a walk to blow out the long weekend calorie intake 🚶 

Bradleys Head to Chowder Bay is one of the Sydney walks that does not get the hype such as the Bondi to Bronte stroll.

One way is 4kms and can take between 1.5 and 2.5 hours depending on the speed you walk and what you may stop at along the walk. Most of us will drive to the start so be aware that there are parking fees payable to leave your vehicle during the time of the walk.

To avoid parking catch the ferry from Circular Quay to the Taronga Zoo Wharf and commence your walk there are head towards Chowder Bay in the North East. See the map on NSW National Parks and Wildlife for directions.

Don’t forget to pack water, sunscreen, sungalsses and a hat 😎 

5. The glass is used so perfectly in this brasserie 🍽️ 

Glass Brasserie was started by Luke Mangan in a partnership with Hilton Group twenty years ago. He stepped away at the end of 2024 and it is now in the more than capable hands of head chef, Natalia Murphy, who started with Glass ten years ago.

Located in the Hilton Hotel with expansive glass windows overlooking George Street and the QVB it is a brilliant brasserie and still oozes beauty and super cool vibes.

The A La Carte menu includes my favourites of steak tartare, Yamba king prawns, sticky pork belly and a side of truffle mash potato. There is really allot on the menu to appeal to the most discerning tastes. The wine list is huge and covers all corners of the globe.

The cut down Wine Bar menu is also a brilliant option at $38 per head for lunch until 3pm and add a glass of wine for $15. There is an option to have breakfast from 6:30 am which I think I need to give a try 😀 

Open for breakfast, lunch and dinner, reservations are highly recommended and can be via the website or call the team on 02 9265 6068.

Thanks for reading!

Cheers and beers,

Mick

Founder of Mick’s Five

P.S. Hope to see you again on Thursday this week.