3PM: CHECK IN
The best place to start any
urban weekend away is by
settling into your luxe digs.
The West—the first Sydney
property to open as part of
the Hilton’s new Curio
Collection—has a boutique
feel but all the luxury
offerings needed to set it
apart from a typical business
hotel. Rooms are state of the
art and the Solander Dining
and Bar—named after First Fleet botanist
Daniel Solander—showcases locally
sourced, fresh seasonal produce and
Australian botanicals to create globally
inspired dishes. Our favourite part?
The stunning open-air Garden Atrium
surrounded by lush green foliage. You’d
never guess you’re a stone’s throw from
the CBD and all of Barangaroo’s offerings.
4PM: WINDOW SHOP
You’re four minutes’ stroll to Sydney’s CBD
via Wynyard Walk, but there’s no need to
leave Barangaroo given the buffet of unique
retail therapy offerings at your fingertips.
Our favourite is Title, Australia’s largest
independent retail collection of music,
books and film under one roof. Bestsellers
and classics sit side-by-side with rare
collectables—the bookstore equivalent of
high-low dressing. (The collector’s edition
Helmut Newton tome in the window had
us at hello.) For fashion, browse cute
boutiques Somedays and Collector Store,
which stocks fashion brands including
Equipment, Les Coyotes de Paris, Gestuz,
Second Female and
Viktoria & Woods,
along with jewellery
and cult products like
Leif and rose quartz
beauty rollers.5PM: TEA AND
PAMPERING
Refresh yourself at
The Rabbit Hole
Organic Tea Bar,which serves hot teas, sparkling cold teas
and even a tea-infused hot chocolate.
There’s a fun food menu, too, starring its
Insta-famous lavender shortbread. Next,
we suggest heading to Blown Lux for a
blow-dry and a glass of bubbles. If you still
have time for a mani-pedi, California Nails
is your best bet before heading back to
The West to dress for dinner.8PM: COCKTAIL HOUR
Celebrity chef Matt Moran’s 250-seater
rooftop bar Smoke is one of the hottest
bars in all of Sydney right now and boasts
a 50+ cocktail list. (Trust us, the house
Negronis are everything.) Occupying the
top floor of the spectacular three-storey
Barangaroo House building that also hosts
fine-dining venue Bea and relaxed House
Bar, it’s the perfect place to people-watch
as the sun sets over Darling Harbour.9PM: FINE DINING
This might just be your toughest decision
of the weekend. With a large percentage of
restaurants in the luxury precinct falling into
the fine-dining category, you’re spoiled for
choice. But if it’s a sure bet that you’re after,and money’s no object this weekend, any
one of the three hatted restaurants in the
precinct—Bea, Cirrus Dining and Banksii—
will be unforgettable11PM: JUST ONE MORE
Not ready to crash yet? Head for late
drinks at Untied, a casual rooftop bar
four levels above street level that’s a
buzzing hive of after-work networking
on weeknights, but more laidback come
weekends. When you finally head back
to the hotel, enjoy a bath, late-night
movie draped in Bemboka (the Rolls
Royce of bathrobes) and relax.8AM: RISE AND SHINE
If an outdoor adventure is what you
fancy, try walking (or running) the
picturesque Barangaroo foreshore
via Wulugul Walk. Prefer to escape
the elements? Go to The Space Studio,
a world-first for Fitness First offering
studio-based classes like Pilates, yoga
and barre. Drop-in guests are welcome.9AM: BRUNCH
It’s hard to beat the delicious buffet
breakfast at The West, but if you want
a second round—or stroll—the Bourke
Street Bakery’s hand-baked artisanal
pastries are hard to walk past.Sydney’s swankiest business
precinct is ideal for a social
weekend staycation
Barangaroo,
Sydney
24 HOURS INThe WestBarangaroo
HouseCollector
StoreBlown LuxWulugul Walk