Twice as nice in Double Bay
Synonymous with pure luxury and all things beautiful, leafy Double Bay treats visitors to an elite, first-class Sydney experience.
Sitting pretty on Sydney Harbour, snuggled in the city’s east, Double Bay is something of a hidden enclave brimming with the finer things in life. Spend a weekend diving into the neighbourhood’s exquisite restaurants, bars and boutiques, and you’ll see why this buzzy, village-esque locale is a magnet for international celebrities and many of Sydney’s most prestigious personalities.
Those serious about retail therapy should go directly to Bay, Knox and Cross streets for designer shopping nirvana. Leading Australian labels Scanlan Theodore, Carla Zampatti and Bianca Spender all have boutiques here, where you’ll find contemporary suiting, bold cuts and modern, clean designs.
A visit to Revivre uncovers a treasure trove of recycled designer clothing, jewellery and accessories by the likes of Gucci, Chanel, Hermès, Prada and Céline, to name a few, while a stroll along the picturesque Transvaal Avenue will have you browsing specialty fashion, homewares and furniture stores in rows of charming terrace-style cottages.
To get the full Double Bay experience, you’ll need to dine, and dine well. Neil Perry’s Asian- and Mediterranean- leaning Margaret is a must-book. Led by flawless produce – seafood in particular – and a polished wine list, the restaurant is all elegance with a chic, muted interior bathed in a warm glow.
Continue your culinary world tour with a stop at Matteo for excellent Italian dishes. When it’s time for a drink, head to Bibo Wine Bar for European drops rarely seen on our shores, or for something a little closer to home, The Golden Sheaf serves up modern Australian pub favourites in an enormous, heritage-listed venue.
Settle in for the night or two (or three) at the five-star hotel Intercontinental Sydney Double Bay. The hotel has a storied history as the former Ritz-Carlton, which hosted some of the world’s powerful people. Today, the focus is on exquisite design, flawless service and absolute comfort. The Rooftop pool with harbour views and The Upper Bar are exclusively available to guests of the hotel and not to be missed.
While Double Bay Beach is closest to The Intercontinental, it’s worth heading a few minutes further east for a swim in Murray Rose Pool, known to many of the locals as Red Leaf Beach. The netted harbour pool is encircled by a deck to meander along and dive off, or for a more adventurous place to sunbathe, swim out to one of the floating pontoons. Any spot on the beach or the hill behind it is ideal for people watching and choosing which superyacht bobbing about the harbour you’d like for yourself.
From Double Bay Wharf at the top of Bay Street, catch a ferry to Circular Quay to sail by a checklist of Sydney’s most iconic sights. As you take in the scenery from the water, you’ll have uninterrupted views of the city skyline, Kirribilli House, the Sydney Harbour Bridge and Sydney Opera House.
Finally, a highly recommended stop which may be a little surprising. If you’re literary-minded, travelling with children, or simply appreciate ingenious design, a wander around the Woollhara Library at Double Bay will impress. The space has been architecturally designed to breathe imagination and surprise into the library experience. Explore the multi-level building and discover plant walls, murals, digital spaces, and an indoor slide – a fitting reflection of Double Bay’s expertise in mixing beauty with play.
Discover more in the Winter Edition of Hunter & Coastal Lifestyle Magazine or subscribe here.
Story by Tiffany Pilcher, Photography by Candice Carlin.
