Frommer's Australia from $50 a Day 13th Edition - To Parent Directory

WHERE TO DINE 127
Every night there’s live music in the Piano Bar from 5 to 9pm, followed by a
mixture of jazz, Top 40, and rock-and-roll until 5am. A dance club downstairs
starts at 11pm every night (finishing at 6am.) The music is geared toward the
18-to-25 crowd of locals and tourists.
24 Darlinghurst Rd., Kings Cross. & 02/9358 1144. Reservations recommended Fri–Sun. Main courses
A$13–A$28 (US$8.15–US$18). A$2 (US$1.30) surcharge weekends and public holidays. AE, DC, MC, V. Daily
24 hr. (happy hour 4–7pm). CityRail: Kings Cross.
Govindas VEGETARIAN When I think of Govindas, I can’t help smiling.
Perhaps it’s because I’m reliving the happy vibe from the Hare Krishna center it’s
based in, or maybe it’s because the food is so cheap! Or maybe it’s because they
even throw in a decent movie with the meal. (The movie theater is on a different
floor.) The food is simple vegetarian, served buffet style and eaten on blacklacquer
tables. Typical dishes include pastas and salads, lentil dishes, soups, and
casseroles. It’s BYO and doctrine-free.
112 Darlinghurst Rd., Darlinghurst. & 02/9380 5155. Dinner A$16 (US$10), including free movie. AE, MC,
V. Daily 6–11pm. CityRail: Kings Cross.
Hard Rock Cafe AMERICAN The obligatory half a Cadillac through the
wall beckons you into this shrine to rock-and-roll. Among the items on display
are costumes worn by Elvis, John Lennon, and Elton John, as well as guitars
from Sting and the Bee Gees, drums from Phil Collins and the Beatles, and one
of Madonna’s bras. The mainstays here are the burgers, with ribs, chicken, fish,
salads, and T-bone steaks on the menu, too. Most meals come with french fries
or baked potatoes and a salad. It’s really busy on Friday and Saturday evenings
from around 7:30 to 10:30pm, when you might have to queue to get a seat.
121–129 Crown St., Darlinghurst.& 02/9331 1116. Reservations not accepted. Main courses A$9.95–A$22
(US$6.50–US$14). 10% surcharge weekends and public holidays. AE, DC, MC, V. Daily noon–midnight. Shop
daily 10am–midnight. Closed Christmas. CityRail: Museum; then walk across Hyde Park, head down the hill
past the Australian Museum on William St., and turn right onto Crown St. Sydney Explorer Bus: Stop no. 7.
CAFE CULTURE
Debate rages over which cafe serves the best coffee in Sydney, which has the best
atmosphere, and which has the tastiest snacks. The main cafe scenes are centered
around Victoria Street in Darlinghurst, Stanley Street in East Sydney, and King
Street in Newtown. Other places, including Balmoral Beach on the north shore,
Bondi Beach, and Paddington, all have their favored hangouts as well.
Note: Americans will be sorry to learn that, unlike in the States, free refills of
coffee are rare in Australian restaurants and cafes. Sip slowly.
Here are a few of my favorites around town:
Balmoral Boatshed Kiosk Finds A real find, this beautiful rustic cafe is
right on the water beside the dinghies and sailing craft of the wooden Balmoral
Boatshed (located to the far right of the central beach as you look at the water).
It’s a heavenly place for enjoying a breakfast muffin or a ham-and-cheese croissant
while basking in the sun. This place is popular with families on weekend
mornings, so if you hate kids, find somewhere else (the nearby Sandbar has the
best takeaway food and coffee).
2 The Esplanade, Balmoral Beach. & 02/9968 4412. Daily 8am–6pm in summer; 8am–5pm in winter. Ferry
to Taronga Zoo, then bus to Balmoral Beach.
Bar Coluzzi Although it may no longer serve the best coffee in Sydney, this
cafe’s claim to fame is that long ago it served up real espresso when the rest of