20 things to do in Sydney this summer

DRINK: Martinis at Continental Deli

At the Continental in Newtown, Porteño and Bodega chef/co-owner Elvis Abrahanowicz and his cohorts are heavily into the in-house canning game. Next to tins of tommy ruff, creamed corn, and baked beans, there’s also a Martini in a can – and believe us when we say summer ain’t summer without one (or two). Continental Deli, 210 Australia St, Newtown, NSW, (02) 8624 3131, continentaldelicatessen.com.au

SNACK: Aqua S

Take soft serve. Make it sea-salty. Divide it by watermelon. Add caramel popcorn. And marshmallow. And fairy floss. Multiply it by Instagram, and you’ve got Aqua S, the Sydney ice-creamery that’s about to take over the world. Aqua S, multiple locations, including shop 27, Regent Pl, 501 George St, Sydney; shop K3550, Macquarie Shopping Centre, cnr Herring & Waterloo Rds, North Ryde, NSW, (02)8668 5957, aquas.co 

ESCAPE: NSW Far South Coast

If you haven’t yet had the pleasure, take the Princes Highway by the hand and give it a twirl. A night (at the very least) spent at eco-lodge Paperbark Camp just outside Huskisson, a milk bar-style burger at Dulcie’s Cottage by Merimbula Lake, gelati at Bermagui Gelati Clinic, and a stop at Tathra for award-winning oysters are all a must. Plan your trip with the help of our travel guide to NSW’s South Coast.

CLASSIC SYDNEY: Icebergs Dining Room & Bar

You can go a long way with great bone structure – especially in Bondi – and Icebergs Dining Room & Bar’s location looks as striking as ever. After an ocean dip, enjoy a lazy afternoon glass of rosé on the balcony or, for something more substantial, one of Monty Koludrovic’s burgers from the bar menu. Happy days. Icebergs Dining Room & Bar, 1 Notts Ave, Bondi Beach, NSW, (02) 9365 9000, idrb.com

COFFEE: Skittle Lane

The coffee situation around King Street in the CBD is getting a little out of hand: Mecca, the mighty Cross Eatery, Single Origin (and Joe Black X, Piccolo Me and Lot 1, yes) and now Skittle Lane. The room has sky-high casement windows that almost rival the beauties at The Cross, the menu is minimal and largely Sonoma bread-based (creamed corn and cheddar toasties with pickled onion, Brewtown pastries), and the coffee will ease any niggling back-to-work blues. Skittle Lane Coffee, 40 King St, Sydney, NSW

MAKE: Pickles and preserves

The basic recipe for pickled fruit is 1:1 sugar to vinegar, but if you’re pickling the likes of fennel or fungi, a seasoned vinegar is your friend. Now’s the time to start preserving the summer harvest, and we have you covered with our collection of pickle and preserve recipes.

WEAR: Shilo Engelbrecht for Sportscraft

Shilo Engelbrecht’s textiles begin life as oil paintings before being digitally printed on European linens and silk. Now she has produced a limited-edition collection for Sportscraft that includes a seriously shady beach hat, an umbrella, board shorts and sarong – each piece awash with sky blue, apricot and baby pink brushstrokes. From $99.99, shilo.net.au, sportscraft.com.au

DINE: The Paddington

The ol’ chicken-and-chips combo is now a whole lot fancier, thanks to the agile mind of former Momofuku Seiobo chef Ben Greeno teamed with the serious hospitality muscle of Justin Hemmes and his Merivale group. The Paddington has majorly raised the stakes of pub dining on Oxford Street and, given it’s open seven days and it sits outside the lockout zone, you’ll have plenty of time to savour its charms (the late-night chicken sandwich is a dream). The Paddington, 384 Oxford St, Paddington, NSW, (02) 9240 3000, merivale.com.au/thepaddington

DO: Sunday lunch at Billy Kwong, Potts Point

It’s been a year since chef Kylie Kwong reopened Billy Kwong in Potts Point, and in celebration of its first birthday, Sunday lunches are now part of the line-up. Pull up a stool at the bar for lunch-only dishes such as stir-fried wheat-flour noodles with XO sauce and Chinese cabbage. Meanwhile, in the booze corner, grab a beer from Tasmania’s Two Metre Tall brewery, made with foraged native plants. Billy Kwong, shop 1, 28 Macleay St, Potts Point, NSW, (02) 9332 3300

TAKE HOME: Malfatti glass

There’s an off-kilter magic to Malfatti (which means ‘misshapen’ in Italian). The mouth-blown glassware is made in Beacon, New York, but luckily you can buy the whimsical sake sets, prosecco glasses and vino rosso tumblers at Sorry Thanks I Love You in Sydney’s Martin Place. Treat yourself. Sorry Thanks I Love You, 1 Martin Pl, Sydney, NSW, (02) 9045 3241, sorrythanksiloveyou.com

SEE: Grayson Perry at The Museum of Contemporary Art Australia

The My Pretty Little Art Career exhibit at the MCA is the largest collection of Grayson Perry’s work ever to be displayed in the southern hemisphere. It’s hard not to fall in love with the British artist’s wildly decorated pots and ceramics, provocative tapestries, sculptures, prints and drawings. The Museum of Contemporary Art Australia, 140 George St, The Rocks, NSW, 1300 762 545; exhibition continues until 1 May 2016, mca.com.au

Grayson Perry, The Rosetta Vase, 2011, glazed ceramic, British Museum Collection, image courtesy the artist, Victoria Miro, London and the Trustees of the British Museum, London © Grayson Perry

RELAX: Darling Spa

A saltwater Jacuzzi, aromatherapy steam room and high-tech gym are the latest additions to the expanded (and renamed) Darling Spa, on the second floor of The Darling Hotel in Sydney’s Star complex. We’re big fans of The Darling Experience: a two-hour stone massage with back exfoliation and scalp treatment – especially when it’s teamed with a wind-down in the hammam or lemongrass-scented relaxation suite. Darling Spa, Level 2, The Darling, 80 Pyrmont St, Pyrmont, NSW, (02) 9657 8088, thedarling.com.au

LOUNGE: The Old Clare’s rooftop pool and bar

Cap off your day by watching the sun go down, gin and tonic in hand, from a rooftop pool in the middle of the city. Sound exclusive? Happily, The Old Clare Hotel’s rooftop bar isn’t just reserved for guests of the hotel. It’s the perfect spot to celebrate clock-off with a Chamomile Highball (Tanqueray, chamomile, elderflower, lemon soda), a Miami Vice (a blend of Piña Colada and frozen Strawberry Daiquiri), or both.The Old Clare Hotel, 1 Kensington St, Chippendale, NSW, (02) 8277 8277, theoldclarehotel.com.au

DO: A Milkwood course

Whether you’re looking to perfect your passata, turn your hand to beekeeping or make your own cheese, Milkwood offers numerous growing and cooking courses. Sign up for a fermentation workshop at Redfern’s 107 Rooftop Garden to talk kefir, kombucha and krauts; or, if your resolution is to grow your own, head along to their next beginners’ gardening workshop, where you’ll learn what to grow, when to grow it and, more importantly, how to get started. Milkwood courses, various locations, (02) 5300 4473, milkwood.net

GO: Wulugul Pop-Up, Barangaroo

If a picnic at Sydney’s new Barangaroo Reserve is on the cards, before you pack the Jatz, consider the Wulugul Pop-Up. On Wulugal Walk, you can go from a flat white at Bourke Street Bakery to a bucket of hot wings at Belle’s Hot Chicken, then bring it home with an all-natural pistachio gelato at RivaReno. Wulugul Pop-Up, Wulugal Walk, Barangaroo, NSW, thestreetsofbarangaroo.com

LUNCH: Waterman’s Lobster Co., Bondi Beach

Lobster, surf and sand? Now you’re talking. After the success of the Potts Point restaurant, the Waterman’s crew have opened a second outpost for the summer just a short stroll from Bondi Beach. Diners can expect the same impressive wine and cocktail list, a mighty fine display from GT illustrator Adriana Picker on the walls, and buttery white rolls stuffed with their signature Atlantic lobster. Waterman’s Lobster Co, upper ground, 75-79 Hall St, Bondi Beach, NSW, (02) 9300 8892, watermanslobsterco.com

SNACK: Pure Pops ice-pops

Speaking of Bondi Beach, Pure Pops ice-pops began selling their all-natural iced desserts at the Bondi Farmers market. Popsicle flavours such as blood orange, ginger beer and lime, or the deliciously light strawberry, watermelon and mint are the perfect post-swim treats, and these days you can pick them up in numerous cafés, delis and grocery stores in Bondi and beyond. For a full list of stockists see purepops.com.au/stockists

VISIT: Sydney Festival’s Meriton Festival Village

Yet again, the Sydney Festival Village in Hyde Park is where it’s at. Until 26 January, sink a few Chandons under the fairy lights with food from the likes of Porteño and Gelato Messina (a ‘Bearded Lady’ fairy floss, say), and enjoy DJ sets and soul train sessions from the likes of Soul of Sydney. The Meriton Festival Village, Hyde Park North, entry near Archibald Fountain, sydneyfestival.org.au; open 7-26 January, Tue-Sun, free entry

MAKE: Prosecco jelly with melon and buttermilk granita

Jelly never loses its charm. This grown-up version with granita and melon makes a soigné finish to any summer meal. Click here for the recipe.

DRINK: The Unicorn

If it’s classic pub fare you’re after, you’d be a fool to skip a sneaky Reschs session at Paddington’s revamped Unicorn Hotel. The teams behind Sydney favourites Mary’s, Porteño and Young Henrys have taken over – so along with plenty of Australian beers on tap, you can expect a natural-leaning wine list, some old-school sides (hello, honey carrots) and, yes, a Mary’s burger on the menu. The Unicorn, 106 Oxford St, Paddington, NSW