Most Iconic Sydney Spots

Located in the heart of Sydney is the iconic Queen Victoria Building. This former market was constructed in 1898, serving as the center of commerce in the city. In 1918 the building was renamed after Queen Victoria, as Australia was still strongly connected to the British empire. Since then, it has become a heritage site and a mall, with plenty of luxury stores, restaurants, and retail. We didn’t have any shopping to do, but as soon as we learned about the building we wanted to check it out.

From the outside, the building is a great example of Romanesque architecture. Sydney is quite a diverse city in terms of architecture, with the Sydney Opera House, Harbor Bridge, and Sydney Tower Eye all in close proximity showcasing very different building styles. Inside the mall is a magnificent five story open hall, with balconies, cast iron ornaments, massive clocks, and a beautiful arched roof. At the entrance is an amazing curved wooden staircase with stained glass windows. I’m really glad we stopped by, the great architecture gave us plenty to look at. If we had been shopping, I’m sure we could have spent a few hours.

Despite the name, the Australian Heritage Hotel is primarily a pub. In fact, it’s one of the oldest in the city. It’s located in The Rocks, a bustling harborside neighborhood opposite the opera house. There has been a pub on the site since 1840, and the current building was constructed in 1914 where it has been operating ever since. While there are some hotel rooms, this historic building is most well known for their lively pub environment, special pizza, and massive selection of 130+ locally brewed beers. Inside is a massive wall of money from all over the world, which is a pretty common sight in pubs. We proudly added a Korean won I still had in my wallet, and sat down at our table.

We came because we wanted to try their very unique pizza options. Yemisi and I are both adventurous eaters, and are always looking for new foods to try. Luckily, they have three meat options we’ve never tasted. The Coat of Arms pizza has half emu and half kangaroo, while the crocodile pizza has (you’ll never guess) crocodile. Because we couldn’t finish two full pizzas, we decided to get the Coat of Arms. Surprisingly, both meats were delicious and easy to eat. Emu doesn’t taste like chicken, honestly more like beef. Kangaroo was a bit more like lamb, with a slightly gamey taste but quite good. Overall, the pizza was delicious, and the atmosphere and location are both worth checking out. 

Not far from the Queen Victoria Building is Hyde Park. Although it’s not the most iconic park in the city, it’s very centrally located and has plenty to see and do. For starters, you can see a great view of the Sydney Tower Eye looming over the area. Connecting the park is a beautiful shaded boulevard, with the Anzac War Memorial on one end. This striking memorial celebrates Australian and New Zealand soldiers who have died in the line of duty. Among plenty of water fountains and flower gardens, Hyde Park is a great relaxing central location.

Probably the most famous landmark at the park is St. Mary’s Cathedral. With foundations laid in 1868, the building was slowly constructed in a traditional European style using Australian flora and fauna in the carvings. According to the church, it took over 100 years to fully complete, with the final spires not being installed until 2000! These days, it is open for public visiting as well as regularly holding mass. It is known as one of Australia’s most beautiful buildings, though sadly we couldn’t go inside when we visited due to COVID-19 restrictions. 

Yemisi’s matcha was great, one of the best matcha she has had, since the strawberry sauce was freshly home made. My pour over was great, but nothing mind blowing. I later learned they use omni roasting, meaning only one medium-light roast level that’s meant to work for all brewing methods. I personally prefer a very light, acidic, and fruity coffee, so it didn’t quite match my taste, but still great.

We started by walking from Circular Quay through The Rocks. This area has a ton to do, and the pier is absolutely popping. Around sunset this also has one of the best views of the Sydney Opera House across the water, as it’s the closest you can get and has perfect lighting. Walking under the bridge, you end up at Dawes Point. Underneath the bridge allows you to bask in the true size of the bridge, it really is a structure of immense weight and beauty.

What can possibly be said about the Sydney Opera House? Easily in the top 10 most iconic landmarks in the world, the silhouette itself is instantly recognizable. Seeing it person felt like a fever dream. Even more than the Eiffel Tower or the Great Wall of China, the Sydney Opera House fits entirely in your view, allowing you to fully appreciate it all at once. I was shocked at the texture of the roof tiles and the stone stairs, they added a detail I had never considered when seeing a simple sticker or the shiny animation of Finding Nemo. It’s safe to say the hype is real, it’s a stunning building inside and out deserving of the international recognition. 

Belles Hot Chicken is a truly delicious international collaboration. The owner was born in New Zeeland, trained in Sydney, discovered Nashville’s famous hot chicken, and opened the first shop in Melbourne. Since then, several locations have opened in Sydney as well. This local hot chicken shop is super popular, and for good reason. We stopped in between lunch and dinner, so we thankfully had the place a little less busy. Of course, they sell hot chicken sandwiches, and have a cool bar as well. We live in Korea where getting food like this is impossible, so we were ready to absolutely devour.