Our Editor’s Guide to Where to Stay in Sydney (Spoiler: It’s Double Bay)
By Kiri Johnston | 8th April 2025Sydney moves at two speeds. There’s the fast version, where you’re weaving through the CBD, juggling meetings, and seriously questioning why you thought your Gucci mules could handle the mileage (they couldn’t). And then there’s the slower version. The one that’s a little under the radar, where locals go about their days, and the pace feels… manageable.
I found myself in that second version recently, staying in Double Bay for a few days that were supposed to be about work but turned out to be something much better. It started as a quick work trip and ended up one of those weekends where you accidentally relax. And staying at the InterContinental Double Bay had a lot to do with it.
I flew in early on a Thursday morning, with a full schedule of PR catch-ups and meetings, and by mid-afternoon, I was done. Thankfully, it’s the kind of place that makes you feel looked after the second you walk in. The lobby has this quiet, understated ease to it, warm but not overdone. Five minutes later, I had my room key in one hand and a glass of sparkling in the other (they offered both water and wine, guess what I chose?). I remember thinking, why hadn’t I stayed here before?
Originally, I picked Double Bay because it made sense. Close to the city for work, easy to get to Bondi to catch up with friends, and about 20 minutes to the airport when it was time to head home. I didn’t expect to enjoy the area as much as I did. It has this quiet confidence about it. There’s good shopping, great places to eat, and it doesn’t feel the need to show off about any of it. It’s Sydney without the noise.
We arrived with every intention of making the most of it. There was a list. Lunch in Bondi, drinks in Surry Hills, maybe even a gallery stop if we were feeling motivated. And then we found ourselves on the rooftop at the InterContinental, and all those plans faded pretty quickly.
The rooftop pool is kind of perfect. Striped loungers, views over the bay dotted with yachts, and just enough distance from the rest of the city to make you forget you’re still in Sydney. It was calm, quiet, and exactly where we wanted to be. We stretched out with books, ordered fries and rosé, and before we knew it, the afternoon had disappeared. This became the theme of the trip. We’d tell ourselves we’d head out later. Later turned into tomorrow. Tomorrow turned into… maybe next time.
We did venture out for the important things. Morning walks through Point Piper down to Rose Bay were non-negotiable. We stopped for a swim at Redleaf Beach, which felt like it was mostly locals swimming laps or squeezing in a dip before work. It’s tucked away, easy, and exactly the sort of beach you want when you’re not in the mood for a crowd. We grabbed coffee afterwards and wandered along the promenade, doing the usual “imagine living here” chat as we passed house after house with views better than the last.
Saturday morning was reserved for Baker Bleu. We joined the queue, and it was absolutely worth the wait. That focaccia sandwich lives rent-free in my head. We sat and ate it on a nearby bench while watching dogs do their laps of the park. It was the type of weekend wholesomeness I’m after on my weekends these days.
The rest of the time we drifted through Double Bay. Poho Flowers was an easy win, mainly because I couldn’t resist buying something, even though I had nowhere to put it. StyleRunner was another stop. I somehow convinced myself I needed new sneakers, because, holiday logic. Then Girls With Gems, where I accidentally bought earrings. These things happen.
Dinner one night was at Margaret, Neil Perry’s neighbourhood spot that’s about a minute’s walk from the hotel. It’s one of those places that just gets everything right without making a scene about it. The produce is the hero of the menu, and everything we ate was the kind of good that makes you sit back for a second before you talk about it. Afterwards, we wandered next door to Perry’s wine bar, Next Door, for a drink. It was casual, easy, and full of locals — basically the kind of spot you hope to stumble into but never usually do. And yes, he also owns Baker Bleu, which makes sense because Perry seems to have Double Bay completely sorted.
We also spent a few evenings in The Bar at the InterContinental. It’s got this old-school charm about it, with bow-tied bartenders and martinis mixed at the table. It could easily feel too much, but it doesn’t. It’s fun, polished and the drinks are very good. We found ourselves back there more than once, usually as a nightcap before heading upstairs.
And then there’s Bill’s. We popped in for a matcha latte in the morning, and ended up back again for dinner on our last night. It’s reliable in the best possible way. No surprises, just good food that hits the spot, and easy service when you’re not in the mood to make a fuss.
We did make it to Surry Hills for a drink one afternoon, meeting friends at Bar Copains. It was lively, buzzy, and everything Surry Hills always is. But after a couple of glasses of wine, we looked at each other and decided we were ready to head back. Back at the hotel, we ordered room service, fries and pizza, and got into our robes. Some nights, that’s all you need.
By the time we packed up to leave, we both agreed it felt less like a work trip and more like we’d been away for a weekend. And that’s the thing about InterContinental Double Bay. You can absolutely get things done if you need to, but the second you slow down, you realise you’re somewhere you’d rather stay. Would I book in again? Absolutely. But next time, I’ll leave the Gucci mules at home and keep my schedule wide open.
