Sydney Sampler Week 1: Double Bay Review
Self-improvement and surprise would sum up living in Double Bay. Having lived in Rushcutters Bay I thought Double Bay would not surprise me as much, but it has.
Self-improvement beats at the heart of Double Bay: busy gyms, active wear everywhere and rather arty cosmetic enhancements. If you are interested in a little bit of people watching, the quality of the pavement performances on show in Double Bay are delightful.
I was surprised to find such a friendly environment in the morning as I grabbed my morning coffee before boarding the ferry for the breathtaking run into the city. The walk to the ferry from the town centre is down tree-lined streets, over a large sports ground and just past the 18 Footers Club, which is a great spot for a beer in the sun.
The nights during the week had a small-town feel, as did some of the night spots. Having been to Mr Sniffies many a time on a Friday or Saturday night I never expected it to be so cool and calm on a Wednesday night. That, along with an amazing $10 hamburger deal, made it a great place to sit and soak up the passing perfume. The Stillery is a great place, and the rooftop pool at the Intercontinental also has an amazing view over the city.
Double Bay beach. Source: Simon Dukes (cropped)
Darling Point and Point Piper have plenty of untimed parking and are a great spot to dump your car when staying in Double Bay.
Would I live there? Absolutely! However, with Watsons Bay, Manly, Woolloomooloo and Kirribilli to come it has some tough competition.
Each week Byron Matthews will review a different Sydney suburb he's always wanted to live in.
