Best things to do in The Rocks, Sydney

The home of the Gadigal people for tens of thousands of years and the site of Australia’s first European settlement in 1788, The Rocks is where Sydney as we know it began. Here you can explore cobblestoned laneways and stay, drink and dine in heritage buildings.

Words by Amanda Woods for Escape.com.au.

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History may be all around you but in The Rocks there are also lots of modern moments to be found.

Whether you’re planning a Sydney getaway or you’re a Sydneysider ready for a great staycation, here’s what The Rocks has in store.

Best pub tour

Yes, there’s beer. And a pub meal. And you visit some of the oldest and most interesting pubs in Australia. But The Rocks Pub Tour with Dave’s Tours is a whole lot more.

Buckle up for a wild history ride where you’ll learn about some of the most-interesting chapters and characters in The Rocks’ history and the strange and sometimes disturbing tales behind some of the beers. There’s even an archaeological dig visit between drinks.

Best new restaurant

The old MCA café always had one of the most beautiful views in Sydney. Now the space has taken things up a few notches with fine-dining restaurant Canvas.

Just as the MCA galleries change artworks, Canvas will have a new chef every six months, with James Scott the current chef-in-residence.

Expect excellent dishes and impeccable service at an unexpectedly good price point of $85 for two courses and $100 for three.

Best event

The Rocks is one of winter’s hottest places to be when Vivid Sydney turns on the lights and it plays host to some of the festival’s best installations, projections and experiences.

Other fun events to have on your radar include Jazz Sessions in The Rocks from April to September, Laneway Cinema with free outdoor movies and popcorn from November to March, and The Rocks Markets every weekend.

Best breakfast

The biggest problem at Shuk is what to order. Are you in a Middle Eastern-inspired mood for shakshuka? Is it an acai bowl kind of morning?

Or do you fancy your avocado toast with some goat curd and chilli oil? As someone who finally ordered the cilbir bagel with bacon and haloumi trust me, this is a hearty and delicious start to the day.

Best culture fix

The Museum of Contemporary Art Australia’s major winter exhibition by Cerith Wyn Evans finishes on October 19.

Get in quick for the light and sound experience inspired by Japanese theatre and gardens. And check out the large sculpture by Thomas J Price recently unveiled out front.

Best picnic spot

From 10am to 5pm every Saturday and Sunday you can bring your Rocks Markets finds and other takeaway treats to Dawes Point Park where free picnic rugs, cushions and blankets are ready for your picnic with a spectacular harbour view.

Best games time

Forget the darts games you’ve played in pubs. At Flight Club you’ll still be throwing darts at a board but everything else is different.

Here cameras track your dart’s movements to automatically score in fast- paced games including Demolition, Quack Shot and Snakes and Ladders, with video replays showing your victory dance when you nail that shot.

Add a carnival glamour-themed bar, excellent cocktails, great snacks and bottomless prosecco and cocktails sessions and it seems the first rule of flight club is have fun.

Best drinks

The old Argyle nightclub has been transformed into a new hospitality precinct. The Collective includes casual to premium restaurants and bars, including The Garden and The Dining Room, across three levels of this heritage-listed building.

The writer travelled as a guest of Destination NSW and Ode Hotels.

Where to stay in The Rocks, Sydney

Sleep in a piece of history at The Harbour Rocks Hotel. A short laneway hop from Circular Quay, this charming boutique hotel building dates back to 1887. Choose between comfortable heritage rooms and a harbour-view suite, share drinks on the terrace, and enjoy delicious meals at Middle Eastern restaurant Tayim.

This article originally appeared on Escape.com.au as Best things to do in The Rocks, Sydney.