How to be extra AF in Sydney

Dinner and a show is a classic, but we're not here for classic. Instead, catch a seaplane from Rose Bay's Lyne Wharf for a golden-hour flight while the light shimmers pink and orange around you, before touching back down for dinner at the wharfside Empire Lounge. On your journey through the Sydney skies, you'll see the glittering harbour, the sails of the Opera House and the shoreline of Bondi ($315 per person). 

At the Langham Hotel in Sydney's sandstone-layered Rocks district is the Day Spa by Chuan, a tranquil oasis of relaxation and jade rollers. It's here you can try out the Champagne and Gold Indulgence – a four-hour immersive experience which starts off with a glass of the finest Laurent-Perrier bubbles, features pear stem cells and ends with you lying prone and wondering whether money does in fact buy happiness. Or at least, refined pores and freedom from muscle aches. Which is basically the same thing. Don't leave without taking a dip in the starlit indoor pool ($720/$760 per person).

It's true, we're a city hooked on brunch. Contrary to what the boomers said though, that brunch is never going to price you out of the housing market – unless you choose to dine every weekend at Darlinghurst's Mayflower café, that is. This flower-bedecked, pastel-pretty joint has been praised for its inventive menu as well as its overtly Instagrammable dishes – but its main point of interest might be that it's got beluga caviar ($228 for 30g/$338 for 50g) chilling on the menu, right next to the bacon and egg roll. Spoonfuls of caviar are dolloped on the back of your hand so it can warm up to body temperature before you slurp it up. 

There are plenty of swanky hotels in Sydney that will happily help you part ways with a significant chunk of your change. But those who really want to spend maximum bucks for their bang should head to the Park Hyatt. The Sydney Suite, its most luxe accommodations, will set you back a cool $17,000 a night, and there's a minimum stay of two nights required. This jaw-dropping price tag will get you a two-bed luxury apartment with a private terrace and 360-degree views of the harbour, as well as your very own butler for the duration of your extremely expensive stay.

Arguably the most fashionable classic cocktail at the moment, the Negroni is often dubbed the litmus test for a bar – if they get this one right, you know you're in for a good night. But what's in Maybe Sammy's that makes it cost about 10 times as much as one from your neighbourhood small bar? It's all about age. Poured using only vintage spirits from the bar's private collection, this Negroni features vintage Gordon’s dry gin, vintage Campari and vintage Carpano vermouth for the bar's private cellar ($150). Taste it and see whether it's 10 times as good. 

Okay, it's less of a command and more of a 'click', but it really is incredibly easy to get a luxurious dozen Sydney Rock oysters deilvered to your front door – all thanks to East 33. East 33 is one of the nation’s most esteemed suppliers of beautiful bivalves, and its produce usually goes straight to Australia's best restauarants. For just $59, you can score two dozen of the beauties, which comes out to less than $2.50 a pop. It’s up to you whether you’d like them shucked or prefer to do the work yourself, but we think you know what would align with the whole 'treat yo'self' vibe we're going for here. Nab yours online. 

Luxury isn't just confined to the human experience. With the Albion Hotel's extremely posh new staycation packages, your four-legged friend can also be the beneficiary of a little OTT pampering. Start off your pup's day with organic, locally made treats. They'll then be whisked away to a day spa for treatments like pup-friendly blueberry facials and volcanic mud baths, and return in time for a turndown service complete with a doglato and doggie eye mask. Make sure you make some equally high-key plans for yourself during the day, so you don't become weirdly resentful of the attention being lavished on your pooch (packages start at $995). 

There are steaks and there are steaks. Then, there are steaks which come with a 24-carat gold leaf, which seems unnecessary – but then again, that's what this list is all about. Down the stairs at Employees Only, you'll find a lush, velvet-trimmed paradise of fine tipples, tarot reading, decadent dishes and burlesque performances to complement your dinner. In short, the kind of place you'd want to slice into a New York strip steak topped with a delicate layer of gold, served with a red wine jus and a Paris butter truffle mash alongside ($49).