The most indulgent ways to spoil yourself in Sydney

Who needs far-flung destinations when you can have world-class staycations right here at home. Not only will you find plush decor and a heavenly cloud in the shape of a king-sized bed for you to snuggle up in, but these bougie boltholes also come with five-star dining, day spas, rooftop pools and views of the city's most iconic landmarks.

Every now and then, we all need a bit of pampering, and there’s no better way to release your stress and rejuvenate your spirit than a trip to a spa. There are plenty of high-end establishments in Sydney to choose from, including the highest levels of luxury at the Sol Spa in Vaucluse or the Day Spa at the Langham Hotel. If you'd like to roll your pampering session in with a mountain getaway, check out the best day spas in the Blue Mountains.

Situated inside the Opera House sails, dinner at Bennelong is as peak Sydney as it gets. On a clear evening, fine dining here comes with views to Circular Quay on one side and fireworks going off on the other. You’re basically living a Qantas advertisement over three courses and stunning wine. Across the Harbour at the Overseas Passenger Terminal, Quay earns its place as one of Sydney’s finest diners with an elegant six or ten courses. Speaking of multi-million-dollar views, Aria has one that demands a flawless degustation (and they deliver). If you want to go all-out on a Japanese degustation, Nobu at Crown Towers is by far the most coveted reservation in the city. Over at flame-throwing fine diner Firedoor, primal does not equal low-budget. There's a reason a dinner here sits high on most Sydneysiders’ ‘if I were a millionaire…’ wish list. 

Sydney is a town with a prodigious appetite, and nothing gets our attention like the promise of allowing our stomachs to dictate when we're full (rather than our wallets). You don't need to go all out at a fancy restaurant to eat like royalty in this city, we've rounded up some of the best all-you-can-eat experiences in town. 

If you’re looking to up the ante on your next trip to the pictures, it’s worth splashing some cash on an all-bells-and-whistles upgrade. At the Hoyts in the Entertainment Quarter and Broadway, you can watch movies like a king with their LUX screenings, with a similarly bougie offering at Event Cinema’s Gold Class. You’ll be waited on hand and foot by a team of attentive waiters, while you stretch-out on lazy-boy style recliners with a faultless view of the screen. If you'd rather revel in the old-world glamour of Hollywood, head to the Art Deco picture palaces of the Hayden Orpheum in Cremorne or the Ritz Cinema in Randwick. 

Hello, is it brie you’re looking for? Perhaps you’ve got a hankering for a classic wedge of mature cheddar or maybe you’re on the hunt for a rarer rind? Whatever cheesy treats you seek, you can’t go wrong with a trip to one of Sydney’s top-shelf fromageries, like Surry Hills’ Formaggi Ocello, Stinking Bishops in Newtown or the ever-impressive Penny’s in Potts Point. And what cheese board would be complete without a delicious drop to wash it down? Pick up the perfect plonk from one of Sydney’s indie bottle shops or go straight to the source at one of the Hunter Valley’s world-class cellar doors.

There’s something almost miraculous about the way certain foods can nourish the soul and lift us up out of the deepest of funks. And no matter what nosh gives you the warm fuzzy feels, there are near-endless places to tuck into all manner of comfort foods in Sydney. Whether your go-to is a steaming bowl of noodle soup, a carbolicious pile of pasta, a fiery Indian curry, some finger-lickin’ fried chicken, a classic pub schnitty, a slice or several of pizza, or the granddaddy of comfort foods, a burger, there’s barely a suburb citywide where you can’t get your fix.