Sepia, Sydney CBD - Take #2

Two years on from my last dining experience and Sepia is finally closing down, following long-standing rumours - the finale to the era in which they reigned supreme in the Sydney fine dining arena with three-hatted ratings across 10 (!) consecutive years.

Outside of Restaurant

Situated in the newly renovated Darling Park building, their exterior and interior decor haven't changed since although, maybe due to different seating location, it was much brighter at the table this time round - all the more for better photos, aided by their handy table lamp. The other diners probably thought that we were a little bonkers playing around with the lamp in order to attain optimum lighting. 😂

Doltone House Hyde Park, Sydney CBD

Even though Doltone House is conveniently located next to Hyde Park in the middle of the Sydney CBD, it was no easy feat (for me at least) to get there. Gaining entry into Doltone House was somewhat like finding Wonderland:

• First I was stymied yet again by GoogleMaps, which for some unknown reason had directed me the other side of the block on Castlereagh Street,
• Whilst walking around the block to the correct side (on Elizabeth Street), I walked past the bride & groom escaping for pre-wedding photos in Hyde Park,
• Eventually faced an inconspicuous black door that was locked from the outside, only to be let in by one of the photographers who was coincidentally just coming out of the building,
• Met the father of the bride in the lift on the way up to the ballrooms where the wedding ceremony and reception would be held,
• Only to be gobsmacked impressed by the opulent, dark decor of the venue with a massive crystal chandelier hanging off the ceiling and down the grand stairwell

Main Ballroom

ChinChin, Surry Hills

Getting to ChinChin requires a bit of a trek from Central Station and given that it is hidden from the main roads of Surry Hills, it took us a while to find the right place. The entrance is rather dim and decorated with a fluoro pink bunny (why oh why), which gave it a bit of a nightclub vibe.

Outside of Restaurant

Inside of Restaurant

Burnt Orange, Mosman

Our trip to Burnt Orange, Mosman, took a freaking 2 hrs due to traffic as well as a long, scenic detour to Manly. This time, we were stymied by the in-built Mazda GPS - let's just say it was a major shock to us all in the car when the GPS stated that we had arrived at our destination but we were facing Manly Wharf.

Anyway, we finally (finally!!) made it to the cafe:

Main Entrance of Cafe

Interior of Cafe

Inside, they have an extensive open porch area, that was enclosed so the restaurant can retain some warmth against the chilly winter air (and potential haze in the skies from recent back-burning).

The Langham, Millers Point

I came to The Langham for a wedding ceremony, followed by reception in their prestigious halls. The hotel has been refurbished in recent years - all black and white interior filled with bright lights in every corner, comfortable lounge chairs and fresh floral centrepieces.

Entrance of The Langham

In addition, they have a sweets/lolly pop bar for guests (or perhaps all for show since I didn't see anyone touching the display) near their concierge desk:

Sweets Bar

Bare Witness, Rhodes

Set within the suburb of Rhodes, Bare Witness stands by the tranquil foreshore of Homebush Bay. The area has been redeveloped in recent years and various cafes and eateries have popped up to feed the hungry masses living in the multitudes of high-rises.

Outside of Cafe

Inside Cafe

Bare Witness serves as one such cafe, offering prime waterfront views with its floor-to-ceiling windows.

Quay, Sydney CBD

In conjunction with the gradual revamp of The Rocks, Quay will be closing for renovations from 1st Apr 2018 for three months and we see the departure of their signature snow egg (whyyy! 😭). Fortunately, there was a last-minute table availability two days prior and I quickly snapped up the booking in spite of a late dinner time.

The day arrived and the constant rain couldn't drown out my excitement for (finally!) visiting Quay.

Entrance of Restaurant

Despite being booked out for the late sitting, quite a few of the tables were unoccupied on arrival but were later (briefly) filled over the course of the night.

Capriccio Osteria, Leichhardt

I was invited to celebrate a friend's birthday at Capriccio Osteria and on the day, I ended up carpooling with friends to get here. This was probably the first time I've stepped foot in Leichhardt so was interesting to discover a long food strip filled with cafes and restaurants (mental note to visit again during the daytime). As there is limited street parking, it took a while before we found a spot a few blocks away and walked back to the restaurant.

Outside of Restaurant

Capriccio Osteria is just one of many popular restaurants on the main food strip that serves up some interesting Italian fusion cuisine.

Girdlers, Brookvale

Hidden in the rabbit warren that is Warringah Mall, Girdlers is decorated with lush greenery across wide open spaces.

Entrance of Cafe

The cafe is spread across a large area but only provides three small sections of under-cover tables - there are a few scattered umbrellas, else you're exposed to the elements despite the rooftop battens. Fortunately for me, sitting at an uncovered table, there was only a brief sprinkle of rain before the clouds gradually parted to reveal brights rays of sunshine and blue sky.

Moby Dicks Whale Beach, Whale Beach

After attending the very picturesque wedding ceremony at Snapperman Reserve under the glaring, hot Australian sun (at a scorching 35°c!), the wedding party eventually moved to Moby Dicks Whale Beach on the other side of Palm Beach peninsula.

Outside Restaurant

Upon arrival, I was welcomed by multiple wait staff offering champagne and beer before even stepping a single foot into the reception venue. A steep set of stairs lead off the main road, past a small outdoor courtyard, and down into their function room/hall, which has floor-to-ceiling windows facing Whale Beach (would be awesome for sunrise).