Bayside Lounge

LOCATION
On the ground floor of the Sydney Convention Centre, opposite Harbourside shopping centre.

PROFILED BY DE GROOTS MEDIA
Bayside Lounge sits serenely on a corner of Darling Harbour, quietly admiring the ripple of the waves and the carefree scenery of the popular spot. Having been designed to complement its surroundings, this cafe/restaurant boasts high ceilings, floor-to-ceiling glass windows, a curved layout and colours that invite the full scope of the harbour to come in. Set in tones of green, brown and blue, the space curves through several sections – alfresco cafe tables, an indoor cafe section with lazy banquettes, lounges and armchairs, a restaurant area with neatly-set tables and a bar that knows what it’s doing. A Hollywood staircase also leads to separate function rooms ideal for business meetings and other events. And, above it all, an artwork made to represent the flickering, shimmering water of the harbour quietly watches completing the breezy panorama.

The menu is not outdone by its surroundings. Equally cheerful and artlessly uncomplicated, it spans from breakfast into lunch (with arrangements for dinner available on request) and covers everything from fresh fruit with honeycomb and lush organic yoghurt for breakfast to a Bayside Lounge tasting box (a bento box style dish which offers tasting samples of several dishes) for lunch. The wine list tempts with a great selection of mostly local wine, though it is mostly by the bottle (there are three white and three red options by the glass). If you’re fond of high tea, the restaurant also offers three tiers of sweet and savoury morsels along with a glass of bubbles and the hot beverage as part of its “afternoon delights”. It is an ideal spot to lounge back and quietly observe the vibrant culture of Darling Harbour.

Agnes Gajewska