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Sydney Restaurants: Fratelli Fresh Darling Harbour

July 30, 2018 / CBD, Darling Harbour, Sydney, Sydney Food / 0 comment

Fratelli Fresh Darling Harbour is the perfect spot for casual dining, particularly with the family. Enjoy vibrant, affordable Italian food and family-friendly menus in a bright, large dining area.

With the tagline: “Fratelli Fresh, A Place For Everyone”, you’d expect no less, and the restaurant offers up delicious food with enough variety to please even the pickiest of eaters.

Located directly underneath the ICC building, Fratelli Fresh Darling Harbour is the ideal location for a meal when seeing a show, or visiting the nearby Darling Quarter playground.

While we were sorely tempted by the hand-tossed Neapolitan pizzas (they looked amazing), we were having a light lunch and chose a build-your-own salad and kids’ pasta.

Fratelli Fresh frequently has excellent deals such as kids eat free on Sundays and school holidays, plus daily deals for the adult menu. On the day I visited, the build-your-own salad was $10 ($15 with soup) and kids ate free as it was school holidays, so our meal cost only $15. Crazy cheap, especially considering the excellent quality and generous portions.

There is a games area that would suit older kids. During the school holidays Fratelli Fresh puts on free kids’ activities too, making it a no-brainer in my opinion!

We loved the gelato and dessert bar and indulged with truly delicious gelato after our meal.

The Darling Quarter playground is only a few steps away, making this our new fave restaurant when visiting the area.

Get more info on the Darling Quarter Playground here.

Fratelli Fresh
2/14 Darling Dr, Darling Harbour
Phone: 02 9259 5600
Hours: Daily, 7am-12am
Website: fratellifresh.com.au/venues/darling-harbour

More things to do in Sydney

Find a list of the best things to do in Sydney with kids here.

Find things to do in Sydney for free here.

Get a list of the best kid-friendly beaches in Sydney.

Find the best animal experiences in Sydney here.

Visit the best kid-friendly restaurants in Sydney here.

Find the best high teas in Sydney here.

Head to one of the best museums in Sydney here.

Check out things to do in Sydney on a rainy day here.

Enjoy one of the best ocean pools in Sydney here.

First time visiting Sydney? Get tips for first time visitors to Sydney here.

Novotel Darling Harbour: Sydney Hotel Review

March 22, 2018 / CBD, Darling Harbour, Sydney / 0 comment

The Novotel hotels are renowned for being an extremely family-friendly choice, and the Novotel Darling Harbour is no exception. We took a tour of the hotel recently and thought it made an excellent choice for Sydney accomodation.

Novotel Darling Harbour

The Novotel Darling Harbour was the first Accor and Novotel hotel in Australia. All rooms are undergoing a soft refresh in 2018 with new carpet and furniture.

Of the 525 rooms at the Novotel, 50% face Darling Harbour, and 50% have inter-connecting rooms. The rooms are comprised of 441 standard/superior rooms and 72 executive rooms and junior suites. The interconnecting rooms have one room with a queen bed and one with two double beds, a perfect set up for families.

As with all Novotels, the hotel has a kids’ only activity space next to the Trenery Restaurant. Kids also receive a welcome pack at check in. During the school holidays the Novotel Darling Harbour offers special family activities such as movies in the conference room. They also partner with merlin Entertainment year-round to provide guests with great deals on attractions as part of their stay at the hotel.

The Novotel is the only Sydney CBD hotel with its own tennis court – this can be found on the roof, next to the pool. There is also a gym for guests over 16.

The Trenery Restaurant is a beautiful, bright space for dining in. They offer a very reasonably priced Kids menu with activities and crayons.

Location is one of the most important factors for choosing a hotel and the Novotel Darling Harbour is in an excellent position. It’s a short walk over a walkway into the Darling Harbour shopping centre, where you’ll also find plenty of restaurants. Nearby attractions include the International Convention Centre Sydney (ICC), Australian National Maritime Museum, Sea Life Sydney Aquarium, Wild Life Sydney Zoo, the Powerhouse Museum and Star Casino.

If you are relying on public transport to get around, there is a nearby light rail station including light rail (nearest station is Convention), ferry (nearest stop is Pyrmont Bay Wharf) and train is only a 15 minute walk to Town Hall station.

In April 2018 the Novotel also launched new wellness items for kids including in-room programs and menus.

The kids in-room program stars Sally Fitzgibbons and Rachael Coopes and takes kids through exercises designed to keep them active on vacation, or help them wind down in the evenings.

A new menu has been designed for kids featuring classics including spaghetti bolognaise with hidden vegetables, fruit smoothies and tasty desserts like berries and yoghurt.

Novotel Darling Harbour
100 Murray Street, Pyrmonth NSW 2009
+61 2 9288 7180
novoteldarlingharbour.com.au

More things to do in Sydney

Find a list of the best things to do in Sydney with kids here.

Find things to do in Sydney for free here.

Get a list of the best kid-friendly beaches in Sydney.

Find the best animal experiences in Sydney here.

Visit the best kid-friendly restaurants in Sydney here.

Find the best high teas in Sydney here.

Head to one of the best museums in Sydney here.

Check out things to do in Sydney on a rainy day here.

Enjoy one of the best ocean pools in Sydney here.

First time visiting Sydney? Get tips for first time visitors to Sydney here.

Chinese Garden of Friendship, Darling Harbour, Sydney, Australia

February 21, 2018 / CBD, Darling Harbour, Outdoor Play, Sydney, Sydney Life / 0 comment

A peaceful way to spend a few hours in Sydney is with a stroll through the Chinese Garden of Friendship at the south end of Darling Harbour.

Chinese Garden of Friendship, Darling Harbour

The gardens were built in 1988 as a symbol of friendship between Sydney and the southern Chinese city of Guandong. It was designed and built by Chinese landscape architects and gardeners to reflect the “yin-yang” Taoist principles and the elements of earth, fire, water, metal and wood.

The two lions at the entrance, guarding the gardens, also represent yin and yang. If you’re into in Feng Shui, you’ll be interested to know that the garden is also designed to encourage the flow of “qi”, or “life force”.

We really enjoyed strolling through the gardens. They are serene, even when travelled through at high speed by a six-year-old. The gardens feature waterfalls, lagoons with lotus plants, lakes, pavilions, sculptures, and wildlife such as koi carp, birds and water dragons.

A feature we particularly liked was the Dragon Wall with its two imperial dragons. The brown dragon represents Guangdong and the blue New South Wales, playing with the pearl of friendship. It’s just stunning.

Kids will enjoy the free Emperor’s Quest, a self-guided adventure for ages 5-12. The quest takes visitors to find the 12 animals of the Chinese lunar calendar hidden throughout the garden. Each animal has a clue to help find it, and information on it once it’s found.

Visitors, both adult and children, can also dress up in traditional Chinese costumes from the Ming and Ching dynasties (costs and extra $10 adult $5 kids).

The gardens holds plenty of free programs throughout the year including school holidays, with activities such as tai chi classes and lantern painting.

Visitors can also enjoy the daily koi feeding at 11:30 am.

Last stop before leaving the gardens is the Teahouse, where a range of traditional Chinese refreshment are served. I’ve heard the scones are fantastic.

Chinese Garden of Friendship
Darling Harbour
Hours: Open daily 9:30am-6pm (Apr-Sep), 9:30am-5:30pm (Oct-Mar). Closed Good Friday and Christmas Day.
Cost: Adult $6, kids under 12 $3, family (2 adults, 2 kids) $15, concession $3, senior $4.50.
Accessibility: the lower pathways and pavilions are very accessible for wheelchairs and strollers. The steps and rocky pathways in the upper garden are more difficult.
Facilities: Accessible toilet and baby change facilities.
Online: chinesegarden.com.au

More things to do in Sydney

Find a list of the best things to do in Sydney with kids here.

Find things to do in Sydney for free here.

Get a list of the best kid-friendly beaches in Sydney.

Find the best animal experiences in Sydney here.

Visit the best kid-friendly restaurants in Sydney here.

Find the best high teas in Sydney here.

Head to one of the best museums in Sydney here.

Check out things to do in Sydney on a rainy day here.

Enjoy one of the best ocean pools in Sydney here.

First time visiting Sydney? Get tips for first time visitors to Sydney here.

Yots Cafe: Kid-friendly Restaurants, Darling Harbour, Sydney

March 31, 2016 / CBD, Darling Harbour, Sydney, Sydney Food / 1 Comment

We end up in the Darling Harbour area quite a lot due to its proximity to the Powerhouse Museum, excellent water playground and Maritime Museum. Finding somewhere to eat that is reasonably priced and also great for kids is a bit of a challenge. I’ve recently discovered Yots Cafe, a super cute nautical themed place attached to the outside of the Maritime Museum.

It’s almost impossible to drag kids past this cafe when they spot the giant connect four game that is out the front for its customers to use. I’ve also seen kid-sized tables and chairs out the front on previous visits, although they weren’t there when I dined recently myself.

The view from Yots is pretty stunning, which you do pay for in the prices of the menu. You can however get takeaway items for yourself and the kids if you prefer to grab a meal and eat it on a nearby bench or park.

We chose to dine in, and hubby ordered the Wild Barramundi (grilled or battered, with beer battered chips and house made tartare sauce, $20), while I struggled with no brunch/brekkie items for a vegetarian and settled for a yoghurt cup ($6). Cheese had just eaten and wasn’t hungry so we let her play and ordered her a takeaway lunch box for $7.50. Dine in options for kids start at $10 which is very reasonable for city lunches.

The lunch box was great value – a full-sized vegemite sandwich, a fruit cup, Nudie juice, chocolate coin and an eye patch.

One of the best bits about the cafe is it is right underneath the Maritime Museum, so it’s easy to duck out for lunch or a snack, and then go back inside for more fun. You get a break from the museum without having to go very far.

Highchairs: Yes.
Stroller storage: Yes.
Easy access: Yes.
Change tables: No.
Kids’ menu: Yes.

Yots Cafe
2 Murray St,
Pyrmont NSW
Phone: (02) 9298 3672
Prices: $$
Hours: Daily 9:30am-5pm
Get Directions

Darling Quarter Playground + Lindt Cafe

November 5, 2014 / CBD, Darling Harbour, Outdoor Play, Playgrounds, Sydney, Sydney Food, Sydney Life / 3 Comments

The sparkly new Darling Quarter playground is one of the most amazing playgrounds I’ve ever seen. Ever. I remember visiting the area when I was a kid and it was a bit of a waste land. After a huge renovation of the entire Darling Quarter area, Darling Harbour is now a fun destination for local families to enjoy year-round. The playground is the big feature that families will love. With a huge water play area, climbing ropes for big and little kids, swings, slides, and a flying fox, there’s enough to entertain (and wear out) kids of all ages for an entire day.

Water scoop: turn the wheel, get wet!

Lots of shade over rest and play areas.

An Archimedes water screw!

Three-metre high giant slide and supanova wheel.

Sand diggers!

3D ring swing.

10-metre high octanet.

Baby ropes.

21-metre long flying fox.

Little E spotted a carousel and so we took a spin. $4 per person to ride. Adults can accompany 3-year-olds for free as long as they are standing beside them and not on a horse.

After playing it was time for lunch. Just around the corner is the Lindt Cafe, where I have indulged in many a chocolate shake over the years.

While you’re waiting on your order, stock up on Lindt balls and and bars. The cafe also serves cakes, chocolates and ice cream, making it pure chocolate heaven.

For a light lunch, the cafe is perfect with its location and menu. I ordered the milk chocolate shake, a vegetarian quiche and sourdough toast for Missy E. Alec ordered a roast beef sandwich. The order took a while to arrive, so we entertained E in the meantime by giving her a Lindt ball.

On a lovely day, sitting in the outdoor area is really a relaxing experience. The cafe sits on the waterfront in Cockle Bay, giving it a gorgeous view.

Our last stop in Darling Harbour is the fountain area. These fountains have been here for as long as I remember. When I was a kid I loved playing in them, so I thought E might as well. The big water arcs are a favourite with kids of now two generations, who dance in and out of them trying to get wet just enough to cool down, but not so much as to get soaked. Ahh memories!

Darling Quarter Playground
1-25 Harbour Street, Sydney
Bathrooms: Several very clean bathrooms with change facilities.
Picnic tables: No
Shade cover: Partial (not over the water area)
Cafe: Yes
Skatepark: No
Off-street parking: No (Use the Darling Quarter Wilson car park)
Children’s playground: Yes
Water features: Yes
Get Directions

Lindt Cafe
104-105 Cockle Bay Wharf
Darling Harbour, Sydney
Phone: (02) 9267 8064
Hours: Sun-Thur 10am-10pm Fri & Sat 10am-12am

Highchairs: Not that I saw.
Stroller storage: Yes.
Easy access: Yes
Change tables: No.
Kids’ menu: No.

Pancakes On The Rocks: Kid-Friendly Darling Harbour, Sydney

August 25, 2014 / CBD, Darling Harbour, Sydney, Sydney Food / 0 comment

If you are a Sydneysider, you probably grew up with Pancakes On The Rocks. The first Pancakes opened on Hickson Road, at The Rocks in Sydney on 17th August, 1975. The restaurant was inspired by a road trip the founders took around America in the late 1950s. They noticed the popularity of pancakes on American menus and wanted to bring that love of pancakes to Australia. The company has since also focussed on creating a casual dining atmosphere and a menu that has something for everyone on it.

We dropped by specifically for a pancake breakfast on our way to the nearby Powerhouse Museum. Miss E requested pancakes, so pancakes it was!

Upon being seated, our very friendly waitress very quickly delivered E a cup filled with new crayons and a big colouring sheet. Missy E has just started to enjoying colouring in, so this was a big hit.

We also ordered her a babyccino and a coffee for Alec, which he described as “very good”. High praise from the coffee addict.

As you’d expect from a family restaurant, Pancakes features a great kids’ menu, with cute items such as The Butterfly ($6.95): Three mini pancakes with strawberry jam, chocolate sauce, vanilla ice cream, and 100’s & 1000’s. Adorable. Since E usually only picks at food we rarely buy her her own dish. This time however, I found myself regretting not ordering her a kid’s meal, as she ate an entire one of my adult-sized pancakes.

Between the three of us, we ordered a side of scrambled egg ($1.95), sausage ($3), the Strawberry Patch ($13.95; Buttermilk pancakes with fresh strawberries, cream, vanilla ice cream and strawberry coulis) and the Bananarama ($12.95; Buttermilk pancakes with grilled banana and home made butterscotch sauce, topped with cream and vanilla ice cream).

The pancakes are amazing. Perfectly fluffy and light, and covered in fruit plus a drizzle of sauce and dollop of ice cream. I love my pancakes heavy on the fruit, and their fruit distribution was huge, so I was very happy. The egg was potentially microwaved and next time I think I would skip it, but it still tasted ok. The star dishes were, of course, the pancakes, which is the way it should be at a restaurant called Pancakes!

Last bite: A stress-free meal with kids. The pancakes are perfecto!

Highchairs: Yes.
Stroller storage: Yes.
Easy access: Yes.
Change tables: Yes.
Kids’ menu: Yes.

Pancakes On The Rocks
Harbourside Shopping Centre,
Darling Harbour,
227/229-230 Darling Dr
Sydney NSW
Phone: (02) 9280 3791
Hours: Mon-Sat 9am-8pm Sun 10am-6pm
Get Directions

A Date With The Fish at SEA LIFE Sydney Aquarium

March 19, 2014 / CBD, Darling Harbour, Indoor Play, Sydney Food, Sydney Life / 0 comment

On a hot summer’s day, E and I were invited to take a day trip to SEA LIFE Sydney Aquarium with some friends. Yes, yes, yes thank you. What a great way to spend a steamy Sydney day – in decent air conditioning, watching fish.

SEA LIFE Sydney Aquarium has been around since 1988 in various incarnations. While it used to be a stand alone attraction, these days the aquarium is part of a large group of Sydney attractions, including SEA LIFE Manly, Madam Tussauds, WILD LIFE Sydney Zoo (not Taronga Zoo) and Sydney Tower Eye. If you buy your ticket at the aquarium, expect to pay $40 for an adult and $25 for children aged 4 and up. Buy your tickets at least 24 hours in advance from the website and you’ll save up to 30%. Buy passes to multiple attraction online at the same time and you will save even more.

The aquarium is broken up into various exhibits. The first few aren’t terribly interesting for little kids so we raced right through (if you’re interested in our rivers and so forth, then these are for you!). The big hits with the kids were the little sting rays, the glowing jelly fish, the rockpool where they could touch shells and starfish, and the tanks of tropical fish with the floor to ceiling glass.

The kids also enjoyed running like lunatics up the tunnels that run under the tanks with the water and animals swimming over head. Sharks were a popular spotting, as were the giant rays and the dugong. This particular section has a step and rails on the sides so kids can climb up for a closer look. Watching the giant animals float overhead in particular was thoughtfully entertaining for our bunch of toddlers.

The aquarium is on the small side, but does have a few kind of sad looking penguins (yes, I’ve seen Happy Feet a few too many times), which oddly our kids weren’t interested in at all. They have shark feedings (which we missed) and a dugong talk (which was interesting for adults but not kids). There is a cute shark treasure hunt throughout the aquarium for older kids. Given a map at the entrance they have to find each station along the way and stamp their map, and get a little prize at the end when they hand it in at the gift shop.

Bring lunch if possible to save a bit of money. There is a large cafe area inside the front of the aquarium with plenty of tables and space to eat.

SEA LIFE Sydney Aquarium
1-5 Wheat Rd,
Sydney NSW 2000
Phone: 02 8251 7800
Prices: $$$$
Hours: Daily 9am-8pm
Get Directions