Behold the line for takeaway coffee at The Groundsof the City on Sunday morning! Barely there at all.
After placing our order, I took a little walk along the lenght of the store to have a closer look at its decor.
It’s usually hidden by a crowd at least five deep.
The deep green awnings, brass finishes and homely window displays crammed with produce give The Grounds such a distinctive presence in the grey marbled arcades of The Galeries.
Apologies for the photo overload and gilding of The Grounds lilly but I’m having too much fun rediscovering my DSLR right nowl
Atelier is the Sofitel on Darling Harbour’s restaurant.
The hotel itself only opened late last year and the entire establishment is a visual treat. There’s all sorts of contrasting textures like unfinished wood against glass and the soft furnishings in each area of the hotel are just a bit different in a low key luxe kind of way.
There’s a champagne room to the side of the main dining room.
It wasn’t open when we visited but I did a lap of honour all the same.
The champagne bottle arrangements were broken up every once in a while by beer taps that were literally ice cold.
Back to the champagne…
Service was friendly and knowledgeable. There is a kids menu which Master SSG loved. He was even able to read what he wanted to order.
The prawn and lobster salad.
The chicken liver pate with brioche.
Both were beautifully presented and tasted as good as they appeared. From memory, both were just under $30 each.
This is the actual size of one serve of the mini cheeseburger sliders from the kids menu. Those French Fries were perfect. There are different hand cut chips with the fish and chips also on the menu. I rate those too. Kids menu items are between $12 – 16.
I know. Not a bad view or infinity pool for that matter…
I addressed my pastiness as I nibbled my blackberries from the Kings Cross Farmers Market.
While Master SSG played, lazed (briefly and for the novelty of being wrapped head to toe in striped beach towels) and swam.
Have you staycationed at a fancy hotel in your city recently? You definitely should if you haven’t.