A rainy day doesn’t need to be boring!
Sydney is a beautiful, outdoor-loving city, at its twinkly-Harbour best when bathed in sunshine. Perhaps that is why it always comes as a shock when the wet weather rolls in and Sydneysiders are filled with gloom. But a rainy day does not have to mean moping about at home or binging on Netflix. There are a lot of things to see, do and enjoy around town so we compiled 13 of our favourites. Pull out the gumboots and brolly, and splash to it!
Eat some cheesy comestibles at The Stinking Bishops, Newtown
Named after a rather pungent-smelling Gloucestershire washed-rind cheese, Newtown cheesemonger and restaurant The Stinking Bishops boasts a menu of over 40 hand-selected artisanal cheeses from all around the world. With prices starting at $21 for two kinds of cheese, and cured meat boards starting at $17, as well as a fine collection of wine, beer and whisky, rainy days will quickly fall out of mind.
See a play at the Belvoir Theatre, Surry Hills
To see the next Geoffrey Rush, Cate Blanchett and Richard Roxburgh in action, step out of the wet and into one of Australia’s most loved playhouses to experience innovative and varied theatre at its best. The Belvoir Theatre has been going strong for over 30+ years and has fostered the talents of many renowned actors, writers and directors. Everything from Shakespeare’s Hamlet to the satirical musical Keating!, the absurdist play Waiting for Godot to the modern adaptation of the 1884 Norwegian drama The Wild Duck has been performed within its walls. Tickets start at $40.
Feast on Yum Cha
Whether you’ve just been stood up by a Tinder date, received a bad customer rating on Uber, or simply wore all white in a rainstorm, there are very few problems that a good ol’ yum cha session can’t fix. Since it’s hard to choose one restaurant for the top spot, here is your Ultimate Sydney Yum Cha Guide.
Throw an axe at Maniax, St Peters
Life may be too short to hold a grudge, but it sure is easy to begrudge a never-ending downpour. So if the precipitation is getting you down and out, ‘bury the hatchet’ by grabbing your best mates and heading down Maniax where you can channel that anger into some axe-throwing, target practice. Your session includes a coaching session by an axe-throwing pro, followed by practice and then a double-elimination battle.
Learn to cook at Salt Meats Cheese
There is something uniquely comforting about tucking into a large bowl of hot, fresh pasta. All troubles are at bay, including the flooded basement and soaked clothes on the line. A rainy day then is a great time to up your Mediterranean cuisine game. Gourmet Italian providore, Salt Meats Cheese conducts cooking classes throughout the year, and teaches the art of everything from pasta and ravioli, to mozzarella and pizza making. Classes start at $89.
Visit an underground bar
Subterranean and water-tight, many of the jewels of the Sydney small bar crown are perfect for getting down and dry. For concoctions with charm, it’s hard to pass up CBD darling Mary’s Underground or the 1970s-inspired multi-level bar, Prince of York. For something a little bit stiffer, the award-winning Baxter Inn ever impresses with its prohibition-era vibes and collection of 500 whiskies, as does the Caribbean-themed, rum bar Lobo Plantation, and whisky and cognac cavern, Ramblin’ Rascal Tavern.
Immerse yourself in art at White Rabbit, Chippendale
Just a stone’s throw from Central Station is culture juggernaut, White Rabbit. This boutique art gallery celebrates the best of contemporary Chinese art and does so by showcasing two new exhibitions a year. Admission is free, and since opening in 2009, White Rabbit has gained a reputation for displaying bold, stimulating and experimental art. This should be incentive enough to seek shelter from the rain under its heavily-cultured roof, however a further reason is its ground-floor Tea House that serves a wide range of Chinese and Taiwanese teas as well as handmade dumplings and scones.
Watch a movie at Golden Age Cinema and Bar, Surry Hills
Cosy up in front of the silver screen and in retro-Hollywood style at the Golden Age Cinema and Bar. This heritage-listed venue was built in the 1940s as the screening room for Paramount Pictures building. Those days have since long gone, and three years ago, this glam, old dame was refurbished and given a new lease of life. This gem of an independent cinema prides itself in its vibrant and varied program. So when the next storm billows in, expect ‘classics, cults, creepies, cheapies and the best new film releases. Tickets are $22.
Learn a new skill at Work-Shop
Don’t let a spot of rain stop you from having a bit of fun and learning a new talent. The creative collective Work-Shop has an astonishing program of short courses held all across Sydney that aim to broaden horizons and teach participants new life skills. So whether your curiosity is music or welding, mindfulness or fine line illustration, doughnut making or mushroom foraging, get learning and unleashing.
Reach new heights at Sydney Indoor Climbing Gym
Australia’s biggest climbing centers, the Sydney Indoor Climbing Gyms at St Peters and Villawood are a great opportunity to get hot and bothered with a workout. The casual entry fee is $27 and includes a harness, where you’re able to get involved in the 350 roped routes, 120 leadable, 160 top ropes, as well as the 200-metre square bouldering wall. Scaling walls of an average height of 14 metres, many are taller, you’ll quickly forget about the rain outside. Maybe just don’t look down!
Enjoy dinner, drinks and the view at Hotel Palisade, Millers Point
Scale a different set of heights at Hotel Palisade. This gorgeous, historic venue was built in 1915, and once had the auspicious title of being the tallest building in Sydney. Perched above Barangaroo, the uninhibited, 360-degree view from the cocktail lounge and rooftop bar Henry Deane is the perfect vantage point from which to watch the weather gods assemble over our beautiful city. So kick back on the elegant pink couches with a beverage or two, and if all this rain watching is getting you hungry, grab a few bite-sized nibbles or head downstairs to the ground-floor pub for a heartier feed. If the weather doesn’t clear up, it’ll be more than tempting to stay the night in one of the eight boutique hotel rooms.
Get bowled over at ten-pin bowling
Grab a few mates and release your inner Lebowski next time thunder starts to strike. The ancient game of ten-pin bowling can be played all over the city, but you can’t go wrong with Strike Bowling, Manhattan Superbowl or ZONE Bowling.
Treat yo self to a day spa
The weather may be running havoc outside but that doesn’t mean you can’t disrobe in the name of relaxation, rejuvenation and some long-overdue pampering. Treatments, weird and wonderful include deep tissue and hot rock massage, hydro-microdermabrasion and facial peels, body scrubs and wraps, manicures and pedicures, waxing and spray tans, you’ll be asking how’s the serenity in no time. SpaQ, CHI, the Spa and Endota Spa are ripe for indulgence.