Celia Pavey – better known as the chart-topping musician Vera Blue – lives in a vibrant, cacti-filled apartment in Maroubra with her partner, Billy, and her sausage dog, Texas. She moved to Sydney when she was 18, and after finding her people in the music industry she’s fallen in love with the city. She’s written many songs from her beachside studio, including The Curse, one of 10 tracks on her new album Mercurial. See Vera Blue on her national tour, starting this month and finishing in Sydney at the Enmore Theatre on December 17. She’s also supporting Flume on his national tour this month.
Read on for Vera Blue’s My Sydney.
Fave Sydney restaurant: Alberto’s Lounge If I could, I’d eat Italian food every day. Alberto’s is amazing. I love their whole aesthetic and mood. Sit by the window for the best view of the cool mural in the laneway.
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SIGN UPFave Sydney bar: Shady Pines Saloon. Sitting at this hidden honky-tonk bar in the middle of Darlinghurst almost feels like you’re in Nashville.
Essential brunch or breakfast spot: I love to visit Ruby’s Diner and Bellagio. The breakfast bowls at both cafes are the best. Not to mention the coffee: perfection.
Ideal day in Sydney: I’d start the day with a refreshing dip in the ocean at a little beach called Yarra Bay; the waves are always calm there and it’s safe for my sausage dog Texas to swim and chase his frisbee into the water. Or, I’d jump off the rocks at a spot called Lurline Bay below Mermaid Avenue near South Coogee. I’d then gather the troops and head somewhere for cocktails and laughs – either a picnic at Centennial Park or we’d invite people over to ours.
Stores to shop: Sunburst Music in Coogee – I’ve bought some of my favourite guitars here. I also love Attik in the city for its colourful outfits. I especially love the ’60s and ’70s prints and glitter items. I love second-hand stores too, because you never know what you’ll find. My favourite is a store in Waverley called the Sleeveless Society. I’ve found the most beautiful unique outfits there.
Most underrated place: Maroubra is super underrated. It gets forgotten on the coast with Bondi and Coogee being so popular, but Maroubra has a real community, friendly faces and humble cafes, restaurants and pubs. The surf is amazing too.
The thing I love most about Sydney: Being a country girl, the big smoke scared me at first but once I found my place and explored the hidden pockets and immersed myself in the music scene, it was pure electricity. I love the city’s constant desire for passion and opportunity.
“My Sydney” is a regular column discovering the places and spaces that captivate and entice Sydney’s well-known residents.