Your Luxury Guide to Sydney’s North Shore: Where To Shop, Eat and Drink

Sydney’s luxury credentials aren’t confined to the CBD. Across the north shore, waterfront dining rooms, neighbourhood cocktail bars and one of the city’s most luxurious shopping precincts make it easy to spend an indulgent day without crossing the Harbour Bridge. We’ve curated an itinerary for where to unwind, eat and drink on Sydney’s north shore.

Do

Shop at Chatswood Chase

Luxury shopping no longer requires a trip into the city. Chatswood Chase’s new Level One luxury precinct brings together flagship boutiques from designer houses including Louis Vuitton, Dior, Cartier, Tiffany & Co and Hermes. Add concierge services, valet parking and personal styling appointments, and it’s become one of Sydney’s most comprehensive luxury retail destinations outside the CBD.

Charter the harbour in a private yacht

There’s no better reminder of Sydney’s good fortune than seeing the city from the harbour. Belle Charters operates its 30-metre European superyacht from Mosman between November and May, offering bespoke private cruises complete with a private chef, a curated wine cellar and tailored itineraries. If sitting back isn’t your style, the yacht also carries Seabobs, paddleboards, kayaks and snorkelling equipment for exploring the harbour’s quieter coves.

Get pampered at a day spa

Hidden away in Turramurra, Gillian Adams offers the sort of all-day escape that’s increasingly hard to find. It’s a hair salon, day spa and restaurant wrapped into one. Start with a signature hair treatment before moving through the spa’s aquamedic pool and steam facilities, then settle into a lomi lomi massage or bespoke facial – or why not both? Finish with lunch or afternoon tea at the on-site garden restaurant, without needing to leave the building.

Eat

Bathers’ Pavilion

Few restaurants capture Sydney’s waterfront dining quite like Bathers’ Pavilion. Directly opposite Balmoral Beach inside a heritage-listed building, the venue led by executive chef Aaron Ward pairs seasonal cooking with nods to the beachside setting. Expect dishes such as roasted bass grouper with smoked butter or black pepper-glazed abalone, alongside a 350-strong wine list and outstanding service. Whether you’re here for a celebratory long lunch or a sunset dinner, it’s difficult to imagine a more elegant setting.

S’more

Tucked into Castlecrag’s neighbourhood streets, S’more feels like the kind of place locals might want to keep to themselves. “Big” Sam Young (ex-Lotus 2.0) and his life and business partner Grace Chen blend French bistro traditions with Asian flavours, resulting in dishes such as live lobster pasta and premium Wagyu. For added indulgence, this intimate 40-seat dining room also offers caviar bumps.

Joie

Chatswood Chase’s Level One luxury precinct has quickly become a destination in its own right, and Joie Brasserie is one of its standout openings. The contemporary French brasserie – led by Jung-Su Chang from Korean fine-diner Allta in Surry Hills – balances polished dining with an easygoing atmosphere. Order the tuna nicoise with grilled cauliflower and katsuobushi aioli, or try the stuffed cabbage with fennel sausage, brown chicken velouté sauce and comté cheese.

Drink

Poetica

While Poetica is an 180-seat restaurant that has built a reputation for expertly dry-aged steaks, its bar is reason enough to visit. Pull up a stool for seasonal cocktails, such as the Wildberry and Lemon Myrtle Martini with lemongrass-infused vodka, raspberry puree, and berry liqueur, or the Peanut Old Fashioned with Scotch whisky, peanut syrup and chocolate bitters. Or explore the rest of the drinks list, which champions Australian wines and spirits. If one drink turns into a need for food, the steak frites or dry-aged Angus beef burger from the bar menu are great options.

The Botanist

The Botanist has remained one of the north shore’s most picturesque places for a cocktail since Applejack Hospitality opened the Kirribilli favourite in 2012. Hanging greenery, floral lighting and leafy interiors create a conservatory-like feel, while the drinks continue the botanical theme. Signature cocktails include the Botanist Lychee Martini, with Archie Rose gin, lychee and cherry blossom vermouth, alongside The Merchant’s Storm, blending Australian and Nicaraguan rums with almond, mandarin and ginger. There’s also a dedicated gin and tonic list featuring bottles from Australia, Japan and Scotland.

Manon Tea Room

An afternoon of tea can be every bit as considered as a long lunch, and Manon Tea Room is out to prove it. Set within Chatswood Chase's Level One luxury precinct, leans into ritual: leaves sourced from India, China, Sri Lanka and South America are blended in-house, then poured alongside a menu that runs from the savoury to the sweet. The signature high tea is the drawcard – tiered, generous and made for lingering – while a curated wine list gives the whole affair a grown-up edge.

This article is produced by Broadsheet in partnership with Chatswood Chase.