After a mega five-show run in Melbourne (and some excellent eating, drinking and partying), three-time Grammy Award winner Dua Lipa jetted northwards for the Sydney leg of her Radical Optimism Tour, which took over Qudos Bank Area from Wednesday March 26 to Saturday March 29, 2025. She was supported by Kita Alexander and joined on stage by Tame Impala and Angus Stone. Now she’s crossing the ditch for a couple of New Zealand shows.
The pop star is known almost as much for her impeccable taste as she is for her music. On her lifestyle recommendation site Service 95, the just-published guide to dining in Sydney features 17 red-hot spots, including newcomer AP Bread & Wine, Bondi icon Sean’s, warehouse favourite Baba’s Place and Redfern’s Attenzione.
Want to know where Lipa was around town? Here’s what we know.
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SIGN UPMessina, Bondi
While she’s doing an excellent Houdini, the star was seen enjoying a scoop of salted mango and coconut at the beachy outpost of the Sydney-born gelateria.
AP Bread & Wine, Darlinghurst
Lipa visited the newest outpost for AP, a strong contender for Sydney’s favourite bakery. While the buttermilk croissants and Aleppo pepper scrolls are regulars in the Broadsheet office, she went for a newer menu item that’s exclusive to Darlo: the breakfast muffin stuffed with crispy chicken, a runny egg and cheese.
10 William St, Paddington
Lipa found Sydney’s famous pretzel and its perfect companion: a cloud of whipped bottarga. The courtyard at Gio Paradiso’s little wine bar is an ace pick, with its short, sharp Italian menu and perfect wine list. Pre-stage carb-loading could’ve included the off-menu cacio e pepe or house-made tagliolini with Aussie mussels.
Arthur, Surry Hills
The 40-seater from the Jane team is a set-menu-only darling. And Lipa and her group got involved with the Arthur Menu. Bread and butter to start before a bunch of excellent snacks (like the trevally-topped sourdough doughnut and king prawn with potato), the tuna with saffron and more. To finish? The pretty-as-a-picture fig, strawberry and lemon myrtle combo.
Ester, Chippendale
Mat Lindsay’s fire-powered Chippendale dining room is one of Sydney’s best – and has been adored for more than a decade. When Lipa stopped in she got the buttery king prawns and surely that holy potato bread, blood sausage sanga and Ester salad.
The Caterpillar Club, CBD
The pop sensation and her pals descended into the Pitt Street bar, with Negronis the drinks of choice.
Icebergs, Bondi
The star stopped in for the all-blue view over the ocean pool that’s nearly as iconically Sydney as the beach it sits near.
Mimi’s, Coogee
Lipa leaned into the finer side of things with a leisurely stop at the beachside dining room. What did she get? The chicken-salted potato scallops topped with caviar, bluefin toro crumpets, grilled occy dressed in lemon and chilli, and the house bread with sour-cream butter. And a Negroni.
IGA, Bondi
Big-time celebs need groceries too, it seems. What was in her basket? Caramello Koalas, strawberry Freddos and a few blocks of Darrell Lea. She also stocked up on Tim Tams.
Taronga Zoo, Mosman
Where else to see Aussie wildlife by the harbour?
Miss Betty Rose
Lipa opted for a starry mani from Miss Betty Rose, a nail artist who’s a fave among celebs like Lara Worthington, Anya Taylor-Joy and Kelly Rowland.