Social media star Li Chi Pan's picks for what makes Sydney unique

What is it about Sydney that’s so special? Just ask architect, photographer and lifestyle blogger Li Chi Pan who’s been showing off the city’s myriad attractions with a series of stunning images daily for her 308,000-plus Instagram followers.

“It has everything you’d ever want in a city, and then some,” says Pan, 24. “It’s big and busy and cosmopolitan but it’s also laidback and by the ocean and with its own special lifestyle beach vibe.

“You go to an American city and it’s full of Gloria Jeans and Starbucks. In Sydney there’s a very special coffee culture, wonderful food and a real design aesthetic, which even goes down to the typography of signs. There’s so much attention paid to the little details of life. I absolutely love it.”

Pan has agreed to give Fairfax Media readers a special photographic tour of all her favourite places. Here are her top Sydney picks, from breakfast spots to the beach, all of which are made even more enticing through her lens.

1. Catherine Hill Bay 

An hour and a half north of Sydney, at Lake Macquarie, between the Wallarah National Park in the north and Munmorah State Conservation Area in the south, it has a gorgeous beach and the historic 240-metre-long jetty built in 1888, one of the last left on Australia’s east coast. 

“It feels like a real hidden gem that not many people know about,” says Pan. “It’s a wonderful road trip to do for a free weekend.”

2. Surry Hills 

“There’s so much always happening everywhere you look in Sydney,” she says.

“I just looked over one day and saw this great car sitting on the street. I thought it looked great.”

3. Harry’s Bondi

At the beach, Harry’s is a great cafe for breakfast, lunch or dinner.

One of Pan’s favourite eating spots, she particularly loves the breakfasts such as seasonal fruit with orange blossom and cardamom yoghurt. “Their food is really pretty too,” she says. 

This is their coconut chia pudding with cranberry granola and berries, and the ricotta hotcake with blueberries, organic maple and double cream. Yum.”

4. Bondi Beach

“I’ve been coming here for six years. I just love going to watch the ocean.”

5. Icebergs Pool, Bondi

“It’s a great place to swim – and watch the swimmers.”

This is Pan in Bondi: “I like taking photos of myself where I don’t show my face!”

6. The Rabbithole, Redfern

The Rabbithole organic tea bar sells 20 original tea blends as well as tea lattes, tea sodas and a range of tea-inspired food.

They have two cafes, in Redfern and in Barangaroo. “It’s wonderful for brunch, morning or afternoon tea,” says Pan.

7. Aqua S ice-cream, Chatswood

Aqua S make signature sea salt soft serve ice-cream, with the idea initially coming from Japan. Their creations are works of art.

“This is my favourite,” says Pan. “It comes with a toasted marshmallow.”

8. I Creamy, Sydney CBD

These Italian-style ice creams come from an artisan gelato store in the CBD and come in 24 flavours.

“This is their rose artisan gelato,” Pan says.

“It looks beautiful and it’s not too sweet. You find some ice-creams that people make look beautiful but don’t taste so good. These look great, and taste great too.”

9. Petal Met Sugar, Woolloomooloo

This is a creative workshop, combining floristry and patisserie-making, with a small outdoor seating area for coffee, tea and desserts.

“They have very elaborate desserts and great food, and there’s a really nice aura about the place,” says Pan.

10. Salt Meats Cheese, Bondi Junction

“I eat so much pizza!” she wails. “But it’s particularly delicious from here. Who can resist?”

11. Via Napoli Pizzeria, Surry Hills

Speaking of pizza, another of Pan’s favourites is Via Napoli Pizzeria in Surry Hills.

They sell a 1-metre-long wood-fired pizza with up to three different flavours.

“These were all vegetarian,” says Pan. “It was so good.”

12. N2 Extreme Gelato, Haymarket

This outfit uses liquid nitrogen to flash freeze gelato in front of customers’ eyes.

“I love the theatricality of their ice-cream making, and seeing all the smoke from the nitrogen,” Pan says.

“And I love the chocolate sauce in a syringe.”

13. The Potting Shed, Alexandria

 The cafe at The Grounds where the shed-hands provide fresh harvested food in their own inimitable style to make you feel like you’re sitting in the family backyard.

“I love the way they bring over the burgers on a shovel,” Pan says. 

14. The Grounds, Alexandria

As well as the well-known cafe, The Grounds also has an organic garden with heirloom vegetables, edible flowers, fresh fruit and a small animal farm including resident pig, Kevin Bacon.

“Everything about this place is so well done,” says Pan. “The flowers look amazing.”

15. Belfield on Botany, Rosebery

This burger joint serves up American-style burgers with a Sydney twist, and a side of hip hop.

They even have their own signature burger with Vegemite mayonnaise.

 “Their food is delicious,” says Pan. “They even have amazing Portobello mushroom burgers so they’re great for vegetarians too and it’s just fabulous for even a burger and chips.”

16. Vine, Double Bay

Vine Double Bay dining room and wine bar has a contemporary menu with a French heart, with food designed to share.

“This is a little more fine dining, and wonderful for a birthday or meeting up with friends,” Pan says.

17. Tella Balls Dessert Bar, Dulwich Hill

 Run by Aki Daikos and Simon Kappatos, this innovative place is the home of the creation of the legendary Tella Ball shake – a Tella Ball doughnut atop a Nutella milkshake.

“They started out with those, and now they do so much more!” Pan says.

“Their waffles with everything are to die for and they’re never terribly healthy but … they have to be tasted to be believed!”

18. Pana Chocolate, Alexandria

Delicious bars, slices, cakes – and all raw.

Its shops stock wonderful raw treats, or the ingredients to create them at home.

“They even have beautiful mini-birthday cakes, all raw and vegan,” Pan says.

19. Passiontree Velvet, Broadway

Ribbon sandwiches, freshly baked scones, French macarons, cakes and an array of eclairs, the high teas are delightfully decadent here.

“Those eclairs are so pretty,” Pan says.

“I go there quite a bit as I think they’re the best eclairs in Sydney. I do have to work out a lot afterwards!”

20. Watson Bay Boutique Hotel

“They had a private function, and I thought the table looked lovely.

 

You can see more of Li-Chi Pan’s photos of Sydney
on her Instagram page.