We started our Australian Travel Exchange 2021 with being booked to take out some special Luxe travel guests of Destination NSW on a curated lunchtime dining walk of Surry Hills on a Sunday afternoon.

We met our guests upstairs at Tilly Mays Sydney who had just returned from hitting Bondi for a surf lesson and were in need of sustenance. The generous all Australian cheese board accompanied by a refreshing Pizzini, King Valley prosecco hit the spot perfectly.

Next-up was a delightful stroll down Crown Street checking out all the boutique shop fronts and soaking-up the Sunday afternoon buzz from the pubs and busy cafes.

Harry, the maitre di, welcomed us at the door of the Bartolo dining room lined with bottles of wine and beautiful photos of the Amalfi Coast taken by a local Sydney photographer.

Platters of rich crumbled pork cutlets, heirloom tomato salad and crisped baby potatoes with cultured cream & trout roe went down a treat with glasses of L’Arnuade Rose all round. Proving that pretending you’re in Italy can be just as much fun as being there!

We then popped over the road to the Four Pillars Gin shop for a quick tasting with the lovely Alex and then upstairs to Eileen's Bar to try the new release Bloody Shiraz Gin, Strange Love Bitter Lemon and ruby grapefruit. Perfectly matched with Bloody Shiraz gin caviar on blinis; soft cheese & orange gin marmalade and cured meats+peppers - who says you can ever have enough cheese in one afternoon?

We exited “through the gift shop” so our guests could stock-up on gin for the home drinks cabinet, ready to take on ATE21 Sydney style.