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Street front retail space in Sydney is expensive, so it's little wonder that the band of small bar owners are digging deep (literally) and opening up in the basements of corporate towers, and what better way to capture a clientele. Be transported to South America with rum cocktails, bar food such as Cuban pastelitos, pulled-pork tamales and ceviche, and an interior decorated with cane furniture, palm trees and dim candlelight. It's the perfect mid-week escape.

The Baxter Inn changed everything we knew about drinking in the CBD after dark. This sister establishment to Darlinghurst's hugely popular Shady Pines Saloon opened with its signature old-school, basement-style interior, jazz music and whisky as the bar's star, with over 150 different variations. It's not a huge venue, comfortably fitting just over 100, and later in the week there's often a line, so try for a mid-week session if you prefer less noise.

Situated nicely outside of the hustle and bustle of the city, in Temperance Lane (near the Apple store on George Street, right next to Sneakerboy), this bar-cum-restaurant has been open since early 2010, evidence of its popularity. And you can see why: the owners are committed to integrity in every aspect, whether it be the second-hand furniture, whole and organic foods and wines, or focus on recycling.

While there is no X marking this spot, there's certainly enough home-spiced rum, Singapore slings and sherry to make this feel like a buccaneer's ship with its pirate-themed interior. Leather booths create private coves for drinks with friends at this secret bar, created by the guys who brought us Pocket and Stitch. There's only bar snacks on offer here, such as cheese and meat plates, so if you're planning a big night, dine beforehand.

Bondi Junction establishment, The Eastern, prides itself on having the best Mexican food in Sydney at its restaurant, El Topo. With bright colourful interiors and cheeky skeleton-backed chairs, it’s the day of the dead everyday at this Mexican Bondi gem. This is no ordinary Old El Paso, with authentic flavours of tamarind, crispy pork, guajillo chillies, avocado leaf, jicama fruit and cactus leaf given a modern twist by Phil Davenport of Toque 12, and executive chef Brett Barker.

With locations across Sydney (Bondi Beach, Darlinghurst, Newtown, Cronulla and Coogee) street food purveyor Beach Burrito Company serves, as you'd imagine, all things Mexican: quesadillas, nachos, chilli fries and, of course, burritos. But this is no ordinary Mexican food, with a focus on healthy ingredients, laidback atmosphere and personality unique to each suburb. For those on the road, you can also get your Mexican fix at Beach Burrito Canberra, Wollongong and Jindabyne.

Tokyobike is, as its name suggests, a Tokyo-based bicycle manufacturer and retailer. The small, independent company, founded in 2002 in Yanaka, Japan, opened in Sydney in 2010 as the city's awareness of bike riding began to increase with the rollout of dedicated bike lanes.

A specialist of high quality designer furniture and accessories from Asia, with a particular focus on Japan and China, SeehoSu boasts an incredible collection of exquisitely crafted pieces from a broad portfolio of brands. Here, the focus is on beautiful, simple designs, like timber chairs and tables crafted with minimal embellishment or excessive details.

Image credit: Alex Squadrito

Although it no longer conducts weekly live auctions, this sprawling multi-story site in Alexandria is still a goldmine of antique furniture and homewares, with a particularly extensive collection of Mid-Century Modern pieces. Though it's tempting to leisurely browse on the weekend, you'd be wise to visit on a weekday morning so as to claim the best pieces before the crowds.

One of Sydney's best – and most authentic – Italian pizza restaurants, Pizza Birra has a constant stream of regular customers returning for its traditional Neapolitan-style, wood-fire oven pizzas. You can't book, but it doesn't usually take long to get a table, and you can always grab a wine at the bar first.

Located at Sydney Olympic Park (yes, in Homebush) in a historic early 20th century abattoir building, Abbatoir Blues serves specialty coffee, baked-on-site pastries, and a daily mix of café favourites such as quiches, burgers, pies and sandwiches.

Favourite bar of Sydney's creative set, Tatler has been taken over by Brendan Watson and Tim Clark, who aimed to update its feel but maintain its rich history.

This is no ordinary eyewear store. Having opened in late 2012 following the success of its original Melbourne outpost, Onepointsevenfour treats eyewear design as a form of art, and as such, stocks the collections of Maison Martin Margiela, Dita and Cutler and Gross in a well-curated, gallery like space. And located in the Paddington retail area of The Intersection, it's the perfect addition to the slew of clothing retailers nearby.

Culture buffs will be familiar with Title, a Surry Hills boutique stocking a curated selection of cult music, films and books. Because it focuses on the unique, Title hasn't gone the way of Borders or Sanity, with loyal customers and chance strangers alike dropping in to discover (and rediscover) great works.

This iconic Sydney Hotel has been quenching the thirst of many an Eastern Suburbs local for more than 150 years. The Paddington Inn has just undergone a complete refurbishment by George Livissianis (The Dolphin Hotel, Apollo, Cho Cho San), adding to the buzz around new venues popping up in Paddington and giving residents something to really get excited about. 

Nathan Smith made his name in fashion with a collection of casual, easy-to-wear basics, but for the past few years he has been selling organic produce at Sydney farmers' markets. The result of that business acumen and love of high quality, healthy foods is Smiths Organic Markets, a permanent retail home for his produce in the sleepy village of Woollahra.

This is where you come as much to dine, as you do to enjoy that quintessential Bondi view with the perfect drink in hand. North Bondi Fish is the tasty creation of Matt Moran, the man behind Chiswick Woollahra, Chiswick at the Gallery and ARIA, bringing lovers of seafood their classic favourites with a twist.

With fun and affordable short courses in arts and crafts, Work-Shop allows you to unlock your inner creativity and build lifelong skills under the watchful guidance of experienced tutors. Dabble in printmaking and tea blending, or learn samba and build your own terrarium, or if you're looking for a unique gift, buy a special someone a gift certificate for their next big day.

A peaceful oasis in the hart of Bondi Junction, KMYOGA offers yoga and meditation classes to de-stress, awaken creativity and propel you into action. Kundalini is considered to be the most comprehensive of yogas, combining powerful breathing techniques, postures and mantras, and is accessible to all age groups and experience levels.

The guys behind The Botanist and Bondi Hardware, Hamish Watts and Ben Carroll, opened their latest Sydney bar and restaurant, SoCal, in late 2013 in Sydney's north-shore suburb of Neutral Bay.

From the team that brought you Buzo (which, sadly for Woollahra locals, is relocating to the CBD) is The Wine Library, which is, as you might guess, exactly that. But instead of a hushed atmosphere with fussy staff, the classic reds and whites are shared here with gusto.

Mini herb gardens, indoor composting systems, home brewing—as our country grows and we become bigger and bigger consumers, there's a trend for small, DIY projects. Hop + Grain Brew Store in Enmore is welcoming first-time brewers with its start-up kit, which will create you at least 30 longnecks using its straightforward method. Best of all, it's much cheaper than visiting the bottle shop. There are options to make cider and ginger beer, too.

Long a wasteland of big pubs and over-priced touristy spots, Manly has come full circle with a band of boutique cafes and bars catering to cultured locals.