During my weekend in Sydney to see Brian Eno’s Luminous festival works I stayed in King’s Cross and revisited some old favourites for breakfast and dinner. It was sad to find that Dean’s on Kellett St is gone, but all my other usual haunts seemed to be thriving. As I was travelling alone, some places felt less suitable to visit solo, so I didn’t go to Kika or the Victoria Room (review by Citrus and Candy).

Dessert is a necessity for me. Luckily there is Strawberry Cream (336 Victoria St Darlinghurst, review by Butterfly Garden). They make a fine macchiato (below) but the cherry strudel (above) is the main reason for visiting. Darlinghurst Nights criticised them recently for doing takeaway coffee in styrofoam cups, but as I consider takeaway coffee in general to be beneath my dignity it did not deter me.

The coffee and inferno pizza (pepperoni, anchovy, mushroom, olive and chilli) at Danny’s La Bussola (324 Victoria Street Darlinghurst) were as fulfilling as ever (below).

Breakfast at Fratelli Paradiso (12-16 Challis Avenue Potts Point) is essential. I’ve written before about their amazing breakfasts. This time I had scrambled eggs with a pumpkin and ricotta tart with gorgonzola puree (below).

Breafast on the morning of my departure was at Le Petit Creme (review by Not Quite Nigella), where I had the same thing as last time – bacon with scrambled eggs and brioche (below). Heaven.

For lunch before the 6 hours of Eno at the Opera House I ate at Una’s (340 Victoria Street, Darlinghurst), where a huge meal and a glass of shiraz were the perfect way to ensure energy and stamina for a long evening. I enjoyed my paprika chicken with rosti and vegetables (below).

I smiled absently as the American man at the next table arrived 10 minutes too late for breakfast (last orders 2.30pm) and grumbled about it. If you were in Fitzroy you would not have that problem, I mused to myself (though to be fair it is a restaurant, not a cafe and all day breakfast is available elsewhere on Victoria St).

It’s always fun visiting Sydney and spending time in the King’s Cross / Potts Point / Darlinghurst area. I was last there seeing Tori Amos in 2007. Thumbs up to the train from the airport (fast, clean and reasonably priced at $14.50). Thumbs down however to the 325 bus from Bayswater Rd to the harbour (more than half an hour late on Sunday afternoon). Sydney (mostly) rocks. I love escaping for weekends there.