A Lazy Day in The Rocks – Pancakes, Pubs and a Cracking Italian Dinner!
After all the travelling, sightseeing and kilometres we’ve been clocking up, today was all about taking things a little easier. No long drives, no strict itinerary and no rushing around trying to squeeze a dozen attractions into one day.
Instead, we had a sleep-in, a leisurely breakfast and a plan to enjoy one of our favourite parts of Sydney — The Rocks.
And when your plans involve good food, historic pubs and a few refreshing beverages, it’s fair to say the day is off to a promising start!
Breakfast with a View at City Extra
We eventually dragged ourselves out of bed and headed down to Circular Quay for breakfast at one of our Sydney favourites, City Extra Restaurant.
Located right on the harbour, City Extra offers fantastic views and a front-row seat to the morning hustle and bustle of Circular Quay.
While tourists are busy admiring the harbour and snapping photos, the locals are rushing off to work, catching ferries and generally looking like they’ve got somewhere far more important to be.
It’s great people-watching territory, especially when you’re sitting comfortably with breakfast and a coffee while everyone else is racing against the clock.
My breakfast of choice is always the Canadian Pancakes. Why mess with a winning formula? They’re a favourite of mine, and the combination of a good breakfast and that harbour view makes this place hard to beat.
There’s something rather satisfying about watching the working world rush past while you’re enjoying a leisurely start to the day. We could get used to this retirement-style lifestyle — even if we’re only borrowing it for a holiday!
The Glenmore Hotel – Rooftop Views and a Cold One
With breakfast behind us, we made our way back into The Rocks for what we’d planned as a lazy day of drinking and dining.
Our first pub stop was the Glenmore Hotel in Cumberland Street.
The Glenmore is a classic Rocks pub, but its rooftop bar and dining area are the real drawcard. From up there, you get terrific views across Sydney Harbour, including the Opera House and Harbour Bridge.
It’s one of those places where the scenery almost steals the show. Almost — because there’s also a cold drink to enjoy!
We settled in, took in the views and enjoyed the relaxed atmosphere. It’s easy to understand why the Glenmore is such a popular stop for visitors and locals alike.
If you’re exploring The Rocks, we’d definitely recommend putting this one on your list. A rooftop drink with those harbour views is a pretty good way to spend part of the day.
The Hero of Waterloo – A Pub with a Past
After lunch, we wandered over to our next destination, the Hero of Waterloo Hotel at 81 Lower Fort Street, Millers Point.
The Hero is one of those historic Sydney pubs that seems to have a story lurking around every corner. Dating back to the nineteenth century, it has a long association with the early days of Sydney and the sailors, workers and locals who frequented its bar.
The pub takes its name from the Duke of Wellington, the British military commander famous for defeating Napoleon at the Battle of Waterloo in 1815, helping bring the Napoleonic Wars to an end.
It’s a fitting name for a pub with such a strong connection to Australia’s colonial history.
The Hero is also known for its old-world character, traditional interiors and colourful tales from Sydney’s past. Whether you’re interested in history or simply appreciate a good old pub, it’s well worth a visit.
We’ve always enjoyed visiting places like this. They offer more than just a place to grab a beer — they give you a glimpse into the history of the city you’re exploring.
And let’s be honest, after a leisurely breakfast and a rooftop pub stop, we were hardly going to complain about another opportunity to sit down for a drink!
The Lord Nelson Brewery Hotel – A Sydney Institution
Our next stop was only a short walk away: the Lord Nelson Brewery Hotel, located at 19 Kent Street in The Rocks.
The Lord Nelson is a favourite for anyone who appreciates historic pubs and traditionally brewed beer. It has been brewing and serving beer for generations, and it proudly claims the title of Sydney’s oldest continuously licensed hotel, dating back to 1841.
There is, of course, some debate about which pub deserves the title of Sydney’s oldest. Historic pubs have a habit of producing competing claims, depending on whether you’re counting the original building, the licence or continuous operation.
But the Lord Nelson’s long history and brewing tradition make it a standout regardless of the debate.
The brewery produces a range of traditional ales, and the combination of sandstone walls, historic character and freshly brewed beer makes it a great place to spend some time.
It’s also a reminder of why we love exploring The Rocks. You can walk a short distance between pubs and find yourself stepping into a completely different piece of Sydney’s history at every stop.
By this stage, our supposedly lazy day was shaping up rather nicely!
Dinner at Caminetto – Our Italian Favourite
After a day spent wandering between historic pubs, it was time to think about dinner.
One of our favourite places to eat in The Rocks is Caminetto, an Italian restaurant at 13–17 Playfair Street, only about 200 metres from our motel.
We’ve visited Caminetto on several occasions and have never been disappointed.
Now, restaurants can be funny things. One person will rave about a place while another leaves wondering what all the fuss was about. Caminetto seems to attract mixed reviews, but our own experiences have always been positive.
And that’s the important thing with reviews — everyone’s experience is different. What matters is whether a restaurant delivers for you, and so far, Caminetto has done exactly that for us.
We enjoy the food, the atmosphere and the convenience of having a good restaurant just a short stroll from our accommodation.
If you’re visiting The Rocks and looking for somewhere to enjoy Italian food, we’d suggest giving it a go and making up your own mind.
After all, you won’t know whether you agree with our verdict until you try it yourself!
A Perfectly Lazy Day in Sydney
Today was exactly what we’d hoped for: a relaxing day without the pressure of ticking off attractions or watching the clock.
We started with Canadian Pancakes and harbour views at City Extra, enjoyed the rooftop scenery at the Glenmore, explored the history of the Hero of Waterloo, stopped for a beer at the Lord Nelson and finished with Italian dining at Caminetto.
Not a bad effort for a day when we were supposedly taking it easy!
One of the things we love about The Rocks is how much you can do without needing a car. The historic streets, harbour views, pubs and restaurants are all within comfortable walking distance, making it easy to spend a day exploring at your own pace.
Sydney has plenty of major attractions, but sometimes the best days are the ones where you simply wander, stop wherever takes your fancy and enjoy the atmosphere.
And if that wandering happens to include a few historic pubs along the way, well, that’s just part of the experience.
Another cracking day in The Rocks — good food, great views, historic pubs and absolutely no need to rush. Touring is thirsty work, but today we were taking our time about it! 🍻
