This Week's Top 5: Maven Broohem's Perfect 24Hrs in Surry Hills!

The lovely Maven Broohem in all her finery ©

Welcome back from Australia Day dear mavens! The bad news is that holiday season’s officially over, the good news...well, does a great Customer Underground Top 5 help? This week, chic & savvy super-maven broohem (aka Brooke) shares with us spots from and for a great 24 hours in Surry Hills.Want to share your five favourites with the rest of the Underground? Drop us a line. In other news, we’ll be launching a new promo on Monday – a draw to win a fabulous chocolate hamper from Kakawa (our fave, yum...).  Stay tuned for details. Now, over to Brooke.

I’m entering my sixth year as a Sydneysider hailing originally from the food and culture capital, Melbourne. With each year, I venture a little further afield exploring the harbour city but I’m an eastern suburbs girl through and through. From Elizabeth Bay to Paddington, I’ve done the rounds but now I call Surry Hills home and I’m here to tell you that the Hills has the best of both worlds. Let me share with you my 24 hours in Surry Hills.

1. You Hair and Beauty: I didn’t think there was such a thing as a Sydney salon where you could get your hair cut and coloured for less than $300 but alas, there is and it’s You Hair and Beauty. This secret little gem is such a find that I’m hesitant to even tell you about it. The staff are super friendly and down to earth, unlike so many other salons, and I walked out with freshly cut and coloured hair for only $130. Will wonders never cease? And every girl worth the cost of her GHD knows, freshly cut and coloured hair is an excuse to hit the town. And so I did.
2. The Dolphin:  There’s a beer garden, a balcony, upstairs and down – the Dolphin has so many spaces to choose from, it’s hard to know where to start. But we started all right, and continued on for several more than we should. The beers are cold and the staff friendly; heck, we even managed a Matthew Newton sighting on Crown Street below – talk about vantage point. But be warned, despite the hefty price tag, the tasting plate options won’t go far. We grabbed the chorizo and Haloumi, hummus and bread as well as some soft shell crab. Delicious, yes. Tiny portions, absolutely. We departed the Dolphin, still hungry,­ for bigger and better nosh down the road at Pizza e Birra.
3. Pizza e Birra: Getting a table at Pizza e Birra is sometimes tricky but it’s always worth the effort. Prop yourself up at the bar while you wait and the staff will roll out the olives to tide you over. Once in the restaurant, grab a couple of pizzas to share. The Fruit de Mare is my pick and comes topped with steaming seafood including calamari rings, mussels and tasty tomato sauce. At this stage of the night, you probably don’t need another drink but a glass of red is too good to resist. Now stumble home. Avoid the temptation to enter The Clock. Yes, it’s oh so close but when you wake up in the morning, you’ll be thankful you remained strong.
4. Bourke St Bakery: Waking up bleary eyed the next morning, I can see the Bourke Street Bakery from my bedroom window and what a glorious sight it is. First thing in the morning, the locals bring their dogs and kids on cute little bikes to this popular spot. After grabbing their morning kick-start coffee, they hang out in the park below my window while the kids and dogs roll on the grass. The Bakery is the perfect start to a hungover Saturday morning. You’re not quite ready to commit to breakfast but a coffee is required, stat.  I stumble over the road, grab the papers then retreat to the safety of my apartment.
5. Four Ate Five: Stomach growling, it’s time to hit up Four Ate Five. The staff are clued in to your condition and the cheerful girl with the menus jokes that she’s going to keep an eye on you. Order a freshly squeezed juice – hydration is key at this crucial moment. Get some baked eggs into you and you’ll know why Time Out magazine gave this place a five star rating. Right, now it’s time to stumble home, sprawl on the couch and vow to never drink again. If I had a dollar for every time I’d said that…

So that was 24 hours in my Surry Hills. Each week I discover a new treat in my area and that’s why I love it. There’s always something happening – even if it’s just a drunken argument in the street below. Ah, the serenity.

Broohem, aka Brooke, is a freelance writer, editor and producer. Check out her website at  www.brookehemphill.com.

What are your picks for a great 24 hours? Drop in and share with the Underground.  And if you haven’t made your plans yet, you can book online from our site; some great spots with online booking in Surry Hills are:  Bentley, Agave, Assiette, Bird Cow Fish, Maya Da Dhaba, Book Kitchen, and Emmilou.

Cheers,

Mel, Barbara, Rick, AJ & Murray

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