< Previous30 | ATLAS BY ETIHAD | August 2024 East coast beaches Surrounded by beaches on the north, south and east, it should come as no surprise that one of Sydney’s biggest drawcards is its glittering coastline. The main attraction? Bondi Beach, a kilometre-long curve of sun-kissed coast sandwiched between two headlands. Its eminent name comes from the aboriginal word “boondi”, ITS EMINENT NAME COMES FROM THE ABORIGINAL WORD “BOONDI”, WHICH MEANS “WATER TUMBLING OVER ROCKS” which means “water tumbling over rocks” — an apt description for one of the country’s best surf beaches with a strong swell and rocky reef. Though you don’t need to be a pro surfer to enjoy a dip in the azure Pacifi c Ocean, as long as you swim between the fl ags you’ll be fi ne (or risk making an appearance on Bondi Rescue). Out of the water, slow down and give in to the east coast’s laidback lifestyle. Walk along the esplanade, recline on the grassy lawns or catch the beachfront farmers’ markets on the weekend. There’s also excellent shopping on Gould Street and beyond. Find Bondi-born leisurewear label Venroy, concept store Playa by Lucy Folk and slow-made jewellery brand Hencla, to name a EtA_10Aug2024_EN_24-33_Travel-Australia_13325234.indd 3018/07/2024 10:28sydney - 33.8688° S, 151.2093° E August 2024 | ATLAS BY ETIHAD | 31 IMA GE S: SHUTTERST OCK; PEXELS /VINCE few. The latter is tucked away in North Bondi and captures the ’burb’s holiday vibe in every beaded bracelet, making for a signature keepsake. But if I only do one thing on the east coast, I make it the six-kilometre Bondi to Coogee coastal walk. This leisurely trail is marked by several rock pools, swimmable bays and beaches in Tamarama, Clovelly and Bronte for a refreshing dip along the way. In winter, the headland also off ers myriad vantage points to spy dolphins or pods of humpback whales making the annual migration along the coast. Trust me, there’s nothing more awe-inspiring than a glimpse of ocean spray and the playful wave of a whale’s tail from the most beautiful urban walk in Sydney. Clockwise from left: Bondi Beach is a kilometre-long curve of sun-kissed coast sandwiched between two headlands: Artwork on the famous beach strip EtA_10Aug2024_EN_24-33_Travel-Australia_13325234.indd 3118/07/2024 10:2832 | ATLAS BY ETIHAD | August 2024 Insider eats Ask any Sydneysider where to eat for a quintessential dining experience and they’ll recommend Sean’s. Since opening in 1993, this cheerful establishment by award-winning chef Sean Moran has cemented itself as a local favourite in the heart of Bondi. The salty scent of the ocean permeates the breezy, sunlit interiors, where fresh farm roses act as a centrepiece on each rickety table. Wood panelled walls are adorned with framed paintings and a mural of a blue swimmer crab — hinting at the three-course, seafood-centric set menu to follow. Whilst the fare is ever-changing and seasonal, I’ll always go for Moran’s nostalgic roast chook. Also in Bondi, casual Italian eatery Totti’s is notorious for its wood-fi red puff y bread drizzled with olive oil and salt, while oceanside Icebergs Bar is my fi rst choice for an aperitivo with a view. Elsewhere in the city, the Swillhouse Group is behind a handful of distinctive venues including French brasserie Restaurant Hubert, old-school Italian trattoria Alberto’s Lounge and Le Foote, a Mediterranean-inspired wine bar and restaurant located in a heritage-listed building in The Rocks. Clockwise from top right: Icebergs Dining Room and Bar is an Italian fi ne dining restaurant; Central Park in Chippendale; Totti’s is known for its wood-fi red puff y bread Gallery hopping For me, no Sydney stay is complete without swinging by the city’s leading arts destination: the Art Gallery of New South Wales. Nestled within beautiful parklands, the gallery is a 15-minute walk from the CBD and showcases a vast collection of fi ne Australian and international art across two buildings. Established in 1871, the classical Naala Nura (‘seeing country’) sandstone building is connected to the modern Naala Badu (‘seeing waters’) building extension by a stunning public EtA_10Aug2024_EN_24-33_Travel-Australia_13325234.indd 3222/07/2024 11:11sydney - 33.8688° S, 151.2093° E August 2024 | ATLAS BY ETIHAD | 33 IMA GE S: KA YLA WRA TTEN; SHUTTERST OCK art garden. Inside, it’s free to visit the permanent collections, but specifi c exhibitions like the annual Archibald Prize are ticketed. The curated gallery shop is one of my personal highlights here, as it’s stocked with coff ee table books, exclusive prints and homewares. There’s also plenty of places to see modern Asian art, owing to the city’s strong presence of East Asian and South Asian diasporas. For those in the know, the White Rabbit Gallery in Chippendale showcases one of the world’s most signifi cant collections of Chinese contemporary art. The four-storey space includes a tranquil teahouse on the ground fl oor to indulge in Chinese and Taiwanese tea, scones and dumplings. For a uniquely Australian take on dance that you won’t see anywhere else, see a show by First Nations performing arts company Bangarra. Combining contemporary dance with indigenous movement, songs and stories drawn from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander culture, Bangarra’s moving performances will stay with you long after you’ve left the harbour city. ETIHAD AIRWAYS OFFERS SEVEN FLIGHTS PER WEEK TO SYDNEY ETIHAD.COM EtA_10Aug2024_EN_24-33_Travel-Australia_13325234.indd 3318/07/2024 10:2834 | ATLAS BY ETIHAD | August 2024 time zones -8-7-6-5-4-2-3-1-9-10-11-12-13 Be mesmerised by one of the world’s greatest ballet companies St. Petersburg En pointe entertainment Compiled by Sarah Buitendach EtA_10Aug2024_EN_34-39_Time zones_13325241.indd 3418/07/2024 10:29IMA GE S: XXXX August 2024 | ATLAS BY ETIHAD | 35 ETIHAD AIRWAYS OFFERS TWO FLIGHTS PER WEEK TO ST. PETERSBURG ETIHAD.COM +1+3+2+5+4+6+7+8+9+10+11+12+13 Theatre’s Vladivostok arm, The Primorsky Stage. This visiting company from the eastern side of the country is bringing its acclaimed Asian-tinged art to town. Book for performances of Le Corsaire, Raymonda and The Nutcracker. It’s worth adding that even if you’re not a ballet buff , a performance by these dancers is something you should add to your bucket list. Spectacular athletes, their skill and poise is something to behold. Plus, there is nothing like being swept up by dramaticl music, gorgeous costumes and a story that unfolds through movement. It’s proof that dance off ers a magic that transcends language. mariinsky.ru IMA GE: SHUTTERST OCK Many people are familiar with Moscow’s famous Bolshoi Ballet company, but which masters of the pirouette and arabesque should you catch if you happen to be in St. Petersburg? As is the case in much of Russia, the culture around ballet is a serious one, and so you’re never going to be short of theatres to choose from. A standout option this month is the Mariinsky Ballet Theatre. For a staggering two centuries, the Mariinsky has been a home to the arts in St. Petersburg. Over decades, supreme dancers including Anna Pavlova, Rudolf Nureyev and Mikhail Baryshnikov have graced its stage. In August, audiences are being treated to performances by the Mariinsky EtA_10Aug2024_EN_34-39_Time zones_13325241.indd 3518/07/2024 10:2936 | ATLAS BY ETIHAD | August 2024 -8-7-6-5-4-2-3-1-9-10-11-12-13 IMA GE S: SUPPLIED Mykonos Joie de vivre Kolkata A trendy little number LPM’s new Greek island eatery off ers real French panache 2:Fifty9 is the JW Marriott’s cool new bar As if sea salt water-soaked sunny days weren’t reason enough to head to Mykonos, here’s another enticement. The internationally acclaimed, French Rivera-inspired LPM group has just opened its latest restaurant there. This poolside spot, situated at the new boutique Anandes Hotel, is a dream position from which to watch the sunset and enjoy a glass of rosé If you fi nd yourself in the West Bengal capital, make a beeline for the swanky new 2:Fifty9 bar at the JW Marriott. This luxurious lair is a fi ne place to grab an after-dinner cocktail, and perhaps take the revelry up a notch. Alternatively, it’s open during the day for drinks and light meals like taleggio arancini and Korean fried chicken sliders. Its cocktail menu is inventive and sophisticated – case in point, the smooth ‘Oh My Ghee’. It’s a blend of coff ee, dark rum, bourbon whiskey and sesame, brought together with clarifi ed ghee and a hint of bitters. Alternatively, try the ‘Taxi Queen’, which is made from bourbon, vanilla tea, Caol Ila single malt and red apple. marriott-hotel-kolkata ETIHAD AIRWAYS OFFERS EIGHT FLIGHTS PER WEEK TO KOLKATA ETIHAD.COM ETIHAD AIRWAYS OFFERS TWO FLIGHTS PER WEEK TO MYKONOS ETIHAD.COM (the varietal is LPM’s speciality). Add to that a table heaving with dishes of warm prawns, snails with garlic butter and parsley, salt baked sea bass with artichokes and tomatoes or lamb cutlets with olive, aubergine, caviar and pine nuts and you’ve got the makings of a divine summer night. lpmrestaurants.com/mykonos EtA_10Aug2024_EN_34-39_Time zones_13325241.indd 3618/07/2024 10:29time zones August 2024 | ATLAS BY ETIHAD | 37 Last year, Osaka was named the 10th most liveable city in the world in the 2023 Global Liveability Index. It is, as the ranking illustrates, a dynamic and cosmopolitan city with a deep cultural heart, reverence for its history and modern outlook. The new Four Seasons Hotel, just opened in the city’s Dojima district, speaks perfectly to this sense. It’s also a manifestation of excellent design and warm hospitality. As general manager Alastair McApline explained, the Four Seasons worked with an ‘A team’ of Japan’s best architects and designers on the project. Local design studio Curiosity created the hotel’s 154 rooms and suites. These elegant, textured and sunlit spaces, decorated in neutral palettes, make for the perfect escape after a busy day. Lounge on a bouclé-covered day bed and take in the ‘Water City’ far below and you might never want to leave. In an Osaka first, the Four Seasons is also offering a modern ryokan experience in a major hotel. Ryokans are small Japanese inns dating back to the 8th century, and still popular Osaka Rooms with a view Four Seasons has opened a covetable new hotel in the Japanese city today, particularly in regions with onsen (hot springs). The entire 28th floor of Four Seasons Hotel Osaka has 21 rooms and suites decorated by Simplicity designers as a contemporary interpretation of ryokan culture. They include tatami mat flooring, sliding doors, a platform bed (rather than the traditional roll on the floor) and a dining area that allows for traditional or standard seating. There’s also a full fl oor dedicated to wellness that sports a sauna, indoor pool and fi tness centre but in true ryokan tradition you’ll also be able to relax in a series of public and private furo (Japanese baths). Osaka is one of Asia’s culinary capitals and currently boasts 85 Michelin-starred restaurants. The new hotel is adding six dining and drinking options to this mix. Among these, Jiang Nan Chun off ers an authentic Cantonese dining experience in an interactive setting that includes multiple private and semi-private dining rooms. If you tire of all these in-house delights, the hotel is within walking distance of the Umeda shopping, entertainment and business district and adjacent to glamorous Kitashinchi’s fi ne dining restaurants and bars. It’s also a short walk to Nakanoshima, which is home to a community of art galleries and museums. fourseasons.com/osaka +2+3+4+1+6+5+7+8+9+10+11+12+13 IMA GE S: KEN SEET ETIHAD AIRWAYS OFFERS FIVE FLIGHTS PER WEEK TO OSAKA ETIHAD.COM EtA_10Aug2024_EN_34-39_Time zones_13325241.indd 3718/07/2024 10:2938 | ATLAS BY ETIHAD | August 2024 IMA GE S: T A YL OR RE GULSKI; SHUTTERST OCK Chicago Ready or not In August America’s ‘Second City’ is a music lover’s delight Whether you lean heavily towards K-pop or are a dyed-in-the-wool rocker, Chicago is where you need to be this month. The US city is a veritable mixed tape of live music, kicking off with the iconic Lollapalooza festival. The four-day music bonanza takes place at the iconic Grant Park from 1 to 4 August. For much of the 1990s the gig was a roaming one, but it has called this patch of green, wedged between the city and Lake Michigan, home since 2005. This year, headliners include American rapper Megan Thee Stallion, stars of the noughties The Killers and South Korean boy band, Stray Kids. They’re just three of a large list of acts that will take to the various stages over the event. For those with kids in tow, there’s Kidzapalooza – a special area that will off er everything from craft activities to hip-hop workshops and theatre performances. It’s open from 11am to 6pm daily. If you’re in the area later in the month, you’ve also got a number of concerts at various venues to choose from. Go hard (and a bit nostalgic) with Metallica, Pearl Jam, Green Day and 30 Seconds to Mars. Otherwise, there are rappers Pitbull and French Montana. Perhaps you fancy a night of P!nk, or Hootie and the Blowfi sh? Broadway queen, Idina Menzel, is also in town and legends Missy Elliot and Gladys Knight are on the bill too. Nineties hip-hop and RnB star Lauryn Hill is performing at the Credit Union 1 Amphitheatre on the outskirts of the city on 31 August. This is a continuation of last year’s celebration of the 25th anniversary of her global smash hit album, The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill. As if this wasn’t big enough news, Hill recently announced she’ll be teaming up with Wyclef Jean and Pras Michel, her one-time partners in beloved group, The Fugees, to co-headline these performances. Their iconic album The Score was named the best album of all time by Apple Music. lollapalooza.com, Chicago-theatre.com ETIHAD AIRWAYS OFFERS SEVEN FLIGHTS PER WEEK TO CHICAGO ETIHAD.COM -8-7-6-5-4-2-3-1-9-10-11-12-13 EtA_10Aug2024_EN_34-39_Time zones_13325241.indd 3818/07/2024 10:29time zones August 2024 | ATLAS BY ETIHAD | 39 IMA GE S: SHUTTERST OCK Amsterdam Start your engines New York Big hits The world’s best meet up at Flushing Meadows as they battle it out at the US Open The red-hot sporting competition in Formula 1 is back Will rising star Carlos Alcaraz (pictured) challenge Novak Djokovic’s US Open reign? You can bet that tennis buff s will be glued to their screens come the end of August to fi nd out. The US Open, the year’s fi nal Grand Slam, starts on 26 August at Flushing Meadows, New York. Catch the electrifying atmosphere as the players battle for glory in the men’s and women’s singles, doubles and mixed doubles events. As always, the competition promises thrilling rallies, with a mix of powerful serves and deceptive spins from the game’s best. Usopen.org ETIHAD AIRWAYS OFFERS SEVEN FLIGHTS PER WEEK TO AMSTERDAM ETIHAD.COM ETIHAD AIRWAYS OFFERS 14 FLIGHTS PER WEEK TO NEW YORK ETIHAD.COM Formula 1 fans can breathe a sigh of relief as the long summer break comes to an end. Racing resumes this month with the Dutch Grand Prix taking place 25 August at Circuit Zandvoort, just west of Amsterdam. As it stands, Dutch driver and Red Bull Racing darling Max Verstappen is leading the championship. The young driver will be relishing the chance to extend his lead in front of his home crowd and the Orange Army. Get yourself a ticket to see if Verstappen has home ground advantage or if championship contender Lando Norris will spoil the party. Formula1.com +2+3+4+1+6+5+7+8+9+10+11+12+13 EtA_10Aug2024_EN_34-39_Time zones_13325241.indd 3918/07/2024 10:29Next >