Ever wish you knew the inside scoop before visiting a new destination? Now you can! We’ve reached out to our favorite locals and tour guides from all over the world for their insider tips. In the City Insider Q&A, they’ll let you in on the spots that should be on your must-see and -do list!
Name: Richard Graham
Occupation: Tour Guide Extraordinaire
City: Sydney, Australia
Website: mysydneydetour.com
Twitter: @mysydneydetour
Facebook: My Sydney Detour
Pinterest: Richard Graham
YouTube: Richard Graham
Short bio: My Sydney Detour is the city’s most unique private tour experience! Founded and run by entrepreneur and experienced guide Richard Graham, the Detour, as it has become known, is the only way to become a local in a day!
Best way to get to/from airport: Train
Best way to get to/from train station: Bus or taxi
Favorite 5-star hotel: 1888 Hotel, 139 Murray St, Pyrmont, NSW 2009
Favorite budget hotel: L’otel, Darlinghurst
5 places visitors must see:
- Dudley Page Park, Dover Heights
- Lavender Bay
- Royal Botanic Gardens
- White Rabbit Gallery, Chippendale
- Collins Beach, Manly
Best local newspaper/recommended reading (for finding out what’s going on/about town): Time Out magazine
Favorite fine dining restaurant: Sixpenny, 83 Percival Rd, Stanmore, NSW 2048
Favorite casual restaurant: The Eathouse Diner, Redfern
Best place to get a coffee: Café Ella, Darlington
Favorite bar/lounge: Blue Horizon Bar, Shangri-La Hotel
Best music venue/place to see live music: Camelot Lounge
Favorite museum: White Rabbit Gallery
Best sports venue(s): Parramatta Stadium
Most popular local food: Meat pie at Jeds Food Store in Bondi
Best “locals only spot”: Parsley Bay Reserve
To live like a local, you must have this experience: Wake up and have a flat white at a local café
Local/native fruit or dish to try: Lamington
Most popular local drink: A scooner of Calton Draft
Movies/TV shows filmed in your city: The Great Gatsby/Matrix
Best souvenirs to buy/ goods to bring home: Tim Tams
Biggest tourist trap/places to avoid and when: Eating at Darling Harbour
Best SmartPhone app(s) for your city: Time Out Sydney app
Best travel tip: Get off the beaten track and eat like a caveman!
Check out more from Richard and My Sydney Detour as featured in this piece from Condé Nast Traveler!
I agree with Richard. I get some latest travel review from Timeout Magazine which I think has never failed yet. It’s a must for a traveler to check out this reading material.