We get the culinary and cultural lowdown on Australia’s largest city from Abhi Mallur, Park Hyatt Sydney’s assistant chief concierge

With over six years in the hospitality industry, Abhi Mallur has been a driving force at the Park Hyatt Sydney, efforts that were recognised when Mallur received the Highly Commendable Concierge award at the Les Clefs d’Or Australia Tony Facciolo Awards. His expertise and commitment culminated in his 2023 acceptance into the prestigious Les Clefs d’Or concierge society.

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You’ve had an impressive career in the concierge industry. What inspired you to pursue this path?

I am extremely grateful for the exposure and opportunities that have come my way and have been instrumental in shaping my career in this field. At the core of it, it all comes down to creating memories and building relationships. Over the years, the concierge world has allowed me to build some fantastic relationships with guests and various stakeholders. Since I joined the team at Park Hyatt Sydney, I have been exposed to an entirely new world with a variety of requests. It can range from simple directions to the closest pharmacy to complex multi-day itineraries involving private tours, cruises and restaurant recommendations. It has been a rewarding experience working here and a valuable part of my learning curve.

What does being a member of Les Clefs d’Or mean to you, and how has it influenced your work?

It has been my dream since I began working as a concierge to become a member of Les Clefs d’Or. The entire concierge community have been extremely supportive since the start. As the motto goes, it’s all about service through friendship. The extensive network of concierges within Australia and worldwide allows me to capitalise on these relationships to add value to the guest experience.

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For example, we had a guest travelling from Sydney to Auckland, and Nik, the chief concierge at Park Hyatt Auckland is a dear friend and a fellow member. We were able to connect with him and organise the guest’s transportation and itinerary pre-emptively. This is a regular occurrence, where we rely on each other as friends and colleagues to make memorable experiences for our guests.

You’ve orchestrated some extraordinary experiences for guests. What are your most memorable?

These three stories truly stick out. The nature of these requests was last minute, unique and for a lack of better word unusual. It taught me that, not a single day is the same and that’s what is exciting about this profession. You have to be an adrenaline junkie at times to love this job.

One story I never forget is when I had to almost ship a car tyre from Sydney to Darwin for a guest who had broken down in the middle of nowhere. I had everything ready from the supplier and courier, but in the end, the guest was able to find help locally.

We had one of our suite guests whose suitcase was misplaced by the airline. They were in Newcastle for only 24 hours after they checked out of our hotel, after which they were boarding a cruise ship. I remember the challenge of coordinating with the airport and locating their bags – I drove to the airport myself to pick up their luggage and also organized a driver to have it driven to their address in Newcastle, all in one day. It felt like a race against time.

One guest was adamant about seeing kangaroos in the wild. We worked it out with our tour provider that a golf course a few hours away is home to a few families of kangaroos. We arranged with the golf course and the guest was able to see the kangaroos in the wild.

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Sydney is a glorious city year round but when would you recommend we visit?

I believe summer in Sydney is unbeatable. The New Year’s Eve spectacle is certainly one of the biggest days in the Australian calendar and the summer build-up to it is unlike anything else. A majority of our guests love to prepare for their trips (usually longer stays during this period), and this allows us to make the most of our expertise and curate some fantastic experiences.

However, spring is also a great time to experience Sydney as it begins to get warm and the city isn’t as jam-packed as in summer. In addition, the longer days allow you more time to explore what this fantastic city has to offer.

What are your top recommendations for guests looking to experience the best of the city’s cocktail scene?

In the area around us, I absolutely love Hickson House Distillery, which is nestled on Hickson Road. The other spot I frequently recommend is Doss House up on George Street in the Rocks (don’t miss out on their toasties), while Maybe Sammy (above) never disappoints. Apart from these, Old Mate’s Place on Clarence Street is my personal favourite; I enjoy sitting at their bar for a drink (they’ve got some fantastic lotus chips on the snack menu).

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What are some of your favourite Sydney dining recommendations?

This is such a tough question as my favourites continuously evolve with the dining scene. All my recommendations come from personal experience of dining at these venues, and currently include Mumu Restaurant, which is amongst my top favourites, and has a fun ambience with amazing food that is great to share. Australia is famous for its high-quality steaks and seafood and steakhouse Woodcut has been my personal favourite since it opened.

Also, the omakase scene in Sydney is booming, and our friends at Besuto (below) do a fantastic job. To finish things off, special mentions go to the Lord Nelson Hotel in the Rocks and my local, The Woolpack in Redfern, both of which are fantastic pubs with a great feel.

For guests looking to escape the city for a day, what are your top recommendations?

The most popular day trips have always been the Blue Mountains and Hunter Valley regions, and both make up a large part of my itinerary for a guest who is spending a few days in Sydney.

Personally, I quite like exploring the South Coast with a day trip to Berry via the Grand Pacific Drive and exploring the coastline via the Royal National Park. We have worked with some of our private tour providers to curate a Southern Highlands tour experience that has become very popular.

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What are some of the iconic Sydney experiences every guest should try at least once?

There are always some recommendations that I make to almost every guest. These include either a tour or a performance at the Sydney Opera House. The Sydney Harbour Bridge Climb is a must if you would like to experience the Sydney skyline from a unique vantage point.

Another must-do would be to explore Sydney via our magnificent harbour with either a journey on a Sydney Ferry to Manly or Watson’s Bay (above) or a private charter. A pub tour of the Rocks, which is home to some of the oldest public bars in the country, is great for those who love their history and beer.

Personally, I like to walk across the bridge to explore Lavender Bay, grab a coffee and relax at Wendy’s Secret Garden but I also like to walk the iconic Coogee Beach to Bondi Beach coastal trail, with a stop at the Tamarama Beach Kiosk for a beverage.

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If you are travelling with the family, a visit to Taronga Zoo (below) would be a fun way to spend the day and you can reach the zoo by ferry from Circular Quay.

What about a little retail therapy? What are some local brands and designers that we should take note of?

Sydney has something to offer for everyone; with retail in the Rocks area, guests are able to purchase Indigenous artwork at the Spirit Gallery or get their hands on opals, Australia’s national gemstone, or South Sea pearls at Cosmopolitan Jewellers.

Additionally, Paddington is fantastic for local Australian fashion brands and you’ll find that Desordre Boutique is a great place to view multiple brands all under one roof. With souvenirs, I never fail to include Bits of Australia in my recommendations; they offer a unique range of souvenirs with contributions from every sale passed on to the artist, which is a great way to give back if you ask me.

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The iconic Queen Victoria Building and Strand Arcade in Sydney CBD are home to some unique stores; the Declic store is one of my personal favourites for men’s formal fashion – their ties are especially colourful.

What about culture buffs, what would you recommend?

When it comes to culture and the art scene, the first areas to pop to mind are Surry Hills and Darlinghurst. Walk down Crown Street or Bourke Street and you will get to experience some of the best cafes and unique retail spaces. On the other hand, a walk down King Street in Newtown will expose you to a vibrant and hip scene, home to antique stores, restaurants, hairdressers, and souvenir stores from around the world. With Newtown, it’s all the things that you could never imagine going together, yet they are all next door to one another and seem to be doing just fine.

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The performing arts scene in Sydney has always been buzzing. There is something for everyone and if my guests have the time, I always recommend a show at the Sydney Opera House. Last but not least, the museums and galleries in Sydney are a must. The Sydney Modern at the Art Gallery of NSW is a personal favourite, and the walk through the Royal Botanical Gardens to get there makes it even more enjoyable.

It’s 5 pm on a Friday evening, where should we be headed?

This would entirely depend on what the guest enjoys; everyone has preferences that we as concierges have the expertise to cater to. For someone looking to make the most of the food and drinks scene in Sydney, I would start with pre-drinks and snacks at Bar Besuto, an underground speakeasy that’s home to some of the finest Japanese whiskies. Alternatively, head to Bar Topa (above) for tapas followed by dinner at The Charles Grand Brasserie, whose art deco ambience and decadent food would be a great way to end the night. For a nightcap, I would finish things off at the Caterpillar Club.