Beat the Heat: The Coolest Place to Be in Sydney This Summer 

You might be thinking about a frozen cocktail at Bondi Icebergs, an ice cream on Manly Beach or taking the plunge into the ocean at Balmoral, but Sydney’s coolest spot this summer is the Museum of Contemporary Art Australia (MCA Australia).

Summer in Sydney can have a very Speedo-driven focus for many, with the city’s wealth of beaches and coastline considered the main event. But Sydney has plenty of other warm-weather attractions from the contemporary-art hub that is MCA Australia to the history-stacked sandstone laneways of The Rocks precinct that surrounds it.

See a regional-first exhibition in Sydney

Bigger than Sydney New Year’s Eve fireworks, MCA Australia’s blockbuster exhibition, Julie Mehretu: A Transcore of the Radical Imaginatory, celebrates one of the world’s most acclaimed living painters. This is the first time that you can see works from the Ethiopian-born Mehretu, not only in Australia but in the whole Asia-Pacific region. The exhibition showcases over 80 artworks, with pieces from the mid-90s to now and some pieces commissioned just for the exhibition. The New York Times has called Mehretu “one of today’s most original and thought-provoking painters” and experiencing her works in person allows you fully appreciate her wide range of influences from Chinese ink painting and Japanese manga to rock art, literature and music. Book your tickets for the exhibition here.

This incredible show is part of the Sydney International Art Series, three must-see exhibitions featuring legendary Surrealist Magritte and the groundbreaking Chinese artist Cao Fei at the Art Gallery of NSW and Mehretu, all exclusive to Sydney. Purchase an Art Pass to see them all.

What else is on at Museum of Contemporary Art Australia this summer? 

Sydney loves a view, and one of the most anticipated openings of the summer was the MCA’s Canvas restaurant with what might be the city’s best outlook of Sydney Harbour. But take a look at your plates and you will see works of art from Josh Raine, who has been executive chef at legendary Sydney fine diner Tetsuya’s as well as Pied à Terre in London and St Betty’s in Hong Kong.

MCA Cafe at Tallawoladah opened in July, giving diners a ringside seat to the harbourside goings on. With a huge outdoor dining area, this cafe is ideal for families and offers casual all-day dining.

You can also wander MCA Australia’s permanent collection with more than 4,700 artworks with a major focus is artists living and working in Australia. Check MCA’s website for holiday operating hours.

What else to do in Sydney this summer 

When you visit the Museum, you are on the doorstep of the historic Rocks precinct. The Rocks is Sydney’s sandstone-lined heart, the first neighbourhood, and it has loads of amazing history. You can take a ghost tour, visit the Rocks Market or grab an ice-cold beer on the roof of The Glenmore Hotel one of the city’s most popular plein-air drinking spots.

Have refined Japanese flavours at Sake restaurant, get the party started at El Camino Mexican diner or plan a visit to Quay, Peter Gilmore’s lauded fine diner in the Overseas Passenger Terminal.

Another hot ticket this summer is Laneway Cinema at the Rocks. Laneway Cinema is free, though for the best seats in the house, be sure to register for your free ticket.

And stay at one of the precinct’s best hotels, Harbour Rocks Hotel by Ode, conveniently located in the Rocks and close to MCA. Novotel City Centre is also offering a ‘Sydney Staycay’ package to further celebrate the showing of Julie Mehretu: A Transcore of the Radical Imaginatory; accommodation includes tickets to the exhibition as well as daily breakfast, dining credit and self-parking.

Go to the beach if you must, but one of the coolest places in Sydney this summer is right in the heart of the city.

Image credit: Museum of Contemporary Art Australia