My partner and I are both creatives. Six years ago we were living in a tiny apartment in Sydney’s inner west, and I was paying extra for a studio. It wasn’t sustainable so we decided to move to Katoomba, on the traditional lands of the Dharug and Gundungurra people.
I read an article recently saying something like “skip it, it’s not at its best” but Katoomba has a beautiful authenticity, even if it’s not quite polished.
Our closest upper mountain towns are Leura and Blackheath. Katoomba is all old-world treasures and beautiful building facades. Blackheath has the incredible Victory Theatre Antique Centre, Gleebooks, Hat Hill Records & Audio and great rock climbing and hikes. Leura has an upscale main drag full of lifestyle and fashion stores, but it gets busy on weekends. I recommend walking the backstreets to see the cute cottages and gardens.
Food
Our favourite place to eat is the award-winning Ates in Blackheath. It serves delicious Mediterranean-style share plates and always feels like a special night out. Much of its food is cooked in its 150-year-old wood-fired oven and there’s a greenery-filled courtyard.
On weekends, Tempus Katoomba has a fine-dining menu with an incredible all-Australian drinks list. It’s in the old bank and lots of historical parts remain but the interiors are fun and fresh. On weekday mornings it switches to the Tempest Up Early cafe, serving Little Marionette coffee.
We’re so lucky to have Black Cockatoo bakery here. It’s run by a French expat Alexandre Rivière and uses organic Australian flour and Pepe Saya cultured butter. Savoury or sweet, it’s all delicious. It’s a cool space, too, with custom ply joinery and lots of plants.
We just discovered The Laughing Elephant in Wentworth Falls. It’s an Asian grocer but they make amazing banh mi and laksa at lunchtimes.
Fidelity is a new cafe run by two super-warm and welcoming guys with a deep passion for coffee. The seating spills outside with lots of dogs and friendly vibes. I drink decaf and often feel self-conscious but the baristas at Fidelity are like, “You’ve got to try this decaf!” The house-made chai is great too. Cassiopeia has great coffee and baked goods too; it roasts its beans in Leura.
Nature
Lyrebird Dell walking track in Leura is magical. It’s…
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