At a meeting this week with hotel owners in Goa, I was pleased to learn that a promising young hotelier leading the firm?s venture had earned an advanced degree in Sydney. Speaking with him about the Harbour City brought back wonderful memories of my visits there, so I thought I would use this space to share some of my favourite spots.

Sydney is my kind of city. It is blessed with beautiful weather,?sublime views, and a remarkable food and wine culture. Here are?some places I love in Sydney:

Icebergs Dining Room?and Bar: Sure, this place is almost too famous for its own good, but it does have Sydney?s best views. Overlooking?Bondi Beach and the Pacific Ocean, Icebergs is a very fashionable contemporary restaurant and bar fitted into a lifesaving club at the beach?s south end. Seafood features prominently on the menu and the bar offers a number of interesting cocktails and a solid wine list focused on Australian offerings.

Tetsuya?s:?Unlike Icebergs, there is no view to speak of at Tetsuya?s, although the heritage building in the CBD is very pleasant. Instead, Tetsuya?s is all about the food?all eleven courses of it. Tetsuya?s is the 800-pound Gorilla?of Sydney?s fine dining scene because they unwaveringly adhere to their Japanese-based, French-influenced philosophy of fine cuisine and offer only a degustation menu.

Aki?s: Given its cosmopolitan population, it should come as no surprise that Sydney?s international cuisine is top notch. So, if you visit Sydney and yearn for a taste of home, there are a number of good Indian restaurants from which to choose. I like Aki?s in Woolloomooloo, just outside the CBD.?The dishes I tried had just the right amount of spice and the kitchen was happy to handle my special requests. Apparently others agree with this excellent Indian option in Sydney, as it?was recently awarded One Chef?s hat by the Sydney Morning Herald?s Good Food Guide.

My favourite hotels in Sydney are the Observatory and the Park Hyatt. ?The Observatory is located in The Rocks, the city?s historic district, and offers very good service and spacious rooms. And I?m looking forward to the re-opening of the Park Hyatt, which is located right on the harbour with views of the Opera House and Harbour Bridge.

If you?re up for the long journey, I highly recommend you visit Sydney for its perfect blend of the built and natural environments, beautiful views, easy-going lifestyle, and, of course, its great dining experiences.

Deepak Ohri is CEO of lebua

Hotels & Resorts. He can be reached at deepak@lebua.com