Sydney's ultimate hotspot: the Summer Playground at the Opera House

Sydney's most iconic landmark and Australia's most geo-tagged location can add a new title to its name – the ultimate summer destination.

The Summer Playground has returned to the Sydney Opera House, transforming the precinct into a waterside playground with killer harbour views.

This year the "Salsedine" Summer Playground, located on the Western Broadwalk at the Sydney Opera House, features an Italian Riviera-styled activation. Its pop-up bar is decorated with a canopy of herbs and there's a Mediterranean menu to match.

Salsedine, Italian for "that salty, cool, post-beach feeling" on your skin, is a concept inspired by Europe's famed riverside bars in cities such as Vienna and Berlin, and a great addition to Sydney's outdoor bar options this summer. It's also a good alternative to the popular Opera Bar and Opera Kitchen, with equally top views of the harbour (and a little elevation).

Unlike its European counterparts, there isn't a grassy riverbank to sit on, but colourful decks and some faux grass will do perfectly well for locals and visitors looking for the perfect Sydney spot for outdoor summer lazing.

Designed to bring a taste of Italy to Sydney, the pop-up offers woodfire-oven pizzas, oysters and meat plates which can be ordered at the bar and washed down with a Bellini or a Maserati cocktail. There's also an edible kids' garden and a sandpit in the Western Foyers which makes for a family-friendly summer option. Afternoon live music and DJ mean you can laze the summer away.

For harbour views with a bit more elevation, there's the outdoor pop-up bar Bennelong Balcony alongside the Bennelong Restaurant. The pop-up offers a selection of summer-themed cocktails, including Just Fine and Dandy and Whispers on the Breeze designed by the restaurant. Nestled under the sails of the Opera House, this is a bucket-list venue to tick off if you're looking to find Sydney's ultimate summer spot.

The Summer Playground is located on the Western Broadwalk and Western Foyers of the Sydney Opera House and will run until January 31, opening from 9am until late, seven days a week. Bennelong Balcony is open Friday, Saturday and Sunday afternoon from 12pm until late until January 31.

Sydney Opera House has extended its trading hours for the summer, including extended hours for its new Sydney Opera House Tour.

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