Chocolateria San Churro

I drank a wonderfully thick, rich Spanish-style hot chocolate at Chocolateria San Churro, 47 Glebe Point Road. It's part of a chain, but without the anonymous feel that often characterises such places; they seem to have got the balance right with consistency and quality ingredients as well as friendly and knowledgeable staff. Almost 15 years ago, in Cafe de L'Opera in Las Ramblas, Barcelona, I had something very similar to San Churro's most popular drink (pictured below); it's a great compliment to them that I can't remember drinking anything as good from then until now.

Caryn Luxton Design

Situated in an old wool warehouse at 12-14 Meagher Street, Chippendale, Caryn Luxton Design is a pattern design business creating patterns for anything from ballgowns to school uniforms, often for very well-known Australian designers, but also for individuals - Caryn had a drawing on her desk for a private commission, a beautiful, sleek, Roland Mouret-style dress. There's an interesting combination of textures and colours and it's clearly very much a functioning workshop rather than a showroom; according to Caryn, the designers play a very real part in the design process, often working from very sketchy ideas to make the garments come to life. The dress that caught my eye in the window, "Grace", can be made to order.

Orson & Blake

Orson & Blake is a furniture store on the corner of Devonshire Street and Riley Street in Surry Hills. It's light and airy and full of tasteful colours and textures on a pale palette, interesting objects, artworks, huge lamps and corner sofas standing on bleached blond floors. There's also a bright café serving cute cakes and attractive sandwiches. On the way home in the sunshine, I was just cycling along musing to myself about what a nice area this is when someone pelted past me down Elizabeth Street closely followed by a bigger, taller man with a gun (clearly a plainclothes police officer).