Ambar

Ambar is at 19 Martin Place in the Sydney CBD. A lunchtime venue for people in suits (including me), it's situated in a bright, spacious, 1960s-influenced location with other restaurants and bars: swooping lines and curves are everywhere, seating is in the open air, early afternoon sunshine brightens the tables, and the food is fast and tasty. Below: linguini with tuna and peas, and my choice, king prawns with garlic pasta. I stirred in some bright red chilli sauce as an optional extra; thus enlivened, with fresh prawns curled up just begging to be eaten, it really was a very nice dish.

Clarence Street Cyclery

The Clarence Street Cyclery women's store is at 118 Clarence Street in the CBD. I must confess I feared it would be just like the main shop (the men's shop?) except everything would be pink; but sensibly enough, it has bicycles designed for women, including racing bikes, cycle clothes for women in pleasingly gender-neutral colours, various accessories aimed at women, a lovely selection of wicker baskets, and, most importantly, non-patronising staff.

Spilling the Beans

Spilling the Beans is at 215-217 Clarence Street in the CBD. As soon as you step inside you can tell by the enticing aromas that the food is good. There's an open kitchen at the back where they bake all of their bread, cakes and muffins; communal and individual dining tables; and comfortable leather chairs. I had a Moroccan shakshuka: it came in its own little pan, with moist fresh bread, and consisted of tasty eggs baked in spicy tomato sauce. My companion, Liz, had a delicious-looking halloumi salad. After eating at the communal table, we moved to the leather chairs to drink tea; about 20 minutes after I left, one of their lovely staff called me to say I'd left behind my lens-cap.