Straddling its neoclassical hilltop home and the luminous new Sydney Modern wing, the Art Gallery of New South Wales is where harbour views, serious art and very well-dressed people all come to linger. Wander from colonial portraits to immersive installations, then step outside and remember you’re basically in a postcard.

The programming leans confidently progressive: bold First Nations-led shows, feminist retrospectives and a steady drip of queer artists, themes and bodies throughout the collection. It’s the kind of place where you clock a historical oil painting one minute and a defiantly camp video work the next, with plenty of space to loiter, flirt and argue about what it all means over coffee or a glass of wine.

Time your visit for Art After Hours, when the gallery stays open late with talks, performances and DJs that pull in a stylish, mixed crowd. The vibe shifts from polite daytime museum to low-key cultural salon – think date-night energy, friend groups debriefing on the steps and just enough mood lighting to make everyone look a little more interesting.