Five dishes you can only get in Paddington

You can score a serviceable schnitty in practically every suburb, but the Unicorn boasts the one to beat. Here, free-range chicken breasts with the skin on and the wingbone attached are brined for 12 hours before getting crumbed in panko and pressure-fried. The outcome is both outrageously crunchy and juicy, the size of your plate, resting on a bed of velvety mash and gravy packed with all the goodness from the bottom of the pan. It’s the definition of the ideal Aussie pub meal, best enjoyed with an ice-cold schooner and a game of pool. 

Where: The Unicorn, 106 Oxford St

For the most part, I Maccheroni in Jersey Road sticks to a timeless script of tightly executed Italian staples: arancini, vitello tonnato, cacio e pepe, maccheroni all’arrabbiata. But, come dessert, this elegant Jersey Road trattoria isn’t afraid to put a twist on tried-and-true tiramisu. The chefs begin by soaking savoiardi biscuits in coffee and Marsala, but swap buttery mascarpone for soft ricotta and serve it semifreddo-style. To finish, they coat the delicate, nearly frozen mousse with a splash of pouring cream and a handful of macadamia crumbs for a native touch and a tad of extra richness. 

Where: I Maccheroni, 3 Jersey Rd

What do you get when you combine two of the best baked goods on Earth? The almighty pretzel croissant. Where do you get it? Funkis Köket. Hidden behind the popular Swedish lifestyle shop Funkis, this idyllic courtyard café specialises in Scandinavian-inspired fare featuring carefully sourced local, organic and biodynamic ingredients. Make the most of those crisp, flaky layers of savoury pastry with a freshly brewed coffee and some morning sunlight, or pop by for a leisurely lunch and order one stuffed with prosciutto, provolone, tomatoes and thyme. Just be sure to allow yourself enough time to browse the homewares and accessories on the way out.

Where: Funkis Köket Café, 202 Oxford St 

There’s never a bad time to visit Barbetta, but an especially good one is first thing in the morning, when the counter is piled high with cakes and tarts, and the display cupboard filled to bursting with cannoli, bombolini and other eye-catching Italian sweets. Each and every option is hard to resist, but you’ll have an especially tough time turning down a slice of pastiera – a Neapolitan Easter speciality, made with whole wheat kernels, orange, ricotta and cinnamon. While you’re there, enquire about the extensive calendar of pasta-making masterclasses and immersive Italian language courses.

Where: Barbetta, 2 Elizabeth St

Every now and then it pays to live a little, and there’s no better place to do it than Charlie Parker’s – the intimate basement bar beneath Fred’s, Merivale’s first-rate farm-to-table fine diner. The house cocktails have a distinctly botanical focus, but there’s no harm in keeping it classic, either. Settle into a soft leather banquette, sit back and call for a couple of dry Beefeater 24 Martinis; they’re served tableside, stirred to a perfect chill and come with 30 grams of Sterling caviar as a fancy bonus, so you can really toast to the good life.

Where: Charlie Parker's, 380 Oxford St