Forget male strippers, trashy nights out and too much champagne – here’s how to plan a classy hen’s weekend
Although it’s often seen as a “last hurrah”, there’s no reason that a hen’s party needs to plumb the depths of depravity and leave the bride-to-be keen to escape single life. Rather than seeing it as an ending, why not make this party an exciting beginning of more great times to come? A good hen’s weekend is both a celebration of friendship and a reminder of the fun that you can have with your girlfriends now and into the future. Here are some of our ideas for timeless, classic activities for an elegant weekend that everyone can enjoy. Best of all, they’re all conveniently located in the heart of Sydney.
Brunch
If your guests have travelled a long way to be there, or if they’ve been snowed under with work, it might have been a while since you’ve been able to catch up. This makes it an appealing idea to kick off the proceedings as early as possible with a relaxed brunch. You can’t go wrong with Sydney’s diverse brunch scene: try the famous ricotta hotcakes and sweetcorn fritters at Bill’s in Darlinghurst, the daily chalkboard menu at Fratelli Paradiso, or explore casual favourites like Reuben Hills, Joe Black and Four Ate Five. Caffeinated, refreshed and up-to-date with your girls, you’ll be ready to take on the rest of the weekend.
Spa
It’s hard to find a guest who would object to hours of indulgence at one of the city’s many luxury day spas. Among the many options are Zen Day Spa with locations in Darlinghurst and Wollahra, Ayurve Day Spa which is based on the ancient principles of Ayurveda and Panpuri Organic Spa in Pyrmont which offers Thai massages. If you’re still in need of a little more tranquility, there are some great Surry Hills accommodation options which offer suites with corner spas to unwind in at the end of the day.
High tea
There’s nothing like a good excuse to play dress-up. Combine that with sumptuous surroundings, a range of aromatic tea flavours and delicate scones, pastries and sandwiches and you have a beautiful way to spend an afternoon. The classic destination for High Tea is the Tea Room nestled at the top of the Queen Victoria Building, which has a full gluten free option, but the Victoria Room Tea Salon in Westfield City, the Observatory Hotel, which offers tea leaf readings, and Sir Stamford at Circular Quay are also popular choices.
