Hidden Gems: Behind the Scenes Tours, Cosy Bars, and High Tea at Sydney's QVB
Explore the secrets that lie behind the doors of Australia’s most beautiful shopping destination.
We've partnered with Sydney's Queen Victoria Building to bring you the best-kept secrets of this local icon.
If you grew up in Sydney, you might think you know the Queen Victoria Building. You’ve marvelled at her Christmas tree, you’ve cut through her throughfare and dropped your hard-earned cash on goodies from beloved fashion brands, bespoke jewellers and extraordinary gift boutiques. But, how well do you really know the people’s palace?
From pink-hued bars to luxury high tea experiences and historical tours, here are the hidden gems of Sydney’s iconic Queen Victoria Building.
Monarchs, Mysteries, Carriages & Clocks: QVB’s Secret History
QVB History Tour
The QVB History Tours are the perfect way to unlock all the hidden gems of the people’s palace. Experience a story of resilience, culture and progress learning the personal stories behind the stunning sandstone and stained glass. The hour-long tour takes you over three levels of the Queen Victoria Building, letting you in on the epic secrets that lay inside the walls. Check out our four favourite QVB historical secrets at below:
Sessions: Every Thursday and Saturday, 12pm- 1pm & 2pm- 3pm
Tickets: $25 per person
Bookings close 48 hours before scheduled time
Queen Victoria’s Statue
Even if you’ve walked past her every day, you may not know that the Queen Victoria statue which overlooks the building with a stern, regal stare is borrowed from Ireland, which had a spare statue floating around after they threw off British rule in 1922. Designed in 1908, cast in pure bronze, the Queen sculpture that presides over the QVB used to sit outside Irish parliament before she was moved to a museum, a school, an old farm shed (the indignity!) before she finally found her place outside our beloved QVB.
However, our personal favourite QVB sculpture is the tiny bronze statue of the Queen’s favourite Skye Terrier, Islay, jumping up to greet passers-by which sits above a wishing well and was erected to help raise donations for deaf and blind children.
Sydney’s Most Mysterious Door
Halfway up a staircase, hovering a metre from the ground and barred by the banister, door 417 is one of the many mysterious doors dotted around the QVB. While tour guides don’t know what all of them do, the illustrious door 417 was an access point for historical horse and carriage lifts – which if you ask us, they should bring back so we can all enjoy the thrill of clip clopping past the light rail.
If you’re in the mood for something spooky, tour guides have reported the door is sometimes accompanied by the ghost of the legendary Mei Quong Tart. A Chinese trader known for wearing immaculate three-piece suits and bowler hats, Mei Quong Tart opened an elite tea room in the QVB at the turn of the 20th Century. The tea rooms were a meeting place for Sydney’s suffragettes who sipped tea and stirred up revolution, making plans that were eventually successful in earning women the vote.
Queen Elizabeth II’s Secret Letter to Sydney
We bet you didn’t know that inside the Queen Victoria Building is a letter from Queen Elizabeth II addressed to us, the people of Sydney. Upon the reopening of QVB in 1986, Queen Elizabeth II wrote a letter addressed to the Lord Mayor and the City of Sydney, sealed it, and declared the letter was not to be opened until 99 years in the future, in the year in 2085. Not a soul other than Queen Lizzie herself has read the letter so, check back in sixty-odd years to see what’s inside.
Fine China & French Champagne: Where to Eat at the QVB
Shopping can be thirsty work. Reward yourself for a day of retail therapy with a spot of fine dining at one of the QVB’s famous in-house eateries: Reign at the QVB or The Tea Room QVB.
Reign Champagne Parlour and Bar
Designed for Sydney royalty, Reign Champagne Parlour and Bar is a pink-hued palace. Spill the tea, sip Champagne, and hold court with your fellow queens at Reign Champagne Parlour and Bar. With the finest tipples and nibbles, this food is fit for Queen Vic herself! Start with a signature cocktail like the high tea-inspired Early Greyhound with 666 Butter vodka, pink grapefruit, earl grey tea soda and bergamot marmalade or opt for a sensible mocktail made with Lyre’s range of alcohol-free spirits.
On the food front, expect share plates from oysters and scallop ceviche, to fried chicken with gochujang sauce. For a weekend brunch, you can’t go past the crumpets with smoked salmon and bacon and egg rolls served with crispy potato, gruyere, and spicy tomato jam. For a particularly decadent experience, opt for the ultimate indulgence of the bottomless brunch where a four-course shared feast is served alongside bottomless bubbles or bellinis.
Level 1, Queen Victoria Building, 455 George Street, Sydney CBD
The Tea Room QVB
Daphne Bridgerton who? Step back in time and indulge in a bit of old-world charm at The Tea Room QVB. This historic location with magnificent ornate ceilings, crystal chandeliers and Royal Albert fine China, will leave you feeling richly regal from the second you walk in the door. Drop in for a light snack or Devonshire Tea with scones, preserves and cream, or a plate of dainty finger sandwiches. Or go all in for a traditional high tea with finger sandwiches, petit fours, sweet and savoury pastries, and scones. Along with tea and coffee, high teas can be served with Australian sparkling, French Champagne, or chic cocktails. This is the perfect for birthday, mother-daughter bonding, or a prim and proper hen’s do.
Level 3 North End, Queen Victoria Building, 455 George Street, Sydney CBD
QVB’s Exclusive Shopping Experience
Personal Porters
Did you know that the QVB is one of Sydney’s only shopping destinations that offers Personal Porters? To make your next retail therapy session an exclusive experience, you can hire the assistance of a Personal Porter to help you find stores, curate a selection of products from the QVB’s range of boutiques, organise your gifting needs and arrange VIP appointments and restaurant bookings. Their main aim is to make your next visit as stress-free as possible, and the personalised service is second-to-none!
Pricing starts at $60 per hour
Bookings based on availability
Feeling inspired to visit Sydney icon the Queen Victoria Building? Make a day of it and discover the iconic building's best boutique shops. Hidden gems, history tours, and a champagne parlor with bottomless brunch; there's adventure, intrigue (and cocktails) around every corner. Be inspired to explore the QVB alongside their eclectic collective of the QVB’s Australian travelers and learn more about their favourite experiences.
