Where to See and Be Seen
The soaring white ceilings of hyper-cool city bar Establishment make it a post-work favorite of the local corporate crowd. Analysts and traders prize Cafe Sydney, on the Customs House's rooftop, for its proximity to the Sydney Stock Exchange and for its Scarlet Lily cocktails. Hugo's Lounge and Bar Pizza is a haunt of Publishing and Broadcasting Ltd. (PBL) executive chairman James Packer-Australia's richest man. Expect to spot Tracey Bowra, senior vice president of American Express, at the Opera Bar, beneath Sydney Opera House. For sheer wattage, nothing beats the Dom Pérignon lounge at the bar Hemmesphere: Bill Gates, Richard Branson, Will Smith, and Shaquille O'Neal have raised a glass here. Advertising supremo John Singleton frequents Icebergs Dining Room and Bar, with a cliff-hugging location overlooking the pounding surf of Bondi Beach.

Where to Close a Deal
The Italian fare at Machiavelli Ristorante is a power lunch favorite of TV execs from Seven Network, PBL chief John Alexander, Rupert Murdoch, and prime minister John Howard. Aussie Home Loans boss John Symond, Goldman Sachs broker Dan Taylor, and Hermès Australia managing director Karin Upton Baker opt to talk shop in the more laid-back atmosphere of Otto Ristorante, at Woolloomooloo. Sydney's large sporting arenas are prime spots for impressing clients in the sports-mad capital, particularly the private boxes at Sydney Cricket Ground and at Telstra Stadium, the venue of choice for giant rock concerts where Qantas and Macquarie Bank are among those with permanent corporate suites.

Airport Intelligence
Sydney Airport's curfew prohibits planes from taking off and landing between 11 P.M. and 6 A.M. but does not apply to certain low-noise jets. As a result, high fliers using companies such as ExecuJet have unimpeded 24-hour access to the airport as well as a private arrivals and departures terminal. Whether flying privately or with a regular carrier, use a cab for the five-mile journey into the city; the fare should be about $22.

Local Codes
Australians love their sports, so use the topic as an icebreaker. The local football is called Aussie Rules (also known as AFL), played on a cricket oval with a rugby ball that players can punch, bounce, run with, and kick. The city may be easygoing, but dress up, not down, for business, much of which will take place in the CBD (Central Business District, a.k.a. The City). No subject is truly taboo, but tread gingerly when discussing the late 2006 Qantas takeover-many Sydneysiders got burned. Avoid hailing cabs around 3 P.M. or 3 A.M.; at these times, drivers change shifts and taxis tend to evaporate. Locals love their coffee, because it's second to none; sample some at the city's many Italian coffee bars. When ordering beer, ask for a midi (small) or a schooner (large).