Comedian Tim Ross gives us his hot tips and takes on sunny Sydney.

First memory of Sydney?

Sometime in the early '80s our family came up for a holiday, which revolved around seeing the musical Cats, which was certainly a thing in those days.

Best thing about living in Sydney?

The climate. Coming from grey old Melbourne it was a revelation.

Worst thing?

Parking fines, overpriced bad coffee, a reluctance in people to attend creative events and a lack of desire to make this city into the best one in the world.

Photo: Glenn Hunt

Sydney's most underrated suburb?

Davidson. It has a collection of some fantastic 1970s houses and is perched up with a view looking at the city. It is close to the beach and virtually unknown.

Best takeaway?

There's an old school chicken shop in Boronia Park and I've been known to soak up a hangover with a chicken roll with gravy or a quarter chicken and chips.

Guilty pleasure?

I like a solo lunch from time to time after I've had a meeting in the city. Often I'll pop into Fix St James or the David Jones Food Hall and have a bite and a couple of glasses of wine.

Balmoral Beach

Best beach?

At the moment with small kids I do like Balmoral (if I can avoid seeing the testicles popping out of the Speedos of men in their 60s after they have punched out an ocean swim).

How would you make Sydney better?

We need to think big and dream big. Bigger and better funded museums and galleries; culture is the heartbeat of a city - without it we have nothing.

Favourite building?

I'm totally in love with Sirius, the late '70s brutalist building in The Rocks by Tao Gofers.

The brutalist Sirius Building in The Rocks.. Photo: James Brickwood

Most recent discovery?

I took the kids to Kuringai National Park and stumbled across their funny old discover centre that has kangaroos, a brilliant lookout and a box full of snake skins that haven't been turned into shoes. The National Park is the best value kids' entertainment going round ($12).

Describe Sydney in three words.

Disappointing best friend.

Tim's book The Rumpus Room and other stories from the suburbs is out now and available from themanaboutthehouse.net

His latest Man About the House show The Mid Century Project runs from August 4 in Sydney.