Wonderland in the City — The Grounds of Alexandria
There are places that surprise you once—
and there are places that manage to do it again and again.
For me, The Grounds of Alexandria belongs to the second kind.
It had been a while since my last visit.
Back then, the space was transformed into a whimsical take on Alice in Wonderland,
with oversized clocks, floral arches, and curious little tea sets tucked into hedges.
It was magical in the most handcrafted, charming way—
not glossy, but thoughtful and layered.
This week, I returned.
And like always, it felt like visiting somewhere completely new.
Seasonal Stories in Every Corner
What makes The Grounds so special isn’t just the food (though, yes, the strawberry cake is still flawless)
—it’s how the space reinvents itself with each season.
They don’t decorate—they storytell.
Each setup is a full concept.
Spring might be filled with floral greenhouses and bees tucked into topiaries,
while winter becomes a European Christmas garden complete with elves and glowing lanterns.
No corner is left untouched, no backdrop forgotten.
It’s immersive in the best way.
You don’t just see the decorations—you walk through them.
A Place to Take Your Time (and Your Kids)
One of the best parts of The Grounds is how children are part of the imagination.
Fairy lights hang low enough for them to spot.
There are tiny doors built into fences, rabbits hiding in flowerbeds, and characters waiting to be noticed.
My child ran ahead of me, squealing at every “secret” he found.
For a moment, the city faded, and we were just somewhere magical,
wandering through a storybook set come to life.
Why I’ll Keep Coming Back
There’s a reason I never hesitate to return.
Every visit feels like the first.
The team behind The Grounds doesn’t just build scenery—
they build feelings.
Surprise, play, nostalgia, wonder.
It’s a reminder that even in the middle of a busy city,
there’s still room for magic.
You’ll find The Grounds of Alexandria tucked away in an industrial lane at
7A/2 Huntley Street, Alexandria, just a short drive from central Sydney.
Check out their seasonal themes, menus, and events at thegrounds.com.au.
