Essential Sydney
Food
Our favourite local bar & restaurant with delicious food & amazing cocktails.
28 locals recommend
Dead Ringer
413 Bourke StOur favourite local bar & restaurant with delicious food & amazing cocktails.
Shwarmama
106-112 Commonwealth StCool little Lebanese take-away | Inexpensive
Large modern Chinese restaurant with incredible food & a great wine list | Expensive
76 locals recommend
Mr. Wong
3 Bridge LnLarge modern Chinese restaurant with incredible food & a great wine list | Expensive
Cosy basement French restaurant & bar with great food, cocktails & live entertainment | Expensive
41 locals recommend
Restaurant Hubert
15 Bligh StCosy basement French restaurant & bar with great food, cocktails & live entertainment | Expensive
Butter Sydney
6 Hunt StFried chicken, Champagne & fancy sneakers | Casual | Inexpensive
Beautiful relaxed venue with exquisite food, lovely for Sunday lunch | Expensive
52 locals recommend
Fred's
380 Oxford StBeautiful relaxed venue with exquisite food, lovely for Sunday lunch | Expensive
Classic Sydney food on Bondi beach in a relaxed setting | Expensive
137 locals recommend
Seans panaroma
270 Campbell ParadeClassic Sydney food on Bondi beach in a relaxed setting | Expensive
Incredible contemporary Italian cuisine on the harbour opposite the Star Casino | Expensive
20 locals recommend
LuMi Bar and Dining
56 Pirrama RoadIncredible contemporary Italian cuisine on the harbour opposite the Star Casino | Expensive
Large ‘big night out’ fine diner in a historic building, excellent wine list & bar | Expensive
94 locals recommend
Rockpool Bar & Grill
66 Hunter StLarge ‘big night out’ fine diner in a historic building, excellent wine list & bar | Expensive
Pizza Fritta 180
628A Crown StDelicious authentic fried pizza to eat in or take away | Inexpensive
Bourke Street Bakery Surry Hills
633 Bourke StFamous rustic local bakery & cafe | Inexpensive
Spice I Am
90 Wentworth AveSydney’s best Thai food | Inexpensive
Mr Crackles
155 Oxford StPork crackling | Vietnamese rolls | Inexpensive
Fine dining Italian restaurant & Olive oil store in the historic strand arcade | Expensive
10 locals recommend
The Restaurant Pendolino
414 George StFine dining Italian restaurant & Olive oil store in the historic strand arcade | Expensive
Gelato Messina Surry Hills
389 Crown StCreative gelato & specialty cakes | Inexpensive
Cosy neighbourhood wine bar & restaurant with cutting edge food & natural wines.
7 locals recommend
Poly
74-76 Commonwealth StCosy neighbourhood wine bar & restaurant with cutting edge food & natural wines.
Mary's Underground
29 Reiby PlaceAmazing burgers, natural wines & so much more, near Circular quay.
Beautiful produce prepared simply, fine dining, incredible steaks, waterfront location at Sydney’s new Crown Casino | Expensive
Woodcut
1 Barangaroo AvenueBeautiful produce prepared simply, fine dining, incredible steaks, waterfront location at Sydney’s new Crown Casino | Expensive
Jimmy’s Falafel
330D George StreetFun casual place, middle eastern food, great drinks
Casual place with incredible Spanish food, house made cured meats, great beverage selection, Martini’s & Negroni’s in a can!
Continental Deli CBD
167 Phillip StreetCasual place with incredible Spanish food, house made cured meats, great beverage selection, Martini’s & Negroni’s in a can!
Don’t miss the world famous strawberry watermelon cake | Inexpensive
12 locals recommend
Black Star Pastry
500 George StDon’t miss the world famous strawberry watermelon cake | Inexpensive
Humble Bakery
50 Holt StGo for the finger buns & fresh pizza daily | Inexpensive
Din Tai Fung
5/188 Pitt StDumplings with soup inside | Inexpensive
Golden Century Seafood Restaurant
393 Sussex StreetDelicious Chinese food late night | Expensive
Chat Thai
20 Campbell StreetDelicious Thai food | Inexpensive
Outdoors laneway with a range of Asian specialists selling authentic street food | Great for kids & families | Inexpensive
154 locals recommend
Spice Alley
Kensington StreetOutdoors laneway with a range of Asian specialists selling authentic street food | Great for kids & families | Inexpensive
Pompei's
130 Roscoe StFresh pizza, pasta & gelato at Bondi beach!
Kindness Cafe
248 Palmer StThe most delicious vegan Thai food imaginable | Vegan | Inexpensive
Fine dining, seafood focussed, relaxed atmosphere | Expensive
25 locals recommend
Bert's Bar and Brasserie
2 Kalinya StFine dining, seafood focussed, relaxed atmosphere | Expensive
Big Poppa's
96 Oxford StItalian food, cheese, great cocktails, loud music
Sardinian fine dining overlooking beautiful Freshwater beach | Expensive
139 locals recommend
Pilu at Freshwater
Moore RoadSardinian fine dining overlooking beautiful Freshwater beach | Expensive
Flyover
88 Regent StreetIndian fritters & chai tea | Vegan | Inexpensive
Ho Jiak - Haymarket
92 Hay StDelicious Malaysian street food | Inexpensive
Asian groceries, fresh produce, Thai street food, coffee, drinks & sweets | Inexpensive
14 locals recommend
Boon Cafe
425 Pitt StAsian groceries, fresh produce, Thai street food, coffee, drinks & sweets | Inexpensive
Cafe Paci
131 King StreetAmazing food, natural wine & interesting things to drink.
Awesome pastries, sandwiches & cakes | Cafe next door | Inexpensive
38 locals recommend
Flour and Stone
53 Riley StAwesome pastries, sandwiches & cakes | Cafe next door | Inexpensive
Malay Chinese Takeaway
58 Hunter StGreat laksa, noodles & authentic Malaysian | Inexpensive
Lode Pies
487 Crown StAmazing pies, sausage rolls & pastries in Surry Hills
Neighbourhoods
Great shopping, food & bars plus Saturday markets in Paddington Public school
Paddington
Shopping, restaurants & cafe culture along Oxford Street.
Oxford Street
Oxford StreetGay bars, nightclubs, food & colourful community.
Newtown
Alternative shopping, food & bars with a young, buzzy vibe.
Eclectic & quirky with Sydney’s top bars & restaurants, great vintage shopping, homewares & art galleries
201 locals recommend
Surry Hills
Eclectic & quirky with Sydney’s top bars & restaurants, great vintage shopping, homewares & art galleries
Lovely leafy diverse neighbourhood, with great cafes, restaurants & shopping
65 locals recommend
Potts Point
Lovely leafy diverse neighbourhood, with great cafes, restaurants & shopping
Bars
Four Pillars Laboratory
410 Crown StGin lab & cocktail bar.
Hollywood Hotel
2 Foster StreetOld school pub with colourful locals.
Opera Bar
Macquarie StreetThe ultimate place to sip a drink on Sydney harbour..
Stonewall Hotel
175 Oxford StIconic gay bar where there is no choice but to have fun..
The Baxter Inn
156 Clarence StInner city basement whisky & cocktail bar.
Employees Only
9a Barrack StCity bar & restaurant with nightly caberet & great cocktails.
MAYBE SAMMY
115 Harrington StOne of Sydney’s top bars, amazing cocktails
Dean & Nancy on 22
2 Hunter StreetCity skyline, amazing drinks & food!
CIRQ
1 Barangaroo AvenueRooftop bar at Crown Casino
Excellent bar themed on a classic British pub with great cocktails, beers, traditional English pub fare & a great classic rock playlist.
The Duke of Clarence
156 Clarence StExcellent bar themed on a classic British pub with great cocktails, beers, traditional English pub fare & a great classic rock playlist.
Cafes
Single O Surry Hills
64 Reservoir StIncredible coffee & lunch.
Bills
355 Crown StWorld famous Sydney cafe with delicious food & coffee.
Paramount Coffee Project
80 Commonwealth StGreat coffee & breakfast.
Full cafe offering with great pastries & coffee & excellent takeaway. Excellent breakfast.
18 locals recommend
The Grounds of the City
500 George StFull cafe offering with great pastries & coffee & excellent takeaway. Excellent breakfast.
Normcore Coffee Roasters
209 Castlereagh StSeriously good coffee.
Sightseeing
Sydney’s Rainbow Crossing
Campbell StreetSydney’s own rainbow crossing at Taylor Square.
Taronga Zoo Sydney
Bradleys Head RoadWorld class zoo in Sydney Harbour.
Luna Park Sydney
1 Olympic Dr
Balmoral Beach
Beautiful quiet inner city beach.
Bondi Beach
World famous beach & neighbourhood.
Manly Beach
Famous beach in Sydney’s north, catch the ferry over.
Harbour, shopping & a great outdoor kids playground & water park.
892 locals recommend
Darling Harbour
Harbour, shopping & a great outdoor kids playground & water park.
Take a 60min drive south to visit this sleepy oceanfront town & take a walk on the world famous ‘Sea-cliff Bridge’ & local beaches.
Coalcliff
Take a 60min drive south to visit this sleepy oceanfront town & take a walk on the world famous ‘Sea-cliff Bridge’ & local beaches.
Beautiful inner Sydney park with playgrounds, bike hire, restaurant & cafes & horse-riding.
1102 locals recommend
Centennial Park
15 Locked BagBeautiful inner Sydney park with playgrounds, bike hire, restaurant & cafes & horse-riding.
A beautiful way to spend a day, catch a bus from Wynyard & hop on a ferry to The Basin for a complete relaxing getaway & wildlife. Takes about 60 minutes from CBD.
353 locals recommend
Palm Beach
24 Ocean RoadA beautiful way to spend a day, catch a bus from Wynyard & hop on a ferry to The Basin for a complete relaxing getaway & wildlife. Takes about 60 minutes from CBD.
Hyde Park
Elizabeth StreetSydney’s historic CBD park
Walk over or try the Bridge Climb for the ultimate experience!
984 locals recommend
Sydney Harbour Bridge
Sydney Harbour BridgeWalk over or try the Bridge Climb for the ultimate experience!
Sea Life Sydney Aquarium
1-5 Wheat RdRoyal Botanic Garden Sydney
Mrs Macquaries RoadShopping
The Essential Ingredient Surry Hills
146 Foveaux StCooking classes, gourmet food & specialty kitchen supplies.
Formaggi Ocello
425 Bourke StGourmet cheeses & Italian specialty products.
The Oak Barrel
152 Elizabeth StExcellent local wine store.
TITLE Store
501 Crown StPop culture, music, vinyl, books.
Full scale large shopping centre with all the big brands & Lux stores.
1074 locals recommend
Westfield Bondi Junction
500 Oxford StFull scale large shopping centre with all the big brands & Lux stores.
Pitt Street Mall
Pitt Street MallMain CBD shopping district, street entertainment & more.
HAY Store
255 Crown StScandinavian furniture & homewares.
Vampt Vintage Design
486-490 Elizabeth StUpscale vintage furniture, homewares & collectables.
Berkelouw Paddington
19 Oxford StAmazing book shop with cafe.
Ariel Booksellers
326 Oxford StreetEclectic book store & gifts.
Gorman
161 King StAustralian women’s clothes designer.
Kinokuniya Book Store
500 George StThe most amazing book store!
MUJI
500 George StJapanese mega lifestyle store
UNIQLO
197 Pitt Street MallWoolworths Town Hall
George StreetAll your grocery needs
Romeo's IGA
388 George StGourmet food supplies
Kings Cross Organic Food Market
Macleay StreetA Date With Mabel
21 Darlinghurst RdUnique women's clothing & accessories
Entertainment & Arts
Carriageworks
245 Wilson StLocal farmers markets & events.
Movie theatres, food markets, shopping & restaurant area. Bowling, kids entertainment, playgrounds & amusement area.
EQ
207 Park Rd SMovie theatres, food markets, shopping & restaurant area. Bowling, kids entertainment, playgrounds & amusement area.
Boutique movie house showing classic & alternative films with a cocktail bar & snacks.
75 locals recommend
Golden Age Cinema & Bar
80 Commonwealth StBoutique movie house showing classic & alternative films with a cocktail bar & snacks.
Art Gallery of New South Wales
Art Gallery RoadWorld class local & international artists.
Swimming pool, tennis courts, basketball, outdoor gym & playground with city views.
272 locals recommend
Prince Alfred Park
Chalmers StreetSwimming pool, tennis courts, basketball, outdoor gym & playground with city views.
Sydney Opera House
Theatre, ballet, music & events.
Harbour front museum in Circular Quay full of incredible contemporary art
829 locals recommend
Museum of Contemporary Art
140 George StHarbour front museum in Circular Quay full of incredible contemporary art
Capitol Theatre
13 Campbell StCook Phillip Park Pool
4 College StLocal swimming pool & sports facilities