From artsy suburbs to ethnic food enclaves, these less-known Sydney neighbourhoods are a must-visit
Photography: Vaida Savickaite
Home to over a hundred postcard-perfect beaches, the capital of New South Wales offers a thriving cultural, food, shopping and nightlife scene. But if you’re looking for an insider’s experience of Sydney, you have to explore some of these under-the-radar neighbourhoods.
For foodies
If you’ve dined your way through innercity Surry Hills, perhaps devouring wood-fired dishes at Firedoor, sampling modern Australian bites at Nel, or indulging in Southeast Asian fare at Chin Chin, it’s time to take your tastebuds on a journey to Barangaroo.
Located on the north-western edge of the the city’s central business district, Barangaroo is known for its green spaces and stunning views of the harbour. It’s also where you’ll find a food scene that encapsulates the essence of Sydney – diverse, colourful, multicultural, evolving and oh so fine.
For fine dining with a view, head to Oncore by Clare Smyth. Perched on the 26th level of Crown Sydney, it’s the only international restaurant by the celebrated Northern Irish chef, with menu items that pay homage both to her childhood in Ireland and to present-day Sydney. Another shining star at Crown Sydney is Nobu. Here, it’s about exquisite Japanese food with a Peruvian twist. Be sure to try the black cod miso.
For more delectable seafood, pop over to family-friendly waterfront restaurant love.fish for its great selection of mostly Australian-sourced seafood cooked using modern Australian techniques. For something a bit more luxe, try Cirrus, which offers dishes like a whole lobster in scallop XO sauce and Murray cod served with confit tomato, kelp and dashi.
For active adventures
If you’ve surfed, swam and SUP-ed along the expanse of Bondi Beach, played beach volleyball and hiked parts of the Bondi to Coogee Coastal walk, head to the Western Sydney Parklands. Spread across a whopping 5,280 hectares, Western Sydney Parklands is the largest urban parklands in the world – 15 times larger than New York’s Central Park!
Although the parklands are located some distance from the Sydney centre, it’s well worth the one-hour drive. “Sydney’s biggest backyard” is a huge carpet of green, criss-crossed with walking and cycling tracks, picnic shelters, play equipment, native bushland and more. Take a mountain bike and explore the area on two wheels, or enjoy a relaxing afternoon picnic. For panoramic views of Western Sydney, head over to the Moonrise Lookout Trail in Warragul.
For cultural connoisseurs
If you’ve visited the best-known museums and galleries in and around the Central Business District, like the Art Gallery of New South Wales, the Museum of Contemporary Art Australia and the Museum of Sydney, explore the inner-city suburb of Chippendale.
A small suburb with an energetic vibe, Chippendale is where university students gather in trendy cafés and arty types peruse galleries and creative studios. Within this colourful district is Central Park, a major mixeduse project that incorporates a large park, various public spaces, three residential towers and a shopping mall. The Japan Foundation Gallery is located within the mall, with exhibitions spread across one level.
Other artistic spots include White Rabbit Gallery, which features contemporary Chinese art spread over three floors. The gallery reopened in late June with I Am the People, a thought-provoking look into the future of class in China.
Opened in 2020, Chau Chak Wing Museum – about a 10-minute walk from Chippendale – is the University of Sydney’s newest museum combining art, science, history and ancient cultures, while COMA shines the spotlight on artists who push the envelope.
Out on the streets of Chippendale, you’ll also find plenty of street art. Notable works include Scottie Marsh’s ibis “Bin chickens” in Teggs Lane, Fintan Magee’s largescale mural on the Lord Gladstone Hotel and works by Blends and Rhys John Kaye on Meagher and Wellington Streets.
For people watching
You’ve threaded your way through Newtown a number of times, soaking up the vibrant street culture in quirky cafés like Brewtown Newtown and Rolling Penny, and milled around the many book stores like Gould’s Book Arcade, and now you’re ready to explore another eclectic neighbourhood, get to know Marrickville.
Marrickville is less touristy than Newtown, but the cafés are just as hip, the boutiques just as interesting, and the streetscape perfect for leisurely perambulations. If you’re here on a Sunday, the Marrickville Markets offer a glimpse into local life with the volume turned up. But any day is a great day to visit this inner-west suburb, with plenty of snack sojourns to fuel you.
Two Chaps is well-loved for their aromatic coffee and organic Mediterranean dishes while Ona Coffee offers a bit more of an upmarket coffee experience; Warren & Holt is a charming café that prides itself on its ethically-sourced ingredients; and the kitschy cool Valentina’s is all about American-style pancakes and fried chicken sandwiches.
Two more diners to check out are Hello Auntie (Vietnamese cuisine) and Baba’s Place (modern Eastern-European and Middle Eastern), but if you can only fit one more meal in, the Lucky Prawn at Bob Hawke Beer & Leisure Centre is a must-visit, serving classic favourites like sizzling beef and ever-so-crisp prawn toast. The old-school Chinese Australian bistro is so old school, it’s cool.
For open-air shopping
Meandering through the indoor-outdoor Pitt Street Mall is a signature Sydney shopping experience, but if you’re looking for something a bit off the beaten track, go shopping on the Northern Beaches. Sydney’s Northern Beaches ooze cool coastal vibes, and it’s not just about the more than 20 beaches that trace the 30-kilometre coastline from Manly to Palm Beach. The scenic region is also known for some serious retail therapy.
Westfield Warringah Mall in Brookvale is the biggest shopping centre in the area, housing over 350 stores – hawking everything from global fashion brands to locally-made goods and artisanal homewares.
Manly may be famous for its beach, but it’s the laneways located on either side of the promenade where the local boutiques and specialty stores are to be found. Local weekend markets seal the deal and capture the essence of alfresco shopping. Think colourful bric-a-brac, handcrafted attire and tasty street food to keep you energised.
Can’t get enough? Here’s 5 secret Sydney experiences to try:
Water taxi to Clark Island
There’s no direct public transport to this secluded island oasis, which makes it all the more intriguing to visit.
The Burrawa Bridge Climb
Scale the Sydney Harbour Bridge with a First Nations Storyteller as your guide. (Burrawa means upwards.)
Sydney Opera House backstage tour
A one-hour tour providing access to spaces rarely seen by the public, including, dressing and rehearsal rooms.
Cabramatta foodie tour
With a strong Vietnamese influence in Cabramatta, you’ll be sampling some truly delicious pho and savoury pancakes.
Wendy’s Secret Garden
A once-neglected space that is now a beautiful botanical refuge with sculptures and artworks.
