Guidebook for Surry Hills
Food Scene
Best bacon and egg wrap in Sydney. You MUST try one, and is directly below the building so no excuse reason. Coffee is pretty average though
Bean Temple Cafe
194-198 Goulburn StBest bacon and egg wrap in Sydney. You MUST try one, and is directly below the building so no excuse reason. Coffee is pretty average though
This place is a must. Fresh, novel dishes. And all their profits go to charity - but don't let that make you think this place isn't serious about their quality because they are. It's very good (we went here for our latest anniversary). It's also BYO which is very rare for a place of this quality. It has an attached cafe (Gratia) for breakfast/brunch/lunch as well.
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Folonomo
370 Bourke StThis place is a must. Fresh, novel dishes. And all their profits go to charity - but don't let that make you think this place isn't serious about their quality because they are. It's very good (we went here for our latest anniversary). It's also BYO which is very rare for a place of this quality. It has an attached cafe (Gratia) for breakfast/brunch/lunch as well.
THE best Thai in Surry Hills. It a bit on the expensive side (given the amount of Thai options in Sydney), but you really get what you pay for here. A big recommendation from us.
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Muum Maam
50 Holt StTHE best Thai in Surry Hills. It a bit on the expensive side (given the amount of Thai options in Sydney), but you really get what you pay for here. A big recommendation from us.
Japanese - think bento boxes, dons, and noodle dishes. A real institution of Oxford Street, and very cheap. We eat here about once a fortnight.
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Don Don Restaurant
80 Oxford StJapanese - think bento boxes, dons, and noodle dishes. A real institution of Oxford Street, and very cheap. We eat here about once a fortnight.
Another one of the very good Thai places in Surry Hills (not as good as Muum Ma'am, but few are...). Dishes can be very spicy so be on guard, but some really delicious dishes here in a relaxed setting. Order at least one dish with pork belly!
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Spice I Am
90 Wentworth AveAnother one of the very good Thai places in Surry Hills (not as good as Muum Ma'am, but few are...). Dishes can be very spicy so be on guard, but some really delicious dishes here in a relaxed setting. Order at least one dish with pork belly!
We love this place, and it's another BYO venue. Nepalese food is I guess basically Indian-esque, but with its own style. Get a thali, and make sure you get the goat curry. If you've got enough people you can book the pillow room upstairs.
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The Nepalese Kitchen
481 Crown StreetWe love this place, and it's another BYO venue. Nepalese food is I guess basically Indian-esque, but with its own style. Get a thali, and make sure you get the goat curry. If you've got enough people you can book the pillow room upstairs.
Best coffee in Surry Hills. Their food is good too, but tbh we rarely bother eating here (but get our coffees here as often as possible).
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Single O Surry Hills
64 Reservoir StBest coffee in Surry Hills. Their food is good too, but tbh we rarely bother eating here (but get our coffees here as often as possible).
Best option for coffee if you can't be bothered walking to Single Origin or Rueben Hills. Their full breakfast is pretty damn good
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Burger Project Macquarie Place
1 Macquarie PlBest option for coffee if you can't be bothered walking to Single Origin or Rueben Hills. Their full breakfast is pretty damn good
Great coffee, and great vibe. You have to visit for breakfast/brunch/lunch at least once. Food tips: try the Not Reuben, the Dirty Bird and DEFINITELY get a salted caramel milkshake. They are life changing.
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Reuben Hills
61 Albion StGreat coffee, and great vibe. You have to visit for breakfast/brunch/lunch at least once. Food tips: try the Not Reuben, the Dirty Bird and DEFINITELY get a salted caramel milkshake. They are life changing.
Some of the better burgers in the area, and pretty cheap. We recommend.
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Thai Me Up on Oxford
112 Oxford StSome of the better burgers in the area, and pretty cheap. We recommend.
In our view, the best pizzas in the area since Pizza Mario closed - they're the Neapolitan-style
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Lucio Pizzeria
248 Palmer StIn our view, the best pizzas in the area since Pizza Mario closed - they're the Neapolitan-style
This is a very nice cafe for people watching (get an outside table, or wait for one to open up). Coffee and food are pretty good as well (coffee is MUCH better on a weekday than the weekend though), and we also recommend getting a pot of soy chai. This is our go-to place for reading kindles. The chicken ball sandwich is my fav
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Kawa
348 Crown StThis is a very nice cafe for people watching (get an outside table, or wait for one to open up). Coffee and food are pretty good as well (coffee is MUCH better on a weekday than the weekend though), and we also recommend getting a pot of soy chai. This is our go-to place for reading kindles. The chicken ball sandwich is my fav
Probably the best sandwiches in the area. Seriously. Go there. Only open weekdays (which sucks for us because it means we rarely get to eat here because of, you know, work).
Lucky Pickle
6 High Holborn StreetProbably the best sandwiches in the area. Seriously. Go there. Only open weekdays (which sucks for us because it means we rarely get to eat here because of, you know, work).
Okay, giving you a MUST SEE here: go to Madame Nhu and order Pho Chua Lang Son. It's a very particular type of Pho and in our view, better than we've had even in Vietnam. It's spicy, but ask them to put your chilli on the side and add it yourself to taste. The thing with this Pho is the broth. It's to die for. But don't order from here on a Monday or Tuesday (I think they must make the broth on a Monday, so it doesn't really get going for a couple of days). The MFC (fried chicken) is delicious as well.
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Madame Nhu
82 Campbell StOkay, giving you a MUST SEE here: go to Madame Nhu and order Pho Chua Lang Son. It's a very particular type of Pho and in our view, better than we've had even in Vietnam. It's spicy, but ask them to put your chilli on the side and add it yourself to taste. The thing with this Pho is the broth. It's to die for. But don't order from here on a Monday or Tuesday (I think they must make the broth on a Monday, so it doesn't really get going for a couple of days). The MFC (fried chicken) is delicious as well.
This is actually a pub (with a great selection of beers and a nice ambience), but it has good, reasonably priced food options too. And we generally come here to eat (and drink), rather than just drink. So we're putting this in the food category. Recommended - particularly on a Sunday.
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Dove & Olive
156 Devonshire StThis is actually a pub (with a great selection of beers and a nice ambience), but it has good, reasonably priced food options too. And we generally come here to eat (and drink), rather than just drink. So we're putting this in the food category. Recommended - particularly on a Sunday.
Once again, this is a pub. But really you only come here for the cheap pub meals. Dove and Olive just down the street is probably our preference, but this place does what it says on the label - cheap pub food and sometimes that's what you're in the mood for!
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Shakespeare Hotel
200 Devonshire StOnce again, this is a pub. But really you only come here for the cheap pub meals. Dove and Olive just down the street is probably our preference, but this place does what it says on the label - cheap pub food and sometimes that's what you're in the mood for!
Via Napoli Pizzeria
628 Crown StPizza. Recommended.
Probably the best fish and chips in the area. Eat in or take away (we often get take away and go to a park).
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Crown Street Fish Shop
500 Crown StreetProbably the best fish and chips in the area. Eat in or take away (we often get take away and go to a park).
Argentinian food. This place was the hottest place in Sydney for a long time after it opened, which made it virtually impossible to get into. With the passing of time it's naturally become a bit less popular (as it's no longer The New Hit) so you can even book tables in advance. Worth a visit, as really has featured very heavily in the foodie press in the past 5 years. NOTE: Porteno is planning to move location to Holt Street in Surry Hills sometime in July. It's not clear exactly when the move will happen, so google or give them a call if planning to go!
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Porteño
50 Holt StArgentinian food. This place was the hottest place in Sydney for a long time after it opened, which made it virtually impossible to get into. With the passing of time it's naturally become a bit less popular (as it's no longer The New Hit) so you can even book tables in advance. Worth a visit, as really has featured very heavily in the foodie press in the past 5 years. NOTE: Porteno is planning to move location to Holt Street in Surry Hills sometime in July. It's not clear exactly when the move will happen, so google or give them a call if planning to go!
Tapas. From the same people that do Porteno. Has historically been very popular, and well worth visiting for the foodies out there...
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WyNo X Bodega
50 Gladstone StTapas. From the same people that do Porteno. Has historically been very popular, and well worth visiting for the foodies out there...
Very very very good modern Greek food. Treat yourself and go here. And get the set menu (I don't normally recommend a set menu, but this is the place to make the exception).
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The Apollo Restaurant
44 Macleay StreetVery very very good modern Greek food. Treat yourself and go here. And get the set menu (I don't normally recommend a set menu, but this is the place to make the exception).
If you're a foodie and have a bit of money to spend on dinner, and want something distinctly Australian, go here. Is in an unusual part of Sydney for such a flash restaurant, but that's part of the charm. They do inventive cooking using local ingredients and while we haven't been ourselves, we've bought dinners her for friends as wedding presents and only had amazing feedback.
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Sixpenny
83 Percival RdIf you're a foodie and have a bit of money to spend on dinner, and want something distinctly Australian, go here. Is in an unusual part of Sydney for such a flash restaurant, but that's part of the charm. They do inventive cooking using local ingredients and while we haven't been ourselves, we've bought dinners her for friends as wedding presents and only had amazing feedback.
We've got a soft spot for this place because we ate here for an anniversary and had a really great time. It verges on molecular gastronomy, and is a degustation approach to eating. We dined with the wine float as well, and ended up very drunk afterwards! Not cheap, but worth it for a treat.
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Oscillate Wildly
275 Australia StWe've got a soft spot for this place because we ate here for an anniversary and had a really great time. It verges on molecular gastronomy, and is a degustation approach to eating. We dined with the wine float as well, and ended up very drunk afterwards! Not cheap, but worth it for a treat.
Japanese food. Haven't eaten here personally (I'm not hugely into Japanese), but this place has a huge following and have never heard a bad word about it. Can be hard to get in, and costly, but apparently it's really really top notch.
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Toko Sydney
275 Crown StJapanese food. Haven't eaten here personally (I'm not hugely into Japanese), but this place has a huge following and have never heard a bad word about it. Can be hard to get in, and costly, but apparently it's really really top notch.
Extremely good Thai food. Very expensive for Thai food in Sydney, but this is an experience that's well above the usual Thai food experience. Certainly worth going to at least once (we treated ourselves last NYE). They also do really amazing cocktails here!
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Longrain Restaurant
Extremely good Thai food. Very expensive for Thai food in Sydney, but this is an experience that's well above the usual Thai food experience. Certainly worth going to at least once (we treated ourselves last NYE). They also do really amazing cocktails here!
If you're feeling like pasta, this is probably the best local option in terms of quality. Not the cheapest option, but lunch here is more affordable, and is quite close by. And as I say, quality pretty good.
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Pasta Emilia
259 Riley StIf you're feeling like pasta, this is probably the best local option in terms of quality. Not the cheapest option, but lunch here is more affordable, and is quite close by. And as I say, quality pretty good.
If you're looking for food late at night (particularly if you've had a drink or two), don't bother with a kebab or any other dirty takeaway - head up here for an amazing pork roll, chilli cheese fries, and a tonne of other meat based sandwiches and snacks (including some artery clogging pork crackling). Very popular, and hits that spot.
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Mr Crackles
155 Oxford StIf you're looking for food late at night (particularly if you've had a drink or two), don't bother with a kebab or any other dirty takeaway - head up here for an amazing pork roll, chilli cheese fries, and a tonne of other meat based sandwiches and snacks (including some artery clogging pork crackling). Very popular, and hits that spot.
Drinks & Nightlife
American styled bar - a fav of ours. Is down an alley, no sign and you wouldn't even realise anything was there. Look out for the security guard or line to find it. Get a rye whisky and fresh apple juice!
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Shady Pines Saloon
256 Crown StAmerican styled bar - a fav of ours. Is down an alley, no sign and you wouldn't even realise anything was there. Look out for the security guard or line to find it. Get a rye whisky and fresh apple juice!
A real neighbourhood pub, with probably the best beer selection in the area (they even have a couple of hand pumps which isn't usual in Australia). A half decent burger and dumplings too. Great for afternoon beers, and we're often found here.
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Royal Albert Hotel
140 Commonwealth StA real neighbourhood pub, with probably the best beer selection in the area (they even have a couple of hand pumps which isn't usual in Australia). A half decent burger and dumplings too. Great for afternoon beers, and we're often found here.
Another one of these bars that doesn't have a sign or obvious door, so keep an eye out for the security guard. One of the better places for cocktails, and a chilled out vibe. Order a Dark and Stormy (it's not on the menu, but they'll make it for you using home made ginger beer, which is zingy and amazing). They also do some pretty good gourmet sausage rolls too!
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The Wild Rover
75 Campbell StAnother one of these bars that doesn't have a sign or obvious door, so keep an eye out for the security guard. One of the better places for cocktails, and a chilled out vibe. Order a Dark and Stormy (it's not on the menu, but they'll make it for you using home made ginger beer, which is zingy and amazing). They also do some pretty good gourmet sausage rolls too!
Very good cocktails, great service, and they do food as well (though haven't eaten here yet). Worth a visit.
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Dead Ringer
413 Bourke StVery good cocktails, great service, and they do food as well (though haven't eaten here yet). Worth a visit.
It's a bar, but almost a restaurant. Probably slightly too pretentious for our liking, but we've been here many times regardless. Is very good for lunch or afternoon drinks for the people watching and the ambiance.
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The Winery
285A Crown StIt's a bar, but almost a restaurant. Probably slightly too pretentious for our liking, but we've been here many times regardless. Is very good for lunch or afternoon drinks for the people watching and the ambiance.
Probably the best wine bar in the area - very Italian, and surprisingly not as expensive as it should be! Good food as well.
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121BC
50 Holt StreetProbably the best wine bar in the area - very Italian, and surprisingly not as expensive as it should be! Good food as well.
Entertainment & Activities
This used to be a Paramount office, which housed a small cinema room for company men to preview new releases. The building's now been taken over by a group that operates the Paramount Coffee Project cafe during the day, and the Golden Age Bar Cinema an Bar down stairs at night. Check out their website for what's showing - it's a mix of new releases and old hits. The cinema's quite intimate and fun (feels a bit like being in a large lounge room) and you can drink while you watch! Keep an eye out for their fright night fridays and golden-age prices mid-week.
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Golden Age Cinema & Bar
80 Commonwealth StThis used to be a Paramount office, which housed a small cinema room for company men to preview new releases. The building's now been taken over by a group that operates the Paramount Coffee Project cafe during the day, and the Golden Age Bar Cinema an Bar down stairs at night. Check out their website for what's showing - it's a mix of new releases and old hits. The cinema's quite intimate and fun (feels a bit like being in a large lounge room) and you can drink while you watch! Keep an eye out for their fright night fridays and golden-age prices mid-week.
Getting Around
Central Station
Eddy AvenueMain train station
Essentials
IGA Supermarket
23 Oxford StWoolworths Metro Surry Hills
413-417 Bourke St