Eight Must-Visit Spots in Potts Point for Every Occasion
Speakeasy bars, stinky cheese and next-level sambos await.
Eight Must-Visit Spots in Potts Point for Every Occasion
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Speakeasy bars, stinky cheese and next-level sambos await.
For all the benefits of inner city living, there comes a sense that strong community vibes fall by the wayside. Potts Point is proving this cliché wrong. The neighbourhood is known for its eclectic boutiques and cafes by day, and its buzzing nightlife come nightfall. Spend a few hours in this 'burb and you'll likely pick up on a common thread: small businesses supporting one another.
To that end, we've teamed up with American Express to highlight nine local businesses in and around Potts Point. These shops, bars and restaurants are on-hand to help you out, no matter the situation.
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We’ve all had that feeling of wanting to escape reality after a long day of work. At Jangling Jack’s, you’ll certainly feel like you’ve stepped into another time and place. The New Orleans-inspired speakeasy sets the scene in all the right ways — think low lighting, retro posters on the walls and jazz and blues tinkling on the speakers.
Where the bar modernises things is in the menu, which features playful cocktails — including mezcal mango margaritas and a lolly-infused whisky tipple — alongside natural wines and some next-level bar snacks. We’re talking razor prawn spiedini with hot honey, LP’s chorizo sanga with fermented nuoc cham and Singapore chilli crab quesadillas. And somewhat unexpectedly for a small bar, it does a killer roast on Sundays.
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Moving into a new place has its pros and cons. Con: unpacking. Pro: having a shiny new space to decorate. Whether you followed Marie Kondo’s advice and culled a bunch of old junk that no longer sparked joy or you just want new stuff for your new space, make tracks to Becker Minty.
This eclectic boutique specialises in out-of-the-ordinary homewares and furniture that’ll give your home a personal touch — think chic leather placemats and coasters, an embossed poker set, an aged-iron chandelier and a vintage handblown glass vase. Some of the price tags may make your eyes water, but look hard enough and you’ll find something within your budget.
Image: Kitti Gould
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Whether you’re planning a big event or just want to brighten up your (or someone else’s) day with a small arrangement, Wild Bunch is a must-visit. The florist, run by Saskia Havekes, has been part of the Potts Point community since 1995. Each and every morning, Havekes is up bright and early to hit the flower markets and handpick the best blooms of bunch, from muted natives to vibrant hydrangeas and roses. As a result, stepping inside this tiny store on Macleay Street is sensory overload.
Over the years, Havekes has extended her floral expertise into the publication of four books on flower arranging and foliage and the launch of Grandiflora Fragrance, a tightly curated range of floral-driven perfumes.
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You cheddar brie-lieve Penny’s Cheese Shop made this list. Puns aside, fun though they may be, this corner store fromagerie is a must-visit any time you’re in Potts Point during the day.
This is particularly true if you have an impending dinner party. With a rotating selection of hard, stinky, funky and creamy cheeses on offer, plus crackers, wild honeycomb, cultured butter and bread, Penny’s will ensure your welcoming platter makes an excellent first impression.
Image: Kimberley Low
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We asked Penny Lawson from Penny’s Cheese Shop for her pick of the area. Here’s what she had to say about Potts Point Bookshop: “I love local book shops. Book shops that you can walk into and they know your name, what you like to read, your interests, what you might have bought last time and then point out what you should be reading next. I have done this with pretty much every purchase here with a different brief and have always been commended on ‘my’ choice. Thanks for making me look good Potts Point Bookshop.”
With shelves upon shelves of books on offer, covering everything from art and design to political memoirs and true crime, Potts Point Bookshop is where you should head when you’ve finally made it through your to-be-read pile and need a new book. The staff has a knack for finding the right title for your tastes and if the store doesn’t have it on-hand, someone will order it in for you. Be sure to let them know if you’re buying a book as a gift, too, as they’ll gift wrap it for free.
Hot tip: if you have a particular title in mind, do a quick check of the website before you head in. It tells you how many copies the store has in stock, plus you can place a click-and-collect order.
Image: Kitti Gould
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Sydney has no shortage of excellent sandwich shops and Potts Point residents are lucky to call Small’s Deli their local. This hole-in-the-wall shop on Victoria Street slings built-to-order sambos on Iggy’s bread, six days a week.
For brekkie, grab a coffee (beans courtesy of Reuben Hills) and take your pick between house-made jam, ricotta and toasted almonds; avocado, dill, fried egg, ham and lime dressing; and ‘smooshed egg’, rocket, pickled radish and remoulade. The latter is available all day, so if you’re stopping by after 11am, you can still get your hands on it. Otherwise, for lunch, opt for the June Bug (roast pumpkin, mint and hazelnut pesto and snowpea shoots); Florence and the Aubergine (salami, eggplant, walnut paste, creamed pecorino and rocket) and more. Salads are also available if that’s more your vibe.
Image: Leigh Griffiths
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One room. One table. Twenty seats. And an ever-evolving set menu of modern Australian dishes. That’s what you can expect from The Farmhouse. But there’s much more to this beloved Rushcutters Bay restaurant, co-owned by Nicholas Gurney, Aidan Thomas and Brodie Stewart. The fit-out is simple: a single room with high wood-beamed ceilings, exposed brick walls and a single communal table. Here, 20 guests per sitting (6.00pm and 8.30pm) enjoy their five-course set menus.
Said menu changes constantly — the kitchen changes half of it every fortnight, which means you could dine there once a month and never eat the same thing twice. As with many high-end restaurants, the menu reads as deceptively simple: whole roasted Bannockburn chicken with cauliflower and cheddar; Spencer Gulf calamari and scallop with parnsip; Cowra lamb rump with mozart potatoes and kombu butter. Notice something else? Yep, there is a drive to sustainably source from local producers.
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Every neighbourhood needs a reliable Thai restaurant. For Potts Point, it’s Llankelly Thai. The laneway restaurant is perfect for when you and your mates desperately need a catch-up, but you’re all on a budget. From 11.30am–4pm, the restaurant has almost 30 lunch specials, from tamarind tofu with brown rice to wonton noodle soup, with most clocking in at just $13.90.
Of course, if you’re with a big group, your best bet is to order a bunch of mains to share. All the fan favourites are here: pad thai, chilli jam stir-fry, green curry, chicken satay and larb. There are also ten dedicated vegetarian mains, plus weekly specials — Thai omelette, sesame beef and deep-fried barramundi make regular appearances.
