NEWTOWN AND ERSKINEVILLE
A suburb known for its diverse mix of food, drink, art and people, Newtown has always been one of Sydney’s busiest suburbs — there's always plenty to do and see.
In partnership with City of Sydney, we’re celebrating what makes Newtown and Erskineville such vibrant communities to live in and visit: their local businesses. It’s been a tough year, and these bars, restaurants, shops and cultural spaces need your patronage more than ever. It’s time to hit the streets, spend consciously, and throw your support behind these local gems.
Flick the switch above, and we’ll dim the lights to show you the best things to do once the sun goes down. You can also explore more inner city suburbs and discover more local businesses to support here.
A suburb known for its diverse mix of food, drink, art and people, Newtown has always been one of Sydney’s busiest suburbs — there's always plenty to do and see.
In partnership with City of Sydney, we’re celebrating what makes Newtown and Erskineville such vibrant communities to live in and visit: their local businesses. It’s been a tough year, and these bars, restaurants, shops and cultural spaces need your patronage more than ever. It’s time to hit the streets, spend consciously, and throw your support behind these local gems.
Flick the switch above, and we’ll turn on the lights to show you the best things to do pre-6pm. You can also explore more inner city suburbs and discover more local businesses to support here.
Rumour has it that Eliza Donnithorne, a Sydney socialite and Newtown resident from the mid-1800s, was the inspiration for Charles Dickens’ Miss Havisham in Great Expectations. She was allegedly abandoned by her husband-to-be just before their wedding and spent the rest of her life hidden away in her King Street home, still wearing her wedding dress, awaiting his return.
With so many public transport options to get you to Newtown, there’s no need to drive here (especially if you want to avoid the inevitable traffic along King Street). Newtown Station will set you right in the thumping heart of the suburb, and likewise with Erskineville Station. Several buses will ferry you in and out of the area towards the city, down south King or Enmore Road towards the rest of the inner west.
Start the day full of energy thanks to the famed breakfast ramen from Rising Sun Workshop and one of its fizzy bubblers (iced espresso with sparkling water and lime). Next up, shop your way down the street towards Sydney Park for dog spotting and lazing in the afternoon sun. Or stop off at one of the many beer gardens in the area like The Courthouse or The Erko.
Thrift and vintage shops reign supreme in Newtown, where locals and visitors flock to score sartorial treasures from curated second-hand and vintage spots like SWOP, U-Turn and Route 66 to donation shops like the massive Vinnies and the Australian Red Cross.
Enmore Theatre is Sydney’s oldest, longest-running theatre. Originally opened in 1912 as a photo-play theatre (screening silent movies with a live orchestra), the building was renovated in 1920, when it was given its iconic art deco style. The theatre has seen several iterations over the years, including a cinema screening Greek language films and was luckily spared from demolition in the 80s.
With so many public transport options to get you to Newtown, there’s no need to drive here (especially if you want to avoid the inevitable traffic along King Street). Newtown Station will set you right in the thumping heart of the suburb, and likewise with Erskineville Station. Several buses will ferry you in and out of the area towards the city, down south King or Enmore Road towards the rest of the inner west.
Once the sun goes down, Sydneysiders from all over fill the suburb on their way to dinner, drinks or a gig. Kick off your night with happy hour cocktails at Corridor on its sunny, petit balcony and a pre-gig feed at one of the 15-plus Thai restaurants dotting King. Then hit Enmore Theatre for a show and round out the night with canned cocktails (and maybe a sneaky plate of cheese) at Continental Deli.
This is one of the most vegan-friendly areas in Sydney. Vegan options can be found at a majority of the restaurants, but just south of Newtown Station along King Street is where vegan cuisine dominates. Here you’ll find vegan Asian-fusion at Golden Lotus, vegan pizza at Gigi’s, the vegan, donation-based Lentil as Anything and vegan Vietnamese at Vina, all in a row.
How to do Newtown and Erskineville
Do as the locals do.
Cafes
From house-roasted coffee and fresh baked goods to a long black with steaming shakshuka, you'll want for nothing when it comes to brekkie in Newtown.
1. One Another
2. Brewtown Newtown
3. Fleetwood Macchiato
4. Cafe Shenkin
5. Cuckoo Callay - CLOSED
Restaurants
With great eats every ten paces, deciding where to eat in the area can be difficult. We recommend planning for second lunch. Here's where to start.
1. El Jannah
2. Flour Drum
3. Mary's
4. Lentil as Anything — CLOSED
5. Gigi Pizzeria
Shops
Vintage may dominate, but there are also plenty other treasures to shop for in the area — from plant babies to super smelly cheese.
1. Newtown Garden Market
2. SWOP
3. The Stinking Bishops
4. Route 66
5. Pentimento
Pubs
If you're a big fan of craft brews and beer gardens (and who isn't?), then you'll be well-placed around Newtown and Erskineville.
1. The Kurrajong Hotel - CLOSED
2. The Courthouse Hotel
3. Young Henrys
4. The Bank
5. The Erko
Leisure
Parks for dog spotting, halls for dancing and kidult playgrounds for putt-putt — grab some mates and head to one (or all) of these spots.
1. The Cipher Room
2. Camperdown Memorial Rest Park
3. A Loft Story
4. Holey Moley Golf Club
5. 1989 Arcade Bar - CLOSED
Shop Online
Can't visit the area soon enough? Do some online browsing and get gems from these Newtown-based businesses sent straight to you instead.
1. The Social Outfit
2. La Favola
3. Repressed Records
4. Elizabeth's Secondhand Bookshops
5. No Lights No Lycra Sydney
How to do Newtown and Erskineville
Do as the locals do.
Restaurants
Fried chicken, laksa, green curry — the only difficult thing about going to dinner here is deciding where to go. Let us help you out.
1. Golden Lotus Vegan
2. Flying Tong
3. Hartsyard - CLOSED
4. Cafe Paci
5. Lonely Mouth - CLOSED
Bars
Home to many a pub and several beloved small bars, the area offers up plenty of tasty tipples no matter your drink of choice.
1. Continental Deli Bar Bistro
2. Earl's Juke Joint
3. Bloodwood
4. The Hive Bar
5. Gurdys - CLOSED
Live Music
Live music lives in Newtown. Of course there’s the Enmore Theatre, but there are also many smaller venues keeping the music alive.
1. The Vanguard Newtown
2. The Midnight Special
3. Blacksheep - CLOSED
4. Botany View Hotel
5. The Imperial Erskineville
Shops
Chances are, after sundown, you’re on your way to eat, drink and be merry. If there’s time though, pop into these shops.
1. Elizabeth's Secondhand Bookshops
2. P&V Wine and Liquor
3. Her Banana
4. Better Read Than Dead
5. Dr Earth Newtown
Arts and Culture
There’s a cinema, some theatres and a place where you can sip wine as you paint a masterpiece. Get your art fix after dark.
1. Enmore Theatre
2. Dendy Newtown
3. Brush and Sip
4. Diana Reyes Flamenco
5. New Theatre
CP Faves
Here are our favourite haunts for when the sun goes down and the streets of Newtown come alive.
1. Bella Brutta
2. Mapo Newtown
3. Cairo Takeaway
4. Rising Sun Workshop
5. Thai Pothong Restaurant
Editor's Itinerary
Here is how our editor loves to spend a few hours in Newtown.
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Rising Sun Workshop
Nothing cures a dusty morning like the buttered-toast broth, roast tomato, bacon and egg ramen from this motorcycle workshop and cafe tucked away off King Street. -
Newtown Garden Market
This neighbourhood garden market has all sorts of plants to bring home with you — begonias, succulents, herbs and even venus fly traps. -
Camperdown Memorial Rest Park
Set behind the hustle of King Street, the dog-friendly Camperdown Memorial Rest Park is a prime place for relaxing in the sun and checking out all the cute pooches. -
Holey Moley
Hot tip: beat the evening crowds, and tee off for a morning or mid-afternoon game at this mini-golf bar.
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P&V Wine and Liquor
This bottleshop stocks organic wine, beer and spirits, as well as its own pre-batch cocktails. Plus, it’s one of the few places where you can get natural wine on tap. -
Bella Brutta
At this elevated pizza joint from the minds behind LP's and Porteño, expect chewy slices topped with mortadella, anchovies or clams. -
Corridor
Take your pick of nooks at this much-loved King Street Bar — hidden under the stairs, the upstairs 'lounge' room or in the upstairs courtyard. -
The Vanguard
The live music institution has been resurrected to help bring a beat back to the heart of Newtown.
Find Your Way Through Newtown
Track down the must-visit local haunts.
Explore more of Sydney and your favourite suburbs through the eyes of other locals by following #sydneylocal on Instagram.
