The stomping ground for those who like both coastal and urban living, the eastern suburbs of Sydney boast heritage homes, coastal walks, intimate wine bars and pubs that exude the Aussie laidback lifestyle.
The tree-lined streets are easier to stroll down than the hustle and bustle of the CBD, and with beaches and parks aplenty, and there is always somewhere to grab a coffee and a breath of fresh air after a hectic week.
American Express is helping us collect the best local businesses that keep the eastern suburbs brimming with positive vibes, so you can shop small at these places with your Amex Card, whether you’re buying a book or a pint.
Surry Hills is perched on the doorstep of Central Station, so take the Elizabeth Street exit and you’ll be in the thick of things. For Paddington, hopping on the bus from Central is always the best bet — exit the station at Eddy Avenue and jump on the 440. If you stay on, you’ll be deposited in the heart of Bondi Junction.
The Bondi to Coogee coastal walk is a must-do for visitors and locals alike. Grab a coffee and a bite to eat from one of the beachfront cafes to energize yourself for the walk. Complete the round trip and you can spend the afternoon exploring some of Bondi’s fashion boutiques and kitsch homewares stores.
Crown Street is the epitome of the bohemian vibe Surry Hills is famous for. Check out the compact store Title for records and books, or duck in to one of the many vintage stores expertly upcycling discarded clothing. Oxford Street is a household name for Sydneysiders. It has a vibrant art scene, and is well known for being the heart of Sydney’s LGBTQIA+ scene — there is never a dull moment here.
Sydney’s east comes alive most on weekends. At The Intersection Paddington, grab a coffee at one of the nearby cafes filled with stylish locals — and dogs. After, you can get your fashion fix at any number of boutique shops (many of which are Australian labels) or head to the subterranean Paddington Reservoir Gardens.
THE SHOPPING LISTS
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RestaurantRaw Bar
136 Warners Avenue, Bondi
Bondi's Raw Bar is the classic light, summery Japanese joint everyone wishes was in their 'hood.
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RestaurantTequila Mockingbird
6 Heeley Street, Paddington
A Paddington terrace filled with tequila and tasty Latin American morsels.
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RestaurantSaint Peter
362 Oxford Street, Paddington
Josh Niland's nose-to-tail seafood restaurant is a must-visit.
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RestaurantZushi Surry Hills
Shop 2A, 285A Crown Street, Surry Hills
Sushi as it should be, and so much more.
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ShopThe Emporium Barber (Bondi Beach)
180 Campbell Parade, Bondi Beach
Scented towels, beard balms and face masks are all part of the premium treatment here.
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ShopKoda Cutters
180-182 Campbell Parade, Bondi Beach
For magazine-worthy style and celebrity treatment.
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ShopQueen St Beauty And Hair
158 Queen Street, Woollahra
Come here for organic or mineral hair colours and spa treatments.
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ShopFringe on Crown
574 Crown Street, Surry Hills
This Surry Hills favourite specialises in extensions and balayage.
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CafeRoyal Bakery - CLOSED
791 New South Head Road, Rose Bay
Come for the Portuguese tarts. Stay for the wide collection of mouth-watering baked goods.
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CafeJezve Coffee
Rose Bay Ferry Lyne Park , Sydney
This waterside spot gives traditional cafe fare with a Turkish twist.
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ShopCollector Store Paddington
314–316 Oxford Street, Paddington
Head into this Oxford Street boutique for a range of homewares and gifts.
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CafeSonoma Bakery Rose Bay
779 Shop 1 New South Head Road, Rose Bay
Rose Bay's magnificent monochrome corner bakery.
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ShopBeds Australia
503 Old South Head Road, Rose Bay
Get a better night's sleep after a visit to this Rose Bay boutique.
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ShopRose Bay Drive-In Liquor Store
Corner Of Old South Head Road And Wilberforce Avenue, Rose Bay
This boutique bottle-o's vast selection and party planning services will make your next bash a hit.
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ShopAlbion Cycles
302 Bronte Road, Waverley
This Waverley bike shop has a wealth of cycling know-how.
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ShopBayswater Fine Wines
77 Bayswater Road, Rushcutters Bay
Visit this multi-level bottle shop for aged wines — and for a peek at the giant champagne flute chandelier.
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ShopField to Fork Butcher
75 Hall Street, Bondi Beach
Go to this local butcher for the freshest meat and a chat about how best to cook it.
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ShopSweetheart Florist
195 Oxford Street, Bondi Junction
For rainbow-dyed roses and sunflowers, 24 hours a day.
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BarAcoustic Ritual by Venue 505
5 Eliza Street, Newtown
The Venue 505 team's Newtown live music venue.
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RestaurantTaqiza
177-179 Glenayr Avenue, Bondi Beach
Right in the heart of Bondi, find traditional Mexican food and awesome cocktails.
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ShopThe Health Emporium
265 Bondi Road, Bondi
Bondi's emporium of all things organic, from fresh fruit and veg to bread, cleaning products and cosmetics.
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ShopNio and Tony's
294 Campbell Parade, North Bondi
North Bondi's family-run grocer has been serving locals for over 40 years.
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ShopDOGUE Bondi
242 Oxford Street, Bondi Junction
Treat your four-legged friend to a haircut and some new toys.
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ShopMaggie May Flowers
5/177 Glenayr Avenue, Bondi Beach
May supplies beautiful blooms to Bondi locals and beyond.
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ShopBondi Wash
76 Gould Street, Bondi Beach
Cleaning products, fragrances and beauty products made with Australian botanicals.
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ShopPlaya by Lucy Folk
11-13 Hall Street, Bondi Beach
Bondi's dreamy, pink paradise of whimsical jewellery, accessories and 'resort wear'.
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ShopCome As You Are
443 Oxford Street, Paddington
This Oxford Street boutique stocks an always-great selection of local and international designers.
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ShopJust William Chocolates
4 William Street, Paddington
Treat yourself to a box of truffles from this family-run chocolatier.
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ShopLee Mathews Paddington
18 Glenmore Road, Paddington
This Australian fashion designer's laidback, simple and ethically conscious pieces are staple items in many a Sydneysider's wardrobe.
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ShopSummers Floral
101-103 Queen Street, Woollahra
Modern and talented florists with more than 15 years of experience.
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RestaurantSimply Hummus Bar - CLOSED
393 Liverpool Street, Darlinghurst
A hole-in-the-wall serving up Israeli hummus in Darlinghurst.
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BarHotel Rose Bay
807 New South Head Road, Rose Bay
The revamped eastern suburbs hotel has sleek interiors and a menu from an ex-Catalina chef.
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CafeWholegreen Bakery
24 Arden Street, Waverley
This Waverley bakery bakes the usual lineup of bread, croissants, sausage rolls and sandwiches — but it's all gluten free.
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RestaurantSang by Mabasa
98 Fitzroy Street, Surry Hills
Artfully plated, delicate Korean fare in a quiet corner of Surry Hills.
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CafeGelato Messina Rosebery
58 Mentmore Avenue, Rosebery
Get a scoop at Sydney’s beloved gelateria’s headquarters in the inner south — or learn to make your own.
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BarBrix Distillers
350 Bourke Street, Surry Hills
A craft rum distillery, bottle shop and bar in Surry Hills.
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ShopFish Butchery
388 Oxford Street, Paddington
Saint Peter's Josh and Julie Niland have opened Australia's first fish butchery.
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RestaurantBrick Lane
75 Stanley Street, Darlinghurst
Contemporary Indian fare and some of the best meal deals you'll find in Sydney.
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RestaurantPanama House - CLOSED
180-186 Campbell Parade, Bondi Beach
The loved local has reappeared closer to the beach, with a South American-inflected menu and interesting cocktails.
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RestaurantChula
Shop 7, 33 Bayswater Road, Potts Point
Offering regional Mexican dishes in wicker chairs and a packed menu of tequila and mezcal cocktails.
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RestaurantBondi Trattoria
34 Campbell Parade, Bondi Beach
Bondi's long-running, all-day Italian diner.
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RestaurantCuckoo Callay on Crown - CLOSED
78-80 Crown Street, Surry Hills
A second outpost for the team behind one of Newtown's busiest (and best) brunch spots.
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RestaurantLoLuk Bistro - CLOSED
411 Bourke Street, Surry Hills
A quaint Provençal bistro on Bourke Street.
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RestaurantBlanca - CLOSED
75 Hall Street, Bondi Beach
Finnish chef Tomi Björck teams up with local Sam Cole to bring an excellently executed east-meets-west menu to Bondi Beach.
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CafeFlat White Cafe
98 Holdsworth Street, Woollahra
Serving locals breakfast, brunch and lunch for over ten years in the heart of the eastern suburbs.
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RestaurantLucio's Italian Restaurant - CLOSED
47 Windsor Street, Paddington
Excellent Italian fare in a terrace dotted with legendary Australian artworks.
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RestaurantLove Supreme
180 Oxford Street, Paddington
Enjoy creative, gourmet pizza in a casual space with an industrial air.
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BarJangling Jack's
175 Victoria Street, Potts Point
Find blues, soul and cocktails inspired by the notorious historic locals of Potts Point at this neighbourhood speakeasy.
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ShopOscar and Friends Booksellers
277 Crown Street, Surry Hills
Visit this independent bookshop that's small in size but vast in range.
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ShopFormaggi Ocello
425 Bourke Street, Surry Hills
Rare imports, cured meats, and cheese and wine nights — welcome to Sydney's fromage epicentre.
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BarEast Village Hotel
234 Palmer Street, Darlinghurst
The three-tiered Darlinghurst pub gets a new life with an upstairs sports bar and rooftop terrace.
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CafeWelcome Dose Specialty Coffee
Shop 13, 61-71 Mentmore Avenue, Rosebery
Excellent coffee, cafe eats and tiramisu thickshakes inside Rosebery's artisan supermarket.
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BarGoodbar - CLOSED
11A Oxford Street, Paddington
Come for the cocktails and stay for the dance floor dazzling with mirror balls.
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RestaurantMilky Lane - CLOSED
141 Curlewis Street, Bondi Beach
Bondi burgers, bacon thickshakes and some wonderful thing they call a CoNut.
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CafeSingle O Surry Hills
60–64 Reservoir Street, Surry Hills
This Surry Hills coffee stalwart now has self-serve filter on tap.
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RestaurantThirsty Bird - CLOSED
2-14 Bayswater Road, Potts Point
The team from Mr Crackles foray into fried chicken for this Potts Point takeaway joint.
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RestaurantFlour and Stone
53 Riley Street, Woolloomooloo
A tiny bakery producing some of Sydney's prettiest cakes.
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BarThe London Hotel
85 Underwood Street, Paddington
This upscale pub caters to all — from dog lovers to peking duck lovers.
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RestaurantMicky's Cafe - CLOSED
268 Oxford Street, Paddington
Good clean fun since 1988 — go for the thickshakes, cheesecake or cheesecake in thickshakes.
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RestaurantBondi's Best - CLOSED
39-53 Campbell Parade, North Bondi
Do the Bondi thing: get fish 'n' chips from the best.
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CafeBondi Massive - CLOSED
8 Campbell Parade, Bondi Beach
South Bondi's little hole-in-the-wall mainstay.
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BarDarlo Country Club - CLOSED
235 Victoria Street, Darlinghurst
An LA-style social club from the team behind the Lobo Plantation.
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CafePaddington Alimentari
2 Hopetoun Street, Paddington
An authentic Italian cafe-deli decked with bunches of oregano and hanging prosciutto.
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BarDead Ringer
413 Bourke Street, Surry Hills
The Bulletin Place team reinvent Bacardi Breezers, Redskins and so many nostalgic favourites.
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BarDove & Olive
156 Devonshire Street, Surry Hills
The first rule of Craft Beer Fight Club is you do not talk about Craft Beer Fight Club.
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CafeCook & Archies
Shop 1a, 4/14 Buckingham Street, Surry Hills
A tried and true cornerstone of the Surry Hills cafe family.
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BarThe Village Inn
9-11 Glenmore Road, Paddington
Come for the relaxed, Sunday afternoon sessions featuring local musical talent — and local pups.
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BarBloody Mary's - CLOSED
332 Victoria Street, Darlinghurst
Darlinghurst's new Hamptons-inspired joint making some of the most hectic Bloody Marys in Sydney.
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RestaurantDrake Eatery - CLOSED
Corner Of Curlewis And Gould Streets, Bondi Beach
Bondi Beach's new home of warm timber panelling and warming Thirlmere duck.
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ShopPublished Art Bookshop
Shop 2, 38 Mary Street, Surry Hills
Find some of the best looking published material in town.
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ShopThe Standard Store
431 Crown Street, Surry Hills
The standard this store sets is one of smart coolness over bombastic label gauche.
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ShopTitle Store
501 Crown Street, Surry Hills
There is damn good taste to be found among these books, records and films.
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BarBondi Bowling Club
1 Warners Avenue, Bondi
Barefoot bowls, modern bistro food and local craft brews run this renovated Bondi gem.
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Cafebills Bondi
79 Hall Street, Bondi Beach
Fancy a healthy brunch after an energising Bondi to Bronte walk?
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BarStrawberry Hills Hotel
453 Elizabeth Street, Surry Hills
If you were a local here before, you won’t recognise it.
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BarThe Bucket List - CLOSED
Shop 1, Bondi Pavilion, Queen Elizabeth Drive, Bondi
Bondi Beach's favourite watering hole doesn't go into hibernation for the winter.
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BarBat Country
32 St Pauls Street, Randwick
The disciples of Hunter S. Thompson know how to mix drinks.
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ShopPoho Flowers
117 MacLeay Street, Potts Point
Order elegant bouquets in signature blue wrapping from this art deco flower shop on Macleay Street.
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RestaurantFlour Eggs Water A Tavola Bondi - CLOSED
73-75 Hall Street, Bondi Beach
The same ingredients that made Darlinghurst's A Tavola a hit, but with a heavier hit of the ocean.
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BarNeighbourhood
143 Curlewis Street, Bondi
Next time your throat is dry and sunstroke has you seeking shelter, grab a Neighbourhood Bloody Mary.
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CafeParamount Coffee Project
Paramount House, 80 Commonwealth Street, Surry Hills
Paramount to those that surround it, this Surry Hills cafe does ripper coffee and fabulous food.
Find Your Playground
