DARLINGHURST
Darlinghurst has a storied history, which has carried through to create the vibrant and lively melting pot it is today.
In partnership with City of Sydney, we’re celebrating what makes Darlinghurst such a vibrant community to live in and visit: its 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.
Darlinghurst has a storied history, which has carried through to create the vibrant and lively melting pot it is today.
In partnership with City of Sydney, we’re celebrating what makes Darlinghurst such a vibrant community to live in and visit: its 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.
The tall stone wall on Darlinghurst Road near Green Park, which hides the Darlinghurst Courthouse and National Art School, is the original eastern wall of the old Darlinghurst Gaol. If you get up close enough, you can still see the markings that the prisoners scratched into the sandstone.
There are plenty of buses from Town Hall or Central Station — or you could hop on the T4 train to Kings Cross and enjoy a leisurely stroll down to the cafes, restaurants and pubs. Darlinghurst is a walker’s dream — with stunning architecture, parks and people-watching opportunities to encounter.
Start your day with a coffee and a Blessed Morning Bowl at Fable Coffee, then slowly meander up and down Darlo’s captivating streets, exploring all the glorious shopping from local sites like Blue Spinach and The Bookshop. Once you’ve worked up a hunger, grab some delicious pastries from Infinity Bakery and have a picnic in historic Green Park.
Start with a leisurely (and boozy, if you like) brunch at Son of Frank, then head towards Oxford Street to experience the local products on offer at the markets in Taylor Square. Pop your head into Pearsons School of Floristry to gaze in wonder at the breathtaking artistry, then wander to East Village Hotel and enjoy a well-earned craft beer or wine on the leafy rooftop.
In the 70s and 80s, the very same tall sandstone wall of the old Darlinghurst Gaol, along with Green Park on the other side of the road, became one the hottest gay beats in Sydney. To this day, they are both heralded as iconic LGBTQIA+ Sydney landmarks.
There are plenty of buses from Town Hall or Central Station — or you could hop on the T4 train to Kings Cross and enjoy a leisurely stroll down to the cafes, restaurants and pubs. Darlinghurst is a walker’s dream — with stunning architecture, parks and people-watching opportunities to encounter. Take note, most trains stop running from Central around midnight or 1am.
Before dinner, a one-of-a-kind cocktail at speakeasy-style bar Eau de Vie is a no-brainer. Then, enjoy an expansive Italian banquet and negronis on tap at Taylor Square’s Casoni. And there’s nothing more fundamentally Darlinghurst than seeing one of the deliriously entertaining live shows at Stonewall Hotel or Universal.
Local gem Chaco Bar serves up some of Sydney’s best ramen, while cheese wheel gurus Buffalo Dining Club will see your stomach beyond contented. Afterwards, enjoy expertly made whisky cocktails at Shady Pines or some extraordinarily unique vino at Love, Tilly Devine. Or if you’re looking for a slightly louder night, exuberant live music venues like Brighton Up Bar or Oxford Art Factory will be your havens.
How to do Darlinghurst
Do as the locals do.
Cafes
Darlo is peppered with hole-in-the-wall cafes — you'll find tasty French pastries at one, experimental Japanese sandos at another and top-notch coffee at all.
1. Sandoitchi Cafe
2. Infinity Bakery Darlinghurst
3. Fable Coffee
4. Son of Frank - CLOSED
5. South Dowling Sandwiches
Restaurants
Next-level-spicy chicken wings, hummus bowls and epic Indian banquets — lunch around here is both crazy affordable and incredibly diverse.
1. Brick Lane
2. Simply Hummus Bar - CLOSED
3. Bar Reggio
4. The Mayflower
5. Wings and Tins
Shops
Darlo is abuzz with specialty stores. Here, you'll find everything from secondhand designer fashion to passionately crafted homewares.
1. Blue Spinach
2. The Record Store
3. Gelato Messina
4. Zink & Sons Tailors & Shirtmakers Sydney
5. Spunky Bruiser Shop
Arts and Culture
See some of the area's creative side and discover works from both established and emerging artists. Here's where to start.
1. The Artery Aboriginal Art
2. Australian Centre For Photography
3. Sydney Jewish Museum
4. Australian Design Centre
5. National Art School Gallery
Leisure
Finding ways to spend your downtime in Darlo isn't hard — you can pick up a new skill, new look or new furry friend.
1. Green Park
2. Pearsons School of Floristry
3. Sydney Sustainable Markets
4. Old Sport Barber
5. Cork and Canvas Darlinghurst
Shop Online
Can't visit the area soon enough? Get gems from these Darlo-based businesses sent straight to you instead.
1. The Bookshop Darlinghurst
2. Desordre
3. Meltdown Artisan
4. Footage
5. PAM Store Sydney
How to do Darlinghurst
Do as the locals do.
Restaurants and Pubs
You'll find many an institution in this area from no-frills, family-run joints to revived local favourites.
1. Casoni - CLOSED
2. Buffalo Dining Club
3. Govindas Cinema and Restaurant
4. Lankan Filling Station
5. Gaku Robata Grill
Bars
Killer happy hour specials, experimental cocktails and extravagant fit-outs — a night here is quite the experience.
1. Black Bottle
2. Gorgeous George Bar - CLOSED
3. Eau De Vie
4. Big Poppa's
5. Bitter Phew
Live Music
From legendary gay bars to a venue inspired by Warhol's Factory, these are the spots to catch a show (or three).
1. Stonewall Hotel
2. Universal Sydney
3. Oxford Art Factory
4. Brighton Up Bar - CLOSED
5. The Long Goodbye
Shops
These spots stay open late so you can continue the search for that rare film, album or book.
1. Ariel Booksellers
2. Film Club
3. Stone Heart
4. Kakawa Chocolates
5. Fabrique Vintage
Pubs
Darlo's watering holes offer stellar rooftops, experimental menus and late night shenanigans.
1. East Village Hotel
2. The Oxford Hotel
3. Slims Rooftop
4. Taphouse Sydney
5. The Flinders
CP Faves
Here are our favourite haunts for when the sun goes down and the streets of Darlinghurst come alive.
1. Love, Tilly Devine
2. RivaReno
3. Chaco Ramen
4. Dimitri's Pizzeria
5. Shady Pines Saloon
Find Your Way Through Darlinghurst
Track down the must-visit local haunts.
Editor's Itinerary
Here is how our editor loves to spend a few hours in Darlinghurst.
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Sandoitchi
This hole-in-the-wall on Oxford Street doesn't look like much from the outside. But venture inside and you'll find Single O batch filter and this very tasty katsu sando. -
Lankan Filling Station
O Tama Carey's haven of Sri Lankan cuisine was highly anticipated — and for good reason. Visit for the hoppers, sambol dips and spice bomb curries, and stay for the creamy watalappan custard. -
Pearsons Floristry School
Whether you're forging a new career or just doing it for fun, this family-run floristry business is the place to learn the art of creating bloomin' lovely floral arrangements. -
Meltdown Artisan
When we say this sweet little Kings Lane spot specialises in experimental chocolate flavours, we really mean it. Take your pick from chilli pineapple, saffron barberry or wakame sake sea salt. You can also get custom bonbons with your (or your pups) face on them, which is a winning gift idea.
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Love, Tilly Devine
Tucked away in a Darlo alleyway, and named after an obscure 1930s madam, this small bar oozes charm. Go here for rare wine and untraditional (and very tasty) bar snacks. -
Bar Reggio
This long-running Italian restaurant is a local favourite for a few reasons: generous servings, low prices, cheap corkage and a rowdy atmosphere that's perfect for your next group get-together. -
Oxford Art Factory
You haven't done a night out on Oxford Street if you haven't caught a show at OAF. And don't forget to hit Mr Crackles afterwards for a classic post-gig feed. -
Film Club
It's gotta take something really special for a DVD rental store to be successful today. The key to success? Specialising in rare, hard-to-find titles (and, yes, probably a hint of nostalgia).
Explore more of Sydney and your favourite suburbs through the eyes of other locals by following #sydneylocal on Instagram.