Our Sydney: Here Are Our Readers' Favourite Spots to Visit in Darlinghurst

Are you guilty of taking photos of your brunch before taking a bite? No judgement here, just a friendly piece of advice: make sure you add The Mayflower to your hit list. It was recommended by several CP readers, including @_niinz_, @itschristianlee and @puri_seerat. The opulent cafe is located in an art deco building and it’s a social media fiend’s dream, from the fit-out — millienial pink walls, onyx stone tables, pendant lights and lush floral installations — to the menu.

We’re talking Ferrero Rocher french toast, truffle mac ‘n’ cheese and lobster rolls. And if all of that doesn’t sound decadent enough, The Mayflower also has caviar service, starting at $30 for ten grams of white sturgeon caviar. There’s also black pearl beluga cavair for $228 (30 grams) if you’re feeling extra flush. All of the caviar is served with blinis, crème fraîche and chives.

The humble sandwich has evolved well beyond being a school lunchbox staple. Partial responsibility can be taken by this hole-in-the-wall Stanley Street operation, which opened in January 2020. Its monster sambos, recommended by @teaguese, are served on thick-cut Sonoma bread and put the stodgy, stick-to-the-roof-of-your-mouth peanut butter numbers from your childhood to shame.

There are six to choose from, including crispy pork belly (with burnt butter ricotta, garlic sauce and salad) and spicy barbecue beef brisket (with caramlised onion chutney, horseradish and salad). There’s also a house-made falafel option, served with hummus, tahini, green sauce and roasted eggplant. Mrs Palmer also does a fortnightly special, occasionally created by a top Sydney chef. Plus, there are also two salads and four types of fries, including tater tots and haloumi fries.

When you visit, be sure to take note of the door to the left of the counter. It doesn’t lead to a stock room, as you may assume, but to La Farmacia — a tiny, dimly lit margarita bar, open after dark.

Images: Terence-Kent Ow

Where in Sydney can you get a haircut, eat lunch, buy a few records and hear live music all in one space? The answer is They’re There. This mixed business opened on Oxford Street in late-2020 and describes itself as a “cultural hub”.

It’s an interesting mish-mash of businesses, so prepare to lose some time exploring everything on offer. Start by grabbing a coffee or dairy-free smoothie from Notmilk, then browse through Scratches Records‘ vinyl collection. Need a haircut? Out the back of the store, you’ll find Brock and Sonnys Barbershop, which is a no appointment, cash-only, pay-as-you-feel operation.

Come lunchtime, Reuben & Me serves up tasty reuben and cubano toasties from Monday to Friday, while The Honourable Plate takes over on weekends with mostly vegan Mediterranean street food.

The hub hosts late-night events on the reg, too, including open mic nights and DJ sets. Keep an eye on its Instagram for upcoming happenings.

Images: Terence-Kent Ow

Now the novelty of being able to hang out in groups again has worn off, you’re probably starting to remember the annoying problems that arise — like trying to find a dinner spot that’ll please everyone. The answer for many is Bar Reggio.

The Italian restaurant holds a place in many Sydneysiders’ hearts thanks to its lively atmosphere, share-friendly menu and affordability (including the fact that it’s BYO). Everyone has their go-to order at this long-running joint, but you can’t go wrong splitting a couple of pizzas, including the Ricky’s (bolognese and parmesan) and Capricciosa (mushroom, ham, anchovies and olives).

It’s also worth throwing in a few portions of pasta for good measure — CP reader @ally_brown88 calls it the “best pasta in Sydney”. You can mix and match pasta shapes and sauces, but our picks are sausage and porcini penne and spaghetti arrabbiata. There are desserts on offer but, to be honest, you’ll probably be way too full to partake.

Image: Leticia Almeida 

No doubt you’ve heard of Lankan Filling Station, O Tama Carey’s shrine to Sri Lankan cuisine. It opened to much fanfare in 2018, pleasing Sydneysiders with its hands-on menu of hoppers, sambols and curries. It even snapped up Overall Winner in Concrete Playground‘s Best New Restaurant in the 2018 Awards.

The check-box menu requires a level of restraint — something we’re usually in short supply of by lunchtime on Friday, which is when CP reader @emmajoy_e recommends visiting. Start with a few hoppers, which you can alternate dipping into the spicy katta sambol, punchy white fish curry and creamy raita. Room for dessert? Treat yourself to a scoop of ginger and tumeric gelato.

If your schedule is too packed for a leisurely Friday lunch, the eatery offers most of its menu (apart from the hoppers) for takeaway. Or, you could plan ahead and book into LFS’s famous Crab Curry feast, which happens on the last Sunday of each month. The $80 set menu includes starters, sides, dessert and three mains: a black crab curry, beetroot curry and honeydew, coriander oil and gotu kola dhal.

Bloodhound Espresso, on the corner of Palmer and Liverpool Streets, is precisely the type of reliable cafe you’d like to call your local. It’s set a little away from the hustle and bustle of Darlo’s busier thoroughfares, while still being easily accessible.

It has a decent amount of both indoor and outdoor seating — particularly useful if you’ve got your doggo in tow — plus a window set up beside the coffee machine for takeaway brews.

The brekkie menu, available until 11.30am and all day on weekends, is simple but covers all bases. The Turkish Breakfast is a highlight — hummus, dukkah, falafel, salad, boiled egg and turkish toast. And the brekkie burger is a winner, particularly if you load it up with an extra hash brown and avo.

Image: Terence-Kent Ow