If you were to summarise Paddington in one word, it would be creativity. Time spent here is time spent immersed in beautiful creations — from the galleries showcasing the works of emerging artists to the boutiques filled with designer wares by local and international labels. To some, the high price tags that can accompany these displays of creativity can be intimidating. But others know better. Paddo residents (and frequent visitors) know creativity extends into more accessible places, too — from cosy bars serving experimental cocktails to the restaurants pushing culinary boundaries.
So, when you're wanting to explore more of this neighbourhood, who better to turn to for advice than its locals? We teamed up with City of Sydney to ask you — Concrete Playground readers — what businesses you love to support in Paddington. Here are some of your top picks.
Read on to discover some of the most popular picks to visit during the day. Then, flick the switch above and we'll dim the lights to show your favourite things to do once the sun goes down.
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Some say good things come in small packages, which is true of both Tuckerbox and the range of grab-and-go bites it sells. The tiny cafe opened in Paddington in October 2019 and is a go-to for locals — like CP reader @isyrouslstone, who recommended it to us — for its range of takeaway salads, sandwiches and hot meals, all prepared daily in an off-site commercial kitchen. Pair your feed with a coffee — Mecca is the bean of choice — or a cold-pressed juice from nearby Simon Says Juice.
Image: Cassandra Hannagan
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Some people are great at buying gifts. Others, not so much. Whichever camp you fall into, you’ll be well looked after at Opus. Recommended by CP reader @binki_lee, this family-run business has been around since 1968 and moved into this whopping 500-square-metre space in 2015. It’s full to the brim with quirky lifestyle products.
The street level is where you’ll find knick-knacks and novelty products like retro outdoor games, cocktail kits, stationery, candles and cookbooks. For big ticket items, like furniture and soft furnishings, you’ll need to head upstairs. No matter who you’re buying for, you’re sure to find something they’ll love — be it a Beyonce keyring, a book about burps or a luxe gold champagne ice bucket.
Image: Cassandra Hannagan
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Hopping between boutiques and galleries may be the sport of choice for many Paddington residents and visitors, but those really wanting to get the blood pumping head to White City Tennis. “I love having a hit at White City Tennis courts. It’s steeped in so much history and the grass courts are surrounded by lots of greenery,” says CP reader Alison Tanudisastro.
Established in 1922, White City Tennis played a pivotal role in Sydney and Australia’s tennis scenes. Until the Sydney Olympic Park Tennis Centre opened in 2000, it was host to the NSW Championships (now Sydney International). Boasting 16 grass courts, six synthetic grass courts and six hard courts, it remains a go-to for tennis enthusiasts. A $60 million redevelopment of the site into a multipurpose recreational facility, featuring a gym, basketball courts, a soccer field and 25-metre outdoor swimming pool, has been in the works for several years.
Image: Cassandra Hannagan
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If you’ve ever needed an example of Sydney’s culinary prowess, you need only look at Saint Peter. Led by Josh Niland, the 22-seater Paddington restaurant has been impressing Sydneysiders for years with its experimental nose-to-tail approach to seafood. And after firmly convincing us that fish can be dry-aged for two weeks or that fish fat belongs in dessert, Niland — alongside his wife Julie — decided to reimagine another part of the seafood world: retail.
In 2018, the duo opened Fish Butchery just a few doors up from the restaurant. Unlike the traditional seafood stores with fish piled atop crushed ice, Fish Butchery dry-handles its goods, storing them in a fan-free cool room at 0-1 degrees celsius to extend the shelf life and intensify the flavour. As CP reader Susan Shi explains, it “sounds kind of creepy but absolutely delicious”. Expect to find species you may never have tried cooking with before, like tommy ruff or mahi mahi. Not confident on the tools? The shop also offers cooked meals to take away, including tuna burgers, pink ling and chips and, of course, potato scallops.
Image: Cody Duncan
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Concrete Playground reader April Mouwad’s pick for Paddington was The Captain, thanks to “its new renovations”. Based at the corner of Flinders Street and Moore Park Road, The Captain is just a ten-minute walk to Sydney Cricket Ground, making it an excellent spot to head for a drink before or after a game. In fact, its proximity to such sacred sporting ground provides a buzzing atmosphere regardless of whether there’s a match on.
Happy hour deals are available on weekdays between 4–6pm with $5 beer and wine and $10 espresso martinis and Aperol spritzes. Foodwise, expect elevated pub fare — think king prawn and pea arancini, steak frites and a wagyu burger. And, on Sundays, it does an Italian-style roast dinner with a glass of chianti for $30 per person.
Image: Cassandra Hannagan
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Oxford Street has many identities, and the section that cuts through Paddington is largely known for and dedicated to fashion boutiques. Many homegrown labels have chosen the suburb for their first — and, in many cases, only — dedicated bricks-and-mortar space, including We Are Kindred. The boutique was selected by CP reader Susi Reed, for the “dreamy florals and pretty things” that get them compliments every time they wear them.
Started by sisters Lizzie and Georgie Renkert in 2013, We Are Kindred is a luxe womenswear brand with a penchant for floral prints. The duo designs everything in this Paddington studio and sources quality fabrics like silk, washed linen and lace from across the world.
Image: Cassandra Hannagan