Ten Essential Spots to Visit in Glebe
Including a millennial pink lunch spot, a hidden brewery and a bookshop dedicated to plants.
Ten Essential Spots to Visit in Glebe
in partnership with
Including a millennial pink lunch spot, a hidden brewery and a bookshop dedicated to plants.
Of Sydney's inner-city burrows, Glebe seems to possess that true bohemian spirit. The super chill suburb, which borders Sydney University and features well-integrated public housing, welcomes folk from all walks of life. The people are openminded and creative. The community supports local business while championing thrift shopping and other sustainable practices. Plus, the suburb itself is gorgeous, leafy and comes complete with water views. Sounds pretty great, right? It is. In fact, it's certainly worthy of a visit.
To ensure you get a glimpse of the real Glebe, we first partnered with City of Sydney to chat with Julian Cincotta of Thievery — one of the must-hit restaurants in the area — then with Jacob Collier from creative hub The Works to discover both of their local favourites. And now, to add onto their lists, we've pulled together all the essentials which you simply must see in the suburb. If you're ready for a change of pace, want to slow down and appreciate your surrounds, get yourself to Glebe.
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Kick things off with a good brekkie over a great book at Sappho Books, Cafe & Bar, where you’ll find a superb collection of second-hand pageturners as well as scrumptious (and sustainable) fare. The breakfast menu features free-range eggs from Clarendon Valley, toast from nearby Rozelle Bakers and slices of swiss from a local cheese maker — opt for a croque-madame and you can sample all three. There’s also a range of vegan, vegetarian and gluten-free options. Once you’ve finished feasting in the sunny courtyard, head inside and pick yourself a classic from the impressive collection. You’ll want to bookmark this venue for the evening, too, when Sappho switches into a buzzing tapas bar with live music, poetry readings and vino aplenty.
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Despite their laidback demeanour, Glebe locals appreciate a good cup of coffee — with a throng of packed-to-the-brim cafes playing testament to just this. When it comes time for your caffeine fix, head to The Wedge Espresso for a top-notch cuppa. The light and airy open-plan cafe serves up everything from single origin filter and cold brew to affogatos (which you can add granola to) and something called elixir — if you’re after something to really get your motor running, order this. Wedge says its elixir “looks like whisky, feels like tea, made only from coffee… unlike anything you’ve tasted before”. Non-coffee drinkers and tea devouts are also catered for with a menu of hot chocolates, iced Milo and juices, plus a collection of tea by Teacraft available.
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Beckoning diners with trendy millennial pink and succulents, Glebe has welcomed a very in-vogue eatery inspired by the coastal towns of South Carolina. Introducing The Charleston, a dusky pink beauty that could almost be a Wes Anderson set. But enough about looks, let’s talk food. Drawing inspiration on southern cookin’, Head Chef Ellena Kim (The Morrison Bar & Oyster Room, Uccello) has crafted a menu big on seafood and spice that’s perfect for a lazy lunch in the sun Thursday to Sunday. Think beef short ribs with chimichurri, jumbo prawns, freshly shucked Sydney Rock oysters and luxe lobster rolls. Grab one of the local beers on tap or a southern-inspired cocktail, and settle in for a splendid few hours.
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A short stroll from the main drag, Glebe Point Road, you’ll find colossal wining and dining spot Tramsheds. Yep, the old heritage-listed Rozelle Tram Depot is chockablock full of fancy new restaurants. From Japanese-inspired izakayas to authentic pasta bars, pretty much every cuisine is covered, you can pick what you please. But, for a slightly upscale dining experience, we suggest hitting up Bodega 1904 from the Porteno crew. Nab one of the aqua booths, get a bottle of tempranillo and tuck into tasty seasonal fare that’s been carefully roasted over a wood fire — the five spiced Mirrool Creek lamb ribs with cucumber and fennel salsa, perhaps?
Image: Steven Woodburn.
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Given Glebe marches to the beat of its own drum, it’s not surprising the suburb has a few venues which do things a little differently like Different Drummer. This neighbourhood cocktail bar has always had a special place in the hearts of inner-city dwellers — the nightly cocktail specials made damn sure of that — and it still draws a crowd. Unlike a lot of other small bars, the Drummer has managed to retain its down-to-earth demeanour (read: affordable tipples and great daily specials) despite the rising prices in the Sydney hospitality scene. Tuesdays you can score two-for-one burgers, Wednesdays there are $6 tinnies all night, Thursdays sees $1 oysters and $5 house wines, Fridays and Saturdays host DJ nights and Sundays you can enjoy $10 margaritas and tunes. So, whenever you visit, you’re in for a treat.
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Time for a snack, albeit in liquid form, at Staves Brewery. Nestled among the back streets of Glebe, opposite Broadway Shopping Centre, Staves has a rather unassuming facade. But step inside and you’ll find a speakeasy-style brewery. Headed up by Steven Drissell, a beer-loving Brit who started off homebrewing and has since become a treasured member of Sydney’s craft beer community, Staves has eight rotating taps showcasing the very best local drops. Grab a tasting flight of core and seasonal brews including sours, stouts, bitters and pale, golden, dark and wheat ales, or pop by for happy hour (Thursday and Friday from 4–6pm) to enjoy pints at schooner prices. Should you need to snack on something more substantial, Staves also serves up pizzas from nearby Merchants of Ultimo. Snack situation, sorted.
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The shops in Glebe are as diverse and eclectic as the suburb, health-food markets specialising in vegan products sit alongside celebrated bookstores, and the best part is that most are owned and operated by locals. If you’re looking for some treats to take home, we suggest visiting Glebe Liquor for a couple of bottles of quality booze. Run by husband and wife duo Tim and Louise Smith, the bottleshop is a relaxed wine store that stocks, simply put, whatever’s having a good year — plus there’s a neighbourhood wine bar attached. Wines in the shop are helpfully sorted based on price tag, under categories like Struggle Street, Easy Street, Suburbia and Nob Hill, so you can easily find plonk that’s within your budget. Next, pop by Galluzzo Delito select some fresh local produce to accompany the vino, like organic cured meats, a range of international cheeses or homemade Italian pastries.
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The Works’ Jacob Collier said it; Glebe has one of Sydney’s most traditional high streets. So you should definitely carve out some time to dedicate for a casual browse to discover some of the suburb’s more eclectic offerings. Where to start? With a stop by a bookshop entirely dedicated to plants and a beautifully curated homewares store that only opens on Saturdays. First stop Florilegium; a place where you can leaf through books about, well, leaves, and plants, and flowers, and permaculture. It’s a hidden oasis for green-thumbed bookworms and plant enthusiasts. Once you’ve finished up with all things flora, head to Mosir Life to appreciate some handcrafted Japanese homewares. Founded and created by Mark and Ai in 2016, Mosir Life has a range of pieces, from delicate jewellery to handmade ceramics, which have been thoughtfully created by artisans the duo personally sought out. Take a bag, it’s impossible to leave without picking up something special.
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Speaking of eclectic shopping, each Saturday, the schoolyard of Glebe Public School transforms into a buzzing market that attracts both locals and visitors alike. Enclosed by a rainbow picket fence, the market features more than 50 stores slinging all kinds of unusual wares, from handmade threads and silver jewellery to carnivorous plants and homewares of yore. The ever-changing variety is what makes the Glebe Markets so special; one week you might enjoy vegan cupcakes and the next week you might discover your favourite jeweller. Moreover, you’re afforded an opportunity to chat with the creators and curators and hear firsthand about their collections. There are several food stalls plus free music on the lawn from 12–3pm, so you can enjoy some local talent under the sun with a freshly squeezed cane juice and an arepa.
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It sounds trite, but there really is art all throughout Glebe. From the colourful graffiti to the happy-go-lucky buskers, creativity surrounds you. Still, sometimes it’s nice to experience art in a more structured environment, so you’re able to fully take in and appreciate the creative process. The Works is just the place. The three-storey warehouse space acts as a hub for creative practitioners — it’s a spot where they can design, make and exhibit their work to the general public. You never know who’ll be there, what you’ll see, and that’s what makes it so darn exciting. The skilled creatives also love sharing their knowledge and there are a bunch of workshops which you can attend if you’re feeling a little arty.
