Overview
Sydney's inner west is known for its shop local mentality; it has heaps of independently owned and family-run businesses to choose from, and this is especially true in Marrickville where different cultural heritages have combined to proudly offer cuisines from the homeland. If you consider yourself a foodie, it's a suburb you should get to know better if only for its award-winning coffee beans, Greek-style souvlaki shops and locally made craft brews.
However, it's not all about what you can eat. In Marrickville, you'll also discover vintage homewares, speciality florists and many other gems besides. We've teamed up with American Express to bring you a hit list of the stores you should make time to explore, so whether you're here for meat, cheese, coffee or fresh buds, you can shop small with your Amex Card.
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This family-run business has been a Marrickville staple since 2016. It’s run by the second generation Alepidis family, who have amassed two decades of experience in the industry with shops in Dulwich Hill and Canterbury. The local butcher serves up the most authentic Greek-style souvlaki around town, and a fan favourite is the lamb backstrap marinated with oregano, salt and pepper. Other customer favourites include chicken souvlaki, with marinade options including lemon and pepper, honey and soy or satay sauce. All of the meat is locally sourced and prepared in-house. Souvlaki is also available in cocktail size, which makes for an ideal starter for your next dinner party. Aside from its namesake, the deli also offers cheese, oils, dips, bread and other smallgoods.
Image: Cassandra Hannagan
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Run by locals Elizabeth Johnson and George Low, Seed Flora is our go-to for floral designs in the area. Luckily for locals, the shop recently moved from Ultimo (where it stood for a decade) to its current digs along Edinburgh Road. At Seed Flora, all orders are via telephone or email — but you can peruse some of the duo’s gorgeous designs on Instagram. The florists will create the perfect centrepiece for any occasion, from casual garden parties to weddings and baby announcement photos. Since the business is pre-order only, you can expect some very unique flower arrangements here, including giant slipper orchids and tall branches of magnolias and cherry blossoms, along with metallic-dyed leaves and flowers.
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Bucket Boys is easily one of the top bottle shops in Sydney. It offers over 1200 craft beers, Australian wines and artisan spirits. The shop is especially good for beer, with heaps of hard-to-find international brews gracing the shelves — including rare drops from Italy, Belgium, Germany and Scandinavia. Of course, Aussie and Kiwi craft is extensively represented as well, with Batch, Wayward, Beer Farm, Garage Project and Kereru all putting out their latest releases here. Punters can nab a bit of everything with the mixed-six pack. If you’re keen to enjoy your takeaway on the spot, head upstairs to the in-house bar, which is currently open Fridays and Saturdays and offers free corkage on both days. The bar is also running regular virtual tastings for those who’d rather enjoy purchases at home.
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The award-winning Canberra coffee roaster set up shop in Marrickville back in 2018 and has since become one of the suburb’s most loved cafes. The venue focuses on sustainably sourced, quality coffee beans, with a rotation of single origin and special-release blends. The minimalist eatery centres around a long coffee bar, where you can watch the well-trained baristas in action. Whether you’re after espresso, filter or milk-based cuppas, Ona offers it all, along with a special reserve menu. Online orders are also available, with the winter warmer and lockdown packs containing a little bit of everything.
Image: Cassandra Hannagan -
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Napoli Food and Wines is a mega warehouse for all things Italian and it has been serving the Marrickville community for nearly 30 years. The wholesaler is owned by Raffaele Angrisano, who is considered a neighbourhood local legend. The expansive warehouse contains imported goods directly from the motherland (as well as carrying local produce, such as Australian cheese). You can get it all here, from Italian salumi and burrata, bocconcini and fresh mozzarella to imported coffee and olive oil. There’s even an entire pizza making section and plenty of pasta, too. In addition to the food, Napoli also carries Italian wines and craft beers, and the deli is currently offering home delivery.
Image: Cassandra Hannagan
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If you’re looking to spruce up your home with second-hand items, That Vintage Shop has you covered. The warehouse on Enmore Road — just next to Grifter’s brewery — is chock-a-block with antiques. You’ll find a wide range of styles, from art deco and French provincial to farmhouse and Hollywood regency. That Vintage Shop’s speciality is antique chandeliers (every house needs at least one, right?) but it also has other unique homewares like vintage typewriters, crystal knobs and yesteryear bar carts. You could easily spend hours perusing all that the shop has to offer.