SURRY HILLS
Whether you’re after a soy latte or an espresso martini, Surry Hills is one of the best places to eat, drink and be merry in Sydney’s inner city suburbs.
In partnership with City of Sydney, we’re celebrating what makes Surry Hills 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.
Whether you’re after a soy latte or an espresso martini, Surry Hills is one of the best places to eat, drink and be merry in Sydney’s inner city suburbs.
In partnership with City of Sydney, we’re celebrating what makes Surry Hills 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.
Australia’s alleged earliest surviving film was shot in Surry Hills. Patineur Grotesque (The Humorous Rollerskater) was filmed in Prince Alfred Park by French director Marius Sestier in 1896. Though it was screened in France in 1897, it was only screened in Australia for the first time in 2010.
Surry Hills is surrounded by Central Station on its western edge and the Eastern Distributor on its east. Though there are also buses that run through the area, the suburb and its many cafes, shops, restaurants and bars are best explored on foot.
Plan to spend your day lazing in the sun at Shannon Reserve. Hit Maloneys Grocer beforehand to grab some treats for an afternoon picnic at the park. Head there on the first Saturday of the month, and you’ll be met with the beloved Surry Hills Markets where you can hunt down some fine, bohemian treasures.
With cafes every couple of paces, Surry Hills epitomises Australia’s cafe culture. And thanks to the many cafes with outdoor seating, the suburb certainly dabbles in the city’s love for the outdoors, too. Go to Artificer to drink your coffee on the bench out front, or make your way to Single O to grab a takeaway filter from the self-serve batch brew bar.
Along with building its offices in 1940, Paramount Pictures also constructed a secluded art deco theatrette for screenings, which remains today, restored as the beloved Golden Age Cinema. It’s in this cinema where servicewomen would watch newsreels and films during WWII, and now, almost 80 years later, it’s still screening films for Sydneysiders.
Surry Hills is surrounded by Central Station on its western edge and the Eastern Distributor on its east. Though there are also buses that run through the area, the suburb and its many cafes, shops, restaurants and bars are best explored on foot. Take note, most trains stop running from Central around midnight or 1am.
It sure is easy to drop a pretty penny on a night out in Surry Hills. But you can still have a good time when you’re strapped for cash. Pop into The Soda Factory on Tuesdays for $1 hotdogs, El Loco for $1 wings on Thursdays, or The Shakey for $4 tacos every day of the week.
Surry Hills is covered with grade A pubs of all varieties. Some cater to you and your pooch like The Carrington and The Beresford, others cater to your epicurean desires like The Dolphin. Then, of course, there are those dedicated to the beers you crave, like The Horse and Keg and Brew with their vast ranges of independent and craft brews.
How to do Surry Hills
Do as the locals do.
Coffee
Surry Hills is overflowing with great coffee spots. Whether you're a cold drip drinker or a skim cap sipper, the cafe scene has your caffeine fix sorted. Here's where to start.
1. Reuben Hills
2. Single O Surry Hills
3. Veneziano Coffee Roasters
4. Artificer Specialty Coffee Bar & Roastery
5. Sample Coffee
Cafes
Cult favourite hotcakes, diet-busting brunches and dietary requirement-friendly bites — brunch and lunchtime options abound in Surry Hills.
1. Bills
2. Cuckoo Callay on Crown - CLOSED
3. Shift Eatery
4. Paramount Coffee Project
5. Nutie Surry Hills
Shops
A mecca for luxe, bargain and window shoppers alike, Surry Hills is dotted with shops for all tastes. You can find your next read or finally commit to that ink you’ve been considering.
1. Title Store
2. Hibernia Tattoo Studio
3. Vampt Vintage Design
4. Snog The Frog
5. Oscar and Friends Booksellers
Arts and Culture
From an iconic artist’s home and studio to a ceramics studio where you can get your hands dirty, Surry Hills is a veritable design hub, offering some excellent arty experiences.
1. Brett Whiteley Studio
2. Belvoir St Theatre
3. China Heights Gallery
4. Golden Age Cinema and Bar
5. The Pottery Shed
Leisure
With great parks, a standout pool and a next-level workout zone, Surry Hills has a slew of outdoor activities for when the sun's out — plus, plenty more for when the rain moves in.
1. The Indigo Project
2. Barry's Bootcamp Surry Hills
3. Paramount House Hotel
4. Cork & Chroma Sydney
5. Prince Alfred Park Pool
Shop Online
Can't visit the area soon enough? Do some online browsing and get gems from these Surry Hills-based businesses sent straight to you instead.
1. Brix Distillers
2. HAY Store
3. The Standard Store
4. Buds & Bowers
5. Published Art Bookshop
How to do Surry Hills
Do as the locals do.
Restaurants and Pubs
The only issue when it comes to dining in Surry Hills is deciding where to go. You may never make your way through every eatery, but you should definitely start with these.
1. Sang by Mabasa
2. Chin Chin
3. Arthur
4. Nomad
5. Nour
Pubs and Bars
Tucked down alleyways and behind clandestine doors, some of Surry Hills' bars make you work to find them — but once you do, you'll be well rewarded.
1. Dead Ringer
2. Tokyo Bird
3. Four Pillars Laboratory
4. Dove & Olive
5. The Dolphin Hotel
Live Music
From intimate local favourite to joints where you get a go on the mic, catch some tunes and throw some shapes at these live music haunts around Surry Hills.
1. Button Bar - CLOSED
2. The Soda Factory
3. Cricketers Arms Hotel
4. Goros
5. The Gaelic Club Sydney
Shops
Fashion, funky cheese or a first-rate haircut. You want it, you’ll find it — all post 5pm in Surry Hills.
1. Fringe on Crown
2. Formaggi Ocello
3. Cleveland's
4. Above The Clouds Store
5. Crown Street Grocer
Takeaway Feeds
Grabbing a quick bite after work or fuelling up before a night on the d-floor? These spots will curb your late-night cravings.
1. Shwarmama - CLOSED
2. Butter
3. Pizza Fritta 180
4. Mark + Vinny's
5. Bar Ume - CLOSED
CP Staff Faves
Here are our favourite haunts for when the sun goes down and the streets of Surry Hills come alive.
1. Tio's Cerveceria
2. Poly
3. Don't Tell Aunty
4. Yulli's
5. Firedoor
Editor's Itinerary
Here is how our editor loves to spend a few hours in Surry Hills.
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Paramount Recreation Club
An intense workout is a little more palatable when it's happening atop one of the city's best boutique hotels. -
Reuben Hills
The cafe and roaster's reputation for its coffee is well-deserved, but you can't ignore its South American-inspired food. Order the brekkie roll with LP's chorizo and horseradish mayo and thank us later. -
Nutie
Head to this bakery for vegan, gluten-free sweet treats like these fudgy cake-like doughnuts. For more dietary requirement-friendly food, check out Shift Eatery, Mark + Vinny's and Yulli's. -
The Pottery Shed
Up for getting your hands dirty? Visit this warehouse studio for wheel-throwing and glazing tutorials.
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Four Pillars Laboratory
Pop into the sleek retail space by the award-winning Yarra Valley-based distillery to pick up a limited-edition gin. -
Poly-best bars-sydney-supplied
Is it a bar or a restaurant? Does it even matter? When the share-style plates and skin-contact drops at this space from the Ester team are this good, we think not. -
Cricketers Arms Hotel
Affectionately known as the Crix by locals, this understated watering hole offers up excellent pub grub, rock 'n' roll bingo, live music and all-round good vibes. -
Bad Hombres
Every dish at this grungy, Mexican-inspired eatery is vegan — and most are gluten free, too.
Find Your Way Through Surry Hills
Track down the must-visit local haunts.
Explore more of Sydney and your favourite suburbs through the eyes of other locals by following #sydneylocal on Instagram.