The stomping ground for those who like both coastal and urban living, the eastern suburbs of Sydney boast heritage homes, coastal walks, intimate wine bars and pubs that exude the Aussie laidback lifestyle.
The tree-lined streets are easier to stroll down than the hustle and bustle of the CBD, and with beaches and parks aplenty, and there is always somewhere to grab a coffee and a breath of fresh air after a hectic week.
American Express is helping us collect the best local businesses that keep the eastern suburbs brimming with positive vibes, so you can shop small at these places with your Amex Card, whether you’re buying a book or a pint.

Surry Hills is perched on the doorstep of Central Station, so take the Elizabeth Street exit and you’ll be in the thick of things. For Paddington, hopping on the bus from Central is always the best bet — exit the station at Eddy Avenue and jump on the 440. If you stay on, you’ll be deposited in the heart of Bondi Junction.

The Bondi to Coogee coastal walk is a must-do for visitors and locals alike. Grab a coffee and a bite to eat from one of the beachfront cafes to energize yourself for the walk. Complete the round trip and you can spend the afternoon exploring some of Bondi’s fashion boutiques and kitsch homewares stores.

Crown Street is the epitome of the bohemian vibe Surry Hills is famous for. Check out the compact store Title for records and books, or duck in to one of the many vintage stores expertly upcycling discarded clothing. Oxford Street is a household name for Sydneysiders. It has a vibrant art scene, and is well known for being the heart of Sydney’s LGBTQIA+ scene — there is never a dull moment here.

Sydney’s east comes alive most on weekends. At The Intersection Paddington, grab a coffee at one of the nearby cafes filled with stylish locals — and dogs. After, you can get your fashion fix at any number of boutique shops (many of which are Australian labels) or head to the subterranean Paddington Reservoir Gardens.
THE SHOPPING LISTS
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Design & StyleBondi Beach
The Emporium Barber (Bondi Beach)
Scented towels, beard balms and face masks are all part of the premium treatment here.
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Design & StyleWoollahra
Queen St Beauty And Hair
Come here for organic or mineral hair colours and spa treatments.
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Design & StyleSurry Hills
Fringe on Crown
This Surry Hills favourite specialises in extensions and balayage.
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Food & DrinkRose Bay
Royal Bakery
Come for the Portuguese tarts. Stay for the wide collection of mouth-watering baked goods.
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Food & DrinkRose Bay
Pita Mix
This casual Israeli eatery specialises in hearty, kosher food made with fresh, local produce.
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Food & DrinkSydney
Jezve Coffee
This waterside spot gives traditional cafe fare with a Turkish twist.
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Design & StylePaddington
Collector Store Paddington
Head into this Oxford Street boutique for a range of homewares and gifts.
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Design & StyleRose Bay
Beds Australia
Get a better night's sleep after a visit to this Rose Bay boutique.
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Food & DrinkRose Bay
Rose Bay Drive-In Liquor Store
This boutique bottle-o's vast selection and party planning services will make your next bash a hit.
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Food & DrinkRushcutters Bay
Bayswater Fine Wines
Visit this multi-level bottle shop for aged wines — and for a peek at the giant champagne flute chandelier.
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Food & DrinkBondi Beach
Field to Fork Butcher
Go to this local butcher for the freshest meat and a chat about how best to cook it.
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Design & StyleBondi Junction
Sweetheart Florist
For rainbow-dyed roses and sunflowers, 24 hours a day.
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Food & DrinkBondi Beach
Taqiza
Right in the heart of Bondi, find traditional Mexican food and awesome cocktails.
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Food & DrinkBondi
The Health Emporium
Bondi's emporium of all things organic, from fresh fruit and veg to bread, cleaning products and cosmetics.
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Food & DrinkNorth Bondi
Nio and Tony's
North Bondi's family-run grocer has been serving locals for over 40 years.
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Travel & LeisureBondi Junction
DOGUE Bondi
Treat your four-legged friend to a haircut and some new toys.
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Design & StyleBondi Beach
Maggie May Flowers
May supplies beautiful blooms to Bondi locals and beyond.
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Design & StyleBondi Beach
Bondi Wash
Cleaning products, fragrances and beauty products made with Australian botanicals.
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Design & StyleBondi Beach
Playa by Lucy Folk
Bondi's dreamy, pink paradise of whimsical jewellery, accessories and 'resort wear'.
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Design & StylePaddington
Come As You Are
This Oxford Street boutique stocks an always-great selection of local and international designers.
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Food & DrinkPaddington
Just William Chocolates
Treat yourself to a box of truffles from this family-run chocolatier.
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Design & StylePaddington
Lee Mathews Paddington
This Australian fashion designer's laidback, simple and ethically conscious pieces are staple items in many a Sydneysider's wardrobe.
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Design & StyleWoollahra
Summers Floral
Modern and talented florists with more than 15 years of experience.
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Design & StylePaddington
Opus
Where you go for gifts that are so clever they'll probably wink at you.
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Food & DrinkDarlinghurst
Simply Hummus Bar
A hole-in-the-wall serving up Israeli hummus in Darlinghurst.
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Food & DrinkRose Bay
Hotel Rose Bay
The revamped eastern suburbs hotel has sleek interiors and a menu from an ex-Catalina chef.
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Food & DrinkWaverley
Wholegreen Bakery
This Waverley bakery bakes the usual lineup of bread, croissants, sausage rolls and sandwiches — but it's all gluten free.
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Food & DrinkSurry Hills
Sang by Mabasa
Artfully plated, delicate Korean fare in a quiet corner of Surry Hills.
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Food & DrinkRosebery
Gelato Messina Rosebery
Get a scoop at Sydney’s beloved gelateria’s headquarters in the inner south — or learn to make your own.
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Food & DrinkDarlinghurst
Restaurant Moon
Journey into the cosmos at Darlinghurst's new modern Thai eatery.
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Food & DrinkPaddington
Fish Butchery
Saint Peter's Josh and Julie Niland have opened Australia's first fish butchery.
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Food & DrinkDarlinghurst
Brick Lane
Contemporary Indian fare and some of the best meal deals you'll find in Sydney.
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Food & DrinkBondi Beach
Panama House
The loved local has reappeared closer to the beach, with a South American-inflected menu and interesting cocktails.
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Food & DrinkSurry Hills
Soultrap
We take our hats off to this new Surry Hills bar combining fortified wines and feathered fedoras.
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Food & DrinkPotts Point
Chula
Offering regional Mexican dishes in wicker chairs and a packed menu of tequila and mezcal cocktails.
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Food & DrinkSurry Hills
Cuckoo Callay on Crown
A second outpost for the team behind one of Newtown's busiest (and best) brunch spots.
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Food & DrinkNorth Bondi
Rocker
A new all-day Bondi coffee spot, restaurant and bar from Three Blue Ducks co-founder Darren Robertson.
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Food & DrinkSurry Hills
Masala Theory
A Bollywood-meets-Andy Warhol Indian eatery serving butter chicken and bubblegum lassi.
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Food & DrinkBondi Beach
Blanca
Finnish chef Tomi Björck teams up with local Sam Cole to bring an excellently executed east-meets-west menu to Bondi Beach.
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Food & DrinkWoollahra
Flat White Cafe
Serving locals breakfast, brunch and lunch for over ten years in the heart of the eastern suburbs.
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Food & DrinkPaddington
Lucio's Italian Restaurant
Excellent Italian fare in a terrace dotted with legendary Australian artworks.
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Design & StylePaddington
Poepke
Discover this hidden collection of colourful international fashion pieces.
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Food & DrinkPaddington
Love Supreme
Enjoy creative, gourmet pizza in a casual space with an industrial air.
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Food & DrinkPotts Point
Jangling Jack's
Find blues, soul and cocktails inspired by the notorious historic locals of Potts Point at this neighbourhood speakeasy.
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Arts & EntertainmentSurry Hills
Oscar and Friends Booksellers
Visit this independent bookshop that's small in size but vast in range.
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Food & DrinkSurry Hills
Formaggi Ocello
Rare imports, cured meats, and cheese and wine nights — welcome to Sydney's fromage epicentre.
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Food & DrinkDarlinghurst
East Village Hotel
The three-tiered Darlinghurst pub gets a new life with an upstairs sports bar and rooftop terrace.
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Food & DrinkRosebery
Welcome Dose Specialty Coffee
Excellent coffee, cafe eats and tiramisu thickshakes inside Rosebery's artisan supermarket.
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Food & DrinkPaddington
Tequila Mockingbird
A Paddington terrace filled with tequila and tasty South American morsels.
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Food & DrinkBondi Beach
Milky Lane
Bondi burgers, bacon thickshakes and some wonderful thing they call a CoNut.
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Food & DrinkSurry Hills
Single O Surry Hills
This Surry Hills coffee stalwart now has self-serve filter on tap.
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Food & DrinkPotts Point
Thirsty Bird
The team from Mr Crackles foray into fried chicken for this Potts Point takeaway joint.
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Food & DrinkPaddington
The London Hotel
This upscale pub caters to all — from dog lovers to peking duck lovers.
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Food & DrinkPaddington
Micky's Cafe
Good clean fun since 1988 — go for the thickshakes, cheesecake or cheesecake in thickshakes.
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Food & DrinkDarlinghurst
Darlo Country Club
An LA-style social club from the team behind the Lobo Plantation.
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Food & DrinkPaddington
Paddington Alimentari
An authentic Italian cafe-deli decked with bunches of oregano and hanging prosciutto.
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Food & DrinkSurry Hills
Dead Ringer
The Bulletin Place team reinvent Bacardi Breezers, Redskins and so many nostalgic favourites.
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Food & DrinkSurry Hills
Dove & Olive
The first rule of Craft Beer Fight Club is you do not talk about Craft Beer Fight Club.
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Food & DrinkPaddington
The Village Inn
Come for the relaxed, Sunday afternoon sessions featuring local musical talent — and local pups.
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Food & DrinkDarlinghurst
Bloody Mary's
Darlinghurst's new Hamptons-inspired joint making some of the most hectic Bloody Marys in Sydney.
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Food & DrinkBondi Beach
Drake Eatery
Bondi Beach's new home of warm timber panelling and warming Thirlmere duck.
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Food & DrinkVaucluse
The Trail
The buzzing Vaucluse cafe bringing a piece of the inner west to the east.
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Food & DrinkBondi
Raw Bar
Bondi's Raw Bar is the classic light, summery Japanese joint everyone wishes was in their 'hood.
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Food & DrinkSurry Hills
Tokyo Bird
Tokyo Bird is ruling the roost with a focus on hot-right-now Japanese whisky and yakitori sticks.
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Arts & EntertainmentSurry Hills
Published Art Bookshop
Find some of the best looking published material in town.
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Design & StyleSurry Hills
The Standard Store
The standard this store sets is one of smart coolness over bombastic label gauche.
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Arts & EntertainmentSurry Hills
Title Store
There is damn good taste to be found among these books, records and films.
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Food & DrinkBondi
Bondi Bowling Club
Barefoot bowls, modern bistro food and local craft brews run this renovated Bondi gem.
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Food & DrinkBondi Beach
bills Bondi
Fancy a healthy brunch after an energising Bondi to Bronte walk?
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Food & DrinkSurry Hills
Strawberry Hills Hotel
If you were a local here before, you won’t recognise it.
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Food & DrinkBondi
The Bucket List
Bondi Beach's favourite watering hole doesn't go into hibernation for the winter.
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Design & StylePotts Point
Poho Flowers
Order elegant bouquets in signature blue wrapping from this art deco flower shop on Macleay Street.
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Food & DrinkBondi
A Tavola Bondi
The same ingredients that made Darlinghurst's A Tavola a hit, but with a heavier hit of the ocean.
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Food & DrinkBondi
Neighbourhood
Next time your throat is dry and sunstroke has you seeking shelter, grab a Neighbourhood Bloody Mary.
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Food & DrinkSurry Hills
Paramount Coffee Project
Paramount to those that surround it, this Surry Hills cafe does ripper coffee and fabulous food.
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Food & DrinkSurry Hills
Devon Cafe
Devonshire Street gets a little taste of Melbourne's cool cafe culture with this inviting and diverse cafe.
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Food & DrinkWaverley
Bronte Road Bistro
A classically trained chef starts making eggs for the hungover masses.
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Food & DrinkBondi Junction
The Eastern
Bondi Junction is spoilt for gastronomical choice as The Eastern opens three new venues within its newly redeveloped floors.
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Food & DrinkRandwick
The Cookhouse
The first port of call in Randwick for a quiet beer and good nosh.
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Food & DrinkSurry Hills
The Wild Rover
The boys behind Grandma's inject a bit of craic into Sydney's bar scene.
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Food & DrinkSurry Hills
The Soda Factory
Venture beyond the Bobby's storefront for boozy spiders, $1 hot dogs and 50s tunes.
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Food & DrinkWoollahra
The Lord Dudley Hotel
The Lord Dudley Hotel is a slice of Old Blighty, a mock Tudor-like building complete with a creeping vine-covered exterior.
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Food & DrinkSurry Hills
Baccomatto Osteria
Serial restaurateur Mauro Marcucci adds another to his oeuvre.
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Food & DrinkDouble Bay
Mrs Sippy
Double Bay, as many would have you believe, has long been starved of a healthy bar scene. Mrs Sippy, however, presents an argument to the contrary.
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Food & DrinkPotts Point
Gypsy Espresso
Meticulously made brews in an industrial-inspired hole-in-the-wall.
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Food & DrinkDarlinghurst
Bar Reggio
This long-running Italian restaurant has all the right ingredients for your next group get-togethers.
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Food & DrinkPotts Point
The Roosevelt
A refined, NYC-inspired bar sending you back to the 1950s with champagne, plenty of cocktails and oysters.
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Food & DrinkSurry Hills
Reuben Hills
A cafe that encapsulates the slick inner city vibe of Surry Hills with its seriously good coffee roasts.
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Food & DrinkDarlinghurst
Buffalo Dining Club
There is one very compelling reason to visit this cosy joint: spaghetti in a giant cheese wheel.
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Food & DrinkBondi Beach
Laurie's Vegetarian
Any vegetarian or vegan can tell you just how difficult it can be to find affordable, convenient and delicious food to fit their diet.
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Food & DrinkWoolloomooloo
The East Sydney Hotel
This country-style pub provides live tunes on the regular — from blues and folk to mellow jazz.
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Food & DrinkPotts Point
Fei Jai
If this is the food that transforms you into ‘fat boy’, then I’m willing to take the risk.
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Food & DrinkBondi Beach
Sonoma
The Sydney kings of sourdough have set up shop on Campbell Parade. Bondi hipsters rejoice.