From the sparkling harbourfront of Barangaroo and the sandstone buildings of The Rocks to the hawker-style eateries in Haymarket and the small bar scene in Redfern, Sydney's inner city is a diverse landscape of culture, history and art.
You can sip a cocktail and watch the ferries putter past in Barangaroo, hop on a train and be feasting on dumplings 15 minutes later in Chinatown, then head to a Redfern bar for a late-night performance.
We’ve partnered with American Express to bring you the very best of local businesses in the inner city. You can shop small at all of these divine hotspots with your American Express Card.

A good pair of shoes, your Opal card and the Sydney Trains timetable are all you need to get around the inner city. Central Station is the bustling transport hub of Sydney — from here, you’ll be able to find your way anywhere you want to get to either by train (to Redfern and around the city circle), light rail or on foot.

Say what you will about Sydney’s nightlife, but it does boast a thriving small bar scene. These haunts, including the CBD’s PS40 and Ramblin’ Rascal Tavern, and The Bearded Tit in Redfern, are experts at stirring, shaking and serving up inventive cocktails, and live entertainment, for the post-work crowds.

The CBD’s Pitt Street is where you’ll find high-end boutiques and big-name brands, while Barangaroo Avenue plays host to specialty food stores and eateries. Meanwhile, Redfern’s high street offers a more suburban experience with an eclectic mix of buzzing bars and neighbourhood essentials.

In a city that’s seen a few facelifts (hello Light Rail and Barangaroo), it’s comforting to know that good local businesses can withstand constant change. Nowhere maintains this sense of history and local pride better than the Victorian-era mall, the Strand Arcade, housing longstanding milliner Strand Hatters, cobbler Andrew Macdonald Shoemaker, and the artisan hub Courtesy of the Artist. Head inside for a history lesson in quality customer service and craftsmanship.
THE SHOPPING LISTS
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Food & DrinkSurry Hills
Golden Age Cinema and Bar
This revamped screening room and small bar brings a little old-school charm to 'going to the movies'.
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Food & DrinkPyrmont
Peg Leg Tavern
A good location for people-watching with a side of plant-based dining.
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Design & StyleBarangaroo
Somedays Barangaroo
This Barangaroo boutique has Nordic brands and upmarket gifts for when you need them most.
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Design & StyleSydney
Manning Cartell - The Strand Arcade
Ethically made evening wear and sophisticated style is what you'll find from this Australian brand.
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Design & StyleDarlinghurst
Zink & Sons Tailors & Shirtmakers Sydney
Visit this Oxford Street stalwart for bespoke tailoring.
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Design & StyleSurry Hills
Above The Clouds Store
Head to this Crown Street store for the freshest kicks and streetwear labels from around the globe.
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Design & StyleSydney
Jet Cycles
Here's where you'll find premium bike brands Specialized and Cannondale.
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Design & StyleSydney
Clarence St Cyclery
Chat to the friendly staff about which bike model is best for you at this long-running CBD store.
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Food & DrinkWaterloo
Waterloo Superior Meats
Regulars return week after week to have a chat with owner Kristallis — and pick up house-made snags and lamb on the bone.
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Food & DrinkSurry Hills
Crown Street Grocer
Small but mighty; this is where you'll want to do your weekly food shop.
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Design & StyleRosebery
My Violet
For showstopper bouquets of vibrant blooms put your trust in Myra Perez.
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Design & StyleBarangaroo
Collector Store Barangaroo
This city outpost of a Surry Hills favourite stocks thoughtfully designed fashion and homewares.
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Arts & EntertainmentSydney
Kings Comics
One of Australia's longest running comic retailers, this pop culture haven receives new stock from the US every week.
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Design & StyleSydney
Courtesy of the Artist
An inner city collective of artistic minds and passionate jewellery designers, championing Aussie materials, workers and talent.
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Travel & LeisureSydney
Men's Biz Sydney
Walk out of this CBD barbershop feeling fresh and fine, with new skin and hair care products to keep it going.
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Design & StyleSydney
Strand Hatters
Where to go if you want to drop money on a hat that will last you 20 years.
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Design & StyleRedfern
Chee Soon & Fitzgerald
This Sydney institution supplies bold ceramics, cushions, textiles and vintage design pieces.
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Food & DrinkZetland
The Colins Butcher Sydney
This Zetland butchery specialises in premium cuts and handmade products.
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Food & DrinkPyrmont
Quick Brown Fox
A Pyrmont cafe with Single O coffee and food by an ex-Fat Duck chef.
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Food & DrinkRedfern
Redfern Fruit Market
A classic local fruit and veg market and Asian grocer in Redfern.
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Food & DrinkThe Rocks
The Fine Food Store
A Brooklyn-inspired eatery serving simple but delicious cafe meals and really good coffee.
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Food & DrinkSydney
Forty Licks
An underground restaurant serving Vietnamese noodle soups and fancy cocktails.
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Food & DrinkThe Rocks
Aslan Coffee Roasters The Rocks
Specialty coffee from Indonesia — and the cafe eats to go with it — in the city.
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Food & DrinkCircular Quay
Bulletin Place
This long-standing CBD cocktail bar is still one of the best in the city (and the country).
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Food & DrinkSydney
Chica Bonita CBD — CLOSED
Refined Mexican fare in a stunning restaurant on Clarence Street.
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Food & DrinkRedfern
Redfern Convenience Store
People travel from all over to visit this local corner store with a cult-like fan base.
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Food & DrinkSydney
MCA Cafe
The rooftop cafe is now serving an all-vegetarian menu by Cornersmith — and everything is under $20.
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Food & DrinkDarlinghurst
Eliza Food & Wine
A casual eatery from Michelin-trained chef Jeremy Bentley.
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Food & DrinkSydney
Portal
This new CBD spot combines all-day eating, an ex-Mecca chef and serious support for those in need.
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Food & DrinkSydney
Pablo & Rusty's
A bustling CBD cafe that's serving up the chain's signature blends and a big all-day menu.
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Food & DrinkSydney
Single O CBD
This takeaway window on York Street serves great coffee, loaded crumpets and bacon and egg rolls.
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Food & DrinkSydney
Shelbourne Hotel
A CBD gem, great for anything from al fresco afternoons to late-night dance sessions.
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Design & StyleDarlinghurst
Ariel Booksellers
Visit one of Sydney's oldest booksellers right in the thick of it on Oxford Street.
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Food & DrinkSydney
Cross Eatery
This buzzing CBD cafe boasts healthy salads, quality coffee and kombucha on tap.
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Food & DrinkWaterloo
Baby Coffee Co.
Neon, pastels, good coffee and great cocktails abound at this Waterloo spot.
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Food & DrinkSydney
Fix Wine Bar + Restaurant
Delicious wine and vino dedication in the heart of the city.
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Food & DrinkChippendale
Sneaky Possum
Chippendale's multifaceted bar can satisfy your morning caffeine fix and your late-night margarita craving.
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Food & DrinkSydney
Old Town Hong Kong Cuisine
Serving up Peking duck steamed buns, dumplings, chicken feet and durian desserts till 2am.
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Food & DrinkSydney
Sasaki
Some of Sydney's best Japanese fare is being served out of this hole-in-the-wall behind a police station.
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Food & DrinkChippendale
Olio
Kensington Street's Sicilian restaurant serving traditional dishes with contemporary flourishes.
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Food & DrinkSydney
The Walrus
A bright, reliable CBD cafe doing fried chicken burgers, coffee and house-made sodas.
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Food & DrinkRedfern
Mjolner
A Thor-inspired carvery doing modern Nordic food and exceptional cocktails.
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Food & DrinkRedfern
Vine Providore
You'll find wine and beer without the price tag at this bottle-o based inside an old brewery.
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Food & DrinkChippendale
Eastside Kitchen
A New York-style steakhouse with acclaimed chef Stanley Wong behind the wheel.
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Food & DrinkSydney
Down N' Out Sydney
Sydney's In-N-Out-inspired burgers have found a permanent home inside a CBD pub.
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Food & DrinkSydney
Long Chim
Prep your chilli tolerance for a visit to David Thompson's Thai fine dining restaurant.
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Food & DrinkSydney
Mercado
Nathan Sasi's restaurant focuses on Spanish food and house-made smallgoods.
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Food & DrinkSydney
The Port
Darling Harbour has a new French coastal-inspired bar and eatery...and it isn't your usual tourist spot.
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Food & DrinkBarangaroo
Zushi Barangaroo
The Sydney sushi masters' third offering brings their acclaimed offering to Barangaroo.
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Food & DrinkSydney
Chat Thai Circular Quay
The Sydney stalwart has opened in Gateway at Circular Quay.
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Food & DrinkUltimo
Salt Meats Cheese Broadway — CLOSED
Their city outpost goes beyond the basics with burgers, a DJ and a menu devoted to Nutella.
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Food & DrinkSydney
Kittyhawk
Combining a French military aesthetic with an end of war party vibe, and stocked with over 900 spirits — expect banging cocktails.
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Food & DrinkAlexandria
Sonoma Cafe
The bakery's Alexandria outpost set within an industrial warehouse.
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Food & DrinkRedfern
Moya's Juniper Lounge
This classy Redfern gin bar is gunning to become your local haunt (if it's not already).
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Food & DrinkSydney
RivaReno Gelato Barangaroo
The Surry Hills favourite brings its pistachio, mascarpone and, of course, cremino harbourside.
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Food & DrinkSydney
The Oak Barrel
As one of the oldest bottle shops in Sydney, the range is something to behold.
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Food & DrinkWaterloo
The Cauliflower Hotel
A sprawling old pub (established in 1838, in fact) which plays host to a rotating roster of bands.
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Food & DrinkWaterloo
Kepos & Co.
A delightful piece of old Jerusalem with a mix of Aussie favourites and Middle Eastern flavours.
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Food & DrinkSydney
Basket Brothers
The name of the game at Basket Brothers is next level comfort food.
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Food & DrinkSydney
Barrio Cellar
Some of Sydney's best tequila and mezcal cocktails await at the Barrio Chino team's basement bar.
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Food & DrinkDarlinghurst
South Dowling Sandwiches
Where locals can lunch every day and never get bored (or go broke).
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Food & DrinkSydney
The Swinging Cat
A sophisticated homage to New Orleans and its signature drink, the sazerac.
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Design & StyleSydney
Incu
The elusive mix of high-end and high-street fashion here will hook you in every time.
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Food & DrinkSydney
The Spice Room
Head chef Darbyan Singh transforms Peshawari-style Indian street food into must-try, high-end dining.
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Food & DrinkRedfern
The Bearded Tit
Turn left at the crocheted penises and enter Redfern's brazen art bar.
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Food & DrinkChippendale
Zigi's Wine Bar
Art, wine and cheese, it’s the golden trifecta. It’s not in the title, but it does cooking classes, too.
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Food & DrinkSydney
Piccolo Me
Piccolo Me is pulling out some pretty quirky stops to help attract a crowd.
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Food & DrinkSydney
NoOk Urban Fresh Bar
Fresh produce, creative all-day brekkies and outstanding local coffee in the heart of Sydney's CBD.
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Food & DrinkRosebery
Black Star Pastry Rosebery
Whereas the Newtown store is driven by cakes, here it’s more about lunch, bread and the woodfired oven.
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Food & DrinkSydney
Cafe Del Mar Sydney
Whether it's a part of the original brand or not, this venue is topnotch.
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Food & DrinkSydney
Bristol Arms Hotel
Not one but two large roof terraces - just in time for summer.
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Food & DrinkSydney
The Lobo
The moment you step up to the bar, you're made to feel like a real regular at this relaxed yet refined slice of old Cuba.
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Food & DrinkRedfern
Kepos Street Kitchen
All-day Israeli dining, where you can have falafel for breakfast, lunch and dinner.
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Food & DrinkSydney
York Lane
York Lane is the CBD's much needed coffee shop turned small bar. Caffeine addicts and after-work boozers rejoice.
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Food & DrinkRedfern
St Jude
A café at the Redfern end of Bourke Street that's it's the answer to our prayers.
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Food & DrinkSydney
Mojo Record Bar
Tucked away behind Mojo Records on York Street lies this inner city drinking cave.
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Food & DrinkHaymarket
Chat Thai
A Sydney mainstay doing favourites well — and at very, very reasonable prices.
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Food & DrinkSydney
Small Bar
It’s quaint, home to good company, good food and tasty mulled wine - the perfect choice for chilly winter nights.
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Food & DrinkRedfern
Coffee Tea & Me
Coffee Tea & Me has that unique combination of charming decor, really good food, and delightfully low prices.
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Food & DrinkSydney
Assembly
Assembly is a spanking new option on the city's map of small bars with the atmosphere of an adult's treehouse.
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Food & DrinkChippendale
The Rose Hotel
This vibrant beer garden has provided an inner city oasis for over 100 years.
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Food & DrinkSydney
Poolside Cafe
All your beach parties and frolicking in the ocean counts for nothing if you haven't visited this place.
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Food & DrinkThe Rocks
The Lord Nelson Brewery Hotel
Sydney’s oldest continually licensed hotel and home of Australia's oldest pub brewery.
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Food & DrinkSydney
Opera Kitchen
The classiest food court our city has to offer. Harbourside views make this perfect for pre/post show wining and dining.