Sydney’s inner west has boomed in recent years in all the ways that matter.
Here, you’ll find new restaurants celebrating myriad cuisines, niche bars perfecting both classic and crazy cocktails, independent boutiques boasting vintage collections, and second-hand bookstores with obscure titles and that beloved old-book scent.
We’ve teamed up with American Express to sift through the vast collection of stores spanning Sydney’s inner west and find the creme de la creme to shop small at. These local gems will no doubt become your new favourites — and they all welcome you (and your American Express Card) with a grin.
If you feel like stretching your legs, Glebe is a short walk from Central Station — but if you aren’t up for the trek, hop on the light rail. For Newtown, take the T2 line from Central. Enmore is a six-minute walk from Newtown Station. The most scenic way to reach Balmain is by ferry, but if you’re prone to seasickness, the 442 bus from the QVB will get you there promptly.
If you’re yet to jump on the e-book bandwagon, the inner west will certainly deliver all your physical literary needs. Sappho Books‘ huge collection may take a while to trawl through so, fortunately, there is a wine bar attached. Newtown’s Better Read Than Dead hosts regular author talks and book clubs, while specialist bookstore and gift shop Pentimento is the place to head for hard-to-find titles, candles and stationery.
Cream on King in Newtown is one of the largest vintage stores in all of Sydney. Dedicated to the concept of upcycling, each item of clothing is refurbished, resized and redesigned, taking a preloved item and making it new again. Glebe Point Road is the main thoroughfare in Glebe — after walking the length and taking in the stores, stop for a drink at Staves Brewery.
Connoisseurs of craft brews, organic wines and bespoke spirits are well catered to in this area. From the cosy bars like Earl’s Juke Joint, The Little Guy and Where’s Nick to the specialty booze shops like Bucket Boys and P&V Wine and Liquor, the inner west is the spot to track down, or discover, a rare tipple or two.
THE SHOPPING LISTS
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Design & StyleNewtownRoute 66
Surry Hills' longstanding vintage store has started a new chapter in Newtown.
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Food & DrinkNewtownDr Earth Newtown
Stop by for health foods, supplements and eco-friendly products — or just a turmeric shot and a vegan cake.
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Design & StyleBalmainStem
Here you'll find a tight collection of Scandi-style furniture, homewares and clothing.
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Travel & LeisureGlebeNature's Energy Glebe
You'll find everything you need to pamper yourself at this inner west bathhouse and spa.
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Food & DrinkGlebeThe Source Bulk Foods
Pick up organic treats and healthy ingredients at this waste-free corner store.
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Food & DrinkDarlingtonTerra Cotta Roasters
This Darlington cafe has all-you-can-drink batch and cold brew coffee for all.
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Design & StyleNewtownNewtown Garden Market
Whether you have a green thumb or not, these gardening specialists have got you covered.
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Design & StyleRozelleTilly's Art & Print
Your one-stop inner west shop for all the supplies you need to get arty.
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Design & StyleBalmainAlly Bell Floral Design
This Balmain florist is a local go-to for fresh flowers and bespoke bouquets.
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Arts & EntertainmentNewtownBlue Dog Posters
This is where you can finally get that life-sized Spider-Man print framed and mounted for your wall.
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Food & DrinkGlebeThe Charleston
This millennial pink-hued Glebe eatery is inspired by the coastal towns of South Carolina.
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Food & DrinkMarrickvilleOna Marrickville
The award-winning Canberra coffee roaster has opened its first Sydney cafe in the inner west.
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Food & DrinkNewtownFlour Drum
This Newtown gem is serving up banoffee pancakes and slow-cooked lamb ragu with heaps of hospitality.
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Arts & EntertainmentNewtownBetter Read Than Dead
Thriving since 1996; keeping the independent bookshop spirit alive.
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Food & DrinkNewtownP&V Wine and Liquor
A boutique bottle-o stocking organic wine, beer and spirits, as well as its own pre-batch cocktails.
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Food & DrinkForest LodgeFlour Eggs Water
An authentic pasta bar serving up some of the best pappardelle in Sydney.
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Food & DrinkConcordHappy Ending Burgers
This simple Concord joint keeps the focus on making great burgers.
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Food & DrinkNewtownBotany View Hotel
This iconic South King Street watering hole has been revamped by The Lord Gladstone team.
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Food & DrinkErskinevilleRose of Australia
A local hang for Erko residents with standard pub grub — and plenty of space for your pooch.
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Design & StyleNewtownSWOP Clothing Exchange
Uncover some buried fashion treasures at this expertly curated, second-hand shop on Enmore Road.
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Food & DrinkForest LodgeGelato Messina Tramsheds
There's no such thing as too much of a gelato-flavoured good thing, Messina is proving just that its move into Tramsheds.
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Food & DrinkNewtownOld City Kitchen & Bar
The traditional tastes of Jerusalem have come to Newtown.
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Food & DrinkRozelleBelle Fleur Fine Chocolates
This Rozelle chocolate shop makes its own a truffles, pralines and caramels.
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Food & DrinkForest LodgeOsaka Trading Co.
From sake and chicken karaage to whisky and edamame, this izakaya has all your Japanese cravings covered.
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Food & DrinkMarrickvilleBarzaari
A modern mixed Mediterranean menu hits Addison Road's culinary black hole.
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Food & DrinkForest LodgeGoose Bakery
A Forest Lodge pastry palace from Bourke Street Bakery alumni.
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Food & DrinkGlebeThe Toxteth Hotel
This Glebe pub straddles old and new with great pub grub and a mixed crowd.
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Food & DrinkCamperdownLittle Lord
A cute Camperdown cafe reminiscent of your grandma's living room.
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Food & DrinkGlebeThievery
An inspired Middle Eastern restaurant and bar with a cracking vegetarian feast.
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Food & DrinkMarrickvillePagoto Gelato & Waffle House
A challenger to Messina and N2 comes from the Greeks and their watermelon feta gelato.
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Food & DrinkSt PetersThe End of King
The End of King is another reason why we should be exploring the less trodden paths in life.
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Food & DrinkLeichhardtMoretti Ristorante Pizzeria
After 17 years on Leichhardt's Norton Street, this authentic pizzeria is still at the top of Sydney's Italian game.
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Food & DrinkSydneySappho Books Cafe & Wine Bar
Have tea in the sci-fi section at this long-loved bookstore cafe.
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Food & DrinkAnnandaleAnnandale Hotel
The Annandale is all grown up and British-inspired, with not a sticky square of carpet in sight.
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Food & DrinkDrummoyneZeus Street Greek
The Apollo and Alpha may have put the sexy back into saganaki, but Zeus is taking it smart-casual.
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Food & DrinkSummer HillOne Penny Red
The location is great, the atmosphere is just what you want and the food? More than worth the journey.
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Food & DrinkMarrickvilleLazyBones Lounge
Marrickville is good for more than just a damn fine pork roll, with this cosy jazz bar keeping the inner-west party going late into the night.
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Food & DrinkBalmainEfendy
Turkish food icon Somer Sivrioglu offers both casual meze and a formal Turkish feast in Balmain.
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Food & DrinkForest LodgeIn the Annex
It's the cafe trifecta: expert coffee, a fresh, seasonal menu and conversation-worthy decor.
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Food & DrinkEnmoreOsteria di Russo & Russo
The Bridge Room's John Saxby dishes up Italian food that's not like your mama used to make.
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Food & DrinkBalmainThe Balmain Hotel
The West End Hotel is reborn as The Balmain, complete with Flamingo Room and a transcontinental menu.
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Food & DrinkBalmainThe Cottage Bar & Kitchen
Where every night is the dinner party you've dreamed of one day throwing.
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Food & DrinkStanmoreSixpenny
A tiny seven-table restaurant in culinary ghost town Stanmore is turning heads.
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Food & DrinkBalmainCantina Bar
Cantina Bar makes the grade as a watering hole alone, but additional casual grazing amps up the experience.
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Food & DrinkErskinevilleCafe Shenkin
Erskineville's long-loved home of hearty shakshuka and insanely good pastries.
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Food & DrinkErskinevilleThe Hive Bar
A true local bar, the Hive is one of the best spots on the Erskineville Road strip.
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Food & DrinkNewtownEnmore Theatre
Undeniably Sydney's most beautiful theatre, the Enmore maintains an antique, old-world feel inside a contemporary venue.
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Food & DrinkNewtownBlack Star Pastry
Black Star Pastry offers world-class pastry with an atmosphere (and prices) to make you feel right at home.
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Food & DrinkGlebeTimbah
A neighbourhood wine bar pouring whatever's open and dishing out a world of flavours.
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