In partnership with Concrete Playground, we’re celebrating what makes Haymarket 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.
DAY
HOW TO DO HAYMARKET AND CHINATOWN
Do as the locals do by DAY
Cafes
There’s a growing cafe culture in Chinatown, which means you’re only ever a stone’s throw from a decent cup of coffee.
- EDITION HAYMARKET: Pair quality cuppas with innovative, Japanese-inspired brekkies a this inner city cafe.
- DOPA DON AND MILK BAR: A Japanese take on the classic Aussie milk bar by the Devon team.
- AUVERS CAFE DARLING SQUARE: A Rhodes favourite comes to the CBD with the same arty aesthetic and creative cafe fare.
- KINGSWOOD COFFEE: Kingswood Coffee not only has your coffee needs covered but also offers a little nod to Sydney's past.
- TOASTIESMITH - DARLING SQUARE: A cafe dishing up Korean-style sangas and house-made sodas.
Image: Edition Haymarket
Restaurants
Wear your stretchy pants. The precinct is bursting with amazing culinary specialties from the Asian region.
- YANG GUO FU MA LA TANG: This choose-your-own hot pot stand is an entertaining enigma.
- KOGI KOREAN BBQ: This DIY Korean barbecue joint at Market City has to be the fanciest in Chinatown.
- MR CHEN BEEF NOODLE: This Haymarket hole-in-the-wall is serving up bowls of hand-stretched noodles and 30-cent dumplings every day.
- CHINESE NOODLE HOUSE: The other Chinese noodle joint at the Prince Centre.
- BELLES HOT CHICKEN: Darling Square's outpost of the super-popular, Nashville-style fried chicken chain.
Image: Mr Chen Beef Noodle
Shops
Drop some cash at Chinatown’s specialty stores serving up Japanese cheesecakes, bubble tea and Thai produce.
- DULCET CAKES & SWEETS: A Haymarket patisserie with 20-layer crepe cakes by an ex-Quay pastry chef.
- HOKKAIDO BAKED CHEESE TART: Queue up, then load up on these famous cheesy, creamy tarts.
- SYDNEY PARTY WAREHOUSE: Venture into this kingdom of costumes in the heart of the CBD.
- PONTIP EXOTIC FRUIT & VEGETABLES: This is where Sydney's top Thai chefs go to buy their produce.
- BUBBLE NINI THE EXCHANGE: You'll find house-made pearls at this inner-city bubble tea joint.
Image: Hokkaido Baked Cheese Tart
Arts and culture
From galleries and street art to oft-forgotten architectural delights, there are many art gems in Chinatown to discover.
- 4A CENTRE FOR CONTEMPORARY ASIAN ART: The gallery celebrates innovative Asian-Australian art with a mission to foster creativity and thinking.
- KOREAN CULTURAL CENTRE: Immerse yourself in Korean culture via art exhibitions, language and dance classes and food.
- CIVIC TOWER: Potentially the finest example of Brutalist architecture in the Southern Hemisphere, this tower also houses the Masonic Centre and museum.
- DARLING SQUARE LIBRARY: The flash space has free wifi, retro gaming consoles, thousands of books and plenty of great places to eat.
- UTS GALLERY: Visit this gallery where art, design and social enquiry collide.
Image: 4A Centre
Shop online
Can't visit the area soon enough? Get gems from these Haymarket-based businesses sent straight to you instead.
- BUCKET BOYS BAR AND BOTTLE SHOP: A one-stop booze spot from Sydney's craft beer experts.
- ARISUN: Hit up this late-night haunt for Seoul-style fried chicken and beer towers.
- XI'AN BIANG BIANG: One of the only places in Sydney where you can try Shaanxi chewy pulled noodles and a pastry pork 'burger'.
- GUMSHARA: This Haymarket stable is famed for its rich, gravy-like tonkotsu ramen.
- UNCLE TETSU: The world's most coveted Japanese cheesecakes are available right here in Sydney.
Image: Xi'an Biang Biang
Concrete Playground Staff Faves
These are the spots around Haymarket we love to hit up during the daylight hours.
- CHINESE GARDEN OF FRIENDHSIP: Take a break from the city bedlam at this serene secret garden.
- THE ALLEY LUJIAOXIANG: Head here for stunning marbled boba with handmade tapioca balls.
- DAINTY SICHUAN: Get ready for the numbness — one of Melbourne's best Sichuan eateries is now serving up spicy Chongqing noodles in Sydney.
- BOON CAFE AT JARERN CHAI GROCER: Thai sandwiches are the cafe fusion we could get very used to.
- HACHI SYDNEY: Treat your best furry friend at this dog spa, boutique and cafe.
Image: Chinese Garden of Friendship
Editor's itinerary
Here is how our editor loves to spend a few hours in Haymarket.
- Dr Chau Chak Wing Building: The first Australian building designed by esteemed architect Frank Gehry, the man behind The Guggenheim and Walt Disney Concert Hall.
- Emperor's Puffs: Take the time to line up for these little balls filled with warm, custard-y goodness for only 40 cents a pop.
- Paddy's Markets: Don’t be put off by Paddy’s Markets' reputation as a purveyor of cheap knock-off goods — the flowers alone are worth the visit.
- 4A Centre for Contemporary Asian Art: Sculptures, light shows, photography and talks run constantly at this multi-faceted art centre.
Image: Dr Chau Chak Wing Building
NIGHT
HOW TO DO HAYMARKET AND CHINATOWN
Do as the locals do by NIGHT
Restaurants and bars
We’ve said it before, and we’ll say it again – you’re spoilt for dinner choices in this area. Here are some of Sydney’s favourites.
- BANCHO: Haymarket's Japanese-style bar serving cocktails and katsu skewers.
- HELLO AUNTIE DARLING SQUARE: The inner west Vietnamese favourite has opened a CBD outpost.
- XOPP: The Golden Century team's new Darling Square restaurant is a homage to its famed pipis in XO dish.
- DAE JANG KUM: Knock back some marinated beef ribs and tasty bulgogi with a cold Korean beer.
- THE DOLLAR SHOP: This famed global hot pot chain has landed in Haymarket.
Image:
BYO Restaurants
Who doesn’t love a drink with their dinner? These restaurants serve top-notch meals for you to pair with your own BYO wine of choice.
- CHAT THAI: A Sydney mainstay doing favourites well — and at very, very reasonable prices.
- PHO PASTEUR: You will not find a finer pho this close to the CBD.
- MAMAK: One of the few places in Sydney where you can get exceptional Malaysian hawker food at a reasonable price.
- CHINATOWN NOODLE RESTAURANT: A mainstay of Chinatown’s cheap-and-cheerful dinner circuit.
- SEA BAY RESTAURANT: Visit for tasty northwest Chinese classics and some of the gooiest dumplings around town.
Image: Pho Pasteur
Live music, arts and culture
Chinatown’s not the most obvious place to get your live music fix. Lucky for you, we’ve scoured the hidden venues for your listening and dancing pleasure.
- THE METRO: Grungy but great — this iconic live music venue delivers the goods.
- K1 KARAOKE LOUNGE: A LED-lit karaoke haven above Chinatown.
- CIVIC UNDERGROUND: Venture to the depths of the Civic Hotel to discover a live music space that's sophisticated and a little bit sexy.
- DYNASTY KARAOKE: Live out your popstar fantasies at this expansive karaoke joint in Dixon Mall.
- CAPITOL THEATRE: You're always guaranteed a night of elegance and entertainment at this heritage-listed theatre.
Image: K1 Karaoke
Shops
You can buy trinkets, desserts or designer sneakers at Chinatown’s eclectic collection of nighttime retail haunts.
- MORNING GLORY: This colourful Chinatown store takes kitsch to the extreme.
- THAI KEE IGA SUPERMARKET: This specialty supermarket is a one-stop shop for your next Asian feast.This specialty supermarket is a one-stop shop for your next Asian feast.
- FIFTEEN SHEETS: A multi-label menswear and womenswear store in Darling Square.
- GELATO MESSINA DARLING SQUARE: Pick from 40-plus flavours (or just stick to that salted coconut and mango that you know you love).
- KURTOSH DARLING SQUARE: Treat yourself to a kürtőskalács — the traditional Hungarian pastry better known as a chimney cake.
Image: Morning Glory
Leisure
Head to some old-school, kitsch arcade game parlours, escape rooms and public outdoor areas (with free table tennis).
- CAPITOL SQUARE GAMING ARCADE: Be a big kid again at this wonderland of retro arcade games.
- PADDY'S MARKETING HAYMARKET: You're sure to pick up a bargain or two at this iconic, bustling market.
- BREAK THE CODE ESCAPE ROOM: Put your problem-solving skills to the test. Can you crack the code?
- CROSSOVER DANCE: Give hip hop or street dancing a go at this welcoming inner city dance studio.
- MEN'S CULTURE BARBER: Treat yourself to a hot shave or new hairstyle while sipping a whisky.
Image: Paddy's Market Haymarket
Locals love
Here are our favourite haunts for when the sun goes down and the streets of Haymarket and Chinatown come alive.
- EMPEROR'S PUFFS: Eat as many as you'd like without putting a dent in your wallet.
- NAKANO DARLING: This Haymarket izakaya serves up highballs and free karaage chicken during happy hour.
- GOLDEN CENTURY SEAFOOD RESTAURANT: A Sydney institution serving up signature salt and pepper squid and pipis until 4am each night.
- 678 KOREAN BBQ: Beef tongue, pork neck, pork belly — whatever you want barbecued, 678 have got it.
- HO JIAK: This Penang-style spot serves up some of the best laksa in town.
Image: 678 Korean BBQ
Editor's itinerary
Here is how our editor loves to spend a few hours in Haymarket.
- Heaven and the Dixon Street Light Screens: This permanent light installation on Dixon Street wows passersby each night as it morphs from one colour to the next from 6pm to midnight.
- Pipis in XO from Golden Century: Momofuku’s David Chang said that this dish is "probably my favourite dish ever". A big call, worth backing up with first-hand analysis.
- Mamak: Snack on this mouth-watering roti at Sydney's award-winning Malaysian restaurant, or pair the tasty flatbread with some delicious curry.
- 678 Korean BBQ: Be king or queen of the grill at this Haymarket favourite. Beef tongue, pork neck, octopus — if they have it, you can barbecue it.
Image: Mamak
Content provided through a content partnership. To find more guides on Sydney visit Concrete Playground.
All details are accurate as of 01 May 2021. Information may change. Check businesses websites for the most up-to-date information.
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