In partnership with Concrete Playground, we’re celebrating what makes Newtown and Erskineville 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.
Image (above): Newtown Street Art
DAY
HOW TO DO NEWTOWN & ERSKINEVILLE
Do as the locals do by DAY
Cafes
From house-roasted coffee and fresh baked goods to a long black with steaming shakshuka, you'll want for nothing when it comes to brekkie in Newtown.
- ONE ANOTHER: This cafe in the backstreets of Newtown is serving up stellar (and affordable) brunch dishes.
- BREWTOWN NEWTOWN: The top brunch fare, baked in-house pastries and outstanding coffee make this one of Sydney's best cafes.
- FLEETWOOD MACCHIATO: There's plenty to like about Fleetwood Macchiato aside from its punchline sagacity.
- CAFE SHENKIN: Erskineville's long-loved home of hearty shakshuka and insanely good pastries.
- CUCKOO CALLAY: One train station cafe that's very worth your time.
Image: One Another, Newtown
Restaurants
With great eats every ten paces, deciding where to eat in the area can be difficult. We recommend planning for a second lunch. Here's where to start.
- EL JANNAH EXPRESS: The first inner west outpost of the cult-favourite charcoal chicken shop.
- FLOUR DRUM: This south King Street gem is serving up banoffee pancakes and slow-cooked lamb ragu with heaps of hospitality.
- MARY'S: A rock 'n' roll Newtown stalwart, with standout Maccas-style burgers and natural wines.
- LENTIL AS ANYTHING: Make friends with salad (and legumes) — and pay what you feel.
- GIGI'S PIZZERIA: It's a brave, new, cheeseless world.
Image: El Jannah Epress
Shops
Vintage may dominate, but there are also plenty other treasures to shop for in the area — from plant babies to super smelly cheese.
- NEWTOWN GARDEN MARKET: Whether you have a green thumb or not, these gardening specialists have got you covered.
- SWOP CLOTHING EXCHANGE: Uncover some buried fashion treasures at this expertly curated, second-hand shop on Enmore Road.
- THE STINKING BISHOPS: A place where cheese gets the recognition it deserves.
- ROUTE 66: Surry Hills' longstanding vintage store has started a new chapter in Newtown.
- PENTIMENTO: Present shopping that is easy-peasy.
Image: Newtown Garden Market
Pubs
If you're a big fan of craft brews and beer gardens (and who isn't?), then you'll be well-placed around Newtown and Erskineville.
- THE KURRAJONG HOTEL: The Erskineville pub has a new look and a new menu of craft brews thanks to the Gurdys team.
- THE COURTHOUSE HOTEL: The unpretentious, grungy gem of Newtown with one of the finest outdoor courtyards in Sydney.
- YOUNG HENRYS: The Newtonian craft brewery that started it all.
- THE BANK HOTEL BEER GARDEN: A local favourite serving brews, pub grub and eats from the outdoor barbecue.
- THE ERKO: This dog-friendly local is now all 'bout American barbecue.
Image: Young Henrys, Newtown
Leisure
Parks for dog spotting, halls for dancing and kidult playgrounds for putt-putt — grab some mates and head to one (or all) of these spots.
- THE CIPHER ROOM: Put your thinking cap on and see how quickly you can break out of this expertly designed escape room.
- CAMPERDOWN MEMORIAL REST PARK: People (and pooch) watching away from the King Street chaos.
- A LOFT STORE: Newtown's greenery-filled hair salon.
- HOLEY MOLEY GOLF CLUB: Newtown's mini-golf bar with 18 holes, a bao station and a room dedicated to The Simpsons.
- 1989 ARCADE BAR: Mash buttons over a burger or hot brew on King Street.
Image: Holey Moley Golf Club
Shop online
Can't visit the area soon enough? Do some online browsing and get gems from these Newtown-based businesses sent straight to you instead.
- THE SOCIAL OUTFIT: Where else can you get recycled vintage Ken Done fabrics and help out Australia's new migrants?
- LA FAVOLA: This new Italian eatery serves up some of the best pasta in Newtown.
- REPRESSED RECORDS: All the hard-to-find vinyl you could ask for.
- ELIZABETH'S SECONDHAND BOOKSHOPS: Find the book you've been searching for or maybe one you haven't.
- NO LIGHTS NO LYCRA SYDNEY: De-stress with a weekly spot of dancing in the dark, no judgements.
Image: Repressed Records
Editor's itinerary
Here is how our editor loves to spend a few hours in Newtown.
- Rising Sun Workshop: Nothing cures a dusty morning like the buttered-toast broth, roast tomato, bacon and egg ramen from this motorcycle workshop and cafe tucked away off King Street.
- Newtown Garden Market: This neighbourhood garden market has all sorts of plants to bring home with you — begonias, succulents, herbs and even venus fly traps.
- Camperdown Memorial Rest Park: Set behind the hustle of King Street, the dog-friendly Camperdown Memorial Rest Park is a prime place for relaxing in the sun and checking out all the cute pooches.
- Holey Moley: Hot tip: beat the evening crowds, and tee off for a morning or mid-afternoon game at this mini-golf bar.
Image: Rising Sun Workshop, Newtown
NIGHT
HOW TO DO NEWTOWN AND ERSKINEVILLE
Do as the locals do by NIGHT
Restaurants
Fried chicken, laksa, green curry — the only difficult thing about going to dinner here is deciding where to go. Let us help you out.
- GOLDEN LOTUS VEGAN: A family-run Vietnamese eatery that will please both vegans and their carnivorous companions alike.
- FLYING TONG: Newtown's BYO go-to for authentic Korean fried chicken and bibimbap from a family recipe.
- HARTSYARD: Jarrod Walsh and Dot Lee have taken over the venue, given it a facelift and rolled out a new menu.
- CAFE PACI: A Nordic-European restaurant in Newtown from famed chef Pasi Petänen.
- LONELY MOUTH: An all-vegan ramen joint from the RaRa team.
Image: Hartsyard
Bars
Home to many a pub and several beloved small bars, the area offers up plenty of tasty tipples no matter your drink of choice.
- CONTINENTAL DELI BAR BISTRO: Where drinking cocktails gets that much better because they're served in cans.
- EARL'S JUKE JOINT: Bourbon Street meets Newtown at this New Orleans-infused, broody bar.
- BLOODWOOD: A small eatery serving natural wine and polenta chips with a cult following.
- THE HIVE BAR: A true local bar, the Hive is one of the best spots on the Erskineville Road strip.
- GURDYS: A Newtown small bar with a focus on sustainability.
Image: Continental Deli Bar Bistro
Live music
Live music lives in Newtown. Of course there’s the Enmore Theatre, but there are also many smaller venues keeping the music alive.
- THE VANGUARD NEWTOWN: Newtown's much-loved live music venue has returned.
- THE MIDNIGHT SPECIAL: This small, dimly lit bar is the perfect setting for live tunes and expertly made cocktails.
- BLACKSHEEP: Owners Peter Sulis and Aaron Fitton serve up a local's bar that never fails to surprise.
- BOTANY VIEW HOTEL: This iconic south King Street watering hole has been revamped by The Lord Gladstone team.
- THE IMPERIAL ERSKINEVILLE: It's all about drag and drinks, darling.
Image: The Vanguard Newtown
Shops
Chances are, after sundown, you’re on your way to eat, drink and be merry. If there’s time though, pop into these shops.
- ELIZABETH'S SECONDHAND BOOKSHOPS: Find the book you've been searching for or maybe one you haven't.
- P&V WINE AND LIQUOR: A boutique bottle-o stocking organic wine, beer and spirits, as well as its own pre-batch cocktails.
- HER BANANA: A small studio specialising in minimal jewellery design.
- BETTER READ THAN DEAD: Thriving since 1996, and keeping the independent bookshop spirit alive.
- DR EARTH NEWTOWN: Stop by for health foods, supplements and eco-friendly products.
Image: P&V Wine and Liquor
Arts and culture
There’s a cinema, some theatres and a place where you can sip wine as you paint a masterpiece. Get your art fix after dark.
- ENMORE THEATRE: Sydney's most beautiful theatre maintains an antique, old-world feel inside a contemporary venue.
- DENDY NEWTOWN: Get your culture fix with a side of popcorn at this independent cinema.
- BRUSH AND SIP: Painting and pinot go hand-in-hand at this King Street studio.
- DIANA REYES FLAMENCO: Improve your rhythm and steely gaze with traditional flamenco dance classes.
- NEW THEATRE: A long-running community theatre that runs on passion.
Image: Diana Reyes Flamenco
Concrete Playground Staff Faves
Here are our favourite haunts for when the sun goes down and the streets of Newtown come alive.
- BELLA BRUTTA: A Newtown pizza joint from the minds behind LP's and Porteño.
- MAPO NEWTOWN: A sustainable ice cream shop with lots of dairy and vegan options.
- CAIRO TAKEAWAY: An Enmore eatery doing full Egyptian breakfasts and full-on falafel.
- RISING SUN WORKSHOP: A ramen cafe and bike shop run by ramen-loving bikers.
- THAI POTHONG RESTAURANT: This 350-seater Thai restaurant is a King Street staple.
Image: Bella Brutta
Editor's itinerary
Here is how our editor loves to spend a few hours in Newtown.
- P&V Wine and Liquor: This bottleshop stocks organic wine, beer and spirits, as well as its own pre-batch cocktails. Plus, it’s one of the few places where you can get natural wine on tap.
- Bella Brutta: At this elevated pizza joint from the minds behind LP's and Porteño, expect chewy slices topped with mortadella, anchovies or clams.
- Corridor: Take your pick of nooks at this much-loved King Street Bar — hidden under the stairs, the upstairs 'lounge' room or in the upstairs courtyard.
- The Vanguard: The live music institution has been resurrected to help bring a beat back to the heart of Newtown.
Image: P&V Wine and Liquor
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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