In partnership with City of Sydney, we’re celebrating what makes Redfern 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 REDFERN & WATERLOO
Do as the locals do by DAY
Cafes
Great cafes are tucked away all throughout the area. Whether you're a cold drip drinker or a chai connoisseur, the cafe scene has your beverage of choice sorted. Here's where to start.
- THREE WILLIAMS: This spacious warehouse cafe serves knockout sangas in an (air-conditioned) industrial-chic setting.
- BABY COFFEE CO.: Neon, pastels, good coffee and great cocktails abound at this Waterloo spot.
- BREADFERN BAKERY: There's more to this legendary corner bakery than its punny name.
- ORATNEK: Classic Bills with a Japanese edge.
- FERNSIDE COFFEE SHOPPE: Fernside, cheekily distancing itself from neighbouring suburb Surry Hills, isn’t revolutionising the cafe concept but what it does, it does damn well.
Image: Breadfern Bakery
Restaurants
Modern Israeli fare, a 70s Miami-inspired cafe and zesty Vietnamese rice paper rolls — lunchtime options in the area are diverse and brimming with quality.
- KEPOS STREET KITCHEN: All-day Israeli dining, where you can have falafel for breakfast, lunch and dinner.
- SOUTHSIDE CHARMERS: A Redfern diner serving up cocktails and top-notch Mexican fare — all day.
- HENRY LEE'S: This cafe has a strong emphasis on community, sourcing produce and drinks from local businesses.
- SCOUT'S HONOUR: Where each week you'll be treated to a brand new selection of sarnies.
- YELLOW FEVER: A cosy little Redfern cafe dishing up vibrant Vietnamese dishes.
Image: Southside Charmers
Shops
A smattering of specialty stores with well-curated collections define the shopping scene here. Explore the area’s vintage homewares and artisanal jewellery.
- ASSEMBLY LABEL SURPLUS STORE: Pick up the minimalist brand's linen basics and seasonal styles at a discounted price all year round.
- BEV'S REMNANT HOUSE: Calling all DIY interior designers: you'll find unique fabrics right here.
- CHEE SOON & FITZGERALD: This Sydney institution supplies bold ceramics, cushions, textiles and vintage design pieces.
- EXTINCT: DINOSAUR DESIGNS OUTLET STORE: Resin has never looked so inviting.
- WILD COCKATOO BAKERY: Stop by this hole-in-the-wall artisanal bakery for saltbush sourdough loaves, buttery croissants and flaky meat pies.
Image: Bev's Remnant House
Arts and culture
Overflowing with bold, industrial gallery spaces, Redfern and Waterloo are full of must-see contemporary art. Get started with this lot.
- HOME@735 ART GALLERY: Scope the latest art from local and interstate talent in a setting that feels just like home.
- AMBUSH GALLERY: Urban art in the urban jungle — a daring exhibition space in the heart of Waterloo.
- MAY SPACE GALLERY: A curation of contemporary art from some of the country’s best talent.
- ABORIGINAL & PACIFIC ART: Browse traditional and contemporary art from some of Australia’s finest Indigenous talent.
- UTOPIA ART SYDNEY: A contemporary gallery representing Australian artists including members of Papunya Tula Artists.
Image: Aboriginal & Pacific Art
Leisure
Become a gymnast for the day, or stroll through the South Sydney Rabbitohs training ground. The urban landscape here is no barrier to keeping active.
- REDFERN PARK: The training ground of the South Sydney Rabbitohs and the stomping ground of many a local jogger.
- THE YOGA CENTRE EAST REDFERN: Find your spiritual home at Redern's Iyengar Yoga Institute.
- JAMES STREET RESERVE COMMUNITY GARDEN: Brighten up your day and pay Redfern's blossoming community garden a visit.
- THE HAPPY SAILORS BARBERSHOP: A buzz cut or shave with old-school flair, this shop evokes nostalgia for the days of VHS and Polaroid.
- CYCLE RE-CYCLE BIKE WORKSHOP: This volunteer-run repair workshop recycles preloved bicycles to donate back to the community.
Image: Unsplash
Shop online
Can't visit the area soon enough? Do some online browsing and get gems from these Redfern-based businesses sent straight to you instead.
- DONUT PAPI: This market favourite has opened its first permanent store in Redfern.
- THE DEA STORE: Find aesthetically pleasing homewares to fill your home with.
- MERCHANT & GREEN: Welcome to Redfern's one-stop shop for all things green.
- ROCOCO FLOWERS: This stunning flower studio creates classic seasonal arrangements suitable for all occasions.
- TAIT SYDNEY: The Sydney showroom for the Melbourne-born sustainable outdoor furniture label.
Image: The DEA Store
Editor's itinerary
Here is how our editor loves to spend a few hours in Redfern.
- Baby Coffee Co: This Waterloo joint draws a crowd for its offering of bottomless mimosas, cacio e pepe fries and a luxe brekkie roll with pork belly.
- The Yoga Centre: One of Sydney's longest-running yoga schools, The Yoga Centre is a quiet and welcoming space that practises Iyengar yoga.
- Bev's Remnant House: Find some real treasures in this trove of remnant fabrics.
- RaRa: This tiny neighbourhood joint regularly has people queueing out the door for its ramen — and once you taste this pork tonkotsu with black garlic, you'll see why.
Image: Baby Coffee Co
NIGHT
HOW TO DO REDFERN & WATERLOO
Do as the locals do by NIGHT
Restaurants
RESTAURANTS
When dinner rolls around, get your hands messy at a no-frills burger joint, or down many servings of dumplings.
- HAPPY D'S: Redfern's hole-in-the-wall dumplings and beer bar.
- BUSH: Redfern's new Australiana-inspired restaurant with top-notch burgers and fairy bread pudding.
- RON'S UPSTAIRS: The Arcadia Liquors team's restaurant is an upstairs Euro bistro full of kitsch and neighbourhood charm.
- KEPOS & CO.: A delightful piece of old Jerusalem with a mix of Aussie favourites and Middle Eastern flavours.
- HUXTABURGER: The Melbourne hamburger haven's first Sydney store has 20 different burgs and triple-scoop shakes.
Image: Ron's Upstairs
Bars
Redfern's small bar scene oozes charm and warmth. The biggest hurdle is finding where to go. Here’s where to start.
- THE NOBLE HOPS: Redfern's dedicated craft beer bar.
- MJOLNER: A Thor-inspired carvery doing modern Nordic food and exceptional cocktails.
- BART JR: This neighbourhood Redfern bar is perfect for catch-ups with mates.
- REDFERN SURF CLUB: An Australiana-themed bar with cocktails in cans and a taxidermy ibis.
- MISFITS: Retro furnishings, a hidden bar and a diverse new menu — this Redfern spot is eager to please.
Image: The Noble Hops
Pubs
For Redfern's watering holes, old meets new in more ways than one.
- NORFOLK HOTEL: Nailing the brief for a true-blue neighbourhood pub.
- THE TUDOR HOTEL: A (faux) piece of Tudor England in the heart of Sydney serving brews and pub grub.
- THE CAULIFLOWER HOTEL: A sprawling old pub (established in 1838, in fact) which plays host to a rotating roster of bands.
- WOOLPACK HOTEL: This pub is a Redfern institution — and for good reason.
- ATOMIC BEER PROJECT: A brand-new microbrewery and taproom in Redfern by WA's Gage Roads.
Image: Atomic Beer Project
Shops
Next-level snacks, wine, ice cream, more wine. Head to the area to stock up on imported fare and local delights.
- CICCONE & SONS: Find artisanal gelato in the heart of Redfern.
- REDFERN CONVENIENCE STORE: People travel from all over to visit this local corner store with a cult-like fan base.
- VINE PROVIDORE: You'll find wine and beer without the price tag at this bottle-o based inside an old brewery.
- REDFERN FRUIT MARKET: A classic local fruit and veg market and Asian grocer in Redfern.
- HAIR BY TOMMY J: This 50s-style barbershop has just one style on the menu: short back and sides.
Image: Ciccone & Sons
Arts and culture
After sunset in Redfern and Waterloo, you’ll find live music, DJ sets, comedy, theatre, drag nights and gallery openings galore.
- GIANT DWARF: Oddball comedy is just the tip of the iceberg here.
- MOYA'S JUNIPER LOUNGE: This classy Redfern gin bar is gunning to become your local haunt (if it's not already).
- THE DOCK: Redfern's dive bar has great tasting bottled lager for $7, free popcorn and beer-based cocktails.
- 107 PROJECTS: A co-working space, gallery and rooftop garden rolled into one dizzyingly cool destination.
- HUSTLE & FLOW: Hustle in and flow out of Redfern's hip hop-inspired drinks and beats spot.
Image: The Dock
Concrete Playground Staff Faves
Here are our favourite haunts for when the sun goes down and the streets of Redfern come alive.
- RARA: Redfern's 28-seater neighbourhood ramen joint.
- ARCADIA LIQUORS: A fairy light-lit small bar with a sweet little courtyard out the back.
- LA COPPOLA: Authentic, Sicilian-style pizzeria in the heart of Redfern.
- THE BEARDED TIT: Turn left at the crocheted penises and enter Redfern's brazen art bar.
- MILK BAR BY CAFE ISH: There's more to Milk Bar than just the milk. Though the milk is pretty spectacular.
Image: RaRa
Editor's itinerary
Here is how our editor loves to spend a few hours in Redfern.
- Ciccone and Sons: This gelateria scoops out delicious homemade ice creams in standard flavours like chocolate, vanilla and coffee, as well as exclusive flavours including whisky, juniper and Averna ripple
- Redfern Surf Club: Despite the somewhat confusing name, this bar on the corner of Botany Road is a must-visit for craft brews with a game of pool — and your doggo is welcome, too.
- 107 Projects: Step inside this creative hub to dance away the week's stress, catch an artist's talk and get arty at a life drawing session.
- The Dock: Grab a cocktail and a free bowl of popcorn and chill out to some live tunes at this Redfern small bar favourite.
Image: Ciccone and Sons
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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