King Street, Newtown

The Inner West of Sydney stretches from the small inner city suburb of Chippendale (south of Central Railway Station) to the secondary railway hub and business-retail centre of Strathfield and also Sydney Olympic Park to the west. Particular areas of interest to the traveller include Newtown, Glebe, Balmain, and Leichhardt.

Understand

The Inner West suburbs are among the oldest parts of Sydney. They developed along Parramatta Road, which runs to Parramatta at the source of the Parramatta River. The architecture of the Inner West ranges from terraced houses to mansions and reflects its development in the Victorian (1840–1900) and Federation (1901–1914) periods. The area is quite culturally diverse, with several town centres with distinct cultural atmospheres, such as Italian (Five Dock, Haberfield and Leichardt), Greek (Marrickville), Portuguese (Petersham), Chinese (Ashfield and Burwood), Korean (Strathfield) and Vietnamese (Flemington). Its proximity to the central business district makes it popular with commuters and an alternative base for business.

Geographically, the Inner West is punctuated by a series of major bays in the north, creating picturesque riverfront areas that are popular for water sports, walks, runs and bike rides. Popular waterfront restaurants are also located in this part of the Inner West.

Suburbs

The redeveloped Colgate-Palmolive Building, just next to the Balmain ferry wharves

Mount Royal, one of the historic mansions in Strathfield. Once home to Prime Minister George Reid, it is now part of the Australian Catholic University

The Inner West is itself a diverse area. Parramatta River forms a series of picturesque bays and peninsulas in this area. The formerly industrial working-class areas facing the water are now fashionable suburbs, such as the Balmain, Drummoyne and Abbotsford peninsulas, with waterfront walkways and picturesque parks such as Cabarita Park and Ballast Point Park. Further inland, there are bustling, student-orientated suburbs in Newtown and Glebe and the cosmopolitan European chic of Haberfield, Leichhardt and Petersham. Meanwhile, around major railway stations such as Marrickville, Ashfield, Burwood and Strathfield, bustling Asian influenced town centres contrast sharply with quieter boulevards with elaborate houses built around the turn of the 20th century. Meanwhile, smaller centres such as Summer Hill, Dulwich Hill, Croydon, Homebush and Abbotsford are instead known for their cafes and slower-paced village atmosphere.

• Newtown's main street, King Street is architecturally probably the best preserved Victorian high street in Sydney. Neglect preserved it in the first place - no money was to be made by knocking things down in the twentieth century, and now regulation favours conservation rather than demolition. Along its length you'll find the usual mix of shops in a major city's boho zone: secondhand book shops, over thirty (at last count) Thai restaurants, Vietnamese restaurants, cafés, clothing shops and an assortment of odd quirky little places.
• Glebe also has some intact 19th-century terraces. The main shopping strip is Glebe Point Road, a trendy area home to many specialty stores, cafes and restaurants. The Tramsheds houses restaurants and a supermarket in a historic tram depot building. An unexpected sight nearby is the Sze Yup Temple on Edward St, dedicated to Kwan Ti — a 3rd-century Chinese folk hero. In its 110 or so years, it has burnt down twice and been twice restored. Also nearby, Toxteth Park was the mansion of George Allen, prominent lawyer and local politician whose estate originally covered much of the area. It is now used by the Sisters of the Good Samaritan.
• Balmain was once an industrial working-class neighbourhood, but its proximity to the city and prime waterfront estate attracted richer folk. It's now a trendy village of upmarket residences, cafés and restaurants. Gentrification has led to some interesting quirks: the heritage-listed Working Men's Institute is occupied by a restaurant, and the industrial monster of the Colgate-Palmolive Building, a former soap factory, now houses posh harbourside apartments which can be seen when taking the ferry to Balmain.
• Haberfield is a heritage-listed "garden suburb" from the Federation period, featuring tree lined boulevards and picturesque homes. Its town centre has a distinctly Italian village atmosphere.
• Lewisham has a relatively quieter lifestyle, compared to some of Sydney's bustling areas. The suburb has some amenities, including Hudson Street Park, a convenience store and various Federation-era buildings. It is served by both rail stops.
• Strathfield has a few well-preserved Victorian country mansions built on wide tree-lined avenues by wealthy merchants in the 1880s. Some have been converted into schools. One notable precinct is the Woodward Avenue Heritage Conservation Area, bounded by The Boulevarde, Woodward Avenue and Albyn Road. The commercial centre of Strathfield, around the station, vies with Eastwood for the title of Sydney's Little Korea, and much of the shop signage is in Korean.
• Burwood is 10 km west of the Sydney central business district. The outer parts of the suburb feature architecturally distinctive heritage buildings, including the Appian Way, a street known for its architecturally designed Federation-style homes. The commercial centre of Burwood, around the train station, is today best known for its Chinese eateries and restaurants.
• Homebush is a small suburb to the north of Strathfield that retains a tranquil garden suburban feel with historic houses built on tree-lined boulevards. There is a multicultural village centre with a wide variety of Mediterranean cafés and Asian restaurants. To the west of Homebush lies Flemington, which has a village centre with a distinctly South-East Asian flavour and is the location of Sydney's main produce market, Sydney Markets.
• Sydney Olympic Park is a suburb on the boundary between the Inner West and (Outer) Western Suburbs. It is best known as the venue of the 2000 Olympic Games, but also has expansive parkland, including Bicentennial Park. (Note: SOP is covered separately on Wikivoyage)
• On the southern banks of the Parramatta River is Rhodes. This suburb features a complex of high-rise apartments for extensive views and lively parks along the waterways.

Get in and get around

By bus

From the city, various Sydney Buses routes run regular services to the Inner West. Route numbers in this area begin with 4 or 5; useful routes include the 431-434 to Glebe/Balmain, the 436-440 and Metrobus 10 to Leichhardt, 422-428 to Newtown, the 480-483 to Strathfield Station and the 500 route up Victoria Rd through the suburb of Drummoyne. Most buses are "Prepay Only" between 7AM and 7PM; you must buy tickets from designated outlets such as newsagents or convenience stores, as they are not available for sale on board.

The Inner West suburb of Burwood is the north-west terminus of the route 400 bus which runs from Bondi Junction to the airport. Using this bus and changing onto a train is a cheaper alternative to using the train directly from the airport. However, the bus is subject to Sydney traffic, and a train will usually be better for time.

By ferry

Sydney Ferries run a scenic route from Circular Quay in the city centre to the area via the inner harbour and the Parramatta River, stopping at various wharves along the way. Ferries are the most convenient way to visit the waterfront suburbs of the Inner West. The most useful wharves for travellers are those at Balmain, Drummoyne, Cabarita and Olympic Park. The river service continues on to Sydney's second business centre at Parramatta.

The L1 Dulwich Hill Line is a great way to access many spots in the Inner West

By light rail

The Inner West can also be reached by the Inner West Light Rail ( L1 ), which travels from Central station via Darling Harbour to Glebe and onwards to Dulwich Hill. This is an interesting way to travel, as it follows the old goods (freight) lines which serviced Sydney's ports.

By train

Only the more southerly parts of the district are served by rail lines:

• The T2 Inner West line services this district, stopping at Redfern, Macdonaldtown, Newtown, Stanmore, Petersham, Lewisham, Summer Hill, Ashfield, Croydon, Burwood, Strathfield and Homebush, with some trains proceeding further west. Newtown, with its eat street and bars, is serviced every 15 minutes until late. Strathfield is a major interchange station, and also has very frequent express services to the city.
• Further south, the T3 Bankstown Line stops at Erskineville, St Peters and Marrickville.

See

Parks and gardens

Ballast Point Park, a stunningly converted industrial site with views of Balmain and the Lower North Shore

Directly south of the Sydney Harbour and Parramatta River, the Inner West has plenty of quiet bays and headlands with views. These are best reached by ferry or car, as the main railway line is located further south, away from the irregular coastline.

• 1 The Bay Run. A car-free and mostly flat 7 km circular foot and cycling track that sticks close to the Iron Cove Bay waterfront and crosses the bay on the Iron Cove Bridge. It connects picturesque parks, marinas, historic sights, cafes, restaurants and a major shopping centre at Birkenhead Point in Drummoyne. It passes through 7 Inner West suburbs and is particularly popular on weekends. Best accessed from Marion light rail stop or buses.  
• The Homebush Bay Circuit is another car-free and mostly flat foot and cycling track that passes through Bicentennial Park and Sydney Olympic Park, crossing Homebush Bay via a bridge. It also connects cafes and commercial areas in the suburbs of Rhodes and Wentworth Point. Best accessed by train from Rhodes station, or by ferry from Sydney Olympic Park wharf.
• 2 Glebe Foreshore Parks, Chapman Rd, Glebe (Bus 431 to Glebe Point Rd or the Light Rail to Jubilee Park). Four different parks (Federal Park, Jubilee Park, Bicentennial Park and Blackwattle Bay Park) with the Anzac Bridge in the background. A mix of grasslands, sport fields, playgrounds and wetlands make for a wide area to explore. There is a walking path along the foreshore all the way from the Fish Markets to Annandale, with a Light Rail station conveniently at each end. A short walk further into Annandale along Johnston St will show you a series of gothic mansions and Federation houses - keep going to Booth St, where you can get a bus back to the city, or one block further to see the Hunter Baillie church, which once had the tallest spire in Sydney. 
• Ballast Point Park, Ballast Point Rd, Birchgrove. A former Caltex industrial site now returned to the authorities and made greener. Offers panoramic views of the Harbour Bridge and Sydney city skyline from a high vantage point. 
• 3 Birchgrove Park, Grove St, Birchgrove, ☏ +61 2 9367 9222. Contains Birchgrove Oval, the spiritual home of rugby league in Australia after it hosted the first professional matches in 1908. A family park that has good views of the Harbour Bridge.  
• 4 Camperdown Memorial Rest Park, Australia St, Newtown. Located just two blocks behind King St, it has lots of open space and plenty of street art and graffiti on the walls surrounding the park, as well as an atmospheric cemetery in the adjoining church. Sit on the grass and people-watch, there's always someone out of the ordinary. The Newtown Festival is held here in November. 
• 5 Sydney Park, Sydney Park Road, Alexandria (across the road from St Peters station, or get bus 422 down King St). A large park (40 hectares) at the very southern end of Newtown's King Street, it is a former brick pit that was filled with the city's rubbish in the 1970s and 1980s before being topped with soil and landscaped. The 3 former trash hills make excellent viewing locations, where you have views from the airport to the city. Rolling hills, native plantings, engineered wetlands and the historic remains of the brick works make this park an inner Sydney landmark. Almost the entire park is an off-leash area for dogs, making it a destination for pet-owners while the open fields and steep grassy hills make it a favoured destination for determined exercisers. 
• 6 Iloura Reserve, Balmain East (next to Balmain East Ferry Wharf, or get bus 442). Sweeping views of the city and Harbour Bridge. (updated Aug 2015)

Museums and art galleries

• 7 Boomalli Gallery, 55 – 59 Flood Street, Leichhardt, ☏ +61 2 95602541, fax: +61 2 9560 2566, boomalli@gmail.com. Boomalli Aboriginal Artists Co-operative is one of Australia's longest running indigenous owned and operated art galleries. It promotes urban indigenous art that sometimes has trouble being shown as authentic indigenous art in the mainstream.  

University of Sydney

Sydney University's Main Quadrangle Building, completed in 1862

The University of Sydney was founded in 1850, the first university in Australia and Oceania. Located right at the boundaries of central Sydney and the Inner West, its Camperdown campus has grand sandstone buildings with detailed stone carvings and is well worth a visit. It takes 20 minutes to walk from Central station and you'll pass through Victoria Park, a large quiet haven bounded by two busy roads. The University also houses a few interesting museums and galleries, which may be closed over the Christmas break.

• The Clock Tower, a classic example of Neogothic design, sits at the end of the long walkway from Victoria Park. On the other side of the building is the Main Quadrangle, which has a single jacaranda tree in the courtyard that can be caught in full purple bloom during late spring.
• 8 Nicholson Museum of Antiquities, Main Quadrangle. M-F 10AM-4:30PM, first Sa of the month noon-4:30PM. Contains the largest collection of antiquities in Australia, featuring ancient artefacts from Egypt, the Middle East, Greece, Rome, Cyprus and Mesopotamia, collected by the University over many years. Also mummified cats and humans. Free. 
• 9 Macleay Museum, Top floor of Macleay Building (Off Science Lane). M-F 10AM-4:30PM, first Sa of the month noon-4:30PM. The oldest natural history museum in Australia, largely kept in storage, but they have quite a collection of insects from Darwin, Raffles and other keen entomologists. Free.  
• University Art Collection, War Memorial Arch, Quadrangle. M-F 10AM-4:30PM, first Sa of the month noon-4:30PM. Houses more than two thousand artworks — a diverse collection of Australian, Asian and European paintings, prints, watercolours, drawings, textiles, photography and sculptures. Free. 

Do

The iconic Enmore Theatre before a show

Shows and acts

• 1 Enmore Theatre, 130 Enmore Rd, Newtown, ☏ +61 2 9550 3666, fax: +61 2 9550 2990, boxoffice@enmoretheatre.com.au. The Enmore Theatre is one of Sydney's premier smaller live venues. International acts who have performed here include the Rolling Stones, Ani Difranco, Flaming Lips, Eels, the White Stripes and Asian Dub Foundation, Joe Cocker, Michelle Shocked, Dandy Warhols, Jethro Tull, and Mars Volta.  
• 2 New Theatre, 542 King St, Newtown, ☏ +61 2 9519 3403. New Theatre is one of the oldest continuously producing theatre companies in Australia with a proud history that is intertwined with much of Sydney's social development and Australian theatre history. Productions range across drama, comedy, musicals, gay theatre, family shows, political cabaret and specialised education programs. Classic texts with bold new interpretations and some of the finest contemporary writing. 
• 3 Palace Cinema, 99 Norton St, Leichhardt, ☏ +61 2 9564 5620. Palace Norton Street, one of Sydney's most comfortable and well-equipped cinemas, is located amongst the noted restaurants and cafés of vibrant Leichhardt. Norton Street screens a carefully selected range of quality films and is one of Sydney's premier venues for international cinema, hosting the French, Spanish, Greek, German and Italian film festivals each year. 
• 4 Annandale Hotel, Cnr Parramatta Rd and Nelson St, Annandale, ☏ +61 2 9550 1078. The Annandale Hotel is another of Sydney's best pub venues. It hosts many of Australia's best known indie bands and international acts. Under receivership, but still running. 

Events

• Newtown Festival, Camperdown Memorial Rest Park, Newtown, ☏ +61 2 9550 1078. Every November. Features local bands, crafts, food and cultural activities. Gold coin donation. 
• Newtown and Enmore are also home to the Sydney Fringe, Sydney Mardi Gras Fair Day, zine and comic fairs, Walk The Streets, and other alternative festivals and activist events during the year.

Sports

• Marrickville Bowling Club Barefoot Bowls, 91 Sydenham Rd, Marrickville, ☏ +61 2 9557 1185, info@mvillebowling.com.au. Have a beer and some fun playing barefoot bowls on a sunny afternoon. 

Self-guided walking tours

• Leichhardt walking tour. Walking tours of Leichhardt focusing on the public buildings and spaces that have shaped the local area. (updated Jun 2021)
• Balmain’s Industrial Heritage Walk. The Inner West Council has leverage tech and developed a new interactive self-guided audio walk offering a snapshot of Balmain’s rich industrial and labour heritage.

Buy

Markets

• 

  Alternative vibes at Glebe Markets

  The regular markets in Glebe and Rozelle (near Balmain) are a great place to shop with the locals, look for unusual bargains, and try interesting street food. Held in the grounds of the local public primary schools the 1 Glebe markets are on every Saturday and the Rozelle markets on Saturday and Sunday.
• The Carriageworks in Redfern hosts the Eveleigh Markets, which consist of a farmers' market selling local farmers and producers of artisan food products, held every Saturday 8AM-1PM, and an artisans' market for local and independent artists of all types to exhibit and sell their work.
• The Marrickville Organic Food Markets are held at the Addison Road Centre and has a good mix of organic produce straight from the farmers, secondhand items and food stalls in a leafy compound. Held every Sunday from 8AM to 3PM. There's also Reverse Garbage inside, which sells bits and pieces of things saved from the dump.
• The Sydney Markets at Flemington are a whole lot messier than the Queen Victoria Market in Melbourne, and even a little maniac on Fridays and weekends, but there's undoubtedly a wide range of cheap fresh vegetable and fruit produce under one big warehouse. There are gorgeous flowers on sale if you get there early (before 9AM). There's also an assorted secondhand market on Saturday.
• 2 Woodstock Artisans Market, 22 Church St, Burwood. 10AM-3PM, Sundays. Art, craft and artisan produce are found at this market held on the grounds of a listed mansion which is now used as the Woodstock Community Centre, a short walk from the bustling Burwood town centre. (updated Apr 2022)

Books

• 3 Gleebooks, 49 Glebe Point Rd, Glebe, ☏ +61 2 9660 2333. Fairly typical independent bookshop with a cafe - new books are on the ground floor and second hand books on the top floor. It also hosts regular events. Another branch is in the inner-west suburb of Dulwich Hill. 
• 4 Gould's Book Arcade, 32 King St, Newtown, ☏ +61 2 9519 8947, orders@gouldsbooks.com. Open from 10am until midnight daily.. A chaotic mix with specialities including Marxism, Labour history, magazines, and Australian history. (updated Dec 2016)
• 5 Sappho Books Cafe & Wine Bar, 51 Glebe Point Rd, Glebe (next to Gleebooks), ☏ +61 2 9552 4498. A large general second-hand book store with an upstairs area and café in its leafy courtyard, which becomes a wine and tapas bar at night. Decent books and decent coffee. 
• 6 Better Read Than Dead, 265 King St, Newtown, ☏ +61 2 9557 8700. One of the Inner-west's largest book stores with a large selection of biographies and hard-to-find titles. 

Shopping malls

• 7 Ashfield Mall, 260A Liverpool Road, Ashfield (from Ashfield station, walk along Hercules St, cross Liverpool Rd, turn right and walk for 1 minute.), ☏ +61 2 9799 8488. 9AM-5:30PM. A small basic shopping mall servicing Ashfield.  
• 8 Birkenhead Point, Roseby St, Drummoyne, ☏ +61 2 9812 8800. 10AM-5:30PM. Shopping mall right beside the harbour, with a number of designer factory outlets for fashion on the cheap. The food hall sells fresh Gozleme for $7, and pick up a table outside by the water. Buses along Victoria Rd toward Ryde stop close to the centre.  
• 9 DFO (Direct Factory Outlets), 3/1-5 Underwood Rd, Homebush. Mainly factory outlets for Australian brands. It's a little hard to get to, can be congested, and the deals aren't always that good. Still it manages to draw crowds of locals and visitors alike. Get the 525 or 526 bus from Strathfield station if you're without a car. 
• 10 Westfield Burwood, 100 Burwood Rd, Burwood (Upon exiting Burwood station, turn right and walk for approx 5mins.), ☏ +61 2 8746 3900. 9AM-5PM. Opened in 1966, it is the largest shopping mall in the Inner West with 247 stores and is conveniently located within a few minutes walk of Burwood Station. Once inside, you could be in any shopping mail, anywhere. Contains several supermarkets and a cinema.  
• 11 Broadway Shopping Centre, Broadway (all Broadway/Parramatta Rd/King St buses, or a 15min walk from Central station). A convenient shopping centre on the edge of the city that includes a large cinema complex and area views from the top of the car park. (updated Aug 2015)

Specialty shops

• 12 Vegan Grocery Store Sydney, 90 Glebe Point Rd, ☏ +61 2 9550 0415, online@vegangrocerystore.com.au. M-W 11AM-6PM, Th-F 10AM-6PM, Sa 10AM-5PM, Su 11AM-5PM. Fully vegan upscale grocery store with an incredible variety of plant-based treats, frozen goods, cheeses, snacks, and miscellaneous ingredients. Across the street and a few doors away from the intersection there's also a delicious vegan bakery, Oh My Days. (updated Nov 2022)

Eat

The Inner West is really a great place to eat, with a choice of "Eat Streets", where you can get to, and stroll along and do some menu inspecting before you choose your favourite.

Ashfield

Contains a large population of Chinese people and is known among the Sydney Chinese community as 'Little Shanghai' where you can find a decent amount of cheap and authentic Chinese/Shanghainese food not far from the station along Liverpool Road.

• 1 New Shanghai, 273 Liverpool Rd, Ashfield, ☏ +61 2 9797 7284. Daily 11AM–3PM, 4:30–9PM. This restaurant which originally started in Ashfield has now opened branches around Sydney and even a branch in Shanghai. Try the shenjianbao (fried pan dumplings) and xiaolongbao (soup dumplings). Be careful of the hot soup inside these dumplings! 

Burwood

A highly multicultural suburb, located about 15 minutes from Central Station, there are a few dining options to be had which are particularly convenient if you are staying in the area. Burwood Road is where you will find most restaurants and businesses. Conveniently located right at Burwood Station, if you head left/south upon exiting you will find many Asian restaurants and businesses, whilst heading to the right you will find a range of outdoor dining cafés and restaurants and Westfield Burwood.

• 2 Xi Bay Handmade Noodle Restaurant, 181D Burwood Rd, Burwood (left out of the station), ☏ +61 9745 2238. A unique Northwest Chinese style of cooking and amazing value for money make this a great experience, and the meat dumplings are especially delicious. 

Balmain

Balmain is a cosy neighbourhood with lots of cute houses and quirky shops. Ballast Point Park is a great spot for a picnic with a view over the Harbour bridge. You can get to Balmain by ferry or bus. There are also a lot of pubs around and a good selection of restaurants, mostly located around the main street, Darling Street.

• 3 Riverview Hotel, 29 Birchgrove Road, Balmain, ☏ +61 2 9810 1151. Bar: M-Sa noon-midnight, Su noon-10PM. Dining room: F-Su noon-3PM, M-Su 6-10PM. You can choose to eat in the dining room upstairs but you can also choose from a selection of the same menu and eat in the bar. The menu is Modern Australian and courses are well thought through and executed. The bar also offers tasting plates and pizzas. Prices - Bar menu: tasting plates $10, pizzas $18. Dining room: entrees around $20, mains $25-30. 
• 4 Rosso Pomodoro, Shop 90-91, 24 Buchanan St, Balmain (White Bay), ☏ +61 2 9555 5924. Tu–Su 6–10PM. This is a bit further out of Balmain in a more residential area, but they serve excellent authentic Italian pizzas. 

Glebe

Cheap eats and cafes along Glebe Point Road, Glebe.

The eating scene in Glebe centres on Glebe Point Road and is much more relaxed than Newtown where there is action aplenty. There is a variety of excellent restaurants to suit a range of budgets along the length of Glebe Point Road but the greatest concentration is near the intersection with Broadway where there are about 20 cafes and restaurants.

• 5 Badde Manors, 37 Glebe Point Rd, Glebe, ☏ +61 2 9660 3797. Cozy vegetarian café with a slightly Parisian bohemian air, particularly known for their great desserts and coffee. Used to stay open very late on Friday and Saturday nights but now has much shorter hours, breakfast and lunch only. 
• 6 Glebe Point Diner, 407 Glebe Point Rd, ☏ +61 2 9660 2646. Lunch F-Su from noon, dinner M-Sa from 6PM. Modern Australian with French influences with a carefully selected seasonal menu. Fine dining feel but a relaxed and un-pretentious atmosphere. Prices around $18 for starters, $25-30 for mains. 
• 7 Tom Yum Tum Gang, 249 Glebe Point Rd, ☏ +61 2 8065 0859. W–M 11AM–9PM. Busy local spot for flavoursome Thai food. (updated Mar 2016)
• Jambo Jambo, 89 Glebe Point Road (near the intersection with Broadway). Ethiopian food. The shiro wat is great and they have Ethiopian beers. You can make a reservation but don't really need one. It's an informal footpath cafe. A$26-30 for mains. (updated Dec 2024)
• At Home Thai Cuisine, 27 Glebe Point Road (near the intersection with Broadway). This is an informal cafe. It has excellent service and great food at modest prices. Very difficult not to like. A$15-20 for mains. (updated Dec 2024)

Leichhardt, Haberfield and Five Dock

The suburbs of Leichhardt, Haberfield and Five Dock are Sydney's Little Italy, with a mix of residential buildings, restaurants (Italian and others), cafés, eateries and individual retail outlets, including several bookstores and grocery shops. Norton Street in Leichhardt has historically been the busiest of the three, but it has fallen on tough times with the piazza-styled Italian Forum rattlingly empty, and Haberfield and Five Dock are perhaps more vibrant these days.

The Italian Forum, styled after a Mediterranean piazza

• 8 Bar Italia, 169 Norton St, Leichhardt, ☏ +61 2 9560 9981. A Leichhardt institution renowned for their award winning gelato - which attracts lines that go out the door on Friday and Saturday nights (and constantly increases the price). Bar Italia also have a strict rule of nothing but regular milk in your coffee - so if you want soy or skim get your coffee elsewhere. Staff can sometimes be abrupt and rude, but it's well worth it for the gelato. Late at night, you might also spot left-wing politicians holding secretive meetings out the back. 
• 9 Cafe Jolly, 158 Norton St, Leichhardt, ☏ +61 2 9560 2434. Popular Italian-style restaurant in Leichhardt. Reasonably priced and very tasty food. Extremely busy on weekends, so bookings are advised. 
• 10 Jasmin 1 Lebanese, 118 Marion St, Leichhardt, ☏ +61 2 8084 2692. Great value tasty Lebanese restaurant in Leichhardt. 
• 11 La Botte D'Oro, 137 Marion St, Leichhardt, ☏ +61 2 95601349. Authentic Napolitan restaurant in Leichhardt. 
• 12 La Disfida, 109 Ramsay St, Haberfield, ☏ +61 2 9798 8299. Excellent authentic Italian pizza. In Haberfield, which is down the street from Leichhardt. A bus from Norton St or Marion St can get you there in about 5 minutes. 
• 13 Ocean Foods, 154 Lyons Rd (Cnr Gipps St), Drummoyne, ☏ +61 2 9181 4336. Some people claim (including the shop) that this is the best fish and chips around. Prepare for a queue if you come on a Friday night or the weekend. 
• 14 Pasticceria Papa, 145 Ramsay St, Haberfield, ☏ +61 2 9799 9531, restaurant@ppapa.com.au. This place is famous for their ricotta cheesecake, but they also serve hot foods such as foccacia and arancini. 
• 15 Thainamic, 139 Norton St, Leichhardt, ☏ +61 2 9569 1600. Delicious Thai restaurant in Leichhardt. Very reasonably priced authentic tasting Thai. Extremely busy on weekends, so bookings are advised. Recommended for vegetarians!. $. 

Marrickville

Located 7 km from the CBD, Marrickville is well known for its multicultural working class Greek and Vietnamese heritage built under the flight paths of Sydney airport. These days, some describe it as the 'new Newtown' as it is now an emerging area popular with students and artsy types. Trendy cafes and bars mix with old school good value eateries in this suburb.

• 16 Marrickville Pork Roll, 236a Illawarra Road, Marrickville, ☏ +61 420 966 368. This very popular outlet is well known for selling one of the best Vietnamese Banh Mi in Sydney. At $8, they are considered a good deal, and often there will be a lineup at lunch time. There is also a branch in nearby Ashfield. $8. (updated Sep 2023)

Newtown

The King Street strip is a cheap eats paradise, with food from all corners of the globe, including a strong Thai presence. Try also the Portuguese bakeries of nearby Petersham for their famed custard tarts.

• 17 The Bitton Café and Grocer, 37a Copeland St, Alexandria, ☏ +61 2 9519 5111. open from 7AM, closes 5PM (Sa Su) or 7PM (M Tu) or 9PM (W-F). A small gourmet café opposite Erskineville Park, mixing French cuisine with Indian spices. Their homemade speciality jams are sensational. A popular breakfast spot for locals, expect to wait for seating on weekends. Mains $15-20. 
• 18 Carlisle Castle Bistro, 19 Albermarle St, Newtown, ☏ +61 2 9557 4852. Located within the backstreets close to Newtown Station, this pub is frequented by locals and has a less chaotic atmosphere compared to the pubs on King Street. The bistro has good value, high quality food within an informal dining atmosphere and makes a great place to spend an evening with a few drinks and a meal. 
• 19 Linda's on King St (formerly Linda's Backstage), 341 King St, Newtown (50 m south from Newtown Station), ☏ +61 2 9550 6015. Tu-Sa from 6PM. "Contemporary cuisine giving classic dishes a modern twist." Not many tables so be sure to make a reservation. Top quality for Newtown. Mains $28. 
• Rowda Ya Habibi, 101 King St, Newtown. 10:30AM-midnight. This dingy looking store is far and away the best place for a take away doner kebab in Newtown. Unlike other Newtown kebab stores, which seem to largely cater to drunk people stumbling out of pubs, Ya Habibi's kebabs are fairly authentic (the tabouleh and sauces are made by the owners, and they include a very tasty pickled red cabbage), and at $5.50 for a falafel roll or $6.50 for chicken or lamb, are actually a little cheaper. Also worth checking out are their dolmas ($1.50 each) and their large, soft and delicious pieces of Turkish delight (80 cents each or $5 for a box, but most of the time the box is worse value). 
• EITHER OR, 512 King St, Newtown, ☏ +61 2 9557 7790. Artisan and minimalist cuisine with great coffee. Creative dishes. 
• Sushi Wow, 235 King Street, Newtown, ☏ +61 2 9517 1796. Sushi train restaurant offering a reasonably-priced, quality selection. There is also a menu for those who prefer non-sushi train options. (updated Feb 2016)
• Thai La-ong, 89 King St, Newtown, ☏ +61 2 9550 5866. Thai La-ong has some of the spicier dishes among Newtown's many Thai restaurants. Their yellow curry and pad see eiw are worth a special mention. The restaurant is not air-conditioned and can be a bit uncomfortable on hot Sydney summer nights. Mains approx $10, but daily lunch specials include a plethora of generous mains for $6. 
• Thai Pothong, 294 King St, Newtown (50m from Newtown Station), ☏ +61 2 9519 8050. Lunch 12-3PM (Tu-Su); dinner 6PM-10/11PM (7 days). One of Sydney's premier Thai Restaurants with understated black and white decor and awesome but relatively pricey food. This place won Thai Restaurant of the Year for several years running many years ago, and one taste of the food will show you why. It has since expanded three times and incorporates a Thai gift shop. Mains $15-$29. 
• The Pie Tin, 1 Brown St (off the 7-11 on King St), ☏ +61 2 9519-7880. M-W 10AM-8PM, Th-Sa 10AM-10PM, Su 10AM-6PM. Lots and lots of different good-sized pies to try out, from sweet to savoury, along with a variety of sides. Serves both coffee and craft beers as well. $10. 

Drink

The Inner West suburbs of Glebe and particularly Newtown have a thriving nightlife scene. Newtown is renowned as one of Sydney's main alternative suburbs and is also frequented as a nightlife hotspot away from the chaos of the CBD. King St is lined with many funky pubs and bars and it is convenient to walk from Newtown Station to most of these venues.

Newtown

• Bank Hotel, 324 King St, Newtown, ☏ +61 2 9557 1692. This is an enormous pub only 2 minutes walk from Newtown train station. Wednesday night is lesbians' night. Look out for half-priced cocktails early in the night and cheap jugs of beer. Level access and lift, disabled toilet on lower ground floor. 
• Town Hall Hotel, 326 King St Newtown, ☏ +61 2 9557 1206. Dirty, noisy and seedy, this pub is otherwise known as The Townie and is the best place in Newtown. Older residents of Newtown and horse race punters drink downstairs, everyone else heads upstairs to Platform 8. Home to most of Sydney's indie band scene at one time or another. 
• 1 Imperial Hotel, Erskineville Road, Erskineville. The Imperial, 5 minutes from the heart of Newtown is a gay and lesbian pub and nightclub which features entertainment late Th-Sa. This pub was featured in the opening scene of 'Priscilla, Queen of the Desert'. 
• 2 Courthouse Hotel (The Courty), 202 Australia St. Inclusive pub with a large beer garden. (updated Apr 2024)

Other suburbs

• AB Hotel (formerly the Ancient Briton), 225 Glebe Point Road, Glebe, ☏ +61 2 9660 1417. This hotel has just undergone major renovations and is looking great with a Russian theme inside. The AB claims to have Sydney's coldest beer on tap. It's a large and not terribly crowded local pub with pool tables, couches and a bar made out of a fishtank. Cajun food is served daily, about $15 mains including Jambalaya, fried chicken, fish cakes and sweet potato pie. 
• Sydney Rowing Club, 613 Great North Road, Abbotsford, ☏ +61 2 9712 1199. Sydney's original rowing club, established in 1870, is a historic site with a chic and contemporary venue on a glorious riverside setting, a 20-minute ferry ride from Circular Quay (adjacent to Abbotsford Wharf). With fresh seafood available everyday for lunch and dinner, an expansive beverage list and live music on the riverside deck Thursday, Friday and Sunday, it's the ultimate setting for the archetypal Sydney experience. (updated Aug 2024)

Sleep

• 1 Annam Suites Cascata, 5 Croydon St in Petersham, ☏ +61 2 9569 0547. A boutique executive apartment building located just 10 minute drive from the CBD. Architecturally designed with many features like the striking steel and glass waterfall tower lift and magnificent views of the Sydney skyline and Harbour Bridge from most of the executive apartment suites. The apartments feature all the latest in stainless steel appliances, 2 bathrooms one with a bathtub, 32-inch LCD TV and a beautifully appointed interior design furniture package. Rates 2br $220 per night, 3br $300 per night, minimum 3 night stay. 
• 2 Summer House Newtown, 5-11 Egan St, Newtown, ☏ +61 2 9550 3236, toll-free: 1800 806 419. Located in a quiet side street off bustling King Street, Summer House Newtown is a purpose built hotel/motel offering excellent quality accommodation no matter what your needs. From comfortable doubles with private bathroom to multi-configuaration family rooms or even hostel beds, Summer House offers a complete range of options for the budget traveller looking for true value for money. Facilities include a solar heated pool surrounded by a tropical courtyard with bbq area; large fully equipped communal kitchen; laundry; TV lounge with free internet terminals; free Wi-Fi in all rooms, on-site security parking (fee) (updated Aug 2019)
• Verve, 262 Glebe Point Road, Glebe. A backpacker hostel located on the Glebe Point Road food area. dorm bed A$70. 
• Harbour Breeze Lodge, 5 Collingwood St, Drummoyne, ☏ +61 2 9181 2420, fax: +61 2 9799 0738. Clean, quiet, budget accommodation especially suited to holiday-makers, business-people, working-travellers and students who require affordable three-star accommodation just minutes from Sydney CBD by ferry or bus. The stately Victorian building has a leafy rear garden, bright and spacious rooms, and an upstairs guest balcony that attains fresh gentle breeze off harbour waters. Weekly rates are available for all lengths of stay. Rates: $60/night for single, $80/night for twin or double, $90/night for family. 
• The Abbey On King, 379 King St, Newtown. Offers backpackers and budget minded travellers a friendly atmosphere and a clean, secure place to stay in the heart of cosmopolitan Newtown. Predominantly dormitory style accommodation with some single and double rooms. Features include an internet lounge with fast connections, a fully equipped kitchen and dining facilities, laundry and ironing facilities, free linen, large showers, crystal clean amenities, free pay TV, storage lockers and safety deposit boxes. 
• Breakout on Broadway, 253 Broadway Glebe (near the intersection with Glebe Point Road), ☏ +61290584373. This hotel is part of the Accor Group. There is a small dining area in the foyer with microwave, kettle, sandwich maker and sink.
  If you require parking the hotel has an arrangement with the Coles carpark directly behind it. For $45 you can park your car as many hours or days as you like and exit the carpark once and once only. This enables parking for a modest price if you stay a few days and don't use your car during your stay. The height limit on the car park is 1.95m so don't try parking your campervan there. A$165 per double. (updated Dec 2024)

Connect

• 1 Leichhardt Library, Piazza Level, Italian Forum, 23 Norton St Leichhardt, ☏ +61 2 9367 9266, fax: +61 2 9367 9337, library@lmc.nsw.gov.au. M-F 9:30AM-8PM, Sa 9:30AM-4PM, Su 10AM-4PM. The library has computers with Internet connections that you can use for free for 2 hours, and also free Wi-Fi.  

Cope

• The Marrickville Metro shopping centre (34 Victoria Road, Marrickville) has two supermarkets, a Kmart and a typical range of specialty stores.
• Church St Medical Practice (Church St, Newtown) is one of the best general practice clinics in the Inner West.

Go next

• West - the Inner West is only the tip of the vast area west of Sydney's city centre, known as "Greater Western Sydney". Inner and Outer western Sydney are separated by a substantial green strip, made up of Sydney Olympic Park, a huge cemetery, golf courses and the Cooks River. For the visitor, the easiest way to cross into Greater Western Sydney includes by ferry further upriver (or use the train, or Parramatta Road) to reach Parramatta. The train will also take you to the multicultural foodie destinations of Bankstown and Cabramatta.
• East - the ferry, train or bus will also take you back down-river to the city centre. Cross town to experience more late-night shenanigans at City East.
• South - from the city centre, you can also take the train south to visit the laid back St George and Sutherland Shire districts in the south of Sydney.
• North - cross Sydney Harbour to visit the North Shore. Apart from the regular passenger ferry that criss-crosses the river, an interesting way to cross the river by car is via the Mortlake-Putney cable ferry.