Posted by Potts Point has long been one of Sydney’s favourite inner city enclaves, it’s wonderfully eclectic with equal dashes of class and crass (thanks to the notorious Kings Cross red light district falling within its boundaries). But as the strip clubs and seedier bars gradually disappear, the more refined vibe of lower Macleay St has crept further and further up into Darlinghurst Rd, and post the Covid-era lockdowns, Potts Point emerged with a new swagger and a bunch of cool new venues gracing the 2011 postcode.
Start your exploration on leafy Macleay St, but don’t forgot to take a few random turns here and there, as there are some gems to be found in the little laneways and alleys, such Llankelly Place which is home to a buzzing strip of cafes and small bars, and Kellett St where a row of historic terrace houses have been repurposed as quaint restaurants and bars.
After you’ve discovered Potts Point, check out Travis’ guides to Sydney City and other inner-city hotspots like Surry Hills and Redfern.
This Guide to Potts Point was updated in November 2025.
Just Coffee…
Primary Coffee Roasters | 1/9 Ward Ave
Primary is a little more serious about their coffee than other Potts Point venues, and the line of eager caffeine fans along Ward Ave proves that their dedication to great coffee is proving popular. The decor features concrete floors, blonde timber and high ceilings, though the alfresco area on the street is the place to be seen whilst sipping your coffee. Food choices are limited to cookies and pastries, but like the coffee the quality is top-notch, with divine croissants from Iggy’s one of the options. Primary Coffee Roasters
Barrel One Coffee Roasters | 4 Roslyn St
The first south of the harbour outlet for this small Northern Beaches roaster, they have packed a punch into this tiny space. The coffee is simply excellent, though they also serve seriously kick ass cookies and a selection of bagels with appertising fillings. If you feel like lingering, there’s just a handful of seats inside, but it’s more of a perch on a stool on the pavement type of place. Barrel One Coffee Roasters
Gypsy Espresso | 6/81 Macleay St
Tucked away on Manning St (though their address is Macleay St), a tiny espresso bar that serves some of the better coffee in Potts Point. They also offer a light breakfast and lunch menu, the food is modern, fresh and well priced. Gypsy Espresso
Coffee Tea & Me | 87c Macleay St
This cute, pokey joint dishes up tasty pastries, bagels and the like, plus a great cup of Campos coffee. Open from early morning until late in the afternoon for a pick-me-up caffeine fix, you’ll often find a throng of local caffeine addicts lingering on the pavement waiting for their pick up.
Brown Beans | 107 Darlinghurst Rd
Brown Beans is a handy hole-in-the-wall coffee stand at the Kings Cross Station entrance, perfect for an early caffeine hit on the way to work or the gym. Good coffee, pleasant staff, and a small selection of tasty pastries make it an easygoing local stop. Brown Beans
Breakfast & Brunch…
PINA Potts Point | 4/29 Orwell St
It’s easy to find Pina, just look for the hoard of keen diners waiting out the front for their place at this cult-like café. The tiny open kitchen hums with positivity despite how busy the chefs are, the music is just as upbeat and the understated dining room design still manages to ooze style. The menu is quite long, but each dish is outstanding – even the endless selection of interesting sides. There’s a unique PINA spin on every dish, whether it’s the avocado toast with herb oil or the sausage egg muffin with a hash brown (a surprising take on a McMuffin, but so much better and great for a hangover!). PINA Potts Point
Room Ten | 10 Llankelly Place
Room Ten, a longtime favourite and the original hole-in-the-wall café by the PINA gang, has had a 2025 refresh with a slicker kitchen and a slightly grown-up feel. Still offering just a handful of stools and tables in the laneway, it’s a fair-weather stop for excellent coffee and its legendary smash avocado. A larger menu adds dishes like the Mediterranean breaky plate, an omelette wrap, and plenty of sides to mix and match.
Algorithm | 36-38 Darlinghurst Rd
Algorithm’s second outlet carries the momentum of its hit Marrickville venue. No one comes for the plain, functional décor, it’s the food that shines here – there’s ample pavement seating and a bustling dining room with an open kitchen. Creative, Asian-influenced breakfast dishes elevate even simple staples; the bacon and egg panini is excellent. Sweet options are covered too. Instantly popular, it echoes nearby Pina’s energy but with shorter waits. Upbeat, on-the-ball service make it a real winner. Algorithm
Ken’s Continental | 3/40 Bayswater Rd, Rushcutters Bay
A sister venue to Farmhouse (which is just next door), Ken’s Euro inspired brunch menu offers different takes on your usual cafe fare, with a plate of deli cuts on offer for breakfast and little twists like the avocado coming with pickles, mozzarella and dill. There’s also sandwiches and tasty pastries, good coffee (with two types of beans to choose from) and dining tables scattered under a canopy of trees on the pavement. Ken’s Continental
Adhika | 59 Bayswater Rd
Adhika is a charming 2026 newcomer bringing Filipino-inspired brunch to Potts Point. The short menu features avocado on ensaimada, a standout twist, alongside a bacon and egg roll for purists and crumpets with sweet toppings. Small, rustic 60s–70s décor frames just a few indoor tables, with more seating under leafy trees. Friendly owners, Campos coffee, and fresh ideas make it a much-needed neighbourhood addition. Adhika
La Bomba | 35 Challis Ave
A friendly alfresco sidewalk cafe that dishes up a fabulous, yet quite simple, Mediterranean inspired brunch and lunch menu, with near perfect Allpress coffee on the side (or matched with a crisp glass of wine at lunchtime). La Bomba captures the perfect Potts Point vibe on a sunny day, though it’s not an ideal venue in inclement weather. La Bomba
Zinc Cafe | 2/77 Macleay St
This bright café on a prominent corner of Macleay St has been feeding happy locals for over two decades now; there’s no bells & whistles here, just consistently good café fare (the menu hasn’t changed in years, though they do offer creative specials), excellent coffee and efficient service by a friendly team that knows what their regulars want and need.
Cafe de la Fontaine | 1a Darlinghurst Rd
A little slice of Paris located opposite the El Alamein Fountain, you’ll find all the classic French brunch staples here, including baguettes, quiche, sweet crepes and savoury galettes, plus croissants, eclairs and other exquisite pastry treats. The humble interiors are reminiscent of a rustic provincial farmhouse kitchen, with many of the French themed antiques and bric-a-brac on show also for sale. Cafe de la Fontaine
Lunch & Dinner…
Fei Jai | 31 Challis Ave
This popular eatery serves modern Cantonese food that is flavoursome and delicious, with a broad menu spanning dumplings and noodles through to hero dishes like blue swimmer crab omelette and old school style sweet & sour pork. The menu is made for sharing and though some of the portions can be small, the upside is it’s more enticing to try a larger variety of dishes. The wine list is brief but interesting and they turn out fine cocktails too. The two inside dining rooms are low lit and quite snug, with a tiny bar to sit at as well, whilst the alfresco pavement seating affords a little more room to relax, and it hums along on a warm night. Fei Jai
Lady Chu | 3 Roslyn St
Lady Chu has turned Roslyn Street into ‘Rue du Chu’, growing from a tiny spot into a buzzing Vietnamese favourite that has expanded along almost the entire street. Footpath tables framed by leafy plants set the scene for dining from a big menu of consistently excellent classics – crudo, Peking duck pancakes, many varieties of dumplings, crab net spring rolls and banh xeo all shine. Owner Nagee’s fiery charm adds entertainment, as do the ‘unfortunate fortune cookies’ that provide a laugh at the end of a meal. A short, serious wine list, legendary long lunches and a green room that turns lively at night make it a place where lunch easily rolls into dinner. Lady Chu
The Apollo | 44 Macleay St
Quite possibly Sydney’s most successful Greek restaurant, the interiors are stripped back but still retain an air of elegance, whilst the modern Greek food cooked over wood and charcoal is sensational. The best way to dine here is with a group – go with ‘The Full Greek’ shared menu that allows you to taste all of their signature dishes, many of which are so good there’s been little need to change the menu structure at all since they opened in 2012. Always busy, always buzzing, bookings are definitely required here. The Apollo
Fratelli Paradiso | 12-16 Challis Ave
Authentic and suave, yet beautifully simple, this Potts Point stayer ticks all the boxes that a fabulous Italian restaurant needs to offer and proves that classic food and service never goes out of style. The food is traditional Italian with just a gentle modern twist here and there, the menu is not overly long, but it offers enough to make a lunch or dinner here an impressive (and sometimes a long and lingering) event. The compact dining room is intimate and alive, but sitting on the pavement and watching the world go is just as lovely a spot to dine. Fratelli Paradiso
Farmhouse Kings Cross | 4/40 Bayswater Rd, Rushcutters Bay
Quietly going above its business in the enclave where Potts Point meets Rushcutters Bay, the rustic Farmhouse is a welcome surprise, offering a set dinner menu (which changes every four weeks or so). Starting with terrific house-made bread and an assortment of snacks, the lovely food just keeps coming and coming. If you want to really treat yourself, there’s also the option to add fresh oysters and a bonus course to the mix, whilst dessert is often a touch of retro fun. The French and Australian wine list is more than affordable, though the best option is to let them just pour you the wine match that’s been curated to accompany the meal. Inside is one long dining table, with individual tables scattered on the pavement out the front. Farmhouse Kings Cross
The Butler | 123 Victoria St
The Butler offers lovely city skyline views, best enjoyed from the leafy terrace with its gardens and wicker chairs – perfect for a long, lazy Sunday lunch. The sun pours in during the afternoon, while the high-ceilinged dining room brings a Colonial-meets-Hampton vibe. The contemporary Mexican-style share plates are delicious and arrive as ready, with standout vegetable sides and plenty of seafood options. Upbeat tunes keep the atmosphere lively and relaxed. The Butler
Chester White Cured Diner | 3 Orwell St
A cross between a retro diner and a butcher shop, with a country music soundtrack to boot, Chester White is the local we’d all like in our neighbourhood. Friendly relaxed staff serve up delicious house-made charcuterie, simple pastas and Mediterranean inspired mains – the truffle cacio e pepe served in a cheese wheel is a highlight. The small wine list is curated to match the food perfectly. Chester White Cured Diner
Drinks…
Dear Sainte Eloise | 5/29 Orwell St
A relaxed yet polished wine bar where they’re serious about great wine, their philosophy neatly summed up on the first page of the list; “The pages of this wine list are filled with wines that have the ability to transport the drinker away from the everyday to fantastic faraway lands – from the beloved wine regions of Australia, to the incomparable sites of Europe, and beyond.” Running to forty or so pages, the list offers a balanced blend of wines by established and up and coming wine makers, and includes a strong selection of natural wines. There’s also creative but beautiful Euro style share food of offer, their chefs turn ordinary dishes into something a little more extraordinary. DSE is the type of place that’s bustling no matter what night of the week it is, and sitting alfresco on Llankelly Place whilst watching the passing locals is a great spot on a sunny afternoon or warm evening. Dear Sainte Eloise
Dulcie’s Kings Cross | 44b Darlinghurst Rd
In a cosy and dark basement, this cocktail bar brings an old-school vibe and a much needed late night adults drinking den to the Kings Cross precinct. The eclectic decor includes a few nods to the venue’s history as a notorious strip club, and the strippers stage is these days put to good use with regular events like retro movie nights or local history talks. It’s fun, a little bit fancy but still relaxed, with switched on staff who really know their drinks, and a creative cocktail list that proudly uses only Australian made spirits. Dulcie’s Kings Cross
Arms Length | 7 Kellett St
Arms Length upped stumps and moved from its original Redfern home in mid-2024, settling into a cosy Kellett St terrace house that’s had a lovely warm makeover. The space is deceptively large with multiple seating zones, including a snug back bar that feels a little like a speakeasy, and a leafy front courtyard which is ideal for a summer night. The Italian leaning menu is not overly long, but it’s perfectly on-point and delicious, starting with firm favourites like San Daniele Prosciutto, Kingfish Crudo and Chicken Liver Parfait, followed by a handful of housemade pasta dishes which are simple yet tantalising, plus a classic steak frites. There’s house cocktails flowing and a short but sufficient wine list of interesting drops from around Australia. Arms Length
Bar Sopra | Corner Macleay St & Challis Ave
A big sister venue to cafe La Bomba, Sopra launched in late 2020 and quickly found plenty of eager fans. They’ve nailed the European wine bar vibe, with a ‘just-stylish-enough’ decor, the intimate size of the space and windows that open to the sidewalk to allow patrons to chat easily with passing neighbours. The Mediterranean share food offers a simplicity that’s precisely what’s needed to accompany the lovely wine list, though cocktails are also a focus here. Bar Sopra
Jangling Jack’s | 175 Victoria St
Jack’s strikes you a little like a shadowy dive bar, and I suspect that’s how its regulars like it. The room is lived in and inviting, yet with a gentle dash of opulence, with the dark green lampshades hanging over the bar adding to this disposition. The long bar is ideal for perching at and chatting to the bartenders, whilst the cosy seating area at the rear is great ‘date territory’. The beer on tap includes retro throwback Resch’s, the cocktail list is short but cheeky and the wine selection is imaginative. The bar food doesn’t let you down either, with moorish snack options and a handful of pleasing mains. Jangling Jack’s
Piccolo Bar | 6 Roslyn St
A neighbourhood bolt hole since 1952, Piccolo Bar was reinvented in 2022 as a hipster cocktail bar with a distinct European vibe. The name is apt as the room is tiny, seating less than 20 happy drinkers, though there’s a handful of tables on the sidewalk. The walls are adorned with memories of the olden days of the cross, including a nod to some of the famous watering holes that have gone by the wayside, such as the Sebel Townhouse and Baron’s. Get there early for aperitivo hour from 4-5pm, then stay on for classic cocktails and good conversation. Wine drinkers are not encouraged here, there’s only one of each red or white, but who needs wine when cocktails flow this easily. Due to their license you must order food, even if it’s just a bowl of nuts, but there’s more interesting things than nuts, like an assortment of Penny’s Cheeses (also served on a decadent cheese toastie), plus LP’s classic hot dogs. Piccolo Bar
Vermuteria | 60 Kings Cross Rd
Feint red lights glowing on an otherwise desolate stretch of Kings Cross Rd will draw you into this warm and inviting European styled bar. With shelves lined with hundreds of bottles, retro posters covering the walls and ornate timber work, it feels like it’s been here forever, which is a hint to the venues past life as a Spanish cafe for fifty+ years. Yes, vermouth and sherry are the highlights here, with the cocktail list featuring an assortment of martini’s and other vermouth based drinks, however the offering of wines is rather short. The food choices are similar to the menu at sister venue Piccolo Bar, with tasty pinxtos and gildas, tinned seafood, plus cold and warm plates featuring goodies from LP’s Quality Meats. Vermuteria
Potts Point Hotel | 33-35 Darlinghurst Rd
This relaxed pub has become a true community hub, where a mixed crowd of young and old, gay and straight, rich and not so rich mingles easily over drinks and snacks, with cocktails named after Kings Cross icons. The streetside beer garden hums on a sunny day, while the comfortably lived-in interior with worn leather and mood lighting feels welcoming. Big windows open to the street vibe. Above-average pub fare, a decent wine list and slick, easygoing service make it a reliable local favourite. Potts Point Hotel
Foodie Finds…
Kings Cross Organic Food Market | Fitzroy Gardens, Macleay St
Operating on Saturday’s between 9am and 2pm, these markets feature a collection of fresh organic produce stalls, plus artisan bakers, an iconic flower stand and a bunch of takeaway stands which are great for brunch, plus every other foodie treat you could imagine. It’s quite the Potts Point social scene on a sunny Saturday.
Penny’s Cheese Shop | Shop 6, 127-139 Macleay St
In her new main street premises, Penny retains the cute little corner shop feel that made her original Roslyn St shop an instant hit, but the extra space allows her to stock more decadent handmade and farmhouse cheeses from around the world, plus all the extras you’ll need to indulge in with your fromage. Owner Penny Lawson is a former cheesemaker, so you can be assured her recommendations will always hit the spot, whilst her cheese toasties have become a much sought after Potts Point treat. Penny’s Cheese Shop
Salumerie | 40 Llankelly Place
The locals of Potts Point may not have thought they needed a neighbourhood salumerie, but they certainly do now that this compact venue on ever popular Llankelly Place has flung open its doors. On weekends there’s likely to be a line out the door to grab one of their simple but simply amazing focaccia – filled with traditional delicacies such as prosciutto or mortadella, or more curious options like meatballs. They also offer a choice of sliced Italian meats and fromage, plus sweet treats like delicately filled cannoli. Salumerie
Teta’s Deli | 4B Roslyn St
Teta’s is a quaint little Lebanese spot with very casual (11-ish to 3-ish) lunch hours and a homely feel. Sit outside on the pavement and enjoy their simple menu of three generous pliage (filled flatbreads); spicy lamb, chicken or vegetarian – they are big enough to share. Shelves hold a small range of imported grocery staples. They do it simple, do it well, but don’t come in a rush, as they take their time to prepare the pliage’s with care. Teta’s Deli
Where to Stay…
There is no shortage of value accommodation around Potts Point, with a couple of mainstream hotels and a selection of smaller lodge and guest-house style premises. In a neighbourhood this swish, it’s worth indulging in some deluxe digs like Spicers or the upmarket Hotel Indigo, but if your budget is tighter, Hotel Challis is a worthy contender too.
Spicers Potts Point | 122 Victoria St
Three Victorian terrace houses have been artfully converted into a luxury boutique retreat of just 20 suites. Staying here is kike residing at the inner-city abode of a very well-to-do, stylish friend – splash out on a Victoria Terrace Suite for the ultimate indulgence. They only offer breakfast service and evening drinks, but there are so many fab restaurants in the neighbourhood, that’s all you need. Spicers Potts Point
Hotel Indigo Sydney Potts Point | 14 Kings Cross Rd
A 2023 top-to-toe refurbishment brought a new creative energy and name to this long-standing hotel which is located just behind the famous Coca Cola billboard. The refreshed rooms are contemporary with a dash of flair, some offer harbour views and a handful have balconies too. Luke Mangan’s Luc-San French/Japanese fusion restaurant is the in-house dining option, but there are endless options for drinking and dining just outside the front door. Hotel Indigo Sydney Potts Point
Hotel Challis | 21-23 Challis Ave
Located in two restored 1893 heritage-listed terrace homes, this boutique hotel has had a bright makeover and offers good value accommodation in a wonderful location. The lead in room grades can be quite compact, if you need a little more space opt for a King Balcony Room which offer the added bonus of views over vibrant Challis Ave and the city skyline. Hotel Challis
Travis’ Wish List…
Because there’s always more eating, dining and exploring that can be done, especially in an ever-evolving locale like Potts Point, Travis likes to keep a wish list of fab spots still to visit. Our agenda for Potts Points includes a glass of something delicious at Parisian wine bar Caravin, and an omokase feast at tiny Kisuke Potts Point (if we’re lucky enough to snare a seat). And we’re super excited to try out the new small wine bar by the Fratelli Paradiso team – Paradise – on the corner of Roslyn St and Ward Ave.
Featured Photo: ‘Seedy No More’ – Dulcie’s Kings Cross
Travis. 
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