Posted by This inner-city hub that once had a less than salubrious reputation has come a very long way in the last decade – it’s now a buzzing enclave of cafes, interesting restaurants, bars and creativeness. With a diverse population of young university students through to older professionals living side by side with some of Redfern’s old-timers, there’s a unique community feel, though some parts of the suburb are still a little down at heel.
Most of the best venues are clustered around Redfern St, just a short stroll from the railway station, whilst the north-eastern part of Redfern that borders Surry Hills and Moore Park has recently been re-energized in fabulous fashion by the development of the Wunderlich Lane precinct, which is home to The Eve Hotel and an array of excellent eating and drinking venues.
After you’ve discovered Redfern, check out Travis’ guides to other Sydney hot-spots including Sydney City Surry Hills and Potts Point
This Guide to Redfern was updated in November 2025.
Breakfast & Brunch…
Hunter’s Corner | 89 Pitt St
A large corner Victorian terrace has has a ‘just rustic enough, just eclectic enough’ makeover that makes it supremely comfortable to hang out in. The service is swift and on the ball, the modern cafe menu pleases everyone with fresh, vibrant food that works from breakfast through to lunch.
Kepos Street Kitchen | 96 Kepos St
An insanely popular bright and modern corner café, inside is cosy and noisy whilst the alfresco pavement dining is a little more chilled. Kepos Street dishes up stunningly simple food with Middle Eastern and Mediterranean flare. The perfect inner city brunch spot. Kepos Street Kitchen
Three Williams | 613 Elizabeth St
On a stretch of Elizabeth St more known for furniture and design stores, this spacious warehouse conversion is surprisingly cosy despite the concrete floor and brick walls. The menu features many of the usual cafe favourites prepared with modern interpretations, including a toastie of the day. It seems to attract the Redfern/Surry Hills creative crowd which gives the room a warm buzz. Three Williams
St. Judes | 728 Bourke St
Perched on a leafy corner, St. Judes is the perfect neighborhood spot to start your day. Their mimosas pair wonderfully with a diverse menu, offering everything from light bites to hearty meals. Enjoy all-day breakfast and brunch, with vegetarian options aplenty, killer sandwiches, and specialties like house-made baked beans. The cosy interior, rustic timber tables, and leafy outdoor seating create a welcoming vibe. Open till late afternoon, it’s an ideal place for great food and a neighbourly catch-up. St. Judes
Dinner…
BART Jr. | 92 Pitt St
The perfect neighbourhood wine bar, snug but still spacious enough, the intense noise levels when busy being the only thing I don’t love about it. The relatively concise menu changes regularly, but every dish is oh so very good – understated but with beautiful flavour combinations. Throw in a cocktail list that’s just interesting enough without needing a science degree to decipher it, plus a very pleasant natural and biodynamic wine list, and it all adds up to a lovely day or night out. BART Jr.
Mezepotamia | 99 Redfern St
Mezepotamia delights with its delicious array of Turkish and Middle Eastern fare – every dish is a winner. The two-page menu is built for sharing, with staples like halloumi, eggplant dip, and falafel. A $79 feast menu tempts, but every dish looks irresistible so choosing your own selection is easy. They offer an impressive selection of wines from Greece, France, and Australia, focusing on sustainable and organic wineries. Spirits like raki and ouzo add a unique touch. The large, simply adorned space features exposed brick, stone floors, and outdoor seating. Attentive service and truly remarkable food make this one of Travis’ new favourite Sydney dining experiences. Mezepotamia
Olympus Dining | Wunderlich Lane, 2 Baptist St
As Wunderlich Lane breathes new life into the north-eastern corner of Redfern, Olympus Dining brings a modern take on the traditional Greek taverna, leveraging the magical formula that’s seen Potts Point’s The Apollo a crowd favourite for many years. Olympus’ expansive indoor-outdoor design, earthy tones, and striking bougainvillea tree centerpiece set the scene, anchored by a large circular banquette and a glass opening roof. The $88 banquet impresses with ample, leisurely courses; zucchini chips shine as just one of the standouts. A more rustic Greek approach than The Apollo, some dishes feel a touch overthought, but the seductive bar and extensive wine list—Greek and Australian varietals—make Olympus a very pleasant and mostly delicious dining experience. Olympus Dining
Lottie | Rooftop, 8 Baptist St
Lottie sits on The Eve Hotel rooftop without chasing views, and it does not need them. The space feels calm and lush, with soft color touches and a clever glass roof that adapts to the weather. The Mexican menu is short but bold and inventive, built on house made masa tortillas (served in a leather pouch) which are perfect for scooping the tasty main dishes into. Cocktails are fresh and bright, the wine list is global and smartly grouped, and the desserts are unforgettable. Lottie
Fontana | 133A Redfern St
The Fontana team have prior form with delivering simple but simply great rustic Italian fare, from their previous venture with the pop-up ‘Don Peppino’s’. Ascend the red carpeted stairs from Redfern St and you’ll be welcomed into a warm and inviting room with decor that doesn’t try too hard to impress – the food will take care of that nicely anyway. The menu features some classics and a few more adventurous takes, with the pastas the standout in my opinion – and don’t worry that the menu descriptions on paper are rather basic, for the lovely team will take the time to describe each dish in intricate detail if you wish. This is share food at its best, and the closely laid out tables mean you can peruse your neighbour’s choices and swap notes on what to order next! Fontana
Mjolner | 267 Cleveland St
Located on a rather barren stretch of Cleveland St, a tiny timber door leads to a rustic den-like basement across a series of small, cosy rooms, with mood lighting, raw brick walls, exposed beams and abundant recycled timber. The food and drinks offer a Nordic theme and the execution is damn near perfect, with an almost theatrical touch to the presentation (without seeming gimmicky). The wine list is short but offers a lovely selection of international grape varieties, there are seven craft brews on tap and the cocktail list goes for pages and pages. Bar food revolves around cheese, oysters and cured meats, whilst the restaurant menu is a lot more extensive. Mjolner
La Coppola | 152 Redfern St
This tiny bolt-hole is perfectly positioned to feed hungry drinkers from Redfern’s growing collection of cool bars. The menu is all about simplicity, a short selection of classic Italian starters and a lengthier choice of woodfire pizzas’s (with either a tomato or olive oil base), where the quality of the ingredients is the focus. they also deliver to The Noble Hops across the road. La Coppola
KINDRED | 137 Cleveland St, Darlington
It’s worth the detour across the Redfern border to neighbouring Darlington for dinner at this under-the-radar gem, where the rustic dining room is intimate and convivial, radiating with a lovely welcoming charm. Every aspect of the Italian fare is wonderful, from simple yet interesting starters through rich and silky pastas, finishing with decadent desserts. Much of the food is made in house, including staples such as butter and ricotta, and the pastas are hand-rolled fresh each day, whilst the wine list highlights organic and biodynamic offerings. KINDRED is one of those warm and inviting local restaurants that everyone wants in their neighourhood. KINDRED
Drinks…
Bar Julius | 6 Baptist St
Bar Julius feels like an elegant old school lobby bar with warm timber panels, a curved ceiling painted with murals, and eclectic art that gives the room ample personality. The wine list is broad, leaning French and Italian, even offering a full white Burgundy section. Happy hour brings $2 oysters and easy cocktails. The dinner menu is concise and Euro focused. It is lively and friendly with a Parisien vibe, perfect for a quick drink or a long night. Bar Julius
The Noble Hops | 125 Redfern St
Squeezed into a long narrow space, this cosy and rustic bar also offers a snug courtyard at the rear. The atmosphere is relaxed and super friendly, whilst the beverage offering is focused on craft beers, with over 100 or so on offer at any time. If beer is not your thing, there’s also a short selection of classic cocktails to quench your thirst. The Noble Hops
Arcadia Liquors | 7 Cope St
Decked out with concrete flooring, requisite exposed brick walls, retro chairs and tables, plus just the right amount of op-shop cred to achieve that ‘we haven’t really tried, but we really have tried to make this place look cool’. The cosy courtyard out back is ideal for summer drinking sessions, the staff are hipper then thou but still welcoming, and there’s a nice selection of international beers, whilst the music is a little on the honky-tonk side. They do make some mighty fine toasted sandwiches if you’re peckish. Arcadia Liquors
Moya’s Juniper Lounge | 101 Regent St
Cosy, rustic, with well worn sofas and historical bric-a-brac, this gloriously laidback bar is easy to lose a night in. With a huge gin selection that will impress even the most discerning gin fanatic, they take their cocktails very seriously here, offering each cocktail its own page of detailed notes – the local Negroni made from Australian spirits is a favourite. There’s also a very simple food menu, if that’s what you need. There is definitely something so very right about Moya’s! Moya’s Juniper Lounge
The Bearded Tit | 183 Regent St
A quirky dive bar with eclectic op-shop decor and a young creative vibe, the cosy interior is complimented by a leafy courtyard, complete with a caravan. Cocktails range from classics to local twists, while the craft beer list impresses. A small but solid wine selection includes natural options, alongside non-alcoholic drinks. Simple bites like hot dogs keep things casual. With taxidermy-adorned walls and a lively late-night crowd, it’s a wonderfully unique spot. The Bearded Tit
Misfits | 106 George St
One of Redfern’s buzzing venues that heralds the suburb has truly come of age. With a flash looking 60’s and 70’s retro fitout, this spacious venue offers a bar, dining room and small glasshouse courtyard. It’s got all the required hipster touches such as a big craft beer selection, plus classic pub fare with some more modern interpretations too, and a diverse crowd of local fans. Misfits
Mountain Culture Beer Co. | 158 Regent St
Mountain Culture Beer Co brings its Blue Mountains roots to Redfern, marking its first city venture. Housed in a former mechanic workshop, the spacious split-level venue retains an industrial charm. With 14 beers on tap and a small cocktail list featuring the likes of a Hopped Negroni and Peach Paloma, there’s plenty to enjoy. The beer hall vibe pairs perfectly with elevated, drinking-friendly fare. A must-visit for craft beer lovers. Mountain Culture Beer Co.
Must Do…
Carriageworks Farmers Market | 245 Wilson St, Eveleigh
Doing a roaring trade on Saturday mornings, this farmers market is situated inside an old railways workshop in the Carriageworks complex. The produce on offer is largely organic or bio-dynamic, with a broad selection of vendors and plenty of stalls selling ready to eat fare perfect for a tasty breakfast or snack. Whilst you’re here, pop into the exhibition space just next door, where they have a changing roster of contemporary art installations throughout the year. Carriageworks Farmers Market
Where to Stay…
The Eve Hotel is the only real hotel option within the Redfern postcode, however Central Station is only a short walk from the heart of Redfern, and you will find a cluster of hotels ranging all the way from budget to luxury standard around Central.
The Eve Hotel | 8 Baptist St
The Eve lifts Redfern’s energy with its spot in the new Wunderlich Lane precinct amidst a lineup of standout restaurants and bars. The rooftop pool is twenty meters of pure Palm Springs meets Miami vibe, complete with cabanas and serious style. Venues including Lottie, Julius, and Olympus give the hotel real culinary punch. The décor is natural and textured, the lobby small but bold, and lush greenery brings an indoor/outdoor calm. Rooms are spacious, luxe, and make the whole stay feel boutique and refined. The Eve Hotel
Mercure Sydney | 818-820 George St
A large mid-scale hotel with relatively generous sized rooms, though the purple accented décor might be a little too much if you are style snob. Location is the key selling point, just across the road from Central Station and an easy walk to the city centre, with the hotspots of Chinatown, Chippendale and Redfern all on its doorstep. Mercure Sydney
The Old Clare Hotel | 1 Kensington St, Chippendale
A 19th-century pub and the old Carlton United Breweries administration building have been joined and converted into this super hip design hotel. The interior design and attention to detail is beyond par, with too many unique features to mention. There are quite a variety of room types, some even offer free-standing bathtubs in the bedrooms. The old public bar has been given a makeover that’s retained much of it’s old-time character, and there’s a lovely rooftop deck and pool too. The Old Clare Hotel
Travis’ Wish List…
Because there’s always more eating, dining and exploring than can be done in a happening spot like Redfern, Travis likes to keep a wish list so there’s an incentive to visit again!
Next time we’re in the neighbourhood, we might start the night with a few drinks at friendly small bar The Dock or local favourite Scarlett Weasel. For dinner, Attenzione Food & Wine is high on our wish list for some inventive Italian fare. Meanwhile, in the Wunderlich Lane precinct, Baptist Street Rec Club is the perfect starting point for a fancy night out, followed by dinner of some vibrant South-East Asian fare at Island Radio.
Featured Photo: ‘Street (Art) Fighter’ – Eveleigh St, Redfern
Travis. 
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