Posted by Once a working class suburb dotted with dilapidated terrace houses and unused industrial warehouses, Surry Hills has been quietly evolving over the past twenty or so years, but the pace of change has picked up and the 2020’s has heralded it as the place to be. The Surry Hills you’ll discover today is all about leafy streets, quaint laneways, restaurants that range from elegantly casual to intricately fine, some of the city’s most fabulous wine bars and a collection of historic pubs – In fact it’s got so many great pubs, we’ve dedicated an entire section to them in this guide.
Broad in size, stretching from Oxford to Cleveland St’s, and Central to Moore Park, it’s home to two especially social precincts – the long strip running along Crown St and surrounds, and the ‘Warehouse District’ abutting the CBD which is a tight hub of hotspots like the Ace Hotel, Pellegrino 2000, Nomad, Poly, The Rover and more.
Although Surry Hills is now firmly on the radar as one of the Sydney’s hottest spots, it still maintains pockets of sleepy residential streets, tree lined with gorgeous old terrace homes.
There’s no doubt Surry Hills has more than enough to keep you busy for weeks and weeks, but if you’re looking to explore other parts of Sydney, check out Travis’ guides to Sydney City, Potts Point and Redfern.
This Guide to Surry Hills was updated in January 2025.
Just Coffee..
Artificer Specialty Coffee Bar & Roastery | 547 Bourke St
When it’s just coffee on offer and absolutely nothing else, you know it’s gotta be good. On a quiet stretch of Bourke St, the Surry Hills ‘in-the-know’ crowd stand in line patiently for their caffeine hit here, as they know it’s worth the wait. Artificer Specialty Coffee Bar & Roastery
Royale Specialty | 536 Crown St
A cosy corner café offering a light café menu and a choice of coffee blends – their coffee is made using a natural process hailing from Ethiopia. Royale Specialty
Neighbourhood Specialty Coffee | 16 Buckingham St
Serving simply tremendous coffee and bagels with a selection of spreads, they do it so well at this hole-in-the-wall outlet near Central Station. There are a few benches on the footpath for those who wish to linger. Neighbourhood Specialty Coffee
Veneziano Coffee Roasters | 352 Bourke St
Hailing from Melbourne, the only Sydney outpost of Veneziano has a minimalist, swish looking interior – though it’s outside on the streetside benches where the coffee lovers tend to congregate. Veneziano Coffee Roasters
Breakfast & Brunch…
Reuben Hills | 61 Albion St
The long narrow room at Rueben Hills features a modern industrial fitout, with the garage roller door at the rear of the dining space opening straight onto one of Surry Hills’ cute laneways. Consistently packed with hipsters chattering away whilst chowing down on inventive café fare from around the globe, the seasonal menu is inspired by the teams coffee buying trips to Africa and South America. And yes, they do have a pretty amazing Reuben sandwich on offer! Reuben Hills
Paramount Coffee Project | 80 Commonwealth St
In the atrium that serves as an entry to the the Paramount House Hotel, Golden Age Cinema & Bar and a gallery space, Paramount is a collaboration between Melbourne’s popular Seven Seeds Coffee and Sydney’s Reuben Hills. The stylish room has high ceilings, oodles of natural light and ample space. The coffee is of course beyond fault, the creative menu is extremely contemporary (forget asking for simple eggs on toast here) and the service is swift. It attracts quite a hip Surry Hills crowd. Paramount Coffee Project
Single O | 60-64 Reservoir St
Established in 2003 as the site of Single O’s original roastery, this uber popular cafes is a weekday draw for Surry Hill’s artistic and creative crowd, but equally as beloved by local residents on the weekend. You’ll find their Reservoir blend plus four single origin coffees on offer, plus about a dozen tempting seasonal menu items to indulge in. Single O
Dougie | 496 Bourke St
So new, that at the time of writing (May 2023), we couldn’t even find Dougie’s website or social media profiles, but word is clearly out as weekend breakfasts are already popular with Surry Hills locals packing in for a broadly international brunch menu featuring highlight dishes like Bao Buns and Shakshouka, as well as classic eggs with a fresh array of sides. Attention to detail is evident here, from the bright and breezy decor to the food presentation, plus the Dougie’s team are some of the friendliest cafe staff you’ll find on a Saturday morning.
Soul Deli | 212 Riley St
The cult-like following that the Soul gang developed in their original location has followed them to their new larger and flasher digs in a hotel lobby, and despite the ironic fact that the new premises lacks a little ‘soul’, the creative food is still as good as ever. The breakfast classics all feature a Korean spin or two, plus there’s a selection of tasty bowls and a KFC (Korean Fried Chicken) roll if you’re really feeling naughty. Even the humble bacon and egg roll is elevated to something special here, thanks to touches that include a soft potato roll, American cheese and Korean chilli mayo. Soul Deli
Lunch & Dinner…
The Blue Door | 38-52 Waterloo St
Young-gun chef, Dylan Cashman, takes his passion for local provenance and transforms it into simply wonderful fare that magically appears before you in a tasting menu spanning around seven courses. The menu changes weekly, based on what’s in season or simply what the producers that Dylan sources directly from may turn up on his doorstep with. The wine program leans towards natural wines from NSW, they offer a wine match or you can choose a lovely bottle yourself. The service is informed but easy going, Dylan himself often appears at your table to guide you though the courses. A small and intimate restaurant, bookings are essential. The Blue Door
Nour | 3/490 Crown St
Nour is one of those restaurants that makes it look like they don’t try too hard, yet they seem to effortlessly get it all so right. Start with a lovely fragrant cocktail before tucking into an abundant feast of classic Lebanese fare with a fresh twist or two. Everything on the menu is outstanding, particularly the dishes that come out of the woodfire oven, so either choose a banquet or let the helpful staff guide you though the must-order dishes. The Nour team opened a city outpost in 2022, Aalia, which offers a slightly more refined Middle Eastern experience. Nour
Poly | 74-76 Commonwealth St
A casual wine bar by the Ester restaurant crew, unsurprisingly Poly has been a hit from day one. In the Paramount House complex, the interior is a nod to rustic simplicity, with generous bar seating and a bustling open kitchen. The wine list leans heavily towards natural vino’s, whilst the food is inventive and delicious, every dish is so good to look at and even better to eat. Take a few friends and work your way through the shared menu with a few bottles of good wine. Poly
D.O.C Pizza & Mozzarella Bar | 78 Campbell St
Melbourne’s exceptional D.O.C Group have opened a rather low-key Sydney outlet, wedged into a narrow room with a classy, modern-industrial feel. They have transported the same ingredients that have made their Melbourne venues so successful; beautiful Salumi plates, authentic thin but deliciously chewy pizzas and nonchalant but charming service by a crew of handsome Italian waiters. What’s not to like about all of this? D.O.C Pizza & Mozzarella Bar
Firedoor | 23-33 Mary St
The wood coals are the hero at Firedoor, with no gas or electricity used in the kitchen, everything is cooked over coals or in the wood fired oven. Using the best seasonal produce available and creating surprising flavour combinations, Chef Lennox Hastie and his crew treat their ingredients lightly, with some dishes prepared so simply they have been merely ‘licked by the flames’. The heritage building that is home to Firedoor has been given a warm, restrained fitout, with sandstone walls and the open kitchen the centre of attention. Sit at the kitchen counter if you want to watch the action up close. Firedoor
Shaffa | 80 Albion St
Israeli fare is an unusual choice to launch a funky Surry Hills venue with, but with the first bite you’ll be hooked on Shaffa’s cosmopolitan take on time-honoured Tel Aviv favourites. Start with morish dips and their Goldstar focaccia which is simply impossible to stop nibbling on, then move onto larger dishes including zesty salads and succulent skewers. The main dining room is a dramatic space, a soaring atrium that sits between a historic church and a modern building, though there is a cosy separate bar area as well. Sitting at the kitchen counter is the place to be, observing the kitchen team going about their business, whilst the floor staff offer some of the most engaging service you’ll experience. Shaffa
Jane | 478 Bourke St
A little sister venue to fancier big brother Arthur (located just up the street), Jane nails the ‘wine bar with exceptional food’ brief so well. The room is intimate, sitting at the bar you’ll be elbow to elbow with your neighbouring imbibers, the wait staff serving diners at the tables behind you will likely be bumping into you, but it’s that neighbourhood style of place where everyone is friends (there’s also a sweet back room with the cutest booths for two). The share food has no set cultural identity, it might veer from lamb dumplings to kangaroo tartare, though the Sydney rock oysters are a great place to start. Wine is obviously a highlight here, the list is suitably interesting, the team are well versed and ready to guide you through the many choices. Jane
Nomad | 16 Foster St
An expansive warehouse artfully converted into a swish dining space, the modern Middle Eastern and Northern African inspired fare is on song, with wood fire and smoke used to great effect. Choosing can be difficult here, as every dish will appeal, so if you are first-timer the ‘Feast’ menu is a good place to start – with the Olive Oil Ice Cream Sandwich an even better place to end. Nomad is quite the buzzy place when it’s busy, but the service is first class no matter how many deliriously happy diners are inhouse. Nomad
Tokyo Bird | 2/226-228 Commonwealth St
The authentic Japanese drinking den vibe is enhanced by upbeat music and cartoon projections onto exposed brick walls. With ice cold Asahi on tap, a Sake menu and shelves heaving with Japanese Whisky’s, your thirst will definitely be quenched, whilst your hunger will be taken care of by juicy yakitori skewers and other tasty Japanese treats. Tokyo Bird
Pellegrino 2000 | 80 Campbell St
By the young gun crew who upended the concept of a French bistro with Potts Point’s Bistrot 916, Pellegrino brings their same sensibility to Italian fare. The corner site for their trattoria is cosy, dark and intimate, it works well for a sexy date night as much as a decadent celebration of good food with friends. The starters menu features the most options, a broad choice of classic antipasti that will leave you wanting more, before moving onto a small but powerful selection of housemade pastas and a handful of larger mains. It’s a simple premise here – good food and wine, served by a passionate team of foodies. Pellegrino 2000
Mark + Vinny’s Spaghetti + Spritz | g08/38-52 Waterloo St
With the neon sign, the elevated noise level, the bright young things both serving you and dining at neighbouring tables, on first impressions you may think that this ‘disco spaghetti joint’ lacks substance, but they come through in spades with the food. The modern Italian menu is not overly long, with plenty of vegan options if you are so inclined, but it delivers a diverse range of delicious dishes. Add to that a small but sufficient wine selection and the spritz menu that forms part of the name and you have all the ingredients for a very fun night out. Mark + Vinny’s Spaghetti + Spritz
Drinks…
Bar Copains | 67 Albion St
This adorable French leaning wine bar is perfect for a tipple of lovely vino as much as it is for the delicious share dishes that come out of the tiny kitchen. The cosy and charming front room seats only twenty or so happy bon vivants (there’s also one larger dining table tucked away behind the kitchen and alfresco seating on the pavement), the decor is understated with bottles lining the walls as much as for decoration as they are for efficient storage. Speaking of wine, the choices are vast, across a broad spectrum of regions and including natural and organic varieties of course. When it comes to the food, there is nothing on the menu that won’t delight, with enough variety that you could linger and slowly work your way through a hit parade of small morsels whilst exploring different vinos, but if you are just in for a quick drink and snack, my advice is don’t go past the King George Whiting Sandwich. Copains means ‘friends’ in French, next time I say “I’m just catching up with friends”, you’ll know where I’ll be! Bar Copains
The Rover | 75 Campbell St
The flickering glow of light from behind the windows gives little away as to the oozing charm you’ll find when you swing through the doors into The Rover. This is a drinking den without peer, the décor equal parts rustic, warm and cocooning – it’s the type of place where you really want to sit at the bar and immerse yourself if conversation with the bar tenders and your fellow drinkers. Whiskey is heavily featured, the seasonal cocktail list is both interesting and sophisticated, the wine list takes you on a captivating tour around the world’s best wine regions, though beer fans are left with less choice, just a handful of rotating taps. If the freshly shucked oysters don’t satisfy your appetite, head upstairs to their restaurant, which offers a British Bistro take on seafood. The Rover
Bar Conte | 340 Riley St
It’s not as simple as plonking yourself at the vintage styled bar and asking for a Negroni here, as there’s twenty different versions of the Negroni on offer at this neighbourhood bolt-hole that morphs from caffe by day to refined bar and diner by night. But there’s more to Conte than just Negroni’s – classic cocktail connoisseurs are well catered for, there’s a whole page of vermouth to choose from, and fans of Italian vino will be well pleased too. Sustenance comes in the form of a classic aperitivo menu that’s as interesting as it’s delicious, supplemented by a handful of lovely handmade pastas. This in one of those new breed of bars that gets everything just right, so much that it feels like Conte has been around forever. Bar Conte
Rosie Campbell’s | 320 Crown St
A fun and colourful Tiki style bar with Caribbean décor, food, drinks and a warm vibe. The food specialty is jerk chicken and naturally their rum selection is unrivalled, offering top-quality rums from around the world, though Rosie’s flamboyant cocktails are the real hit here. Rosie Campbell’s
Pubs…
The Clock Hotel | 470 Crown St
An enduring favourite for locals and visitors alike since the 1800’s, The Clock is named for its prominent clock tower that stands proudly overlooking Crown St. Despite its popularity, this classic pub is quite laid back and an easy spot to spend plenty of time in. There are various bars, each with a different atmosphere, but the prime spot is on the wide first floor balcony overlooking Crown St. The Clock Hotel
Shakespeare Hotel | 200 Devonshire St
This old-style workers pub has effortlessly evolved into quite the Surry Hills hipster hangout, whilst retaining its charming retro décor (the only discernible change seems to be the addition of craft brewery posters above the bar). The Surry Hills old-timers still seem comfortable here, but there’s a healthy influx of young bearded hipster types, no doubt attracted by the large craft beer selection. It’s in a relatively quiet part of the neighbourhood, perfectly located to accommodate happy drinkers congregating outside on the pavement on a summer night.
The Dolphin Hotel | 412 Crown St
This old style boozer was made over in 2016, with the stark black & white interiors and graffiti ‘art’ becoming a talking point – you’re likely to either love or hate the look! But there’s no doubting the quality of the food and service, with rustic Italian fare and fabulous Roman style pizza (and yes, burgers are available if you must), an extensive wine list and a buzzing dining room make it a rather chic place to be seen. The public bar is a little more relaxed, and the streetside alfresco area becomes quite lively when the weather is good. The Dolphin Hotel
The Beresford | 354 Bourke St
Opened way back in the late 1800’s, this landmark pub had squillions spent on a complete makeover in the early 2000’s, and although it’s all modern and fresh, the update retained some of the lovely heritage touches of the past. The front bar is low key and relaxed, whilst the large leafy courtyard at the rear becomes a very popular place to mingle on a warm evening. The crowd changes depending on the day of the week (Sunday afternoon has a gay party vibe) but whatever day you drop in, the clientele are likely to be young and rather pretty! The Beresford
Forrester’s | 336 Riley St
Made-over in 2020, this old style pub with multiple drinking spaces has embraced its new identity, with the polished décor featuring a dash of vintage blended in with some fun and quirky touches. Their signature dining room, Phylli’s is a lush atrium space that’s very welcoming for a long lunch, and the food is as exceptional as the venue. The menu offers both classic pub fare, as well as more contemporary food that’s designed to nourish the soul! Forrester’s
Hotel Hollywood | 2 Foster St
One of those classic pubs that oozes real charm and authenticity, the interiors have barely changed since it was opened back in 1977 by Doris Godard, a former Hollywood actress. After presiding over the pub for more than three decades, Doris has passed on now, but this friendly community pub is still a welcoming place for all. The Hollywood is one of those pubs that you hope just never changes. Hotel Hollywood
Where to Stay…
Surry Hills has progressed in the last few years from offering just a few drab chain hotels to now boasting some of the coolest boutique hotels in town. There’s something for everyone, no matter what your level of ‘hip’ is.
Ace Hotel Sydney | 47 – 53 Wentworth Ave
The cultish US hotel chain’s first Australian outpost, Ace Hotel Sydney brings the same fashionable formula that’s made Ace’s the place to be seen in every city they’ve opened in. The former brick factory has been designed in retro-style with an inordinate amount of attention to detail, every square inch will grab your attention and hold it nicely. The Lobby Bar is suitably happening at all hours of the day, though the rooftop bar and restaurant, Kiln, is certainly getting plenty of its own attention. The 257 rooms (though it feels like a more intimate hotel that that) have the same lashings of style as the public areas, and most have ample natural light. The standard rooms are somewhat compact though, so upgrade yourself if space is your thing. Ace Hotel Sydney
Paramount House Hotel | 80 Commonwealth St
Located in the former headquarters of Paramount Picture Studios, this cute heritage building has had a very modern extension added and is now home to a creative boutique hotel, plus a thriving cafe, rooftop health club and the intimate Golden Age Cinema. Offering a variety of room sizes (from the tiny ‘Nooks’ to the very chic ‘Lofts’), choose your room type not just based on the space you need but on the vibe you are after. Some rooms offer a little more style than substance (not every aspect of the design is functional), but if lifestyle hotels are your preference, Paramount House will tick all your boxes. Popular wine bar, Poly, is also located in the building, and some of Surry Hills best restaurants are clustered around the surrounding streets. Paramount House Hotel
Crystalbrook Albion | 21 Little Albion St
A little more like a home than a hotel, this 35-room ‘guesthouse’ with an honour bar is in a former convent, with a modern extension added. The intricately designed rooms feature whimsical touches and appealing artworks, and although some are quite ‘cosy’, this only adds to the allure. Crystalbrook Albion
Adina Apartment Hotel Sydney Surry Hills | 359 Crown St
Not as swinging as the hotels noted above, the Adina is however a good choice for longer stays or those needing more space, offering a choice of contemporary one or two bedroom apartment digs. Its location on Crown St is also a winner, as you can roll out the front door and find yourself right in the thick of the action. Adina Apartment Hotel Sydney Surry Hills
Foodie Finds…
Lavie & Belle French Bakery | 425 Bourke St
This popular Bourke St bakery brings a touch of the Le Marais to Surry Hills, offering delectable pastries and sweet treats, but it’s the crunchy baguettes with simple fillings that many food enthusiasts line up for here. Lavie & Belle French Bakery
Humble Bakery | 50 Holt St
There are a lot of reasons to drop into this very on-trend bakery by the oh-so-wise Porteno crew (like freshly baked sourdough or tasty toasties), but the truth is you’ve probably really been drawn to Humble for its decadent old-school finger buns which are a delicious reminder of Aussie childhood morning teas. Humble Bakery
AP Bakery | Rooftop, 80 Commonwealth St
Atop the Paramount House Hotel on a sunny rooftop terrace, AP had a cult following even before they opened, in part due to the fact it’s a collaboration from a handful of Sydney’s hospitality stalwarts. The trek up the narrow staircase will be rewarded by the discovery of shelves groaning with all sorts of freshly baked goods, from the best breads to an array of interesting pastries. AP Bakery
Travis’ Wish List…
Because there’s always more eating, dining and exploring than can be done in just one visit, Travis likes to keep a wish list, and for Surry Hills, the list is long due to the constant stream of openings of exceptional new venues. We are currently coveting visits to Gildas (an offspring bar by Firedoor), plus natural wine bar Lokal. Then for dinner, there’s delightful Korean on our wish list at Sang by Mabasa, or swanky French fare at Crown St’s relative newcomer, Amorica Grande Brasserie. And the Bar Copains team new venue Bessie’s is also a must visit.
Featured Photo – ‘Gin & Things’ – Eileen’s Bar
Travis. 
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