Woolloomooloo Wharf
Photograph: Chris Ting

Woolloomooloo area guide

Restaurants, bars, shops and events in Woolloomooloo
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The suburb that gives everyone pause (when they're trying to spell it) is one of Sydney's most dramatically gentrified – at least around the Finger Wharf (probably the coolest apartment block in the whole of Australia) on which you'll find look-at-me hotspots like Ovolo Hotel, OttoChina Doll and Aki's.

Bordered by the DomainKings Cross and Potts Point, the harbourside suburb is home to a real grabbag of Sydney landmarks, including the Andrew Boy Charlton Pool, Garden Island Naval Base and the Matthew Talbot Hostel, the largest hostel for homeless men in the Southern Hemisphere.

Woolloomooloo highlights

The best restaurants in Woolloomooloo

Polish Club
Restaurants

Polish Club

If you’re an Ashfield local, chances are you’ve spent a fair few nights at the Polish Club. What started as a humble house party for...
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Neptune’s Grotto
Restaurants

Neptune’s Grotto

  • 5 out of 5 stars
  • price 2 of 4
An underground cave in Sydney’s CBD is now home to a rollicking, candlelit Italian-themed party – and one of the city’s most exciting new restaurants
Grandfathers
Restaurants

Grandfathers

  • 5 out of 5 stars
Taking up shop in the former Long Chim site is this red-and-black succulent Chinese diner by some of Sydney’s finest – bring your pop
24 York
Restaurants

24 York

  • 4 out of 5 stars
The CBD’s new Paris-inspired diner is a brisk, after-work steak-frites hall where the only choice that counts is your sauce
Vin-Cenzo’s
Restaurants

Vin-Cenzo’s

  • 5 out of 5 stars
Darlinghurst's newest Italian go-to from the Bar Copains and Bessie’s team is a certified red, green and white knockout
Pellegrino 2000
Restaurants

Pellegrino 2000

  • 5 out of 5 stars
  • price 3 of 4
This cracking Surry Hills Italian from the Bistrot 916 team has amped-up trattoria classics that will stay with you long after you've said arrivederci
Spice Temple
Restaurants

Spice Temple

  • 5 out of 5 stars
  • price 3 of 4
After more than 15 years of nailing regional Chinese dishes, the CBD’s subterranean diner Spice Temple is still hot as hell
Xi'an Eatery
Restaurants

Xi'an Eatery

  • 5 out of 5 stars
This Chinese restaurant in Sydney's coolest suburb is known for having some of the city's best biang biang noodles

The best bars in Woolloomooloo

Paradise
Bars

Paradise

  • 5 out of 5 stars
Combining Potts Point cool with big European energy, you'll be in paradise at this new wine bar from the Fratelli Paradiso and 10 William St team
Silver’s Motel
Bars

Silver’s Motel

  • 5 out of 5 stars
Enmore Road’s most handsome space is also an ’80s-inspired motel bar with top-shelf drinks and old-school swagger
Bar Copains
Bars

Bar Copains

  • 5 out of 5 stars
Best mates, Dr Dre hits, a killer fish sanga and funky drops walk into a bar – and the result is pretty cool
Joji
Bars

Joji

  • 5 out of 5 stars
Sydney’s newest rooftop bar is a shimmering, Japanese-inspired showstopper in the CBD’s beating heart – and don’t forget your Gucci

Other things to do in Woolloomooloo

Billabong Retreat
Health and beauty

Billabong Retreat

  • 4 out of 5 stars
Swap deadlines for downward dogs at this wholesome yoga retreat just 45 minutes from Sydney
Manly to Spit coastal walk
Sport and fitness

Manly to Spit coastal walk

This ten-kilometre trek is best approached from Spit if you want to reward yourself with snacks at the finish line
Pleasure Club
Music

Pleasure Club

  • 5 out of 5 stars
  • price 2 of 4
With nostalgic cocktails and rollicking live performances every night, you can escape reality at Newtown’s purple-hued basement bar (well, until 4am at least)

What's on in Woolloomooloo

Sydney Festival
Things to do

Sydney Festival

Kick off 2026 with a cultural fix – Syd Fest is bringing bold theatre, interactive art and an epic music line-up (ft Hot Chip) to Sydney this summer
Ron Mueck: Encounter
Art

Ron Mueck: Encounter

Win two tickets to see the Art Gallery of NSW's blockbuster exhibition from a major Aussie artist bringing hyperreal human sculptures to Sydney
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Gatsby at the Green Light
Theatre

Gatsby at the Green Light

  • 4 out of 5 stars
The roaring twenties meets the 2020s at this immersive cabaret extravaganza that's back by popular demand
Laneway Cinema
Film

Laneway Cinema

Free outdoor movie screenings are going down in the Rocks every Wednesday night this summer