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

Olympic Meats
Restaurants

Olympic Meats

  • 5 out of 5 stars
  • price 1 of 4
Everything’s made in-house at Marrickville’s delicious new BYO Greek eatery – and nothing costs over $21. But you may need to wait
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
20 Chapel
Restaurants

20 Chapel

  • 5 out of 5 stars
Fire forms the foundation of this smart Marrickville bistro, which delivers on nostalgia and deliciousness in equal measure
Eat at Robs
Restaurants

Eat at Robs

This no-frills burger joint in Rozelle serves up seriously good Oklahoma-style smash fried onion burgers for just $10.50 (or make it a double for $12.50)
Saint Peter
Restaurants

Saint Peter

  • 5 out of 5 stars
  • price 4 of 4
Josh Niland's revolutionary seafood restaurant has found a beautiful new home in Paddington’s Grand National Hotel, but the game-changing dishes remain
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
Olympus
Restaurants

Olympus

  • 5 out of 5 stars
  • price 3 of 4
Does your last trip to Greece feel like ancient history? Slip on your sandals and head to Sydney’s Olympus Dining
Firedoor
Restaurants

Firedoor

  • 5 out of 5 stars
  • price 3 of 4
We’re like moths to the flame at this fire-powered restaurant serving one of Sydney’s most famous steaks

The best bars in Woolloomooloo

The Old Fitzroy Hotel
Bars

The Old Fitzroy Hotel

  • 5 out of 5 stars
  • price 2 of 4
Woolloomooloo’s historic pub has cracking food, its very own theatre and more character than you can poke a stick at rolled into one grand old time
Hotel Steyne
Bars

Hotel Steyne

With a beaut location right on Manly Beach, a sunny rooftop bar perfect for sinking cold beers, and a crowd-pleasing menu, Hotel Steyne is still where it's at
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Harbord Diggers
Bars

Harbord Diggers

The mammoth RSL has moved from up on the hill at Harbord down to the headland. A true locals' haunt, it's where you can explore a range of very decent...

Other things to do in Woolloomooloo

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)
Bennelong
Restaurants

Bennelong

  • 5 out of 5 stars
  • price 4 of 4
It’s everything people love about Sydney in a single fine dining experience
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

What's on in Woolloomooloo

MJ the Musical
Theatre

MJ the Musical

  • 3 out of 5 stars
Broadway's Michael Jackson tribute has landed on the Sydney stage, but can the spectacle distract from the discomfort?
Darling Harbour
Jazz Sessions in The Rocks
Music

Jazz Sessions in The Rocks

Catch free jazz performances under the stars every Thursday this autumn and winter
The Rocks
Bloom
Theatre

Bloom

  • 4 out of 5 stars
The Sydney premiere of this new Aussie musical comedy is a guaranteed good time
Millers Point
Annie
Theatre

Annie

  • 4 out of 5 stars
A reliable revival of musical theatre’s favourite rebellious redhead premieres on the Sydney stage
Haymarket
Posh
Theatre

Posh

  • 4 out of 5 stars
A private dinner for wealthy young men spirals out of control in the Aussie premiere of this savagely entertaining dark comedy
Woolloomooloo
Sydney Comedy Festival
Comedy

Sydney Comedy Festival

With a stand-up bar crawl and exclusive headliners, Sydney's annual comedy takeover is gonna be bigger than ever for its 20th anniversary
Sydney
GABS Festival
Things to do

GABS Festival

With more than 500 beer taps under one roof, GABS is the country's biggest beer festival – and it's going down in Sydney soon
Sydney
Pandora x David Jones Engraving Pop-up
Shopping

Pandora x David Jones Engraving Pop-up

Is your mum one of a kind? Of course she is. Make sure her jewellery is, too, with this engraving station for Mother’s Day
Sydney
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Transcend by Penfolds
Things to do

Transcend by Penfolds

Sip on some special drops by Penfolds at this immersive wine tasting experience that combines storytelling, visuals and lighting
Sydney
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