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

Osteria Mucca
Restaurants

Osteria Mucca

  • 5 out of 5 stars
The Continental Deli crew has transformed a former Newtown butcher into a charming trattoria with regional Italian dishes and a bellissimo dining room
Eat at ROBs
Restaurants

Eat at ROBs

  • 5 out of 5 stars
This no-frills burger joint in Rozelle serves up seriously good Oklahoma-style smash burgers for just $10.50 (or make it a double for $12.50)
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
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
Bessie's
Restaurants

Bessie's

  • 5 out of 5 stars
The Bar Copains team are behind this flame-powered Mediterranean diner – where excellent snacks, sips and vibes come together like one big warehouse party
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
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
El Taco Grill
Restaurants

El Taco Grill

  • 5 out of 5 stars
This tiny food truck in Marrickville, run by two Puebla-born cousins, is serving up some of Sydney’s best tacos

The best bars in Woolloomooloo

Baptist Street Rec Club
Bars

Baptist Street Rec Club

  • 5 out of 5 stars
Redfern’s new cocktail den is a late-century throwback steeped in kitschy Australiana
The Bat & Ball Hotel
Bars

The Bat & Ball Hotel

  • 5 out of 5 stars
This classic old Sydney pub has had a refurb – but the team have managed to retain the bar's vintage charm
The Duke of Clarence
Bars

The Duke of Clarence

  • 5 out of 5 stars
  • price 2 of 4
Things are getting very British in Sydney’s den of bar excellence
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

Other things to do in Woolloomooloo

The Pottery Shed
Things to do

The Pottery Shed

This huge warehouse style studio in Sydney's Surry Hills is a haven for pottery fans (and classes are surprisingly affordable)
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)
Lego Store Sydney
Shopping

Lego Store Sydney

The world's largest LEGO store is open in Sydney's CBD – complete with interactive activities, supersized LEGO structures and collectable sets

What's on in Woolloomooloo

NAIDOC Week at Loco Markets
Things to do

NAIDOC Week at Loco Markets

This free Loco Market takeover in South Eveleigh celebrates 50 years of NAIDOC Week
Prospect
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The Rocks Christmas in July Markets
Things to do

The Rocks Christmas in July Markets

Sydney’s beloved Christmas in July Festival is coming back to The Rocks this winter with a magical alfresco cinema and much, much more
The Rocks
Burramatta NAIDOC
Things to do

Burramatta NAIDOC

This lively outdoor festival celebrates 50 years of NAIDOC Week, with market stalls, artsy cultural workshops and incredible breakthrough First Nations artists
Parramatta
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Ice Skating at Darling Harbour
Things to do

Ice Skating at Darling Harbour

Darling Harbour's huge pop-up ice rink is open every day until 9pm, so you can skate under the city lights then head out for dinner
Sydney
Peter Pan Op Shop
Shopping

Peter Pan Op Shop

Shop sustainable and support vulnerable children and families with this epic four-day op shop sale
Paddington
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Bubble Planet
Things to do

Bubble Planet

A super immersive, super Instagrammable experience has just landed in Sydney after sell-out runs in London and beyond
Sydney Olympic Park
Loco Markets
Things to do

Loco Markets

This new winter wonderland changes every week – with a fresh line-up of live entertainment, artisan stalls, workshops, food and drinks
Prospect
Cats
Theatre

Cats

  • 4 out of 5 stars
Old cats and old tricks are a song for success in this nostalgic revival of musical theatre's feline fantasia
Sydney
Bastille Festival
Things to do

Bastille Festival

Eat, drink and be merry at this four-day French festival taking over Sydney's foreshore for Bastille Day
The Rocks
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Bondi Festival 2025
Things to do

Bondi Festival 2025

Bondi’s annual art festival returns with its biggest program yet – packed with arts, comedy, culture and theatre
Bondi Beach