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

Flaminia
Restaurants

Flaminia

  • 5 out of 5 stars
Quay takeaway: forget fridge magnets, a long lunch at this harbourside spot is the best souvenir
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
Infinity by Mark Best
Restaurants

Infinity by Mark Best

  • 5 out of 5 stars
Tasting the food of iconic Australian chef Mark Best 81 levels above ground is a quintessential Sydney experience you should have at least once in your life
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
Clam Bar
Restaurants

Clam Bar

  • 5 out of 5 stars
  • price 3 of 4
This New York-style steak house by the powerhouses behind Bistrot 916 and Pellegrino 2000 is a clam dunk
South End
Restaurants

South End

  • 5 out of 5 stars
Forget the wild northern end of Newtown – it’s about time you wandered down the south end
Palazzo Salato
Restaurants

Palazzo Salato

  • 5 out of 5 stars
Reminiscent of Roman trattorie, Palazzo Salato has a killer line-up from the team who brought us Ragazzi and La Salut

The best bars in Woolloomooloo

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
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
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
Deux Frères
Bars

Deux Frères

  • 5 out of 5 stars
Sydney pintxos bar Deux Frères magically plonks you right in San Sebastian

Other things to do in Woolloomooloo

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

Water Lantern Festival
Things to do

Water Lantern Festival

This magical lantern festival is returning to Sydney's secret botanic gardens for two sparkly nights this summer
Lakemba Nights
Things to do

Lakemba Nights

One of Western Sydney's most popular, vibrant and culturally diverse events is back for a month-long celebration
KPMG Sydney Sail Grand Prix
Things to do

KPMG Sydney Sail Grand Prix

The world's fastest sailing competition is returning to Sydney for its seventh year, this time with a new twilight racing format (and more harbourside parties)
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Late Night Vice
Things to do

Late Night Vice

This new adults-only circus cabaret is a seductive spectacle of subversive burlesque performances that are very, very naughty
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
Powerhouse Materials: Paper
Things to do

Powerhouse Materials: Paper

A playful exhibition of objects lands at Powerhouse Castle Hill this November with a free event featuring curator and celebrated Aussie author Andy Griffiths
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Twilight at Taronga
Music

Twilight at Taronga

Taronga's alfresco music festival Twilight at Taronga returns with a rockin' line-up of Aussie musicians