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

Jules
Restaurants

Jules

  • 5 out of 5 stars
Lane Cove’s Jules serves up flavour-packed dishes that blend modern Australian and Asian influences in a relaxed, feel-good setting
Nel
Restaurants

Nel

  • 5 out of 5 stars
  • price 3 of 4
Is this Sydney’s best value fine diner?
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
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 – with most plates under $21. But you may need to wait
The Fold
Restaurants

The Fold

From social enterprise Two Good Co comes The Fold, a café with a purpose in North Sydney's buzzy new VicX precinct
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
Arno Deli
Restaurants

Arno Deli

  • 5 out of 5 stars
Florence may have David, but Newcastle has Arno, an Italian-style deli serving cracking panini, cannoli and award-winning wine
Bathers' Pavilion
Restaurants

Bathers' Pavilion

  • 5 out of 5 stars
  • price 3 of 4
Days – and long lunches – don’t come much better than at this seaside Balmoral icon

The best bars in Woolloomooloo

The Dry Dock
Bars

The Dry Dock

  • 5 out of 5 stars
Staying dry? Forget it. Balmain’s oldest pub is also one of Sydney’s best – and your dog’s welcome too
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
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

Other things to do in Woolloomooloo

Powerhouse Castle Hill
Museums

Powerhouse Castle Hill

This state-of-the-art building is home to free talks, tours and programs that showcase some of the Powerhouse Collection’s 500,000 objects
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The Day Spa at the Langham Hotel
Health and beauty

The Day Spa at the Langham Hotel

This magical, star-studded subterranean spa in Sydney's CBD is offering Australia’s first in-hotel IV therapy experience
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

Foot Locker Fast Lane
Things to do

Foot Locker Fast Lane

This exclusive running event is almost as secretive as the location – here’s how to get an invite
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Sydney Open Symposium: Home Truths
Things to do

Sydney Open Symposium: Home Truths

This two-day deep dive into housing in NSW features talks, panels and rare private house tours across the city
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Pyrmont Festival
Things to do

Pyrmont Festival

Returning to Pirrama Park in May, the Pyrmont Festival offers wines from NSW, yum food and fun for the whole family – including your dog
Carriageworks Winter
Things to do

Carriageworks Winter

Sydney's industrial arts hub is turning up the heat this winter with a stacked cold-season program
The Lion King
Theatre

The Lion King

  • 5 out of 5 stars
Royalty takes theatrical form – long live the (Lion) King!
Sydney Film Festival
Film

Sydney Film Festival

Grab the popcorn – Sydney’s huge annual celebration of film is rolling out the red carpet for some blockbuster action
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Dream Feast
Things to do

Dream Feast

Watch The Mint come to life in a way you haven’t seen it before with a multi-course feast, pumping DJ tunes and immersive projections for Vivid Sydney
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Jazz Sessions in The Rocks
Music

Jazz Sessions in The Rocks

Catch free jazz performances under the stars every Thursday this autumn and winter
Epping Night Markets
Shopping

Epping Night Markets

This buzzy new night market will take over Epping's Boronia Park on the last Friday of every month
Banksy Limitless
Art

Banksy Limitless

Opening at The Rocks in April, this exhibition showcases more than 250 provocative works by the world-famous elusive street artist