Must-see restaurants in Newtown & the Inner West

  • Sunday crowds at Grounds of Alexandria

    Grounds of Alexandria

    Newtown & the Inner West

    A quite extraordinary Alexandria spot, the Grounds goes well beyond converted industrial chic. This former pie factory sports futuristic coffee technology…

  • Cow & Moon Ice Cream shop in Enmore

    Cow & the Moon

    Newtown & the Inner West

    Forget the diet and slink into this cool corner cafe, where an array of sinful truffles and tasty tarts beckons seductively. Ignore them and head straight…

  • Ester

    Newtown & the Inner West

    Ester exemplifies Sydney's contemporary dining scene: informal but not sloppy; innovative without being overly gimmicky; hip, but never try-hard. The menu…

  • Maggie's Thai in Erskineville

    Maggie's

    Newtown & the Inner West

    Worth the short stroll downhill from the Newtown strip, or as the focus of a night in pleasant Erskineville itself, this small neighbourhood Thai…

  • Bloodwood restaurant in Newtown

    Bloodwood

    Newtown & the Inner West

    Relax over a few drinks and a progression of small plates (we love those polenta chips!) in the front bar, or make your way to the rear to enjoy soundly…

  • Cornersmith

    Newtown & the Inner West

    Devoted to community and ethical food production, Cornersmith presents a seasonal menu of delicious dishes, as well as pickles, sauces, preserves and…

  • 3 Olives

    Newtown & the Inner West

    There's something very life-affirming about a good Greek restaurant, and this family-run taverna ticks all the boxes. The decor is restrained, with olive…

  • Black Star Pastry

    Newtown & the Inner West

    Wise folks follow the black star to pay homage to excellent coffee, totally brilliant cakes and a few very good savoury things (gourmet pies and the like)…

  • Koi Dessert Bar

    Newtown & the Inner West

    Having made the nation salivate on Master Chef Australia, Reynold Poernomo now produces his fabulous desserts for public consumption at this two-level…

  • Glebe Point Diner

    Newtown & the Inner West

    A sensational neighbourhood bistro, where only the best local produce is used and where almost everything is made from scratch. The compact menu is…

  • Golden Lotus

    Newtown & the Inner West

    Delicious bowls of pho, crunchy textures and fresh flavour bursts make this one of the best of Newtown's sizeable crop of vegan and vegetarian restaurants…

  • Marrickville Pork Roll

    Newtown & the Inner West

    Some of Sydney's best bánh mì are served out of this little hole in the wall, where the crisp bread rolls are baked on-site. The pork rolls are delicious,…

  • Potting Shed Restaurant in Alexandria

    Potting Shed

    Newtown & the Inner West

    Part of the verdant Grounds of Alexandria complex, this bar-eatery doesn't disappoint on the plant front; the waving fronds and squawking macaw give it a…

  • Textbook Bakery

    Textbook

    Newtown & the Inner West

    A baker and a patissier have teamed up here to produce delicious bread, pies and pastries, and some absolutely amazingly vivid dessert creations: resist…

  • La Ricetta Italian restaurant in Enmore

    La Ricetta

    Newtown & the Inner West

    With close-packed tables, warm lighting and an authentic feel, this is a convivial venue for Italian in the interesting dining hub of Enmore. It is strong…

  • Stinking Bishops restaurant in Newtown

    Stinking Bishops

    Newtown & the Inner West

    A pungent array of artisanal cheeses is the raison d'être of this popular shop and place to eat. Choose the varieties you want, pick a wine or local craft…

  • Faheem Fast Food in Enmore

    Faheem Fast Food

    Newtown & the Inner West

    This Enmore Rd stalwart offers a totally no-frills dining atmosphere but very tasty and authentic curry and tandoori options served until late. Its Haleem…

  • Fleetwood Macchiato

    Fleetwood Macchiato

    Newtown & the Inner West

    Top points for the name, but Fleetwood Macchiato backs it up with excellent coffee, delicious cooked breakfasts and heart-winning fusion flavour…

  • Spice Alley

    Newtown & the Inner West

    This little laneway off Kensington St by Central Park is a picturesque outdoor eating hub serving street-foody dishes from various Asian cuisines. Grab…

  • Lentil as Anything

    Newtown & the Inner West

    This Melbourne import stands out by offering tasty fare (usually South Asian–influenced) on a voluntary-contribution basis. You can give money for your…

  • Tramsheds Harold Park

    Newtown & the Inner West

    This foodie hang-out is a refurbished centenarian brick tram depot at the northern end of Glebe. It's a handsome redevelopment with a supermarket,…

  • Acre

    Newtown & the Inner West

    Part of Camperdown Commons, a conversion of a bowling club into organic farm and family-friendly cafe, eatery and play area, Acre is a breezy, good…

  • Despaña

    Newtown & the Inner West

    Though service can be a little scatty, there's some excellent tapas-sharing to be done at this welcoming Glebe restaurant. A good selection of cured meats…

  • Automata

    Newtown & the Inner West

    Part of the buzzy Kensington Street precinct, Automata has minimalist industrial styling with two long tables interrupted by concrete columns. It's a…

  • Cairo Takeaway

    Newtown & the Inner West

    There's something very sweet about this no-frills but picturesque corner spot with a couple of streetside tables and tiny backyard. Pita pockets…

  • Stanbuli

    Newtown & the Inner West

    Hidden by the vintage pink-and-purple facade of a '60s hair salon, this sophisticated exploration of traditional Istanbul dishes is excellent. The…

  • Continental

    Newtown & the Inner West

    It's a pleasure to sit at the counter at this artfully designed deli and snack on charcuterie and fish preserves while quaffing a glass of vermouth or a…

  • Sappho Books, Cafe & Wine Bar

    Newtown & the Inner West

    Sequestered in the back of a decent second-hand bookshop, friendly Sappho is a beaut bohemian garden cafe-bar, its walls scrawled with generations of…

  • Hung Cheung

    Newtown & the Inner West

    You can tell a good yum-cha joint by the number of Cantonese diners inside and by that measure Hung Cheung is the best in the inner west. Gung-gungs …

  • Bodega 1904

    Newtown & the Inner West

    A creative menu of wood-grilled dishes is the backbone of the menu in this Tramsheds restaurant from the team behind Bodega and Porteño in Surry Hills…

  • Thai Pothong

    Newtown & the Inner West

    This crowd-pleasing restaurant is a favourite for birthdays and family dinners. The army of staff are efficient and friendly, and the food reliably…

  • Wedge

    Newtown & the Inner West

    Cut a corridor out of the side of a building, open it to the street and add artful industrial decor and you have the Wedge, which has delicious single…

  • Grappa

    Newtown & the Inner West

    You'll forget the ugly exterior and main-road location once you enter Grappa, with its polished glassware and crisp tablecloths. It's the setting for rich…

  • Mary's

    Newtown & the Inner West

    Not put off by the grungy aesthetics, the ear-splitting heavy metal or the fact that the graffiti-daubed building was previously a sexual health clinic…

  • Campos

    Newtown & the Inner West

    Trying to squeeze into crowded Campos can be a challenge. Bean fiends come from miles around – hat-wearing students, window-seat daydreamers and doctors…

  • Vargabar Espresso

    Newtown & the Inner West

    A diminutive dark-pink open-sided cafe with an electric-blue coffee machine, Varga trades on big breakfasts and generates too many hard decisions for 7am…

  • Gigi Pizzeria

    Newtown & the Inner West

    This block is Sydney meat-free central and this cool corner spot turns out authentic Neapolitan pizzas with all-vegan toppings. They are delicious, and…

  • Great Aunty 3 Vietnamese eatery in Enmore

    Great Aunty 3

    Newtown & the Inner West

    Cheerful and upbeat, this is a top budget lunch stop for Vietnamese street food, whether it be delicious pork rolls, steaming pho or refreshing rice paper…

  • Tin Humpy

    Newtown & the Inner West

    The specialities at this breezy cafe are the fantastic pastries, lovingly made by owner Yvette Lever, who also bakes the scones, banana bread and muffins,…

  • Rubyo's

    Newtown & the Inner West

    Comfortably elegant, with striking, well-placed art on the walls, this corner spot offers inventive, tasty modern Australian fare designed for sharing…