-
100% Mambo
Bold, off-the-wall, comic-bookish graphics adorn street-, skate- and surfwear for men and women at this popular store. Mambo artist and musician Reg Mombasa is a local legend - he even designed the shirts for the Australian Olympic team in 2000. Expect a wide range of goodies (including watches, backpacks and coffee table books). Also at 80 The Corso, Manly.
-
2 Danks Street
If you're after a more significant purchase as a memento of your Sydney visit, this large space houses nine separate contemporary art galleries and an antiques store. The jewellery may be slightly easier to pack than a 3m steel sculpture or a large Aboriginal painting.
-
Akira Isogawa
One of Sydney's most famous designers, Akira Isogawa creates fastidiously crafted dresses (some utilising his own dyeing techniques) which are masterpieces of feminine geometry worthy of a modern art collection. If you can afford his pieces, you'll be sure to attract some attention.
-
Alannah Hill
Step into this fun, fruity palace of fancy, where flirty, frilly, flimsy fabrics are made into chocolate-box dresses and bordello-style boudoir ornaments. Loud music helps fluffy chicks forget about their credit card bills as temptation knows no boundaries...
-
Andrew McDonald
Sydney's best in custom footwear for men and women can be had at this small Paddington workshop. Choose your materials, colours and even styles (or they can replicate a desired design) and expect exquisite, long-wearing and perfectly fitted shoes. Great for those with 'difficult' feet, or just anyone who wants something unique.
-
Architectural Heritage
Take a trip into this strange world of suspended history and architectural salvage. To the tune of piped Gatsby swing, explore two jam-packed levels of babbling fountains, stained-glass windows, wrought-iron balustrades, marble hearths, bronze sculptures, urns, staircases and figureheads from places entirely elsewhere and more mysterious.
-
Ariel
Ariel focuses on art and design, with plenty of temptation for those planning on weighing down the coffee table with the biggest and best. Fiction and travel are well represented and there's plenty for kids too.
-
Arte Flowers
Part gift shop, part tea rooms, this airy space carries French skincare products, faux-flowers, candles, photo frames and chic gardening tools. After all that shopping, enjoy a cup of Australian husk tea and a slice of lemon tart at the communal table.
-
Artery
More art retail than art gallery, this indigenous-art outlet deliberately steers away from the glitzy Sydney gallery scene, sourcing its contemporary, original selections from up-and-coming Central Australian artists. Prices are realistic and affordable, modern indigenous jewellery, hand-woven baskets and gorgeous canvases.
-
Australia's Outback Gallery
Part of the Outback Centre, this excellent gallery features a mix of collectible and emerging Aboriginal artists, meaning you might find a small canvas for around A$140 or a large piece by a well-known artist for up to around A$13 0. For a cheaper memento you can always grab a fluffy koala next door.
-
Advertisement
-
Australian Wine Centre
If you don't make it to the Hunter Valley, this place offers a cellar door experience in the heart of the city - with some available for tasting. You'll find wines from every Australian and New Zealand wine-growing region, which the centre will package and deliver to your door.
-
Balmain Market
Milling around the shady grounds of St Andrews Congregational, Balmain Market features stalls selling arts, crafts, books, clothing, jewellery, plants and fruit and veg, all jumbled together like socks in a drawer. The church itself is open if you want a Middle Eastern snack or need to consult St Andy about a prospective purchase.
-
Bang-On
Our favourite custom T-shirt place, Bang-On has an extensive range of super-cool decals to print on non-sweatshop American Apparel tees. You'll find everything from obscure 1970s album covers to your favourite Socialist icons and David Hasselhoff prints.
-
Beehive Gallery
As long as it's homemade it has a home in this store, focussing on quality art and crafts. There are some interesting small photos of Sydney scenes printed on canvas squares that might make a good souvenir.
-
Belinda
Super-stylish über-boutiquist Belinda Seper's namesake store offers up a small but excellent selection of just-so bags and shoes, along with a few fashions to add to the fun. Men, check out their menswear shop just a few doors down.
-
Berkelouw Books
Six generations of Berkelouws have specialised in secondhand books and printed rarities since setting up shop in Holland in 1812, but its modern stores are just as good for finding new releases and sipping coffee. There's another branch at 19 Oxford St, Paddington.
-
Better Read Than Dead Books
This is our favourite Sydney bookshop, and not just because of the clever name and great selection of Lonely Planet titles. Nobody seems to mind if you waste hours perusing the beautifully presented aisles, stacked with high-, medium- and deliciously low-brow reading materials.
-
Black Ridge Jewellers
Australia produces 95% of the world's opals and NSW 99% of black opals, so in many ways these radiant sparklers are the perfect Sydney souvenir - even if they are a bit nana-ish. All of Sydney's tourist traps have opal shops. We like this one for its delightfully tacky mineshaft entrance.
-
Blue Spinach
Consignment clothing at its most high-end, with penny-pinching label-lovers - both men and women - flocking to this shockingly blue corner shop to source secondhand designer duds (think YSL, Gucci and Collette Dinnigan) at (relatively) bargain prices.
-
Bondi Markets
Remember the days of the old school yard? We used to laugh a lot. The kids are at the beach on Sundays while their school fills up with Bondi groovers rummaging through funky secondhand clothes and books, hippy beads and earrings, aromatherapy oils, candles, and old Cat Stevens records.
-
Advertisement
-
Bracewell
Paddington is ripe with fab, flimsy Australian creations for size-six disciples of international style. Bracewell sells all that is sexy, structured and sassy, including Mavi and Sass & Bide jeans.
-
Broadway Shopping Centre
Located in the grand old Grace Bros building, this large complex offers dozens of shops, a food court, a Hoyts cinema complex and two late-night supermarkets. Parking is free for the first three hours - great for a cheeky stop for brunch in Glebe or to visit the University of Sydney .
-
C's Flashback
Looking for a mad secondhand sequinned or beaded number for a party? How about a groovy cowboy shirt? We don't know exactly what C was on, but her flashback is pretty damn camp. This secondhand clothing store sells both men's and women's threads. There's another store at 180 King St, Newtown.
-
Calibre
Smart suits and hip weekend wardrobe supplies for men are the speciality here. Even if you're a complete fashion misfit, the staff - with their slicked-back hair - and full-length mirrors will make you look good enough to walk down Oxford St with confidence.
-
Cambodia House
Consumerism with a conscience, this not-for-profit store has a cool collection of Khmer arts and crafts, including hand-loomed silks made into handbags, scarves and bedding. You'll also find nifty lanterns, candles, tableware and carved statues.
