-
Queen Street
Despite its status as the premier antique shopping strip in Australia (its first antique shop opened in 1957), elegant tree-lined Queen St retains a village atmosphere, with attractive boutiques that make for great window-shopping. It was once the site of a famous annual street fair until the delicate residents had it shut down in the early 1980s, unhappy with the noise. Former Prime Minister Paul Keating owns a grand home here.
-
Queen Victoria Building (QVB)
They don't build 'em like this anymore! The lavish QVB takes up the entire block and houses some 200 shops, cafés and restaurants. Built in 1898 as the city's markets, the colonnaded façade and multiple copper domes are designed to evoke a Byzantine palace. It's the city's most beautiful shopping centre, takes up a whole block and boasts nearly 200 shops on five levels including Herringbone, Oxford and Victoria's Basement.
-
Quick Brown Fox
No lazy dogs here, that's for sure, but plenty of fast-looking, tanned vixens snapping up a range of funky vintage fashions that veer between Hello Kitty cuteness and indecent exposure sexiness. Catchy patterns and fabrics and very hip boots and bags; they also have a branch at 312 King St, Newtown.
-
Red Eye Records
A great store for music junkies, the large and unusual stock covers Japanese, European and US imports along with Australian artists and plenty of independent releases. A secondhand section upstairs includes collectable CDs, DVDs, vinyl, books and posters. Knowledgeable staff take orders for the hard-to-find.
-
RM Williams
This long-established manufacturer and distributor of Aussie outdoor gear - such as drought-breakers (oilskin riding coats) and moleskin trousers - attracts every urban cowboy and cowgirl within the city limits. One of the best sellers is the classic elastic-sided boot, which is nothing less than an Aussie icon.
-
Robin Gibson Gallery
Housed in a beautiful three-storey terrace, this gallery represents a coterie of Australian artists, but also stages the occasional exhibition by superstars like Hockney and Picasso.
-
Roslyn Oxley9 Gallery
For 25 years this high-powered commercial gallery has showcased innovative contemporary work, representing artists such as Tracey Moffatt, Fiona Hall, Bronwyn Oliver and Bill Henson. It's great for a nosy even if you're not crazy-wealthy.
-
Sass & Bide
Brisbane's Heidi Middleton and Sarah-Jane Clarke got their start with a stall on London's Portobello Rd before heading to Sydney in 1999 and starting the label that has made them international fashion stars. Come here for sassy super-low-cut women's jeans (think 2 inch zippers), body-hugging jackets and minidresses.
-
Sax Fetish
Sax addicts come from all over the world for the high-quality leather- and rubber-wear at the black heart of this shop. Both men and women are catered for, and the 'accessories' range goes a little further than your standard shoes and handbags. Cufflinks and ties have quite a different meaning here.
-
Scanlan & Theodore
Scanlan & Theodore excel at beautifully made and finely silhouetted women's outfits for the evening or the office. Plenty of sophisticated patterns and colours complement fabrics you just can't help but fondle.
-
Advertisement
-
Seafolly
Here's where the famous Aussie women's swimwear label sells its seconds, samples and discontinued lines. As well as battling over bikinis there are sarong, boardshort and tracksuit bargains to be had.
-
Sedition
Michael the barber will give you a short back 'n' sides while you give jazz, reggae and classic rock records a try-before-you-buy listen and attempt to ignore the wall of '60s Playboy centrefolds. He also sells weird books, cult videos and other kooky stuff - maybe a 'How to Play Banjo' guide is up your alley.
-
Shoes 2000
The biggest of the lot, Shoes 2000 offloads a large range of men's and women's branded footwear, including iconic Aussie boot brands Blundstone, Redback and Mack - along with some big name imports. This giant warehouse incorporates three other factory outlets: Perfumes On The Move, POTM Clothing and Linen One.
-
Simon Johnson
Stock up your high-class picnic hamper at this gourmet wonderland. You'll find the tastiest olives, creamiest Belgian chocolates and crispiest English biscuits, along with a great selection of imported olive oil and vinegar. The refrigerated case holds imported prosciutto, salami, and cheeses. The Pyrmont store (181 Harris St) hosts cooking seminars .
-
Stills Gallery
This large gallery is a brilliant place for a gander at cutting edge photography. It represents a swag of internationally recognised photographers, including William Yang, Anne Noble and Sandy Edwards.
-
Strand Arcade
With its stained-glass windows, iron-lacework balconies and three floors of boutique shops (think Luxe, Third Millennium, Wayne Cooper etc) and the odd Australian store, this quirky centre makes for a truly atmospheric shopping trip. Stop for a latte, bleach your hair or have your shoes cobbled. Built in 1892, this is the city's only Victorian arcade to survive in its original form.
-
Strand Hatters
Wearing a hat to protect oneself from the sun is a good idea in this country - wearing the iconic rabbit-felt Akubra (around around A$160 ) will ensure you'll look like you came straight from the outback.
-
Sydney Antique Centre
The Paddy's Market of antiques, this large red and black building houses dozens of individual stallholders selling everything from jewellery to furniture, ancient artefacts, vintage posters and homeware.
-
Sydney Opera House Market
Under big, cream umbrellas and Opera House arcs, elbow for position in the hunt for high-quality contemporary Australian ceramics, gems, toys, jewellery, hats, paintings, photographs and souvenirs. If the 40 stalls don't satisfy, just dig the architecture.
-
The Bookshop Darlinghurst
This small bookshop specialises in gay and lesbian literature, with everything from queer crime and lesbian fiction to gay life stories, gay glossy coffee-table books, XXX magazines and calendars. A fun browse, to say the least.
-
Advertisement
-
The Enlightened Elephant Gifts, Jewellery
This shop stocks fascinating things with a feel-good factor - or as they put it 'gifts that give twice' - made by HIV-positive mothers from Cape Town. There are intricately beaded toys, jewellery, bags made from recycled car tires, coasters and beaded Fosters cans. All are sourced from not-for-profit community-based groups who channel money directly to the artisans.
-
The One Teaspoon Shop
Rising star Sydney designer Jamie Blakey has her young women's streetwear range in David Jones and Harrods, but this concept store gives her space all of her own to show off her cleavage-revealing dresses, as well as bikinis, belts and shoes.
-
The Rocks
Old Sydney town in the heart of CBD, the once much rockier Rocks is now a sanitised tourist precinct. Its narrow cobbled streets and fine colonial buildings are still evocative and its tea rooms make the perfect lunch stop before an afternoon of souvenir browsing. If you ignore the kitsch, The Rocks can be delightful. Attractions include the weekend market, the Sydney Observatory, and numerous craft shops and art galleries.
-
The Rocks Market
Held only at weekends at the top end of George St, this market is definitely on the touristy side, but still fun for a browse. Crafts made of metal, ceramic, stone, leather and glass abound, while souvenirs (including kangaroo balls) are also available. It's close to many pubs and cafes, so your nonshopping partner can sit, drink and wait it out.
-
Tiffany & Co
Downtown Sydney is a hotspot for stand-out jewellers, comin' atcha like Cleopatra. Tiffany & Co is the place for gorgeous glitterati and serious rocks.
