One of Sydney’s most elegant areas, where leafy streets are lined with grand homes, private art galleries and expensive boutiques.
Sitting just to the east of the city, the chic suburb of Paddington will give you a taste of how Sydney’s elite like to live. The main thoroughfare, Oxford Street, is always busy, but venture into the narrow streets beyond and you’ll discover cosy cafes, genteel pubs and designer stores specialising in luxury fashion, jewellery, millinery and more. Most of Paddington’s heritage terraces have been beautifully preserved and restored, making them some of the finest residences in the city.
How To Get There
Catch the 333 bus from Circular Quay to Oxford Street in Paddington.
Top 5 things to do
- Splash some cash at the high-end stores you’ll find on every street. For Australian designers, head to The Intersection. theintersectionpaddington.com.au
- Visit the famed Paddington Markets where local label Zimmermann got its start. Check out the stalls on a Saturday to discover the next big thing. paddingtonmarkets.com.au
- Relax in the unique sunken spaces of Paddington Reservoir Gardens, built in the style of a Roman bath over the original 19th century water reservoir. cityofsydney.nsw.gov.au
- Gallery-hop through Paddington’s collection of world-class exhibition spaces showcasing contemporary works, Aboriginal art, sculpture and more.
- Explore central Sydney largest green space, Centennial Park, with 189 hectares of gardens, wetlands, ponds and trails. centennialparklands.com.au
Top 5 places to eat & drink
- Fred’s. Farm to table, seasonal and sustainable dining in a restaurant that feels like a country home. merivale.com
- Chiswick. Modern Australian cuisine in a picturesque, glass-walled dining room surrounded by a kitchen garden. chiswickwoollhara.com.au
- Saint Peter. A pioneering ‘fin to scale’ seafood eatery from innovative young chef Josh Niland. saintpeter.com.au
- Charlie Parker’s. Impossibly cool basement cocktail bar. merivale.com
- The London. A quintessential Paddo pub dating back to 1875 with good food, sport on the TV and dogs in the courtyard. hotellondon.com.au
