A Newtown Renaissance: Where to eat, sip and party on King Street

Step aside, Oxford Street—King Street is now ruling Sydney’s high street scene.

Now a solid entry on Sydney’s annual calendar, the riotous King Street Crawl took place last Sunday, and social media videos showed packed out bars with live music, flowing drinks and a vibrant, energetic atmosphere. The return of this free full day of pop-up gigs and celebration not only reminded Sydneysiders of their love of live music, but also the incredible array of venues that line King Street, Enmore Road and Erskineville Road.

Yet the buzz on King Street in particular stretches far beyond the annual Crawl. Walk down the winding strip on the evening of any day and you’ll see busy restaurants and lively bars. In the daytime, people are lining up for coffee and matcha, or shopping in one of the many vintage clothing stores that line the streets.

While Oxford Street remains an iconic Sydney hub— rich in history and deeply significant to the LGBTQIA+ community— it no longer feels as vibrant as it once did. With the closure of popular venues like Cafe Fredas, Big Poppas and Shady Pines, as well as the eyesore of boarded-up blocks from the Oxford & Foley project, many think that Oxford Street has lost its mojo.

Between Enmore Road’s buzz, Marrickville’s beer, and with King Street leading the charge, the Inner West is quickly clawing back its status as Sydney’s go-to spot for food, drinks and good times.

With its prime location, King Street is built for high street supremacy— it has all the key ingredients. In terms of transport, there’s Newtown station, as well as Macdonaldtown and Erskineville nearby. There are plenty of bus routes, taking passengers from the Eastern suburbs to Western Sydney.

Broadway Shopping Centre is just down the road, as is Sydney University, meaning students are always keeping the area busy (at all hours). You’re also close to Carriageworks, Glebe (and their famous markets) and of course Enmore Road, home to Enmore Theatre, which hosts international stars.

King Street also has a plethora of amazing eateries, from the Nigella Lawson-approved Cafe Paci to neighbourhood favourite Thai Pothong. There are plenty of bars and even late-night venues staying open until 5am (which can be a rarity in Sydney). King Street is even known for its incredible choice of gelato shops, from classic Messina to funky Mapo. If you’re into vintage clothing, King Street has you covered, with plenty of new and recycled clothing stores lining the street.

We’ve rounded up the standout spots that make King Street (or its adjoining streets) the place to be.

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Bars and Nightlife

1. Pleasure Club

Pleasure Club’s status as one of the best late-night venues in Sydney is no surprise— it was the first bar in Newtown to be granted a 4am liquor license in over a century. Naturally, this 120-capacity basement bar attracts a steady crowd, thanks to its inviting mix of expertly crafted cocktails, laid-back lounge atmosphere and live music rotation.

Where: 6 Wilson St, Newtown, Sydney NSW 2042.
When: Thursday-Sunday, 5pm-4am.

2. The Marly

You can’t write about Newtown nightlife without mentioning the Marly. Another iconic venue with a 4am license, they have a spacious beer garden, a 9pm-11pm happy hour on Fridays and Saturdays, and resident DJs spinning tunes all evening. A night at the Marly is a night well spent.

Where: 145 King St, Newtown NSW 2042.
When: Open 10am-4am every day (except Sunday, closes at 12am).

3. Union Hotel

The Union’s standout feature? A mighty 22 taps pouring everything from craft beers to local favourites. They’ve also got 24 gins, including some from Sydney’s favourite distilleries, and 35 whiskies ready to be sipped. Their kitchen draws influence from Chicago and New York, meaning big juicy burgers and stacked sandwiches (they also serve a great chicken parmy).

Where: 576 King St, Newtown NSW 2042.
When: Open Monday-Thursday: 10am-11pm, Friday & Saturday: 10am-1am, Sunday: 10am-10pm.

4. The Courthouse Hotel

The Courty is your quintessential pub garden, serving great beer and burgers and live sport. Their outside courtyard is always busy, and no need to worry about getting cold in the winter as the heaters have you covered. It’s also a great family-friendly venue, and you’re not just welcome to bring your dog, you’re encouraged.

Where: 202 Australia St, Newtown NSW 2042.
When: Open every day of the week until midnight (except Sundays, closes at 10pm.)

5. Websters Bar

Websters is a rustic, 1950s industrial-inspired bar with a killer rooftop. The three different floors include the King Street Bar on the ground floor, the Lounge Bar on level one, which is known for its “speakeasy experience”, and, of course, the sunny rooftop terrace on level two. With plenty of great Aussie beer on tap and a license until 5am, Websters is the perfect place for a cold one and a late night boogie.

Where: 323 King St, Newtown NSW 2042.
When: Open 10am-5am every day (except Sundays, closes at 12am).

6. Kelly’s on King

Kelly’s on King claims to be “the best Irish pub in Newtown”, and we have to agree. Whether you’re after a pint of Guinness, a game of pool, live music or a spice bag, Kelly’s has you covered. They also have trivia and karaoke nights, so there’s always something to get involved in at this lively venue.

Where: 283-285 King St, Newtown NSW 2042.
When: Open Monday-Friday: 10am-3am, Saturday: 10am-4am, Sunday 10am-12am.

7. Odd Culture

Odd Culture is a sleek bar and restaurant focused on European-style dining and drinking. They serve up an extensive offering of natural wine and wild ales and also have an incredible happy hour from 4pm-6pm Wednesday to Friday. Think $15 martinis and Negronis, a selection of natural wines by the glass starting at $8 and schooners for middy prices across all 12 of their tap beers.

Where: 266 King St, Newtown NSW 2042.
When: Open Wednesday-Sunday, Wednesday: 4pm-11pm, Thursday: 4pm-12am, Friday and Saturday: 12pm-12am and Sunday 12am-10pm.

8. Newtown Hotel

The Newtown Hotel balcony is one of the best places for people watching over King Street. They also have a colourful beer garden with outdoor heaters and plenty of live shows, often featuring talented artists from the queer and trans community. It’s the perfect spot for midweek dinner, after work drinks or a Sunday session.

Where: 174 King Street, Newtown, NSW 2042.
When: Open Sunday to Wednesday, 10am to 12am. Thursday to Saturday, 10am to 1am.

9. Coopers Hotel

$12 cocktails between 6pm and 8pm every Saturday and Sunday? We’re in. Coopers have amazing drink deals, a ton of events and delicious pub food from cheeseburgers to bangers and mash. They also show live sport, have a rotation of great events (including Gender Bender Bingo and Friday Raffles), and to top if off, $16 Schnittys on a Tuesday.

Where: 221 King St, Newtown NSW 2042.
When: Open Monday to Thursday, 7am-12am, Friday & Saturday 7am-2am, Sunday 10am-12am.

READ MORE: Raise a glass at Sydney’s first tequila trail, launching next week

10. The Bank

Monthly Drag Bingo, live sport and a great happy hour— the Bank has it all. Every Wednesday, they host the “Birdcage” at Waywards (which is upstairs), a weekly, high-energy queer party featuring DJs, non-stop drag shows, wild dance-floor moments, and a crowd that knows how to let loose. There’s also a garden bar and terrace perfect for sipping a pint of Guinness and having a catch-up with friends.

Where: 324 King St, Newtown NSW 2042.
When: Monday & Tuesday: 10am-2am, Wednesday-Saturday: 10am-4am, Sunday: 12pm-12am.

11. Botany View Hotel

Botany View Hotel is located on the St Peter’s side of King Street, right by leafy Sydney Park. One of the best live music venues in Sydney, the venue has nine different rooms, including the Tiki Bar, the Main Stage (with a 180 person capacity), a pool room and an open-air rooftop. This is a great one to book for a birthday party, whether you’re celebrating with a big or small group.

Where: 597 King St, Newtown NSW 2042.
When: Open every day 12pm-12am (except Sundays, open 12pm-10pm).

12. BUDDY’s Bar

BUDDY’s schtick is their self-pour beer stations, featuring over 40 taps of local craft beer. The two-level self-serve boozery also serves premium wines, housemade cocktails and non-alcoholic options, with a constant lineup of live music, DJs and even stand-up comedy.

Where: 391 King St, Newtown NSW 2042.
When: Tuesday- Thursday: 4:30pm– Late, Friday: 4:30- 12am, Saturday: 2pm-12am.

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Restaurants

13. Cafe Paci

Finnish-born chef Pasi Petanen showcases his Scandinavian roots at Cafe Paci, using Mexican and Asian influences to create something truly unique. The Newtown staple is known for its extensive wine list, incredible share plates and low-key but chic atmosphere, with the likes of Nigella Lawson raving about it:

“I love Cafe Paci. I find it very difficult not to order the same thing all the time. But those fermented carrots with ‘nduja, I mean, that’s all I can think about. And the minute I know I’m going back, I think, ‘good, soon I’ll eat those again’”.

Where: 131 King St, Newtown NSW 2042.
When: Open Monday-Friday: 5:30pm-11pm, Saturday: 12am-2:30pm, 5:30pm-11pm.

14. Drunk Dumpling

Walk up an unassuming, skinny staircase and you’ll reach Drunk Dumplings, a low-lit, Asian fusion restaurant known for its innovative and delicious cocktails and dishes. This Sydney instituition is always busy, offering a tasty yet cheap set menu, starting at $35 per person. An ordering tip— their pan-fried eggplant dumplings are to die for.

Where: level 1/196 King St, Newtown NSW 2042.
When: Open Sunday-Thursday: 5pm-9:30pm, Friday & Saturday: 5pm-10:30pm.

15. Thai Pothong

Perfect for celebrating a birthday with a big group of friends, Thai Pothong is a neighbourhood favourite in Newtown. They’ve won the Thai Restaurant Association’s “Best Thai Restaurant” for four years, thanks to their delicious traditional Thai cuisine, warm hospitality and funky interior (which features huge transformer statues).

Where: 294 King St, Newtown NSW 2042.
When: Open Sunday-Thursday: 12–3:30 pm, 5:30–10 pm, Friday & Saturday: 12–3:30 pm, 5:30–11 pm.

16. Bistro Grenier

Another Odd Culture Group venue (so you know it’s going to be good), Bistro Grenier is an intimate French restaurant sat on top of the Odd Culture wine bar. On Saturdays and Sundays they do bottomless lunch for $99 per person, which includes free-flowing Hugo Spritz and bubbles that accompany a delicious spread of dishes. You can’t go wrong with their steak frites and baked scallops.

Where: 266 King St, Newtown NSW 2042.
When: Open Wednesday & Thursday: 5pm-10pm, Friday & Saturday: 12–3 pm, 5–11 pm, Sunday: 12–3 pm, 5–10 pm.

17. ANTE

ANTE is first and foremost a sake bar, as their selection represents over 65 sake from 21 different breweries across Japan. However, we’ve included it in the restaurant section thanks to its incredible dishes. Their carefully curated seasonal menu was made to pair perfectly with the sake that they offer, and includes standouts like grilled pork neck with red elk and apple and beef tartare crostini with curried egg.

Where: 146 King Street, Newtown, NSW 2042.
When: Open Thursday & Friday: 5pm- Late, Saturday & Sunday: 12pm- Late.

20. Fabbrica Pasta Bar

Pasta and wine reign supreme at Fabbrica Pasta Bar. The 70-seat venue is centred around a long counter, overlooking an open kitchen and bar. Serving up seasonal snacks, innovative, homemade pasta and an excellent selection of wines and drinks, Newtown’s Fabbrica also features a local touch, serving scoops of gelato from nearby ice cream shop, Mapo.

Where: 101 King Street, Newtown NSW 2042.
When: Monday & Tuesday: 5pm-10pm, Wednesday-Saturday: 12pm-10pm, Sunday: 12pm-9pm.

21. Olotl

Olotl is brand-new to King Street, serving up homemade tacos made completely from scratch by mother-daughter duo Blanca Perera and Blanca Mejia. Previously hosting a pop-up above Campos Coffee down the road, they’ve now found a permanent location on King Street. Think classic birria tacos, braised shiitake mushroom and cheese quesadillas and mole verde tacos. In Sydney, truly authentic Mexican food like this is hard to come by.

Where: 12 King St, Newtown NSW 2042.
When: Friday & Saturday: 11am-3pm and 5pm-9pm, Sunday: 11am-3pm.

22. The Italian Bowl

Newtown has many tried-and-true dining stalwarts that get by on their simplicity and affordable prices. The Italian Bowl nails that brief ten times over, fashioned as the inner west’s favourite red sauce Italian restaurant with an over abundance of pasta and hearty side like garlic bread and hot chips. The pasta isn’t amazing, but it’s consistent, with students particularly swearing by The Italian Bowl’s generosity. One pasta dish could easily last you three days, and that’s the beauty of having such a place still standing after all these years.

Where: 255 King St, Newtown NSW 2042
When: Monday-Thursday: 12pm-10pm; Friday-Saturday: 12pm-11pm; Sunday: 12pm-10pm

23. Belly Bao

Ever tried a bao-ger? The clever hybrid of a bao bun and a burger was perfected at Belly Bao (one of our editors, Chris Singh, swears it’s one of the best burgers in Australia). But this modern Malaysian joint doesn’t quit when it comes to a frenetic sense of creativity, the kitchen constantly rethinking South-East Asian dishes with new and inventive takes like bao noodles and salted egg fried chicken. It’s still one of the most underrated restaurants in the inner west.

Where: 184 King St, Newtown NSW 2042
When: Tuesday-Thursday: 5pm-9pm; Friday: 11:30am-3pm and 5pm-10pm; Saturday: 11:30am-10pm; Sunday: 11:30am-3pm and 5pm-9pm

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Concert Venues

24. The Vanguard

The Vanguard is another venue on King Street that has an unassuming storefront with a vibrant, bustling interior. From jazz performances, sultry burleque, DJ sets and rock concerts, the Vanguard always has something exciting going on. Also known for their well-shaken cocktails and divine bar bites, a night at the Vanguard promises to be a great time.

Where: 42 King St, Newtown NSW 2042.
When: Concert times vary.

26. The Enmore Theatre

Ok, so the Enmore Theatre isn’t on King Street, but we had to include it. Built in 1908, the Enmore Theatre is now Sydney’s oldest and longest-running live theatre. It’s played host to notable stars including Bob Dylan, Coldplay and The Rolling Stones and will be the stage that the Fray, Addison Rae and Leon Thomas play on later this year. The Enmore Theatre is a hub of culture, creativity and vibrancy, continuing to bring people from all over Australia to the Inner West.

Where: 118-132 Enmore Road, Newtown, NSW 2042.
When: Concert times vary.

READ MORE: Addison Rae Sydney Tour 2025: Dates, Tickets Info & Highlights

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Cafes

27. Shenkin

Shenkin is known for its delicious matcha, quality coffee and tasty pastries. The family-run business has a few locations; however, the Newtown cafe is a favourite thanks to its cosy atmosphere and big windows facing the bustling street. Their menu revolves around Middle-Eastern cuisine, including a homemade shakshuka, beetroot avo toast and crispy sabih.

Where: 239A King St, Newtown NSW 2042.
When: Monday-Friday: 6:30 am–4 pm, Saturday & Sunday: 6:30 am–4:45 pm.

28. Rolling Penny

Located at the south end of King Street, Rolling Penny is dedicated to fresh produce and funky takes on breakfast classics. If you’re after something light, order their lemonade scone with jam and cream, or if you’re feeling hungry, get the hot smoked chorizo, poached eggs, tajin butter, and house curtido with kohlrabi and cabbage. Everything is made from scratch, in-house and using sustainably sourced ingredients. They’re even licensed, so bring on the Bloody Marys and mimosas.

Where: 583A King St, Newtown NSW 2042.
When: Monday-Friday: 7:30am-2:30pm, Saturday & Sunday: 8am-2pm.

29. A.P. Town

A.P. Bakery’s cool younger sister sits on the corner of Bucknell Street and always has a queue coming out the door. It’s for good reason, too, as the cult Sydney bakery continues to make some of the most delicious pastries in the city (and their coffees aren’t bad either).

Where: 1a Bucknell St, Newtown NSW 2042.
When: Monday-Saturday: 7 am–2:30 pm, Sunday 7:30am-2:30pm.

30. Campos Coffee

The flagship Campos Coffee store and cafe is located just off King Street, on Missenden Road. Easy to spot thanks to its pistachio coloured walls, the flagship serves some of the most delicious coffee in Sydney (and that’s saying something). Also on offer are delicious sweet and savoury pastries to pair with your brew.

Where: 193 Missenden Rd, Newtown NSW 2042.
When: Monday-Friday: 7am-4pm, Saturday: 8am-5pm, Sunday: 8am-4pm. ​

31. Flour Drum

Flour Drum embodies that fresh, farm-to-table vibe: everything is prepared, baked or cooked on site in the kitchen. Not to miss is their signature buttermilk banoffee pancake stack— think a huge portion of fluffy pancakes, caramelised banana and dulce de leche. Grab a specialty coffee (with beans by the Blind Coffee Roaster) and even a locally-brewed beer (it’s 12 o’clock somewhere).

Where: 533 King Street, Newtown 2042.
When: Monday- Friday: 7am-3pm, Saturday: 8am-4pm, Sunday: 8am-3pm.