Anton & Nats local guidebook
Cafes
You are spoilt for choice with cafes in this area, these are a few of our favourites.
Great coffee, yummy breakfast (homemade crumpets!) just on your doorstep
33 locals recommend
The Bunker
399 Liverpool StGreat coffee, yummy breakfast (homemade crumpets!) just on your doorstep
Great coffee, yummy organic bread and croissants (try the pretzel croissant!) and big breakfasts
11 locals recommend
Organic Bread Bar Darlinghurst
354 Liverpool StGreat coffee, yummy organic bread and croissants (try the pretzel croissant!) and big breakfasts
Hole in the wall cafe with good coffee, and reasonably priced delicious take away sandwich selection, for those who like their coffee strong.
Little Bishop Espresso Bar
269 Victoria StreetHole in the wall cafe with good coffee, and reasonably priced delicious take away sandwich selection, for those who like their coffee strong.
Good coffee, and a delicious Asian-fusion breakfast and lunch menu, definitely recommend for a different flavour breakfast.
Brewristas Cafe
303A Liverpool StGood coffee, and a delicious Asian-fusion breakfast and lunch menu, definitely recommend for a different flavour breakfast.
A little big of a further walk, this is a great brunch place in a cute little laneway, great bloody mary's and big breakfast serves.
12 locals recommend
Joseph Hyde
36 Llankelly PlA little big of a further walk, this is a great brunch place in a cute little laneway, great bloody mary's and big breakfast serves.
Best coffee in the area, and the lines are testament to that! Yummy fresh breakfasts, but be prepared to fight the crowds. They do takeaway too.
104 locals recommend
Room Ten
10 Llankelly PlBest coffee in the area, and the lines are testament to that! Yummy fresh breakfasts, but be prepared to fight the crowds. They do takeaway too.
A Sydney institution, famous for it's pancakes and corn fritters. Lovely decor and good coffee. A must for any Bill Granger fans.
88 locals recommend
Bills
433 Liverpool StA Sydney institution, famous for it's pancakes and corn fritters. Lovely decor and good coffee. A must for any Bill Granger fans.
Worth the walk, big fresh brunch plates with outdoor seating and a resident dog.
14 locals recommend
Morris
33 Albion AveWorth the walk, big fresh brunch plates with outdoor seating and a resident dog.
Eating out
Delicious Pan-Asian flavours, cute little restaurant, lovely staff, food is consistently great. Also do takeaway.
25 locals recommend
Fu Manchu
66 Victoria StDelicious Pan-Asian flavours, cute little restaurant, lovely staff, food is consistently great. Also do takeaway.
Hearty burgers Australian style and delicious fries for a cheap big dinner. Also do takeaway.
8 locals recommend
The Burger Joint
249 Victoria StHearty burgers Australian style and delicious fries for a cheap big dinner. Also do takeaway.
Delicious Italian focused cocktail and share food bar, great atmosphere and lovely staff.
10 locals recommend
Johnny Goes Italian
185 Darlinghurst RoadDelicious Italian focused cocktail and share food bar, great atmosphere and lovely staff.
Paper Box Thai Noodle Bar
274-290 Victoria StCheap fresh asian noddle meals, we love their laksa best.
Delicious reasonably priced Japanese, try the sashimi taco! Lovely staff and cute atmosphere.
17 locals recommend
Enya
58a Bayswater RdDelicious reasonably priced Japanese, try the sashimi taco! Lovely staff and cute atmosphere.
Italian-Asian fusion, casual upmarket dining, a very popular Sydney restaurant.
50 locals recommend
Acme
60 Bayswater RdItalian-Asian fusion, casual upmarket dining, a very popular Sydney restaurant.
Best for pasta, especially their gnocchi, lovely staff and great outdoor seating options.
15 locals recommend
Pizza Boccone
11 Llankelly PlBest for pasta, especially their gnocchi, lovely staff and great outdoor seating options.
There are two of these, another on Stanley street. Cute little hole in the wall place with the best dumplings in Sydney, great beer selection too.
61 locals recommend
Dumplings & Beer
9 Ward AveThere are two of these, another on Stanley street. Cute little hole in the wall place with the best dumplings in Sydney, great beer selection too.
Great Italian inspired wine and cocktail bar, really delicious food menu of pasta and share plates, a great spot to sit and people watch.
15 locals recommend
Casoni
371-373 Bourke StGreat Italian inspired wine and cocktail bar, really delicious food menu of pasta and share plates, a great spot to sit and people watch.
A delightful, intimate restaurant with hearty locally sourced Australian food. One set menu every day. Check the Facebook page for the menu.
48 locals recommend
Chow Bar & Eating House
320 Crown StA delightful, intimate restaurant with hearty locally sourced Australian food. One set menu every day. Check the Facebook page for the menu.
Hands-down the best Italian in Sydney, authentic and priced in the upper range, the service is unparalleled. They do breakfast on weekends for an authentic Italian breakfast experience.
189 locals recommend
Fratelli Paradiso
12-16 Challis AveHands-down the best Italian in Sydney, authentic and priced in the upper range, the service is unparalleled. They do breakfast on weekends for an authentic Italian breakfast experience.
For a fancy meal with a great view of the water, Otto never disappoints. Set on a wharf the food is fresh, the wine list extensive and it never disappoints.
51 locals recommend
OTTO Ristorante
6 Cowper Wharf RoadwayFor a fancy meal with a great view of the water, Otto never disappoints. Set on a wharf the food is fresh, the wine list extensive and it never disappoints.
Great French bistro, lovely decor and delicious steak frites. Priced in the higher range.
32 locals recommend
Bistro Rex
50 Macleay StGreat French bistro, lovely decor and delicious steak frites. Priced in the higher range.
A unique Greek-Australian restaurant priced in the higher range. Great for a group because the meals are big and meant to share with a big table. Priced in the upper range, recommend booking.
220 locals recommend
The Apollo Restaurant
44 Macleay StreetA unique Greek-Australian restaurant priced in the higher range. Great for a group because the meals are big and meant to share with a big table. Priced in the upper range, recommend booking.
Drinking
Great little hard-to-find locals wine bar with a really great food menu too.
83 locals recommend
Love, Tilly Devine
91 Crown LnGreat little hard-to-find locals wine bar with a really great food menu too.
Speakeasy in a beautiful Art Deco building with great cocktail menu.
104 locals recommend
The Roosevelt
32 Orwell StreetSpeakeasy in a beautiful Art Deco building with great cocktail menu.
The best pub in the area, right across the road. Has a very popular rooftop, good selection of Australian craft beers.
92 locals recommend
Darlo Bar
306 Liverpool StThe best pub in the area, right across the road. Has a very popular rooftop, good selection of Australian craft beers.
One of Sydney's first small bars, open late, has a great cocktail and cheap food menu and lots of live music, just check their Facebook page.
37 locals recommend
Low 302
302 Crown StOne of Sydney's first small bars, open late, has a great cocktail and cheap food menu and lots of live music, just check their Facebook page.
A Sydney LGBTI institution, Sunday is gay night, fun loud music, a dance floor and a courtyard.
49 locals recommend
Grand National Hotel
161 Underwood StA Sydney LGBTI institution, Sunday is gay night, fun loud music, a dance floor and a courtyard.
Inspired by Aussie Pub culture, this pub has an extensive craft beer selection on tab and reasonably price Australian pub food. Live music some nights too.
47 locals recommend
The Unicorn Hotel
106 Oxford StInspired by Aussie Pub culture, this pub has an extensive craft beer selection on tab and reasonably price Australian pub food. Live music some nights too.
Hidden at the back of a hotel, this bar is famous for it's cocktails. A great stop off for a pre dinner cocktail.
102 locals recommend
Eau De Vie
285 Darlinghurst RdHidden at the back of a hotel, this bar is famous for it's cocktails. A great stop off for a pre dinner cocktail.
Wine bar with great share food, a little more on the pricey side.
30 locals recommend
Dear Sainte Éloise
29 Orwell StWine bar with great share food, a little more on the pricey side.
Lovely old pub in an historic building, great cheap pub food and a good selection of local beers on tap.
46 locals recommend
The Old Fitzroy Hotel
129 Dowling StLovely old pub in an historic building, great cheap pub food and a good selection of local beers on tap.
Another lovely old pub with a youthful clientele, good food, great beers and a big courtyard for summer, and fireplaces for winter.
34 locals recommend
The Cricketers Arms Hotel
106 Fitzroy StAnother lovely old pub with a youthful clientele, good food, great beers and a big courtyard for summer, and fireplaces for winter.
Groceries
Big health food store with a cafe also, great for vegan/vegetarians and a great selection of health shakes.
21 locals recommend
Health Nuts
82-94 Darlinghurst RdBig health food store with a cafe also, great for vegan/vegetarians and a great selection of health shakes.
Local grocery with fresh fruit and vegetables that should have most of the things that you need.
117 locals recommend
QE Foodstores
235 Bronte RdLocal grocery with fresh fruit and vegetables that should have most of the things that you need.
Big grocery shop with a large selection of fruit and vegetables, cheese and meats.
434 locals recommend
Harris Farm Markets
30 Springfield AveBig grocery shop with a large selection of fruit and vegetables, cheese and meats.
Coles Kings Cross
94 Darlinghurst RdDown the stairs to the Coles supermarket
Small Woolworths with a fair selection of fruit and veg and ready made meals.
19 locals recommend
Woolworths Kings Cross Metro
111-139 Darlinghurst RdSmall Woolworths with a fair selection of fruit and veg and ready made meals.
Medical
For emergencies go to St Vincent's Hospital. For anything not life threatening, go to a drop-in medical centre.
Darlinghurst Medical Centre
213-219 Darlinghurst RdA bulk billing drop-in medical centre.
The closest hospital just up the road, has a public emergency department but no paediatric department, for children it is better to do to the Royal Children's Hospital in Randwick.
23 locals recommend
St Vincent's Hospital Sydney
390 Victoria StThe closest hospital just up the road, has a public emergency department but no paediatric department, for children it is better to do to the Royal Children's Hospital in Randwick.
Nightlife
Unfortunately the 'lock-out' laws have really killed Kings Cross late night life. You can't enter a venue after 01:30am so make sure you are inside before then. Once in, you can't leave. Madness I know. So some of my recommendation are out of the area where the lock-out doesn't apply.
Late-night venue with international DJs, check their facebook page for gigs, sometimes they are closed on Fridays.
Club 77
77 William StLate-night venue with international DJs, check their facebook page for gigs, sometimes they are closed on Fridays.
Can either be really busy and fun, or really quiet, it's a bit hit and miss, but they get some good DJs play down in this basement club sometimes. Best to check the Facebook page and have a plan B if it's a quiet night.
29 locals recommend
Tatler Sydney
169 Darlinghurst RdCan either be really busy and fun, or really quiet, it's a bit hit and miss, but they get some good DJs play down in this basement club sometimes. Best to check the Facebook page and have a plan B if it's a quiet night.
Can be fun for a dance, mixed music, sometimes a bit cheesy, open until 02:00 am.
37 locals recommend
Low 302
302 Crown StCan be fun for a dance, mixed music, sometimes a bit cheesy, open until 02:00 am.
For those hardcore dancers! International acts, check their facebook page. Open until 03:30am.
8 locals recommend
Burdekin Hotel
2 Oxford StFor those hardcore dancers! International acts, check their facebook page. Open until 03:30am.
Outside of the lockout laws, this pub has a University student feel, but often has a dance-floor going off in the back courtyard. Open until 03:00am on Fri and Saturday.
33 locals recommend
The Lord Gladstone Hotel
115 Regent StOutside of the lockout laws, this pub has a University student feel, but often has a dance-floor going off in the back courtyard. Open until 03:00am on Fri and Saturday.
Outside of the lock-out laws, this place has DJs and live music room, big smoking area, and an often busy dance floor. Open until 04:00am on the Fri & Sat.
12 locals recommend
Lansdowne Hotel
2-6 City RdOutside of the lock-out laws, this place has DJs and live music room, big smoking area, and an often busy dance floor. Open until 04:00am on the Fri & Sat.
Also outside of the lock out laws, this warehouse club often has international DJs playing. Open until 02:00am on weekends.
90 locals recommend
Freda's
107-109 Regent StAlso outside of the lock out laws, this warehouse club often has international DJs playing. Open until 02:00am on weekends.
If you want to venture to another area of Sydney, this large pub with lots of rooms has a lot going on. Drag shows, great food menu, downstairs club with DJs. Outside of the lock-out.
39 locals recommend
The Imperial Erskineville
35 Erskineville RdIf you want to venture to another area of Sydney, this large pub with lots of rooms has a lot going on. Drag shows, great food menu, downstairs club with DJs. Outside of the lock-out.
Tiki inspired underground club, always has a dance floor, usually playing the predictable pop party tunes, but sometimes hip-hop and RnB.
25 locals recommend
The Cliff Dive
18 Oxford StTiki inspired underground club, always has a dance floor, usually playing the predictable pop party tunes, but sometimes hip-hop and RnB.
Busy during the week, always has a dance floor, sometimes live music, the crowd can be variable. Enter through a fake hotdog stand.
62 locals recommend
The Soda Factory
16 Wentworth AveBusy during the week, always has a dance floor, sometimes live music, the crowd can be variable. Enter through a fake hotdog stand.
A pizza restaurant out front and a rock n roll dance floor out back. The crowd can be a real mix of business suits and genuine rockers. Open until 3am Friday and Sat.
74 locals recommend
Frankie's Pizza
50 Hunter StA pizza restaurant out front and a rock n roll dance floor out back. The crowd can be a real mix of business suits and genuine rockers. Open until 3am Friday and Sat.
Stonewall Hotel
175 Oxford StA Sydney LGBTI institution, drag shows and pop music dance floor.