This post was originally published on A Globe Well Travelled in 2018. The content has been revised and updated with fresh information.
There’s no place in Sydney that feels more like home to me than Newtown, the beating heart of the city’s Inner West.
It’s creative, colourful, and full of personality — the kind of neighbourhood where you’ll find vintage shops next to vegan cafés, street art covering every wall, and locals sipping craft beers under fairy lights in hidden alleyway bars.
Newtown is where Sydney’s hipsters, artists, students, and free spirits all come together. It’s an area that celebrates diversity and individuality, proudly flying the rainbow flag on nearly every corner.
If you’re visiting Sydney and want to experience a local favourite beyond the harbour and beaches, jump on a quick train to Newtown. It’s one of the city’s most walkable neighbourhoods — perfect for hopping between murals, second-hand stores, indie bars, and buzzing eateries.
I’ve been living around Newtown for over ten years now, so here’s my local’s take on the best things to do in this creative, slightly chaotic, and endlessly fun part of Sydney.
Quick summary:
Explore Sydney’s coolest neighbourhood with this local guide to Newtown — the creative heart of the Inner West. Discover colourful street art, vintage stores, quirky cafés, and buzzing pubs, plus tips on where to eat, drink, and stay.
Recommended tours & experiences:
🎨 Newtown Street Art and Food Tour — Discover the stories behind Newtown’s colourful murals while sampling delicious local eats along the way.
🍸 Sydney: Secret Bar Guided Tour — Spend a fun night out exploring Sydney’s hidden small bars — join the Wednesday tour to experience quirky Newtown and Enmore Road.
🏨 Stay at The Urban Newtown — Stay just steps from Newtown Station at this boutique hotel with a striking mural facade and comfy, stylish rooms.
How to get to Newtown, Sydney
From Central Station in the city, you can take the T2 line train a few stops to Newtown Station.
Newtown is not far from the city, so you can also take a bus from Railway Square (next to Central Station). It’s about a 10-15 minute ride.
To use Sydney’s public transport system, you can use your credit card on the Opal readers as you enter the train stations or hop on a bus (and don’t forget to tap off on your way out). The fare to Newtown from the city should be about $3-4 AUD each way.
The map below shows the best parts of Newtown to explore.
Where to go + things to do in Newtown, Sydney:
Newtown Station
This is considered the middle of Newtown. If you start here, you can walk in basically any direction. Head right to visit King Street north (the busiest part of Newtown), or left to visit King Street south which is slightly quieter but still has loads of shops and cafes.
If you want to venture off King Street, then take your pick of Enmore Road, Erskineville Road, or Australia Street.
Newtown Street Art
Newtown has a huge amount of amazing street art. Some of the famous murals are It’s a jungle sometimes on the corner of Enmore Road and Bailey Street, and the “I have a dream” mural on King Street (between Eliza and Mary streets). Some of my personal favourites are the Housing Bubble mural on The Urban Hotel, and the large-scale murals lining Camperdown Memorial Rest Park.
🎨 If you’re interested in learning more about the local artists (and sampling some great food), you might want to book a spot on a Newtown Street Art and Food Tour.
On this tour, you’ll wander through hidden laneways, hear the stories behind the murals, and discover some of the area’s best local bites along the way.
Camperdown Memorial Rest Park & Cemetery
This is one of my favourite spots to hang out in Newtown. Camperdown Memorial Rest Park is a local gathering place where you’ll always find something interesting happening — dog walkers, picnics, musicians, and groups of friends lounging under the trees with takeaway coffees or beers (day drinking is allowed here until 9PM!).
What makes this park even more fascinating is that it was once part of the adjoining Camperdown Cemetery, founded in 1848 and one of the oldest in Sydney. A large portion of the cemetery was converted into parkland in the 1940s, but you can still wander among the old gravestones and historic tombs that remain.
The surrounding streets, especially Church Street, are lined with beautiful Victorian-era terrace houses that once belonged to the working class — and are now some of the most sought-after homes in the Inner West.
Enmore Theatre
Many of the buildings in Newtown still have their historic facades from the 1800s or early 1900s. One of the most well-known is the Enmore Theatre, which opened in 1908 and is now the longest-running live music venue in New South Wales. I adore its art deco architecture with the rusty orange exterior that glows beautifully at sunset.
Inside, you’ll find an intimate space that has hosted everyone from local indie bands to international acts. Even if you don’t catch a show, it’s worth stopping by for a photo of the neon-lit sign out front — it’s an Inner West icon.
Newtown Shopping
It’s easy to spend half a day popping into Newtown’s various boutique stores and vintage shops. The main strip along King Street is lined with everything from quirky gift stores to second-hand fashion and local designer boutiques. Some of my favourites are Pentimento (for stationery and books) and Monster Threads (for fun and creative gifts).
If you’re into thrifting (like I am!), don’t miss U-Turn for recycled and vintage fashion, or the local Vinnies op shop — I’ve scored some great finds there over the years. You’ll also come across small homewares stores, indie bookshops, and record stores tucked between cafés, making this one of the best areas in Sydney for a relaxed afternoon of browsing.
Where to drink coffee in Newtown, Sydney
Shenkin — This is the place where my husband used to go for his daily coffee (his old co-working space was basically next door). Shenkin is a take-away espresso bar. They are pros at making an excellent latte and they have a nice selection of baked treats. Shenkin also have other locations on Enmore Road and Erskineville Road, both of which have more seating and a comprehensive food menu.
Brewtown — At the north end of Newtown, Brewtown is a cafe that became very popular after it first opened. It’s still one of the best places to get coffee in Newtown. Aside from the fabulous pun name, they also have a great brunch menu which, though a little pricey, is fancy and delicious.
Black Market Coffee — Located on Enmore Road, Black Market Coffee is a little coffee shop that I have visited many times. Though the inside is fairly small, it’s a nice place to sit and enjoy the smell of roasting beans. Don’t bother with the food menu here – it’s really coffee that they do best.
Where to eat in Newtown, Sydney
The Pie Tin — When this pie joint in north Newtown first opened, my husband and I instantly became regulars! The Pie Tin has a selection of savoury pies (including vegetarian options) so if you haven’t yet sampled a classic Aussie pie, this is a great place to get one. Also, the sweet pies they have are totally drool-worthy and if you’re lucky they might have some Aussie Tim Tam pie for you.
Cairo — This casual Egyptian eatery on Enmore Road has pides and plates that taste both fresh and filling. My favourite menu item at Cairo is the vegetarian fried cauliflower pocket with tahini, which is just so incredibly good!
Great Aunty Three — My husband and I go to Great Aunty Three every time we want some hearty Vietnamese food. The street inspired dishes include rice paper rolls, steamed buns, banh mi, pho noodle soup, or rice. It’s super tasty and also reasonably cheap. Oh, and their Vietnamese coffee is a must!
Gigi Pizzeria — This Newtown institution is a must-visit for anyone who loves Italian food or happens to be vegan. Gigi’s is an entirely plant-based pizzeria, and it’s so good that I guarantee you won’t miss the cheese. Their woodfired crusts are perfectly blistered, and the toppings are fresh, inventive, and delicious. It’s always busy (and they don’t take bookings), but trust me — the wait is worth it.
Vandal Taqueria — One of Newtown’s coolest spots for casual dining, Vandal serves up Mexican street food with a creative twist on Enmore Road. The neon-lit interior and funky decor make it feel like a party even on a weeknight (and yes, they do Taco Tuesdays with menu discounts!). Their tacos are small but packed with flavour, and their margaritas are some of the best you’ll find in the Inner West.
Hakiki Turkish ice cream — This place has desserts that are guaranteed to satisfy your sweet tooth. Hakiki Turkish ice cream has so many delicious gelato flavours – my absolute faves are the salted caramel or maybe the pistachio, though the Baklava is also a solid choice.
Best bars & pubs in Newtown, Sydney
Newtown Hotel — This historic pub on north King Street is one of our regular hangs. The Newtown Hotel is super pretty from the outside with its green facade and decorative balcony, which happens to be our fave spot to sit as the balcony has great views of Newtown’s main strip. Inside is a totally gorgeous old-timey bar and a giant rainbow mural.
The Courthouse Hotel — (fondly referred to as ‘The Courty’ by locals) is another favourite pub. Located next to Camperdown Memorial Rest Park, the tree-lined beer garden here is top notch. You’ll find plenty of craft brews on tap, and it even has a secret room filled with Pinball machines. Also, their veggie nachos are to die for.
Young Henrys — If you’re into craft beer, then check out Young Henrys. This microbrewery started in 2012 and is now a staple in many Newtown pubs. I’m personally a fan of their classic Newtowner (Australian Pale Ale), Stayer Mid (mid strength) and Cloudy Cider. You can sample the goods at their tasting bar, or even do a brewery tour to learn more about the local beer scene.
Bar Planet — This spot on Enmore Road is one of those effortlessly cool cocktail bars that perfectly captures Newtown’s creative energy. The retro space-age décor at Bar Planet gives major 1970s sci-fi vibes, and the bartenders mix some of the best martinis in Sydney. It’s small, stylish, and always buzzing — ideal for pre-dinner drinks or a low-key night out.
Jacoby’s Tiki Bar — Also on Enmore Road, this place brings a splash of tropical fun to the Inner West. I first went to Jacoby’s for pre-drinks before a show at the Enmore Theatre and was instantly overwhelmed by the décor (in a good way) — it feels like you’ve stepped straight into a retro island bar serving up fruity cocktails in playful glassware. As one of the most unique bars in Sydney, it’s colourful, kitschy, and just the right amount of over-the-top.
🍸 If you’d like to explore more of Sydney’s bar scene, you can book a Sydney: Secret Bar Guided Tour experience which visits Newtown’s quirkiest spots every Wednesday evening.
This tour is perfect for solo travellers, friends, or locals who want a fun night out discovering hidden small bars. On the Wednesday night tour through Newtown and Enmore Road (recently voted one of the coolest streets in the world!), you’ll visit three or four local venues over 3.5 hours. Your first drink is included, and you’ll even get a map of all the spots afterward so you can keep the party going on your own.
Where to stay in Newtown, Sydney
🏨 If you want to stay right in the heart of Sydney’s Inner West, The Urban Newtown is a great local choice. This boutique hotel is just a few minutes’ walk from Newtown Station and surrounded by all the cafés, bars, and shops.
My parents have stayed at The Urban a few times while visiting us in Sydney because of the convenient location. The rooms are small, but they’re clean with comfortable bedding and everything you need for a short stay. I also love the Housing Bubble mural that covers the hotel’s facade — it fits perfectly with Newtown’s creative vibe.
If you’re interested in visiting Newtown during a trip to Sydney, you can book your Sydney accommodation here. I’d suggest staying somewhere near Central Station to make it easy to get around.
I’d also recommend getting out of the city to visit some nearby towns, national parks, mountains, and beaches around the state — here’s where you can find more New South Wales hotels.
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