There is no shortage of beautiful places to live in Sydney; in fact, there are so many, each area showcasing its unique urban charm. If I moved back to Sydney, you would know why by this Surry Hills Guide.

Surry Hills (in Sydney…) is an eclectic playground of restaurants, art galleries, good old Aussie pubs and the epicentre for international students and travellers. It is everything you deem an inner-city vibe to be, polished and grungy, discrete yet identifiable. There is a lot of history within the streets of these homes and buildings that define the suburb of Surry Hills Sydney. 

If we wind way back to the 2000s, this inner-city hub was in the midst of a fascinating transformation as it shed its gritty, industrial past all while maintaining a tight grip on its authenticity where it could. It’s hard to imagine Surry Hills without Crown Street, lined with trendy cafes and wine bars that we all adore today *cough… Lokale*, its modern deli’s, family-run restaurants and international bakeries.

If you’re looking for one of the coolest suburbs to live in Sydney, Surry Hills will scratch any itch you have when it comes to food, culture, and nightlife. It is an urban jungle full of the cooky and the cool, with a hint of old-school charm.

This old-school charm comes alive with the array of sought-after terrace lines streets, where many have been meticulously restored. Their Victorian charm is a sight for sore eyes and If you’ve locked this down as your pad, then it’s safe to say you are already living that quintessential inner-city life.

You might be surprised to think this suburb is at the top of my list, but I have nothing but fond memories here… memories with friends, colleagues, and fellow students (and one too many Negronis at the Ace Hotel). If I were to live in Surry Hills, I would embrace this as a blast from the past, perhaps charade life as a student or a starving creative, where you take upon new learnings, opportunities, and networks.

Surry Hills Sydney

Ask anyone in Sydney Australia, and they’ll immediately direct you to explore this suburb’s neverending culinary and creative landscape. Despite its proximity to the city, it remains unspoiled by its counterparts’ fast-paced emotionless vibe. I don’t say this out of spite (because the city possesses a charm of its own) however, Surry Hills allows you the opportunity to take the day at pace as you weave in and out of its narrow terrace-drenched streets. It offers an array of boutique shops and bustling community hubs where you can meet people from all walks of life.

The Things To Do In Surry Hills

There are a couple of iconic places in the suburb that are a must for the first-timer or history buff. For me, these places were part of my routine, and should I move back, will find a way to slip straight back into my ‘new normal’.

• If you’re not yet well aware, the beating heart of this suburb is Crown Street Surry Hills, a street of utter chaos, delectable eateries, and artisan food stores. If we reflect on the life of a student, you’re often caffeine addicted, sugar craving and straight out delusional. Kürtösh on Crown will offer you a place of solace where you can hide in a corner, and smell the waft of freshly baked pastries late into the night.

• Does anyone else crave an art gallery visit like me? Surely…? On the odd occasion that you yearn for some profound inspiration, Surry Hills Sydney is resident to some epic galleries (there really is no shortage of things to do in Surry Hills). Filter Fine Art on Albion Street is a stickler for works by international artists who are leading the herd in Modern and Contemporary art. I love the recurring multi-colour works with a nod to POP art.

• A night out can present itself in many ways in Surry Hills Sydney, though there’s nothing quite like freshly popped popcorn (and chocolate to balance the saltiness of course) while you kick your feet up and enjoy a flick at the Golden Age Cinema. The beautifully adorned Art Deco facade is enough to sway you as you approach, and I’ll be the first to admit that I never let a good cult classic pass me by. If you want a pre-cinema caffeine fix, then Paramount Coffee Project at Paramount House is a no-brainer. Instantaneously exciting, it is an adventurous and experimental cafe at that, serving some of the best coffee in Sydney. (Did I mention it also ranks within the best Surry Hills cafes?)

How can one get bored in Surry Hills Sydney? It’s clear as day just how dynamic this suburb can be. With its artistic flair and ability to transport you back a couple of decades, there’s no telling what Surry Hills can morph into in years to come. It excites the student within me, where running a muck in this place afforded the sweetest sensations.

A Tasteful Surry Hills Guide

At this point, I’m starting to believe my ramblings when it comes to claiming the title of best bar, best restaurant, or best anything… really. HOWEVER, I protest that as a first-timer in Sydney Australia, or a seasoned lover, Surry Hills Sydney is absolutely the Mecca of all Meccas when it comes to culinary phenomenon and tasteful brews (coffee brews that is).

When in doubt, get your toosh down to Surry Hills Sydney.

01. Artificer Coffee

With an unwavering commitment and knowledge of quality beans, Artificer is easily the best coffee in Sydney and a standout in Surry Hills Sydney. There’s something about a corner block when serving coffee. Wherever you choose to sit, you can peer out on and people watch, nature gaze and lose yourself in just about every direction.

Artificier’s interior has a light oak wood industrial vibe and is tranquil with minimal branding because their single-origin coffee speaks for itself. Sometimes, you’ll be surprised with a fruity explosion, and other times, a subtle sweetness that lingers for hours after. Sitting by the window with my laptop in one hand (and caffeine in the other), while estranged from reality, is one of my favourite past (and present) things to do in Surry Hills.

02. Reuben Hills

Reuben Hills is another worthy coffee contender perched shyly on Albion Street, however, what sets this specialty coffee roaster in Surry Hills apart is its scrumptious and fun breakfast and brunch menu. From the facade, you’d mistake this cafe to be your usual chic yet rustic venue, yet step inside the interior is a modern industrial setting with concrete floors and counter, white tiled walls paired with the bones of a bare brick wall and modern timber and LED Lighting.

With a South American-inspired menu along the lines of Huevos Divorciados (fried eggs on tostadas with red and green salsa) or the Soft Baked Eggs in a spicy Ranchero Sauce, coupled with their superb house-roasted beans, Reuben Hills is an institution to the best surry hills cafes that money can buy. I can’t count on my fingers the amount of times I’ve frequented this cafe, sharing laughs, tears, and all the in-between. This place is always packed to the brim. The locals love it and I’m pretty sure it’ll sway, even the toughest of critics. Take my word for it.

03. Firedoor

Oh Firedoor, Firedoor, where art thou oh Firedoor… Not to put a damper on your excitement, but you may have heard rumours that you must book 3 months in advance should you wish to sink your teeth in a fire-fueled degustation. While this may be the harsh truth you weren’t willing to hear, and despite your excuse of “How will I know If I feel like eating this such a long time away”, believe me when I say that unless you’re banking on travelling to Europe to eat food prepared over fire, this is the next (and best) venue to experience just that.

Alas, you’re greeted by a quivering large metal door that reveals a delicately organised dining setting with front-row seats to the show. It feels spacious, dramatic and exciting to dine at Firedoor. You will most likely not eat the same meal twice given that the menu is crafted by the season (as it should be). Not only does this tantalise your tastebuds, but it also allows the kitchen to experiment and continuously refine the concept of fine dining. I love it here, especially the bread, and as many years pass, I still can’t seem to get past the smokey, crusty dough that was before me.

Take your loved one, a friend, or quite frankly get a table for one (yes… just you) to experience a passionately prepared meal, straight from the dragon’s mouth.

04. Pellegrino 2000

Travel to Italy for a night, be silly and drink lots. Pellegrino 2000 is my favourite place for sharing more than just a plate of pasta. It’s the type of venue that ignites an exchange of laughter, secrets, aspirations, and fleeting foolishness. The walls are adorned in Italian prints and tins upon tins of tomato line the shelves floating effortlessly along the walls. Nothing cries out Italian Tratt like ochre-painted walls and timber-lined vertical surfaces… nothing.

Pellegrino is an easy-going neighbourhood trattoria (restaurant) that serves the best food in Surry Hills like some seriously light and crispy Fritto Misto (Fried Seafood) and a slippery Rigatoni alla Carbonara. It wouldn’t be a Surry Hills guide without this cult favourite. What you’ll love about Pelligrino is its cozy and smart casual interior, and if you’re seated in the wine cellar you may mistake this for the wine town of Tuscany with its alluring Medieval charm.

05. Bar Copains

Where neighbours become friends (like literally – Copains means friends in French).

Surry Hills Sydney is a melting pot of good food and cult drinking dens. A more recent-ish addition is Bar Copains which has swiftly become the spot to go to for all things wine (natural and not) and has a curated bar menu that puts a spin on many favourited European hors d’oeuvres (yes I’m bunching them all into the french pronunciation) like Leeks Cooked In A Bag with a Brown Butter Vinaigrette, Fried Cuttlefish with Calabrian Chilli, and even as far as Pigs Head Fritti with Sauce Gribiche… for example. All delicately balanced… and exploding with flavour.

Bar Copains ushers in a nostalgia for a post-work, long lunch, mid-summer afternoon kind of wine affair that is so familiar in Europe. It’s where friends gather and sit nestled within the streetscape, waving goodbye to their woes and hello to their Vin. The very least I could say is that the wine selection, by the bottle or by the glass, is always fascinating. It is carefully curated to highlight an array of flavour palettes starting from a light, crispy and easy-to-drink white, all the way to a complex and fruity skin contact. *Is it obvious I don’t drink red as it was amis from the description?*

We are not only boasting that it serves some of the best food in Surry Hills but also that it is definitely the coolest wine bar in Sydney. I guess we’ll be having a rendezvous here later this week.

06. Porteño

Did someone say wood-fired mastery? I’d like to reveal an all-time favourite restaurant to you all… Porteño. What I felt like doing was gatekeeping the best food in Surry Hills, but we’re trying to be transparent in 2025 right? This Holt Street institution is where Argentinian barbeque will excite all of your senses. The interior is a blend of Aztec meets industrial chic, with bold feature black and white tiling that predominantly dresses the surface of the open kitchen – pairing that with classic timber thonet chairs and Paris-style cafe tables.

I went on a tangent… let’s get back to the food. You cannot go past House Made Chorizo as an appetiser at a South American restaurant – it’ll be too cruel. Come to think of it – I also heard that the Wood Roasted Peach paired with Buffalo Mozzarella, Lemon Verbena & Nasturtium does wonders in balancing out the spice lingering in your mouth. To ensure you tick the legendary box in your review, order a dry-aged ribeye with a side of the beloved crispy fried Brussels sprouts smothered in vincotto.

I would give anything to be sitting in this dimly amber-lit restaurant, that is Porteño, observing the dancing waiters and theatrics of the kitchen. This takes the cake as one of the best things to do in Surry Hills. Speaking of cake…

Surry Hills Is A Vibrant Slice of Sydney Life

Even with Sydney’s evolving environment, Surry Hills continues to be a hub of creativity and cultural unity. It boasts an impressive number of restaurants and cafes, which manage to coexist—even as rivals. Even though I’m like a distant relative to Australia – more notably Surry Hills Sydney – now, I will more than happily set up shop in this suburb should that be an opportunity in the future.

Imagine how fun it could be to wake up every day with an ABUNDANCE of good food, coffee, boutique shops and the likes to choose from. Dopamine heavy, but the heart will be content.

I love that a suburb can continue to be a beacon for fresh faces and innovative individuals to call home. That Surry Hills Sydney can be welcoming enough to create even better opportunities for those like you, and me, should we want to rumble our way through this suburb’s cool spots, and find one – or many – that resonate with us most.

I’m sure hoping I’ve convinced you to explore the venues with the best food in Surry Hills, as well as provide you with a Surry Hills guide that tantalises all your senses (not just your tastebuds). While we’ve only scratched the surface, it’s enough for you to peer through and begin to investigate the remainder… because well, damn, there’s a lot.

If I moved back to Sydney, I’ll be slipping through every crevice of Surry Hills like a curious toddler.