Sydney/City East

Orientation

The following areas and suburbs make up the City East district:

Trains and a maze of bus routes run through the area. From the city, its often possible to walk to where you want to be. Parking is restricted nearly all the time on any day of the week, although cruising around the back streets is an option if the parking fairy is smiling upon you.
Kings Cross can be accessed by bus or train to Kings Cross Station, which is on Darlinghurst Road. The train station exits deliver the visitor into the southern end of the main Kings Cross entertainment district. The 323, 324, 325, and 326 buses also run from Circular Quay, up Elizabeth Street and along William Street. You can also walk from the City Centre to Darlinghurst Road in around 20-30 minutes.
Oxford Street has a long strip of night clubs, bars, restaurants, fashion boutiques and other retail activities running it's length. It starts in East Sydney at Hyde Park and runs through Darlinghurst, Taylor Square and on to Paddington. You can use the train station at Museum to enter Oxford Street from the Hyde Park end. This station is just near the start of Oxford Street, and you can walk the length of it in 45 minutes or so. The 'strip' unofficially ends around Queen Street in Woollahra. If you want to get directly to your destination, you can catch one of the stream of buses that go up Oxford Street. Routes 333, 392, 397, 373, 394, 399, and 377 run from Circular Quay and Elizabeth Street and up Oxford St at least as far as Taylor Square.
Surry Hills is adjacent to Central station and runs up the hills to the east toward Moore Park. Walk east from the station through Sydney's commercial fashion quarter and up toward Crown Street. Crown Street is serviced by bus routes 301, 302, and 303.
Woolloomooloo lies to the north of William Street across from the Domain and the Royal Botanic Gardens and runs down to the old wharves at Woolloomooloo Bay. Stairs link Art Gallery Road down to the finger wharves. The walk will take around 20 minutes from the city or Martin Place or St James Station. The walk is slightly shorter from Kings Cross Station, but a little less scenic, just follow Victoria Street from the station north to the water. Alternatively the 311 bus links Woolloomooloo, Kings Cross, Darlinghurst Road, Oxford Street and Railway Square every 15 minutes or so. If you are driving, you can park in The Domain car park, which is a short walk away, or cruise around the back streets if you are feeling lucky.
Moore Park has a frequent bus service from the city. Consider the Metrobus 10, which leaves Town Hall every 10 minutes or so. The 392, 394, and 396 all continue from Oxford Street along Moore Park. You can buy a combined train/bus ticket from any station to Moore Park. During events extra buses run to Moore Park from Central Station. These buses leave from near the Chalmers St exit. These buses do not accept Multi tickets, but do except combined train/bus tickets to Moore Park. During events you may want to consider just walking from Central - you will see many people doing the same, the walk will take around 30 minutes. There is a multi-storey parking lot at Fox Studios (The Entertainment Quarter) which sometimes offers free parking for 3 hours, but charges a flat fee during events. Traffic around the area can be congested during events.

To get around the area, most locals walk. Expect to see lots of other pedestrians around Oxford St, William St and Darlinghurst Road most times of the day and night.
Kings Cross can be a jam for cars both in peak hours on weekdays, and late at night.
Almost everywhere has either limited parking (one to two hours) or parking meters. Expect to pay for parking if you drive. Moore Park has three hours free parking, except during sporting or large entertainment events, when you can expect to pay a larger flat fee.

Museums and galleries

• Australian Museum

  phone: +61 2 9320 6000
  address: 1 William St
  With an international reputation in the fields of natural history and indigenous studies research, community programs and exhibitions, the Australian Museum was established as Australia's first museum in 1827 with unique and extensive collections of natural science and cultural artefacts. The skeleton room, displaying hundreds of animal skeletons, including a blue whale hanging from the roof, is an attraction in itself. There is a cafe next to the entrance that can be accessed without requiring payment for admission to the main exhibition area.

• National Art School Gallery

  address: Forbes Street, Darlinghurst
  The National Art School is housed in a beautiful sandstone prison precinct built in the 1840s.

• Australian Centre for Photography

  phone: +61 2 9332 1455
  address: 257 Oxford Street, Paddington
  ACP established in 1973. The ACP initiated the first major retrospectives of work by photographers such as Max Dupain, Olive Cotton and Merv Bishop, and organised the early public displays of photographs by Bill Henson, Tracey Moffatt, William Yang and Trent Parke and has presented works by international photo-artists such as Bernd & Hilla Becher, Manuel Alvarez Bravo, Larry Clark, Joan Fontcuberta, Nan Goldin, Roni Horn, George Platt Lynes, Ralph Eugene Meatyard, Duane Michals, Pierre Molinier, Erwin Olaf, Martin Parr, Man Ray, Cindy Sherman, Wolfgang Tillmans and William Wegman.

• Sydney Jewish Museum

  phone: +61 2 9360 7999
  address: 148 Darlinghurst Road, Darlinghurst

Please see the City Centre article for more comprehensive details on The Art Gallery of New South Wales and other nearby public Art Galleries and Museums
The City East precinct is home to an extensive range of private art galleries with a high concentration in the Paddington area.

• King Street Gallery on William

  phone: +61 2 9360 9727
  address: 177 William St, Darlinghurst
  King Street Gallery on William represents a range of Australian artists, and features changing exhibitions throughout the year.

• Roslyn Oxley9 Gallery

  phone: +61 2 9331 1919
  address: 8 Soudan Lane, Paddington
  The gallery represents over 30 artists, who have had significant shows and whose works are held in major collections nationally and internationally. This gallery has supported work that is challenging and at the forefront of contemporary art practice.

• Blender Gallery

  phone: +61 2 9380 7080
  address: 16 Elizabeth Street, Paddington
  Exhibition space over several levels in a typical Paddington terrace. Blender is an outlet for Australian and international photographers, collectors and enthusiasts.

• Brettt Whiteley Studio

  phone: +61 2 9225 1892 (M-F), +61 2 9225 1881 (Th-Su)
  address: 2 Raper Street, Surry Hills
  Studio of the late Brett Whiteley is now an art museum that is managed by the Art Gallery of New South Wales. The museum is a tribute to the life of Brett Whiteley, considered by many to be one of Australia's most gifted, best known and controversial artists.

• Ray Hughes Gallery

  phone: +61 2 9698 3200
  address: 270 Devonshire Street, Surry Hills
  This established gallery has a wide range of interesting work from many artists spanning several cultures and styles including works on paper, canvas and others.

Other attractions

• El Alamein Fountain

  address: Fitzroy Gardens entrance
  Designed by Robert Woodward and erected in 1961 as a memorial to the Ninth Division during World War II. The fountain has a "dandelion head" sphere of mist at the top of a tall stem and has been imitated globally on many occasions. A favourite meeting place for many travellers and locals.

• Paddington Reservoir Gardens

  address: Cnr Oxford St and Oatley Rd, Paddington
  Interestingly designed gardens built in the old reservoir.

• Elizabeth Bay House

  phone: +61 2 9356 3022
  address: 7 Onslow Avenue, Elizabeth Bay
  Built between 1835-1839 and once "the finest house in the colony", this colonial mansion preserves the lifestyle of some of Sydney's wealthiest early settlers, Colonial Secretary Alexander Macleay and his family. Designed by the most fashionable and accomplished architect of the day, John Verge, Elizabeth Bay House is a superb example of colonial architecture and is elegantly and authentically furnished in the style of 1839–1845. Guided tours are available on request.

Parks

Although the district is densely populated and space is certainly at a premium, there are parks and open spaces around.

• Moore Park

  phone: +61 2 9339 6699, +61 412 718 611 (24-hour Ranger assistance)
  To the south east corner of this part of Sydney, this 115-hectare open park area has sport fields used by local the local community, bike and walking tracks run through the park area and Kippax Lake, a small lake near the sports stadiums is a pleasant area for picnicking or relaxing on days without major functions in the adjoining facilities. There is one gas-operated barbecue on the western side of Moore Park near South Dowling Street. This park is part of a green zone connecting thru to the Centennial Park a little further to the east and the greater Moore Park area to the South east. Moore park adjoins the Sydney Football Stadium, the Sydney Cricket Ground and the Fox Studios entertainment quarter. This section of the greater Moore Park area often hosts large performance events such as concerts, exhibitions and Big Tent Circus events.

• Rushcutters Bay Park

  address: Adjacent to Royal Cruising Yacht Club and extensive private mooring facilities at Rushcutters bay
  Busy on weekends with walkers, people exercising their dogs, picnickers and local people playing informal ball games. The park has a cafe located toward the centre near the water that serves light meals, drinks and other refreshments.

• Green Park

  address: 301 Darlinghurst Rd, Darlinghurst
  A small pleasant area just opposite St Vincents hospital.

• Beare Park

  address: Ithaca Rd, Elizabeth Bay
  A picturesque spot right on the Harbour on Elizabeth Bay, this is a popular place for picnics and a bit of inner-city sunbathing.

• Trumper Park Oval

  address: Cnr Glenmore Road and Hampden Street, Paddington
  Primarily used for cricket (turf pitch), Trumper Park is also a good quiet spot to relax or get some sun. Between Edgecliff railway station and Trumper Park there is a bushy sloping area where it is possible to camp discreetly away from any public gaze. The toilets in Trumper Park are opened at 5AM. The shops around Edgecliff Railway station have a great range of good value high quality groceries.

• Embarkation Park

  address: Victoria Street, Potts Point
  Great views of the CBD skyline and parts of the harbour. This is one the most popular places in the Inner East to watch the New Years Eve fireworks shows. The park may be locked at night.

Some of Sydney's other large and popular parks and gardens lie just beyond the boundaries of the district. The Royal Botanic Gardens, Domain and Hyde Park form part of the north-western boundary of the district and lie in the City Centre. Centennial Park and the 'greater' Moore Park area is just to the south-east of the district in the Eastern Suburbs.

Events

• Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi GrasAustralia's biggest celebration of gay and lesbian culture, the Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras comprises a two-week festival including a fair, exhibitions, fundraising events and parties. The first Mardi Gras was held in 1978, more as a political demonstration. However over the years following it has developed into a large scale cultural festival. The Mardi Gras season culminates in a colourful night-time street parade which winds it's way up Oxford St to Taylor Square before turning down Flinders St, and ending up at the Showgrounds. The all-night party that follows the parade is a Sydney institution.

Other attractions

• Oxford St Rock and Roll Walk of Fame

  address: Oxford St, Darlinghurst & Paddington
  Download the podcast from the City of Sydney website and do a walking tour of past and present landmarks from the Sydney rock'n'roll scene.

• Entertainment Quarter

  address: 122 Lang Road, Moore Park
  Contains an open air shopping strip, bars and cafes, weekend markets, cinemas, and a number of live television events. It is next to Fox Studios, which is an active film studio and not open to the public. However the nearby entertainment facilities include cinemas, restaurants, bars and promenade areas that are open to the public. There is no entrance charge to access the entertainment quarter. Ample parking in multi-storey carpark.

• Darlinghurst Gaol

  address: Forbes and Liverpool streets, Darlinghurst
  Darlinghurst Gaol was founded in 1822, and is a complex of sandstone penal buildings which now house the National Art School. The complex features several early 19th century sandstone buildings, including a central circular watchtower. There is no signage but the complex is free and open to visitors during business hours. If the large gate on Forbes St is closed, try the gate on Liverpool St. Captain Moonlight, a bushranger, was the last man to be hanged in NSW, outside Darlinghurst Gaol on Forbes St.

Movies and theatre

• Chauvel

  address: Oxford St, Paddington
  Two cinemas in the old Paddington Town Hall. Focus on alternative and arthouse.

• Palace Verona

  address: 3a & 17 Oxford St, Paddington
  Cinema on Oxford St focussing on arthouse and foreign films.

• Hoyts Entertainment Quarter

  phone: +61 2 9332 1633
  address: Building 215, Entertainment quarter, Lang Rd, Moore Park
  Cinema experiences and films range from international to local film festivals. Includes IMAX 3D Hollywood blockbusters and documentaries. Facilities for wheelchair-users and hearing-impaired.

• Belvoir Street Theatre

  phone: +61 2 9699 3444
  address: 25, Belvoir Street, Surry Hills
  Classical and contemporary stageplays.

• Griffin Theatre Company

  phone: +61 2 9361 3817
  address: 10, Nimrod Street, Kings Cross
  New Australian stageplays.

Live music

There are numerous live music venues scattered throughout the inner east area, catering to all sorts of music from local up-and-coming bands to international touring acts.

• Hordern Pavilion

  address: The Entertainment Quarter, Lang Rd, Moore Park
  With a capacity of up towards 10,000, the Hordern is a common choice for touring bands. It has played host to the likes of Sigur Ros, Interpol and many others. See website for upcoming shows.

• Oxford Art Factory

  address: 38-46 Oxford St, Darlinghurst
  Indie and underground venue, capacity 500-600.

Swim

Sydney is well known for its beach culture but people do not have to go all the way to the coast to have a swim. There is a long tradition of Public baths in Sydney. Some of the old ones remain, such as at North Sydney at the base of the Sydney Harbour Bridge next to the Luna Park entrance. Several of these Public baths or swimming centres are directly adjacent to the City east precinct or are within walking distance.

• Cook and Phillip Park Aquatic and Fitness Centre

  phone: +61 2 93260444, +61 2 9356 3877
  address: 4 College St, Corner William St, East Sydney
  Centre provides world-class swimming, fitness, sporting and recreational facilities including a gym. Sited within a picturesque parkland setting. Swimming facilities include an eight-lane 50-m heated indoor pool and a wave machine.

• Andrew (Boy) Charlton Pool

  address: 1C Mrs Macquaries Rd, The Domain,
  A famous yet paradoxically little known location overlooking Wooloomoloo bay and near to the Botanic gardens. It was a popular swimming location with Indigenous Aborigines before the arrival of Europeans in Australia. The pool was also the venue for the sporting triumphs of Australian swimming legend Andrew Boy Charlton in the 1920s and is believed to be the birthplace of the Australian Crawl or freestyle swimming stroke.
• City of Sydney swimming centres are closed on Good Friday and Christmas Day.

Sports fixtures

Moore Park is one of the main sporting precincts in Sydney. Most weekends during winter will feature games of any one the three football codes played in Sydney. Cricket and soccer are played in summer.
The Sydney Football Stadium, known commercially as Allianz Stadium, is a rectangular pitch catering for rugby league, rugby union and soccer, while right next door the Sydney Cricket Ground hosts cricket and Australian Rules. A number of clubs are based at Moore Park:

• Sydney RoostersPlay in the National Rugby League. Games from March to September, with possible "finals series" (local term for playoff) matches extending as late as October.

• New South Wales Waratahs

  address: Volvo Centre, Allianz Stadium
  Play in the Super Rugby competition in rugby union. Games from February to July, with possible finals series matches extending as late as August.

• Sydney SwansPlay in the Australian Football League. Games from March to September.

• Sydney F.C. play in the A-League soccer competition during summer.

Oxford Street

Home to a huge range of boutique shopping, fashion, quirky gift stores, book shops, and everything in between. Great for an afternoon's window shopping and casual discovery. Max out your credit card at one of the many higher end clothing and accessory shops running down Oxford Street. Featuring some of Australia's most popular brands and designers - Sass and Bide, Lisa Ho, Morrissey, Scanlan and Theodore and Kitten. Be sure to explore the side streets such as Elizabeth St and especially William St for the newer, funkier labels such as Ginger and Smart and the ever present Collette Dinnigan.

• Paddington Fresh

  phone: +61 2 9380 9988
  address: 242 Oxford St
  Fresh produce markets.

• Paddington Markets

  address: 395 Oxford St
  Every Saturday 10AM-5PM. Held in the grounds of Paddington Uniting Church, just off Oxford St. Paddington Markets has been in operation since 1973 and is a stylish stall venue for designers, jewellers and craftsmen. Not many true bargains to be had, but perfect for unusual gifts and clothing, as well as some mainstream items. Fantastic for people-watching.

• The Bookshop

  phone: +61 2 9331 1103
  address: 207 Oxford St
  Trading for over 20 years, the Bookshop is one of Sydney's premier retailers of gay and lesbian books, magazines, calendars and DVDs. Great for a browse.

Crown Street, Bourke Street, South Dowling Street

At the 'off' Oxford Street end of these three streets can be found a developing precinct of some eclectic and more edgy shops than many of those on the Darlinghurst section of Oxford Street.

• Wheels and Doll Babies

  address: Crown St, Surry Hills/Darlinghurst
  Edgy biker and hooker-style alt club and street clothing.

Kings Cross

• Aperitif

  phone: +61 2 9357 4729
  address: 7 Kellett St, Kings Cross
  Hidden away in a leafy corner of Kings Cross. With the kitchen open until 2AM most nights of the week, this is one of the few options in Sydney for a late night meal that doesn't involve standing and looking up while ordering. Spanish menu featuring tapas and other plates best for sharing.

• Bootleg Bar and Italian Food

  phone: +61 2 9361 3884
  address: 175 Victoria St, Potts Point
  Good simple Italian food in cosy but trendy surrounds. Eat or just enjoy a drink or two at the bar.

Darlinghurst & East Sydney

There are two main eating strips in the Darlinghurst & East Sydney area. Victoria St in Darlinghurst is home to a good array of quality restaurants for all budgets. East Sydney is Sydney's original Little Italy and many Italian restaurants are to be found on and around Stanley St.

• A Tavola

  phone: +61 2 9331 7871
  address: 348 Victoria St, Darlinghurst
  Italian pasta restaurant. Patrons sit at a huge communal table which dominates the room. Good food and service.

• Almond Bar

  phone: +61 2 9380 5318
  address: 379 Liverpool St, Darlinghurst
  Funky Middle Eastern restaurant reflecting the Syrian background of the owners. Carol and Sharon Salloum are warm and charming hosts.

• Bar Reggio

  phone: +61 2 9332 1129
  address: 135 Crown St, East Sydney
  Popular East Sydney pizza and pasta restaurant from early evening until late at night. Can be very noisy, but lots of fun for larger groups.

• Bill and Toni's

  phone: +61 2 9360 4702
  address: 74 Stanley St, East Sydney
  One of the original restaurants of Little Italy on Stanley St. Pastas, but the schnitzel with cheese is a highlight. Have your post-prandial coffee and gelato or cake in the San Siro coffee lounge downstairs.

• Buffalo Dining Club

  phone: +61 2 9332 4052
  address: 116 Surrey St, Darlinghurst
  A cosy Italian restaurant that fills up quickly and for good reason too. The menu is small enough to fit on a chalkboard, though the waitstaff will walk you through it anyway. A meal usually starts off with cheeses such as buffalo and burrata paired off with side dishes, and a selection of cured meats like beef carpaccio. The star is their cacio e pepe, a simple dish of spaghetti, cheese and pepper, mixed together in a giant Parmesan wheel right at your table.

• The Original Balkan Restaurant

  phone: +61 2 9331 7670
  address: 249 Crown St, Darlinghurst
  Very popular family-run Croatian restaurant specialising in grilled meats and seafood. The Balkan has been a Darlinghurst stalwart for over 40 years.

• Thada Thai Cuisine

  phone: +61 2 9360 6455
  address: 245 Victoria St, Darlinghurst
  Thai food that's always fresh, good and quick. Takeaway or eat in the casual and bustling restaurant. One of several Thai places in the immediate vicinity.

• The Bunker

  address: 399 Liverpool St, Darlinghurst
  Tiny cafe in the middle of Darlinghurst, coffee, snacks, breakfast and lunch.

• Tigerbakers Cafe

  address: 292 Victoria St, Darlinghurst
  Relaxed and welcoming. The walls and tables feature the work of local artists and are constantly changing.

• Tropicana Caffe

  address: 227 Victoria St, Darlinghurst
  A Sydney institution, with Ferrari-driving Eastern suburbs socialites rubbing shoulders with taxi drivers. Breakfasts, foccacias, salads, pastas, main dishes, cakes and coffee. The Tropfest short film festival started in this cafe in 1993. Decide what you want from the menu board first, spot a free table and tell the cashier your table number when you order and pay.

It's also worth having a wander to the 'Paddo' Five Ways which is north of Oxford St in central Paddington. It's a loosely Parisian-inspired collection of cafes and restaurants nestled among five corners which meet at one roundabout. Coffee at Heeley's is highly recommended.

Woolloomooloo

The finger wharf at Woolloomooloo is home to some of the most exclusive (and pricey) restaurants in the district. Lunch on the wharf is a favourite of Sydney's high-flying banking and business types, as well as the occasional media or sporting celebrity. Beautiful views of the Sydney skyline and Woolloomooloo Bay.

• Akis

  address: Woolloomooloo Wharf
  Fine Indian food.

• China Doll

  address: Woolloomooloo Wharf
  Asian/Chinese cuisine.

• Harry's Cafe de WheelsA piece of Sydney history, right on the water at Woolloomooloo. Stand up against the van, and grab a pie, peas and mash. There are another couple of franchises open now, in Capitol Square and at the airport. Ignore them, this is the original, and it isn't about the pies. Open early, and late.

• Kingsleys

  address: Woolloomooloo Wharf
  Surf'n'turf. Don't forget your expense card.

Surry Hills

There are a huge number of restaurants on Crown St between Oxford and Cleveland Sts and down some of the side and parallel streets like Foveaux St and Bourke St. Quality tends to be pretty good as rents are high and bad/unpopular places tend to close down quickly.
There are also a number of cheap but tasty South Indian restaurants on Cleveland St between Bourke and Crown Sts.

• Bills

  phone: +61 2 9360 4762
  address: 359 Crown St, Surry Hills
  Cafe renowned for its scrambled eggs, sweet corn fritters and ricotta hotcakes. A Sydney favourite when it comes to brunches. Also has branches in Darlinghurst (433 Liverpool St) and Woollahra (Queens Court, 118 Queen St)

• Billy Kwong

  phone: +61 2 9332 3300
  address: 3/355 Crown St, Surry Hills
  The signature restaurant from TV chef Kylie Kwong, this is definitely a cut above most other Chinese restaurants. Produce is seasonal and mostly organic. No bookings, so get there at 5:45PM to line up or leave your mobile number and have a drink or two at the Dolphin hotel across the road.

• House

  phone: +61 2 9280 0364
  address: 202-210 Elizabeth St, Surry Hills
  Authentic north-eastern (Issan) Thai cuisine. There is a nice outdoor area and an adjacent pub where you can wait for your table.

• Jazushi

  phone: +61 2 9699 8977
  address: 145 Devonshire St, Surry Hills
  Japanese and European food. There's an open air bar up from the restaurant section with nice seating although a limited selection.

• Maya Sweet House

  phone: +61 2 9699 8663
  address: 470 Cleveland St, Surry Hills
  Delicious and cheap South Indian vegetarian restaurant that specialises in thalis, dosas, idlis and other treats. Also has a good range of Indian sweets such as gulab jamun and a range of burfis. There is a tandoori (ie. non-vegetarian) restaurant upstairs.

• Toko Restaurant & Bar

  phone: +61 2 9357 6100
  address: 490 Crown St, Surry Hills
  A good local sushi restaurant. The dishes are light and tasty, but not particularly large. Beautifully fitted-out interior. They don't accept dinner bookings so arrive early or be prepared to spend up to 1 hr at the bar on busy nights.

Kings Cross

Kings Cross is the red-light district, but don't let that put you off it if that is not your scene. There are many pubs and nightclubs here, but it is still strip clubs that are the most prominent. There are brothels and some street prostitution as well. The strip clubs aren't the sort of place you would go for a drink and regard the entertainment is a sideshow. They also tend to be a bit dingy, where the nightclubs and pubs in the area generally are bright, with a vibe. Due to the licensing laws and the state government's reaction to recent fatal brawls, the drinks on sale are limited and expensive, lockouts occur at 1:30AM and last drinks is at 3AM.

• El Rocco/Bar Me

  address: 22/154 Brougham St
  Sydney's oldest jazz cellar once played host to the likes of Sarah Vaughan and Frank Sinatra. Now it has a small friendly bar upstairs and a downstairs room with regular performances of music, cabaret and comedy. Get some pizza from Bash, the Syrian guy next door.

Woolloomooloo

• The East Sydney Hotel

  phone: +61 2 9358 1975
  address: Cnr of Crown & Cathedral Sts, Woolloomooloo
  They call themselves the last "Country Pub" in Sydney and are proud to have no poker machines in the building. Nothing fancy here, but the place is relaxed and down-to-earth. Good drinking.

• The Tilbury Hotel

  phone: +61 2 9368 1955
  address: 12–18 Nicholson St, Woolloomooloo
  A popular spot with the CBD after-work crowd during the week, while on weekends the upstairs balcony is a good place to enjoy some quiet(ish) drinks and music. Food is served in the contemporary style, Italian restaurant downstairs or eat at the bar from the cafe menu.

Oxford Street

Nightclubs

• ARQ

  address: 16 Flinders St
  One of the premier gay night clubs in town. Upstairs features trance and hard house on F, Sa and Su, while downstairs has funkier music and shows on Thurs and Sun nights. The venue often has short live performances in the middle of the night. Usually open from 10PM-dawn, often still going at 10AM. The last Friday of every month, Arq hosts on of Sydney's biggest lesbian nights, named Moist.

• The Midnight Shift

  address: 85 Oxford St
  Gay venue that has a leather bar upstairs, and a bar downstairs. The downstairs bar is open daily and hosts popular drag shows on Wed-Sun. Upstairs has a cover charge and downstairs is free.

• The Stonewall Hotel

  address: 175 Oxford St
  Drag shows, dancing and cocktails. Spread across 3 floors. The bottom floor tends to play the camp 1980s/90s hits and hosts the drag shows, whereas the top two floors play dancier music.

Bars and pubs

• The Columbian Hotel

  address: 117 Oxford St
  One of the most popular gay bars in the area, especially with straight people. The beautiful people sit at the open table facing the street to be seen.
• The Oxford Hotel, On the corner of Oxford and Burke St is a great place to visit. The basement contains Gilligan's, home to the famous Oxford Smash cocktail.

• Palms

  address: 124 Oxford St
  Gay bar/dancing area underground. Music is anywhere between the 1970s and today. Attracts a mixed, generally friendly and unpretentious crowd. Very small, so expect long queues on Saturdays.

Darlinghurst & East Sydney

• Royal Sovereign Hotel

  phone: +61 2 9331 3672
  address: 306 Liverpool St, Darlinghurst
  Trendy retro-styled pub with a couple of bars and a bottle shop. A good place for a quiet drink or to get a big night started. There is an outdoor area with a bar on the first floor.

• The Green Park Hotel

  phone: +61 2 9380 5311
  address: 360 Victoria St, Darlinghurst
  Popular neighbourhood bar, attracts a diverse clientele of locals, staff from the nearby St Vincent's Hospital, as well as gay guys. Burgers from a local restaurant, The Burger Joint, can be ordered at the bar.

Paddington

• The London Tavern

  phone: +61 2 9331 3200
  address: 85 Underwood St, Paddington
  Cosy local favourite tucked away in amongst the terrace houses of Paddington.

• Royal Hotel

  phone: +61 2 9331 2604
  address: 237 Glenmore Rd, Paddington
  Located in a prime position at the Paddo Fiveways, the Royal is a good spot for a drink before having a meal at one of the surrounding restaurants, or at the hotel.

The area hosts some of Sydney's most prestigious hotels, and some of the less desirable places! The Sydney landmark, the Boulevard Hotel is near the Cross, on William Street. This area is the hotspot for backpackers in Sydney - Hostel joints are everywhere and bring a wonderful influx of young independent travellers to the area which really add to the vibrance. There are also a few mid-range hotels scattered around.

Kings Cross

The Kings Cross area is one of the main backpacker hubs in Sydney. The majority of the backpacker hostels around the Victoria St area will not accept travellers with Australian passports. Some won't accept New Zealand travellers or those above a certain age.

• Jolly Swagman Backpackers Sydney Hostel

  address: 27 Orwell St, Kings Cross
  Safe and clean accommodation with free breakfast, pick up, 24-hr internet access. Friendly staff, but fussy - no refunds or transfers, threaten to throw out your possessions if not left on the bed. Will arrange Sydney day tours and travel including bus passes and east coast packages.

• Funkhouse Backpackers

  address: 23 Darlinghurst Rd, Kings Cross
  Upbeat hostel famous for its friendly social atmosphere and funky murals.

• Lido Suites

  address: 2 Roslyn St, Kings Cross
  Studio rooms with basic kitchenettes.

• Vibe Hotel Rushcutters

  phone: +61 2 8353 8988
  address: 100 Bayswater Rd, Rushcutters Bay
  Modern hotel with well appointed rooms, next to a park with good access to the city centre, walking distance from Kings Cross and Sydney Cruising Yacht Club at Rushcutters Bay, large secure car park under hotel, has a rooftop swimming pool with a view of Sydney Harbour.

Oxford Street

• Sullivans Hotel

  phone: +61 2 9361 0211
  address: 21 Oxford St Paddington
  Visitors suggest trying to get a courtyard facing room, as those facing Oxford St can be noisy

Surry Hills

• The Sebel Surry Hills Sydney

  phone: +61 2 9289 0000
  address: 28 Albion St, Surry Hills

• Cambridge Sydney Hotel

  phone: +61 2 9212 1111
  address: 212 Riley St, Surry Hills

Australia Post

• Post Office

  address: 50-58 Macleay St, Potts Point

• Post Office

  address: Suite 1 Gnd Flr 1 Oxford St. Darlinghurst

• Post Office

  address: 246 Oxford St, Paddington 2021

Contact number: Australian national contact: 13 7678, International contact +61 3 8847 9045

Fitness

• City Gym Sydney, 107–113 Crown St, East Sydney. Heading north out of Darlinghurst is one of the premier fitness and bodybuilding gyms in East Sydney.

• Fitness First

  address: 63 Oxford St, Darlinghurst

Yoga

Surry Hills and Paddington have many yoga centres and training facilities.

• Body Mind Life

  phone: +61 2 9211 4111
  address: Level 1, 84 Mary St, Surry Hills
  Vinyasa Yoga integrates yoga postures and breath to effect your body, mind and spirit.

• Ashtanga Yoga

  phone: +61 29360 7602
  address: 17 Oxford St, Paddington

• Bikrams Yoga College of India

  phone: +61 2 9356 4999, +61 419 232990 (mobile)
  address: 256 Crown St, Darlinghurst
  Created to build a strong body and nervous system, classes are conducted in a room heated to 38 °C.

Health

For a serious medical emergency you should call 000 from any phone for immediate attention of the emergency services.

• Darlinghurst Medical Centre

  phone: +61 2 8302 1111
  address: 213-219 Darlinghurst Rd, Darlinghurst
  24-hour medical clinic a few minutes walk south of Kings Cross down Darlinghurst Rd. General practitioners, minor accident/emergency treatment and other services. No appointments.

• St Vincent's Hospital

  phone: +61 2 8382 1111
  address: Victoria St, Darlinghurst
  NSW Health Department.

• Sydney Children's Hospital

  phone: +61 2 9382 1111
  address: High St, Randwick
  NSW Health Department. Please see Eastern suburbs article for more detail including Royal Hospital for Women, Randwich for maternity care

• Sydney Hospital and Sydney Eye Hospital

  phone: +61 2 9382 7111
  address: Macquarie St
  NSW Health Department.

Kings Cross is frequented by drug-users, sex-workers and drinkers, all of whom influence the general vibe of the locale. The area is lively, well lit and always full of travellers and residents going about their business all days and nights of the week. Most people there don't cause problems. Ignore the touts and stay out of fights. Be careful in the less well-lit laneways and alleys as, although they are rare, muggings and violence do occur. The area is popular with large groups of men, and sexist leers and remarks are not uncommon.
Be a little careful on Friday and Saturday nights along Oxford Street, particularly the stretch from around Taylor Square to Liverpool St/College St. There are a lot of late-night venues here and the area is very popular for bucks' parties and the like. If you keep to yourself and avoid large groups of males, it's very unlikely that you'll find trouble.
Surry Hills gets its share of drunks as well at night, so be aware of alcohol-fueled violence. During the day it has a light, residential feel, and you should have no problems. At night there are quiet laneways, and overall the area is quiet. Keep to the main roads.
Problems are unusual at Moore Park. Sporting events and concerts in Sydney tend to be convivial, with any rivalries limited purely to banter.
Call 000 for immediate emergency services assistance or 131444 for NSW Police Service, non-emergencies.

• Surry Hills Police Station

  phone: +61 2 9265 4144
  address: 151-241 Goulburn St, Surry Hills
• Kings Cross Police Station is located close to the El Alamein Fountain in Fitzroy Gardens.

The City East area is a wonderful place to stay as it is central to so many of Sydney's attractions and gives access to transport such as rail and bus services to explore further afield. It is also close to the airport making it an easy destination for an international or interstate arrival or departure. Many attractions are within walking distance, including the Central Business District, Sydney Opera House and Sydney Harbour. The inner Sydney area, often referred to as the 'Inner City' is a great place to walk with many parks and gardens to take a rest in and most areas of the city and nearby inner city areas have cafes, bars and restaurants in abundance to help keep thirst and hunger at bay.
City Centre The busy centre of government and finance, but also home to many famous attractions. The city has many fine restaurants, museums and art galleries, the botanic gardens and the Domain, the Conservatory of Music, a large public library and plentiful shopping for all tastes and budgets.
The Rocks Just to the west of Circular Quay on the headland that provides the city end to the Sydney Harbour Bridge. Look west toward the inner harbour Goat island and the old maritime suburb of Balmain and east toward the Opera House and the small island of Fort Denison. Now a cosmopolitan area with many tourist oriented shops, bars and an at times rowdy nightlife in some parts. The Rocks includes the first colonial village of Sydney, many old workers' cottages and the iconic Harbour Bridge at the far end on Millers Point.
Darling Harbour This precinct is home to an extensive leisure and entertainment area immediately to the west of the Central Business District (CBD). See restaurants, boardwalks, aquariums, wildlife, and museums including Australian National Maritime Museum all by foot or above by monorail.
City South The Haymarket, Chinatown and Central Station area is home to markets, cafes, Chinese culture and cuisine, and some cheaper accommodation and shopping.
Eastern Suburbs For more shopping look at Double Bay in the shopping quarter toward the water for upmarket boutiques and other shops and also along New South Head Road. Also Woollahra, Rose Bay and further on to Vaucluse for shopping restaurants, cafes and historical attractions.
City West The fish markets, Powerhouse Museum, find a maritime pub for a drink, visit the Star City Casino and the old docks area of the inner west containing art galleries, exhibition spaces, apartments and restaurants.