King St, Newtown, Sydney
What the heck do you have to do to get a coffee in the sun here at 9:00am? A few shops are opening up and a few coffee shops have diners inside but given the blessing of a warm winter’s morning it’s hard to find somewhere to sit and read the paper in the sun. Coffee is easyenough to find but most of the places are grab and go and the better ones I remember from previous visits still have stools on tables behind closed doors. Ah a Greek Church, there must be coffee near here! And there is, at Anise right across the road, not Greek but let’s go. The coffee is good and there is a free Wi-Fi Hotspot so that’s great!
St Stephens Church Newtown
So welcome to the non podcast walk around Newtown. During the day, a Sunday, not much happens before 11:00am. The shops aren’t open, or hardly any, and there is just no variety. I’m dissapointed! Last time I was in Newtown there were funky shops selling retro goods; homewares, music, clothing, North, South and East Asian handicrafts as well as many restaurants and cafes.
All gone, gone, gone! Well the restaurants and cafes are still here and lots of them, bars, some good I am told but overall not much to entice a visitor a little off the beaten track during the day time.
Mural Newtown Sydney
Newtown has become a restaurant strip. Signs point to markets on the 1st or last saturday of the month or something but I’m not here then and unlikely to be. I am not interested. i am a visitor, not a local.
So… well if you like going out in the evening to restaurants and bars Newtown looks like a good place to investigate, there are over 100 restaurants, cafes and bars listed on the Newtown Precinct site. The same site lists venues and entertainment. Everything from clubs to venues for major shows and theatres so check it out if you are looking for a night out in the inner Sydney village of Newtown.
Terrace Houses Newtown
So no podcast from me and no real attraction during the day for a visitors. It’s a nice place for a lazy walk around looking at some early architecture but that’s about it. It’s a shame how Sydney’s villages are either morphing into some world androgenous “shopping experience”, their individuality getting yuppied out of them, or becoming dominated by one thing as is the case in Newtown.
If you know where all the funky shopping experiences in Sydney have gone then let us know.
Next time you’re in town I’d recommend that you get off kingers and step down Australia Street. Barmuda or Black Star Pastry are both great early morning coffee spots. And once you’ve finished your coffee Living Room is a brilliant little craft/fashion/toy store.
As for nothing being open early on a sunday, I guess that’s just cultural. It’s a pub town- sunday morning is recovery time, not shopping time. But if you were after markets, you should have gone and checked out the Addison Rd markets in Marrickville, out the front of Reverse Garbage and the Bower.
Fair enough comment Kate but certainly Newtown has lost variety in the last few years.
I’m more concerned about erskineville- that place looks like a ghost town. Barely any of the shops are open for business at all.
I agree but I blame it on the rent on King Street. All the funky people have moved to South Newtown! Experimental shops usually don’t make the turnover to stay afloat when the rents go up. Its shame. Its not Paddington! people don’t have the same income. I see a problem now with South Newtown. The new development shops are still empty! apart from the rent you are required to do the internal fitout! small dealers would be backrupt before they start turning a profit. so its food and small chain stores I guess…. I hope not!
I’ve lived in Newtown since 1981. Back then half the shops in South Newtown were boarded up and leased as student accommodation. All the cool shops are now in South Newtown. North Newtown rents are too high for second hand shops etc.. And many locals are night owls including some of the shop owners so stay in bed and sleep in on the weekend like the rest of us. You can get breakfast all day in most of the cafes. Lou Jack’s is my favourite for a cafe lunch.
I think you need a refresh of this article. Head to St peters nod of king and revisit your steps. You will be surprised.