Eat in Newtown, Sydney

Bella Brutta ★ 4.5

Sicilian-leaning pizza on King Street, Newtown, Sydney. Long fermented dough, tinned-fish toppings, a list of negronis and aperitivos. Open Tue-Sun.

SignatureCapricciosa pizza, Pizza diavola, Soft serve

Ante ★ 4.7

Japanese sake bar on Wilson Street, Newtown, Sydney. Kaiseki-style seasonal plates pair with one of the country's deepest sake-by-the-glass lists.

SignatureOtsumami snacks, House-made tofu, Seasonal sashimi

South End ★ 4.7

Hussein Sarhan and Alex Tong's neighbourhood bistro on King Street, Newtown, Sydney. The ex-Fred's chef runs a tight, seasonal European menu.

SignatureSteak tartare, Pasta of the day, Wood-roasted fish

Cafe Paci ★ 4.6

Pasi Petanen's two-hat Finnish-meets-Asian room on King Street in Newtown, Sydney. Set menu only, snacks-to-dessert with sharp matched wines.

Book2 to 3 weeks ahead

Mary's ★ 4.1

Mary's pub burger on Mary Street, Newtown, Sydney. Cheeseburgers, fried chicken and mac and cheese in a former church-turned-rock-bar. Daily till late.

OrderThe Mary's cheeseburger and a side of fried chicken.

TipLoud room; sit upstairs if you want conversation.

Vineria Luisa ★ 4.3

Italian wine bar on Enmore Road in Newtown, Sydney. Pasta, aperitivo, a small-producer Italian wine list curated by the team behind Marta and Cucina.

OrderPasta of the day and a glass of Etna Rosso.

TipWalk-ins at the bar; book ahead for the tables on Friday and Saturday.

Osteria Mucca ★ 4.3

Old-school trattoria on Australia Street, Newtown, Sydney. Hand-rolled pasta, nose-to-tail Italian cooking, low-lit room from the Pasian & Daughters group.

OrderPasta of the day and vitello tonnato.

TipWalk-ins at the bar; bookings open three weeks ahead Walk-ins usually OK.

Haven Specialty Coffee ★ 4.5

Newtown specialty coffee on King Street, Sydney. Daily roast rotation, simple toasted-sandwich menu, a steady commuter and student lineup before 9am.

DrinkLong black

Cuckoo Callay ★ 4.1

Newtown station-platform cafe in a heritage 1908 ticket-hall on King Street, Sydney. Regular booking for Sydney's brunch and specialty-coffee scene.

DrinkMocha

Black Star Pastry ★ 4.4

Black Star Pastry's Newtown original on Australia Street, Sydney since 2008. Strawberry watermelon cake, strong pastry program, weekend queues from open.

Worth the queueStrawberry watermelon cake

Campos Coffee ★ 4.3

Campos's original Newtown roastery on Missenden Road, Sydney. Specialty-coffee roastery and cafe; single-origin pour-overs and house espresso blends.

BeansColombia, Ethiopia, Kenya, Rwanda

BrewsEspresso, Filter, Whole bean retail, Subscription

P&V Wine + Liquor Merchants ★ 4.5

Bottle shop and bar on Enmore Road, Newtown, Sydney. Mike Bennie and Lou Dowling's natural-wine retail by day, by-the-glass and pintxos by night.

PourHunter Valley semillon

WineNatural and minimal-intervention Australian

FoodBar snacks and tinned fish

Vermuteria ★ 4.0

Vermouth and sherry bar on King Street, Newtown, Sydney. Tinned-fish pintxos, Spanish-leaning tapas and a list of 40+ vermouths by the glass.

PourManzanilla sherry flight

WineVermouth, sherry, fortified wines

FoodSpanish tapas

Earl's Juke Joint ★ 4.4

Cocktail bar behind the old Betta Meats butcher facade on King Street, Newtown, Sydney, named after drummer Earl Palmer; no jukebox, a curated playlist.

DrinkHouse cocktails

FoodSnacks

Black Star Strawberry Watermelon Cake ★ 4.4

Black Star Pastry's landmark strawberry watermelon cake at the Newtown counter, Sydney. Rose-syrup soaked watermelon, pistachio crumb, cream layers.

TryStrawberry watermelon cake slice

Young Henrys ★ 4.8

Newtown craft brewery on Wilford Street, Sydney. The Newtowner pale ale is the menu signature; street-art tank room and a year-round food-truck rotation.

Newtowner Bar by Young Henrys ★ 4.0

Newtowner pub taproom on Enmore Road, Newtown, Sydney. Young Henrys' second venue, the original brewery's beers on tap, schnitzel and a pub feed.

Local Sauce Newtown Chewtown Food and Street Art Tour ★ 4.7

Newtown food and street art walking tour from Local Sauce Tours. King Street tastings across the inner west, small groups, walk-in friendly weeknights.

Joe's Tavern ★ 4.4

Joe's Tavern is newtown bar room with a tiny kitchen out the back doing nose-to-tail italian plates and natural wine for 25 seats, sister to bella brutta.

Why locals goNewtown bar room with a tiny kitchen out the back doing nose-to-tail Italian plates and natural wine for 25 seats, sister to Bella Brutta.

TipWalk-ins only; sit at the bar to watch the kitchen line directly.

Kolkata Social ★ 4.2

Kolkata Social is bengali street-food cafe on king street, newtown, sydney that the inner-west missed for two years before the food press caught up.

Why locals goBengali street-food cafe on King Street, Newtown, Sydney that the inner-west missed for two years before the food press caught up.

TipOrder the kati roll and the kosha mangsho; it's a tight kitchen, takeaway moves faster.

Maeda Newtown ★ 4.2

Japanese-Australian brunch cafe on King Street, Newtown, Sydney. Katsu hamburg, karaage rolls, specialty matcha; walk-in only, kitchen closes 2:30pm.

OrderKatsu hamburg steak and the chicken karaage roll.

Mary's Newtown ★ 4.3

Pub burger on Mary Street, Newtown, Sydney. Cheeseburgers, fried chicken, mac and cheese in a former church-turned-rock-bar; kitchen runs to midnight.

TryCheeseburger and fried chicken

The Vanguard ★ 4.2

The Vanguard in Sydney's Newtown is the King Street live-music room and restaurant, booking jazz, rock, burlesque shows and DJ nights through the week.

TipDinner-and-show tickets include a meal and reserved seating; GA tickets are sometimes sold at the door.

Enmore Theatre ★ 4.4

Enmore Theatre in Sydney's Newtown is the Enmore Road hall that first opened in 1908 and now hosts touring rock, pop and comedy acts most weeks of the year.

TipIt is a short walk from Newtown station; book a parking spot ahead if you drive, as street parking is limited.

Earl's Juke Joint ★ 4.3

Earl's Juke Joint in Sydney's Newtown is the King Street cocktail bar hidden behind the old Betta Meats butcher facade, named after drummer Earl Palmer.

TipThere is no jukebox despite the name; happy hour runs 5pm to 7pm with $15 cocktails.

Bar Demo ★ 4.2

Bar Demo in Sydney's Newtown is the Enmore Road wine and cocktail bar where staff play whole vinyl albums start to finish on a custom-built sound system.

TipIt is walk-in only with salty snacks rather than a full menu; Monday is closed and Sunday ends at 10pm.

Pleasure Club ★ 4.1

Pleasure Club in Sydney's Newtown is the psychedelic basement bar on Wilson Street, holding a 4am licence for live music and DJ sets after midnight.

TipLive acts take over from the 1950s jukebox around 11pm; there's a pool table and hot dogs until the 4am close.