Newtown the underrated foodie paradise
Newtown is often mentioned in the same breath as hipsters, alternative lifestyles and graffiti, but not many know that Newtown is also a treasure trove of cafes and restaurants!
For the foodie in you looking for some good food and Instagram-worthy pictures, we’ve curated our top 15 reasons why you should head to Newtown this weekend to begin your very own food crawl!
-Brunch-
Foodies can start their day with a cuppa and the Australian favourite meal of the day – brunch.
1. Cuckoo Callay
You would never had imagined that there would be a café serving delicious brunch food inside a derelict tram building. Cuckoo Callay consistently serves exquisite food with a new menu from June 2015. This is one cafe with one of the most extensive brunch menus, and I love how they offer so many other dishes other than the usual Eggs Benedict and toast. That being said, they do whip up a mean 63 degrees egg.
For a sweet brunch, you can’t go wrong with Cap’n Jack (a pecan banana bread topped with brûléed banana, coffee toffee sauce, rum mascarpone, berries and toasted hazelnuts). For something savoury, try their Trout Pout (smoked trout fillet, potato, leek and fennel cake, grilled fennel, horseradish cream, sorrel and a 63 degrees egg) as well as their Everybody Loves Ramen (bacon and egg ramen noodles with a 63 degrees egg, speck, shitake mushrooms, bacon dashi and shallots). Trust us, you won’t regret starting your day with Cuckoo Callay.
Address: Newtown Railway station, Shop 324B Erskineville Road, Newtown NSW 2042
Opening Hours: Weekdays 6am to 4pm | Saturdays 8am to 4pm | Sundays 8am to 3pm
Website: here
2. Brewtown Newtown
Opened slightly more than a year ago, Brewtown Newtown has grown in popularity, earning a name for its brewnut (their version of the croissant-doughnut hybrid). Don’t forget though that Brewtown is also a micro roastery and brew bar, which means it also serves up really good coffee roasted in-house.
Breakfast and lunch is available all day, so if you are not that into brunch offerings, dig into their seared yellow fin tuna or Elvis Burger made with a savoury brewnut (yum and hello calories!).
Address: 6-8 O’Connell St, Newtown NSW 2042
Opening Hours: Daily 8am to 4pm
Website: here
3. Luxe Bakery
We first featured Luxe in our 20 Must-Try Croissants In Sydney article, but Luxe also does brunch really well. What draws crowds of people back again is probably the friendliness of the people at Luxe. The mood is convivial and relaxed, and you can leisurely sip your coffee and have your brunch without feeling rushed.
Their daily special menu is written on the large chalkboard, but be sure to check out the Tijuana Breakfast (pulled pork, hash, avocado, corn salsa, two poached eggs & chipotle cream) and anything with their sourdough bread in it is a must-try too. We also love the ready-made sandwiches in the counter for a quick fix.
Luxe now has 4 other outlets spread across Sydney and it also has its first overseas outlet in none other than Singapore (Keong Saik Road)!
Address: 191 Missenden Road, Newtown NSW 2042
Opening Hours: Weekdays 7am to 4pm | Weekends 8am to 4pm
Website: here
-Lunch-
If you’re looking for a more filling meal (or just couldn’t get out of bed in time for brunch), give the following places a try.
4. Thai Pothong
In the mood for Thai? Newtown has a number of Thai establishments, but our favourite is Thai Pothong, an institution in Newtown for more than twenty years! Perhaps as a ode to the eclectic and weird in Newtown, amuse yourself in the adjoining gift shop, where two blue-lit metal robots stand in the window and a number strange trinkets and Buddhas line the shop shelves. Definitely try the Betel Leaf Prawns, Banana Blossom Salad and their wide array of Thai desserts, which are exquisitely presented.
Plus, if you need to have gluten-free or vegan food, Thai Pothong is the place to go as they have a varied selection of dishes to cater to you – think Thai-style vegetarian curries and tofu. Delish.
Address: 294 King Street, Newtown NSW 2042
Opening Hours: Monday to Sunday 12pm to 3pm (Lunch) | Monday to Thursday 6pm to 10.30pm | Friday and Saturday 6pm to 11pm | Sundays 5.30pm to 10pm
Website: here
5. Beach Burrito Company
Immerse yourself in the Newtown vibe in Beach Burrito Company, with its Latin American macabre Day of the Dead and street art adorned walls. Admittedly, Beach Burrito is a Mexican food chain, but its quality is consistently good across its outlets and we love that they have frozen margaritas and a long list of Mexican and local beers on offer.
We love their quesadillas and burrito bowls, and they even have chimichangas (flash fried burritos) available.
Address: 1A Bedford Street, Newtown NSW 2042
Opening Hours: Daily 11am to midnight
Website: here
-Dessert-
There’s always room for dessert and in Newtown, you will be spoiled for choice at the number of patisseries and spots for excellent dessert.
6. Black Star Pastry
Black Star Pastry needs no further introduction. The must-try item here is none other than the Strawberry Watermelon Cake, although the other pastries available on offer are certainly worth a try.
We also love their Lemon Myrtle Chiffon Cake and Persian Orange Cake with Figs.
Address: 277 Australia Street, Newtown NSW 2042
Opening Hours: Daily 7am to 5pm
Website: here
7. The Pie Tin
The Pie Tin sure has its art of pie down. They have a large range of sweet and savoury pies and tarts available, and if you have a particular flavour you are hankering after, be sure to give them a call to enquire beforehand, because these pies sure do run out fast!
Our favourites are the Mars Bar Pie and the Sunday Lamb Roast Pie. Pies here are huge, and a meal deal gets you two sides which can be a salad, baked beans, peas, mashed potatoes or sweet potato mash. Here’s an open secret, there is a 2 for 1 deal for the savoury pies just before closing time.
Address: 1A Brown Street, Corner of Brown Lane, Newtown NSW 2042
Opening Hours: Monday to Wednesday 10am to 8pm | Thursday to Saturday 10am to 10pm | Sundays 10am to 6pm
Website: here
8. Makmak Macarons
Voted as Sydney’s best macarons in 2012, MakMak Macarons have come a long way since their establishment in April 2010. Macarons are $3.50 each, and there are at least a dozen different flavours available at any time.
Definitely try their Chocolate, Pistachio and Salted Caramel flavours, which may come in variations such as Nutella & Salted Caramel.
Address: 601 King Street, Newtown NSW 2042
Opening Hours: Monday to Saturday 11am to 6pm (Thursdays to 7pm) | Sundays 11am to 4pm
Website: here
-Dinner-
Night falls but your foodie adventure is not yet done! Newtown is bustling even at night and you’ll be missing out if you don’t stay for dinner.
9. Gigi Pizzeria
If you are looking for authentic Neapolitan pizza in Sydney, head to Gigi Pizzeria. It is one of 12 pizzerias in Australia certified by the Associazone Verace Pizza Napoletana. They don’t take any reservations, so be there early or late, because when we were there 5 minutes before the doors opened on a weeknight, there was already a snaking queue.
Be sure to try their calzones and have the arancini (fried risotto balls) as a starter. You won’t be disappointed. Vegans will be happy to note that Gigi’s has at least 2 vegan options with vegan cheese.
Address: 379 King Street, Newtown NSW 2042
Opening Hours: Daily 6pm to 10.30pm
Website: here
10. Hartsyard
Hartsyard is yet another place in Newtown which does its American southern fried chicken perfectly (in addition to Mary’s). It is a high-end restaurant with a strong American influence. Their dishes are more suited for sharing – definitely get the oyster po’boy and scratchings from the ‘seed’ menu, and the poutine from the ‘feed’ menu.
We also love the Hartsyard soft serve, which is not just a soft serve but a multi-faceted plated dessert on a silver platter with flavours that change weekly.
Address: 33 Enmore Road, Newtown NSW 2042
Opening Hours: Wednesday to Sunday 5.30pm to 10pm
Website: here
11. Bloodwood
Bloodwood is the place to go for modern Australian cuisine, tapas-style. Must tries include their Polenta Chips, Tuna Carpaccio and the Trifle.
A finalist in the 2015 Gourmet Traveller Wine Awards for Best Small Wine List, Bloodwood has an interesting selection of wine to go with your sharing plates. The best thing is, they close at midnight, so you can wine and dine, and lounge in the beautiful space that was the former Conservatory.
Address: 416 King Street, Newtown NSW 2042
Opening Hours: Daily 5pm to 12am | Weekends from 2pm (Lunch)
Website: here
12. Pastizzi Cafe
One of the older cafes in Newtown, Pastizzi is like visiting your Italian grandma’s home, where you can have hearty Italian pastas and mains. It also serves up its namesake, the pastizzi, a traditional Maltese flaky pastry, stuffed with ricotta or apple.
However, here, the pastizzi has become a vessel for any filling you can think of, such as the bacon and egg or chilli con carne. You can also takeaway frozen pastizzi which reheats perfectly the next day.
Address: 523 King Street, Newtown NSW 2042
Opening Hours: Daily 10am to 1am
Website: here
13. Mary’s
Mary’s has become such an institution of Newtown, and is consistently voted as one of the top ten, if not the best, burgers in Sydney. Order the Mary’s burger with fries and extra bacon, and don’t forget the fried chicken.
The buns are soft, milky and fluffy, which is a welcome change to the now-commonplace brioche bun, and the beef patty is soft, perfectly done (that is, medium rare and pink on the inside). The buttermilk fried chicken is done a la the South of USA, and is tender and tasty.
Address: 6 Mary St, Newtown NSW 2042
Opening Hours: Monday to Saturday 4pm to 12am | Sundays 12pm to 10pm
Website: here
14. Young Henry’s
You cannot leave Newtown without visiting at least one bar or pub. There are options such as The Stinking Bishops (where you can get wine with cheese), or The Courthouse Hotel (one of the best beer gardens around), or Kelly’s on King, but our vote goes to Young Henry’s for beers you cannot get anywhere else.
Don’t be surprised, but Young Henry’s is a brewery that opens mainly in the afternoon, and closes by 7pm daily. We love it because it is a craft beer brewery (which distills its own gin as well) with an excellent atmosphere and staff. We highly recommend ordering their tasting trays, where you can sample their range of beers available on tap or hand pump, and will be treated to stories behind each brew.
Address: 76 Wilford Street, Newtown NSW 2042
Opening Hours: Monday to Saturday 10am to 7pm | Sundays 12pm to 7pm
Website: here
15. Green Gourmet
Last but certainly not least, for those wanting or needing to have alternative food choices, Newtown, being the original “hipster” suburb, also has a number of vegan, gluten-free and raw restaurants for you.
Green Gourmet is an Asian restaurant offering vegan and gluten-free dishes and desserts. They also cater to Buddhist vegetarians as all their dishes do not contain any onion or garlic. There are also dishes for people who need a low-sugar diet or are lactose intolerant! If you are looking for variety, Green Gourmet is it, as they offer more than 100 dishes on their menu.
Their vegan dim sum is a must-try on a weekend. Alternatively, head there for the self-serve lunch buffet, where you can try as many dishes as you want, and payment is by weight of the food you pile on your plate.
Address: 115-117 King Street, Newtown NSW 2042
Opening Hours: Daily 12pm to 3pm, 6pm to 10pm (Fridays and Saturdays to 11pm)
Website: here
Satisfy your cravings at Newtown!
So there you have it, a foodie’s guide to all the good food Newtown has to offer. If we’ve missed out on any of your favourites you feel should have made the list, let us know in the comments below!