People passing through Central Park
Photograph: Anna Kucera

Chippendale area guide

Restaurants, bars, shops and things to do in Chippendale – the number one coolest neighbourhood in Australia in Time Out's 2024 rankings
Alice Ellis
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Sandwiched between Cleveland Street and Broadway, and a longtime favourite of the Sydney Univrsity set, Chippo packs a lot of punch for a little fella. There’s a lot of eating, drinking and art-watching to be done.

Chippendale is home to one of Sydney's coolest hotels, The Old Clare. Hit up the always excellent White Rabbit Gallery, grab a cheap eat from Spice Alley – or sit down for a more spesh meal at Longshore. Read on for all the other super cool things to do in this ace 'hood.

Chippendale was named 7th Coolest Neighbourhood in the whole world (and coolest in all of Australia) in Time Out's annual global rankings, for 2024.

Chippendale Highlights

Spice Alley
Restaurants

Spice Alley

Tucked behind the Kensington Street laneway in Chippendale, the open-air courtyard is serving up hawker style dishes from across the globe. 
Palace Central Cinemas
Film

Palace Central Cinemas

Opened in October 2017, Palace Central is a 13-screen complex with multiple lounges and bar areas and sweeping views.
White Rabbit
Art

White Rabbit

White Rabbit is a a state-of-the-art, four-floor temple to 21st century Chinese art hidden on a backstreet in Chippendale.
Ester Restaurant and Bar
Restaurants

Ester Restaurant and Bar

It’s hard not to fall totally in love with Ester the moment you walk through the door – that's why it's Time Out's restaurant of the year.

The best restaurants in Chippendale

Longshore
Restaurants

Longshore

  • 5 out of 5 stars
Executive chef Jarrod Walsh shines a spotlight on fresh seafood and sustainable Aussie ingredients at this cool coastal diner
Spice Alley
Restaurants

Spice Alley

Spice Alley is one of Sydney's hottest (and tastiest) precincts
Str’Eats Pasta Bar
Restaurants

Str’Eats Pasta Bar

  • 3 out of 5 stars
A no-frills Italian street kitchen has moved into Chippendale’s Spice Alley, serving handmade pasta from $10 with “build-your-own” sauces

The best bars in Chippendale

The Lansdowne Hotel
Bars

The Lansdowne Hotel

  • 5 out of 5 stars
  • price 1 of 4
The reborn Lansdowne Hotel has brought Sydney’s live-music scene back from the brink
Lil Sis
Bars

Lil Sis

  • 5 out of 5 stars
Lil Sis doesn’t feel like a bar, but rather a home of someone you love (who happens to have excellent taste in wine and snacks)
The Chippo Hotel
Bars

The Chippo Hotel

The Chippo is Australia's first-ever all-vegan pub (including the bar)

More things to do in Chippendale

The Kastle
Sex and dating

The Kastle

Sydney’s last full-service BDSM dungeon is an institution of the fetish scene
White Rabbit Gallery
Art

White Rabbit Gallery

Discover one of the world's biggest collections of contemporary Chinese art in this unconventional Chippendale gallery
The Lansdowne Hotel
Bars

The Lansdowne Hotel

  • 5 out of 5 stars
  • price 1 of 4
The reborn Lansdowne Hotel has brought Sydney’s live-music scene back from the brink
Phoenix Central Park
Music

Phoenix Central Park

Enter the ballot for your chance to see an intimate show at Judith Neilson's cutting-edge live performance venue