Where To Eat, Drink And Explore Around Crown Sydney This Winter
Eloise Luke
Contributor | Urban List
Winter is one of the best times to explore Sydney's harbour, and few neighbourhoods pack as much into one postcode as Barangaroo.
Whether you're staying at Crown Sydney for the weekend, booking a long lunch, or simply looking for an excuse to wander the waterfront, the precinct is surrounded by some of the city's best restaurants, cosy bars, specialty coffee spots, galleries, harbour walks and family-friendly attractions.
From waterfront dining and cultural landmarks to scenic lookouts and hidden local favourites, here's our guide to the best things to do around Crown Sydney this winter.
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- The Best Things To Do Around Crown Sydney
- Where To Eat Near Crown Sydney
- Where To Drink Near Crown Sydney
The Best Things To Do Around Crown Sydney
The Cutaway
Barangaroo Reserve
Image credit: Barangaroo Sydney | Instagram
Hidden beneath the rolling headlands of Barangaroo Reserve, The Cutaway is one of Sydney's most remarkable cultural spaces—and one that's easy to miss if you don't know it's there. Carved directly into the sandstone below the park, the vast, light-filled venue is anchored by a striking 14-metre sandstone wall and dramatic skylights that open to the sky above. Designed to host everything from major exhibitions and performances to festivals and cultural events, it's a space that feels just as much like an architectural landmark as it does an events venue.
Created through a collaboration between fjcstudio, Bangawarra's Shannon Foster and artist Jake Nash, the fit-out draws deeply on First Nations storytelling and the surrounding landscape, with sculptural timber installations, cave-like forms and a dedicated education space celebrating Gadigal Country. Whether you're visiting for an exhibition or simply stopping in to admire the architecture, it's one of the most impressive public spaces in Barangaroo.
Insider Intel
- The Cutaway sits directly beside Nawi Cove and just steps from Barangaroo Metro, making it an easy addition to a day exploring the waterfront.
- Even without an event on, it's worth visiting for the architecture alone, particularly the sculptural bronze spiral staircase and towering sandstone wall.
TITLE Bookstore
Barangaroo Avenue, Barangaroo
Image credit: TITLE Store | Instagram
If you're after a thoughtful souvenir—or simply somewhere to escape for half an hour—TITLE is one of Barangaroo's best independent retailers. An offshoot of the much-loved Surry Hills institution, the beautifully curated bookshop specialises in art, architecture, photography, fashion, music and film, with shelves lined with limited-edition releases, cult classics and hard-to-find titles you won't come across in your average bookstore.
Insider Intel
- Beyond books, you'll also find a carefully selected range of magazines, vinyl, gifts and design objects.
- The focus is firmly on independent publishers and artists, making it a great stop for finding something genuinely unique.
The Run Club at Barangaroo
Hickson Park, Every Friday From 7am
Image credit: Barangaroo Sydney | Instagram
If you're staying at Crown Sydney and keen to start the day on the right foot, The Run Club at Barangaroo is a free weekly running group that makes the most of the harbourfront. Meeting every Friday morning at Hickson Park, the coach-led sessions cater to everyone from first-time runners to seasoned marathon trainers, with warm-ups, technique drills and interval workouts taking in some of Barangaroo's most scenic waterfront paths.
Better yet, there's no registration required—just show up and get moving.
Insider Intel
- Sessions change each week, so regulars can expect fresh workouts and different routes around the precinct.
Sydney Observatory
1003 Upper Fort Street, Millers Point
Image credit: Powerhouse Museum | Instagram
Perched atop Observatory Hill, just a short walk from Crown Sydney, Sydney Observatory pairs one of the city's best harbour views with a fascinating look at the night sky. Originally established in 1858 for astronomical observation, weather monitoring and timekeeping, today the historic sandstone landmark offers guided tours exploring everything from colonial history to the world's oldest living cultures through First Nations astronomy.
Step inside the heritage domes to see Australia's oldest working telescope, browse artefacts from the Powerhouse Collection and learn how the stars have guided people on this land for tens of thousands of years.
Insider Intel
- Arrive before your tour to spend some time at Observatory Hill, one of Sydney's best picnic spots with panoramic harbour views.
- The observatory regularly hosts evening stargazing sessions—well worth planning your visit around if you're staying overnight.
Where To Eat Near Crown Sydney
Costi's Fish And Chips
200 Barangaroo Avenue, Barangaroo
Image credit: Costi's Fish and Chips | Instagram
A contender for the best fish and chips in all of Sydney, Costi's Fish and Chips is a low-key and affordable Barangaroo restaurant ticking the important boxes: fast, fresh and delicious. There are limited dine-in tables inside and outside, so we recommend grabbing a to-go box and enjoying dinner with a Darling Harbour view.
As well as their classic fish shop picks that come crumbed, battered and deep-fried, Costi's is dishing up grilled fish, Thai-style calamari or Greek-style octopus served with salad and brown rice, or poké bowls packed with sashimi salmon and steamed tiger prawns or yellowfin tuna and wasabi peas. Their ethos is simple: “All our seafood is bought, cut and cooked on the same day, as freshness is imperative to us". You can't go wrong with that.
You can get lunch at this spot from Monday to Friday, and a classic fish and chips will set you back $15.
Insider Intel
- On a summer's day, we like to take our fish and chips and set up a picnic at Marrinawi Cove, before taking a dip.
Rekōdo
Barangaroo House, Level 1/35 Barangaroo Avenue, Barangaroo
Image credit: Rekodo | Instagram
Rekōdo is a vibey Japanese restaurant and vinyl bar in the striking Barangaroo House, with a large balcony overlooking Darling Harbour, boasting water views. Doused in neon lights, it's inspired by Tokyo-style listening rooms with vinyl decks backgrounding a fun and energetic menu.
We love the grilled scallops with kombu butter, Wagyu skewers, and crispy pork belly baos, and always browse the cocktail menu; the Mandarin Spumoni with Kunizakari mandarin liqueur, Aperol, and mandarin soda is a perfect Japanese twist on the classic.
Rekōdo is open lunch through dinner, Tuesday to Sunday—expect to pay around $50-$75pp, and grab some share plates.
Insider Intel
- We recommend heading upstairs to Smoke Bar for a pre- or post-dinner drink—bringing a first date here basically guarantees a follow-up text.
Pizza'Mare
1 Barangaroo Avenue, Sydney CBD
Image credit: Pizza’Mare | Instagram
A’Mare is expanding (again) but this time, things are moving upstairs. Enter Pizza’Mare, a bright, harbour-facing pizza and pasta spot landing above the two-hatted Barangaroo restaurant at the end of this month, bringing a more relaxed, midweek-friendly energy to one of Sydney’s most polished Italian addresses.
If a’Mare has long been about occasion dining—tableside service, crisp linens, and long lunches that roll into night—Pizza’Mare flips the script. It’s casual and playful, spotlighting quick pastas, shareable antipasti, and pizzas that make for the perfect takeout alternative.
Think bold yellow walls, sunlight pouring in off the harbour, and a breezier, more social layout that feels a world away from the formality downstairs. It’s still unmistakably Pavoni—just loosened up a little, and more accessible to a wider dining demographic.
Insider Intel
- At the centre of it all is the pizza. Neapolitan-style and built on a pre-fermented biga dough, the bases are proofed low and slow before hitting a specialty MAM oven imported from Modena.
Astro
100 Barangaroo Avenue, Barangaroo
Image credit: Astro | Instagram
Why have a sad supermarket lunch when you can grab yourself a cosy booth at this retro-futuristic den drenched in 80s nostalgia serving up (or more specifically, you’re serving yourself) Japanese-Korean BBQ unlike you’ve ever seen before? Astro takes over the previous Korean BBQ spot, Soot (which is moving to Double Bay)—luring you in with excited chatter peaking through an impeccable playlist that’s riddled with 70s disco classics, heavy-hitters from the 80s, and a distinct Japanese city-pop sound.
While the DIY element invites diners to interact with one another as they navigate every meticulously boned, trimmed, and thickly scored piece of meat, most of the hard work is actually already done for you. Just slap your preferred serving of Australian wagyu on the grill, dip generously in an umami-rich fermented ssamjang, and experience a beef flavour that’s incredibly close to famous Korean hanwoo. It's the kind of meal that only intensifies with every bite.
Insider Intel:
- If you’re in a hurry at lunch, they also offer a selection of handy rice bowls and bulgogi sandos that’ll satisfy cravings—even when you’re on the clock.
Where To Drink Near Crown Sydney
Icebergs Harbour Bar
Level 1/1 Barangaroo Avenue, Crown Sydney, Barangaroo
Image credit: Icebergs Harbour Bar | Instagram
From one iconic location to another, Icebergs Harbour Bar brings the high-octane dose of Bondi’s coastal glamour to its premium city location—Crown Sydney, of course. Expect elevated bites and Euro-leaning dishes—curated by the oh-so-celebrated Sydney-local chef, Alex Pritchard, and the talented pastry chef, Brittany Smith. With the same level of finesse you’d expect at its home base, this sleek, azure-hued sanctuary is basically calling you in for a sunset session to remember. And with a perfectly chilled glass of martini in hand? You don’t have to tell us twice.
Start the evening here, perched by the window as you take in the sunset before a big night out with the girls or make yourself at home and stay in one of the many plush banquettes for as long as the night calls for…
Insider Intel:
- Nab a seat by the window around half an hour before sunset, and watch as a vibrant wash of apricot and soft rose hues takes over the familiar city skyline.
- It’s a sleek, bar-focused stop, making it a primo destination for a pre-dinner rendezvous or a chic lunch.
Jinius
Shop 8/16 Hickson Road, Dawes Point
Image credit: Jinius | Instagram
If you're willing to venture a few minutes beyond Barangaroo, Jinius is one of Sydney's most exciting breakfast destinations. Helmed by Yeongjin Park—the chef behind one of the city's most sought-after Portuguese tarts—the intimate café marks his first solo venture, bringing together Korean influences, exceptional baking and thoughtfully sourced local produce. The menu leans seasonal and produce-driven, with vibrant breakfast plates, expertly brewed coffee and Park's signature house-made makgeolli sourdough stealing the spotlight.
Instead of chasing trends, Jinius focuses on meticulous technique and quality ingredients, creating a café that's quickly become a favourite among Sydney's brunch devotees.
Insider Intel
- Pastries often sell out before midday, so an earlier visit is well rewarded.
Haven Coffee
Shop 1/88 Barangaroo Avenue, Barangaroo
Image credit: Haven Coffee | Instagram
Just a short walk from Crown Sydney, Haven Coffee is one of Barangaroo's best spots for a specialty brew, ceremonial matcha, and a seriously good brunch. The light-filled café pairs expertly made coffee with a menu of generous breakfast and lunch dishes, from chilli scrambled eggs to an oversized avocado toast that's earned a cult following among regulars.
It's also one of the few cafés in the precinct where you can reserve a table ahead of time, making it a solid choice for weekend catch-ups. Whether you're fuelling up before a harbour walk or grabbing a quick coffee between exploring the precinct, it's an easy addition to your itinerary.
Insider Intel
- Order one of the café's signature brunch dishes if you've worked up an appetite—they're known for their generous serves.
- Visiting with your dog? The outdoor tables are pet-friendly.
The Lord Nelson Brewery Hotel
19 Kent Street, The Rocks
Image credit: The Lord Nelson Brewery Hotel | Instagram
The Lord Nelson is an oldie but a goodie, established in 1841. Located in the historic Rocks precinct, the brewpub is famous for its award-winning natural ales, which are brewed on-site in the cellar. Upstairs, the restaurant offers true modern Australian cuisine, with refined bites and bigger share plates, with great wines to match.
The interiors here have the benefit of being super cosy on a chilly day—pull up a chair by the wood burning fireplace, and order their Sunday roast the finish off the week.
Insider Intel
- You can also take a seat in the warm and welcoming pub area, open seven days a week.
Folio
22 Hickson Road, Walsh Bay
Image credit: Folio | Instagram
Inspired by the speakeasies and supper clubs of NYC, Folio is a Walsh Bay bar located inside Sydney’s Roslyn Packer Theatre. Designed by Like Minds Studio, the space is anchored with a walnut and marble bar, deep plum leather banquets and plush velvety seating, evoking “the feeling of sitting inside a Negroni.”
Speaking of cocktails, there’s a flaming martini poured tableside, alongside an easy-drinking wine list, plus beers and champagne. As for the food, you could be handed an L.P.’s meat plate, buttermilk fried chicken, wagyu lasagna or the smoked-bacon-loaded Folio burger. Make sure to finish with a choccy mousse service for dessert—it's served theatrically, of course, from a big communal bowl and topped with whisky miso caramel.
Insider Intel
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There’s also a rotating schedule of live music and DJs to keep the mood lively. And the best part is: it’s just a six-minute walk to Barangaroo Metro—a peak central city stop-off.
Main image credit: Crown Sydney | Instagram
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