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Who doesn't love cheap and tasty Mexican food? Think $5 tacos, Margarita slushies, Mexican beers and hot dogs. But don't be fooled, the affordable price tag is in no way a reflection on the quality of the food at El Loco in Surry Hills. Mr Wong 'it' chef Dan Hong is the talent behind El Loco, creating innovative taco fillings like lemongrass beef or spit-roasted pork with pineapple salsa.

Peking duck, fresh mud crab and fluffy pork buns are just some of the intricately crafted delicacies at Mr. Wong, Sydney's latest Cantonese favourite. Numerous awards and rave reviews bear testament to the fact that Merivale's Mr. Wong has been doing something very right by Sydney diners since it opened last year. Only accepting dinner bookings for parties of more than six people, grab your foodie friends and head to Mr. Wong for a dining experience unlike any other.

Dunbar House is the perfect Sydney café and venue when you're seeking some indulgence with a regal touch, and a little escape from whatever ails you. Positioned a few steps up from the shores of Watson's Bay, almost every table soaks up breathtaking views of the water, with plenty of tables outside for a bit of sea breeze.

Frankie's Pizza is a retro pizza parlour and bar oozing old-school, rock 'n' roll edginess. Red-and-white check tablecloths, gig posters, pinball machines and Margarita slushie machines all add to the outrageously fun spirit at Frankie's Pizza. You can get pizza whole, or by the slice for just $5, too. 

Prepare to elbow your way through crowds of Surry Hills locals and office types to snag your share of gourmet offerings at The Foundry. The provenance of ingredients takes precedence here, with a compact menu boasting inspired salads and sandwiches made with homemade condiments. Head down to The Foundry for Feast Fridays (noon-2pm) and tuck into an unforgettable buffet-style lunch.

Workshopped is home to the creations of innovative designers from Australia and New Zealand. With an emphasis on nurturing up and coming local talent, Workshopped showcases some of the most novel creations on the market today from the likes of Tony Parker, Aeratron, Life Space Journey, Coco Flip, Ed Linacre, Stuart Williams and Inde Studio.

Zimmermann clothing and swimwear epitomises sophisticated femininity in the Australian fashion market. With stylish colour combinations and original chic prints, the standard for quality styling is rarely matched. Zimmerman swimwear is renowned as a standard for summer fashion as are the gorgeous frocks. Zimmerman's conveniently located stores in Paddington, Sydney, Bondi and Chatswood make this luxurious brand accessible to everyone.

Located in the MLC Centre, THR1VE is your one-stop-shop for clean food options. Offering customers a truly healthy eating experience, the focus at THR1VE is on the wellness of the consumer, this ethos informs each element of their menu. Highlights on the menu include their delicious breakfast bowls and paleo pancakes.

Real Food Connection is a brand spanking new café in Camperdown, promoting foods with a paleo and primal approach. All meals are grain and gluten free, unprocessed and seasonal. Real Food Connection offers nutritional, healthy and balanced food without the hefty price tag. Delivery is available to the CBD.

With our warm climate, you mightn't think that Australian shoppers have any real need for knitwear and jersey, but then the effortlessly casual pieces of local label Jac+Jack are so perfectly versatile that it's hard to imagine what you did before it. Launched originally in 2004, the decade-old label is known for its timeless aesthetic, offering simple, everyday pieces such as sweaters, button-down shirts and tees, along with a growing range of homewares. Jac+Jack's flagship Paddington store opened in early 2013 and is designed by emerging Sydney architect George Livissianis.

For many years, Australian men lived in a sartorial wasteland, serviced only by a small handful of surfwear brands. Harrolds, a luxury menswear department store with locations in Sydney and Melbourne, changed all that. Established over 25 years ago, its two outposts are now home to the world's best brands including Saint Laurent, Balenciaga, Rick Owens and Thom Browne, as well as the more conservative threads of Brioni, Pal Zileri and Tom Ford, for which there is a dedicated shop-in-shop. What's more is that its services extend far beyond the straightforward, with a built-in café and champagne bar, delivery options and in-house tailors.

Awarded one hat in the Sydney Morning Herald Good Food Guide, Popolo in Rushcutters Bay is a solid part of the local dining scene with its classically Italian dishes. Business partners Flavio Carnevale and Fabio Dore opened the restaurant with their aim of promoting the unique flavours and dishes of the region surrounding the Tyrrhenian Sea, a stark simplicity to pastas, meats, seafood and pizzas that lets the outstanding produce speak for itself.

You might just buy a suit or shirt, but a piece from Australian label M.J. Bale boasts a truly interesting provenance. Its founder, Matt Jensen, has built his business with the intention of education his male customers on the high quality raw materials that become their clothes on their back, such as New South Wales-grown superfine fleeces woven in centuries-old mills in Northern Italy, as explained in its Grazed on Greatness campaign. The result is a delicate balance between form and function, with a suit cut that's both masculine and modern.

The once-famous Oxford Street shopping strip might be having a hard time in recent years, but The Other Side – a retail holdout at the eastern end – is well worth a visit. With a cosy, village-like feel, where every customer is treated as a welcome neighbour, The Other Side boasts the men's and women's fashion and accessories collections of Three Over One, Whyred and Superfine London.

We've listed it as one of the best five burgers in Sydney, and we stand by our statement: Jeremy Strode's famed fish burger with bacon, pickled chilli and Japanese mayo is a force to be reckoned with. Of course, there are plenty of other seafood options on this daily menu, making it the perfect place to visit again and again, as the local Potts Point residents do. Situated next door to longtime Italian establishment Fratelli Paradiso, the Fish Shop's clientele spills out onto the street during balmy nights and summer days.

The long line – sometimes up to hours, and from the late afternoon for a dinnertime sitting – might be for the name (Jamie Oliver is certainly famous, even in the celebrity chef-saturated market of Australia), but his Italian restaurant, of which there are now over 30 restaurants around the world, boasts some seriously fine fare, too. At the Sydney outpost near Circular Quay you'll see staff hand-drying fresh pasta in the window, so try one of the countless pasta dishes on the menu for an authentic dinner.

Newtown is known for its vintage finds, but local multibrand store Pretty Dog is a hive of handpicked cult fashion labels like Karen Walker, Jerome Dreyfuss, Gary Bigeni, House of Holland and Opening Ceremony. A destination since 1997, Pretty Dog prides itself on "having the pants that fit… the shoes that make your wardrobe new, and we can help you pull it all together." Its private styling sessions make this off-the-beaten-track fashion mecca well worth a visit.

It's the hidden gems that make up Sydney's retail scenes, the hard-to-find local boutiques that rival the Westfield centres and sprawling shopping strips. Pour Tous by Davidson & Beaumont is one such diamond in the rough, a husband-and-wife boutique offering a selection of literally hand-picked men's and women's wear by brands such as Y-3, Vivienne Westwood, McQ and Halston Heritage.

The owner of recycled shoes and accessories emporium believes in the power of recycling personal style, making vintage store Pelle a must-visit for its spectacular range of pre-loved designer women's footwear and accessories. Working on a consignment basis, you're just as likely to find the perfect pair of winter boots here as you are a sparkling pair of heels for a special night out, with new stock arriving daily.

With its original establishment destroyed by a fire in early 2013, Chur Burger recently opened, returning with bigger, beefier and better burgers than over at its new site at the old Albion Street Kitchen. Born from chef Warren Turnbull's love of burgers, Chur employs the best ingredients to create simple, super-tasty burgers ranging from the classic beef to the more exotic fish, lamb and pork. There's vegetarian options too!

Long a go-to for the best in design, Macleay on Manning is one of those gems of a store that changes each time you visit, making regular visits a must for the best finds. With products as broad as fashion and jewellery, fragrance, furniture, lighting, soft furnishings and homewares sourced from around the world, there are pieces that will appeal to all tastes here, from the classic to the eclectic, making it the perfect place to find a gift for that hard-to-buy-for person.

People travel from all over Sydney to visit La Renaissance Patisserie and Café in The Rocks, a local landmark for quality French fare.

Situated opposite Narrabeen Beach, casual restaurant Barbuto's open kitchen serves up a diverse steakhouse menu, including ribs, homemade terrines and freshly shucked oysters. The bar is well stocked, kids and large groups are welcome and there's plenty of street and council parking nearby. Here, everything is easy.

At Sydney restaurant, Sadhana Kitchen in Bondi, they believe that what we put into our bodies every day significantly affects our vitality as well as that of our environment. As such, the team at Sadhana Kitchen aim to share how eating ethical and healthy food allows us to connect with our personal wisdom and for our body to heal itself.

Often mentioned in our conversations about the best hairdressers in Sydney, the friendly and talented guys at Prema Hair in Surry Hills will take your hair up a notch and become your new best friend in the process. It’s the perfect place to unwind after a long day or get pumped up before a night out. 

Nestled on a bustling Bondi Road corner, Fat Rupert's presents a breath of fresh air with its understated charm and warmth. Head chef Eli Challenger, of Porteno fame, has created an exquisite modern-Australian, paddock-to-plate style menu of share plates. All produce is sourced locally, changing seasonally to provide the freshest flavours. On the drinks side, you will find some incredible wines, craft beers and seriously delicious cocktails served in jam jars.

Grass Roots Urban Butchery (GRUB) is a family-owned, ethical butcher located in Vaucluse. Providing the highest quality meat, poultry and seasonal fruit and vegetables, GRUB is your one-stop-shop for creating healthy, tasty meals at home. GRUB also offers a home delivery service across the Eastern Suburbs, Greater Sydney and the Blue Mountains, Newcastle and the Central Coast, ACT and Southern Highlands, and Wollongong.