Welcome to Kings Cross
Sometimes coarse, Sometimes chic, Never boring and always Alive!
The fascinating Kings Cross district is still one of the most culturally diverse sections of the city and certainly one of its liveliest and most vibrant.
Darlinghurst Road end of Kings Cross is where you will find the strip joints and nightclubs for which the area is famous. Past the intersection of William Street is the lively café precinct of Victoria Street.
Whilst Oxford Street is host to the internationally famous Gay Mardi Gras and is the hub of Sydney’s gay community.
This area has history and culture to match its colourful reputation.
Paddington has been revamped in the last 30 years with the dollar of the young professional classes and you will see the terrace housing that in many instances are completely intact from that era.
The leafy avenue of Victoria Street has some spectacular examples of multi-story Georgian and Victorian Terraces, while Macleay Street is the site for a series of beautiful apartment blocks built in the early 20th century, many boasting exquisite Art Deco features.
Kings Cross attractions can be included with any of our itineraries. We can put it together to get you the best deals! Ask about our Honeymoon itineraries.
Try a walk through Woolloomooloo, a small suburb with a maritime history and its tiny cottages, once homes of the wharf labourers. You will also find the 1914 Woolloomooloo Finger Wharf on Cowper Wharf Road, the wharf is now home to a major apartment complex and waterside promenade lined with bars cafes and restaurants, a very chic place to be.
Further along is the very popular Garden Island, Sydney’s naval base. The northern tip of the ‘island’ is the only part accessible to the public, and can only be reached by ferry.
Dining Out in Kings Cross
Some suggestions:
There are many award winning places to dine in as voted by the Sydney Morning Herald Good Food Guide awards in Kings Cross.
Awards are presented in Chef Hats: 1,2 & 3 Hats
| Fish Face | 1 Hat | Fish/Modern Australian |
| Forbes & Burton | 1 Hat | Modern Australian |
| Pello Restaurant | 1 Hat | Modern European |
| Buon Ricordo Ristorante | 2 Hats | Italian |
| Four in Hand Dining Room | 1 Hat | Provincial French |
| Grand National | 1 Hat | Hotel/Modern Aust |
| Lucio’s | 2 Hats | Italian |
| Lotus Inn Restaurant | 1 Hat | Bistro/Modern Aust |
| Otto Ristorante | 1 Hat | Italian |
Oh Yes! restaurants abound the streets and they are of excellent quality, as you can see by the award winning list. Check out the listings in the Dining section to choose your style and cuisine.
Greek Cooking Classes are held at the Greekalicious Cooking School in Paddington if you fancy taking home a Greek recipe and what’s more, know what to do with it.
The Hardrock Café Sydney is here in East Sydney 
– Groove to the music and get the T-shirt…the other institution in town is Harry’s Café De Wheels, he’s on the tour guides itinerary, they bring their guests here for a bite to eat and Harry has his own designated bus stop. Harry has been here for such a long time and it is worth the visit, I don’t think you can get a T-shirt!
Live Music
Aren’t you going to have a good time here…All the naughty stuff goes on in this part of town!!
Strip Clubs! Kings Cross is the place to find them, I haven’t listed them, as I am sure you can find them on your own without any trouble at all, actually as you walk past the touters out the front will entice you to come in.
There are plenty of classy and very entertaining bars and clubs around here too!!
- For the big crowd buzz try Kinselas on Bourke St most of the action happens at Middle Bar.
- The Colombian offers South American jungle decor and a noisy upbeat clientele – especially on Saturday and Sunday nights.
- If clubbing is your thing, you’re in the right part of town, walk along Oxford St and look for the queues anytime from 10pm.
- Slide is the latest edition to the strip and has excellent reviews.
Long time favorites include DCM and the popular Arq is a multi-level space where you can have hours of dance bliss.
Don’t forget to check out the Theatres and the funky art house movies.
Galleries:
Over to the daytime side of this culturally diverse area, Paddington has over 45 Art Galleries in around the streets and lane ways. Add to that the many galleries, antiques and book dealers in Woollahra, put this together with its neighboring suburb, and you have one of the most densely populated areas in Sydney for art and antique shopping.
The main streets for Art Galleries in Paddington are Glenmore Rd followed by Elizabeth St, Walker Lane, Albion Ave, Goodhope St and Oxford St. While in Woollahra the main streets for antiques and art are Queen St, followed by Moncur and Jersey Streets.
Tourism is alive and well in the Cross with many visitors dining in the fabulous choice of restaurants. The shopping is funky and fun, see what you can find.
Museum:
Sydney Jewish Museum on Darlinghurst Road towards Oxford St is a moving and impressive centre that explores the history of Judaism. The Australian Jewish Heritage and the terrible legacy of the Holocaust are shockingly very well displayed at this museum. Definatley worth a visit.
Shopping:
The famous Paddington Markets showcase the very best of Australian contemporary art, craft and fashion, directly from the artists and craft makers themselves. Paddington Market is Sydney’s creative cutting edge for shopping. Every Saturday from 10.00am the markets come alive with 250 stalls, all enjoying the dynamic atmosphere that is uniquely “Saturday in Paddington”.
Suburbs close by: East Sydney, Paddington, Darlinghurst, Potts Point, Woolloomooloo.