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    Chinatown

    4.2 (38 reviews)

    Chinatown Photos

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    Mic W.

    I love Chinatown....but even more so when there are festivals and street parties happening with cultural entertainment and loads of smiling faces. It's my place to meander up and down the streets looking at exotic foods and venues and wonder what they may be like, taking note and plans to visit to explore a meal. The street with overgrown trees with Chinese lanterns is my favourite but you are also destined to find something down the side streets and into the newer areas, moving from traditional into Asian/fusion styles. Bring on the warm sultry evenings to just sit out and eat your duck or dumplings.

    Chinatown Gate
    Jon L.

    Chinatown Sydney is located in the inner-city Sydney suburb of Haymarket which is just south of Sydney CBD. I have visited numerous Chinatowns in the US, Canada, Japan, Malaysia and Thailand along with actually visiting China. I found this Chinatown to be a pleasant area to walk around in, though it isn't very large. It is smaller than cities like Bangkok and San Francisco, but on par with the size of Chinatowns in Honolulu, Seattle and Vancouver. The Chinatown gate pedestrian walkway of shops and restaurants here reminds me of the Chinatown in Kobe, Japan which has a similar long, but thin walkway like this that is primarily full of restaurants. While this Chinatown might not be very big, I really like the diversity of the types of restaurants in the area. It is not just one type of Chinese food available here. There are many including regional Chinese cuisines. There are also Malaysian and Singaporean restaurants which serve Chinese-influenced foods. Chinatown Sydney seems to be a bit more multi-cultural than other Chinatowns that I have visited. If you are looking for good Chinese food, that would be my primary reason for visiting Chinatown Sydney. And while you are in the area, I would suggest also checking out neighboring Thai Town which borders Chinatown to continue your Asian cultural lessons in Sydney.

    Yi Z.

    Have I ever expressed to y'all my strong feelings about Chinatowns? If not, please let me rant for just a little bit. I grew up as an Asian American in a community that was about 50% Asian. My friends and I all grew up in suburbs with a heavy concentration of businesses that are tailored to the demographics of the community. China is a huge country, divided by cultures and dialects. In America, nearly every Chinatown was established by early Chinese immigrants, primarily from Canton (southern China) and these areas still retain that flavor today. My family immigrated to American about 25 years ago, around the same time as many other Mainlanders. We don't eat the same food, speak the same language, or even have the same traditions as the early immigrants and I honestly cannot relate. Chinatowns in America have also unfortunately become cheap and dirty tourist attractions where you can buy tacky souvenirs. I can't relate to the Chinatown experience at all yet most non-Asian Americans have no idea about suburban areas like the one where I grew up. Unfortunately, I've grown to dislike Chinatowns as they have never authentically reflected the Asian American experience that so many of us know. Now, what does all that have to do with Sydney Chinatown? I'm not great with Australian history but I suspect that the immigration pattern here is somewhat different than in the US. This Chinatown is much more diverse than US Chinatowns. It has a high concentration of excellent and authentic restaurants in a very small area. I can relate to the food and culture of the people here. The easiest way to put it is that I like this Chinatown.

    Marqus R.

    Along with Yelper Jim D., who actually speaks Cantonese Chinese rather well, matter of fact seems to handle it better than the locally spoken slang imbedded Australian, hit the Sydney Chinatown or what locals often refer to as the Haymarket area. Comparing it to the Chinatowns of other major cities I've visited such as in Toronto, Los Angeles and New York, I'd say it ranks up there as being pretty darn good and well worth a visit. You'll find all sorts of Chinese as well as other Asian foods and restaurants along with rock bottom bargain prices on just about everything. And if you're buying anything from any of the shops, the key to the best prices is with cash and little bargaining.

    Entrance to China Town
    Richard A.

    It's a china town in a big city. Nothing special about it. It has City Market and Paddy's Market which provide inexpensive food and merchandise. You could spend many hours in these markets if you like to shop. It's also close to Darling Harbor and George Street. To great attractions.

    Lunar new year
    Alexandra M.

    Came during Lunar New Year for the street food festival and was let down by there only being 5-6 shops. Also felt bad for the restaurants in the area who were begging people to come in--they should set up stalls too! Beyond that, it's a standard chinatown. The streets are old and there is food and shops selling things I am not likely to try everywhere. We went in to one shop that did not have a single sign in English and could not figure out any of the items! Haha we left wondering what food it was :)

    Danielle L.

    I love feeling like a tourist in my own city and to me there is no better place to experience that than China Town. This culturally rich part of Sydney used to be in Rocks before moving near Darling Harbour in 1920. . The main strip of China Town is a walkway in Dixon Street - here you can explore a variety of Asian flavours from dumplings, green teas, herbal medicines or eclectic homewares. It's also an excellent place to find a fun gift or to discover a bargain... there's some wonderful little stores which make you feel like you're far far away from Australia. Here's a little fact for Sydney Siders about China Town on the corner of Hay Street and George - there's a a sculpture made from a dead tree trunk; named Golden Water Mouth, it was said by its instigators to bring good fortune to the Chinese community. I didn't know that - I thought it was a cool fun fact. At the southern side of Chinatown, next to Hay Street, you reach Market City which is a shopping mall with a variety of stores, eateries and factory outlets. Underneath you'll find Paddy's markets, a place where there a mix of flea market goods and fresh produce (Wednesday to Sunday) Parking is difficult and expensive so I suggest you catch a train to Central Station and walk down... Have fun... it's a really great place to visit.

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    14 years ago

    If you love Asia and your in Sydney head for Chinatown, the best restaurants asian super markets and anything else you can think of are here

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    13 years ago

    Lots of Chinese, Malaysian, Thai & Indonesian eateries on offer.

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    18 years ago

    spend a day here. go to the markets, eat the food, take photos. just do the touristy thing. its lovely

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    Chinatown Reviews in Other Languages

    Review Highlights - Chinatown

    Our gracious host led us here after a shopping at Paddy's which was great and I have only positive words for that place at all.

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    The Rocks - The Rocks Christmas Village (12/12/24). @TheRocks @Sydney #Australia #TheRocks #Traveling #Exploring

    The Rocks

    4.4(33 reviews)
    2.3 kmThe Rocks

    (Explored 12/12/24 TH @ 4:00pm, 12/26/24 TH @ 10:00am, and several times over a decade ago): This…read moreharbour neighbourhood will rock your socks off! The Rocks was a quintessential goodbye and welcoming point for those embarking or disembarking by cruise ship in Sydney Harbour and a focal historic neighbourhood where many came to dine, drink, shop, or just walk around in the fresh open air with a kiss of salt water sprinkled onto your skin. My first experience was very similar to this one, and it all started on a cruise with Princess Cruises. My travel companion and I arrived a couple of days early to settle in and roamed around before the cruise began. Then, at the end of the cruise, we stuck around for nearly a week to welcome in 2025. Would this return visit years later rock as it did my first time around!? PURCHASE We tried our best to support the local economy by visiting several pubs and restaurants as we surrounded ourselves with the locals and whatever came our way. Each of these experiences would be explored further with their own respective reviews. SERVICE There was no specific service to speak of that directly affected The Rocks as a whole. Rather, collectively all of the businesses we supported had wonderful service. The area was well-kept, and although there was a constant flow of slow traffic down the narrow streets, each was safe to cross. PARKING (FREE) I honestly had no idea nor took notice of the parking situation although I saw some vehicles parked here and there along the surrounding streets. We simply walked, took the train from/to the Circular Quay Station (it was right there!) or took an Uber - 'nuff said. ATMOSPHERE, DÉCOR, AMBIENCE I couldn't say what streets bordered or determined the parameters of The Rocks area, but you had a collection of old buildings that housed pubs (Fortune Of War Hotel), breweries/restaurants (The Endeavour Tap Rooms), a breakfast spot (Shuk The Rocks), the Museum Of Contemporary Art Sydney https://www.yelp.com/user_local_photos?userid=8jVT2inwc8GIQ6sH2UG9Vw&select=j_J8UYvByj8QDV_ZnbqrRQ for some culture, a slew of art galleries https://www.yelp.com/user_local_photos?userid=8jVT2inwc8GIQ6sH2UG9Vw&select=YtAakzygb5ZdKBfVAJrJ_g and retail shops, Sydney Harbour with view of iconic Sydney Opera House https://www.yelp.com/user_local_photos?userid=8jVT2inwc8GIQ6sH2UG9Vw&select=P1RzLfk-zcbziYGOeoTrhg and Sydney Harbour Bridge, and the cruise terminal https://www.yelp.com/user_local_photos?userid=8jVT2inwc8GIQ6sH2UG9Vw&select=6i9FoQ8M7O0m8JnpyZQvwQ for some ocean voyages. It was Christmas time, so there were plenty of decorations https://www.yelp.com/user_local_photos?userid=8jVT2inwc8GIQ6sH2UG9Vw&select=z3gi2JSNDyfjJ7aG6G0ZWg everywhere. Obviously, there was plenty of natural lighting with a plethora of street and business electric lights throughout when the sun went down. Even if you didn't partake in any of these options, simply people-watching was more than enough fun to pass the time as you lazed away - enjoy! ATTIRE Totally casual, so I would normally be in a t-shirt, boardshorts, and flip-flops. OVERALL The Rocks was a fun place to spend the day and enjoy the local flavors around you. There was something for everyone (I personally loved the pubs, eateries, and cruise terminal), and you could spend as much or as little money and still have a good time. I found complete value based on the prices, service, and experience noted above (TOTAL paid experience varied BEFORE any discounts/tip). And, many of the businesses accepted my credit card of choice... AMEX! 5.0 STARS

    Sydney's oldest neighborhood…read more Walk along the cobblestone paved streets and narrow laneways. Explore the markets, the museums and the galleries. This is where Sydney was born in 1788. The newly arrived convicts set up shops, pubs and homes. The Fortune of War pub opened almost 200 years ago in 1828. Imagine the hardships that those early settlers faced. Today, many of those original historic buildings have been restored. The renovations have turned what was once dilapidated into a popular tourist area.

    Photos
    The Rocks - Nurses Walk Entrance (12/12/24). @TheRocks @Sydney #Australia #TheRocks #Traveling #Exploring

    Nurses Walk Entrance (12/12/24). @TheRocks @Sydney #Australia #TheRocks #Traveling #Exploring

    The Rocks - Sunrise and a cruise ship  is pulling in

    Sunrise and a cruise ship is pulling in

    The Rocks - Cruise ships dock in the harbor of The Rocks

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    Cruise ships dock in the harbor of The Rocks

    Vivid Sydney

    Vivid Sydney

    3.9(27 reviews)
    2.1 kmSydney

    Putting aside the headache it is to try and drive to this area and find parking during this crazy…read moreevent, Vivid was pretty damn cool. We went on the Starship Sydney, which despite the amount of people on board, still had plenty of space for great views of all lights. I'm especially impressed how Sydney coordinates all the different displays, especially the bridge which baffles my mind. Overall, it was just an awesome experience for a reasonable price. And loved having a couple drinks during the cruise as well.

    Vivid is an annual arts festival in Sydney held yearly in late-May and through most of June. It was…read morestarted in 2009 so it is relatively new. I didn't know about this festival until I learned about it the week before I traveled it to Sydney. It is apparently one of the biggest festivals of the year there. The 2016 event was the most successful one to date as it drew over 2.3 million visitors. The festival is most known for its art installations around Sydney that are lighted up at night for the festival. It is like a Christmas lights festival in the middle of the year. The most popular landmark to see lighted up is the iconic Sydney Opera House. Other attractions like Darling Harbour and Sydney Harbour Bridge are also decked out in lights. There are also two other parts of the festival which are lesser known. There is a music festival component of local and international acts at numerous venues around Sydney which was headlined this year by Björk. The other part is an ideas/discussion symposium on an array of diverse topics. Since I had a limited time in Sydney, I only was able to make it to the lights portion of the festival. While the Vivid lights can be found around the city, the main location to visit is Circular Quay. The lights at the festival start around 6 pm, so you will want to get to the area before they turn on. The festival takes place at the end of fall/beginning of winter in Australia, so make sure to cover up if you go as it can get chilly in the evening. Based on the traffic in the area, it seems like public transportation is the best way to get there. I would recommend taking the train to Circular Quay Station if you can. Due to the crowds, you might be asked by the conductor to get off at an earlier station and walk over so the train can make room for people at Circular Quay trying to leave the area. If you don't want to deal with the crowds, another way to enjoy the festivities is by taking a Vivid cruise for a view of the lights from the water. When I arrived at Circular Quay, I found it to be full of people as it would be since it was a Saturday evening. The lights for the festival were just about everywhere. There was a lights show called "The Matter of Painting" being played on a building that was intriguing. And if you walked to the waterfront, you can see the Sydney Harbour Bridge lighted up. After mulling about in this area, I walked towards the Sydney Opera House to see the lights there. The ones there were my favorite of the festival. It was cool seeing this landmark decked out in different colors and patterns. While I didn't get a chance to see them, I would also recommend checking out the lights at the Royal Botanic Gardens which is adjacent to the Sydney Opera House. I walked through the gardens the next afternoon and see that they had a huge lights display there. Unfortunately, I couldn't stay into the evening to see them. Really enjoyed Vivid. While much of the music and ideas portions of the festival require admission, the lights festival is free and open to all. If you decide to visit Sydney next year when Vivid is on, I highly recommend checking out the light shows that this festival puts on around the city.

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    Vivid Sydney
    Vivid Sydney
    Vivid Sydney - Vivid Sydney 2023

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    Vivid Sydney 2023

    Cockatoo Island Outpost Project

    Cockatoo Island Outpost Project

    5.0(1 review)
    4.8 km

    Cockatoo Island's vast abandoned factories, unused alleyways and shipping docks provides an…read moreexciting location for visitors to see a huge range of Street Art in one location. And because of its dynamic and live nature, the art will change and evolve, giving visitors something different to see throughout the course of the festival which runs from 4 November - 11 December, 2011. We are delighted one Sunday that the weather is perfect and that public transport for a Fun Day ticket is only $5 so we take advantage of this offer and catch the ferry over to Cockatoo Island for the street art display called Outpost. When we arrive we are met with a colourful cup wall and a huge expansive chalkboard floor which our toddler runs too and grabs chalk from the baskets to begin her own graffiti. On hot days because of the asphalt it can be incredibly hot so make sure young one are covered up and it wouldn't hurt to have cover for yourself. Children scoot and skate around us as this place is perfect for this kind of activity. We then choose to walk down the working tunnel which leads to the Turbine Hall. It makes for a wonderful experience to see art from Ben Frost, Everfresh and The Beastman. We exit and go into the Turbine Hall where the Kidzoom Home project shows a movie installation and three commodore pile up installation inside. On the other side we sit in one of the many cafes and have a refreshing drink and coffee. Our Toddler decides she is off and goes into the junk room with other kids to construct her own sculpture she loves it. Following this we go into a big room with hanging t-shirts and profiles on different graphic artists and then go over to the X Box room to do some dancing. This exhibition is progressive, dynamic and worth those who are keen to take the short trip from Circular Quay for the day. Relax with a cocktail in the Cockatoo Island Bar at the end of the day. Verdict: One in a million experience that you must go and see.

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    Cockatoo Island Outpost Project
    Cockatoo Island Outpost Project
    Cockatoo Island Outpost Project

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    Spirit Gallery - Didgeridoos & Yidaki

    Spirit Gallery

    4.9(8 reviews)
    2.3 kmThe Rocks
    $$$

    We had such a great experience at Spirit Gallery! Anita was incredibly kind and helpful while we…read morewere choosing a didgeridoo, showing us several options within our budget and helping us understand what we were buying. They're even shipping it directly to our home in Oahu, which made everything so easy. Highly recommend stopping in -- such a special experience!

    The Digeridoo is a wind instrument, played with vibrating lips to produce a continuous drone while…read moreusing a special breathing technique called circular breathing. It was developed by Aboriginal peoples of northern Australia at least 1,000 years ago, and is now in use around the world, though still most strongly associated with Indigenous Australian music. The Spirit Gallery is where I bought my Didgeridoo, maybe the most iconic souvenir from our recent trip to Australia. This place has a great selection and depth of knowledge. My host showed me how to play it and offered great information on how they're made, painted, and played. I was able to make some "music" from it by playing it like a Trumpet, but that's not the correct way. On to You Tube for my further progress. I paid AUD 180 for a very nice smaller instrument that I thought was a great value. The shop wrapped it up well and to the point that it easy made it back to Nevada as checked luggage without a scratch. Depending on who you talk to at the Airport, my Digeridoo was either a musical instrument or a weapon. Regardless, there was no way it was going to fit in an overhead compartment.

    Photos
    Spirit Gallery - Yidaki

    Yidaki

    Spirit Gallery
    Spirit Gallery

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    Chinatown - localflavor - Updated May 2026

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