Surry Hills Suburb Profile

This neighbourhood is a creative central hub, home to the Brett Whiteley Studio and Belvoir St Theatre. Living in Surry Hills means you’ll find some of the city’s best organic cafés, lively pubs, fashionable wine bars, and hip boutiques. Café culture, gourmet food stores, and alfresco dining share space with a large number of small businesses lining the narrow leafy streets, lanes, and back alleys. 

Locals love a quick bike ride or walk to the city and can access surrounding areas by tram, bus, or train. The council continues to improve the quality of living, developing parks, playgrounds, and bike lanes, including an award-winning public library that sits opposite Shannon Reserve Park on Crown Street. 

Surry Hills has high-quality childcare and educational establishments, such as Sydney Boys and Sydney Girls High Schools, and the Australian Institute of Music campus on Foveaux Street. The famous open-air markets are held in Shannon Reserve Park on the first Saturday of every month, offering second-hand fashion, homemade crafts, and vintage goods. The suburb is known for its warm and friendly spirit, monthly market, local amenities, and annual Surry Hills Festival, all of which contribute to the community vibe. 

Locals appreciate expertly crafted coffee and gourmet food and will wait patiently in line to be seated at a number of brunch institutions. Foodies are never short of dining options. Living in Surry Hills allows you to enjoy a laid-back yet bustling atmosphere during the workweek, with the area really ramping up at night and on the weekends. Take your pick of award-winning eateries, multicultural cuisines, small bars, and lively pubs any night of the week. 

Area Features

Arts

Surry Hills is a creative hub which features the Belvoir Theatre, the Brett Whiteley Studio, blank_space gallery and the ever-changing face of street art.

Shop

This walker-friendly, village-style neighbourhood is home to stylish and quirky boutique stores and art galleries that boast works by renowned and emerging artists. An eclectic mix of homewares stores, speciality designers, charming stationary shops, bookstores, and musical outlets line the streets.

Wine & Dine

Gourmets travel from afar to this neighbourhood that boasts multicultural cuisine, including the authentic Argentinean BBQ restaurant Porteno on Cleveland Street, casual Italian dishes at Flour Eggs Water on Crown Street, and the laid-back Mama’s Buoi serving home-style Vietnamese on Devonshire Street.

Commute

On the edge of Sydney’s CBD, Surry Hills is a quick bike ride or walk to work. With Central railway station down the hill and a network of buses passing through, Surry Hills is well connected to the greater Sydney region.

Every man and his dog can be found strolling the streets of Surry Hills. 

Surry Hills is a cultural melting pot, made up of new and long-standing residents, entrepreneurs, students, professionals, and families. The neighbourhood attracts young artistically minded professionals and has a vibrant LQTBQI+ community.