Surry Hills has all the perfect ingredients for the ultimate girls’ weekend. There’s an endless selection of cafes and restaurants, some of Sydney’s most-loved watering holes, excellent boutique shopping and more gelato than you can poke a stick at. Read our guide, share it with your gal pals and lock in a date.

Eat

Brunch is the weekend meal of champions and nowhere does in better than Surry Hills. Try the famous hotcakes at Bills, one of the melt in your mouth pastries at Bourke Street Bakery, the boutique coffee at Reuben Hills, or something nourishing at the Surry Hills arm of Bondi Wholefoods. Excellent lunches and dinners can be found in all corners of the foodie suburb, from Yulli’s sensational vegetarian on Crown Street to NOMAD’s fancy fare on Foster Street and ingenious and delicious not for profit Folonomo on Bourke Street. Post-dinner (or post-brunch, pre-afternoon tea… you get the picture) make sure you send yourself to Sydney ice-cream hall of famer Messina. If you feel like mixing it up, head to RivaReno Gelato which, in our humble opinion, is just as good.  

Drink

Surry Hills also spoils you for choice in the bar department. Head to The Clock if you’re chasing big pub vibes, The Winery if the idea of a courtyard bathed in fairy lights sounds appealing and Tokyo Bird if you’re after cocktails in a cosy atmosphere.Big Poppasis technically in neighbouring Darlinghurst but its ethos of hip hop, wine and cheese is too good to leave off the list.  

Shop

Surry Hills has perfected the blend of old and new, offering vintage stores selling everything from clothes to records and niche accessories alongside big name brands like Wheels & Doll Baby, Elliatt and Status Anxiety. There’s also a flea market every Saturday where you can nab interesting finds and semi-regular fashion markets in the Winery courtyard where you can snap up pre-loved designer wear at excellent prices.  

Sweat

If you’d prefer to limit your cardio to shopping, please feel free to skip this paragraph: we won’t judge. However, if you do want to work up a sweat, you’ll be pleased to know Surry Hills has some of the best options in town. For a light workout, take a stroll through nearby Hyde Park to the Royal Botanic Gardens. You get beautiful views of the harbour from here and can walk right round to Circular Quay to secure the obligatory snaps of the Opera House and Harbour Bridge. If the weather’s looking dicey, try your hand at a Pilates reformer class at KX Pilates or aerial yoga at Sky-Lab.

Play

Fancy a night at the theatre? The famous Belvoir calls Surry Hills home and has a stellar rotation of performances all year-round. For something a little different, try out one of the drag nights at Stonewall. The queens are fabulous and boast quick wits and dirty mouths: absolutely perfect for a girls’ night out.  

Stay

Spend the weekend at Adina Surry Hills, where you and your gal pals can make yourselves at home in one of the generous two bedroom apartments. The hotel is located right in the middle of Crown Street, meaning all the best bits of the area are quite literally at your doorstep.