The best places to live in Sydney for those starting their careers and looking to mingle.
For a capital city, Sydney cops a fair share of – sometimes unfair – criticism of being a city that’s a little “boring” for young professionals.
While it may not boast the endless nightlife of some of America’s biggest cities or have the same kind of overall scene as Melbourne, Sydney still offers plenty of entertainment for younger workers who are willing to live relatively near the CBD and in some of its inner suburbs in particular.
But what are the absolute best suburbs in Sydney for young professionals to live, blending together the best of things to do and non-ridiculous commutes to work?
For “young professionals”, we’re assuming some mix of the following:
- You’re single, or at least unmarried, and don’t have kids
- You work/will be working in the Sydney CBD or a major nearby centre such as Macquarie Park, Green Square, etc.
- You’re after decent nightlife, dining, drinking, dancing, live music, and perhaps beach options not too far away
- You’re possibly willing to live in a smaller apartment and/or share house, at least for a limited amount of time
All that in mind, here’s our picks for the 10 best Sydney suburbs for young professionals:
10. Redfern
Why it’s good: extremely close to the city; Central Station within walking distance; plenty of pubs/bars nearby; slightly less pricey than Surry Hills
While most people would default to tossing Surry Hills into this mix due to its high quantity of pubs and non-discriminatory atmosphere, don’t sleep on Redfern right next door. Disregard its previously poor brand name – Redfern has been heavily beaten with the gentrification stick, and now is pretty damn upmarket in many places.
Plenty of recent developments have given it a facelift, and while it still blends together an interesting mix of characters and demographics, it’s come a long way and still provides you all the easy access to the nightlife opportunities of Surry Hills and cafes of Alexandria nearby.
It’s bordered by a ton of great parkland on many sides offering great walking, cycling, and public exercise spots, it’s got a train station with good connectivity that can take you into working hotspots like Wynyard in a matter of minutes, and it’s extremely well-equipped with supermarket and dining options as well.
The University of Sydney is just a stone’s throw away, and cool attractions such as Carriageworks, the sports stadiums, parks and racetrack at Moore Park and Randwick, and countless other cool things to do are all walkable.
It’s also slightly less pricey than Surry Hills, so you can expect to save yourself at least $50 per week rent on average for an apartment, and potentially much more. Don’t let the brand name fool you, Redfern is ideal for young workers and is far safer today than its past history might suggest.
9. Crows Nest
Why it’s good: solid developing dining scene; mostly peaceful; main North Shore option that’s not dead at night
The only true North Shore suburb that actually has much going on after dark (outside of perhaps Chatswood), Crows Nest is about as good a mix you’re going to get in this part of Sydney in terms of city energy/action and more peaceful suburban life.
Most people choose the North Shore for its “classy” atmosphere, but what they really mean is large, towering homes in green quiet suburbs with gaudy gates and driveways – and nothing happening at night.
Crows Nest bucks the trend quite well here. Willoughby Road has become something of a hotspot for cool restaurants and upcoming hip bars and cafes covering most cuisines and demographics, but there’s also a good mix of fast food options elsewhere in the suburb.
The Crows Nest Hotel (a.k.a “the Crowie”) is long-running as a go-to party spot for the younger crowd, and frequently has nights that are packed and pumping until all hours of the night.
It’s also one of the “cheapest” suburbs on the Lower North Shore (although that’s relative; it’s still pricey), and just an easy bus ride or drive down over the Harbour Bridge and into the city.
You can also walk or bike over to nearby train stations at St Leonards or Wollstonecraft and zip up to Chatswood for bigger shopping at Westfield, or just head down into the Sydney CBD itself.
For beach bums, Balmoral – one of the prettiest urban beaches in Sydney – is only a 10 to 15 minute drive away as well, with its Balmoral Boathouse a really cool hangout spot on weekends and for the odd Sunday session.
8. Marrickville
Why it’s good: easy city access by train; great selection of restaurant cuisines, cafes and breweries; lively, outgoing atmosphere overall
Diverse in terms of demographics, age groups and ethnic backgrounds while recently being hit with a big wave of new places to drink and dine, Marrickville is often labelled as the “new Newtown”, with good reason.
It’s become the Inner West’s new hub for cool places to try boutique beer and a mix of some really solid restaurants often without some of the more ridiculous inner-city prices.
In the present day, Marrickville’s a little bit of a strange mix between gentrification and the remaining grit of its past, but this gives you the best of both worlds in terms of people to encounter. It’s not as dodgy as it once was, yet still isn’t too pretentious to make you want to roll your eyes either.
In terms of everyday needs, Marrickville is packed with multiple supermarket options, independent goods stores such as butchers and grocers, while Marrickville Road is dotted with a good mix of sit-down and fast food dining options.
Many of its places to eat include Vietnamese and Greek spots which rank among some of the best of their kind in Sydney and hark back to the suburb’s ethnic heritage.
For young professionals working in the city, Marrickville offers an easy 20-ish minute train ride through to Wynyard (less to Town Hall) and a good helping of bus services running along Marrickville and Livingstone roads. Add in plenty of nice park spaces, and it’s both convenient and versatile.
It’s got an upcoming blend of brewing companies offering a wide range of different craft ales and has become one of Sydney’s go-to spots to meet up with mates for a drop or three, so if you’re after the ability to eat good, diverse food and have regular drink meetups (and don’t mind enduring the plane noise from the flight path) then Marrickville makes for a solid choice.
7. Coogee
Why it’s good: easy and pretty beach access; city still within easy reach; good cafe and bar culture; is not Bondi
One for the beach bums that still want some things going on when not by the sea, Coogee is all about maximising most of your time outdoors.
Obviously the majority of Coogee’s appeal comes from its namesake beach, which draws huge quantities of visitors from all across Sydney – and even overseas – during the warmer months.
The beach itself is great for all purposes, from a raw swim and sunbake to surfing and other aquatic activities. It’s well patrolled, and decent for families, although it’s largely populated with younger adults and international tourists as well as locals.
It’s a fair bit less commercial than its more famous brother, Bondi, yet retains most of its benefits with a slightly less touristy vibe. Coogee gives you a pretty laid-back atmosphere and relaxed pace of living given how relatively close it is to the Sydney CBD; while there’s no train station, bus services are fairly frequent and will take you into the business district in around 40 minutes time.
Driving is obviously shorter, but traffic on the morning commute can be terrible for those looking for car-based transport heading into the city.
Coogee is also largely less pretentious than some of its neighbouring suburbs further to the north, and offers (slightly) lower prices for rentals as well. It’s dotted with a number of cool cafes, sure, but it’s also quite lively for places to enjoy a proper drink as well.
Outside of its iconic Coogee Bay Hotel right across the road from the beach, Coogee’s home to plenty of wine rooms, sports bars and other standard spots all within an easy walk from the esplanade and its pretty parkland.
It can be pretty noisy of a night as it’s popular with backpackers and its hotels are often pumping, but if you’re looking for a semi-reasonably-priced slice of coastal Sydney without a terrible CBD commute, Coogee may just be the lifestyle you’re looking for.
6. Glebe / Forest Lodge
Why it’s good: walking distance to CBD; artsy/indie vibe and entertainment; close proximity to major Sydney attractions
Boasting an entirely different aspect to the aforementioned Coogee above, Glebe is on the opposite end of the scale for atmospheres with a much more oldschool and slightly Euro-influenced vibe.
It’s a bit more artsy, a bit more gritty, and more downtown/urban than most of the other suburbs on this list being almost IN Sydney city – but not quite.
There’s a slight bit of separation so that Glebe still feels separate, but having most of Sydney’s main workplaces within walking distance – or a short jump on the Light Rail system – makes for a pretty damn easy commute.
Glebe is heavy in terrace-style living and apartments, and is highly popular with uni students sharing sharehouses in particular due to its proximity to the University of Sydney nearby.
It’s a buzzing suburb and can be noisy at times due to road noise, but there’s also nearly always something going on. Its weekend markets, regular local festivals, and hotels home to some pretty good live music make for a suburb that feels “lived in” and lively.
What it’s lacking in beachfront or otherwise cleanliness, it more than makes up for in waterfront scenery, as Glebe’s home to some truly gorgeous bayside areas and walking tracks that make for really pretty spots for exercise.
Both Jubilee and Wentworth Parks are roomy and are great for the likes of yoga sessions or those with pets, while views out to Rozelle and Blackwattle Bay make for some epic morning Instagram shots.
Add in all of the city at your fingertips and amenities such as Broadway shopping complex nearby, and Glebe’s one for those who like having a huge array of choice at all times and who don’t mind things a bit gritty as a result.
Side note: for those who want things a little more modern/upmarket, the connected suburb of Forest Lodge makes for an alternative that’s basically just a re-branded and renovated part of Glebe given a new name.
5. Manly
Why it’s good: excellent beaches; good mix of dining and drinks; clean and highly pretty; potential water-based commute
The signature – and most accessible – icon of the Northern Beaches, while Manly has a reputation as an extremely expensive slice of Sydney only for the wealthy and older, it’s still extremely popular among the younger crowd as well.
It’s not hard to see why; Manly’s arguably one of the prettiest parts of inner Sydney and a highly outdoor-oriented suburb with a handful of great beaches, plenty of places to eat and drink, and open and clean overall.
There’s one main criteria to living in Manly that will likely make or break whether it’s a good place to live for the young professional: where you work. Driving to the city from Manly during peak hours is a nightmare and can be extremely drawn-out and draining, and bus commutes are also prone to blowing out.
With the only real hub for employment on the Northern Beaches in the relatively nearby Brookvale, only those who work in the Sydney CBD will be well-served by living here.
The ability to catch the ferry across from Manly into the city makes for one of the most unique and enjoyable commutes in the country (when the weather is fine), and is a far preferable alternative to enduring the drive.
If that box is ticked, then Manly offers some truly great stuff in terms of lifestyle. It’s packed with restaurants, cafes, bars, shopping and other entertainment – although many of them carry tourist prices – but its main appeal is the wealth of outdoor activities it provides access to.
Bike riding around the headland, snorkelling or scuba diving in its aquatic reserves, stand up paddleboarding or surfing, or enjoying its many walks and public picnic spots; take your pick.
Add in some of its pretty buildings due to its history, and, as long as you’re willing to settle for an apartment due to freestanding home prices, Manly offers one of Sydney’s most pleasant environments overall.
4. Erskineville
Why it’s good: easy CBD commute; younger overall demographic; growing cafe & bar scene; other youth suburbs right nextdoor
Walking the line between the “young professional” and “young family” demographic, Erskineville offers a buzzing village-type atmosphere with a growing assortment of cafes and bars as well as housing options to boot.
Formerly just a tight cluster of mostly terraces which have seen their prices blow out to epic proportions in recent times, there’s been enough development in “Erko” apartment-wise to help make renting in the suburb more affordable for the younger crowd as well.
While it’s not a place you’ll want to regularly drive (this development has resulted in pretty bad traffic), it’s highly connected and well-positioned for those who want a balance of city life and peace in general.
Erskineville’s location is probably its biggest selling point, not only for its proximity to Sydney city – the train ride from Erskineville Station to Wynyard is just over 10 minutes long – but also due to the other suburbs which surround it.
If you’re looking for the ability to go out and have a big night without hiking too far away, then return back home and get a pretty good night’s sleep, Erskineville offers this and more.
It’s right next to nightlife and entertainment hotspot Newtown, with the increasingly-trendy Alexandria on the opposite side and the bigger shopping options of the city and even Chippendale within easy reach as well.
That’s not to say Erskineville itself is a non-event. Its local restaurant and pub scene has taken off with its increased population, and its main little slice of retail and dining along Swanson Street is charming and pretty lively despite its often-heavy traffic.
Bars/hotels and breweries are another strong point, with the suburb’s fringes home to several sizeable hotels ideal for a drink or a catch-up. Newtown being right next door also means it’s possible to have a few without needing to worry about driving back home.
Sydney Park on the south side is also one of the biggest and most roomy public spaces in all of Sydney, offering a mix of sprawling grassed areas, wetlands, spots for dogs, and sporting fields for your dose of outdoor action as well.
3. Alexandria
Why it’s good: highly walkable suburb; growing cafe and drink culture; some employment opportunities; “start-up” type vibe in general
One of the reasons we rank Alexandria so highly on this list for young people – despite not being massive fans of it overall – might not be immediately obvious. That’s because, rather than just a cool and upcoming place to live, Alexandria itself also serves as an increasingly popular place to work as well.
In recent years, this suburb has seen itself become the launch pad for a wide range of new and innovative startups and boutique businesses, particularly in the online space. As a result, it’s often possible to both live and work here while being able to skip the commute into the Sydney CBD entirely.
It’s also brought with it an influx of like-minded, tech-oriented young workers to coexist alongside its blue-collar factory offerings making for a cool, diverse and mixed demographic that’s always interesting.
Alexandria and its surrounds has seen one of the highest quantities of development of any part of Sydney in recent years, going from a largely industrial oldschool type suburb into an increasingly hip and upmarket trendy gathering place for many to hang out.
Old, warehouse-type buildings have been converted into stylishly decorated cafes or microbreweries (hello, Grounds of Alexandria), and new apartment blocks have opened up more opportunities for small-scale living as well.
It’s become a cool, diverse little suburb with plenty of inventive places to eat and drink and now boasts one of the highest ratios of cafes-per-capita of any area of Sydney. And again, with Newtown, Erskineville, Redfern and the city all nearby, the choices for places to gather and enjoy life here are wide and varied.
Its Green Square development around the station is still ongoing, but for those who do work in the city again offers an easy 15-ish minute train ride into the CBD. Ditto for bike-riders; Alexandria is a highly rideable (and walkable) suburb in general, giving you the flexibility to ride to work – or travel on foot instead. It’s a pretty flat suburb without many hills, and thus easy to get from A to B without needing to deal with roads.
That’s important, as Alexandria and its immediate surrounding suburbs have one of the worst traffic situations in the city. All the new housing around Green Square means you can have the option for a more affordable place to live, but it’s added a lot more strain on the infrastructure as well – so try stick to public transport, walking or riding here if at all possible.
2. Newtown
Why it’s good: progressive-thinking suburb; huge array of restaurants of all types; hub for live music and other entertainment; easy commute
The “classic” go-to response for the “I’m young and moving to Sydney and want to live somewhere lively, where should I live?” question, Newtown has its reputation for a reason. The suburb enjoyed a mini-boom in recent years as a result of stricter lockout laws in the city, which pushed many towards the Inner West and is alternative entertainment options.
Newtown became the default capital for this long ago, and retains much of what makes it unique today despite some gentrification creeping in. If you’re the type who appreciates a left-leaning atmosphere that’s open to a wide range of lifestyle types and doesn’t mind living in a spot that’s pretty much constantly busy, Newtown is “alternative Sydney city life” at its most thriving.
It’s hip and trendy, sure, but in a far more truly “Bohemian” way, than say, the slightly more clean-and-professionally-oriented Surry Hills.
Newtown still retains plenty of gritty elements – random semi-run-down thrift stores, streets dotted with graffiti (some amazingly skilled, some just rubbish ‘tagging’), and the occasional bit of night time rowdiness. This is to be expected of a place that offers a high quantity of places to enjoy of a night, and Newtown delivers here.
Despite increasingly high prices, it’s still one of the best suburbs for getting a reasonably-priced bite to eat, and the range of cuisines covered here is massive.
Vegan options are abundant if that’s your thing, and its signature thoroughfare of King Street is jam-packed with cafes, modern and historic bars/hotels, and restaurants covering food from Italy to Thailand to Egypt and most places in-between.
It’s also a pretty outgoing and friendly suburb in general; most people who choose to live here do so because they enjoy others’ company, and it shows. Live events are also frequent as it’s home to a range of venues, and music-lovers will find this suburb to still be the main bastion for performances in Sydney.
Getting to the CBD is its other obvious benefit, as Newtown sits a mere 2km outside Sydney city, and its train station offers a sub-15-minute commute to Wynyard and less to Town Hall and Central.
Its one downfall is price, as it’s gotten a lot more expensive in recent years; but there’s a strong share-house community here so if you’re willing to split a place with others you’ll be able to save a fair chunk of coin.
All of the above may seem to add up to Newtown being the absolute best place in Sydney to live for young professionals, but it’s lacking one key thing that we feel excludes it from bumping off the top spot on our list below…
1. Paddington
Why it’s good: plenty of things to see and do; great mix of dining and drinking; easy city access; some very pretty public spaces; much easier access to beach than other inner city suburbs
Our #1 pick for this list, Paddo sums up pretty much everything that makes bustling, inner-city life special for the younger crowd here to make the most of it.
It’s a fair bit cleaner and has prettier and better public spaces than Newtown; it’s got a bigger and wider mix of housing to choose from than Erskineville; it’s got perhaps Sydney’s best park right on its doorstep; and it’s within a far more reasonable striking distance to the beach than its rival suburbs to the west while not being “isolated” from city life as Manly is.
Paddington simply feels like a highly balanced version of the best parts of every other place we’ve listed blended into one, and it’s hard not to feel like it’s “alive” regardless of what time of day you choose to visit.
While neighbouring Darlinghurst basically flows into it along main artery Oxford Street, just a few hundred metres does make a difference; Paddington is safer and slightly less dodgy while being no more of a slouch when it comes to cafes and places to drink.
As with the others listed, Paddington is highly dense with cafes but its hotels are also a standout. Its heritage, historic buildings make for some pretty epic and atmospheric places to hang out, with venues like The London, The Royal and others allowing you to enjoy some quality pub food and tap beer either upstairs or out in the sun.
For the fashion-conscious, Paddington’s packed with boutique storefronts and shops, and its Markets are a signature that’s been running for a long time and provide the chance at some cool handcrafted items. It’s got fresh food and supermarket options, fast food joints, a solid mix of restaurants… pretty much everything you need to enjoy that paycheck.
The public spaces in and adjacent to Paddington deserve special mention. Centennial Park is enormous, spacious and truly massive; it’s basically big enough to be a “suburb” in itself. It offers unique water areas, sporting fields, walks and rides, and even outdoor cinemas, as well as just a general kickass place to get some nature and sunshine.
Its other main – cool and relatively unknown – place we like the most is the Paddington Reservoir Gardens just down some stairs from Oxford Street. It’s a former water supply facility-turned-water-gardens that feels like something out of ancient Rome or Game of Thrones, and is just fricking cool as a spot to hang out or take photos in.
Lastly, Paddington offers far more reasonable access to the beach than the Inner West suburbs do, with a 25 minute bus ride to Bondi and only slightly longer to Tamarama or Bronte. Head in the other direction, and you’ve got a pretty easy bus-based commute to work in the CBD too despite its lack of a train station.
There’s no denying that Paddington is expensive to live in, but it does offer a pretty decent quantity of studio and 1-bedroom apartments to choose from for those wanting to save on rent. In all, it’s a worthy price to pay for what we feel is the best suburb to live in for young professionals in Sydney.
January 28, 2022
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