Sydney X Suburb – #5: Glebe

Those of you who know me (or have been following my blog) will know that I’m a city girl. Although I’ve lived in a small, seaside village my entire life, I’ve always adored venturing out to busier scenes – doing anything I can to revel in the hustle and bustle of Brighton or London. And if – after living for four months in the centre of arguably the busiest suburb in Sydney – I say that moving to quieter, leafy Glebe was one hell of a welcome change, well… You know something is up. Or that a place has just had a really profound effect on me, and I have fallen in love with it. In this case, I’ll admit, it was a bit of both.

Only 3km from the CBD, yet miles apart in atmosphere, Glebe has a refreshing, neighbourhood-ly, village-y feel. Its centre, Glebe Point Road, is full to the brim of perhaps the most diverse selection of eateries in Sydney; here, you can find anything from Nepalese to Thai to Domino’s Pizza (yes, really) with quirky cafes and vintage clothing and homeware shops filling the gaps in between. In the mood to eat outside? Not a problem – Glebe stretches out to two parks on its outskirts: Wentworth Park is about a 10 minute walk on the way to Darling Harbour, and Bicentennial Park – 20 minutes en route to Balmain – overlooks Rozelle Bay, so you’re never at a loss for natural beauty here. All of this, as well as a peculiar similarity to Melbourne (due to its quaint architecture and handful of gorgeous heritage-listed buildings), make it easy to see why I love living in this beautiful suburb (and the rent is cheap!).

ARRIVE
Train: Central Station, then a 20 minute walk along George St/Broadway/Parramatta Rd until you reach Glebe Point Road.
Bus: The 431 and 433 run from Miller’s Point in the CBD along George St, stopping in Glebe Pt Road.

STAY
While, admittedly, Rooftop Travellers Lodge is not much to look at from the outside, I have ONLY heard good things about this hostel. Situated at the “quieter” end of Glebe Point Road, its long-term residents claim it to be a “home-away-from-home”, while short term ones are always sad to leave. Otherwise, there is the Alishan Guest House, a lovely B&B in the centre of Glebe Point Road.

VISIT
Glebe Markets are perhaps the most famed treasure trove of vintage goods and homemade gourmet foods in the city. From 10am-4pm every Saturday, weave your way through stalls while live bands play in the background. Heritage-listed buildings are also Glebe’s forte, with Sze Yup Temple, Bellevue, Bidura, Lyndhurst, St Scholastica’s College and the gothic Reussdale ALL worth a look for examples of unique architecture. And, lastly, Broadway Shopping Centre: for all main-brand Australian fashion (in particular, I’d recommend a visit to Peter Alexander and Attik, before catching a movie in the attached Hoyt’s Cinema).

EAT
Alfie & Hetty is an adorably homely restaurant in the heart of Glebe which serves the best comfort food in the city. They even have a fireplace. Absolute heaven for romantic dinners or casual lunches with friends. For breakfasts and quick coffees on the go, Clipper Cafe is an easy recommendation. It’s always busy, and with good reason: portion sizes are generous, and food delicious, all at a reasonable price! With jazz tunes playing at non-offensive volumes, sunlight consistently beaming through the huge windows, and vases of flowers, bottles of table water and mason jars adorning every wooden table, the atmosphere here is SO chilled, welcoming and generally reminiscent of decades passed it almost makes you want to don your best threads upon every visit. Cross the road and you will find Badde Manors: where the locals hang out, this cafe is one of the oldest in Glebe and has still managed to retain its natural charm. Best for veggies and vegans.

MY PICKS
Stevie English Hair is RENOWNED for doing wonders on your barnet. A little on the expensive side, but people literally flock from all over the city for a cut here. AND the staff are super-friendly.
The Works is the biggest homeware store in the area. If mass-produced, IKEA-bought furniture really ISN’T your thing, this is the place for you, with its gigantic range of handmade or pre-loved one-of-a-kind pieces.

—

Don’t miss next week, as we focus on Sydney’s glorious coastline and beaches. Find out why, in spite of the hype, Bondi isn’t the best beach (and which one is!)

Thanks for reading!

TTFN! xo.