9 Stylish Places To Shop in Sydney: A Local’s Guide
Looking for the chicest places to shop till you drop in Sydney? When it comes to uncovering hidden city secrets, our General Manager Luther La is your local authority for Sydney’s most stylish places to spend some coin in the CBD.
A fashion lover and seeker of big smoke buzz, Luther has plenty of experience travelling, and most importantly, shopping through different cities across the globe. He brings his natural skills for urban exploration to our hotel to share with you, our guest, to help find your way in Sydney, seeking out stylish experiences and boutique brands to fit your retail interests.
Read on to discover his curated recommendations on the top retail stores to visit for your next trip to Sydney’s CBD from Haymarket, Newtown, Surry Hills, Paddington and beyond.
#1. MAILLOT
BEST FOR TRENDY JAPANESE STREETWEAR
For style-seeking tourists scouting the city’s high-end, independent fashion and the finest essentials, MAILLOT in Haymarket is a select store, curating trendy Japanese and independent labels that will find their way into your wardrobe, and stay there for life. Big on diversity, fashion-forward travelers can pilfer through the wide range of exclusive street fashion, independent brands and lifestyle elements. Take your pick of Nanamica, Beams Japan, Post Archive Faction (PAF), Studio Nicholson, Amomento, Taiga Takahashi (T.T), Clarks Originals, Nigel Cabourn, Snow Peak, YMC, Hender Scheme, Porter Classic and more.
Luther’s take: “I love Maillot for their trendy Korean & Japanese brands. And after your shopping spree, you can wind down at Outta Coffee and enjoy amazing, high-quality matcha sourced from Shizuoka in Japan.”
17 Valentine St, Haymarket NSW 2000
#2. INCU
BEST FOR AUSTRALIAN & INTERNATIONAL CONTEMPORARY LABELS
Filled with top brands and the latest trends, Incu doesn’t disappoint with its curated collection of refined pieces from elevated everyday essentials made with beautiful layered fabrics to relaxed men’s shirting. Conveniently located in The Galeries on George Street, Incu’s own in-house label is not to be missed alongside the leading international brands and emerging Australian designers ready to be discovered like Acne Studios, A.P.C., Ami Paris, Jacquemus, Dries Van Noten, Comme des Garçons Play, Ganni, Christopher Esber, Needles, Carhartt WIP, and New Balance.
Luther’s take: “There’s something for everyone at Incu with their wide range of styles and make sure to visit their outlet at Roseberry for those looking to save big on discounted cult favourites.”
Shop RG024/500 George St, Sydney NSW 2000
Credit: Incu
#3. ABOVE THE CLOUDS
BEST FOR GLOBAL FOOTWEAR & ACCESSORIES
Located in the vibrant inner-city suburb of Surry Hills, Above the Clouds strikes the right balance of cool fashion pieces, trendy footwear and bold accessories. Find unisex premium fabrics, oversized tailoring, in their playful store set over two floors designed by Pattern Studio. Not only are the clothing pieces fun to look at – the hyper-industrial interiors also speak for themselves as you browse through brushed aluminium metal walls, neatly stacked pieces and an impressive 8-metre glowing sneaker wall – a shrine perfect for sneakerheads in Sydney looking to score the perfect pair.
Luther’s take: “Inspired by the founder’s time in Harajuku, Daikanyama and Shibuya, it’s a super trendy spot to shop. There are plenty of nice cafés and bars nearby to enjoy after a bit of retail therapy.”
Shop 8/285a Crown St, Surry Hills NSW 2010
Credit: Traianos Pakioufakis
#4. RALPH LAUREN
BEST FOR TIMELESS LUXURY
A luxury shopping spree in Sydney isn’t complete without venturing inside the four floors of the World of Ralph Lauren store, housed inside a historic Victorian space. Effortlessly elegant, each level of this heritage store offers customers an immersive experience across the brand’s timeless collections, including Ralph Lauren Collection, Purple Label, Polo Ralph Lauren, Ralph Lauren Home, Ralph Lauren Watches and Fine Jewellery. It is also the only destination in Australia to offer women’s Double RL, in addition to the coveted men’s Double RL range.
Luther’s take: “House of Ralph has everything from easy everyday Polo to rugged RRL and the timeless Ralph Lauren Purple Label. There’s something here for every style.”
138-140 Pitt St, Sydney NSW 2000
Credit: Ralph Lauren
#5. CHINATOWN COUNTRY CLUB
BEST FOR AN EAST MEETS WEST CONCEPT
Go where the cool kids go and stop by Chinatown Country Club, an independent fashion retail concept consisting of east meets west culture that celebrates inclusivity. Located in the heart of Sydney, near Queen Victoria Building, even A-list actress Zendaya famously stopped by for a shopping spree with her stylish Law Roach during her time in Australia.
Based on the juxtaposition between the exclusive country club and the welcoming familiarity of Chinatown, this stylish shopping spot is an experiential and immersive destination. Browse the curated and innovative selection of emerging and established labels blending cultural heritage with modern style, and discover in-house collections of rare fashion finds, international streetwear and luxury labels.
Luther’s take: “I love searching through the great selection of emerging and established labels. There’s also a café serving specialty roast coffee in collaboration with Grace & Taylor Coffee Company.”
222 Clarence St, Sydney NSW 2000
#6. MAPLESTORE
BEST FOR DENIM ENTHUSIASTS
Located inside a historic former bank building, Maplestore is simply a must-visit in Newtown. An iconic fixture in Sydney’s Inner West since 2003, it’s the go-to place for authentic, high-quality Australian streetwear, specialising in durable denim and premium attire with longevity. Renowned for its curated mix of Australian labels and highly sought after international brands – including Naked & Famous Denim, Nudie Jeans, YMC (You Must Create), and Neuw – Maplestore is the best spot for those looking to bring home an effortlessly cool wardrobe staple that will never go out of style.
Luther’s take: “In the heart of Newtown, it offers premium, timeless looks as well as lifestyle goods like niche fragrances, candles and homeware. While you’re there, be sure to check out more vintage stores and eclectic shops around the neighbourhood.”
244 King St, Newtown NSW 2042
Credit: Maplestore
#7. BLUE WORKS
BEST FOR FOR DENIM ENTHUSIASTS
Just a short walk from our hotel in Pyrmont and tucked away in the buzzing precinct of Darling Square in Haymarket, Blue Works isn’t just a clothing store – it’s an experience. Specialising in vintage clothing including heavy-duty selvedge denim menswear and masterfully curated streetwear, this hidden gem shopping spot in Darling Harbour is a goldmine for tourists and locals alike.
Founded by Steve Fengdu, who has an incredible knack for unearthing meticulously designed pieces, this boutique shop is legendary for its craftsmanship, acting as an antithesis to the fast fashion industry. For the vintage fashion aficionados, Blue Works carries top-tier brands like Buzz Rickson’s, Full Count, Iron Heart, Nigel Cabourn, and Sugar Cane.
Luther’s take: “Vintage, vintage, vintage. Blue Works is a small, cosy store packed with character, stories, and one-of-a-kind finds.”
Shop 10/1/19 Little Hay St, Haymarket NSW 2000
#8. SUPPLY STORE
BEST FOR EXCLUSIVE DROPS
Have you really been shopping in Darlinghurst, if you haven’t been to Supply Store? The undisputed crown jewel of Sydney streetwear since 2002, wander the moody brick-lined multilevel store that’s famous for stocking highly demanded, hyper-limited releases of global stock from some of the world’s biggest brands with top-tier collaborations year-round. Chasing exclusive ultra-rare sneaker drops in Sydney? Supply Store is right where you need to be for your next streetwear fix, bringing you Stüssy, Palace Skateboards, Nike, Arc’teryx, A Bathing Ape (BAPE), Human Made, Carhartt WIP.
Luther’s take: “This is the go-to for streetwear, with a solid lineup of brands and regular drops from sought-after names around the world.”
Burton St & Riley St, Darlinghurst NSW 2010
Credit: Supply Store
#9. PARLOUR X
BEST FOR DIVERSE LUXURY DESIGNER LABELS
For the fashion-forward traveller in Sydney, Oxford Street in Paddington is amongst the best shopping destinations for well-known designer labels. There’s no shortage of style in this vibrant suburb, especially at Parlour X, a branded boutique housed inside the stunning refurbished St John’s Church where fashion, art and historic architectural design collide. Here you’ll find the world’s most coveted collection of ready-to-wear luxury fashion to inspire stylish Sydneysiders and tourists alike, including luxury designers like Céline, Chloé, Fendi, Valentino, Saint Laurent, Loewe, Proenza Schouler, and Isabel Marant.
Luther’s take: “A curated selection of hard-to-find luxury brands all under one roof. A great place to browse, and a perfect excuse to explore Paddington.”
261 Oxford St, Paddington NSW 2021
Credit: Parlour X
NEED A PLACE TO STAY?
Looking for a stylish place to stay in Sydney? After a long day of shopping around town looking your best, retreat to your stylish sanctuary with a relaxing stay at our boutique hotel in Sydney’s charming village of Pyrmont. Spend the night at Sydney’s most beautiful boutique accommodation, filled with stunning artwork in and around every room.
