Domain neighbourhood guide: How to spend the perfect Saturday in Erskineville

Wedged in between Newtown and Alexandria and only two stops from Central station, Erskineville is a bit like the inner west’s friendly, entry-level suburb.

Life feels a little edgy being just a stone’s throw from the throb of King Street, but Erskineville is a true village with a community heart and a fun, slightly loose vibe. Here’s how to spend a perfect Saturday in the area.  

9am: Breakfast at Fleetwood Macchiato

Fleetwood Macchiato in Erskineville, Sydney. Photo: Fiona Morris.

This tiny café offers so much more than a brilliant name.

Fleetwood matches a pastry counter that groans under the weight of upside-down banana cakes, Danishes and muffins with a rotating list of single origin coffees, an all-day breakfast menu with the best chorizo-stuffed breakfast rolls in the land and chirpy, laid-back service.

43 Erskineville Rd. (02) 9557 9291

10am: Sculpture sighting at Clara Street Gallery

It’s worth a nip past this gallery space, which sits inside the Tom Bass Sculpture Studio School, to see the work of past and current students.

Check the website for details about current exhibitions.

1A Clara St, (02) 9565 4851

11am: Window-shopping at Pure and General

Frustratingly, this carefully curated store of homewares and knick-knacks only opens for a few scant hours on weekends – and that’s if you’re lucky.

The window display does rotate frequently though, so call up and make an appointment if something catches your eye.

38 Swanson St, 0419 243 739

12pm: Flip through vinyl at Revolve Records and Relics

Up for a flip through some second-hand vinyl gold? Revolve stocks everything from ’50s rock ‘n’ roll through to hip-hop, Latin tunes and jazz.

It’s a little dusty, just like all good record shops should be.

Shop 3, 65 Erskineville Rd, (02) 9519 9978 

1pm: Lunch at Café Shenkin

Cafe Shenkin in Erskineville. Photo: Fiona Morris

Shenkin’s Erskineville location was the first in the family owned café empire, which now boasts outposts in Newtown, Enmore, Surry Hills and Randwick.

The Tel Aviv-inspired menu is packed with colour and flavour – try the sabih pastry with eggplant, hummus and spicy coriander.

53 Erskineville Rd, (02) 9550 5511

2pm: Dog-friendly doughnuts at Naked Brew

Naked Brew feels a bit too on-trend for the rest of the neighbourhood, but word is that dogs are lining up for its “domuts” (pooch-friendly doughnuts).

Yes, this is a thing people are paying money for now.

110 Swanson St, (02) 9557 1628 

3pm: A bouquet by The Floral Decorator

The lines stretch long outside this pretty little florist on Valentine’s Day.

It deserves a visit outside of peak bloom-buying times, too.

112 Erskineville Rd, (02) 9516 3113

5pm: Snacks at The Deli

Stock up on local and imported cheeses, charcuterie, olive bread and baguettes, spices and fresh pasta at Erskineville’s sweet little deli which is all killer, no filler.

A slice of lemony spanakopita is an ideal pre-dinner snack.

110 Erskineville Rd, (02) 9557 2685 

6pm: A drink at The Hive Bar

The Hive Bar, Erskineville. Photo: Anthony Johnson

This classic small bar has all the hallmarks of what makes this suburb great – live music, craft brews on tap, an all-Australian wine list and a menu using vegetables grown in the community garden.

You can even take those records you bought up the road in for a spin.

93 Erskineville Rd, (02) 9519 1376

7.30pm: Burgers and smoked brisket at The Erskineville Hotel

The Erskineville Hotel.

There are four pubs in Erskineville, but The Erko is the best. It’s a bit labyrinthine inside, with a great open-air courtyard out back.

The towering cheeseburgers here are drawing crowds, but the brisket and chicken smoked in the in-house smoker are what’ll keep you coming back.

102 Erskineville Rd, (02) 9565 1608 

Other highlights:

It’s Erskineville, so you probably have a dog with you. Take them for a play at the Harry Noble Reserve with the rest of the area’s four-legged friends.

Just opposite the reserve, Ella Guru is a sweet, humble little café with some of the most consistently great coffee in the area – plus there’s free Wi-Fi.

Carriageworks Farmers’ Market is only a 15-minute walk away in Everleigh and runs every Saturday from 8am – 1pm.

The Imperial Hotel is one of Sydney’s most well known gay venues, and booms on the weekends. 

Carriageworks Farmers’ Market.