Tour Sydney’s Best Shopping Precincts in 24 Hours

From the glittering streets of Barangaroo that snake around Sydney’s iconic harbour to the heritage-listed sandstone exterior of the Queen Victoria Building, the New South Wales capital is filled with character-filled shopping precincts offering both style and substance. Whether you’re visiting for a day or a week, here’s our guide to the best places to shop. 

For heritage luxury: the QVB

The copper domes and Romanesque sandstone facade of the 127-year-old Queen Victoria Building are a beacon for seasoned shoppers, attracting local and global visitors to indulge in five floors of curated retail experiences. Located just steps from Sydney Town Hall and easily accessible by train, light rail and bus, the heritage-listed building was originally built during a recession in the 1890s and kept many talented craftspeople – stonemasons, stained-glass artists, plasterers and carpenters – employed. Generations on, that legacy of craftsmanship finds new life with Musson, which has been creating extraordinary jewellery for more than 50 years. Reimagined within the QVB as The Grand Boutique & Workshop, Musson’s new store extends into a light-filled space, where master jewellers can be seen at work crafting each piece by hand with precision, imagination and care. This seamless connection between boutique and workshop brings Australian luxury to life, showcasing bespoke designs set with vibrant coloured gemstones, lustrous Australian South Sea pearls and beyond-rare Argyle Pink Diamonds. Visitors are invited to linger over one-of-a-kind designs before ascending to the QVB Tea Room for tiered trays of treats accompanied by French Champagne.

For urban sophistication: Barangaroo

One of the newer additions to the Sydney circuit (and a 14-minute drive from Sydney Airport), Barangaroo has quickly become the destination for both smart, cosmopolitan clothing and eclectic keepsakes. Book an appointment at Modarte, where ethically-sourced Australian merino is transformed into made-to-measure workwear for men and women. Then switch focus from fashion to culture while browsing the timber shelves of independent boutique TITLE, where you’ll find everything from out-of-print books, records and movies to era-defining art. Afterwards with a plate of the signature miso-marinated king salmon with eel croquettes and a silky, slow-cooked egg at Devon Cafe, a local favourite. 

For European-style window shopping: The Intersection, Paddington

Established high-end designers and emerging brands rub shoulders at The Intersection, where Glenmore Road and Oxford Street meet in Paddington, a seven-minute drive or 15-minute bus ride from the CBD. Embracing the concept of a European-style high street, The Intersection is a bastion for some of the country’s top designers spanning garments to homewares – and also beauty products from Mecca, stocking all the latest in cosmetics from international brands. Browse the latest collections from Australian fashion houses Lee Mathews, Venroy, Zimmermann and St Agni for a new designer wardrobe and enjoy a strong flat white from Mecca Coffee – the ideal fuel when exploring this historic suburb.

For curated craftsmanship: The Strand Arcade

Running between Pitt and George Streets in the centre of the CBD, the Strand Arcade opened in 1892 and has stood the test of time – much like the artists and makers who call its ornate Victorian-era promenades home. Within the three-storey arcade you’ll find everything from the colourful resin homewares and jewellery of Louise Olsen and Stephen Ormandy’s bold Dinosaur Designs to sophisticated fashion house Scanlan Theodore, bespoke shoemaker Andrew McDonald (one of the last remaining in the country) and Haigh’s, Australia’s oldest family-owned chocolate-maker. Stay in a harbour-view room at the nearby InterContinental Sydney, a 15-minute walk away, then plan a leisurely amble through The Strand to discover the works of some of Australia’s top creatives while taking in the architectural history of the building, which survived a significant fire in 1976.