Shopping guide to Paddington – get ready for some serious retail therapy
Julia Gralberg
Welcome to Sydney’s most fashionable neighbourhood, it’s time to get your credit cards out!
Paddington, the inner-city, eastern suburb of Sydney, once considered a ‘blue collar’ working-class suburb is today a luxurious, boutique-filled suburb. Synonymous with style and a prominent well-to-do vibe this suburb arguably delivers the city’s best shopping and it’s just nearby Ovolo Woolloomooloo hotel!
Paddo, as the suburb is referred to by the locals, is not just home to some of the most stunning Victorian terraces in Sydney. The leafy suburb hosts some of the city’s most fashionable shops sprinkled along its cobblestoned streets, frequently visited by well-groomed locals and visitors.
Conveniently located centrally between Darlinghurst, Surry Hills and Woollahra, there are several busses that will take you to Oxford Street from Circular Quay and Town Hall. If you prefer to travel by train the closest stations are Museum and Edgecliff.
Oxford Street is perhaps the most well-known Paddo shopping destination where every well-known designer label can be found. As locals can testify, there are also a bunch of hidden gems along the side streets where shoppers can pick up edgy pieces of jewellery, art and offbeat fashion from Australian and international designers.
The fashionable suburb offers excellent restaurants, cafes and pubs too so make sure you hang around for tasty refreshments and a bite to eat after your shopping spree.
Poepke
Looking for something funky and fun?
This stylish boutique has been around for over a decade and has over the years evolved into a go-to place for colourful designs curated by directors Nicola Lie and Juliet Kember.
Initially only focusing on Belgian design, today the trendy shop stocks around thirty odd labels from various international designers such as Comme Des Garcons, Dries Van Noten and Issey Miyake.
47 William Street, Paddington NSW 2021
This elegant and classic Aussie label launched back in 2009 and opened its first flagship store in Paddington in 2014.
Over the years Hansen & Gretel has gained increasing popularity among the fashion crowd and was recently showcasing their resort collection ‘18 at Fashion Week Australia.
The Paddington shop is as elegant and sleek as the brand itself which is inspired by a timeless approach to design with classic pieces for every occasion.
236 Oxford St, Paddington, NSW 20121
The Intersection
Attention: before reading any further, this place comes with a severe spending warning, however, please do carry on reading.
At the corner of Oxford Street and Glenmore Road, you’ll find The Intersection. Known as the beating heart of the very best of Australian fashion this is where A-listers flock for the latest collections from Aussie design labels.
Browse through labels such as Zimmermann, Sass and Bide, Camilla, Theodore and Manning Cartell.
Corner of Oxford Street and Glenmore Road, Paddington NSW 2021
www.theintersectionpaddington.com.au
Paddington Markets
If the pretty boutiques sprinkled across Paddo’s jacaranda-filled streets aren’t enough, the leafy suburb also hosts a market every Saturday, a tradition dating back to 1973.
This is the place to pick up clothes, accessories and homeware from local designer and artists. Grab a coffee from one of the nearby cafes and browse your way through colourful jewellery, amazing art, vintage pieces and quirky clothes from new and upcoming designers.
395 Oxford St, Paddington NSW 2021
http://www.paddingtonmarkets.com.au/
Camilla and Marc
For every fashionista visiting Sydney, it would a shame to miss out on one of Australia’s premium labels – Camilla and Marc.
The famous Aussie label has its shop located in the picturesque neighbourhood Five Ways in Paddington, just a stone’s throw away from The Intersection and Parlour X.
217 Glenmore Road Five Ways Paddington NSW 2021
Parlour X
Known by many as possibly the number one multi-brand luxury fashion destination in Australia, Parlour X offers a curated selection of unique clothes and accessories from luxury international designers.
Located in a nineteenth-century Gothic Revival church built in 1845, Parlour X is not the average shop, this place invites you to spend big.
Offering a real creme de la creme shopping experience, this is where Sydneysiders and visitors go to pick up the latest from Céline, Chloé, Fendi, Balenciaga, Valentino, Saint Laurent and Isabel Marant.
The Church, 261 Oxford St Paddington NSW 2021
Julia Gralberg is a freelance travel writer, editor of Hotel & Resort Guide, Lux Nomade and founder of Boutique Communications Consultancy, Lux Collective. When she isn’t busy jumping in hotel beds and eating her way through breakfast buffets you’ll find her on her yoga mat.