Blue Mountains Tours
South Coast Tours
Southern Highlands Tours
Sydney Adventure Tours
Sydney City Tours
Sydney Winery Tours
Sydney is renowned for its style and it’s an absolute mecca for luxury shopping, home to big-name international designer labels, leading Australian brands, and specialty boutiques.
As local Sydney tour guides, we know the best places to shop during your Sydney holiday, from the CBD to chic inner-city suburbs. Apart from taking you to the classic must-see Sydney sights on our Sydney city tours, we can customise your tour to include a tailored local shopping experience, visiting some of Sydney’s hippest boutiques in areas like Bondi, Paddington, and Newtown.
There are so many Sydney shopping hotspots to choose from, and if shopping is a priority during your stay, it can be helpful to know the very best ones as you plan your trip to Sydney. That way, you’ll be sure to fit in some quality retail therapy in between seeing the spectacular sights the city has to offer. And we’re here to help with this handy guide.
The biggest concentration of luxury designer stores is in Sydney’s CBD on and near Sydney’s main thoroughfare, George Street, all conveniently accessible by foot and public transport. On George St, you’ll find flagship stores for Louis Vuitton, Cartier, and Burberry, and on nearby streets, Tiffany & Co. (Pitt Street), Hermès (King Street), BVLGARI, and Chanel (both on Castlereagh Street).
At the majestic Queen Victoria Building (a spritely almost 130-year-old), on George Street opposite Sydney Town Hall, shop in elegant opulence amidst the ornate Romanesque architecture of this grand Sydney landmark. With over 140 stores across five levels, here you’ll find leading Australian designer labels like Anna Thomas, Camilla, and Leona Edmiston, and premium international brands such as Dior, Boss, Jimmy Choo, and Polo Ralph Lauren. Then, rest your shopping feet in the grandeur of The Tea Room QVB and refuel with a decadent high tea.
Pitt St Mall (off George Street, on the corner of Market and Pitt Streets) is home to one of Sydney’s premier luxury shopping destinations, Westfield Sydney. Browse top-shelf brands like Versace, Balenciaga, Fendi, Christian Louboutin, Gucci, Givenchy, Prada, Saint Laurent, Tom Ford, Ferragamo, and TAG Heuer. While there, you may like to take the opportunity to visit Sydney Tower Eye, which sits atop Westfield Sydney, for a spectacular birds-eye view of the city and Sydney Harbour.
Explore leading high-end Australian fashion labels in stunning, heritage-listed The Strand Arcade (slightly older than The Queen Victoria Building) on George Street, among them, Alex Perry, Camilla and Marc, Ginger + Smart, Scanlan Theodore, Akira Igosawa, Bassike, Aje, and Dion Lee.
The Martin Place precinct on George Street is where you’ll find Paspaley Pearls, one of Australia’s most iconic brands. Paspaley handpicks and harvests the rare Pinctada maxima pearl oyster in the remote waters of Western Australia’s Kimberley coast. These oysters produce the largest and most valuable of all pearls to become the centrepiece of Paspaley’s exquisitely crafted jewellery.
Martin Place also houses lux international labels Valentino, Dolce & Gabbana, and Missoni, and in the nearby heritage-listed Dymocks Building, browse the works of Australian jewellers and designers in the largest collection of jewellery boutiques in Sydney’s CBD.
And if you’d like to stay near Sydney’s CBD shopping hotspots, see our post on Sydney luxury hotel advice.
Head north on George Street for a short walk to Sydney’s beautiful historical precinct, The Rocks (a feature of our Sydney city tours), birthplace of modern Sydney and one of the best vantage points to take in Sydney Harbour.
Situated in the shadow of the Sydney Harbour Bridge, walk along cobbled streets lined with beautiful heritage buildings to shop for high street luxury brands, bespoke fashion and accessories, jewellery (including Australian opal jewellery), homewares, souvenirs and art galleries featuring Indigenous and local artists. At T Galleria by TFS, an arcade treasure-trove of over 100 luxury fashion and accessories stores, you’ll find the likes of Alexander McQueen, Armani Beauty, Balenciaga, Bottega Veneta, Boss Sunglasses, Emporio Armani watches, Fendi, Ferragamo, Givenchy and Hermès.
And if you’re here on a weekend during your Sydney holiday, The Rocks Markets, held on Saturdays and Sundays, is well worth a visit. Pick up one-of-a-kind creations handcrafted by local artisans – from jewellery to artworks, fashion, accessories, homewares, and gifts – and enjoy gourmet street food and live music as you shop.
One of Sydney’s most stylish shopping precincts, the charming inner-east suburb of Paddington is a regular stop on our Sydney city tours.
Situated on and around the bustling Oxford Street, with its leafy streets lined with beautifully restored Victorian-era terraces, Paddington is the perfect walking suburb to browse both high-end boutique labels and more mainstream brands, all within a short distance from each other. And there are plenty of cafes and pubs in between, in case you need to refuel during your shopping stroll.
Shop as the local celebs do at The Intersection, Paddington’s fashion hub (opposite the historic Victoria Barracks on Oxford Street), a showcase of leading Australian designer brands such as Sass & Bide, Zimmermann, Scanlan Theodore, Bassike, Rachel Gilbert, Aje, Dion Lee, Tony Bianco, Maison Essentiele, St. Agni, Flannel, Viktoria & Woods and Venroy.
For exquisite, premium jewellery pieces, visit Sarah Gardner Jewellery on William Street, off Oxford Street. And continue up Oxford Street towards Bondi Junction for a must-shop-stop at Parlour X, one of Sydney’s most exclusive luxury fashion boutiques, uniquely housed inside the sandstone St. John’s Church built in 1859.
Paddington is also a great place to shop for homewares at the likes of Dinosaur Designs, Funkis, OPUS Design Co, Love After Love, and many more.
If you’re in Sydney on a Saturday and want to experience some local markets, then the Paddington Markets (held in the courtyard of Paddington Uniting Church on Oxford Street) should be on your list. Beginning in 1973, it’s Sydney’s longest-running market launching many local, now-famous fashion designers.
A feature stop on our Sydney city tours, Bondi is not only known for its world-famous beach but also its chic boutiques situated on the main road, Campbell Parade (which runs along the beach), and surrounding streets.
Rub shoulders with Sydney’s elite as you shop for a swag of premium local designers to take some unique Australian fashion home with you. Browse women’s wear brands like PLAYA by Lucy Folk for a beachy-inspired look, SIR. for modern, easy-to-wear wardrobe staples, DISSH for sustainably-minded fashion, and cult fashion emporium and celeb favourite, Tuchuzy with its collection of unique fashion by premier up-and-coming designers from Australia and abroad.
For women and men, there are timeless wardrobe essentials at Annex, effortless modern style at Jac + Jack, and boho/vintage-inspired threads at Ottway The Label.
On Saturdays, mingle with the locals at the Bondi Farmers Market for artisanal gourmet food, and on Sundays at the Bondi Markets for locally made clothing, jewellery, homewares, art, and all things vintage. Both are held in the idyllic beachfront grounds of Bondi Beach Public School.
For more luxury shopping at another celebrity haunt, Westfield Bondi Junction (about a 15-minute bus ride from Bondi Beach), is an international designer label wonderland well worth a visit.
The very hip Newtown is one of Sydney’s most colourful suburbs, with a bohemian, laid-back vibe. It’s a vibrant, edgy melting pot of vintage fashion boutiques, designer labels, iconic indie book and record shops, and specialty vintage stores. All mingling with multicultural dining, small bars, pubs, cafes, street art, and restored Victorian-era terraces.
King Street, Newtown’s main street, is the place to be for shopping in the suburb’s signature eclectic style. Vintage fashion and specialty stores abound – to name just a few… U-Turn for one-of-a-kind fashion pieces, The Real Deal for vintage sneakers, Newtown Vintage 313 specialising in 1980s and 90s wear, and That Retro Piece for quality vintage home décor and homewares.
Other premium fashion and accessory stores on KingStreet include cult label Dragstar which carries locally-made, ethical women’s wear, Leo Monk for leathergoods designed and handcrafted in Sydney from genuine Italian leather, and Maplestore for hip men’s and women’s threads.
And for some socially-conscious shopping, visit upscale boutique The Social Outfit which employs and trains people from refugee and new migrant communities to craft ethical, sustainable, unique fashion using fabrics donated by high-end fashion labels.
King Street is also a booklover’s heaven with mainstays Elizabeth’s Bookshop, Better Read Than Dead (where you may just discover a first-edition classic), and Gould’s Book Arcade which stocks hard-to-find second-hand books and records. For more records, head to Newtown icon, Repressed Records (located on the southern end of King Street, or SoKi as it’s nicknamed) for independent and underground vinyls.
Double Bay is one of Sydney’s most exclusive suburbs and one of the most picturesque with its harbourside setting and village of leafy streets and heritage buildings. And it’s easy to get to via a 10-minute drive from the city centre or a scenic 25-minute ferry ride across Sydney Harbour from Circular Quay.
The ultimate lux shopping destination, in Double Bay you’ll find everything from designer fashion labels, bespoke hats, stunning jewellery pieces, premium footwear, stylish shades, kids’ fashion and toys, luxury homewares and furniture, gourmet foods, quality gifts and curios like vintage luggage.
Browse chic boutiques on Bay, Knox and Cross Streets and Transvaal Avenue, including those of iconic Australian fashion labels Carla Zampatti and Scanlan Theodore, designer contemporary dressing destination Mode Sportif, Belinda International for sought-after designer women’s fashion, and ACO with its eclectic mix of designer labels from around the globe.
Or explore consignment store Revivre for some stylish sustainable shopping where you may just pick up a mint second-hand piece by the likes of Jean Paul Gaultier or Chanel among a large stellar lineup of iconic designer labels.
Accessorise with a stop at Cosmopolitan Sydney for high-end shoes and bags, Jan Logan Jewellery (jeweller of choice to the stars), and milliner Nerida Winter for a stylish bespoke or ready-to-wear hat.
For the ultimate in lavish homewares and furniture, be sure to visit Transvaal Avenue, the home of boutiques for luxury brands Palmer and Penn, Maison Et Jardin, and Ondene.
If all that shopping leaves you a little drained, there’s plenty of gourmet eateries for refuelling and luxury day spas for post-purchasing pampering. And add even more luxury with a stay at the Intercontinental Sydney Double Bay – see our review for more information.
So, that’s your Sydney luxury shopping guide in the bag!
We’re always happy to point you in the right shopping direction on any of our Sydney tours. Or, if you have a more specific question we can help with, please get in touch via the contact page.
See you in Sydney soon,
The YSG Team.
Please leave this field empty.