HOT SPOTS in Newtown, Sydney (inner west)

Lou Jack's Cafe - 420 King St - locals say it's about the best cafe in Newtown. Ph: (02) 9557 7147-

The Old Fish Café - cnr Church/King streets.

The Vanguard – 42 King St - Newtown’s jazz, blues and roots bar. Ph: 9557 7992

Betta meats - 407 King St – Eastern European butcher and deli.

Bacigalupo – King St – organic coffee. Ph: 9565 5238

Campos Cafe - 193 MIssendon Rd. Great coffee. Ph: 9516 3361

Green Gourmet – 115 King St – vegetarian. Ph: 9519 5330

Peasants Feast – 121a King St, Ph: (02) 9516 5998 – fully organic. Ph: 9516 5998

Oscillate Wildly – 275 Australia St – bistro, often packed with locals, the menu changes regularly. Ph: 9517 4700

Stax of Wax - 239 Australia St - candles and candle making equipment. Ph: 9557 0306

Succulent – 534 King St – big breakfasts and friendly service. Ph: 9519 8418

Thanh Binh – 111 King St - Vietnamese.Ph: 9557 1175

The Sultan’s Table – 179 Enmore Rd – great Middle Eastern food.

Arabella – 489 King St - great Lebanese food. Ph: 9550 1119

Yai’s Thai – 148 King St. Ph: 9519 3112

Thai Pothong – 294 King St, Ph: 9550 6277

La Ricetta – 143 Enmore Rd – good Italian. Ph: 9519 0555 www.laricetta.com.au

Newton's Cocina - 403 King St - good Mexican. Ph: 9519 8211

Chocolate Dog - 549 King St - Ph: 9565 2526

Ladda's - 593 King St - great, cheap Thai. Ph: 9516 2870 , Newtown 2042 www.laddas.com.au

Sandringham Hotel - 387 Kings St - an institution for locals who enjoy anything from grunge music to a quiet acoustic session

Hub - King St and Enmore Road intersection - now home to live entertainment after standing derelict for years.

Faster Pussycat – 431 King St –rockabilly bowling shirts, ska CD’s, counterculture music and clothes. Ph: 9519 1744

Better Read Than Dead (books) - 265 King St - Ph: 9557 8700 www.betterread.com.au

The Bank Hotel - 324 King St. Teams up with Better Read Than Dead for book reading and discussion sessions with authors. Ph: 8568 1900. www.bankhotel.com.au

Pentimento - 249 King St - gifts, cards, paper - Ph: 9565 5591

Yoshi Jones - clothes you won't find anywhere else, made with good quality Japanese cotton - 143 King St - Ph: 9550 1663

St Stephen’s Church and the old cemetery, on Church St. Built in 1871, the church is simply breathtaking. Nestled in the old cemetery grounds, St Stephen’s has appeared in various films and TV shows. There's a great park next to the cemetery where plenty of locals with kids, footballs/soccer balls, or dogs like to hang out.

For some quiet – head to the Camperdown Memorial Park (on Church St, Federation St) or the Town Hall Neighbourhood Centre at 1 Bedford St (cnr Enmore Rd and King St), which features lots of interesting mosaics and other street art.