Discover Local Sydney: What to Do Around Mercure Sydney

At Mercure, we believe you shouldn't need a guidebook to feel like you belong somewhere. That's the idea behind Discover Local: since 1973, every Mercure hotel has been built around its neighbourhood, not just dropped into it — from the décor on the walls to the flavours on the menu. Step into any Mercure and our teams are on hand with the kind of tips you won't find in a guidebook: the market stall locals queue for, the bar where nobody speaks English, the walk that skips the crowds. They live here. They know. Discover Local isn't a generic city guide — it's a short, honest list of the restaurants, markets and neighbourhoods our own hotel teams actually recommend to guests, updated as the city changes around us. Below, you'll find our picks for Sydney, an interactive map to help you find your way, and answers to the questions travellers ask us most. So — where will Discover Local take you?

Sydney in 5 picks

Chinatown & Paddy\u2019s Markets

Dumplings, barbecue pork and market stalls a few minutes from the hotel. Paddy's Markets runs Wednesday to Sunday and is as much about browsing as buying.

Surry Hills

A short walk or ride south, this is where locals go for coffee and a mixed food scene that punches above its size. Bourke Street Bakery, on Bourke Street since 2004, is a fixture for a reason.

Newtown

King Street is the spine of it — vintage shops, street art, and a genuinely eclectic strip of restaurants and cafés. A short train ride from the centre, and worth the trip.

Darling Harbour

An easy waterfront walk from Haymarket, with restaurants, harbour views and space to just sit for a while.

Surry Hills Market

Held on the first Saturday of every month at Shannon Reserve on Crown Street, 8am to 4pm — around 60 stalls of second-hand, recycled and handmade goods.

Where to eat
Chinatown, right by the hotel, is the easy first move — steamed buns, noodle houses, and Paddy's Markets for produce and souvenirs alike. For something different, Surry Hills mixes Middle Eastern, Japanese and American barbecue in a few dense blocks, while Newtown's King Street is a proper eat street in its own right.
Haymarket, then further out
The hotel sits in Haymarket, right on the edge of Chinatown and a short walk from Darling Harbour. Surry Hills and Newtown both require a short trip — walk, bus or train — but they\u2019re close enough to fit into a single day if you plan it that way.
Right outside your hotel
Mercure Sydney sits on George Street in Haymarket, steps from Chinatown and Paddy's Markets, with Central Station and Darling Harbour both an easy walk away.
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FAQ

Wednesday through Sunday — it\u2019s a short walk from Mercure Sydney in Haymarket.

It's a short train ride from the central city — not walkable, but an easy trip.

Mercure Sydney is on George Street in Haymarket, directly bordering Chinatown, so you\u2019re a few minutes\u2019 walk from it.

Where to sleep

See Mercure hotels in Sydney, all within reach of these picks.

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Where to sleep

See Mercure hotels in Sydney, all within reach of these picks

View hotels