The beautiful Sydney may not have the limitless nightlife of some of America’s largest cities or the same overall environment as Melbourne, Sydney nevertheless has much to offer younger employees wanting to live close to the CBD and in some of the city’s inner suburbs in particular.
But where in Sydney are the absolute finest suburbs for young professionals to reside, combining the best of things to do with reasonable commutes to work?
In this article, we’re here to give the best Sydney suburbs for young professionals.
Paddington
Paddington, located between Sydney’s city centre and the affluent Eastern Suburbs, is possibly the most fashionable district in Harbour City. Paddo’s magnificent Victorian-era architecture is ideal for luxury fashion boutiques, design studios, jewellery shops, and art galleries, as well as trendy cafes and tiny bars that flow out into the neighbourhood’s lush sidewalks.
Balmain
This historic neighbourhood has deep working-class roots — in fact, it was here that the Australian Labor Party was founded in 1891 — but gentrification has transformed 2040 into one of Sydney’s most sought-after postcodes in recent decades. Balmain’s ancient workers’ cottages, perched on Sydney Harbour 6 kilometres west of the city, are now populated with young professionals drawn to the suburb’s strong culinary and coffee culture.
Marrickville
Marrickville is sometimes referred to as the “new Newtown” because of its diverse demographics, age groups, and ethnic backgrounds, as well as the recent influx of new places to drink and dine.
It’s become the new focus of the Inner West for intriguing locations to explore boutique beer and a mix of really good eateries without the obscene inner-city pricing. If you’re also looking for a great place where you can chill and drink, then you might consider looking at houses for sale in Inner West.
Marrickville provides an easy 20-minute train journey to Wynyard (less to Town Hall) for young professionals working in the city, as well as a good number of bus routes running along Marrickville and Livingstone roads. It’s convenient and multifunctional, with plenty of great park places.
It’s got an up-and-coming mix of brewing companies offering a wide range of different craft ales, and it’s become one of Sydney’s go-to spots to meet up with friends for a drink or three, so if you’re after the ability to eat good, diverse food and have regular drink meetups (and don’t mind enduring the plane noise from the flight path), Marrickville is a good choice.
Coogee
Coogee is for beach bums who still want to do something when they’re not by the water. It’s all about making the most of your time outside.
Given its proximity to the Sydney CBD, Coogee has a generally laid-back vibe and a calm pace of life; while there is no train station, bus services are fairly frequent and will take you into the business centre in roughly 40 minutes.
Coogee is also less pompous than other of its northern surrounding suburbs and offers (slightly) lower rental pricing. Sure, there are a lot of great cafes here, but there are also plenty of venues to enjoy a real drink.
Because it’s popular with backpackers and its hotels are typically packed, Coogee can be very noisy at night, but if you’re searching for a semi-affordable slice of coastal Sydney without a dreadful CBD commute, it could be the lifestyle for you.
Glebe / Forest Lodge
Glebe, in contrast to the aforementioned Coogee, is on the opposite end of the spectrum for atmospheres with a considerably more old school and slightly Euro-influenced ambience. It’s a little more artsy, grungy, and downtown/urban than most of the other suburbs on our list, almost but not quite in Sydney city.
There’s enough isolation that Glebe seems distinct, but with most of Sydney’s major workplaces within walking distance – or a short ride on the Light Rail system – it’s a pretty simple commute. Due to its proximity to the University of Sydney, Glebe is densely populated with terrace-style living and apartments and is particularly popular with uni students sharing sharehouses.
Bondi
Bondi is well-known as a sanctuary for travellers and beach bums, but it’s also a favourite destination for millennials who commute into the city for work.
From the kilometres of golden beach to the selection of health-conscious cafes, sophisticated restaurants, and bustling watering establishments, the suburb’s appeal is evident, all adding to a lifestyle that so many Sydneysiders want to enjoy.
Kirribilli
Kirribilli, which is located on the northern side of the Sydney Harbour Bridge and straddles the sea, provides a pleasant commute into the city for young professionals.
Kirribilli House is one of the Prime Minister’s two official residences, but you don’t have to be the leader of the country to live here – the affluent area is full of well-appointed apartment buildings, verdant gardens, and exquisite eating options.
Newtown
Just 4 kilometres west of the city centre, this area is Sydney’s bohemian hub, teeming with creative workers. Newtown’s cultural offerings include an endless stream of independent boutiques down King St, historic pubs and rowdy nightlife, chic cafés, much-loved craft breweries, and some of the best live music venues anywhere in the Harbour City.
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