THE MARRICKVILLE BEAT

January is a spectacular time to be in Sydney. There’s so much going on, so much time to do it, and the hoards have hit the roads to populate the north and south coasts, leaving the city with room to explore.

Most of you need no introduction to Marrickville, a suburb with countless hidden gems nestled among the industrial rough edges. But if you’re planning a visit or a staycation in Sydney, here are a few ways to spend a day warm on the Marrickville beat.

Coffee and brekky

Black Market Coffee HQ of course. While you’re there you could book in a tasting flight with a sticky beak into the roastery.

Street Art

While you’re meandering through Marrickville today, you’ll notice that almost every street and footpath is a canvas, with murals and mosaics on a myriad of surfaces. Here’s a street map, along with an accompanying audio guide, you can follow along as you explore the suburb.

Art Galleries

Art outside AND inside? Marrickville has it all. Check out Gallery 371, Saywell, Scratch Art Space and Addison Rd Stirrup Gallery for some sun protected culture. 

Lunch

I’ve spent many a lunch, sitting on the nearest bench, patch of grass, or gutter, Marrickville Pork Roll in hand, sauce dripping down my wrists. I’m not revealing any secrets, it’s an institution, and you should go here.

Shopping

After lunch, you may not want to look at food for the next few days, however if you’re like me, you will. As you will have seen from your wanderings around, Marrickville is choccas of small goods producers. You can buy direct from many of these factories, or find all the local pickles, relishes, homewares, patatas fritas in a tin etc from Goods.

For colourful, fun, ethical, Australian designed and made clothes and gifts go to Made 590.

 That Vintage Store And for antique foraging (not thrifting, for that, go to The Bower). I particularly enjoy that they have a Tin Toy Soldier Etc section.

To get your bod moving

The Yard for some serious action before coffee.

Axe Throwing at Maniax is a lot of fun. It’s a bit of derring do.

For a more gentrified afternoon activity, go for barefoot bowls and a g&t (with a local g).

Sundowners

There are far too many great places to choose from. Local breweries such as Batch Brewing Co, Mixtape, and Kicks are but a teeny tiny sample of what’s out there. We are lucky to have Unexpected Gin Distillery a few doors down and Poor Toms next block over.

Get some food in yer belly.

Again, too many too good places. Middle Eastern at Baba’s Place and Bazaari. For pub grub Henson and Vic on the Park will take care of you. And what Marrickville was known for (before small breweries and after the ‘Athens of the West’) was Vietnamese. Try Pho PHD or Hello Auntie. Or any of the others. 

Round off your day with a rollicking good time.

As you will have now come to expect of Marrickville, it is a hub of creatives, and there’s going to be something good and fun and interesting happening every night of the week. There’ll be a play at Flight Path Theatre. There’ll be a sing-a-long at Gaslight Pony. There’ll some laughs, music or modern dance (or a combo of all three if you’re lucky) at The Factory. There’ll be French Gypsy jazz at the Camelot Lounge or French horns at Lazy Bones.

Ice cream.

It’s been a long day. You’ve done well. Grab a cone from Messina HQ on the way home.

Rest up. We’ll be hitting the beat of another suburb real soon.