Things to do in Chinatown Sydney

As of June 2025, Sydney’s Chinatown remains one of the city’s most exciting precincts for culture, food, and shopping. Locals, tourists, and backpackers flock here to experience the lively atmosphere, late-night eateries, and unbeatable bargains across its markets and arcades.

From the hustle of Paddy’s Market to the modern flavours of The Eight, Chinatown blends tradition with the new — and it’s evolving every year. Whether you’re chasing street food, market treasures, or unique laneway bars, this guide will help you discover the best things to do in Chinatown Sydney right now.

Locals, tourists and backpackers in Sydney flock to Chinatown for shopping, eating and entertainment. Famous for both food and shopping with market stalls in abundance including fresh produce.

Here's our list of Things to do in Chinatown Sydney.

Shopping in Chinatown

It’s not about luxury here — it’s about character, colour, and great deals is the markets, it is full of bargains including clothing, shoes, games, technology, jewellery, beauty products and the list goes on. Don't forget to have fun bartering with the stallholders, you may be able to get a cheaper deal with them.

On the upper levels of Market City you will discover a wide range of shops, designer outlets and a food hall. There is also an IGA supermarket. Market City is also home to The Eight, a modern Chinese restaurant offering an authentic modern Chinese dining experience and a variety of Chinese delicacies.

The fresh produce stalls at Paddy's Market offer a range of fruit and vegetables as well as flowers. Paddy's has over150 years of supplying Sydney with the largest and freshest range of fruit and vegetables.

Paddy’s is great value and is the best way to shop for the freshest fruit and vegetables for the week.

Paddy's is open Wednesday - Sunday 10.00 am to 6.00 pm.

Foodies in Chinatown

If you love Asian food then go no further than Chinatown. A walk up Dixon Street will make choosing a restaurant really hard because there are so many. Walking through the laneways of Chinatown can be a bit overwhelming if you are not a local and it's not just the hoards of people. There are neon lights, noise and the hustlers at the restaurants trying to entice you to try their cuisine.

Very close to Market City is Marigold and is the place to go for yum cha. Marigold is always busy and that's because the food really is that good!

If it is all too hard to choose from then try a Chinatown food tour and be shown the best places from those in the know.

About Chinatown Sydney

Sydney's Chinatown is the country’s largest Chinatown, and is full of amazing authentic Chinese restaurants, shopping, culture and a huge market called Market City which is a combination of market stalls including fresh produce, a modern shopping centre, entertainment complex and food hall.

Chinatown is centred around Dixon Street which is a pedestrian only walkway and home to authentic Chinese restaurants and shops and stays awake a lot later than many other parts of Sydney. Chinatown is the where you go for traditional Chinese medicine and herbs.

If you prefer, there are an umber of guided tours around Chinatown Sydney where you can discover the best places to eat and visit by those in the know.

Performances and Festivities

Chinatown in Sydney comes alive throughout the year with vibrant performances and cultural celebrations, many of which align with significant dates in the Chinese lunar calendar. The most renowned of these is Sydney's Chinese New Year Festival, a dazzling three-week celebration held each February. Centred around Chinatown and spilling into surrounding precincts, the festival features traditional lion and dragon dances, lantern displays, live music, food stalls, art installations, and community events. The streets are transformed into a lively stage where locals and visitors gather to honour tradition, welcome prosperity, and experience the rich cultural heritage of one of Sydney’s most iconic neighbourhoods.

Accommodation in Chinatown

There are numerous hotels and airbnb in the area. Across the harbour is the stunning Sofitel Sydney Darling Harbour. I stayed there when it first opened, the views are stunning, fantastic service and amenities.

Or you could try Airbnb or a more an apartment such as Fraser Suites Sydney, one of my favourite places to stay near Chinatown. You can read my review here.

THINGS TO DO IN CHINATOWN SYDNEY

• Take a photo by the Paifang (The ornate dragon gates at either end that have fake bamboo tiles, golden Chinese calligraphy and ornamental lions to keep evil spirits at bay)

• Dine at the vast number of Chinese restaurants (you will be spruiked as you walk along Dixon Street)

• You can get Yum Cha for breakfast and lunch

• Shop at the traditional Chinese retailers

• Spend time at Paddy's Markets Find all sorts of bargains

• Visit a traditional Chinese Herbalist

• Visit the Chinese Gardens of Friendship (in Darling Harbour)

• Enjoy a traditional Chinese massage

• Check out the movie theatre Event Cinemas are locatd in George Street

• Explore the hidden laneway bars and dessert house

  Many visitors miss the tucked-away gems serving bubble tea, traditional sweets, and late-night cocktails with a Chinatown twist.

• Browse Asian pop culture stores Discover quirky stores packed with K-pop merchandise, anime collectibles, and imported beauty products from Korea and Japan.

• Catch a street performance or festival pop-up During holidays or weekends, street performers and cultural showcases often appear — from kung fu demonstrations to musical acts.

• Sample regional cuisines beyond Cantonese Look out for specialty restaurants offering food from Sichuan, Shanghai, or Northern China for a deeper culinary dive.

Chinatown is an easy 15 minute walk from Central railway station. A light rail service operates from Central to Haymarket, just outside Chinatown. The nearest Sydney Explorer stop to Chinatown is stop number 17. Chinatown segues into Koreatown and Thaitown nearby both offering amazing choices of food. The district is also close to World Square shopping centre.

Parking at Market City is accessible via Quay Street offering 600 secure undercover parking spots with Market City Wilson Parking.

Chinatown is close to Darling Harbour and the Chinese Garden of Friendship, pictured below.

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