10 Best Shopping Malls in Sydney

The largest shopping complex in the city, Westfield Sydney is packed with opportunities to grab everything from surf gear to high-end beauty products. Located beneath the Sydney Tower in Sydney’s Central Business District, the mega-mall caters to a well-heeled clientele—there’s valet parking, and the numerous designer boutiques here include Prada, Jimmy Choo, Gucci, and Chanel—but there are bargains to be found at main street stores like Foot Locker and Zara.

There’s plenty of opportunity to fuel your shopping spree, too. The Level 5 food court offers everything from big name burger chains to independently owned noodle bars, plus upmarket drinking and dining with a view on the upper floors of the Sydney Tower.

Sydney's famous Pitt Street Mall is an entertaining option for those who like to do their shopping in the open air. The lively pedestrianized strip runs through the heart of Sydney’s Business District, next to the iconic Sydney Tower Eye, and offers plenty of al-fresco eating and drinking options along with live music from street entertainers.

People-watching is part of the pleasure of a visit here, but serious shoppers will be in their element too, with big names like Zara and Sephora and Tiffany & Co. sitting alongside independent boutiques, electronics stores, and family-run food joints.

A popular option with Sydney’s hipster brigade, The Galeries features independent stores, boutiques, cafe-bars, and pop-up art installations spread across 4 floors of a handsome mall in the Central Business District.

A 2-minute walk from the Queen Victoria Building, the trendy mall is home to brands like Carhartt and Vans as well as high-street and independent beauty brands. If you want to perfect your look, head to the top floor to find a branch of Shinka, one of Sydney’s best-regarded hair and beauty salons.

Shopping meets sightseeing at the elegant Queen Victoria Building in Sydney’s Central Business District. Designed by renowned Scottish architect George McRae, the 5-level shopping mall has been catering to stylish Sydney residents since 1898 and remains one of the classiest places in town to get your fashion fix.

This is the place to shop for high-end hair and beauty brands, along with electronics, elegant home furnishings, and clothing labels that range from main street to haute couture. Even the food on offer here is exceptional, with a chance to sample artisanal chocolates and macarons at the food boutiques, indulge in fine dining at the food court, or celebrate your new purchases at the in-house Champagne parlor.

Right by Sydney Town Hall and a 10-minute walk from Chinatown, Regent Place Shopping Center is a hotspot for foodies and fashion fans. The small shopping mall is the place to come for Chinese, Japanese and Korean flavors—think everything from sushi bars and dim sum spots to matcha tea and Korean barbeque.

Foodie shoppers can browse for ingredients at an in-house Asian grocery store, hunt for electronics and homeware at Japanese chain store, Daiso, and indulge in a range of hair and beauty treatments at the many salons. After a hard day’s shopping, eating and beautifying, you can relax with cocktails at the hip Assembly Rooms bar.

Small and stylish, the Strand Arcade occupies a handsome 1890s building in the business district, close to Pitt Street Mall and the Sydney Tower. It’s a heritage-listed building, and well worth a visit even if you’re not planning to make a purchase from the designer boutiques and high-end gift shops inside.

A collection of cafes, coffee shops and upscale Italian restaurants (Pendolino is a nice option for a meal on a special occasion) makes it a popular spot for foodies, and there are great opportunities for people-watching over a coffee or cocktail at tables set out on the ornately tiled first floor.

Located close to Chinatown in the shopping hub that is Sydney’s business district, World Square is a top option for everything from electronics to fashion, food and beauty products. As the name suggests, there’s a pan-national feel to the proceedings, with an Asian grocery store sharing retail space with British and North American clothing stores like Superdry and North Face.

The food court shares this international flavor, with its 40-plus establishments offering everything from Bavarian schnitzel and Aussie burgers to Japanese sushi and Malaysian curry. Tough decision? You can sip a coffee or cocktail while you try to decide which global cuisine you fancy.

Fashion fans and foodies will be in their element at Market City, a popular spot in the Haymarket area of Sydney’s Central Business District. Spread over 4 floors, the mall is renowned for its vast first floor fruit and vegetable market, as well as excellent value shopping at main street favorites like Foot Locker and TK Maxx.

There are plenty of appealing dining options, too. The first-floor food court is the place to come for budget-friendly noodles, sushi, and other crowd pleasers, while the third-floor 1909 Dining Precinct is home to upmarket options. Here you’ll find 10 upscale Asian restaurants, including Japanese dishes at the renowned YAYOI, and top-notch Korean barbeque at Kogi.

A popular option with families and with students from the neighboring University of Sydney, lively Broadway Shopping packs a lot under one roof—you’ll find a 12-screen movie theater complex, a kids’ play area, and an expansive food court here in addition to the multitude of shops.

Broadway Shopping Center occupies one half of a historic downtown building which first set up shop as Grace Brothers Broadway in 1923 (the other half has been converted into student lodgings) and re-opened as a modern mall in 1998. Home to major main street names like Target, Kmart, and Apple Store, it also houses grocery stores, barber shops and a hair salon. It’s a good option on a rainy day, or as a one-stop-shop for time-pressed travelers.

Photo opportunities abound at Tramsheds, where a collection of independent retailers have set up shop next to trendy drinking and dining spots in an artfully restored warehouse. Built in 1904 as Rozelle Tramway Depot, the downtown commercial complex on the edge of Glebe Foreshore Parks still houses some of the historic trolleys, and the industrial-chic space showcases wares from local farmers and artisans at Sunday produce markets.

With a grocery store and 7 permanent stores selling crafts, jewelry, and artsy homewares, Tramsheds is a scenic spot to stock up on groceries and treats before sitting down to a coffee, cocktail, or light meal. There’s even a playground to keep little ones entertained while the grownups take the weight off.