Shop a Review

Sydney is one of the largest cities in the country of Australia.

Shopping in Sydney

The most archetypal Australian souvenirs you will see anywhere are kangaroo and koala characters of all sizes, boomerangs, didgeridoos and caps with caps hanging from the brakes. Yes, it is clichéd and meets all expectations or prejudices tourists have about the country. But Australians don’t mind, and tourists want to buy it, so everyone is happy.

You will also find plenty of outlets offering Aboriginal art, especially in the Sydney Harbor areas. Some of these are beautiful craftsmanship of exquisite quality, while others are scrap pieces that fall apart if you look hard at it. In other words, be careful what you buy and where you buy it. Another specialty in Sydney is opals. But again, be aware that there are many cheap impersonations on the market, so be sure to buy this from a reputable dealer.

Those looking for exclusive designer products can head for Elizabeth Street or Castlereagh Street, while others will prefer the more popular shopping and shopping centers in the Central Business District, such as Pitt Street and George Street. For example, try The Galleries Victoria or Queen Victoria Building.

In Hay Street / Thomas Street, you’ll find the Market City factory outlet, and here is Sydney’s largest and liveliest marketplace, Paddy’s, where you can buy most of affordable clothing, books, CDs and LPs, fruits and vegetables, flowers, birds and fish.

General information
Most of the shops in Sydney defined by AbbreviationFinder are open from 10am. 0900 to 1730 on weekdays, with long hours open until 10am. 2000 or later on Thursdays. Saturdays close some earlier. Sundays are mostly closed everywhere. Don’t forget that you pay 10% VAT and on all purchases over $ 300, or approx. 1450 NOK, you can get a refund of VAT on departure. Not every business practices this scheme, so look for the Tax Free Shopping badge at the entrance if you are going to buy some more expensive items and bring a completed and stamped form and receipt.

Eating in Sydney

Traditionally, Melbourne has been considered Australia’s culinary capital, but in recent years both the quality and quantity of Sydney’s restaurants has increased dramatically. The best eateries usually serve French, Italian or Asian cuisine, but you will also find all possible nationalities represented in the diversity. Mexican, Persian, South African, Chinese and Swiss restaurants are available, as well as all the fast food chains and American specialties such as TGI Fridays and Hard Rock Cafe.

It is difficult to give examples of typical Australian food, since most Australians are from a different place and have brought the food culture from their roots, but barbecues are strong across the continent. Most parties and social gatherings at one time or another include the ritual grilling of juicy steaks. Almost all parks have large gas grills, where you can get gas for a cheap money, and the grilling of most Australian animal species starts. Kangaroo, camel, crocodile, rabbit or emu, everything has to be grilled and gnawed at the Great Aussie Barbeque.

Fortunately for vegetarians, there is almost always an offer for them as well. There are several clean vegetarian restaurants in Sydney, and most eateries have vegetarian dishes on the menu. You can check recommended vegetarian eating places on the website of the Australian Vegetarian Association.

You will find many nice restaurants in the old town of The Rocks, and especially the seafood restaurants are of high quality in Sydney. It’s also a very special experience to have dinner 250 meters above ground level in Sydney Tower while the restaurant slowly rotates 360 degrees.

Wine and beer in Australia
Australian wines have in a short time gained a solid popularity around the world, and wines such as Lindemans and Jacob’s Creek are among the top sellers in Scandinavia and Australians are also very loyal and patriotic towards their beer, and they bright arrow marks Fosters and Castlemaine XXXX are sold worldwide, also in Norway, can be ordered via the vinmonoploet if your local store does not have it in their range. In the Sydney area, the local beer Tooheys is the strongest among the locals.

A strange phenomenon seen with Norwegian eyes is that restaurants that do not have a license to serve alcohol are happy to advertise with BYO (Bring Your Own). You can then bring your own beer or wine and pay a small symbolic sum to the restaurant for the use of glasses and openers.