Buoyed between the never-ending rumble of Cleveland Street and Broadway, east of Sydney University and west of Prince Alfred Park, lies a bourgeoning arts precinct. Along with Fraser Property’s Artists in Residence program which forms a part of the ongoing Central Park development, Chippendale is home to a collection of the city’s most interesting contemporary art spaces. Wander the streets of this small, leafy suburb and you’ll find that along with its growing list of commercial and artist-run galleries, Chippendale also plays host to a number of commendable coffee spots, cafes and pubs.[fold]

Spend your Saturday taking in the work of local and international artists, drink coffees or cocktails and pause for a hearty beer garden meal without vacating this 5km radius. Here is our edit of the best on offer in Chippendale:

Galleries

White Rabbit

The four floors of what was once a Rolls Royce showroom have become home to one of the world’s largest collections of Chinese contemporary art. The spectacular space shows select pieces from the private collection of Kerr and Judith Neilson and includes a theatre, library and teahouse. A bright star in the city’s cultural scene, the White Rabbit program includes a book club, a film club and educational tours. There are also handmade dumplings and a serious selection of Chinese teas on offer.

30 Balfour Street, Chippendale

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MOP Projects & Galerie Pom Pom

Sitting side by side on busy Abercrombie Street is artist-run initiative MOP Projects and its commercial sister space, Galerie Pom Pom. While MOP supports young and emerging artists via a committee of volunteer curators, Pom Pom was set up next door in 2012 as its commercial offshoot and presently nurtures a stable of 14 contemporary artists.

2/39 Abercrombie Street, Chippendale

Kaleidoscope Gallery

Kaleidoscope has crisscrossed the map of Sydney arts precincts, beginning in the east in Paddington, before heading south to Waterloo and finally settling in Chippendale. Behind its new bold red doors is an ever-changing mosaic of colour and light – a selection of emerging and mid-career talent engaged in a great variety of contemporary mediums.

30 O’Connor Street, Chippendale

Wellington St Projects

The entrance to this recent addition to Sydney’s growing catalogue of artist run initiatives is reminiscent of a Parisian courtyard, while the gallery space is intimate and inviting, occupying the ground floor of a warehouse of shared artist studios. Two group shows to date have demonstrated the prowess of some truly exciting contemporary artists from Sydney and Melbourne.

19 – 25 Wellington Street, Chippendale

Mclemoi Gallery

Mclemoi was established by Sara Leonardi-McGrath and Glenn McGrath in 2012 and since opening has shown a distinguished assortment of international and Australian mid-career contemporary artists – including the rainbow bright work of US art collective FriendsWithYou and more recently, LA photographer Tyler Shields.

45 Chippen Street, Chippendale

Chippendale Green

When the sun is beaming and the galleries are leaving you feeling a little walled in, why not recline on the grass of Chippendale Green – gaze up at Patrick Blanc’s soaring vertical garden, throw a frisby or contemplate the merger of art, science and engineering that is Jennifer Turpin and Michaelie Crawford’s wind activated sculpture, Halo.

80 Broadway, Chippendale

Cafes/Coffee

Brickfields Bakery & Café

Another in a line of cafes spaces designed by very of-the-moment Smith and Carmody Design (responsible for the likes of Cornersmith and Excelsior Jones), Brickfields is both bakery and cafe, offering bread, breakfast, lunch and coffee. Try to score a seat on one of the swinging stools by the window, or perch with a bigger group on long benches in the courtyard outside.

206 Cleveland Street, Chippendale

Something for Jess

Named for the owner and chef’s partner, Something for Jess combines an assortment of second hand furniture with a focus on fresh, organic and locally sourced produce. Coffee is well made; using the interesting flavor of Perth’s more lightly roasted 5 Senses beans.

Corner Abercrombie & O’Connor Streets, Chippendale

The House Specialty Coffee

The House represents one more link in the covetable Little Marionette circle, making good, malty coffee served from a quiet corner stoop. Milk crates out the front get ample sunlight, making it a very pleasant spot to while away a weekend mornings.

9/9 Knox Street, Chippendale

Eat/Drink

Freda’s

Find Freda’s at the end of an alleyway off Regent Street, beside a giant red fiberglass tongue. The 100 year old converted warehouse space is a dimly lit cavern, worlds away from the industrial bustle outside, with simple chalk board share plates and an attractive list of cocktails to try.

107-109 Regent Street, Chippendale

The Duck Inn

A recently refurbished and cozy pub that might make you feel as though you’ve escaped the big smoke for a relaxed countryside getaway. Pick from a well-priced and Australian focused wine list and enjoy a hearty meal in the backyard beer garden, or the homey dining room on cooler nights.

74 Rose Street, Chippendale

The Rose Hotel

A Chippendale landmark and definite shoe in to be winner of the city’s best beer garden, The Rose makes great pizza and calzone and has its own upstairs small bar – Marmalade, replete with sweet fairy lights and plush couches.

52 – 54 Cleveland Street Chippendale