Why this surprise Sydney suburb is considered one of the 'coolest' in the world
When we think of the 'coolest' suburbs in the world, there are quite possibly a few that spring to mind in Australia that could be in the running, particularly in Sydney and Melbourne.
Every year, Time Out compiles a list of some of the trendiest places on the planet, and this year, one rather surprising suburb of Sydney has received a shout-out.
Ranking 16th overall, and officially the 'coolest' place in Australia in 2025, Burwood is apparently the place to be.
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Burwood has been named the 'coolest' neighbourhood in Australia. Getty
What is Burwood known for?
Burwood may not have been your first pick of popular Sydney suburbs, but for foodies, this inclusion will come as little surprise.
Billed as Sydney's second Chinatown, the neighbourhood is considered to be one of the most diverse communities in the country.
And this is, of course, reflected in its food offerings. But Time Out experts also lauded the town's nightlife and accessibility.
"We're incredibly proud to be named the 16th coolest neighbourhood in the world and the No 1 in Australia for 2025," mayor John Faker said of the placing.
"Burwood is Sydney's cultural playground, a place to eat, play, live, and celebrate the rich cultural offerings of our diverse and vibrant community."
In a Reddit thread, some people questioned the choice, debating whether Burwood was in fact "cooler than Newtown, Surry Hills, or Marrickville"?
On the fringe of Sydney's inner-west, Burwood was called out for its food, nightlife and accessibility. Getty
For reference, the inner-west of Sydney has been a mainstay on the list for a few years now, with Chippendale called out in 2024, and Enmore scoring a nod in 2023.
And plenty of commenters stood up for the choice.
"It's awesome. Arguably the best suburb in the inner west [in my honest opinion]. I see people from all walks of life enjoying a good time there," one person said.
"Burwood is safe, interesting, useful, and thriving with vitality - and it's emerged organically in the past decade (Newtown, Marrickville, etc emerged the same way 3-4 decades ago - they weren't cool in 1980s). I think Burwood deserves the rating," another pointed out.
While a third praised: "Burwood is my favourite suburb in Sydney. I love how distracted I can get while walking along the Main Street. Great for when you need to get out of your head."
Now let's talk food.
Burwood Chinatown at night is the place to be. Getty
Best restaurants in Burwood
The neighbourhood is home to the colourful Burwood Chinatown, which first launched in 2019.
The neon-lit eating extravaganza, which is particularly buzzing during Lunar New Year celebrations in February, is the place to go for dinner and a wander around the Night Markets (Thurs-Sun).
Chinese cuisine dominates the hawker-style haven, but you'll also find some of the city's best Japanese and south-east Asian food, alongside Uyghur, Greek, and Italian.
Some of the top choices:
- Perfect Tofu
- Kwafood Fried Skewer
- Singapore Hawker
- Hello Pot Stew
- Guo Kui Master
If you're more for lunching in the sun than night-time hustle and bustle, Time Out says The Picnic Burwood is a great option.
"Bye, boring café food – they've got dishes like a katsu beef sando, kimchi carbonara udon and seafood conchiglie pasta," editors wrote.
Xi'an Eatery Burwood is one of plenty of great restaurant options to try. Instagram
More restaurants to try:
- Xi'an Eatery
- Taste of Shanghai
- Hong Kong Bing Sutt
- The Burwood Hotel, which often hosts competitive mahjong nights on Mondays.
- 1915 Lanzhou Beef Noodles.
- Ice Kirin Bar
What else to do in Burwood
Other than being a great place to treat your taste buds, Time Out also said Burwood is "pumping at night".
In fact, it was named one of Sydney's 'Special Entertainment Precincts' this year, which means late-night trading and relaxed noise regulations.
But the experts also said it is "beautiful during the day".
"Especially in leafy Burwood Park, where you'll find kids playing cricket, the elderly doing tai chi and groups practicing cultural dances," they said.
Burwood Park is a popular place to visit and spend time. Getty
How far is Burwood from the CBD?
Burwood is located 12.6 kilometres from Sydney CBD and just eight kilometres from Sydney Airport at Mascot.
How to get to Burwood
One of the other things Burwood was praised for by Time Out editors was the suburb's transport options.
Burwood is situated around a fairly accessible train station and public transport hub, with the station dropping you right in the thick of the action.
The council also has plans to pedestrianise Burwood Road in the coming years, which will make it even more people-friendly.
Burwood station is in a great location. Getty
Time Out's annual list saw Burwood ranked above neighbourhoods in cities such as Naples, Marseille, Montréal, and Mexico City.
The publication surveyed its network of writers and editors based across a huge variety of cities to narrow down the "vibiest" districts in their hometowns.
They then ranked every neighbourhood against criteria including culture, community, liveability, nightlife, food and drink, street life, and 'nowness'.
