19 Aug 2025
Darling Quarter: Guide to eating, playing & kid-friendly fun
Read our ultimate guide to find the best restaurants in Darling Quarter, the best things to do, and kid-friendly fun in this awesome central hotspot.
If you’re after family fun, Sydney’s best restaurants, and the biggest playground in the CBD, you’ve found it. Darling Quarter is a 1.5 hectare public space designed for you - whether you’re a with a group of friends, or the family. Here’s a quick guide to help you get the most out of your visit.
What’s Darling Quarter all about?
Darling Quarter is a mini-precinct in Darling Harbour, located between Sydney’s famous waterfront and the CBD. At its heart, it features community green spaces, lush native plantings, and the largest (and most kids say ‘best’) playground in Sydney CBD. The Darling Quarter playground is designed to get kids swinging, climbing, balancing, and exploring simple machines and waterworks.
Surrounding these welcoming green spaces there are dozens of restaurants, bars, and cafes, with generous alfresco dining spaces. These are the perfect spots for watching your little ones with a flat white, catching up with friends over a cocktail, or indulging your inner foody. Right next door to all this, you’ll find Tumbalong Park, a huge public green space ideal for a picnic that often hosts free live events.
The best things to do in Darling Quarter
Eat & drink at Darling Quarter’s best restaurants & cafes
Hungry? You’re in for a treat. Darling Quarter may be small, but there’s a restaurant, cafe, or bar everywhere you turn here.
There’s Doodee King, a noodle chain that’s famous in Thailand, with a menu that includes spicy curries, flavour packed stir-fries, plus an entire page of crispy pork dishes. For a regional Chinese fix visit Noodle Face, a Noodle joint that’s famous for its super spicy Lanzhou Beef Noodles. To cool off after breaking a chilli-sweat, pop into Chatime and grab a freshly brewed bubble tea.
If you’re after brunch, Cafe Alma serves flawless flat whites and specialty brews, plus a menu of Aussie classics, including a banging Avo toast for just $15. Haven Speciality Coffee around the corner also brew a serious cuppa, plus a menu of Asian-inspired brekky dishes.
When the sun’s a little lower, don’t miss Ichoume, a Japanese izakaya that serves tasty traditional bites and frosty glasses of Japanese lager. The grilled scallops here are seriously good. For something more substantial there’s Braza Churrascaria, a traditional Brazilian restaurant where meat carvers cut freshly barbecued meats onto your plate from over 20 different skewers. It’s all-you-can-eat, so bring your stretchy pants.
For dessert, don’t miss authentic Italian gelato at Gelatissimo. These guys make their creamy treats instore every day, and have mouth watering flavours like Dubai Chocolate Slice and Mango Passion Pavlova. There’s also Kürtősh, who serve traditional Hungarian chimney cakes called Kürtőskalács; cylinders of bread that have a caramelised crispy outer layer, with a soft and chewy inner. Yum.
There’s Doodee King, a noodle chain that’s famous in Thailand, with a menu that includes spicy curries, flavour packed stir-fries, plus an entire page of crispy pork dishes. For a regional Chinese fix visit Noodle Face, a Noodle joint that’s famous for its super spicy Lanzhou Beef Noodles. To cool off after breaking a chilli-sweat, pop into Chatime and grab a freshly brewed bubble tea.
If you’re after brunch, Cafe Alma serves flawless flat whites and specialty brews, plus a menu of Aussie classics, including a banging Avo toast for just $15. Haven Speciality Coffee around the corner also brew a serious cuppa, plus a menu of Asian-inspired brekky dishes.
When the sun’s a little lower, don’t miss Ichoume, a Japanese izakaya that serves tasty traditional bites and frosty glasses of Japanese lager. The grilled scallops here are seriously good. For something more substantial there’s Braza Churrascaria, a traditional Brazilian restaurant where meat carvers cut freshly barbecued meats onto your plate from over 20 different skewers. It’s all-you-can-eat, so bring your stretchy pants.
For dessert, don’t miss authentic Italian gelato at Gelatissimo. These guys make their creamy treats instore every day, and have mouth watering flavours like Dubai Chocolate Slice and Mango Passion Pavlova. There’s also Kürtősh, who serve traditional Hungarian chimney cakes called Kürtőskalács; cylinders of bread that have a caramelised crispy outer layer, with a soft and chewy inner. Yum.
Darling Quarter Playground
What makes Darling Quarter Playground one of the best in the city? Take your kids here and you’ll quickly find out - this place promises hours of fun for littlies, with interactive elements and water works.
Every inch of this area is designed to encourage exploration, experimentation, play, all with a safe level of risk. There’s water fountains, a stream running through, a 21 metre flying fox, swings, slides, interactive water elements, and more - enough to keep your kids entertained indefinitely (while you relax in a nearby eatery with a flat white).
Every inch of this area is designed to encourage exploration, experimentation, play, all with a safe level of risk. There’s water fountains, a stream running through, a 21 metre flying fox, swings, slides, interactive water elements, and more - enough to keep your kids entertained indefinitely (while you relax in a nearby eatery with a flat white).
Kids Yoga
If you need to burn more energy there’s even Kids Yoga for littlies aged 2-5 every Friday at the village green right next to the playground. We’ve had lots of parents say these sessions are the longest they’ve ever seen their kids stay in one place!
They’re led by Danielle Connor, a nanny, and qualified yoga instructor who specialises in kids yoga. She helps little ones connect with their body and breath, promoting body awareness and focus. Adults can either join in or watch from the sidelines.
Every Friday
They’re led by Danielle Connor, a nanny, and qualified yoga instructor who specialises in kids yoga. She helps little ones connect with their body and breath, promoting body awareness and focus. Adults can either join in or watch from the sidelines.
Every Friday
- 10:30am - 11am
- 11:30am - 12pm
Darling Quarter Theatre
How about dinner and a show? Darling Quarter Theatre is a vibrant theatre with an exciting program of comedy, family-friendly shows, cabaret, musicals, international shows, and plays. It’s right in the heart of Darling Quarter, surrounded by great eating, drinking, and easy transport links.
How do I get to Darling Quarter?
Thanks to its central, convenient location, getting to Darling Quarter is easy peasy. Here are your options:Train: Town Hall Station Bathurst St is the nearest stop, when you exit the station just walk downhill (south) and you’re here.
- Bus: The Market, Park, Druitt, Bathurst, and Liverpool Street stops are all close to Darling Quarter.
- Light Rail: Paddy’s Market Station is the closest to Darling Quarter. It’s a quick 8 minute walk down Tumbalong Boulevard, through Darling Square and under Pier St.
- Ferry: Pyrmont Bay Wharf and King St Wharf are the closest ferry stops. It’s roughly a 15 minute walk from either stop to Darling Quarter.
- Drive: it’s easy to park at Darling Quarter. See more information about parking below.
How about parking in Darling Quarter?
There’s a great central carpark in the heart of Darling Quarter called First Parking open 24 hours, seven days a week. It's at 1-25 Harbour Street, right next to the playground and opposite the Commonwealth Bank. Rates start at $16 for an evening park, and all Express Members get 20% off. No need to book - just drive in.
Find out more about parking in Darling Quarter.
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