Want to eat like a baller on a budget? Be it hands-on street eats, like deep-fried calzones at Pizza Fritta, finger-lickin’ fried chicken at Butter, affordable sit-down fare from the likes of Lebanese charcoal chook experts Henrittea, or beloved Thai Spice I Am, you really don’t have to flash that cash to eat well in Surry Hills.

Some of the most beautiful dishes you’ll ever clap eyes on can be found at kick-ass Korean Sáng, but, then again, mighty Melbourne import Chin Chin is no stranger to plates that look as good as they taste. Or if a steaming bowl of soupy noods is your pleasure, look no further than the kogashi ramen at Gogyo. You’ll find one of Sydney’s best Japanese eateries, the small but mighty Izakaya Fujiyama, on a quiet backstreet just off Devonshire. Italian eats may be this suburb's strong suit, but Asian flavours give them a run for their money. The calibre of pasta is just as high, whether it’s served with traditional, rustic charm at Osteria Emilia, or with a contemporary wink at Mark and Vinny’s Spaghetti and Spritz. For authentic, wood-fired pizza – think perfectly thin, hand-stretched and loaded with top-quality produce – Vacanza, the Dolphin and DOC (the first Sydney branch of one of Melbourne’s most popular pizzerias) are must-tries, any way you slice it. While it’s not quite accurate to say Surry Hills has the monopoly on Sydney’s best Italian cuisine, it sure does come close. Held on the first Saturday of each month at Shannon Reserve on the corner of Crown and Collins, it features more than 60 stallholders selling everything from vintage fashion and eco-minded beauty products to antique bric-a-brac and handmade ceramics. Surry Hills Market is cute as a button and has produce and products from some of the city's top artisans. The Entertainment Quarter is just a five-minute light rail ride away on the L2 line towards Randwick. It's right next the CBD and the equally trendy 'burbs of Darlinghurst, Redfern, Paddington and Haymarket, as well as sharing its eastern boundary with Moore Park and its south-western edge with Prince Alfred Park and swimming pool. Surry Hills truly is the city's heartland. By bus, Surry Hills is your oyster, with services from multiple Sydney neighbourhoods routed here. The fairly new L2 Randwick to Circular Quay line of the light rail stops on Devonshire Street (a hop, skip and jump from bustling Crown Street), and Central Station sits on the suburb's fringe at the bottom of Foveaux Street (top tip: prepare your thighs to feel the burn, as the climb up Foveaux, Sydney's steepest hill, is gruelling). Whether you're travelling by bus, train or light rail, it's very easy to reach this suburb next to the CBD. A thriving caf é culture has also made Surry Hills one of the most popular weekend brunch destinations in Sydney, where many of the city's best baristas ply their trade.

Fans of Italian food are particularly well-served by multiple restaurants where you can find authentic wood-fired pizza and pasta dishes that any Nonna would be proud to call their own. You'll find mum-and-pop outfits serving up dishes that punch well above their price tag, fine-dining establishments with exquisite service, and culinary pioneers changing the game, and that's just for starters. There's a rich mix of world cuisines on offer in the area, from Middle Eastern to Japanese, French to American barbecue, and more or less everything in between. For sheer variety, Surry Hills ranks as one of the top foodie desinations not just in Sydney, but nationwide.

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