Burwood, a suburban centre in Sydney's inner west, has been named Australia's coolest suburb and the 16th coolest in the world. A recent visit revealed bustling streets, market stalls, and a vibrant food scene that draws locals and visitors alike.
On Korea Day, the park on Burwood's main road was alive with food stalls, music, and families. The atmosphere was electric, with the smell of spice and garlic filling the air. As the sun set, the nearby Westfield shopping centre and Burwood Chinatown night markets became the focus of activity.
The night markets, set up outside the two-storey Burwood Chinatown, offer a variety of cuisines. Popular dishes include banh xeo tacos, vegetarian pancakes, and baklava. A 15-year-old vendor, Dimi, who runs House of Lim with his father and is also a junior champion magician, entertained diners with card tricks while serving special chicken noodles.
After dark, Burwood Road's shopfronts glow in fluorescent colours, and the streets are thronged with people moving between restaurants and dessert bars. Highly recommended spots include Xi'an Eatery, My Aunt's Handmade Noodles, and 1915 Lanzhou Beef Noodles, which had a queue down the block.
Visitors praised the suburb's vibe, food, and people. One man who travels an hour each week to hang out in Burwood said, 'You just learn something new every time you come. There's always something you can try.' The night ended with a visit to Ice Kirin for tea-infused mochi gelato and a photo booth karaoke session.
