Second-hand shopping through the inner east is a proper weekend activity. From Potts Point down through Darlinghurst and into Surry Hills, you’ll find everything from charity op shop racks to curated preloved designer — and there’s no single right order to do it in. Here’s where to go and what each place is known for.
Start in Potts Point
The Wayside Chapel Op Shop at 29 Hughes Street is a good place to begin. It’s run by the Wayside Chapel, so your spending supports their work in the Cross. Stock changes constantly, which is part of the fun of an op shop — have a dig and see what’s landed.
Oxford Street, Darlinghurst
SWOP at 219 Oxford Street is the buy-swap-sell one, open daily 10–6. People bring in pieces for cash or store credit, so the racks turn over and it’s worth a look for both clothing and accessories. It’s curated secondhand fashion rather than a general op shop.
Worth noting SWOP sits east of Crown Street, so you can fold it in before or after a Surry Hills run depending on where you start.
Surry Hills
This is the heart of it.
Savers at the Oxford Village Shops (55–73 Oxford Street) is the high-volume stop, with thousands of clothing and accessory items arriving daily. It’s a for-profit boutique, so come ready to dig — the reward is in the hunt.
For vintage proper, Destination NSW’s guide to Sydney’s op shops and thrift stores points to two Surry Hills names worth knowing. C’s Flashback is the spot for vintage printed tees, denim and leather. Zoo Vintage Emporium leans into clothing and accessories from the ’60s through the ’80s. Check the official Surry Hills page for details before you head over.
An optional extension to Paddington
If you’ve got the time and energy, Di Nuovo on William Street is the curated preloved designer end, with new arrivals daily. It’s worth a browse even if you’re only looking.
How to shop it well
- Check your measurements. Vintage sizing bears little relationship to modern sizing, and there’s often only one of each piece.
- Look over the garment. Check the condition, seams and zips before you commit.
- Confirm the shop’s policies. Returns and exchanges vary store to store, so ask before you buy.
- Check opening hours before you set out, especially if you’re travelling in for one particular shop.
- A tote can be handy for carrying your finds between stops.
Make an afternoon of it
There’s no one perfect loop here — the inner east rewards wandering, and you can start wherever suits. Stop for lunch somewhere on Crown or Oxford Street, take your time, and you’ll likely come home with something nobody else has.
Crown Street rewards a slow afternoon. Our guide to Sydney’s hidden bookshops covers more good browsing in the area, and the cosiest bars and pubs in Potts Point and Kings Cross is where to end up afterwards.