There is nothing on God's green earth I love more than a gourmet grocer. The way you might find yourself being inexplicably pulled into a MECCA or losing track of time peering through the racks of your favourite clothing store, I find myself spending eye-watering amounts of money on single-origin peppercorns and cultured butter wads in a local gourmet grocer or deli.
Since the advent of Erewhon in Los Angeles, it feels like the world has slowly been seduced too, with plenty of boutique food stores opening up in its image. You only have to look as far as the internet – the fanfare (and hundreds-long line) outside of Tribeca's new Meadowlane Grocer or the thousands of influencers lining up for Hailey Bieber smoothies and reviewing takeout containers of buffalo cauliflower from Erewhon. Balenciaga even had an Erewhon-themed runway show.
But while we wait (and hope and pray) for our own Meadowlane or Erewhon outpost here in Sydney, I – as your resident gourmet grocer frequenter – have some just-as-good-if-not-better alternatives for you to check out. Whether you're looking for ready-to-eat meals, take-home deli packs, hampers, coffees, caviar or green juice. These are the 14 best gourmet grocers in Sydney right now.
1. Common Supply (Bondi)
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Address: 182 Campbell Parade, Bondi Beach
Open: Every day
You've probably heard about about Common Supply's opening via the internet earlier this year, the closest thing we've got to a Meadowlane alternative. It's sleek and minimal, situated right in the heart of Bondi, and offers, DIY plates (with options like sustainably caught salmon and grass-fed steak), smoothes, coffee (like Maple Sea Salt Lattes) and groceries all under one roof. It's already dubbed the ‘Erewhon dupe’ of Sydney, with huge queues marking its opening weekend.
2. Fred's Providore (Cronulla)
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Address: 109 Cronulla St, Cronulla
Open: Every day
The Shire's handsome new grocer is Fred's – a deli, cafe and twilight wine bar. They're primarily known for their takeaway sandwiches (which are elite), but you can also shop a fine selection of pantry goods, bakery treats, wines by the bottle, house-made meals (like pizzas, lasagnes and hand-cut chips ready to heat up at home), a premium butcher and deli goods (meats, cheeses, eggs et al).
3. Norma's Deli (Manly)
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Address: 74-78 The Corso, Manly
Open: Every day
No trip to Manly is complete without a stop-in at Norma's – the famed Greek sandwich deli by the sea. But alongside their menu of cakes, sandos and fish & chips, you'll also find a deli stocked full of grocery store goodness. Grissini, gourmet chocolate, great EVOO – you name it. You can even pick up a house-made Panettone for Christmas.
4. The Corner (Palm Beach)
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Address: 1 Beach Rd, Palm Beach
Open: Every day
Part-delicatessen, part-providore, part-wine-bar-and-dining-room, The Corner in Palmy is great for all your grab n go needs with fresh produce, dairy, eggs, meats, house-baked bread, focaccia, sandwiches, salads and pantry staples. This one only opened at the end of September, so it's still bright and buzzy. If you're in the area, we'd definitely check it out.
5. Maloney's Grocer (Surry Hills, Rozelle, Coogee, Woollhara)
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Address: Maloney's store locations
Open: Every day
Maloney's is the vice of many a Sydney local – a gorgeous boutique grocer tucked into some of the city's best corners. They stock all those cool foodie brands you've probably seen on the internet, as well as goods from plenty of local gems like Fabbrica pasta packs and Nilson’s Blend coffee (started by the man behind their Coogee and Woollahra coffee counters for 16 years). There are plenty of cut-fruit cups, allergen-friendly alternatives (coeliacs and vegans rejoice), and a fresh bakery for your baked needs.
6. Winona Wine (Avalon, Manly and soon in Rozelle)
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Address: Winona Wine's store locations
Open: Every day
Winona is one of the grocer's I started following long before I lived in New South Wales – mostly for its excellent selection of fun and natty wines, but also for its food offerings. They'll be opening up shop this side of the bridge soon in Rozelle, so those not blessed to be living in the Northern Beaches can still get a piece of the action. They stock all the party favourites: Yiayia's Olive Oil, Bonilla a la Vista Patatas Fritas, NZ-based Apostle Hot Sauces and of course, PEP single-origin Peppercorns.
7. Barbetta (Paddington)
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Address: 2 Elizabeth St, Paddington
Open: Every day
Us here at RUSSH, were blessed to have shared a street address with Barbetta for a few years, and boy did we milk the proximity of their deli. Of course, it's stocked with all the Italian classics you might need to recreate some of their insanely delicious dishes (dried pasta, tinned fish, artisanal butter etc etc). Even more excitingly, they do take-home pasta sauce and soup packs, so you don't have to do any of the heavy lifting at dinnertime. If you're luck, they often leave cheese offcuts in their fridge for a discount in case you just needed a nubbin of pecorino with your evening cheese plate too.
8. Penny's Cheese Shop (Potts Point)
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Address: Shop 6/127-139 Macleay St, Potts Point
Open: Tuesday–Saturday
I for one, was unaware until recently that Penny's was dishing out a whole lot more than cheese. Don't let the name fool you – this place has lots of delicious grocery goods to offer aside from cheese (of which they have some of the city's best selection FYI). You'll find fresh-baked bread from Pioik Bakery, dried pasta and sauces from Saturday Night Pasta, small-batch condiments from Condimental, Lulu's, Moon Mart and Tumami. Of course, we'd always suggest grabbing one of their hot cheese toasties on your way out too...
9. Le Petit Marché (Newport)
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Address: 15 Robertson Rd, Newport
Open: Every day
Newport's local has a fantastic selection of French goodies – from soaps and candles to boutique wines, saucisson, cheese, and baguette sandwiches. Of course, like any good French grocer, they make some incredible pastries too. Located in one of Newport’s most bustling streets. It's a great spot for gifting too – whether you're grabbing a pre-made hamper, a set of Claude Dozorme knives, or a colourful linen tea towel.
10. Avalon Organics (Avalon)
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Address: 25 Avalon Parade, Avalon Beach
Open: Every day
If the epitome of luxury is organic to you – then Avalon's Organics is probably your best port-of-call. They stock all manner of organic fruits, veggies and herbs – as well as organic meats (like roast chickens, hams and turkeys that you can pre-order for Christmas time too). If you're not into cooking but still want an organic option, they also stock handmade frozen meals from The Good Farm, as well as a selection of plant-based desserts from MMMORE. Elsewhere you'll find organic dairy products, Gluten-free breads, and Loco Love chocolates. There's also organic baby food, organic teas, cheese bakes and Tasmanian barrel-aged maple syrup (a MUST).
11. Omeio Artisanal Deli (Paddington)
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Address: 31 Macdonald Street, Paddington
Open: Every day
I stumbled across this one on one of my lunchtime walks through the backstreets of Paddington, but Omeio is not to be overlooked. It's Greek-leaning with takeaway servings of Avgolemono soup and crunchy Spanakopita pastries. A popular favourite here is the Portokalopita – a dessert made from yoghurt, shredded filo pastry and fresh orange juice. They do great coffees, cater and even deliver locally (within 5km of Paddington). Aside from their fresh food and hot food, they also stock a selection of Mediterranean pantry goods – and sometimes have organic produce popup markets out front throughout the year.
12. Fourth Village Providore (Mosman)
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Address: 5A Vista St, Mosman
Open: Every day
One of the few remaining family run grocers in the area, Fourth Village is a deli, fruit and veg market, florist, catering business and cafe – they even have their own olive farm! You can order hot food from behind the counter (like their Tortellini Boscaiola or Risotto al Forno), pick up a morning sweet treat (like their maritozzi), or just browse their endless pantry goods or market-fresh bouquets. The food here is largely Italian in influence, and you can buy olives and olive oil direct from the family farm.
13. Gourmet Life (Edgecliff)
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Address: 52-60 New South Head Rd, Edgecliff
Open: Every day
Caviar, fresh truffles, and truffle products are the speciality at Gourmet Life – an emporium tucked into Darling Point. Their offerings are highly specific and hard-to-find – hand-cleaned European mushrooms or jewel-toned jams from Moreno Cedroni. This is the spot for those who might already have their pantries stocked with gems – the 'person who has everything' that you want to still impress at the dinner party. We'd suggest grabbing them a century-old balsamic, or some rare salts and chillies.
14. Formaggi Ocello (Surry Hills)
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Address: 17/425 Bourke St, Surry Hills
Open: Wednesday–Sunday
One of Sydney's premier cheese stores (specialising in French and Italian varietals), Formaggi Ocelli does everything from wedding 'cakes' to in-store cheese tastings. But that's not all they offer – whether you're looking for some Australian Honeycomb cut off the frame, or simply some extra accoutrements for your cheese board. They have incredibly knowledgeable staff and a rustic vibe in-store.
