The Thousands

Government bodies and estate agents love to talk about this town as a ‘city of villages’. And it is, in as much as any sizable population mass will develop distinct pockets and boroughs. But Erskineville (Erko in the native language) is a true village. The locals are patriotic, but not in a scary Cronulla riots kind of way. They just love their suburb. So it’s nice that the area is fleshing out with suitable haunts, like newbie The Kick Inside.

This cubby hole is the quintessential neighbourhood cafe. The deck is stacked with carefully sourced retro/vintage furniture and simple cafe fare (paninis, pies, salads). We Buy Your Kids developed their cute identity and local coffee heroes The Golden Cobra supply the beans. And the staff wear matching coloured scarves (which is not quite as naff as it sounds), making this the friendliest tribe to never start a turf war.