A Local Guide to Surry Hills & Surrounds with Artificer Coffee

Surry Hills is one of the best pockets of Sydney and that’s mostly to do with two things: 1) The seemingly endless list of restaurants, cafes, pubs and bars. The variety of which means you’ll find anything from humble mum-and-pop shops to some of Australia’s, or even the world’s, best restaurants. 2) It’s a gorgeous walk. Green, leafy, clean, loads of places to stop-in and on a sunny day, you could wander for hours. Generally, all paths lead somewhere nice.

Surry Hills is also Worktones home, with a showroom and design studio on Marshall St. When we were considering who to consult for this special, inaugural edition of Local Guide, we couldn’t go past the one place we visit the most - Artificer Coffee.

The Artificer space provides a lovely moment to sit and enjoy your coffee. You’ll first notice the coffee bar a mile off by its bright orange awning. Each side of this corner cafe is filled with benches and stools for you to pull up or you can sit inside, where the interior is filled with natural light. It’s warm and homey. 

Artificer has long been a thing in the neighbourhood. Known to locals as the place to go for a coffee and only coffee. They don’t have an extensive drinks menu or serve any food, pastries included. They’re a reference for the benefits of doing one thing really, really well. They’ve built a cult following off the back of this single focus. Oh, but they do a really good hot choc too.

The Artificer team helping us put together this Surry Hills guide:

• Dan - owner.
• John - primary dishwasher (barista).
• Will - sometimes barista.
• Doon - barista/server/smiley guy at artificer.
• Rosie - barista all rounder.

What's your go-to when you knock off? 

• Dan - Sáng by Mabasa or Chez Crix.
• John - Jane for a snack and drink, we get a happy hour menu outside of happy hour times. $6 gin and tonic is hard to beat. 
• Will - Carrington for a good pint, parmy and banter.
• Doon - Breadtop, Gumshara Ramen, Outta Coffee for the hot choc.
• Rosie - Home to make some yum lunch then straight to the sauna/spa.

Where are you eating on a day/night off?

• Dan - Lately, Ante or historically, 10 William St.
• John - My Zakaya by BUNO, this is a real treat, the Chirashi Don is the best I've had in Sydney.
• Will - Date night at Jane = instant brownie points. Try the duck and kangaroo tartare. Delicious.
• Doon - Dimitri’s pizza Wednesday night, sometimes Pizza Oltra, Sunday afternoon is great for Westwood Pizza on the gutter. I love pizza.
• Rosie - Jane, Sáng by Mabasa but mostly at home because my partner is an amazing cook.

It's staff party time... where would you take the whole team?

• Dan - Annually we get a boat and go on the harbour followed by a big table of food and BYO Nebuchadnezzar (15L) to East Ocean Chinese.
• John - 10 William St, I'm ordering 2 pretzels for myself.
• Will - BSP’ERIA to share some of the best pizza in Sydney.
• Doon - Poly. Big communal table good for big group, fun and yum.
• Rosie - Jambo Jambo.

You have a 15 minute lunch break... where are you grabbing a quick bite?

• Dan - Lucky Pickle for a Katsu Roll.
• John - Bourke St Bakery for a pork and fennel or Q Bakery for a bahn mi. My cheap and fast options.
• Will - A sando from Lucky Pickle. Too tasty, too easy.
• Doon - Bolognese toastie from Bourke St Bakery.
• Rosie - Maloneys.

Gotta kill time... where are you going window shopping?

• Dan - In the area, Provider Store or browsing online for what Song For The Mute are dropping next.
• John - Provider Store.
• Will - Provider Store, unique Japanese homewares for the property I’ll never afford.
• Doon - Chinatown. Whatever I see along the way to Artificer and after when I walk back to central.
• Rosie - I’ll stop into Vinnies, Incu and Above The Clouds.

Worktones designed and produced Artificer’s custom-made caps which they sell as merchandise. If you would like to explore merchandise for your business, click here.