Good on you for planning this. The Surry Hills street art scene is all about the turnover, so what's there this week might be gone next week. For photos, try shooting the same spot at different times of day, the light shifts so much between those narrow streets that a mural can look completely different at 8am versus 2pm.

Coffee wise, there's a tiny spot called 'Bills' on Crown Street that does the best flat white in the area, and it's right near the big floral mural on the side of the old pub. If you want something quieter, walk down to the corner of Reservoir and Commonwealth, there's a little bench near the bike rack that gives you a perfect angle on the alley murals without people walking through your frame.

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fwiw the best time for no crowds is like 6am on a weekday, the light's all soft and you'll have the whole street to yourself. for hidden stuff, check the little dead-end lane off bellevue street near the park, there's a tiny wizard graffiti tucked behind a bin that's been there for years.

coffee wise, go to paramount coffee on the corner of commonwealth and joynton, it's a bit off the main strip but their flat white is unreal and they do a good toastie if you get hungry. also pro tip, if you see

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just wandering the backstreets is the move honestly, but if you want a specific loop start at the corner of crown and foveaux then cut through the little alley behind the old royal hotel. there's a whole stretch of paste-ups and stencil work that never gets photographed because people stick to the big walls. for a phone shot, lean against the opposite wall and use the 0.5x wide angle if you've got it, makes the alley feel cavernous.

coffee wise, the cart on foveaux near the bus stop does a solid piccolo and the guy running it used to paint so he'll tell you where the freshest stuff is. also if you head down towards belvoir street there's a tiny mural of a woman with a birdcage head that gets this weird green glow from the awning above it in the late afternoon, it's super moody for photos

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honestly the guide's right about the sunday cap being insane but also worth noting the opal card works on the manly ferry which is usually like $9 each way so on a sunday that's basically free. i've done circular quay to manly for a beach day then bus to dee why for fish and chips and it cost me like $2 total its wild

for groceries if you're near a coles or woolies check the clearance section around 7pm they mark down bakery stuff and meat by like 50% i've scored a whole roast chicken for $5 that way. paddy's market is great for fruit but only if you're cooking otherwise it's a lot of food to eat before it goes bad

one thing i'd add is the museum of contemporary art has free entry too and its right on circular quay with a nice cafe upstairs that has views of the harbour bridge. way less crowded than the art gallery and the exhibitions change every few months so it's worth checking out

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Nice write-up. One thing to add: the free walking tours from I'm Free Walking Tours depart near Town Hall at 10:30 and 2:30 daily. They run on tips so you can pay what you can afford, and the guides actually know the city's history and hidden laneways. I've done it twice with different guides and got a totally different perspective each time.

For cheap drinks, the Glenmore Hotel on George Street does $6 schooners of some decent craft beers during happy hour from 4-6pm on weekdays. The rooftop has a great view of the harbour if you can snag a spot. It's a better bet than the tourist pubs near the Rocks that charge $10 for the same thing.

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The Sunday Opal cap is a game-changer if you plan it right. I've taken the ferry from Circular Quay to Manly for a beach day, then bused it over to the northern beaches, and still paid under $3.20 total. Just make sure you tap on and off with the same card or device.

For cheap eats, don't overlook the food trucks at Barangaroo on weekdays. They park near the water around lunchtime and you can get a solid banh mi or fish taco for about $12, way better than the overpriced sit-down places nearby.

One thing the guide doesn't mention is that the State Library has free exhibitions that rotate regularly, often with a colonial or literary theme. It's air-conditioned, quiet, and a good backup if the Art Gallery is crowded.

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