Pyrmont

Old rail yards turned markets and maker spaces, beside Redfern's buzz. Gritty, creative and walkable, with green pockets close by.

Glebe Point Road runs on coffee, secondhand books and Saturday markets, then spills down to a harbour foreshore walk. Bohemian to its bones and very glad to see your dog.

Darling Harbour-close and city-dense, with Wentworth Park's green just over the road. Urban, studenty and handy for a quick lap between the high-rises.

A brand-new harbour precinct with a headland park and foreshore promenade. Waterfront, walkable and made for a city-edge stroll.

Green Square's high-rise heart, with new parks and wide footpaths threading between the towers. Brand-new, city-close and laid out for a quick loop.

Warehouse cafes, big skies and Sydney Park's off-leash acres on the doorstep. Industrial-cool with plenty of room for a proper zoomie.

Old warehouses turned cafes and roasters, with foodie weekends and room to spread out. South Sydney's quiet upgrade, easy-going and dog-friendly.

Chinatown's neon and night-market buzz at the city's edge, with Belmore Park close. Dense, lively and walkable for a quick lap.

King Street is tattooed, big-hearted and endlessly dog-friendly. Beer gardens, bookshops and pubs where the water bowl lands before the menu.

Wedged between Newtown and Glebe, with Sydney Uni's leafy grounds and quiet terrace streets to wander. The inner west's calm achiever — the buzz close by, the pace nicely unhurried.