Spice Alley is Sydney's hawker centre (an open-air food centre). It is located about a 5 minute walk from Central Station.

I have been here a number of times before. It is a place I come back to repeatedly. The time of day as well as the day you choose to go impacts the atmosphere and vibe of the centre. On a weekday lunch, it can be a bit quiet, but weekends tend to be bustling and busy, which is what I find exciting about hawker centres. On this particular occasion, I found the atmosphere to be excellent. The place has vibrant wall art, lots of hanging lanterns of assorted sizes, and decorations from the various cultures of the food stores there. There was upbeat music playing at just the right volume in the background.

Service on this occasion was really good too. Staff worked hard and well as a team to keep customers fed and moving along. Even though there were a lot of diners, the place was clean. All staff I interacted with were friendly, helpful and courteous.

What I like about this hawker centre is the mix of cuisines offered. There is Singaporean, Malaysian, Vietnamese, Hong Kong, Japanese and Thai. There is also a store selling pasta for those who would prefer that. You could eat a starter from one culture and then a main from another! It is a good opportunity to mix and match. It is good for share plates and I feel there is a bit of everything for everyone. There are also two bars where you can purchase drinks from. Spice Alley is good for solo dining, a meal with family or friends, or to take a visitor to Sydney.

The food to me is average, though. There are some hits and misses. The food isn't the best there is in the city but it isn't bad either. The prices are also on the expensive side, especially for the serving size. A starter and a main would be a reasonable meal or else 3 main meals shared between 2 people. In most cases, food is served on disposable plates and bowls with bamboo cutlery. The venue is also cashless and there is a card transaction fee.

Nevertheless, Spice Alley is a fun place to visit!