By Fiona Hollier, Bulletin 02/2026, April

An example of greener, accessible and safe master-planned outdoor dining (image: Brian Fuller)

Increased outdoor dining In Glebe in recent years, provides people of different ages and backgrounds an opportunity to connect and engage while sharing coffee or a meal. The Glebe Society welcomes this growth and at the same time, is keen that these outdoor dining venues and the adjoining footpaths are safe, accessible and attractive for all those who wish to use them.

To this end, the Glebe Society has recommended amendments to the City of Sydney Draft Outdoor Dining Guidelines, December 2025. Currently, the Draft Guidelines (Part 5) includes a list of nine City streets ‘subject to master planned public domain upgrades’, including footpath extensions to improve amenability, safety, access and aesthetic appeal of outdoor dining. No streets in Glebe are currently in this list.

The Glebe Society wants Glebe to be included and so has recommended that the section of Glebe Point Road between Mitchell and Francis Streets be added to the list for early master planned public domain upgrades. This section of Glebe Point Road has fifteen cafes and restaurants, with a row of seven providing continuous on-roadway outdoor dining. With the many other nearby cafes or restaurants, the very successful Glebe Markets and the academic influence from nearby universities’ students and faculties, the Glebe Society considers that this section of Glebe Point Road undoubtedly has an established café culture that warrants inclusion within the City of Sydney’s commitment to ‘master planning’ and/or the provision of footpath extensions. Read the Glebe Society submission.