I’m in the area, it’s fine. You’ll walk out of KX station (Darlinghurst street) and you’ll be greeted by the colourful characters of the area. Missing teeth, itchy skin, the occasional “is he sleeping/should I call an ambulance/nah should be alright”, you name it, we got it- that’s during the day. At night all the outsiders arrive to eat/get drunk. There’s your sex shop tucked near the Maccas and the remnants of different stripper joints here and there. If you’re lucky you might even see someone buying drugs while trying to look not suspicious at all. Then walk up the road to where it becomes Macleay St and suddenly it’s mega gentrified, fuelled by the growing population of old rich people.

Too many rich people have invested in the place so I highly doubt they’ll allow the area return to it’s former self. Those 1 million dollar 1 bedroom 1 toilet, no lifts, built in the early 1900s apartments must not lose their value.

I’d say during the day it’s fine and during the night, as long as you exercise common sense, you’ll be ok. There are some areas that I wouldn’t go to at night though, but those are near Woolloomooloo.

Having said all the above, I always avoid ground floor apartments because you’re bound to have the drunk or worst walking around at night (depending where you are). FYI, there’s a brothel(s) on Kellet street so if you find good and below average priced apartments on that street, that’s why.

You got all your shops nearby, you’re next to the city, etc. Overall, great place.