Single O Takeaway Coffee Bar Opens in CBD

There's a little bit of Surry Hills making itself at home in the inner city; Sydney's coffee aficionados Single Origin Roasters have opened their own takeaway coffee joint in the CBD. It's good news for jaded CBD workers wanting a change from their ground floor go-to; the Surry Hills cafe crew have brought their signature roasted beans, mad barista skills, eco-friendly packaging and a solid brekkie menu to York Street — right beside The Barber Shop.

Replicating the Single O's Sideshow takeaway bar, the new CBD spot is serving up the team's Reservoir house blend, alongside select single origins and the 'filter of the week' to change up your daily cup. This week, you'll be sippin' on La Roda Colombia,Mimba AA Tanzania and Seka Forest, Ethiopia. Channelling an Italian cafe feature, Single O boasts a 'standing bar' where you can take a damn second to enjoy your cup and admire a ceiling installation by artist Renuka Fernando, painted with coffee and cascara (coffee fruit tea, which you can also try here, alongside kombucha on tap from Wild Kombucha). The whole thing's designed by big gun design firm Luchetti Krelle, best known for Momofuku Seiobo, Adriano Zumbo, The Butler, ACME and the upcoming Hello Kitty Diner.

But you can't start the day with only a coffee in your paws (no, no you can't). Single O's CBD venture sees a menu created by head chef Troy Cotton, with plenty of solid morning breakfast options; we like the sound of waking up with a cappuccino rice pudding ($8). You'll can pick up Single O's signature banana bread with espresso butter ($6), or something more substantial like the bacon roll with red eye mayo, fried eggs and tomato apple ketchup ($12) or Cotton’s interpretation of a Croque-Monsieur with smoked leg ham, cheddar béchamel and pickled vegetables ($11). There are lunch offerings too, from salads to coffee braised beef brioche with pickles and slaw ($15). And because they're total legends, all their takeaway food and coffee packaging is recyclable and/or compostable. Top marks.

So why the venture into the CBD? Single O's Lirie Chen says they're keen to bring a little life into the daytime city slog. "York Street has had a string of bar openings and has some great nightlife. We’re excited to join the York Street party, to be the ‘daylife’ and service the CBD crowd” says Chen. "We’re most look forward to bringing damn fine coffee and food to people who are on the go, and if they want to hang out and explore the world of specialty coffee, it’s all there for the taking."

Find Single O CBD at 89 York Street, Sydney. Open Monday to Friday from 6.30am – 4pm.