Six Top-Notch Brunch Spots to Try in Greater Western Sydney

What started out as a local pop-up has turned into one of Parramatta’s favourite brunch spots. Located a short walk from the station, Lil Miss Collins is an outdoor oasis in the heart of the Parra CBD.

Its leafy, DIY-style courtyard, made from colourful shipping containers and recycled timber, is matched by an eclectic all-day menu with international influences — think eggplant and haloumi stacks, brekkie tacos and burgers and Mediterranean-style plates that come piled high with sujuk, scrambled eggs, harissa labneh and za’atar-spiced pita. Apart from great coffee, the cafe also serves up homemade iced tea and soda.

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Located just a hop and skip from the station, Merrylands’ Mase Cafe is a popular local weekend brunch spot, and with good reason. Come here for brekkie options that fuse Mediterranean flavours with classic Aussie dishes. All of your usual suspects make the cut, including bacon and egg rolls, smashed avo on toast and muesli — these sit on the menu with the likes of a mushroom and spinach shakshuka (topped with creamy feta and served with za’atar sourdough) and kafta plates served with hummus and fattoush.

For drinks, expect taro, turmeric and red velvet lattes to accompany your typical coffees and teas. Queues should be expected on weekends, so be sure to book ahead or plan to wait.

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Offering some of the best specialty coffee in western Sydney, Circa Espresso is also a technology-free space — so you won’t catch a laptop in sight. This is to ensure a stress-free vibe allowing diners to truly enjoy the Circa experience, especially the excellent coffee. Circa’s seasonal java offering changes frequently and includes a coffee flight that spans filter, espresso and house blends. There are also seasonal teas on the menu, with the likes of white peony available at the moment.

Like the drinks, the food menu is seasonally focused and currently includes autumnal options like citrus-cured ocean trout, crispy sourdough waffles and the signature Ottoman Eggs — poached free-range eggs with crumbed eggplant, garlic labneh, burnt chilli and sage butter and fried leeks, served with house-made focaccia.

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Head to Sydney Olympic Park for Abbatoir Blues Cafe, a family-owned restaurant known for its hearty lunches, bottomless antipasto and house-made Egyptian rose tea — all of which you can enjoy over brunch. House specialties include the Elevated Toastie with wood-smoked scamorza, prosciutto and vincotto, and the green pea hummus toast with heirloom cherry tomatoes, dusted beetroot powder and pumpkin seeds. For something a little less brunchy but no less delicious, tuck into a hearty bowl of gnocchi napoletana, prawn ravioli or house-made lasagne.

Slept in? The venue stays open late, serving antipasti, handmade pasta and larger meals alongside a selection of cocktails and wine.

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Parramatta’s boutique coffee house serves up nourishing eats in a farmhouse-style setting. At Paper Plane, you’ll forget you’re sitting within Parra’s bustling CBD. Customers are guaranteed a next-level cuppa here each and every visit, with the beans changing regularly.

The cafe fare is just as appealing and also offers something a little different — the current menu includes truffled scrambled eggs with sauteed portobello mushroom and chorizo on sourdough toast; sesame bagel with smoked salmon, cream cheese, onion and capers; and a chimichurri bowl with grilled chicken breast, brown rice, charred corn, avocado and dukkah.

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Image: Cassandra Hannagan

With 13 locations across Sydney and Newcastle, XS Espresso is a raging success for good reason. And it all started in Wetherill Park, where the original location still stands.

This local stalwart offers an expansive menu featuring eats that are anything but XS in size — from OTT brunch plates to decadent desserts and milkshakes. Favourites include buttermilk chicken and cinnamon waffles, topped with maple bacon, creamy slaw, melted cheese and a secret spicy sauce; pancakes piled with strawberry, banana, vanilla ice cream and Belgian chocolate; and croissants stuffed with mac ‘n’ cheese, sujuk and a poached egg. There’s also the truffle oil eggs benedict and a massive brekkie burger to contend with. Whatever you order, you won’t be leaving this place hungry.

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