Sydney's Best New Cafes of 2017
Honouring the best new additions to Sydney's cafe scene this year.
Sydney's Best New Cafes of 2017
Honouring the best new additions to Sydney's cafe scene this year.
It has been a tumultuous year for Sydney's hospitality scene. We've said farewell to some short-lived favourites, we've lamented the changes to the 457 visa and the hospitality sector's staff shortage and we continue to fight the lockout laws. But where there have been closures, innovative new ventures have risen from the ashes. We've seen the opening of a slew of new bars, restaurants, cafes, pubs, spaces and events — and they're not all from the big players, independent ventures are flourishing.
The cafe culture is stronger than ever, too, with new cafes not only guaranteeing a stellar cup of Joe, but also innovative lunch snacks and sleek interiors that'll really make you reconsider that desk sandwich.
At Concrete Playground we encourage exploration and showcase innovation in our city every day, so we thought it fitting to reward those most talented vanguards pushing Sydney to be a better, braver city. And so, these six new cafes, opened in 2017, were nominated for Best New Cafe in Concrete Playground's Best of 2017 Awards.
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6
Baby Coffee Co. in Waterloo is really capitalising on the current trends of luxe junk food that is ready for a close up, strong branding with personality and an industrial design with splashes of neon and pastel. A hybrid venue, it’s licensed and has a tight wine list, bottomless mimosas for brunch and a cheeky cocktail list with the likes of a ‘Flick The Bean’ made with rum, espresso, Falernum and lemonade. While a ‘bacon’ and egg roll gets junkified with pork belly, two fried eggs, capsicum jam and aioli. We’re pretty keen on its espresso panna cotta for breakfast and cacio e pepe fries. It’s also opening for dinner, with an Italian-leanings menu. Pale pink is the prominent colour with some plashes of blue and lush textures and attention to detail giving it a slick edge.
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5
It’s hard to miss Joseph Hyde — seats and tables sprawl out onto Llankelly Place, where there’s a general hubbub from the laneway’s many cafe-goers. If you choose to sit outside, there’s a basket of large grey blankets by the door just in case it’s chilly. Bar seating and little pots of succulents round it all out, making the newcomer stylistically on-trend. The menu reads playfully with dishes like Hokey Poké ($19.50), a health-conscious gin-cured trout and mixed grain bowl. There’s also the plate of carrot cake waffles with sugared carrots ($18.50). The dense waffle is topped with mascarpone, crushed walnuts, syrup, a dusting of sugar and a handful of flower petals. If you find yourself in the area on the weekend, pop in for a laidback brunch — and if you’re in the mood, make it a boozy one.
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4
Sneaky Possum may be the new kid on Abercrombie Street, but the multi-purpose venue has already become a local haunt for many. The space does all things at once, seamlessly acting as a cafe, bar and restaurant throughout the day and night. The front cafe doubles as a bar throughout the day, with patrons drinking their flat whites alongside punters enjoying a cheeky arvo craft brew, wine on tap or cocktail from their antique glassware. You can easily spend the entire night at the bar, snacking on charcuterie and cheese plates or some warm Sonoma bread, served with butter and rock salt.
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3
Regiment is a busy glass-walled cafe on the busiest part of George Street. You won’t be able to escape the hustle and bustle here, but it’s one of the best places in the CBD to enjoy a cup of coffee. Stepping in, you’ll be greeted by two sleek white Synesso Hydras, warm lighting, blond wood, and a wall stacked with all the things you’ll need to make a great coffee (here, courtesy of Five Senses). There’s also turmeric lattes, kombucha on-tap and cold-pressed juices. There are some great picks on the small-health focused menu. Grab a coffee to go and pick a sweet treat from the glass case next to the counter — on any given day there might be anything from flourless chocolate brownies to hunks of caramel slice. Or take your pick from a selection of bowls, salads, sandwiches and dishes. If you’re looking for a casual sit-down meal, Regiment should be at the top of your list.
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2
Setting a new and impossibly high standard for themed dining in Sydney, The Grounds of the City has created a lavish 1920s coffeehouse complete with shoe shines, a tea lady and an impressive array of vintage glassware, art, crockery, books and silverware. The food menu takes inspiration from the ’20s and brings it up-to-date with contemporary ingredients and technique. Steak and eggs are given a new lease on life by way of a punchy chimichurri sauce and an expertly-cooked medium-rare fillet ($25), while fluffy homemade crumpets make the perfect base for a serve of poached eggs with citrus-cured ocean trout and a roasted pine nut hollandaise ($19). There’s a dedicated barista bar with a coffee sommelier as well as batch brews, cold brews, espresso, filter coffee and a killer affogato made with tiramisu ice-cream and popping candy. Head to the takeaway counter at the back for puffy cream cakes, fruit tarts and eclairs to-go.
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In Sydney, Andy Bowdy’s cakes are legendary. But until now, to taste one you had to attend a very involved birthday party or some kind of fancy event. The opening of his first standalone cafe Saga is an opportunity for the average punter to just walk in a grab one of the baker’s lauded sweet creations. But Saga isn’t just about Bowdy’s confectionary. The brunch menu puts a decadent twist on a number of breakfast classics, like the Anzac granola with scorched pear, yoghurt, honey and rosemary ($14). The lunch portion of the menu is made up of a short but sweet selection of sandwiches that manage to represent all the major meat groups with enough room left over to squeeze in the vegetarian Alex B. The coffee by Artificer is spot on. The cafe takes a minimalist approach to design — which is just as well, considering that space is pretty thin on the ground.
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