The Best Cafes (and Coffee) in Parramatta

Owner Aykut Sayan opened his popular cafe Circa Espresso, found five minutes’ walk from Parramatta Station, with one goal in mine: sharing his love of food and coffee with others. His approach fuses Middle Eastern influences with modern Australian fare, resulting in hearty, flavour-packed brekkies, brunches and lunches. The Ottoman eggs are a feast of poached free-range eggs with crumbed eggplant, garlic labneh, burnt chilli, sage butter and seeded sourdough, while beetroot and quinoa fritters come topped with zucchini flowers, pickled veggies and whipped tofu.

Coffee-wise, forget about your usual cappuccino or latte — Circa gives you a choice of white, black, hot brew and cold brew. If you’re undecided, taste your way through the options with a Barista Flight. All beans are carefully selected by Sayan and roasted in small batches. On clear days, the outdoor terrace is bathed in sunshine, while, in chilly weather, Circa’s pendant-lit interior is one of Parramatta’s cosiest spots. To really hide away, find the Chesterfield up the back, surrounded by books and artworks.

Hidden among the high-rises of central Parramatta’s George Street is a gem serving comforting classics and first-rate brews. Housed in an airy industrial space, Homage has quickly become a well-loved mainstay of the local community, slinging breakfast, lunch and coffee from Monday to Saturday.

Cosy up with the chilli scram with pecorino and chives, Middle Eastern breakfast eggs with whipped garlic labneh, chickpeas and cauliflower, or lemongrass chicken salad. If you’re craving something more carb-heavy, there are Brooklyn Boy bagels with a selection of spreads and jaffles and toasties galore, including the popular bolognese, cheeseburger or zucchini parmigiana options.

What stands out most, however, are the hundreds of five-star Google reviews that note the cafe’s unparalleled service and warm staff, so make sure you sing out with any coffee queries or just say g’day.

Barista Toufick Chami — whose CV includes Circa, The Cupping Room, Tap and Ona — opened the glass doors of this sunny, friendly, corner cafe back in 2016. He combines his Lebanese background with modern Australian cafe fare, creating dishes that break the mould through simple but effective twists. The signature toastie, for example, is made with tasty cheese, sujuk (dry, spicy sausage), olives and house-made smoky capsicum relish, while the granola is served on watermelon-infused rose water reduction and a pear poached in Earl Grey tea. The compact menu changes frequently and, every morning, a batch of freshly baked goodies lands on the counter. Chami sources coffee beans from Stitch, but for non-coffee drinkers, there are plenty of alternative adventures, such as the Red African hot chocolate, chilled vanilla rose Milo and house-made almond milk made with beetroot, rose petals and Himalayan sea salt.

When it comes to cafe food, taste and robust healthiness do not always come together. Black Seed Eatery, however, has perfected the match. Opened in June 2018, this sleek eatery brings dishes made with fresh produce and spiked with superfoods to Parramatta’s rapidly evolving food scene. Designed by Al & Co Haus of Design, the space is a naturally lit refuge filled with shiny mirrors, Scandi-inspired blonde timbers and lush pot plants.

To start your day right, tuck into the quinoa salsa with asparagus, sweet corn kernels,  avocado and a fried egg on organic sourdough, or a baked field mushroom layered with crispy pancetta, poached egg, rocket, balsamic and parmesan. That said, the menu isn’t only about looking after your body. Come lunchtime, you can get a bit more indulgent with a selection of hefty burgers or sandiches. There’s also a bunch of artisanal baked goods, created in partnership with Luxe Bakery. Meanwhile, Toby’s Estate is supplying the beans and has spent many hours working with the Black Seed team to come up with a smooth, rich, unique house blend.

Images: Terence Chin

Lil Miss Collins started out, well, lil’. The team hosted two pop-ups around town, then, once popularity was established, moved onto a spacious, grassy site, five minutes’ walk from Parramatta station. The cafe’s adorable (and permanent) home is a combination of shipping containers and recycled timber, which owner Tony Moussa, with the help of his family, transformed into the space it is today.

In between patting dogs and maintaining his DIY digs, Moussa roasts his own coffee beans. Choose from a house blend or a single origin, before perusing the hearty, healthy menu. Among the seasonal offerings, you’ll find the Collins Bennie with pineapple and chilli salsa; Mediterranean plate with scrambled eggs, charred broccolini, roasted cauliflower, spiced pita and labneh; falafel tacos; or a spiced pumpkin and haloumi bowl.

Circa’s sibling venue Lucien Baked Goods continues the team’s hot streak but with an increased focus on the sweeter side of life. Lucien brings Circa’s passion for top-notch flavours to the world of baked goods, swapping crab fettucini for decadent cheesecake, and trading the train station for the Parramatta ferry terminal. Located down by the river on Phillip Street, the part-bakery, part-cafe boasts a hefty sourdough sandwich menu and a range of snacky delights that are sure to satisfy your sweet tooth.

If you head in on the hunt for the baked good of your choice, you can expect the likes of croissants, brownies, pistachio scrolls and Persian love cake. Rounding out the offerings is a robust range of drinks. Whether you’re a flat-white lover or a cold-brew fanatic, you’ll find Circa’s signature in-house coffee, alongside a range of tea from Ms Cattea (the coconut truffle white tea sounds particularly alluring) and other miscellaneous drinks like smoked cola, lemon myrtle kombucha, Egyptian iced tea and iced chai.

Run by couple Carla Soriano and Ben Mora, Paper Plane whisks you away from Parramatta’s busy city streets into a cosy farmhouse, dotted with fresh flowers and warm timber. Back in 2013, the two quit their fast-paced corporate jobs and spent a year travelling overseas, before deciding to devote themselves to cafe life.

Slide into your morning with a speciality blend, made using beans from The Little Marionette. When it comes to ordering food, chances are you’ll be eyeing off everyone else’s plates, loaded with piles of bright, colourful deliciousness, before making your decision. If you’re ravenous, go for the corn fritters, truffled eggs or Cuban benny. For lighter eaters, there’s a range of delightful morsels to choose from, including the brunch bowl with grilled haloumi, avocado, spiced cauliflower and a poached egg, or French brioche toast with berries, custard, candied pecan and ice cream.

Sometimes it’s nice to learn that one of Sydney’s finest bakeries is located in Parramatta and not Paddington. Threefold Pastry offers a range of sweet and savoury pastries, including a range of ever-changing croissants. Flavours include plain, almond, apple crumble and pain au chocolat options, while the specialty croissant (which changes monthly) could be anything from a peanut butter brownie version to a lemon verbena. Other treats include a mixed berry crumble danish, cinnamon scrolls, Oreo brownies and homemade banana bread. For something more savoury, you could opt for a beef or Thai chicken curry pie, a Vegemite and cheese croissant or a falafel, hummus, tahini, tomato and rocket wrap. It builds a mean sandwich, too, with options including chicken schnitzel with roasted tomato jam, mayo, cheese and rocket; salami with the same; and poached chicken with smashed avo, honey mustard dressing and cheese.