Where to Become Human Again in Sydney After a Big Night Out

 This popular Newtown spot single-handedly reinvents the concept of a train station café, with not a single piece of plastic furniture or stale pastries in sight. Instead, you’ll find a stylish, colourful interior with inviting teal banquettes, lofty ceilings and fuchsia accents.

For those mornings when you need a solid caffeine fix, this is the place to go because the coffee here (beans by Coffee Alchemy) is absolutely spot on. If you’ve already had too many cups of the stuff, grab yourself a salted caramel or Nutella milkshake instead. Plus, the grub here comfort food at its best, with dishes like the delicious cured salmon layered atop pumpkin fritters, a poached egg and some heirloom tomatoes; and the blue swimmer crab cake with corn and avocado salsa, watermelon, cucumber and lemon jelly. Yep, just what the doctor ordered.

A few hours at Madame Shanghai will put you back on track after even the wildest night out. Taking hefty influence from post-colonial Shanghai, the gorgeous, light-filled space has dark wooden tables, wicker chairs, and jade and gold accents aplenty.  

The menu is equally good-looking and, while it delves into the delicious world of Chinese barbecue, it still maintains a wide selection of the tasty dumplings that have made the Lotus Group’s cuisine a Sydney staple. The yum cha menu features delights like scallop dumplings, chicken sui mai, and steamed bao with soft shell crab and sriracha mayo. Make sure to save a little space for the matcha coconut wagon wheel to round your meal off.

This Sydney institution needs no introduction but, even after all these years, there are few better places to go when you need wholesome brunch fare to soothe your hungover soul. Grab some freshly-squeezed orange juice and a cup of Single Origin coffee to kickstart your recovery, or, if it’s a little hair-of-the-dog you’re after, go for the spicy Bloody Mary.  

Then, choose from one of the uber-comforting mains like the sweet corn fritters, the luscious scrambled eggs or the decadent ricotta hotcakes (note, though, that if your stomach is feeling a little fragile, these might be a bit much). A few hours here, and you’ll be more than ready to face the rest of the weekend.

This delightful Newtown spot ranks highly on our hangover saviours list for a few very good reasons: the killer ramen, the exceptional coffee and the edgy motorbike-workshop-plus-cafe vibes. If you manage to get up in time for brekkie, get your hands on the insanely delicious breakfast ramen, a steaming bowl of noodles topped with an egg, bacon, and tomato. If you’ve missed the breakfast hours, don’t worry — the three lunch-time ramen options (vegetarian, light or dark) are equally good.

Peek into the motorbike workshop downstairs before heading to the second level, where communal tables sit amidst exposed brick walls, vintage prints and timber accents. Round out breakfast with a second cup of the Single Origin coffee and a slice of one of the decadent cakes (because why the hell not?), and you’ll officially be ready to take on the rest of the weekend.

Some mornings, the only way to deal with the night before is to keep on drinking. When it’s one of those days, take yourself to Joseph Hyde. Here you’ll get a Negroni, Aperol Spritz or whatever else your little heart desires starting from 7am.

Named for the founder of Potts Point, morning drinks aren’t the only thing this community-minded cafe has going for it. There’s also some stellar coffee from Double Roasters and a menu fit for any dietary requirements. We’re especially into the croque and jack, which sees free-range smoked ham topped with a duck egg and cheese, all atop Sonoma sourdough. If you need something even more comforting, try the honey dijon, a combination of fried free-range chicken, slaw and chipotle mayo, or the decadent carrot cake waffle that’s drenched in syrup and mascarpone.

Thank the good heavens for pasta and its ability to make those morning-after shakes disappear in record time. For a particularly delicious plate of the stuff, head to Casoni, where a new pasta dish is on offer every week.

Luckily, our favourite — pumpkin ravioli with burnt butter, sage and pistachios — is a menu staple. If that headache is impeding your decision-making abilities and you have five pals with you, opt for the $55 Menu Fisso, where you’ll get to try all of the Casoni signatures including the cheese and pepper doughnuts, burrata, lamb shank ragu and the moreish tiramisu. Something else we love about Casoni? The fit-out. It’ just as comforting as the food: think white-tiled walls, a few bright murals, warm timber furniture and menus scrawled on chalkboards.

Is there a better remedy for a splitting hangover than a meaty, cheesy, carby burger? If so, we have yet to find it. For a pretty great version of this holiest of cures, make your way to Paddington’s Cheekyburger. Here, the chuck-brisket cheeseburger is a meltingly soft affair with perfectly charred edges, complete with a good amount of cheese and a generous squirt of ketchup. There’s also the oh-so-tender Philly cheesesteak, which sees bits of steak topped with onions, peppers, cheese.  

Or, grab an Oreo shake for when things are looking particularly grim and you need to call in backup. Beyond the food, our favourite thing about this place is the sun-dappled courtyard out back. With walls covered in tin and quirky murals, it feels a bit like being at a mate’s barbie and encourages you to linger for as long as you need to.

Image: Leah Hulst.