A good breakfast always goes down better in a good location, and a literal stone's throw from the water in Warners Bay is bloody good as far as locations go. That's where you'll find Hippo Espresso, once a hidden destination known and loved solely by locals until those locals showered it with votes during the 2024 run of the Toby's Estate Local Legends competition. Now Hippo Espresso proudly stands as one of the most loved cafes in the entire state of NSW and owner Aaryn Algie, a hospo veteran of two decades, couldn't be prouder. So what landed Hippo Espresso in the top spot? It could be something in the menu. With a breakfast and lunch offering seven days a week, the menu highlights have to be the breakfast wraps with scrambled egg, hash browns, bacon, spinach and tomato relish; the beloved acai bowl with unlimited toppings; or the sizeable omelette that's described as an egg pizza with the lot by Algie. Come lunchtime, you can get a mix of Aussie and Asian-fusion treats ranging from steak sandwiches and bacon and mushroom carbonara to sticky pork belly bites and pork and prawn nasi goreng. Wash that down with coffee, smoothies, or frappes (that you can order as alcoholic if you're dining in). With variety like that, a top-notch spot by the water and a clientele that includes the likes of local Matildas players, no matter how you shake it, you're set for a good time at Hippo Espresso.
There aren't many spots in the city catering to both the pre-work and post-work crowds, but Kahii Kissaten Bistro aims to do just that. It transitions from a cafe slinging specialty tea, coffee, sandwiches and pastries to an intimate cocktail, wine and snack bar, ideal for after-work drinks or date night spots. The younger sibling to the nearby bar and restaurant Kuro, Kahii Kissaten is found on Kent Street in a heritage building. It's a modern take on the traditional Kissaten coffeehouses in Japan, which focus on coffee, socialising and small bites. Wile away the morning with house-roasted small-batch coffee, Uji-sourced matcha or the viral black sesame cloud drink and croissant. Return for lunch to enjoy one of Kahii's famous pork katsu sando or green tea soba noodles As day transitions to night, Kahii converts into a bistro with a largely French wine menu carefully constructed by their in-house head sommelier. There are also classic, tea-based and coffee-based cocktails from renowned bartender Fumiaki Michishita, plus an extensive range of sake and spirits. Kuro also offers a curated evening menu for Kahii's punters. Small bites include appellation rock oysters, confit salmon with herb tofu and seared kingfish sashimi. Or for something heartier: fried chicken and wagyu steak with crispy potatoes. Images: KW Photography, Matthew Wong
The Old Rosebud cafe is right in the heart of Rozelle, ideal for those patrons in the Inner West craving an all-day breakfast, a hearty lunch, or just a cup of coffee. For those with a sweet tooth, menu highlights include pancakes topped with a medley of fresh fruit and a generous scoop of creamy ice cream, crispy churros-style waffles topped with caramelised bananas and ice cream, salted caramel tart, apple turnovers and croissants galore. If you're a fan of savoury delights, tuck into one of the many moreish dishes like the steak sandwich, spinach pastries, pumpkin bruschetta with poached eggs, labneh, snowpea tendrils, feta, and fresh herbs, or opt for the classic smashed avo. For those on the move, The Old Rosebud offers a convenient takeaway menu with an array of sandwiches and wraps. Stock up on smoothies at the wellness bar, go for super fruity with the berry smoothie, indulge in the chocolate peanut butter smoothes or go healthy with their superfood green smoothie.
Pre-work swims and afternoon picnics are better thanks to Petersham Park's friendly neighbourhood cafe that's reinventing the classic pool canteen. Splash Coffee took over the food and drink offering at the Fanny Durack Aquatic Centre in late 2023, setting up shop with standout coffee, loaded sambos, fresh salads and a freezer stocked full of ice creams. Splash is the second Inner West opening from the team behind Newtown's always-pumping Soulmate — an accomplished crew also boasting the minds behind northwest Sydney favourites The Tuckshop and the now-closed Baron. Open seven days a week, Splash begins to stir from the early hours, swinging open its doors from 6.30am each morning. That means pre-work swims paired with a hearty brekkie and Single O coffee are well and truly on the cards. The all-day breakfast section of the menu spans granola, smashed (or splashed) avo and B&Es (or V&Es — vego and egg rolls). If you're after something bigger, picks include fish and chips, a selection of sandwiches and a loaded Bradman burger. The fish sandwich is a certain summer hit, packing thin pieces of fish schnitzel, American cheese, house-pickled beetroot, white onion, shredded lettuce and a signature sauce between two ultra-fluffy pieces of white bread. Summer swimmers can head to the takeaway window inside of the pool in order to elevate their dips with a heap of nostalgic treats on offer at the cafe — including a chip butty (with optional curry sauce), milkshakes, smoothies and your classic ice cream selections. Splash's proximity to the park also opens it up to servicing leafy picnics under the nearby trees. The team has even supplied picnic blankets, which you can borrow when you order a coffee or a feed. A bloody lovely neighbourhood spot.
Tita is a bustling Filipino cafe from the beloved Donut Papi team. The Illawarra Road spot brings hearty silogs and a contender for Sydney's best breakfast muffin to the Inner West. Kenneth Rodrigueza, Karen Rodrigueza-Labuni and Christopher Palamara created Tita (Filipino for aunt or aunty as) a homely love letter to Filipino breakfast, with a fun colourful fit-out and more of the Donut Papi crew's signature sweet treats. The core of the Tita menu is the silogs, a classic Filipino breakfast plate made up of sinangag (garlic fried rice), a fried egg, pickled green papaya and mixed veggies with your choice of protein. There's the longsilog featuring the spiced Filipino longganisa sausage; the tapsilog, which pairs the rice with soy and garlic-marinated beef strips, and tocilog; bringing a sweet char siu-style pork belly to the fold. If the silogs are the star of the show, the breakfast sandwiches are a standout supporting cast. In place of your standard English muffin, the Tita team has made their muffins from pandesal, a sweeter bread reminiscent of a dinner roll. This is paired with a range of fillings including the longganisa which returns on the signature sambo alongside egg, cheese, banana ketchup and mayo. There's also a deluxe spam muffin and an egg, cheese and hashbrown variety for the non-meat eaters. Plus, you'll find sides like cheesy chismosa chips, queso chicken nuggets and pork spring rolls. Then there's the doughnuts and other sweet treats. Tita is the only spot in Marrickville where you'll find bibngka basque cheesecake wrapped in banana leaves, or pandalisa filled with Tuyo (dried herring) and topped with Everything Bagel seasoning. There's plenty of ube to be found on the menu as well, including ube soft serve, ube cheesecake, ube lamingtons and and ube affogato. Gabrielle Coffee is providing the beans behind the more traditional brews, which are served alongside a couple of Filipino-inspired drinks like the Manila latte — a mix of iced vanilla latte and condensed milk.
Hidden away on Regent Street in Chippendale is Charc Specialty Meats and Coffee, an unassuming little cafe specialising in the incredible trinity of sandwiches, cookies and biltong. While the storefront might not be as flashy as some of Sydney's other popular sambo spots, Charc is an underrated gem for any local meat lovers. Each sandwich here can be loaded up from the regular size all the way up to the double, depending on how much smoked deli meat you want packed between two slices of bread. Standout creations include the El Scorcho, piling on housemade spicy beef salami, Swiss cheese, jalapeños, and a white Russian sauce for a very reasonable $13.90. Elsewhere on the menu, you'll find a variety of reubens made with pastrami, chicken or mushroom as the hero protein. There's also a take on a classic Cuban sandwich, a classic corned beef and pickle combo, and a pair of luxe toasties created with house-smoked wagyu beef. Rounding out the offerings are a few lighter brekkie options including a breakfast burrito and a wagyu cheesesteak wrap, and plenty of drinks including protein shakes and coffee — both milk and filter.
Affordable brekkie and lunch in the CBD from an award-winning hospitality team — you don't come by that very often. But, that's exactly what you'll find at This Way Canteen. Located at the Museum of Sydney between Circular Quay and The Domain, the charming spot comes from House Made Hospitality, the crew behind the winning formula of Hinchcliff House, Promenade and Martinez. Described as a "good-times sandwich bunker", This Way Canteen presents a simple crowd-pleasing menu with fresh produce at the core — plus, it won't break the bank, with all of the sandwiches here under $16. If you're on the hunt for a quick and easy lunch, set your sights on one of these foccacia sambos, ranging in fillings like spicy falafel and a classic schnitty to ramen pork or grilled mango chicken. Maybe it's Friday and you want to give yourself a little treat? Well, just opt for the lunchtime special which includes the loaded schnitzel sandwich and a beer for $20. That's a bona fide bargain. If you're in earlier in the morning, the breakfast menu also offers plenty of options around the $12-14 mark including, granola, B&Es and next-level English muffins. Finally, there are the drinks. A robust coffee selection is on offer alongside juices and a few boozy lunchtime offerings including beers, wines and Four Pillars yuzu gin and soda. Images: Steven Woodburn
Sometimes it's nice to learn that one of Sydney's finest bakeries is located in Parramatta and not Paddington. Located in the heart of Sydney's fastest-growing suburb, 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.
While there are ample sun-soaked venues around Sydney where a quick dip or a leisurely long lunch are top of the menu, you won't find another quite like this. Situated neatly beside the iconic Andrew (Boy) Charlton Pool is this cheerful eatery offering poolside dining with waterfront views. Following a hefty makeover, Oh Boy Cafe has returned for the sunny season, complete with a crowd-pleasing menu and a modern coastal-inspired space. The eatery follows the ethos of "good food, good stories, good times, by the water" and provides a fitting accompaniment for a pre- or post-dip bite. Oh Boy has a modern casual feel with white and terracotta tones pairing beautifully with the crystal blue waters of the neighbouring pool and, beyond that, the harbour. The menu is stacked with breakfast classics, including a great egg and bacon roll, an accumulation of all the fry-up favourites called the Bear Breakfast, and a chickpea breakfast bowl among the vegetarian options. For lunch, have your fill of dishes like the spaghetti and cuttlefish ragu, or opt for familiar favourites like an Angus steak sando or a crumbed chicken schnitty. For summer spritzes in the sun, Oh Boy Café also offers a boozy bottomless brunch. Available Friday–Sunday, you can enjoy two hours of free-flowing mimosas, sparkling wine and rosé alongside a selection of choice dishes from the menu for $78 per person. Plus, the cafe can easily be transformed to host private events of up to 30 people, an option which is available from 7am til 11:30pm daily. Pair the scenes of Woolloomooloo Bay with Oh Boy Cafe's playful menu, and you've secured yourself the perfect summer spot.
A beloved staple of the meeting point between Marrickville, Enmore and St Peters in Sydney's Inner West, West Juliett shut its doors in 2023. Luckily for all of the fans of this corner cafe, the original founders were already cooking up something big, opening Agnes a five-minute drive away. John and Kathryn Stavropoulos swung open the doors to their new cafe on Meeks Road and for the new venture the duo enlisted an all-star crew, with Agnes team members repping experience from Flour and Stone, Black Star Pastry and Cross Eatery. The cafe offers White Horse coffee, plenty of baked treats, and a hefty breakfast and lunch menu which can be taken away, enjoyed inside or paired with some Vitamin D out on the laidback al fresco tables. Pastry chef Etta Napier's focaccia features heavily throughout the menu. For breakfast, you can order it with a simple spread, stacked with avocado and feta, or as the basis for a loaded breakfast sandwich. Come 11am, there are five sandwiches on offer including a sensational charred miso eggplant with crunchy slaw and pickled red onion, or a classic crumbed chicken sambo partnered with nori and fermented chilli mayo. And it's only right to treat yourself to a little something sweet. Expect blueberry, lime and cheesecake tarts, plus West Juliett's famous pink salt chocolate-chip cookies that have made a comeback (or protests may have been arranged). The Agnes team is also committed to keeping things local and in-house, with the honey, jams, pickles and milkshake syrups all made right there at the cafe, or at John and Kathryn's apiary. Even the bacon is smoked locally.
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.
The Boathouse Palm Beach may have shuttered its windows, but a new Italian-inspired venue has popped up for the summer in its homewares store: CASA by The Boathouse. With classic brunch fare, best enjoyed in a rustic setting within spitting distance of the water, CASA joins Boathouse Group's other beachfront venues, including Balmoral, Shelly Beach and Manly Pavilion. Unlike its predecessor, CASA is also offering up an all-day Italian-inspired menu and drinks — with cocktails like Aperol Spritz, Montenegroni (classic negroni with Amaro Montenegro) and Boathouse Margarita (with pineapple and jalapeño-infused olmeca altos tequila) as well as a beer and wine list. Choose between classic Italian antipasto, including arancini al formaggio and calamari fritti with chilli and aioli, pizzas and side dishes. If you can't snag a seat, the menu is also available to takeaway so you can enjoy some Italian eats at home. If you're in Palm Beach to catch some morning waves, you can enjoy breakfast and Single O coffee out the back daily from 7am until 3pm. Breakfast options include fruit salad, classic avo on toast and bircher muesli, and Italian panini.
Walking down Fitzroy Street in Surry Hills, any passerby with their face in their phone could miss the unassuming exterior of Dad and the Frog, save for a colourful chalk design that marks the charm and character of this inner-city gem. Owners Daniel Ng and Baptiste Viard are certainly doing something right — the cafe won Toby's Estate Local Legends competition for 2023, beating out every other Toby's Estate-pouring cafe in the state. The team prides their position in the legendary Surry Hills hospitality scene, curating a menu that combines locally produced ingredients with a range of sauces, relishes, jams and pickled delights made in-house. Tuck into french toast with brie cheese, berry compote, crumbled pistachio and caramelised apple or swiss brown mushrooms with pancetta, two poached eggs, sour cream and black truffle oil on toasted rye. The fun doesn't stop at breakfast either. The lunch menu is packed with toasted sandwiches, hearty burgers and nourishing bowls, while alcoholic drinks are available from 11am to close.
What started as a lockdown pop-up is now one of Sydney's best bakeries with the opening of Fabbrica Bread Shop inside a delightful grocer in Rozelle. Back in 2021, Sydneysiders were pining after any treat they could get their hands on as they stuck out a four-month lockdown. During this time, the Love Tilly Group (the team behind favourites like Ragazzi, Fabbrica and Love, Tilly Devine) was one of many Sydney businesses that made a pivot to something more takeaway-friendly, utilising its King Street pasta and wine shop as a bakery on weekends. The name: Fabbrica Bread Shop. Following the success of that venture, the crew transformed the concept into a permanent bakery and 12-seat cafe in the Rozelle location within the new Maloneys Grocer just down the road from Egg of the Universe and across from The Red Lion pub on Darling Street. Expect a mix of classic baked goods and experimental items, including hot honey focaccia, Tathra Place porchetta croissants, metre-long pizzas, cookies the size of your hand and basque cheesecake. The pick of the bunch is the banoffee tart, which has a banana bread energy to the filling and is topped with fluffy banana cream. It's truly indulgent but not so sweet that you can't start your day with it. Leading the kitchen is Love Tilly Group's super talented Head Baker Aniruddha Bhosekar and Fabbrica Pasta Shop's Alyce Bennett (formerly Humble Bakery). Raised in Thane in India, Bhosekar was trained at Mumbai's oldest hospitality institute and brings a wealth of experience to create this unreal slate of bakery items. Inside the grocer, you'll find fresh produce, bouquets of flowers, artisan pantry items and more Fabbrica goodies — including sourdough baked right there at the bread shop, plus the team's beloved ready-to-cook pasta packs and jarred sauces, can be found on the shelves of the store. Images: Jana Langhorst for Buffet Digital
A hidden local treasure tucked away off the main strip, Graze N Cakes offers every cake and baked treat you could imagine — not to mention the famous banh mi rolls. Run by Sandy and his family as a Vietnamese cafe and bakery, the menu is packed with freshly prepared vermicelli noodle bowls, baguettes and all the sugary delights of your childhood dreams. The decorated cakes are delightful and the locals fill this place to the brim, if not for the food, then certainly for the ONA coffee. You'll probably want to make an excuse to pop in as often as you can — considering custom cakes are on offer, that excuse is sorted.
Street food continues to make its mark as one of Sydney's major food groups, and Cairo Takeaway in Newtown is one of the standout examples. Though it might sound like a standard takeaway joint, the small cafe is not your average kebab shop; the ingredients are fresh, there's plenty of space to dine in, food is made to order and the menu is a truly authentic one — thanks to owner Hesham El Masry. El Masry has 12 years of experience in hospitality and brought it back home with this venture, which is somewhat of a homage to his mum's Egyptian cooking. It's a smart business model as, let's face it, no one does it like mum — especially not like his. "There's a lot of Middle Eastern food in this city, but a lack of Egyptian speciality food," says El Masry. "People tend to look at these cuisines holistically, but Egyptian food is really its own thing and we're filling a niche [with Cairo Takeaway]." Compared with — as he says — the "million and one cafes" in Sydney, I think it's safe to say El Masry has opened the only cafe in the area with a dedicated falafel bar. The falafel here really is next level. Made using split fava beans the traditional Egyptian way, the falafel balls are fresh and light, with a crunchy shell and, true to their ingredients, a green centre. They're then lovingly stuffed into a sesame-crusted warm pita and topped with an array of pickled veg — take one down with a beer and all will be right with the world. El Masry further embraces his inner west location by stocking a rotating selection of craft beer. The menu also lends itself naturally to vegetarian food, with cauliflower pockets and vegetarian plates standing up alongside the requisite meat plates with lamb kofta. While at night the beers are flowing and the lively atmosphere almost takes on a casual bar vibe, and on the weekend it opens a little earlier at eleven. The shakshuka is one of the best we've had in Sydney; the capsicum and tomato stew is mixed with authentic sucuk (a dried sausage) and topped with gooey baked eggs, making the sauce nice and rich once you dig in with either fork or pita. The traditional Egyptian ful medames is the most bang-for-your-buck dish, coming on a traditional metal tray with separate dishes for slow-cooked fava beans, boiled eggs, all the salads and the option to add an extra falafel ball — a wise and highly recommended choice. For brunch drinks, the karkadé, a chilled hibiscus juice, and the freshly squeezed cane juice are the perfect summer refreshers — though no one would judge you for going after a little hair of the dog, with chilled beers ready and waiting. There is a small selection of wine available by the glass and bottle, but it also a BYO venue for wine only, so head across the road to PNV beforehand and find yourself the perfect bottle. Overall, it's a simple, straightforward joint that slots right into the neighbourhood while bringing its own distinct offering — as well as lots and lots of falafel. Images: Destination NSW.
We've got two words for you: burrata sandwich. If you're not in the camp of the creamy mozzarella cheese being overrated (or at least overexposed), this should be reason enough to visit First Drop's new Marrickville digs. The burrata is served on your choice of focaccia, bagel or wrap with prosciutto, rocket and caramelised balsamic. Other options on the deli sambo lineup include a wagyu reuben, panko chicken with wasabi mayo or the Super Deli, loaded with LP's salami, smoked mortadella, prosciutto, leg ham, provolone and salad. Elsewhere on the menu, you'll find hearty salads, burgers, spanakopita, chicken souvlaki and homemade beans. The latter is considered a "First Drop classic", having featured on the menu since the OG cafe first opened in Redfern in 2003. Twenty years on, owners Michael Savvakis and Christopher Hing have ventured into the Inner West for their second location, specifically on the ground floor of a new commercial building near the Metro. Kiara Gualtieri has been brought on to run the kitchen at the new digs, which also features a large patio area. The venue is available for functions and catering, too.
A brunch that's fit for your friends, your partner, your family and even your dog. This cosy cafe serves up just the right blend of wholesome for your recovery from a long week, or just a long Friday night. Come for elevated breakfast classics such as orange and honey french toast with mascarpone and a mushroom bruschetta croissant with prosciutto, tomato and goat's cheese. After brunch, take a stroll around the heritage-listed building formerly known as the Female Factory, where female convicts were housed in the 1800s.
Bar Mammoni was the final piece to join Circular Quay's expansive multi-storey venue Hinchcliff House. Located one street over from the flagship venue, Mammoni is a 30-seat cafe and bar hidden within the Quay Quarter Lanes precinct. Offering coffee in the morning, cocktails in the afternoon and snacks throughout the day, it's a day-long winner. Tucked away on Loftus Lane, Bar Mammoni offers a more casual way of sampling the next-level pastries from Grana or the cocktail creations cooked up over at Apollonia. Items like pain au chocolat and almond croissants are baked overnight at Grana and walked across to the laneway venue each morning, where they're offered alongside breakfast options like toasted gingerbread, bacon and egg rolls and toast made with Grana's signature bread. Grana and all of the Hinchcliff House venues offer up sourdough milled in-house using the building's combi mill. Once the morning dew has settled, the lunchtime menu features pizza by the slice. The enticing toppings are always changing but have included pork, king prawn, octopus and roast fennel or stracciatella with golden bay baby beetroot and caramelised fennel. Alongside the pizza, you'll find daily salads and a whole heap of snacks. Think chicken liver parfait with pickles and charred ciabatta, Sydney rock oysters with mignonette and the Sicilian arancini of the day. All the available eats are available for takeaway or to be enjoyed with a drink on-site, including negronis, americanos, sbagliatos, boulevardiers and spritzes. Want to go in the opposite direction of Bar Mammoni's casual dining experience? Hit up Lana at the top floor of Hinchcliff House for Italian-influenced degustations and cocktails aplenty. Images: Steven Woodburn Appears in: Where to Find the Best Breakfast in Sydney
After building a cult following at Paramount House's rooftop and in a sleepy Newtown backstreet, A.P Bakery has opened a third Sydney outpost, this time enticing city workers back to the CBD with delectable pastries and lunch treats on Barrack Street. The A.P team's third bakery and cafe brings all of their favourites to a hole in the wall hidden among the hustle and bustle of a pedestrian-only section of Barrack Street. Keep an eye out for the warm glow of the bakery and the bright yellow A.P Place sign and head in to discover some of the best baked goods and brunch items Sydney has to offer. The menu here follows the A.P formula pretty closely. There's top-notch coffee from Reuben Hills, a range of sandwiches including the famous egg and cheese sando and a new cauliflower toastie, and a daily list of pastries, cakes, pies and bread. After extensive 'research', we can confirm that the Sri Lankan chicken curry pie, Aleppo pepper and asiago cheese scrolls, and fig leaf cream and rhubarb croissants are all must-tries if they're on the menu the day you visit. There are also a few special items that have been created specifically for the CBD shop. From 11am you can nab thick slices of pizza that you'll only find on Barrack Street, plus sandwiches made with the same bianca dough. And there's a cheeky salt and vinegar hash brown on the menu that's worth a try. If you needed an excuse to head back to the office, there aren't many better than A.P's creations. Because if you wanted to visit on a Saturday or Sunday, you're out of luck — A.P Place is only open on weekdays. Time to call in sick and get your hands on a cauliflower toastie. Images: Finley Jones
Having cemented its status as one of Melbourne's most celebrated coffee roasters and cafes, Industry Beans made a splash in Sydney's caffeine scene, opening its first interstate location in the CBD in 2019. It's made its home on York Street, complete with a heritage façade, state-of-the-art equipment and its trademark Industry Beans offering of creatively charged food and next-level specialty coffee. The Sydney venue features the same customised La Marzocco Modbar that put Industry Beans' Little Collins Street store on the map, allowing customers to be front and centre of the coffee-making experience. You can watch the magic unfold as the baristas brew its signature Fitzroy Street blend and whip up treats like the specialty bubble coffee — featuring coffee-soaked tapioca pearls, cold brew and normal or vegan condensed milk. As for the food, you can expect a seasonal lineup of cleverly executed dishes that are far from boring. The York Street cafe's southern counterpart has won many a fan for dishes like its coffee-rubbed wagyu burger, its chilli barramundi folded eggs paired with coffee togarashi and avocado smash starring beetroot dust and green tea salt — all of which have made their way onto the revamped menu. That's alongside a few new additions that specifically cater to the work lunch crowd, like the buckwheat and broccolini bowl that can be eaten in or taken away. Expect a finely honed customer experience, too, with a dedicated grab-and-go area and an Industry Beans app, which allows you to skip the queues and order your office coffees ahead of time.
Melbourne institution Padre Coffee's first inter-state outpost has landed in Paddington, complete with a storefront where you can peruse the brand's beans alongside all of the equipment you could ever want for home brewing. And, if you're looking to take your coffee knowledge to the next level, the charming no-frills cafe also boasts a dedicated education and training space. Following its massive success at its flagship stores across Melbourne and Noosa, as well as online, the brand decided it was finally time to branch out into new territories — and venturing into the ever-growing Sydney caffeine market was up next. Setting up shop at Paddington's Five Ways, Padre Coffee has brought its beloved blends to Glenmore Road. For less adventurous coffee drinkers, opt for the brand's staples like the Seasonal Blend and the Golden Rule — a sweet, fruity blend featuring notes of plum, peach and apricot. If you want to expand your pallet, try the Wild Child and its flavour profile of dried fruit, honey and dark chocolate. Although they specialise in organic beans and brews, the brand is not limited to coffee — you'll also find a range of exciting teas, chocolate and sugar for sale at the Sydney outpost as well. Feeling snacky? You can also nab a sweet treat from local vendors to pair with your freshly made cup of joe. Expect pastries and bread from Staple Bread & Necessities, cookies from Cut Lunch Deli or famed Portuguese tarts from Clovelly's Tuga Pastries.
If your breakfast game is in need of a little shake-up, you'll find yourself in excellent hands at Pyrmont's Quick Brown Fox. Continuing to infuse Sydney's cafe scene with some fresh ideas, the eatery is dishing up tried-and-true classics alongside a slew of crafty, contemporary creations. Many ingredients are made in-house, too, while the remainder are sourced locally. An all-day menu features dishes like sardines on toast and a Korean fried chicken waffle, as well as a congee of Koshihikari rice that's finished with a chilli fried egg, glazed speck, spring onion and XO sauce. Even the standard smashed avo has been reimagined, here with a poached egg, crispy tofu and yuzu-infused sesame. At lunch, you'll sit down to the likes of an impressive roast chicken with couscous and tabouli or a flank steak served medium with béarnaise and shaved taro crisps. The cheeseburger with fries with grass-fed beef comes with cheese, mustard, ketchup and pickles. You also have a choice of brunch cocktails at Quick Brown Fox (espresso martinis, bloody marys, mimosas, negronis and spritzes) and a compact list of Australian wines. Appears in: Where to Find the Best Breakfast in Sydney
On a Saturday morning, nabbing a table at Contessa Balmain proves an almighty challenge. The Sydney cafe has been an institution on Darling Street since 1992 — making it one of the suburb's oldest residents. And its popularity comes with good reason. The menu fuses American classics with traditional Italian flavours. Expect freshly baked bread alongside Contessa's take on Sydney's brunch staples. For those looking to indulge after a big Friday night, the 'ultimate' hickory-smoked bacon and egg roll will do the trick. As the day rolls on, the house-made pasta, burgers, and salads are sure to keep you fuelled and firing. From the dedicated omelette section of the menu, order a classic smoked salmon omelette with shallots, caramelised onion, Tasmanian salmon and fresh dill. For something a little larger, either opt for a big tuna salad, a burger from the cafe's quartet of a protein options, or one of the particularly insane meatball melts which only the brave should attempt to conquer. There is also a really decent range of pastas, toasties and cocktails on offer. Contessa's got the lot. And it never fails to do it all well. Images: Arvin Prem Kumar Appears in: Where to Find the Best Breakfast in Sydney
Lavender Bay hotspot Loulou offers Sydneysiders a taste of everyday French life. The bistro-bakery-delicatessen hybrid is a local favourite on the lower north shore, with the team providing everything from a morning coffee and smoked ocean trout to a champagne lunch paired with hand-cut steak tartare. Over at the bistro, you'll find grilled spatchcock, Sydney rock oysters and an impressive wine list. Highlights of the French-inspired menu include the melt-in-your-mouth côte de bœuf served sliced with a drizzle of sauce bordelaise. There's classic steak frites with sauce au poivre, as well as lighter hors d'oeuvres including a quiche du jour with salad and a grilled octopus with sauce bouillabaisse. Combining traditional French styling and contemporary aesthetics, the dining space feels warm and luxurious — think warm timber, brass accents and mosaic marble floors. Guests can pull up a seat at the bar or slide into a cushy booth to enjoy an intimate meal with family and friends. With over 150 wines available by the bottle, the highly skilled sommeliers ensure guests can choose from an extensive list of both Australian and French producers. Follow your nose to the boulangerie next door, where you'll be enveloped in the delicious aroma of artisanal baguettes, croissants, mice loaves and pain au chocolats. The team here bake four times a day, seven days a week. This number of bakes in a day is almost unheard of in Australia, ensuring that if you pop by after work, the bread is as fresh as can be — just like in Paris. Over in the traiteur (delicatessen), browse a wide selection of house-made produce and comforting home-style meals. Loulou is your perfect pre-picnic pit stop, from jars of pickles to charcuterie, cheese and whole rotisserie chickens. Over in the cold section, pristine glass cabinets feature a variety of terrines, parfaits and fresh salads — there's nothing better than a summer cassoulet or chilled ratatouille in Sydney's heat. Guests can bring the goodies home or enjoy them outside on the sun-soaked terrace. Our top tip? Fill a basket and take a quick stroll to Wendy's Secret Garden. It's one of Sydney's most beautiful green spaces and is only a stone's throw away. Images: Steven Woodburn Appears in: Where to Find the Best Breakfast in Sydney
There has to be something magical about Sweet Belem's Portuguese tarts that keeps people coming back. Maybe it's because it strays from tradition and serves them warm and a little bit singed, with gooey, slightly caramelised custard that melts on your tongue, or maybe it's the satisfying crisp of layered, golden pastry. Either way, the folk at Sweet Belem serve over 1,000 of these little gems a day, often selling out too soon. At just a few dollars a pop, it's worth heading to Petersham — known as 'Little Portugal' to buy some — if only for a box of these little bowls of joy alone. Aside from the pastel de nata, there are croissants, milk bread, classic palmiers, Portuguese lamingtons and birthday cakes. You can also stop in and enjoy a coffee with your vanilla slice. And if you've got a birthday or a baby shower coming up, and would like it catered, Sweet Belem has you covered. Its catering menu includes the famous tarts, as well as raspberry mousses, apple puff pastries, chocolate brownies, raisin scrolls, a great range of doughnuts and large cakes, including orange almond cakes and baked chocolate tarts. Images: Sweet Belem by Socialmediasoup
Yes, Pilgrims is a vegetarian cafe but even carnivores should feel compelled to visit this Sydney breakfast spot. Vegetarians and meat-eaters alike will be impressed by the generous portions and creative combinations on the menu. In fact, Pilgrims is so popular that it has two homes, one at Cronulla Beach and the other in Milton so you can get your hands on those superb buttermilk pancakes when journeying to the south coast. All morning and afternoon, choose from an expansive but classic selection of brunch fare — everything from the aforementioned pancakes to roasted mushrooms on toast and breakfast burgers. For lunch, vegetarians will be delighted by the sheer range of burgers on offer. Far from the standard veggie patty burger that usually makes an appearance on menus, at Pilgrims there are multiple options to choose from (including tofu, mixed grain and curried lentil), plus a burger special for kids. And if you can't make it during daylight hours, stop by on Fridays and Saturdays when the venue stays open past sundown, serving Mexican food — strictly vegetarian, of course. Whether you're visiting for breakfast, lunch or dinner, bookings are recommended, as tables always fill up fast at Pilgrims in Cronulla. Appears in: Where to Find the Best Breakfast in Sydney
After spending "many hours kicking the footy or pushing the kids on a swing and wishing we could get a good coffee nearby," Inner West locals Caleb and Belinda Maynard decided to make their hopes a reality. And the 1950s former baby health clinic in the outfield of Ashfield's Yeo Park was the perfect place to do just that. The duo converted the heritage-listed building into an "extension of people's backyards" where locals could get quality food and coffee in a relaxed parkside setting, and Outfield was born. Since opening in April 2019, the Inner West cafe has become a central meeting point for the community. "Bringing that cafe culture to the park means people will linger, connect and socialise...it's a no-brainer for anyone with kids of all ages," explains Caleb. "They can cry, play, laze about and drop their ice blocks on the grass." With no limit to outdoor seating, blankets to borrow and lots of friendly rounds of cricket between strangers, locals are making the most of the outdoors at this grassy eatery. The Outfield menu is, conveniently, a modern take on picnic fare, with a touch of green on every plate. There are hints of native ingredients like lemon myrtle and a focus on gluten-free, vegan and vegetarian options. There are also bagels with options including smoked salmon with lemon myrtle, capers, labneh and herb salad; mortadella with cheese, egg and a jalapeño pickle sauce; as well as a toasted mushroom panini with peptic butter and greens and a fritter bowl with corn and chickpea fritters, avacado, seeds, boiled eggs and tomato relish. Images: Kimberley Low Appears in: Where to Find the Best Breakfast in Sydney
Three Blue Ducks long ago found itself a third nest to call home. Adding to its eateries in Bronte (that is now sadly closed) and Byron Bay, the team opened within the heritage-listed Koskela warehouse in Rosebery back in 2016, formerly known to locals as the beloved Kitchen by Mike. Since then, it has become a Sydney institution and a mainstay of the Sydney culinary scene. If you've not been before, then prepare to be blown away by the grandeur of the venue. There's a front deck, two dining spaces and a courtyard, and they're all fitted out with an industrial chic design you can't help but love — even though it's all been done before. With its exposed bricks, beams and ceiling insulation, garage roller doors and concrete floors, it feels like you're walking into a very fancy garden shed. This is all well and good — but much like your ordinary backyard shed, it's quite cold and draughty in the evening, which, while it's still chilly at night, takes away from the relaxed vibe it's going for. Aesthetically, yellow tints dancing beneath huge woven basket light shades help warm the enormous space — but if you're one to feel the cold, we recommend you request to sit next to one of the few gas heaters they've got fired up. [caption id="attachment_834387" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Three Blue Ducks, Rosebery[/caption] The heating situation might not be quite worked out (Kitchen by Mike never figured it out either), but the dinner menu is a different story. You're in good hands with chefs and co-owners Darren Robertson, Mark LaBrooy and MasterChef 2012 winner and judge Andy Allen looking after things in the kitchen. There's a real focus on seasonal produce and sustainability, while its smoke and fire theme — fuelled by its woodfired oven, charcoal pits and Argentinian grill out in the garden — is represented throughout each course. But even if you're not in the mood for rich, smoky flavours, there are plenty of other dishes that'll impress. Keep it light and simple with some fresh-as-they-come oysters with ginger and shallots and perhaps yellowfin tuna with tostada, lime, cucumber and pickled ginger. Of the small share plates, the Schezuan pepper and salt squid with roast chilli and lime is a must-order. Wash it down with a schooner of Young Henry's Newtowner pale ale or a Welder Dog's 'Farmhouse' ginger beer if you're after something sweeter. If you're really hungry, we recommend tucking into a few extra starters because a potential 45-minute wait between entree and main course is a long time to ponder on your hunger pangs. Luckily, top tunes play in the background, which makes the wait for your slow-cooked lamb shoulder with pickled red cabbage and charred herb salsa an enjoyable one. A side of crispy potatoes with confit butter and rosemary salt completes the meal in style. Finish with one of the cocktails, like a spicy margarita, and there you have a mighty fine dining experience. Images: Monica Buscarino. Appears in: Where to Find the Best Breakfast in Sydney
Only eat hole foods? You're in luck. The much-loved market stall Donut Papi also has a permanent space in Redfern. Founded by long-time doughnut-lover Kenneth Rodrigueza, this sweet little doughnut store specialises in small-batch, handmade doughnuts spiked with creative Asian flavours. Forget jam, cream and powdered sugar, Rodrigueza prefers to stuff his dough with taro and pandan custard and glaze his rings with sticky matcha brûlée, strawberry sakura and bittersweet calamansi (Chinese orange). He has also been known to produce some weird-dough flavours too, including a pepperoni-pizza doughnut, a caramel Vegemite doughnut and a cheese-and-bacon-ball Cheetos doughnut. One of the best things about Donut Papi is its incredibly high turnover, with a fresh batch of fried batter coming out every ten or so minutes. This means you're never stuck with a sad, stale display doughnut (which is pretty much the worst doughnut fate imaginable). While there are heaps of doughnut options already out there (Shortstop and Grumpy Donuts to name a couple) none are like Donut Papi's. They're rich and cakey in flavour, yet tear apart like spun sugar, and truly massive — promising to satisfy even the most impressive of eaters. While there are limited places to sit inside Donut Papi, with the entire pink-and-white space eaten up by the line, you'll find some scattered stools outside, or better yet, Redfern Park across the road offers plenty of spots for sitting and sharing or shameless private gorging.
An all-day diner and aperitivo bar opened in Bondi in 2022 from the team behind The Shire's beloved eatery Blackwood Pantry. Blackwood Bondi is open for breakfast through to dinner seven days a week, just a short walk from Bondi Beach and a few doors down from Beach Road Hotel. The venue welcomes you in with a gentle green and grey fit-out. The food and drink menu changes throughout the day and has been created by co-owner and Executive Chef Rob Lechowicz who honed his skills at Michelin-starred establishments in London and Paris. The brunch menu is available from 7am until 4pm daily and spans from breakfast classics to more hearty options for the lunchtime crowd. Blackwood's version of smashed avo comes with lemon olive oil, goat's cheese, pickled beetroot and chilli on sourdough with za'atar, while the spicy bacon and egg roll is topped with sriracha and lime mayo as well as crispy shallots. If you had your morning Weet-Bix hours ago and you're looking for more of a midday spread, there's zucchini and corn fritters, a chicken schnitzel sandwich featuring mustard seed aioli, and a seared tuna burger with fried capers. Once the weekend rolls in, dinner is served until late. The curried cauliflower makes the cut for the night-time menu, placed alongside confit blue-eyed cod, pecorino-crumbed veal cotoletta and roasted corn-fed chicken with lemon stuffing and white wine. There's also a host of snacks for those looking to dip in and for a drink and a nibble. Oysters, warm olives, San Daniele prosciutto, wagyu bresaola and a chef's selection of cheese are all on hand to accompany the drink menu headlined by an array of signature cocktails. Spritzes features heavily across the drinks list. For example, the You Be Crazy Spritz combines yuzu marmalade, orange bitters, gin and prosecco. You can also opt for a banoffee espresso martini with spiced rum, creme de banane, salted caramel and Licor43 or the Blackwood Margarita which introduces watermelon and Tio Pepe to the classic combination of tequila and agave. Appears in: Where to Find the Best breakfast in Sydney
Doughnuts and coffee have done a stellar job over the past few years of shaking off a reputation as just the staple diet of police-folk. Or in the case of those neon-hued, sprinkled concoctions from the local bread shop, a classic after-school treat. A collection of specialty vendors are responsible for the shift in getting the broader population nuts about doughnuts again and Shortstop is one of them. After reaching cult-like status in Melbourne, Shortstop opened the doors of its Sydney outpost in Barangaroo in early 2016 to much fanfare. The coffee is sourced from specialty roasters, and all sweet treats are made fresh on-site using high-quality ingredients. The success can be boiled down to its unique flavour combos like Earl Grey tea and rose, triple matcha and honey and sea salt. Each flavour goes through rigorous testing before hitting (and then swiftly disappearing from) shelves, And they've all been pleasing tastebuds and Instagram feeds ever since. This Sydney store, similar in style to the Melbourne Shortstop original with light timber finishes, has limited seating. It is much more a grab-and-go affair, perhaps to hit the sweet spot after a luxurious long lunch at one of the neighbouring Barangaroo restaurants. If you're really short on time or have your heart set on a specific flavour, avoid the inevitable lineup and potential disappointment by pre-ordering online.
People of the gluten-free world, do we have some news for you. Nutie, Sydney's much-loved maker of GF doughnuts, has moved into Surry Hills. But, instead of focusing solely on baked goods, it's doing breakfast and lunch as well — meaning that there's a whole menu of sweet and savoury gluten-free goodness to get into. Nutie opened its first shop in Balmain in 2017 and, since May this year, has been running a pop-up cafe on Pitt Street in the CBD. These venues have been super popular but can only do coffee and an array of baked goods due to the kitchen size. The new Holt Street has a full-service kitchen to produce a breakfast and lunch menu that is entirely free of any trace of gluten. This includes porridge, Scandinavian-style topped toast and vegan sans-egg 'huevos rancheros'. While this is particularly good news for coeliacs, it's also a win for vegans. Many of Nutie's goods are dairy-free and vegan, including the cakes, brownies, tarts, cookies and — of course — a selection of doughnuts. Look out for the lamingtons, lemon meringue pies and s'more cookie sandwiches.
Organic and sustainable ingredients are carefully curated to create a Scandinavian-inspired menu at Funkis Köket, which mirrors the calming rustic yet minimalist aesthetic of this Paddington haunt. Straddling the line between cafe and garden, this eatery offers a wide range of tasty, nutritious items. Grab Skagen-inspired salmon consisting of creme fraiche, smoked salmon, dill, and mayo — all whipped together — alongside lemon-soaked zucchini slices and freshly toasted sourdough bread. We also love to add a cheeky poached egg to this affair to make that extra bit brunchy. Seasonal granola, avocado on toast and simple eggs on toast are also featured on the short but sweet breakfast menu at Funkis. And if you're in a rush, look no further than its freshly baked cardamom buns. They're some of the best in Sydney. Love all the plates and bowls your breakfast is served in, too? Check out its adjoining homewares store to take some home with you. Here, you'll also find women's clothing, handmade kitchen utensils, and plenty of textiles, accessories and books. It's all very well curated and worth a browse after hitting up the Funkis cafe — or while you wait for your coffee. Images: Cassandra Hannagan Appears in: Where to Find the Best Breakfast in Sydney
Good Ways Deli has built a cult following for its fresh piled-high sandwiches and standout coffee since opening in Redfern in 2021. Despite arriving in a suburb known for top-notch bakeries, the brainchild of Jordan McKenzie and Tom Pye has carved out a beloved niche with kangaroo mortadella sandos, nostalgic baked goods, milo mochas and a selection of great pantry items. Just over one year later, Good Ways expanded with a second outpost just a few suburbs over in Alexandria. Similarly to its Redfern counterpart, the Buckland Street cafe is located in a heritage-listed corner shop adjacent to a leafy park — a perfect spot for a new cafe and one that McKenzie and Pye came across almost accidentally. "We were kind of looking, but not really looking," Pye says. "And then I cycled past one day and there was a little A4 piece of paper in the window which said 'for rent'. So I called the number, and I met the landlord that day." The menu here brings across favourites from Redfern while introducing more baked goods into the fold. This includes new forays into the world of pastries and cakes like lamingtons, sourdough ANZAC biscuits, Maffra cheddar and Vegemite scrolls, and an iteration on weekends a killer vanilla slice. Sandwiches were at the core of the first Good Ways Deli's success, and they're still here on Buckland Street. There are six house sandos on offer, accompanied by a rotating special. Expect the daily house-made sourdough ciabatta rolls to be filled to the brim. There's the renowned Good Ways salad sandwich with mushroom pate, a deli-focused number with Whole Beast Butchery kangaroo mortadella and LP's salami cotto, a cheese toastie, a next-level ham sandwich and a brekkie creation. "Since we opened Redfern we've constantly been evolving the mainstay sandwiches, now we feel they're content. The focus for the sandwiches was always to do less, but best, and we'd be stoked to become the people of Alexandria's go-to lunch spot," says McKenzie. McKenzie and Pye are hoping to get to know the local community and become an Alexandira mainstay. According to Pye: "We want this shop to be a go-to for dog-owners (the park's across the street), school folks, commuters, everyone. A place to drop into for a quick takeaway or just for a yarn. The best part about hospitality for us is the honour of people taking time out of their day to spend time and hard-earned money with us. It's pretty humbling." Images: Nikki To
The spot that was home to North Bondi Italian has to be one of Australia's most enticing restaurant venues, with million-dollar views, proximity to the waves and a ready-made crowd of surfed-out, ravenous diners. With Matt Moran, Shay Cullen, and head chef Steve Jacamos at the helm, the famed eatery continues to draw diners with a regular rotation of collaborations and takeovers (most recently with North Bondi Kepos last winter), and a sunny balcony. It's just made for people-watching with a cocktail in hand as the sun goes down over North Bondi on balmy summer nights. However, a modern seafood menu (with a focus on fresh produce and local suppliers) remains the star all year round at North Bondi Fish. The emphasis is on quality produce, transformed into light, accessible, uncomplicated meals and snacks, with fish cooked on an Inka Grill. Several Matt Moran favourites are on the list, including the NBF fish taco with cabbage, pineapple and jalapeño, swimmer crab linguini with chilli and basil, half-shell scallops with XO butter and grilled Fremantle octopus with chimichurri and capsicum. Dessert? How about a chocolate parfait with poached cherries and crème fraîche ice cream or a pineapple fritter with coconut sorbet and rum caramel? Non-winos can enjoy some tempting and very drinkable alternatives, including passionfruit, lychee or berry mocktails, while the Tulum with Patron Silver, triple sec, coconut, habanero and seaweed is a surprising glass of fun. To suit the coastal location and the salty, sandy realities of beachside wining and dining, the restaurant has donned a relaxed, casual interior evocative of what you might find in Mediterranean climes. Communal wooden benches and tables are lit with playful dashes of colour that travel outwards to the verandahs. In the words of Matt Moran, "North Bondi Fish is for the locals. It's relaxed, it's fun and it's no fuss. It is the kind of place you head to for something good to eat anytime of the day, even while still in your thongs and boardies."
From Nutie and Bourke Street Bakery to Paramount Coffee Project, Surry Hills is home to an overwhelming number of cafes. Running a cafe in Surry Hills would be a daunting task, but one of the area's hottest spots, SOUL Deli, is offering something different. It's a Korean cafe and deli, slinging fresh and packaged deli goods, cafe food to have-in and takeaway, and a range of products made by local Korean community members. From the deli, you can purchase a wide variety of kimchi, pickles, sauces and snacks. For those who want to dine in or pick up a morning meal, the menu stretches from cafe classics like the bacon and egg or Korean fried chicken rolls to exciting creations such as kimchi cheese pulled pork sandwiches, a Korean chicken porridge and buttermilk hot cakes with maple syrup and cultured butter. It also makes a great coffee for those looking for their caffeine fix, as well as bellflower and ginger tea, juices and Korean soft drinks. While you're picking up your locally sourced coffee or pulled pork sandwich, you can also shop the range of products that line the walls at SOUL Deli. Browse ceramics, pottery and clothing all from local small businesses and artists. Images: Leigh Griffiths Appears in: Where to Find the Best Breakfast in Sydney
If you're a North Shore local or frequent visitor, consider yourself onto a winner with Goodfields. The brainchild of father-and-son duo George and Anthony Karnasiotis (The Butcher's Block), it's a charming, contemporary corner spot perched just across from Lindfield Station. Inside, good feels abound, with the cheery mix of polished concrete, crisp white tiles and foliage spilling from above. From 6am daily, the coffee window is open and the machine up and running, tempting early morning commuters with brews from Five Senses. Meanwhile, the kitchen is turning out a memorable all-day brunch offering that sits classics alongside fun, modern revamps. There's an indulgent lobster benedict with roasted lobster tail bites, grilled garlic brioche, spinach and hollandaise, and an avocado smash served with heirloom tomatoes, feta, poached eggs and sourdough. Lunch might call for the slow-roasted lamb shoulder pita, crispy-skinned salmon with charred broccolini, or a fried chicken burger with bacon, maple aioli, American jack-cheese and thick-cut chips. Littlies will be kept busy, too, with options like house-made buttermilk chicken nuggets and maple syrup-drenched hotcakes. To accompany those long lunches or weekend brunches with mates, you'll even find a tidy range of beers and wines at Goodfields. Appears in: Where to Find the Best Breakfast in Sydney
Burnt Orange has a fascinating history. It was originally a golf club, then it was converted into a clubhouse during the Second World War for the army stationed at the nearby barracks. Now, it's a cafe, boutique shop, and one of the best places to come for high tea in Sydney. Bring your loved ones for macarons, Belgian chocolate mousse and house-made scones with jam and cream — all with incredible harbour views. And if high tea isn't your jam, Burnt Orange also dishes up top-tier breakfast and lunch dishes. Other favourites on the lunch menu include the Green Goddess salad; a Thai fish pie with scallops, salmon, makrut lime and coconut; a wagyu beef burger with Swiss cheese and spinach artichoke; and a free-range pork tenderloin served with broccolini and pickled blackberry. Its dessert menu includes a baked lemon cheesecake with yoghurt foam and a mandarin curd tart with torched meringue. If all this has you feeling thirsty, then try one of its classic cocktails, including the Hemingway daiquiri, the lemon drop or the rum sour. Appears in: Where to Find the Best Breakfast in Sydney
The Mayflower, one of Darlinghurst's favourite cafes, is an opulent affair. Located in a 90s art deco building just down the block from East Village Sydney, it offers great breakfast and lunch options along with a classy range of cocktails designed to light up your afternoon. The venue is by Christian Lee and Kevin Ly (formerly Brewristas), who pay homage to the building's former florist with the greenery-filled, floral-themed cafe. Expect a millennial pink interior that's accented with onyx stone tables, resin pendant lights, abstract murals and lush installations. The food offering at The Mayflower starts with the breakfast menu, with all the hits, including granola with fig jam and berries; eggs on toast with miso butter; smashed avo with coriander and lime and a big breakfast with eggs your way, chorizo, streaky bacon and baked tomato. Elsewhere on the menu, you'll find a yellowfin tuna tartare, a croque monsieur with jamon serrano, and a wagyu cheeseburger. For dessert, you can choose between an affogato or mochi ice cream. The Mayflower hits the mark every time a new seasonal menu lands, and the stunning pastel surrounds never fade. Appears in: Where to Find the Best Breakfast in Sydney
Kickstart your day, or enjoy a post-workout energy boost, with Bare Naked Bowls. Fresh and nourishing, the eponymous bowls are packed with açai, yoghurt, smoothies or rice (depending on the bowl you choose) and topped with colourful fruit and veg to fuel you for the day ahead. The superfood cafe empire was started in Manly by Josh and Ashley Porteous. The couple is passionate about nutrition and sustainability — all produce is sourced locally and the almond milk is made in-house. And they're equally passionate about charity work. So, you'll not only be eating well, but also doing good: one percent of each purchase goes to The International Brothers and Sisters House, a charity that supports orphaned children in developing nations. Favourite bowls amongst the locals include; the Manly Bowl with organic açai berries, bananas, strawberries and organic apple juice, topped with granola, goji berries and bush honey; the Mango Bomb with organic natural yoghurt, mango puree, coconut chia pudding and granola; and the California Bowl with leafy spinach, kale greens, sensed brown rice, feta, black beans, cherry tomatoes and a heap more. Appears in: Where to Find the Best breakfast in Sydney
Sydney's Room Ten has achieved the zeitgeist of the Melbourne-style laneway espresso bar: excellent coffee served with unpretentious chic in an impossibly trendy Potts Point back alley. Weekday or weekend, two- and four-legged traffic flows through the alley and congregates around the coffee machine. Artistic tattoos and ironic haircuts make regular appearances among the crowd, along with a selection of the area's most Instagrammable canines. Locals are welcomed by name; their orders have been committed to memory and are already grinding by the time they take a seat. The resourceful Room Ten team have made good use of the limited space behind and in front of their tiny hole-in-the-wall shopfront. The shoebox kitchen pumps out clever breakfast options like Farmer Joe's organic muesli with stewed rhubarb, yoghurt, fresh fruit and honey, as well as "Room 10 Breakfast Rice" with red rice, black quinoa, toasted nuts and seeds, fresh fruit, yoghurt and stewed rhubarb. On the wall is a mural that changes with the seasons and features the work of talented local designers. There is a strong sense of local community at Room Ten. You get the sense that if you smile nicely enough at the barista, you'll get a text when your favourite roast is in and an extra scoop of ice cream in your affogato just when you need it the most. This friendly and personable service never goes out of style. And we're always glad to experience it when we visit. Images: Destination NSW Appears in: Where to Find the Best Breakfast in Sydney
Bringing a splash of greenery and some of the area's best eats to a Parramatta backstreet, Circa Espresso has carved out a name for itself as one of the best cafes in Western Sydney. Its 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. As for the sambos, there are seven to choose from, including a loaded reuben, a smoked salmon and goats cheese combo, and a confit duck sandwich topped with pickled carrot, onion jam and salted zucchini — plus some classic breakfast faves like avocado toast, plus a bacon and egg roll. Head Pastry Chef Aeline Ribis and the Lucien team bake several times a day to ensure the goods are as fresh as possible. If you want to make sure you'll get your hands on something specific, including Lucien's range of next-level cakes, you can pre-order online. If you've got a birthday coming up and want to go above and beyond your standard Woolies mud cake, you'll find party-ready black forest cake, choux crown cake, and huge share sizes of tiramisu, custard tart and passionfruit meringue tart. 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.
Bill Granger flung open the doors to his eponymous Darlinghurst restaurant as a bright-eyed (and bright-toothed) 24-year-old in 1993. Two years later, he opened Bills Surry Hills; now, 20-plus years on, his name is synonymous with Sydney's breakfast scene. The cafes are institutions. Not in the same way that fellow Darlinghurst local Bill & Toni's is an institution — but go-to's for Sydneysiders wanting creamy scrambled eggs and ricotta pancakes. But the Surry Hills location was an institution that was losing its sparkle and — as the area's brunch scene boomed — the interest of locals. Cooked breakfasts and average coffee were no longer drawcards for brunchers who were looking for a single-origin Ethiopian pour-over, perhaps, and food with a bit of character. The space also no longer shined. [caption id="attachment_688619" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Anson Smart[/caption] So Bills relocated — just three feet away. In a stroke of luck, the team scored the former Marque space next door, which meant the restaurant missed out on only four days of service. And the new design was impressive. Despite being designed by Meacham Nockles, the same architect firm that has done all of Granger's other establishments, it got a completely different look — and even a bit of character. The space is part art deco and part Tuscan, with brown leather banquettes, marble-topped tables, terrazzo tiles and Italian glass wall lights. There are vibrant green details, too — turquoise wicker-backed chairs and lots of foliage — and Australian artworks gracing the walls. Being Australian is the restaurant chain's tagline, after all — it's now serving up 'Aussie breakfasts' in Tokyo, Honolulu, Seoul and London. While what exactly Australian cuisine has been a somewhat contentious topic for years now, Bills definitely captures what it's like to dine in this country: it has those "sunny, easy-going and generous" vibes (their words, not ours) and dishes up pavlova and British-style cooked breakfasts, or, as Granger calls it, the Full Aussie. [caption id="attachment_682634" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Kimberley Low[/caption] While it doesn't feature so much as a token finger lime, the new menu is more interesting than its predecessor. It embraces some of the diverse cultures that make up Australia with chilli miso salmon with hot and sour eggplant, crab and lemon linguine, and grass-fed beef burgers often featuring. But that's not really why you go to Bills — you go for the ricotta hotcakes. The impressively creamy scrambled eggs. The corn fritters. And if that's what you're after, you won't be disappointed — they're still the best dishes on the menu. Top images: Kimberley Low. Appears in: Where to Find the Best Breakfast in Sydney
There's a relatively new doughnut queen in town, and she's doing things decidedly differently. After developing a gluten and dairy allergy back in 2017, Yu Ozone refused to give up on her love of food. Instead, she created Comeco, which is serving up gluten (and dairy) free sourdough doughnuts and vegan sushi to the Newtown masses. "One thing I could not give up was eating delicious food [with my husband]," Ozone told Concrete Playground. "We love eating, and we used to go out together to have delicious meals, or cook for ourselves...and we treasured these moments. However, since my allergy developed, we could not eat the same meals together. Since then, our life work became to cook delicious foods." And Comeco really does take gluten free and vegan eating to the next level. While many gluten free alternatives are packed with additives, Comeco's products are made using organic everything — and no processed or unpronounceable ingredients. Starting off in the market circuit, Comeco finally opened its brick-and-mortar storefront down the southside of King Street in July 2020. "King Street is also known as Vegan Street," says Ozone, who took a survey from her Instagram followers and found Newtown was the place to be. "There are many vegan stores but there is only one vegan dessert store, so we thought our doughnuts would be in demand." [caption id="attachment_791043" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Cassandra Hannagan[/caption] And boy, was she right. Since opening, Comeco has steadily garnered a cult following. All doughies are made using an organic brown rice sourdough starter, which gives the doughnuts a crisp exterior and a wonderfully chewy inside. Ozone's favourite is the sweet-and-sour passionfruit custard, drizzled with fresh passionfruit pulp. You'll see plenty of Japanese influence on the menu too, including flavours like red bean, black sesame custard (made with house-roasted seeds) and matcha custard, which uses high-grade organic matcha imported from Japan. The organic strawberry jam sourdough is our pick. Once the weekend rolls around, the cafe serves up platters of vegan sushi, with varieties including chilli shiitake tempura, seven-spice tofu and aburi eggplant teriyaki rolls — that last one convincingly replicates grilled eel sushi. Comeco is also slinging Single O coffees and Japanese specialties like organic matcha and black sesame lattes. While it's primarily a takeaway joint, there are seats for up to ten. Either way, be sure to have a look behind the open kitchen — a design choice which Ozone says was necessary to make sure the ingredients and cooking processes remain as transparent as possible. No need to wait in the inevitable queue, either — just order online and your doughies will be ready for pick up in 40 minutes. Images: Cassandra Hannagan
Chef Darren Robertson's reputation precedes him — those who do not already know him from his time at the tremendously luxe Tetsuya's or as one of the main minds, and palates, behind Australian restaurant group Three Blue Ducks, will surely have recognised him as a judge on My Kitchen Rules back in the day. Now, the famed chef has opened his 100-seater in Bondi in the former site of The Hill Eatery. The name Rocker refers to the nose-to-tail of a surfboard that ties in with both the style of cooking Robertson is known for and with the surf-crazed Bondi community. This local vibe is echoed in the fit-out, which includes timber floorboards alongside concrete panelling and navy blue tiling and table surfaces that give the space a nautical feel. "We utilised a lot of existing materials to create an industrial yet warm vibe that combines coastal elements with hanging greenery," says Robertson. Running the kitchen day-to-day is Stuart Toon, who has a decade of experience as a butcher working with Jamie Oliver. The precise, seasonal menu is distinguished by regular specials and fresh ingredients. [caption id="attachment_635514" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Katje Ford[/caption] The all-day lunch and dinner service starts from noon, with 'smalls' including olives, oysters and salads, and kangaroo tartare with blueberry and fried curry leaf. For 'bigs', think pasta dishes like pappardelle and beef cheek ragu and a wintry pumpkin risotto with pecorino and egg yolk. Diners can also expect pan-fried Ocean Jacket fillets with braised onion and from the grill Jack's Creek sirloin cuts. Desserts included a cheese platter with roasted fig jam and pumpernickel crisps. On the drinks side at Rocker is a wine list that mixes old-school and new-school wines from young and exciting winemakers. The cocktail list includes a range of negronis, margaritas and slushies, while local craft brewers 4 Pines appears on tap next to Spanish classic Estrella Damm. It all sounds almost too good to be true, but the proof is in the pudding. Images: Katje Ford.