Overview
We all know that terrible feeling the day after a night of drinking and shenanigans: your head is throbbing, body sore, and stomach growling, but you're just not sure what to feed it. It could be temperamental to say the least.
We've done the research and cut out the time needed to decide where you'll be most satisfied. Whether it's a simple bacon and egg roll, a glorious feast with a plate full of grease or a refreshing smoothie that will do the trick, fingers crossed something helps you out this party season.
1. Satellite Cafe
Satellite is a funky little cafe tucked away from bustling King Street in Newtown with a cool menu that avoids the overfamiliar eggs-and-toast combination. They like to 'smash their hash' — potato, peas, eggs, and zesty herb and garlic dressing ($14/$16 with ham) — and keep googie eggs sunny with sesame oil, coriander pesto, chilli, shallots, and black sesame ($11). All those herbs and spices work wonders for a pounding head. Carnivores, be sure not to miss the chorizo roll with egg, rocket, and caramelised onion ($9). Appetising to say the least. A decent Little Marionette espresso ($3.50) might hit the spot, too, or to really lift your spirits, try the lychee and spiced boysenberry soda ($5). You'll almost want to be hungover every weekend once you stumble upon this back-street haven.
7-8/80 Wilson Street, Newtown; (02) 8065 4572; Open 7am-4pm everyday; www.satellitenewtown.com
2. Deus Cafe
Deus cafe sits alongside its sister store Deus ex Machina, run by former Mambo guru Dare Jennings. Its distinctive style sets it apart from your usual cafe, with music, art, surfboards, motorbikes, and hip clothing all under one roof. Communal tables are spread out across the warehouse-type layout, and an open kitchen in the back corner cracks out an uncomplicated menu (all-day breakfast on weekends added bonus!). This is the place to come for every variation of eggs Benedict ($14-17) or one of their 'custom' breakfasts with ample choice of sides. The mixed berry frappe ($6) is a good, sweet kickstart to the day. But hands down, the best choice for an addled brain is the slow-cooked Boston beans ($17). Paired with pork sausage, baby spinach, poached egg and toasted ciabatta, it is the cure for that morning after delirium.
98-104 Parramatta Road, Camperdown; (02) 9519 3669; Mon-Tues 7.30am-3pm, Wed-Sat 7.30am-9.30pm, Sun: 8.30am-9pm; www.deuscafe.com.au
3. Harry's Espresso Bar Bondi
There's something about the Hot Mess Chorizo Scramble ($12.50) here that keeps people coming back. Or it could be the Proud Mary coffee ($3.50) that they're perfectly pouring out at full throttle to the locals as they await their daily fix. Either way, Harry's will refuel you with good coffee and a sincere breakfast. Set away from the main drag in Bondi, it has the simple offerings such as bagels or toasted sourdough ($6) (from Iggy's bakery, even better) that are sometimes the only thing you can handle after a big night out. For something heartier, the Italian Stallion with goat's cheese, avocado, tomatoes, and fresh basil ($13.50) hits all the right spots. So too do the array of pastries on display (from $3) or a fresh orange, carrot, and ginger juice ($8.50) to give your body a much needed cleanse.
Shop 2, 136 Wairoa Avenue, Bondi Beach; (02) 9310 2180; Open 7am-4pm every day
4. Double Roasters
Despite the name indicating that their main focus is coffee, the simple menu at the recently renovated Double Roasters offers up plenty of homemade culinary delights. There's nothing quite like a bit of sincere heart and soul in your food in order to restore normal human functionality. House-made baked beans are jazzed up with prosciutto and spinach ($12), and the avocado and feta mash with cherry tomatoes and rocket on turkish bread ($8.50) could run the business alone. The iced coffee ($4.50) is pleasing; however, the iced ginger and mint tea ($4) is the perfect thirst-quenching alternative to Powerade. Double Roasters might have that industrial chic-ness to it, but you'll definitely feel at home.
199 Victoria Road, Marrickville; (02) 9572 7711; Open from 6am everyday; www.doubleroasters.com
5. Cafe Shenkin
This should most certainly be a stop on your patrol for a hangover breakfast. Cafe Shenkin fuses Israeli and modern Australian cuisine in a way like no other, and there'll be some serious food envy going on once you spy the Portuguese omelette ($16) or hummus plate with fava beans ($18.50) being whisked out to your neighbouring diners. That being said, you can't go wrong with much here: everything is full of taste and will assist in your mission to feel better. A Mexican shakshuka with beans and corn ($19) has a good zing to it, and the Israeli Big Breakfast ($19) sure lives up to its name. Mecca coffee ($3.50) is smooth and consistent, and if you've got room for a sweet treat upon leaving, their Israeli pastry offerings include bureka and chocolate pyramids.
53 Erskineville Road, Erskineville; (02) 9550 5511; Mon-Sun 6.30am-5pm, Wed-Sat 6.30pm-10pm; www.cafeshenkin.com.au
6. St Jude
If you're a fan of fritters, then you may already have heard about St Jude's, because they are a blessing in disguise. The seamless combination of corn and pumpkin, lightly fried then served with poached eggs, hollandaise sauce, avocado cream, and baby spinach ($14.50) is enough to ensure a hasty return. The adorable cafe is often buzzing with people but maintains a sense of serenity in this quiet part of the neighbourhood. There's nothing worse than sitting in a cafe with music louder than a Big Day Out concert when your head is as heavy as a medicine ball. The staff are friendly and patient while you decide between the daily breakfast sanga ($13) or omelette of the day ($16). Order a fresh juice ($6) and have a side of the smashed avocado and tomato salsa, too; redemption will follow promptly.
Corner Thurlow and Bourke Streets, Redfern; (02) 9310 3525; Open every day 7am to late afternoon.
7. Four Ate Five
You may be hard pressed to nab a seat here on the weekends, as this place has a fine menu for those in need of some serious revitalising. Get your eggs scrambled, poached, or fried ($9) then add beef chipolatas ($3.50), haloumi ($4), or potato and fennel hash ($3.50) — whatever floats your boat really; they seem to have all the appropriate additions down pat. The Moroccan baked eggs ($17) with almonds and labne tastes as good as it smells, and so, too, does the homemade creamed corn ($17). But it's the notorious pulled pork sandwich ($13) with its mishmash of aioli and apple tomato chutney on grilled sourdough that will win you over if you've rocked up at lunchtime. Down a banana, cinnamon, and honey smoothie ($7.50) or a coffee frappe ($6), and you're on the mend.
485 Crown Street, Surry Hills; (02) 9698 6485; Open everyday 7am-4pm; www.fouratefive.com
8. Baffi & Mo
No matter what time you manage to roll out of bed, Baffi & Mo certainly has you covered. The eclectic cafe with its famous moustachioed sign, has an all-day breakfast and lunch menu that manages to meticulously include all the dreamy combinations you want in a hangover meal. There's the infamous potato hash stack ($16/$18 with smoked salmon) that keeps people coming back and the artfully arranged corn fritters with grilled haloumi ($15) that's consistently pleasing. If grease isn't your cure-all the day following a big night, opt for the banana, chocolate, and strawberry crepes with ice-cream ($15) or an iced coffee ($5.50). Sometimes a sugar rush hits the nail on the coffin, just like Baffi & Mo will do for that grumbling stomach.
94 Redfern Street, Redfern; (02) 8065 3294; Open everyday 7am-3pm.
9. Revolver
Sometimes all you need to feel human again, post alcohol indulgent evenings, is a good bacon and egg roll, and Revolver cafe is pulling off an impeccably foolproof version ($8). They don’t give away their secret, but it's definitely the 'awesome sauce' that tempts you to lose all inhibitions and lick the plate in a crowded cafe. If you need something slightly more substantial, don't look further than the Revolver Big Breakie ($16.50) — eggs baked in house-made beans are impressive enough, let alone when paired with a plate full of other goodies. Even the veggie stack ($15.50) could have any carnivore drooling. They serve a mean coffee ($3.20), or a refreshing banana smoothie ($5.50) could give you zest to life again.
291 Annandale Street, Annandale; (02) 9555 4727; Open every day 8am-4pm; www.revolver.com.au
10. Three Blue Ducks
After you've had a refreshing ocean dip, stroll on up the hill to Three Blue Ducks and complete the path to rejuvenation. With everything on the menu packed full of flavour, it's worth going with a few people so you can stick your fork in everyone's dish. Sit outside in the sunshine and delve into some scrambled eggs with black sausage, dill cucumber salad, and redcurrant jam ($19) for some serious protein. If you want to get off to a healthy start, their Bircher muesli with yoghurt, pear, and muesli ($14) has got something seriously secretive about it, and a choice of fresh juices ($6) is fortifying to say the least. If you can't manage a sit-down brekkie, grab a bacon and egg roll ($12) takeaway. The pimiento sauce will give you your waddle back.
141-143 Macpherson Street, Bronte; (02) 9389 0010; Breakfast weekdays 7-11.30am, weekends 7.30-12pm; www.threeblueducks.com
Top image: Bacon and egg roll at Revolver Cafe. Images by Aimee Sics.