Splash Coffee

Overview

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.