A Local’s Guide To Dulwich Hill Cafes Curated For Coffee Lovers
Ilaria Sanzari
Contributor | Urban List, Sydney, NSW
Dulwich Hill is well beloved by locals and visitors alike for both its heritage homes–think bay windows and vintage fences–and for its vibrant cafe culture. Just like the rest of Sydney/Eora, Dulwich Hill prides itself on quality coffee with just the right ratio of fluffy foam.
This suburb is bursting with cafes that offer some of the city’s best bagels, oozing pistachio croissants, and even familiar brunch meals with an Indian twist–we’ve put together a list of the best for your next visit.
Small Talk Coffee
Shop 2/355 New Canterbury Rd, Dulwich Hill
Image credit: Small Talk Coffee | Instagram
Everyone in the bagel-loving world has heard of the mystical goodness that is Montreal bagels. Small Talk Coffee will save you the long flight, since baker Sam Terrey has brought the tips and tricks he learnt from living in Montreal to this Sydney suburb.
Adding his own twist to the baking process and whipping up some delectable combos, Small Talk features some mouth-watering hits like the king salmon lox bagel with its salmon cured in-house, or pastrami bagel stuffed with meat and layered with mustard and pickles. Open seven days a week, this spot can both satisfy your caffeine fix and leave you hungry for more bagels.
Insider Intel
- Pop in during early morning to grab the brioche cinnamon doughies, baked fresh and still warm with your first coffee of the day.
Sideways Deli Cafe
37 Constitution Rd, Dulwich Hill
Image credit: Sideways Deli Cafe | Instagram
Not only does Sideways Deli Cafe feature alfresco, street-side dining with Parisian striped canopies overhead, but it also boasts an extensive menu featuring a variety of baked goods, deli classics, and hearty lunchtime feeds. Breakfast here can look like a hot coffee with ricotta pancakes, featuring mixed-in spiced blueberry and orange compote for that extra burst of flavour.
Lunch, on the other hand, could be a Turkish roll packed with legha, vintage cheddar and pickles, or a roast pumpkin tart with goat's cheese and spinach. Pair any of these with a sweet treat from the rows of those on display, and you’ve got yourself an ideal feed.
The General Eatery And Supplies
514 Marrickville Rd, Dulwich Hill
Image credit: The General Eatery And Supplies | Website
A rustic pocket in Sydney’s inner west, The General Eatery and Supplies is the kind of cafe that you can smell good coffee from a mile away. Not only is their speciality everything coffee, but their menu also features breakfast and brunch dishes alongside a whole assortment of baked goodies like carrot cake and sourdough choc cookies.
And these food dishes put quality into the classics, like their smashed avo on toast that’s elevated with Persian feta and the delectable addition of dukkah for a flavour that will keep you wanting more. For something sweeter, their chargrilled sourdough crumpets are a one-of-a-kind item, or their homemade sodas can bring a new combo of drink you didn’t know you craved.
Insider Intel
- Some of the baristas here have some serious latte art skills; ask if they can whip you up a special design when ordering your next coffee.
Cafe Calibre
66 Constitution Rd, Dulwich Hill
Image credit: Cafe Calibre | Instagram
This cafe’s menu is chock-a-block, bringing everything from breakfast on alfresco chairs to dinner with a cocktail in hand. While you can expect classics like your barista-made coffee and eggs on toast, Cafe Calibre also brings freshly squeezed juices into the mix, alongside crowd favourites of buttermilk hot cakes with your choice of topping (decorated with the ultra-aesthetic Persian fairy floss) and icy cool acai bowls for those summer heats.
With lunch dishes of pesto chicken pasta and dinner featuring hits of slow-cooked beef short ribs or pumpkin ravioli, Cafe Calibri has a long list of options to satisfy your cravings while perusing this suburb.
Muskafé
Shop 1/727 New Canterbury Road, Dulwich Hill
Image credit: Muskafé | Instagram
For some real kick to your regular cafe flavour, Muskafé brings an artfully curated mix of Indian cuisine elements to your typical Aussie cafe menu. They’ve got feeds like the kimchi toastie with that crispy gold finish, alongside dishes like their flavour-packed green burrito with veggies, guac and zesty salsa (bonus: it's vegan-friendly too).
Not to mention they have cafe drinks in all shapes, sizes and colours, with their toffee coffee brulee, blue lagoon iced cooler, and coconut matcha foam latte being just a handful of their vivid range to choose from.
Honey & Walnut Patisserie
540 Marrickville Rd, Dulwich Hill
Image credit: Honey & Walnut Patisserie | Website
For sweet treats and cakes galore, Honey & Walnut Patisserie features rows of small cakes, tarts and biscuits along their display windows, beautifully tempting and expertly made. One of these served beside your hot coffee is the perfect morning pick-me-up, or grab a Greek pastry to go for that savoury alternative.
Insider Intel
- Visiting family for dinner or celebrating a birthday? This Patisserie has full specialty cakes on display and ready to take with you to any event.
- This patisserie is also just one store down from Gleebooks, making it an ideal spot to start your next read while sipping away.
Cafe The Beans
Shop 1, 467/469 Marrickville Rd, Dulwich Hill
Image credit: Cafe The Beans | Instagram
On Marrickville Road sits Cafe The Beans, a local favourite that puts house-baked muffins and pastry treats on your morning radar. Think pistachio croissant fresh out of the oven, or a gluten-free baked raspberry slice that's incredibly soft to bite into. For your savoury fix, they’ve got a generous big breakfast dish to serve alongside your coffee, or lunch favourites like the shrimp fettuccine with dipping bread for finishing up.
Zee’s Cafe
Unit 96/115 Constitution Rd, Dulwich Hill
Image credit: Zee’s Cafe | Website
If you’re in the suburb searching for a hearty pancake feed, Zee’s Cafe needs to be your next stop. They've got three separate pancake dishes–American style, sweet, and savoury–all served with Canadian maple syrup for that authentic and classic taste. This, and the option to create a plate with your choices from the sides, guarantees you’ll leave well-fed and satisfied with your takeaway coffee in hand.
Goldie’s
492/494 Marrickville Rd, Dulwich Hill
Image credit: Goldie’s | Instagram
If you’re thinking of sandwiches stuffed to the brim or generously filled tacos served in trios, then Goldie’s has got it. The menu here is full of Cali-Mex delights, and a lot of them. They've got brekkie burritos, cali bowls, and even more of those pancakes we’ve been raving about–the Half Half dish even comes with one pancake savoury and the other sweet (for those indecisive moments we all have).
For drinks, expect your classic coffees alongside cold brews, smoothies, house-made soda, and specialties like the iced strawberry milk with whipped cream and ice cream. With a whole section dedicated to kids' brekkie, lunch and drinks, this spot is bound to keep everyone in the family happy.
Insider Intel
- Pop in at the end of the week for their chicken and waffles weekend special, a combo your tastebuds will thank you for later.
Main image credit: The General Eatery and Supplies | Instagram