Stretching from Marrickville to Balmain, Sydney’s Inner West is chock full of great cafes, from hole-in-the-wall joints operating on an IYKYK basis to all-day eateries that have exploded in popularity thanks to their trendy fit-outs and top-tier feeds.
Urban List has done the digging for you, rounding up the best cafes in the Inner West known for exceptional coffee, schmick breakfast plates and an all-round cool vibe. Whether you’re just stopping by for a takeaway brew or expecting a full-on brunch service, these cafes have got you covered.
Here are the 12 best cafes in Sydney’s Inner West right now.
Matinee
23-29 Addison Road, Marrickville
Image credit: Matinee | Nikki To
At Matinee, the show starts early and coffee takes centre stage. Proudly roasted on-site, the single-origin, blends and decaf beans are that good, you’ll want to take a bag or two home. The standing-ovation-worthy pastries, relishes and sodas are also made in-house by award-winning chefs, making this stylish 80-seater cafe one of the best cafes in the Inner West. As a bonus, it's dog-friendly too.
Why we love it: You won't find dishes like this at any other cafe—from breakfast gnocchi to baklava waffles.
Happyfield
96 Ramsay Street, Haberfield
Image credit: Happyfield | Alana Dimou
Bright, yellow and beaming with happy faces, Happyfield is one of Haberfield’s friendliest cafes. The bulky all-day menu covers sweet and savoury pancakes, eggs on toast with a medley of extra sides, brekky bowls, burgers, platters, and even steak frites for those craving wagyu before midday.
Besides coffee, the banana Biscoff and birthday cake milkshakes steal the show, or if you’re up for it, there’s limoncello spritzes, watermelon margaritas, espresso martinis, wine, local beers and cider too.
Why we love it: The soft-serve affogato is the ultimate way to have your morning coffee dose.
Two Chaps
122 Chapel Street, Marrickville
Image credit: Two Chaps | Instagram
Tucked in Marrickville's industrial back streets, Two Chaps is acing the cafe game with some of the best bakery bites in Sydney. All of their pastries and bread are handmade daily, making up a large portion of their constantly changing seasonal menu. Pair with their infamous house-made sticky chai or a locally roasted Single O coffee.
Why we love it: Two Chaps keeps their doors open on Friday and Saturday nights, serving freshly made pasta and local cheeses in a rotating set menu of produce-driven dishes.
Superfreak
Shop 2/333a Enmore Road, Marrickville
Image credit: Superfreak | Instagram
If you haven't heard of Superfreak until now, you've probably been living under a rock. The alty Marrickville cafe has skyrocketed in popularity thanks to its funky decor, homey vibe and no-frills menu.
Expect dolled-up brekkie classics like thick Ciao Fabbrica sourdough smothered in creamy ricotta, spiced nuts and pear, plus colourful salads and hefty sandos for lunch. As for drinks, there's the usual coffee and matcha fixes alongside health juices an adaptogen hot choccy with medicinal mushrooms.
Why we love it: Superfreak's rotating cabinet of cakes and goodies is abso-fricken-lutely worth it.
Mecca
26 Bourke Road, Alexandria
Image credit: Mecca | Adriana Abara
The baristas at Mecca deserve to be rebadged as coffee connoisseurs, having mastered the art of a great brew. The Darkhorse blend is a must-try for bean fiends—it's roasted and brewed on-site and has notes of chocolate, peach and wine.
The stunning breakfast and lunch lineup includes a chilli scramble on Brickfields Bakery sourdough with a nori crunch and black sesame crisp, and a to-die-for BAE roll built with bacon, American cheddar, fried egg, hashbrown and chilli garlic aioli between milk buns.
Why we love it: The spacious and rustic interior provides the perfect backdrop for a weekend catch-up or a coffee-fuelled work session.
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Kurumac
107 Addison Road, Marrickville
Image credit: Kurumac | Facebook
Companion of Cool Mac in Kirribilli and Poketto in Chippendale, Kurumac is a vibey Marrickville cafe where the brief is Japanese comfort food packed with flavour. There’s not one dud dish on the menu, with top picks like a cod roe omelette, onigiri with nibitashi eggplant, panko crumbed fish burger, yuzu shio chicken ramen and a vibrant chirashi bowl loaded with fresh seafood and sashimi.
Why we love it: The Mapo Gelato-spiked drinks are a must—from iced matcha lattes with matcha ice cream to hojicha gelato milkshakes and iced long blacks with fior di latte gelato.
Valentina’s
132 Livingstone Road, Marrickville
Image credit: Valentina's | Website
Channelling a retro roadside stop with its bold green-and-white stripes, Val’s is a Marrickville staple dishing up all-day breakfast with old-school American diner flair. Perfectly round pancakes crowned with a melting butter slab sit alongside stacked brekky sandwiches and the Tina classic—heapings of crispy bacon, potatoes, scrambled egg, and pancake. Wash it all down with a maple iced coffee and a pick from the tempting dessert cabinet.
Why we love it: You can DIY your plate with a bunch of sauces, spreads and sides like french fries, onion rings, or a cheesy folded omelette.
Genovese Coffee House
1/3 Lawrence Street, Alexandria
Image credit: Genovese Coffee House | Instagram
For perfect pastries and paninis, swing into Genovese Coffee House, a family-owned Italian eatery inside an old warehouse space in Alexandria. Exposed brick is met with timber tables, 70's chairs and comfy couches, creating an inviting space for casual coffee sippers, work-from-anywhere-but-homers and lingering brunch lovers.
Breakfast standouts include the burrata-topped ciabatta and the poached eggs on focaccia with parmesan mortadella chilli crisps. For lunch, you can’t go wrong with a panini or pressed focaccia sandwich followed by a cheeky cannoli, oozing bomboloni or stuffed sfogliatelle.
Why we love it: The frequently changing specials mean there's always something new to try on the menu.
Lunas
316 Stanmore Road, Petersham
Image credit: Lunas | Instagram
Lunas is a neighbourhood favourite, serving all-day eats that riff off of owners Jose and Basia Silva's Portuguese heritage. The top-notch menu features pastel de Natas from sister-venue Sweet Belem Cake Boutique and a loaded brekky roll with bacon, egg, sheep's milk cheese, potato scallop, piri piri mayo and tomato relish. Hungover? The Francesinha is an insane Portuguese sandwich layering ham, chorizo, sausage, steak in a sandwich, covered in melty cheese and a fried egg, and swimming in a beer-infused gravy.
Lunch highlights include a crispy pork crackling roll, sardines on toast using a bread recipe from Jose's mother, and a flaming three-week aged la boqueria chouriço at dinner.
Why we love it: The leafy outdoor courtyard area feels like you're dining in your favourite neighbour's backyard.
Domo 39
5/2 May Lane, St Peters
Image credit: Domo39 | Instagram
Domo 39 is a go-to Japanese cafe and convenience store in St Peters by the Kurumac and Mapo Gelato teams specialising in bento boxes, handmade onigiri and signature soft-serve ‘rice cream’ with seasonal flavours like watermelon, lime, and strawberry yuzu matcha, complete with kuromitsu syrup and puffed rice toppings.
Why we love it: Alongside Domo's menu, a range of grab 'n' go products line the shelves including drinks, sauces, pre-made meals and desserts like yuzu and hojicha dulce de leche tiramisu tubs from Maker's Day.
Lox In A Box
312 Illawara Road, Marrickville
Image credit: Lox In A Box | Instagram
Lox In A Box brings its beloved bagels and coffee offerings to The Corner Deli in Marrickville with a retro fit-out taking inspo from Jewish delis. Menu hits include the classic lox bagel, pastrami-packed reuben, schnitty caesar or vegetarian stack pumped with jalapeno schmear. And to make things even better, they deliver, meaning you can order these bad boys straight to your door.
Beyond coffee, there's canned iced raspberry matcha, choccy milk and an Arnold Palmer (half lemonade, half iced tea), plus a bunch of sweet treats and take-home deli bits.
Why we love it: By 5pm Lox In A Box fully transforms into a burger and wings joint, keeping vibes high until late.
Rolling Penny
583A King Street, Newtown
Image credit: Rolling Penny | Instagram
Sitting snugly amongst King Street's vintage and knick-knack stores, Rolling Penny is a beloved Newtown gem that brings the community together over good food. Big flavours line the menu with dishes like anchovy-topped toast on Brickfields focaccia, divorced eggs and elevated sandwiches. For drinks, there's Madding Crowd coffee, beer on tap, mimosas and Bloody Marys, sorting all your sipping needs.
Why we love it: You'll enjoy a different experience depending on where you sit, whether you're people-watching out-front on street-side tables, cozying up inside, or basking in the sun in the back courtyard area.
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Main image credit: Superfreak | Instagram
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