Sydney has some of the best cafes in the world—no yolk. We've got award-winning coffee roasters, primo local ingredients, and beautiful settings covered.
Whether you are after stacks of scrambled eggs, piles of pancakes or just a classic avocado on toast, there are plenty of breakfast, brunch and lunch cafes in Sydney blending cultural influences and top-notch ingredients to take these crowd favourites to the next level.
After lots of research over early mornings and long lunches, these are Urban List's picks for the best cafes in Sydney right now.
Know what you want? Skip to
- The Best New Cafes In Sydney
- The Best Sydney CBD Cafes
- The Best Inner West Cafes
- The Best Bondi Cafes
- The Best Surry Hills Cafes
- The Best Northern Beaches Cafes
- More of the best cafes in Sydney
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The Best New Cafes In Sydney
Cafe Cressida
118 Queen Street, Woollahra
Image Credit: Larissa Leigh Interiors | Instagram
Cafe Cressida is the charming neighbourhood cafe, and sister to chef Phil Wood's Paddington restaurant Ursula’s, open daily for brekkie, lunch and dinner sessions.
When it comes to the breakfast menu, expect playful but classic dishes like caramelised sugar French toast with whipped cream; a breakfast snack plate with a blueberry financier and
a yoghurt and honeycomb passionfruit cup; or congee with shredded roast chicken, peanuts, chilli and fried bread. Lunch might be a prawn roll with iceberg, avocado and ravigote sauce; crab and chilli spaghetti; or a textbook chicken sandwich.
On the former site of Caffe Agostini, Cafe Cressida has revived Margie Agostini’s famous Sicilian orange cake as their pastry cabinet staple. If cake isn’t your cup of tea, why not indulge in some drunken strawberries and mascarpone—and keep the Champagne flowing.
The Details
Hours: Monday–Wednesday, 7.30am–4pm; Thursday–Saturday, 7.30am–10pm; Sunday, 7.30am–4pm
Bookings: Walk-in only
Superfreak
333 Enmore Road, Marrickville
Image credit: Superfreak | Instagram
Superfreak is a pumping Marrickville cafe that “gets a little freaky." Think brunch classics with a funky twist; honourable mentions go to their adaptogen hot chocolate with cocoa and medicinal mushrooms, a morning roll with herby spinach frittata and coriander salsa, or caramelised crumpets with seasonal fruit, chantilly and toasted hazelnuts. Indecisive when it comes to your brunch?
Their market plates with eggs, dips, cheese, fresh and fermented veggies and crackers (with optional ham or salumi) is an Insta-famous spread that ticks every box.
The Details
Hours: Monday–Friday, 6.30am–3pm; Saturday–Sunday, 7am–3pm
Bookings: Walk-in only
A.P Bread and Wine
32 Burton Street, Darlinghurst
Image Credit: A.P. Bread | Instagram
A.P Bakery has been popping more and more across Sydney, with A.P Place and A.P Bakery already cult favourites. What’s new about this cafe is the concept: set in a sandstone, heritage-listed cottage in Darlinghurst, A.P Bread and Wine is the brand’s only spot open for brekkie, lunch and dinner.
For brekkie, expect bread and pastry classics like their toasted baguette paired with drowned eggs in chicken broth, and brioche with whipped ricotta and berries. There are also some inventive new arrivals: their leftover bread pasta is served with zucchini and anchovy breadcrumbs, and pairs perfectly with a seasonal spritz or glass of house wine.
The Details
Hours: Monday–Tuesday, 7.30am–3pm; Wednesday–Saturday, 7.30am–11pm; Sunday, 7.30am–3pm
Bookings: Available online
The Best Sydney CBD Cafes
Boon Cafe
1/425 Pitt Street, Haymarket
Image Credit: Boon Cafe | Instagram
Boon Cafe is one for when you're ready to branch out from your usual order. Start the day with pandan custard-slathered toast or a Thai breakfast tray loaded with congee, skewered pork, baked eggs, bacon, avocado, mushrooms and sourdough—perfect for fuelling a shopping sesh at the attached Jarern Chai Grocer.
Come lunchtime, the som tum gai todt burger with juicy Thai-style fried chicken and papaya salad is our pick, and you can order traditional Thai noodle and rice dishes all day. As well as the usual cafe drinks, you can sip fresh juices and frappes, iced tisanes using unique South East Asian ingredients like sweet pickled plum, and various takes on Thai tea.
The Details
Tessuto
32–34 York Street, Sydney CBD
Image Credit: Tessuto | Instagram
An Italian trattoria tucked away in the Sydney CBD, Tessuto is plating up vibrant Italian dishes and decadent coffee creations. Indulge in their carbonara scrambled eggs on sourdough with crispy pancetta and shaved pecorino or, for a lighter load, try the roasted eggplant bruschetta with confit cherry tomatoes and goats cheese.
If you are a lover of all things extravagant, this is the place to grab your morning coffee—their tiramisu iced latte is served with mascarpone cream and a savoiardi biscotti, and they do a pistachio cream-laced espresso drink.
The Details
Bookings: Walk-in only
Edition Roasters Darling Square
60 Darling Drive, Haymarket
Image Credit: Edition Roasters | Instagram
Blending Japanese and Scandi style in a charcoal-toned space with a sunken dining area, Edition Roasters' Darling Square location is one of the most beautiful cafes in Sydney.
As one of Sydney's best specialty roasters, Edition serves exclusively single-origin coffee, brewed up using methods including batch brew, pour over, Aeropress, and cold brew, while the food menu swings Japanese with salmon ochazuke, souffle pancakes topped with white chocolate mousse, and karaage chicken donburi. For matcha lovers, they use high-quality matcha powder from Uji, Kyoto—Urban List approved as some of the best matcha in Sydney.
Coffee and matcha are also available from their venues in Wynyard, World Square and Mid-City.
The Details
Hours: Sunday–Wednesday, 8am–4pm and Thursday–Saturday, 8am–10pm
Bookings: Walk-in only
See more of the best Sydney CBD cafes.
The Best Inner West Cafes
Valentinas
132 Livingstone Road, Marrickville
Image Credit: Valentinas | Instagram
If you're hankering for a greasy American-style diner feed, Valentinas is a must-visit for pancake stacks, bacon, egg and cheese muffins or fried chicken sandwiches.
The Classic is the go-to order here–served with scrambled eggs, bacon, home fries and a pancake (trust us, it works), and paired perfectly with bottomless filter coffee or one of the best Bloody Marys in the Inner West. Set the alarm to get in early, or prepare to wait for a seat.
The Details
Bookings: Walk-in only
Kurumac
107 Addison Road, Marrickville
Image Credit: Kurumac | Instagram
If Japanese comfort food paired with breezy hip-hop beats and moody jazz is your idea of the perfect morning, Kurumac is the cafe to visit in the Inner West.
Inside, you'll find a pop-bright mural on the wall by Ar-chive and a menu that feels uniquely off-beat—try the spicy cod roe melt made with thick-cut Japanese milk bread, roe, and tasty cheese, which is a contender for one of Sydney's best toasties, or a chirashi bowl with top-quality raw and torched salmon, eel, prawn and scallop on rice. Alongside all the usual cafe drink staples, you can cool off with an iced mugicha tea or roasted green tea gelato milkshake, all served with beautiful Japanese crockery that ships you straight to the backstreets of Tokyo.
The Details
Hours: Monday–Sunday, 7.30am–2.30pm
Bookings: Walk-in only
Rolling Penny
583A King Street, Newtown
Image credit: Rolling Penny | Instagram
For a cafe which provides a real sense of community, head to Rolling Penny. Slotted in between the bric-a-brac shops and vintage stores that line South King Street, this super special spot packs some seriously refined flavours into its menu.
We love the Brickfields focaccia topped with anchovies, caperberry, sobrassada, zucchini flower and soft boiled eggs, or unbeatable brekkie roll with smoked bacon, poached eggs, tarragon aioli, tomato relish and mixed greens. There's Madding Crowd coffee, beer on tap, and solid Bloody Marys—so you're covered for all sipping needs.
The Details
Hours: Monday–Sunday, 7.30am–2.30pm
Bookings: Walk-in only
See more of the best Inner West cafes.
The Best Bondi Cafes
Porch & Parlour
17-18/110 Ramsgate Avenue, North Bondi
Image Credit: Porch and Parlour | Instagram
Porch & Parlour is a North Bondi icon; this beachside cafe has stood proud on its sunny strip for over a decade, and is one of our favourites for starting the day with ocean views and a fresh juice, coffee or cheeky morning cocktail.
Wholesome and hearty is the general vibe, with top picks like the pea pancake with avocado, feta, poached eggs, snow pea sprouts, cherry tomatoes and house-made nut and seed mix (we add hot-smoked salmon) or a halloumi bun with fried egg, avocado smash, tomato relish, red cabbage slaw, and chipotle mayo on a milk bun, all served on their own crockery brand, Porch Ceramics.
The Details
Glory Days
Bondi Pavilion, 3 Queen Elizabeth Drive, Bondi Beach
Image Credit: Glory Days | Instagram
Just a few steps off the beach, Glory Days is a Bondi cafe dishing out breakfast and lunch, and it's the perfect spot to soak up uninterrupted views from the refurbished Bondi Pavilion.
Glory Days boasts light and bright staples like acai bowls, breakfast burritos, and scrambled eggs with all the trimmings to go—nab a spot on the sand, pull up on the dog-friendly Pavilion terrace under toffee and cream-coloured umbrellas, or head inside to soak up the super cool John Utzon-inspired interiors.
The Details
Harry’s Bondi
2/136 Wairoa Avenue, Bondi Beach
Image Credit: Harry's Bondi | Instagram
For lovers of no-nonsense brunch classics and a damn good matcha, Harry’s is the place to be. Menu standouts include their feta and quinoa fritters with apple tzatziki, smashed croissant with smoked ham and buffalo mozzarella and, of course, their viral canned matcha.
Alongside their classic matcha, they offer strawberry, mango, and blueberry flavours as seasonal rotations—a crowd favourite for Bondi locals and social media foodies alike.
The Details
Hours: Monday–Friday, 6am–3.30pm and Saturday–Sunday, 6am–4pm
Bookings: Available online
See more of the best Bondi cafes.
The Best Surry Hills Cafes
Single O
60/64 Reservoir Street, Surry Hills
Image Credit: Single O | Instagram
Sydney's cafe scene would look a little different were it not for the pioneers at Single O and their Reservoir Street flagship, which has been running since 2003, and basically kicked off coffee roasting culture here.
As well as a self-service batch brew bar, the menu at their Surry Hills cafe changes seasonally with satisfying picks like the Fish Dawg sandwich with crumbed barramundi, jack cheese, tarragon tartare, mustard pickled zucchini, red cabbage and dill slaw on a potato bun. If you're really serious about coffee, be sure to check out Sideshow, the specialty brew bar next door.
The Details
Hours: Monday–Friday, 7am–3.30pm and Saturday–Sunday, 8am–3pm
Bookings: Walk-in only
TenTo
Shop 3, 8 Hill Street, Surry Hills
Image Credit: TenTo | Instagram
In an authentic Japanese dining experience, TenTo serves up traditional flavours with a flair of modern creativity. The outcome? Killer ramen, incredible coffee and matcha, and highly personal service.
Our picks are their breakfast set with grilled salmon ochazuke, rice, and an onsen egg, or eggplant katsu sando with miso cream cheese. Pair these with matcha or black sesame latte in their leafy outdoor courtyard, to truly emulate that Japanese eatery feel.
The Details
Hours: Monday–Sunday, 9am–3pm
Bookings: Available online
Paramount Coffee Project
80 Commonwealth Street, Surry Hills
Image Credit: Paramount Coffee Project | Instagram
You'll find Paramount Coffee Project in Surry Hills' stunning art deco Paramount House building, which is also home to Paramount House Hotel and the rooftop A.P Bakery.
This mega aesthetic Surry Hills cafe takes a diplomatic approach to showcasing various coffee roasters, processes and methods here so you're always in for an excellent caffeine hit, and food that rotates seasonally–ticking the sweet, savoury, snack and substantial boxes (though the crumbed eggs are a perennial favourite).
There's indoor seating, sunny spots in the window for people-watching, a large communal table that's suited to whipping out the laptop, and coveted spots at the busy brew bar.
The Details
Hours: Monday–Sunday, 7am–4pm
Bookings: Walk-in only
See more of the best Surry Hills cafes.
The Best Northern Beaches Cafes
Norma’s
74/78 The Corso, Manly
Image Credit: Norma's Deli | Instagram
The Details
Hours: Monday–Sunday, 8am–5pm (or until sold out)
Bookings: Walk-in only
Noon
Shop 1, 18 Raglan Street, Manly
Image Credit: Noon | Instagram
Noon is a dog-friendly cafe plating up brekkie, lunch and everything in between, with a no-fuss, accessible all-day menu perfect for those who struggle to decide on just one thing.
Don’t be fooled into thinking this menu is basic, however—classic ingredients are taken up a notch with an exciting spin. Try their scrambled eggs with black lime za'atar crisp and sourdough, or their mince on toast with Blackmore Wagyu and crème fraiche. For drinks, their shaken tahini latte with molasses, cinnamon and espresso is the perfect mid-morning pick-me-up.
The Details
Hours: Monday–Friday, 6am–2pm and Saturday–Sunday, 6am–3pm
Bookings: Walk-in only
Barrel One
Various Locations
Image Credit: Barrel One | Instagram
Barrel One coffee roasters is the go-to Beaches spot for a seriously good coffee and simple bites, with locations in Brookvale, Cromer, Manly (and more in Potts Point and Lane Cove).
Their menu doesn’t overcomplicate things, with toasties, bagels, and brekkie sangas designed to perfectly complement your morning coffee. Stand-outs include their fondue toasties with Swiss gruyere, double-smoked ham, and mustard, or their Calabrese bagel with salami, buffalo mozzarella and pesto.
The Details
22 Orchard Road, Brookvale: Monday–Friday, 6am–2pm and Saturday–Sunday, 7am–1pm
9/161 S Creek Road, Cromer: Monday–Friday, 6am–2pm and Saturday–Sunday, 7am–1pm
40 E Esplanade, Manly: Monday–Friday, 6am–2pm and Saturday–Sunday, 7am–2pm
Bookings: Walk-in only
See more of the best Northern Beaches cafes.
More Of The Best Sydney Cafes
Theeca
1 Burton Street, Darlinghurst
Image Credit: Theeca | Instagram
Home of those lofty pancakes you've probably seen splashed across your socials, Theeca is a charming inner-city cafe tucked just off Oxford Street.
On top of the creme fraiche and berry-topped hotcakes, popular picks include a meatball plate with roasted capsicum, eggplant and silky scrambled eggs, and the truffle mushroom omelette with whipped butter. Order up a matcha latte and take a seat under the swaying trees—this cafe has a lot of charm.
The Details
Circa Espresso
21 Wentworth Street, Parramatta
Image Credit: Circa Espresso | Instagram
Circa Espresso is a Parramatta staple with a reputation for offering one of Western Sydney's best breakfasts, with a modern cafe space and plenty of outdoor seating–so it's super dog-friendly.
Sip on Circa's signature house-roasted coffee and fill up on delicious Middle Eastern-influenced comfort food from the all-day brekkie menu–like baked eggs with Danish feta, Roma tomatoes, harissa gravy, sujuk and chilli on house made focaccia or the vegan bowl with sumac and turmeric roasted-cauliflower, cauliflower purée, braised savoy cabbage, apple, radicchio and dukkah. We'd suggest treating yourself to a scoop of the house-made pistachio tiramisu for breakfast dessert.
The Details
Hours: Monday–Friday, 7am–2.30pm, and Saturday–Sunday, 8am–2pm
Bookings: Walk-in only
Happyfield
96 Ramsay Street, Haberfield
Image Credit: Happyfield | Instagram
Opened in 2020, Happyfield is a yolk-yellow corner cafe serving up nostalgic food and a genuinely (as the name suggests) cheery vibe. Alongside friendly service and menu items like the McLovin Muffin (a brekkie burger that will put your weekend Maccas order to shame), and an NYC Reuben with grilled New York-style pastrami, Happyfield is known best for its pancake stacks, which come sweet or savoury in stacks of up to 15.
If in doubt, The Happiest Meal plates up three pancakes, a McLovin Muffin and two golden hash browns—decision made.
THE DETAILS
Hours: Monday–Sunday, 7.30am–3.30pm
Bookings: Available online
Piña
Shop 4, 29 Orwell Street, Potts Point
Image Credit: Piña | Instagram
Piña is located opposite the tiny Potts Point local Room 10–what started as a larger overflow space for Room 10’s incredibly high demand has become one of Sydney’s most sought-after venues for brunch eats and cafe catch-ups. Local favourites include their bunless chicken and tuna sandwiches, caponata with eggplant, tomato and stracciatella, and their sweet and savoury sourdough pancakes.
THE DETAILS
Hours: Monday–Sunday, 7am–3pm
Bookings: Walk-in only
The Grounds of Alexandria
7a/2 Huntley Street, Alexandria
Image Credit: The Grounds | Instagram
The Grounds is known for its magical installations, winding laneways, and inner-city escapism, and its signature cafe is on plenty of Sydney visitors' itineraries.
Everything at The Grounds Cafe is served with an incredible degree of attention to presentation, so you'll enjoy the prettiest avocado toast, buttermilk pancakes or eggs Benedict at breakfast time, or dishes like seafood tagliatelle and wholesome garden bowls for lunch.
Leave time to check out the seasonal pop-up when you're done at the cafe—it's only accessible to paying customers of The Grounds.
The Details
Hours: Monday–Friday, 7.30am–4pm and Saturday–Sunday, 7.30am–4.30pm
Bookings: Available online
Lunas
316 Stanmore Road, Petersham
Image Credit: Lunas | Instagram
Lunas is an all-day cafe from the Sweet Belem Cake Boutique and Fich team, paying homage to its owners' heritage and location in Sydney's Portuguese heart.
On the breakfast menu, expect hotcakes topped with a pastel de nata, and bread using a recipe from Jose’s mother, while lunch looks like beef espetadas (skewers) or piri piri chicken for sharing in the sunny courtyard.
The details
Hours: Monday–Sunday, 7am–3pm
Bookings: Available online for dinner only, Friday–Saturday
Bills
Various locations
Image Credit: bills | Instagram
The DETAILS
433 Liverpool Street, Darlinghurst: 7.30am–3pm
355 Crown Street, Surry Hills: 7am–10pm
79 Hall Street, Bondi: Monday–Sunday, 7am–10pm
16 Cross Street, Double Bay: 7am–10pm
Bookings: Available online
Blackwood
5/33 Surf Lane, Cronulla and 3/87–89 Glenayr Avenue, Bondi Beach
Image Credit: Blackwood Cronulla | Instagram
A wholesome and dog-friendly South Sydney cafe, Blackwood Pantry and sister venue Blackwood Bondi are the food babies of three mates from The Shire, wooing locals with a fresh, easy-to-please menu.
Favourites include the Schnitty Schnitty Bang Bang, Insta-friendly nourish bowls, and the much-loved miso avo–Blackwood's healthy spin on the classic avo on toast dressed up with avocado, miso and cashew butter, lime, chilli, black sesame and coriander.
The Details:
5/33 Surf Lane, Cronulla: Monday–Sunday, 7am–4pm
3/87–89 Glenayr Avenue, Bondi Beach: Monday–Sunday, 7am–3pm
Bookings:
Cronulla: Walk-in only
Bondi: Available online on weekdays
Bar Lucio
12 Lenthall Street, Kensington and 59 Birrell Street, Queens Park
Image Credit: Bar Lucio | Instagram
You’ll find the counter at Bar Lucio cafes stacked high with Nutella bomboloni, pistachio cannoli, and coda d'aragosta, all of which are made in-house, thanks to owner and award-winning pizza maker Lucio Del Falco.
The menu also features savoury treats like eggplant parmigiana, porchetta panino, and focaccia stuffed with ricotta, pistachio and mortadella. What really sets Bar Lucio apart as a cafe, though, is its caffe del Nonno—Grandpa’s coffee—which is a thick and creamy chilled coffee drink originating in Naples in the 1800s.
The details
Bookings: Walk-in only