Restaurant Reviews

Sydney's best cafés

Our favourite cafes in Sydney, as seen in our 2017 Gourmet Traveller Restaurant Guide.

Neighbourhood by Seán McManus
The question with coffee in Sydney today isn't whether it's good so much as how many you can cram into a day. Will it be the outstanding milk work from newcomer Neighbourhood by Seán McManus (16 Buckingham St, Surry Hills)? Or a window seat and a batch brew at Artificer (547 Bourke St, Surry Hills)? Skittle Lane (40 King St, Sydney), Edition (265 Liverpool St, Darlinghurst) and The Cross Eatery (155 Clarence St, Sydney) channel Scandi-cool design, with as much care given to what's on the menu as the fit-outs.
The team behind Reuben Hills (61 Albion St, Surry Hills, 02 9211 5566) and Paramount Coffee Project (80 Commonwealth St, Surry Hills, 02 9211 1122) are behind the very likeable Hills Bros (5 Martin Pl, Sydney). Roasters-turned-cafés with a focus on terroir include Campos (193 Missenden Rd, Newtown, 02 9516 3361), Gypsy Espresso (Shop 6, 81 Macleay St, Potts Point, 02 8356 9264), Mecca (2/26 Bourke Rd, Alexandria, 02 9698 8448), Single Origin (60-64 Reservoir St, Surry Hills, 02 9211 0665), Central Roasters (Shop 4, 343 Pitt St, Sydney; entry via Central St), Coffee Alchemy (24 Addison Rd, Marrickville, 02 9516 1997), Micro (Shop 2, 23 Barangaroo Ave, Barangaroo) and Gumption (Shop 11, 412-414 George St, Sydney).
Sample Coffee (118a Devonshire St, Surry Hills) and Room 10 (10 Llankelly Pl, Potts Point) do big things in tight spaces, and 212 Blu (212 Australia St, Newtown, 02 9516 0115) nails all-day breakfast. What about when food is the priority? Brunch is best at Three Blue Ducks (143 Macpherson St, Bronte) and Ruby's Diner (Shop 1, 173-179 Bronte Rd, Waverley, 0404 379 585), or opt for Thai sandwiches at Boon Café (1/425 Pitt St, Sydney, 02 9281 2114) or duck vermicelli at Glider KS (26 Kensington St, Chippendale, 02 8957 0927).
Cornersmith (314 Illawarra Rd, Marrickville, 02 8065 0844) and West Juliett (30 Llewellyn St, Marrickville, 02 9519 0101) are inner-west gems, while the original branches of the Insta-famous Black Star Pastry (277 Australia St, Newtown, 02 9557 8656), ever-expanding Bourke Street Bakery (633 Bourke St, Surry Hills, 02 9699 1011), the breakfast-friendly Brickfields (206 Cleveland St, Chippendale, 02 9698 7880) and sweet-toothed Flour and Stone (53 Riley St, Woolloomooloo, 02 8068 8818) offer comfort in baked form.
Further afield, Showbox Coffee Brewers (19 Whistler St, Manly, 02 9976 5000) and Excelsior Jones (139a Queen St, Ashfield, 02 9799 3240) both shine bright.
SHAREPIN