Sydney’s brunch culture is trendier than ever before and Sydney cafés continue to push the envelope with super creative menu offerings, fun twists to classic dishes, aesthetics to die for, elaborate neon and floral mash-ups, and coffee – lots of seriously great coffee. When it comes to cafés in Sydney, we’re truly spoilt for choice, whether you’re looking for the prettiest cafés in town, a spot by the water, or a convenient café in the CBD. Here’s a roundup of some of our favourite cafés that deserve a spot in your lunchtime lineup, especially when the weekend rolls around.
1. The Boathouse, Shelly Beach, Balmoral, & Rose Bay
With many locations spread across Sydney beaches, you’re bound to have a great experience along with a scenic meal. We highly recommend Shelly Beach for the stunning location and excellent atmosphere, but you’ll also find them around places like Rose Bay and Balmoral too.
📍 See all locations here.
⏰ Rose Bay is open 11:30am-4pm (Mon-Tue), 11:30am-9pm (Wed-Sun). Balmoral is open 7am-4pm every day. Shelly Beach is open 7am-3pm every day.
👉 More info here: Rose Bay / Balmoral / Shelly Beach
2. Speedos, Bondi
Set against the backdrop of the iconic Bondi beach, Speedos has previously been voted as the most Instagrammable café in the world. If you needed an extra incentive to visit, they even offer a sweet treat on your birthday. The stunning views of the beach and the explosion of flavours and colour on the menu make this café experience a real delight.
📍 126 Ramsgate Avenue, North Bondi NSW 2026
⏰ Open 6am-3pm, every day
3. Armchair Collective, Mona Vale
This breakfast/brunch spot has a neat, comfort-filled vibe to it. The décor is excellent and the proximity to the beach (it’s just around the corner, so whilst it’s not technically beachside, it is beach-adjacent) makes it a great Instagram-worthy spot. Start your day at this café and end it at the beach for that perfect sun-drenched feed. Check out their menu offerings here.
📍 9A Darley Street East, Mona Vale NSW 2103
⏰ Open 7am-2:30pm, every day
4. Norma’s Deli, Manly
Again, it’s beach-adjacent rather than on the sand, but Norma’s captures a vibe like few other places. Calling itself a “big fat Greek deli by the seaside”, food is their love language; seasonal pastries and toasted sandwiches are a favourite, whilst counters are piled high with all kinds of deli offerings to take home and savour. If you don’t manage to grab a counter seat, why not pick up a souvlaki to go and head to the sands of Manly Beach to enjoy your feast?
📍 74/78 The Corso, Manly NSW 2095
⏰ Open 8am-5pm, every day
5. The Pantry, Manly
By now you can probably tell we’re huge fans of beachside cafés. With rustic decor and chic seating, this Manly staple is an ideal stop for a meal any time of the day. With lovely views of the ocean and pleasant lighting, The Pantry directly overlooks the surf. Head there for an early morning breakfast and watch the sunrise, it’s a sight for sore eyes.
📍 Ocean Promenade, Manly NSW 2095
⏰ Open 8am-9pm (Mon-Thu), 7:30am-9pm (Fri-Sun)
6. Celsius Coffee & Dining, Kirribilli
When it comes to nailing the perfect brunch spread, both in taste and presentation, Celsius Coffee takes the cake. It’s a small, waterside café set against a beautiful backdrop of the harbour with a cosy, old-world feel to it thanks to its rustic interiors and wood aesthetic. Be sure to try their legendary eggs benedict and Instagram-favourite waffles with berries and edible flowers. Hot tip: The chill-buttered eggs with braised tomatoes, onion jam and burnt butter are to die for.
📍 Shop 1 Kirribilli Wharf, Kirribilli NSW 2061
⏰ Open 7:30am-2pm (Mon-Fri), 8am-2:30pm (Sat-Sun)
7. MCA Café
Enjoy good food and great views at the MCA Café. This rooftop dining spot is Instagrammable for its amazing harbour views and easy vibe perfect for a lazy brunch, or you can sip your morning coffee with the sound of waves lapping against the shore. Everywhere from the Opera House and Harbour Bridge all the way to Circular Quay is in your eyeline, so it’s the ideal café to enjoy a spot in the sun while brunching away the weekend – perhaps with a wander around the Museum of Contemporary Art afterwards. Head here to see their full menu.
📍 4/140 George Street, The Rocks NSW 2000
⏰ Open 7am-5pm (Mon-Fri), 9am-5pm (Sat), 10am-5pm (Sun)
8. Café Monstera, Mosman
Even if there’s no sand in sight, harbourside cafes make their mark with both views and aesthetics, so it’s no wonder that Café Monstera is wildly popular among brunch enthusiasts and Instagram aficionados. Located right at the edge of the Mosman Bay Wharf ferry dock, this café is a generous offering by the owners of Celsius, so you know you’re in for a treat both in terms of food and aesthetics. With lovely green interiors, a rustic, old rowboat hanging overhead, and the gorgeous blue seas around, the café promises a lovely time out.
📍 1E Avenue Road, Mosman NSW 2088
⏰ Open 6:30am-1pm (Mon-Fri), 8am-1:30pm (Sat-Sun)
9. Cuppa Flower, Waterloo
Cuppa Flower is a florist and café mash-up so needless to say photo opportunities are abundant. When it comes to the prettiest Sydney cafés, this one is a must-visit. If you’re looking to brighten your feed, try out the elaborate pancakes, acai bowls and smoothies. Or get snapping against their many gorgeous floral walls. With great care for presentation and excellent service, this one is almost a sensory overload — in the best way possible.
📍 1/15 Allen Street, Waterloo NSW 2017
⏰ Open 7am-3pm (Mon-Fri), 8am-3pm (Sat-Sun)
10. two sis & co., Pyrmont
two sis & co. is a tiny little café in the heart of Pyrmont, with a street view of the busy suburb. Popular items include their super Instagrammable drinks; right from blue matcha latte to rose pink latte, you’re spoilt for choice when it comes to colours and flavours. The mermaid pancakes and the French Toast with the crunchy brioche, nuts and fresh berries, topped generously with fairy floss are hard to beat if you want extra zing to your feed.
📍 306 Harris Street, Pyrmont NSW 2009
⏰ Open 7am-3pm, every day
11. Social Hideout, Parramatta
Stepping into Social Hideout feels a bit like stepping into a floral oasis. The vibe is quirky and vibrant and pink, very pink. Great food and coffee with splendid attention to detail both in décor and food, this is a must-visit if you’re after a photogenic brunch spot. There’s even an Audrey Hepburn mural and a whole wall chock full of flowers.
📍 2a/20 Victoria Road, Parramatta NSW 2150
⏰ Open 6:30am-3pm (Mon-Fri), 7am-3pm (Sat), 7:30am-3pm (Sun)
12. Flower Child, Chatswood and Warringah
Much like the name suggests, Flower Child is bursting with a rich, bohemian vibe. The food tastes great and looks equally beautiful, you’ll be reaching out for your phone with literally every dish. But it’s their tropical, leafy space that adds to the overall vibe and makes for a relaxing time out.
📍 Shop 391/1 Anderson St, Chatswood NSW 2067 & Condamine Street, Brookvale NSW 2100
⏰ Both venues are open 8am-4pm, every day
13. Page Two, Randwick
Their cold-pressed juices go down a treat on a hot summer’s day, and the umbrella canopy in their outdoor space will go down a treat on socials. Besides that, Page Two take their coffee pretty seriously, and brunch dishes such as the Dukkah Egg or the sweet-and-savoury Golden Morning will set you up beautifully for the day.
📍 122 Belmore Road, Randwick NSW 2031
⏰ Open 6am-5pm, every day
14. The Botanica, Vaucluse
With its own farm-to-table menu and gin, The Botanica is an elegant, feminine brunch spot and a proper luxe dining experience. Its popular pink chairs set against a contrast of green and white give it a very classy and refined feel. It’s the perfect spot for a brunch date with your friends, a bachelorette party or a team catch-up. As one of the prettiest cafés in Sydney, make sure you snap a picture or two.
📍 2 Laguna Street, Vaucluse NSW 2030
⏰ Open 12-5pm (Fri), 9am-10pm (Sat), 9am-5pm (Sun). Closed Mon-Thu.
15. The Mayflower, Darlinghurst
With its gorgeous pink walls, overhead hanging foliage and floral displays, The Mayflower is the picture-perfect brunch spot. The overall aesthetic is neat and feminine and the food is lovely too (both to eat and to take pictures of). There’s also a wall displaying digital art and several immersive elements you can use to step up your grid. Check out their menu here.
📍 2/303A Liverpool Street, Darlinghurst NSW 2010
⏰ Open 7am-3:30pm, every day
16. Lil Miss Collins, Parramatta and Burwood
A powerhouse of the west (though it won’t be alone in that for long), Lil Miss Collins’ duo of cafes charm with rustic décor and floral touches. Equally good is the Collins Benny, a neat riff on the classic brunch dish with a punchy pineapple and chilli salsa. The Burwood branch is handily placed for a Westfield shop, whilst the Parramatta venue has more of a lazy Sunday vibe.
📍 13 Wentworth Street, Parramatta NSW 2150 & Level 1/100, Westfield, Burwood Road, Burwood NSW 2134
⏰ Parramatta is open 7:15am-2:30pm, every day. Burwood is open 8:45am-4pm, every day.
17. Roca Café Pink
If you love all things pink, you’ll want to check out Roca Café. The fun and whimsical space is filled with pink-hued accents not just in the décor but in the food and drinks too. There are heaps of Instagrammable elements at the venue; from a pink car to pink lattes and neon signs, the café is begging to be photographed. Check out their equally Instagrammable menu here.
📍 Shop B/362 Rocky Point Road, Ramsgate NSW 2217
⏰ Open 7am-2:30pm, every day except Wednesdays, when it is closed.
18. Bean Sisters Café
Rebranded from Old Garden to Bean Sisters, this is a relatively new space that has taken Instagram by storm. And it’s easy to see why. Their interiors are moody but vivid, with floral, greens and several cute picture-perfect elements spread across the cafe. Whatever your taste in terms of aesthetics, there’s something for everyone here. Check out their equally Instagrammable desserts here, part of a menu that leans into glorious Asian fusion food.
📍 382 Pitt Street, Sydney NSW 2000
⏰ Open 10am-9pm (Sun-Thu), 10am-10pm (Fri-Sat)
19. The Grounds of the City, George Street
If you’ve followed us for a while, you’ll know Secret Sydney is a big fan of The Grounds. Their city venue is one of our go-to spots in the CBD, mixing a blend of old-school charm with cracking food. It’s even gained a new level of fame recently, having made a cameo appearance in big Hollywood rom-com Anyone But You – apt, given our own love affair with the place.
📍 Shop RG 12/500 George Street, Sydney NSW 2000
⏰ Open 7am-9pm (Mon-Fri), 8am-9:30pm (Sat), 8am-5pm (Sun)
20. Concrete Jungle Café, Chippendale
For interior design and plant lovers, the Concrete Jungle Café located in the heart of Chippendale is your new go-to. It ticks practically all the boxes: divine food, brilliant aesthetics and an overall great dining experience. The chic café boasts everything from French toast to hot cakes, smoothies, rice bowls, burgers and more.
📍 15 Kensington Street, Chippendale NSW 2008
⏰ Open 8am-3pm (Mon-Fri), 8am-3:30pm (Sat-Sun)
21. Parlour Cucina, CBD, Market Street
Do you love a 1920 style décor and a well-thought-out food and drink menu? A welcome break from the hustle and bustle of the business district, this stylish European-style space offers a hearty menu and an excellent vintage vibe that’s hard to beat. This one’s a classic you should definitely visit.
📍 49 Market Street, Sydney NSW 2000
⏰ Open 7am-10pm (Sun-Wed), 7am-1am (Thu-Sat)
22. Skittle Lane, King Street
When it comes to Sydney cafés, Skittle Lane is a coffee lovers’ paradise. With its own unique seasonal blend, this is a regular haunt for coffee enthusiasts. But the café itself is lovely too. The space boasts natural light streaming in from all corners and a chic, modern décor. Neat and uncluttered, with knowledgeable baristas, it’s easily one of our favourite cafés in Sydney’s CBD. Their other cafes can be found in Circular Quay, Bondi, and Manly.
📍 40 King Street, Sydney NSW 2000
⏰ Open 7am-4pm (Mon-Fri)
23. White Rabbit Teahouse, Chippendale
A visit to the White Rabbit Gallery is incomplete without a stop at their beautiful teahouse. With a number of birdcages adorning the ceiling, the teahouse is a great spot to indulge in dumplings and snacks while enjoying its wide variety of teas. Right next to the teahouse, you’ll also find the gallery’s shop, so it’s a real all-in-one space to spend a weekend at, especially if there’s an art exhibition that catches your eye.
📍 30 Balfour Street, Chippendale NSW 2008
24. MISC., Parramatta
A stylish day to night joint out west, MISC. invites you to build your breakfast through menu sections: A Bit of This features hickory-smoked bacon, fresh hummus, and morning greens, whilst A Bit of That offers hotcakes, arepas, toasties, and more. It’s an endlessly customisable breakfast feast perfectly suited to a place that describes itself lovingly as ‘a mixed bag’, but whatever you end up with, you’re likely to leave very content.
📍 Little Coogee, Parramatta Park, Byrnes Avenue, Parramatta NSW 2150
⏰ Open 11am-3pm (Mon-Tue), 11am-3pm & 5:30-9:30pm (Wed-Fri), 8-11:30am, 12-3pm, & 5:30-9:30pm (Sat), 8-11:30am & 12-3pm (Sun)
25. Maggio’s, Cammeray
Judged to serve the best cheesecake in town, according to one Secret Sydney insider, Maggio’s offers Italian fare for all hours of the day. The pastries are light and flaky, the brunch dishes are comforting and filling, and the gelato is near-unbeatable when the Australian heat starts to sizzle the city streets. Back to that cheesecake: just go for it, no matter how full you are.
📍 457 Miller Street, Cammeray NSW 2062
⏰ Open 6am-4pm (Mon-Fri), 6am-3pm (Sat-Sun)
26. Paramount Coffee Project, Surry Hills
Just on the fringes of the CBD sits sleek, industrial chic hangout Paramount Coffee Project. Unsurprisingly, coffee is king here, but the café offers an excellent all day menu. The chicken and waffles stand out, but the baked eggs served with red salsa, tonkatsu sauce, Aleppo pepper and almonds, topped off with your choice of labneh or pork sausage, is a real treat.
📍 80 Commonwealth Street, Surry Hills NSW 2010
⏰ Open 7am-4pm, every day
27. Happyfield, Haberfield
When in doubt, get the eggs; Happyfield does them as good as anyone in town. Still, you can’t go too much wrong with a pancake stack or brekkie burger at this sunny diner, where the mugs are as golden as their scrambled eggs, and the vibes are always good. The diner scooped the ‘Café of the Year‘ title from SMH Good Food in 2023, so check it out before the queues get too long…
📍 Corner of Ramsay Street & Dalhousie Street, Haberfield NSW
⏰ Open 7:30am-3:30pm, every day
28. Circa Espresso, Parramatta
Achingly stylish (their Instagram page is *chef’s kiss*), and squeezed neatly into a compact space on Wentworth Street, Circa Espresso delivers out of all proportion. This tiny spot does a steady trade in excellent coffee and perfectly-laminated pastries, but we’d advise you to stick around for the brunch and lunch options. Our suggestion? Get the Ottoman Eggs with crumbed eggplant and garlic labneh: it’s their signature dish for a reason.
📍 21 Wentworth Street, Parramatta NSW 2150
⏰ Open 7am-2:30pm (Mon-Fri), 8am-2:30pm (Sat-Sun)
29. kurumac, Marrickville
Amongst cult cafes in Sydney, kurumac boasts a devoted following that make it one of the most hyped spots on this list. The name means ‘cool mac’ in Japanese, and that shines through in the sleek, minimalist design of the venue, as well as the cafe’s enviable lineup of comfort food and top-notch coffee. Bring a book or a friend, and revel in a slower pace of living as you while away the morning.
📍 107 Addison Road, Marrickville NSW 2204
⏰ Open 7am-2:30pm, every day
30. The Grounds of Alexandria, George Street
Not to use the word fabulous loosely but that’s exactly what The Grounds is. It is probably one of the most Instagrammable cafes in Sydney, with so many picture-perfect elements spread across the venue that it’s almost dizzying. Night or day, there’s always something magical going on, including their seasonally-changing makeovers. Food, drinks, eccentric themes and myriad photo opportunities, believe us, you will want to visit this one.
📍 7a/2 Huntley Street, Alexandria NSW 2015, Australia
⏰ Open 7am-9pm (Mon-Fri), 7:30am-9pm (Sat-Sun)