Ever confronted by the overwhelming presence of the City and does it ever leave you, say, wanting somewhere to retreat? This is exactly what the trendy Surry Hills café Kawa allows you to do. The chic hipster feel is expressed in both the small space it occupies on the vast Crown St as well as the modern homeliness of its décor. But what makes Kawa unique is its cosmic departure from the sterile nature of most cafés; it is the renaissance of Surry Hills eateries and coffee houses, reaffirming that the two principal ingredients to a great café are a disarming yet unperturbed atmosphere, great coffee and yummy food.
Potential patrons will be in want of neither. Renowned for its artisan baristas who relish in crafting divine caffeinated beverages that attract the likes of Russell Crowe, Kawa takes the cake when it comes to coffee. Fortifying one's sense of escape from the masses is easily accomplished by sipping on a flat white, plopping down on some homely furniture outside and smugly watching people walk by. Inevitably, the extended time addictively spent people-watching will leave coffee drinkers with a rumbling belly, however.
Luckily, the skinny jean-clad locals of Surry Hills have been known to transcend various gastronomic conventions such as that of eating breakfast food at breakfast time – and so a heart-warming big breakfast at Kawa will go down a treat any time of the day. Indeed, like the coffees, Kawa's food is a step above competitors', though the price is also a small step up, unlike the coffees. Forking out an extra couple of bucks is well worth it - you'll see that your meal was made with love, as it's hard to think otherwise with such a friendly and concerned staff looking after you, not to mention the deliciousness of the food. And even if you're not lucky enough to secure a table outdoors, Kawa's interior is a cosy collection of nooks and crannies that maintain the view-à-la-Parisian Café that the outdoor section enjoys.
In many ways, Kawa reflects the trendy yet casual and relaxed attitudes of the local inhabitants. In the end, it's just a café - but not all cafés make you feel like you're in a country cottage in the middle of the city. And by the way, I actually saw Russell Crowe there.
Kawa on a Winter Wednesday Afternoon
Contact Number: (02) 9331 6811
Opening Hours: Daily 8am-5pm
