Sydney's
restaurants are known for fine dining and gourmet food usually with an Asian twist. The cafe culture of Sydney is lesser-known, and certainly less famous than
Melbourne's, but there's still plenty of excellent cafes here. If you know which places are good, it's possible to avoid mediocre coffee for the rest of your life. Here are five of the best Sydney cafes, starting with:
At Perry Lane
On Oxford Street in Paddington, At Perry Lane is difficult to find. The entrance is in a laneway next to 264 Oxford Street (Perry Lane, of course), marked by a small sign and two lonely-looking pot plants. The seating is all outdoor-ish on rainy days, they put up a makeshift roof, but most of the time you'll be eating in the sun. The blue-grey walls and creeping vines add to the nature vibe, making At Perry Lane relaxing and comfortable. The coffee is very good, and the brunch menu ranges from old standards big breakfast to more adventurous options, like the poached eggs, wilted spinach, and cumin lentils. Complete with an attached art space, At Perry Lane skirts the limits of pretentious and ends up simply trendy. Definitely worth checking out.
Cafe DOVAt 130 Victoria St, Potts Point,
Cafe DOV is the place to go in Sydney's inner east. It sources its food from local producers (even growing herbs and some vegies itself) for that fresh organic taste. The price is quite reasonable too, considering the quality of the food in fact, Cafe DOV has been described as a fine dining experience disguised as a cafe. Not too thoroughly disguised, though: the "Veal and Ricotta Meat Balls on Pappardelle Pasta in Tomato Sauce" and the "Pan-roasted Blue Eyed Cod with Roast Tomato, Kalamata Olives and picked Basil Salad" should tip a savvy patron off that something's a little fancy here.
Tiger Mottle
Where the magic happens.
At 248 Glenmore Road, Paddington,
Tiger Mottle is first and foremost a coffee shop. Avoid takeaway - the service is a bit too slow - and treat yourself to an always smooth sit-down brew. Their secret? Using a double ristretto in place of an espresso shot. It uses more coffee grounds, but gives a smoother taste and drastically lowers the risk of an overly-bitter shot. Tiger Mottle is best visited in winter, when the fireplace is roaring and there's freshly-baked gingerbread available. Try their Maple Mottle a double ristretto poured over double cream and a shot of maple syrup laced with chilli, topped with dark chocolate shavings. Decadent and delicious.
Cafe Morso
The greenest peas you'll ever eat.
On the Jones Bay Wharf,
Cafe Morso is probably the Sydney cafe with the best views. Sip a coffee overlooking the Sydney Harbour or appreciate the historic value of Jones Bay Wharf. Hampers and gift vouchers are available, and they'll cater to within a 1km radius (including vegetarian and gluten-free dishes). This is the best place to book out for an event they'll personally tailor a menu to suit your tastes, and the dining room is under a beautiful chandelier. Groups of up to 50 guests can recieve a 3-4 course sit down menu, and if you want to host more people than that, Cafe Morso can offer canape menus.
Bitton Gourmet Cafe
Has bacon ever looked crispier?
At 36 Copeland St, Alexandria,
Bitton Gourmet Cafe is a cafe with a personality. Parisian-born David Bitton runs the place, walking around chatting to customers and serving up what is probably the best all-day breakfast in Sydney. Unlike, say, Cafe Morso, Bitton Gourmet Cafe is child-friendly, which is important for a cafe that caters to tired families. One caveat although Bitton Gourmet Cafe offers gluten-free menu choices, be careful. The kitchen has a bad habit of forgetting them (or accidently spilling gluten-packed breadcrumbs over a finished dish.) Regardless, David Bitton's cafe is an excellent place for a relaxed breakfast.
What are your picks for the best cafes in Sydney? Share them in the comments we'd love to hear from you.
