The 6 Best Cafes in Ultimo

With students and professionals aplenty, Ultimo forms part of Sydney’s premier educational corridor, and catering to the crowd is a profusion of eateries and cafes that are distinct as the suburb itself. These are the six cafes you need to stop by when next in the neighbourhood.

The Black Groodle

Toted as serving some of the best breakfast in Ultimo, this industrial-chic cafe is all about distinct Middle Eastern flavours. Get your fill of the daily salads, marinated meats, couscous, and savoury pastries, but if you’re stopping by on a Thursday or Friday, look out for their end-of-week special, Knafeh (cheese pastry with sugar syrup).

55 Mountain Street, Ultimo

The Local Mbassy

A 1920s-themed cafe on the corner of Wattle Street, has mastered the art of quirkiness – exposed pipe lighting, antique bike pedal stools and impressive graffiti murals. While the interior is something to ogle at, The Local Mbassy’s most talked about dish, the red velvet pancakes, is something to drool over.

310 Wattle Street, Ultimo

Soma

Sydney’s ode to American-style filter coffee. Soma (formerly known as Mecca Espresso Ultimo), serves up some of the best espressos and filter coffees in the neighbourhood. The team is continually pushing the boundaries of coffee experimentation, and while here, take a look in at the refined food menu.

646 Harris Street, Ultimo

Brainwave Cafe

Sip on ONA coffee and Thai lattes in the homey fitout of vintage couches, an art-gallery-style sitting room and coffee bar. The Brainwave’s fusion menu includes Thai-style burgers, rice porridge with spinach, steak with Thai relish, hot dogs with green curry and hotcakes with sweet banana and pandan sauce.

94/732 Harris Street, Ultimo

The Pigeonhole Cafe

With a mix of upcycled and modern décor, and a menu of artisan coffees, breakfast rolls, Korean-inspired lunches, wines and beers, The Pigeonhole Cafe is a pleasant contradiction that locals flock to. If you’re dining in, their menu is a delight, think breakfast milk buns, spiced ginger muesli and brown rice and mixed grains bowls.

458 Wattle Street, Ultimo

80 Bay

A vintage speakeasy come espresso bar, 80 Bay is a shrine to all things coffee. Booth seating, gold lighting, a sprawling central bar, and impressive glass syphons set the scene for an all-day caffeine indulgence. Toby’s Estate is the bean of choice, order their coffee degustation – three bean varieties served in a syphon.

80 Bay Street, Ultimo