Much to the delight of coffee fiends and brunch-loving Instagram addicts, there's always a new café swinging open its doors in Sydney, each with its own unique twist to make it stand out from the crowd. From trendy newcomers to long-standing local haunts spreading their wings across the city, here's our handpicked edit of the best new cafés in Sydney. These brunch spots are so worth queuing up for.
Best New Cafes in Sydney
Hester's
Hester's is the perfect spot for a morning coffee pick-me-up in the heart of the city, serving up Gabriel coffee, classic breakfast dishes, and moreish home-baked pastries. Come lunchtime it is a more refined affair with Hester's curated afternoon menu. Enjoy a range of Mediterranean-inspired dishes including – seared tuna niçoise, wood-fired chicken club and crumbed snapper – paired with a glass of something vintage. Yum!
60 Carrington Street, Wynyard
The Mayflower
Located in the heart of Darlinghurst Sydneysiders will find The Mayflower. This once 90s Art Deco florist has now been transformed into a lush café featuring elegant interiors and a carefully curated menu of fine foods. Open for breakfast and lunch, you'll find caviar and truffle are the stars of the menu. Diners can enjoy the likes of crudités with yoghurt, macadamia, dukkha, parsley oil, pickled vegetable, Truffle bucatini served with Parmigiano Reggiano and shaved black winter truffle, and kingfish sashimi served with pomelo, nori paste and dashi. Delicious!
If you can't make it during the day, then pop by in the evening to enjoy their dinner offering. Their new menu features dishes such as kingfish sashimi with orange ponzu, and tuna tartare with watermelon and citrus soy dressing. We recommend bringing a group so that you get to try as much on the menu as possible.
2/303A Liverpool Street, Darlinghurst
Black Star Pastry CBD
Sydney's most Instagrammed cake has a new home in The Galeries. The new white store façade peels back to reveal Black Star’s iconic range of cakes. The store takes design cues from the turning page of a book - a nod to Black Star’s original CBD home in the Kinokuniya Bookstore, and to the new chapter in Black Star’s Sydney story.
Did we mention they also have a brand new cake? The new Chocolate Mirage cake is definitely going to become one of your new sweet treat go-to's. Inspired by a desert sunrise, the decadent cake features several chocolatey layers including a chocolate and roasted hazelnut dacquoise base, salted caramel and puffed cacao rice streusel layer, a flourless chocolate sponge, dark chocolate cremeux and is topped with a light chocolate mousse. Yum!
So pop in, pick up a cake, and don't forget to get an Instaworthy snap of the store while you're there!
The Galeries, Ground Floor Shop 26/500 George Street, Sydney
Tokyo Lamington
Born in 2019, Tokyo Lamington takes the humble Australian icon and turns it on its head; marrying the well-loved dessert with modern Japanese colour and spirit. These untraditional lamingtons were originally only found in Singapore and Tokyo, but following a successful collaboration with KokoBlack, Tokyo Lamington has launched its flagship Australian store in Market City.
The dessert brand isn’t just doing a traditional take on the quintessentially Aussie chocolate- and coconut-covered cake. Instead, the sponge gets an international makeover with iterations in pandan, ube, lemon myrtle, black sesame, matcha and milk tea. And, we'll take one of each!
Market City - Level 3, 9 Hay Street, Haymarket
KitKat Chocolatory
Sydneysiders can now have a break like never before, as KitKat has just launched their new KitKat Chocolatory in Mid City Sydney. Offering a range of personalised, premium chocolate experiences, you can do everything from creating your own KitKat, to tasting signature desserts from the KitKat Chocolate Train and picking up an exclusive KitKat flavour. Cotton Candy KitKat, anyone?
Mid City Sydney, 54/197 Pitt Street, Sydney
Loved Our Pick of the Best New Cafes in Sydney? You May Also Like...
Gram
Japanese cult chain store, Gram Café & Pancakes, has just opened its first Australian store in Sydney’s Chatswood Interchange and is set to become one of the best new cafés in Sydney. Sydneysiders will now be able to get a taste of the much-loved soufflé pancakes that have been lighting up Instagram feeds far and wide. The coveted pancakes, which are as light and soft as clouds, come stacked three pancakes high and drizzled with syrup. Now, that’s our kind of breakfast.
Chatswood Interchange
Old Gold
Known as one of Sydney’s best coffee roasters, Sample Coffee now boasts a chic new Chippendale outpost. Old Gold, a nod to the chocolatier that used to occupy the space, is equal parts modern and industrial, taking style queues from the building’s history; think recycled furnishings and exposed brick. Open Monday to Friday, be sure to pair your coffee with their zucchini bruschetta. If you have a sweet tooth, the sour cherry bagel is guaranteed to hit the spot.
1 Dangar Street, Chippendale
Annexe, Flour and Stone
Sitting pretty just down the road from popular sister venue Flour and Stone, Annexe is the famed Woolloomooloo baker’s newest shop front. Serving up the all the cherished classics Sydneysiders know and love ̶ from buttery croissants to spongy lamingtons ̶ you’ll no longer need to stand in line to get your hands on their famous sweet treats. This takeaway joint will have you served and satisfied in a flash.
43 Riley Street, Woolloomooloo
Best New Cafes in Sydney: February
Lox in a Box
This North Bondi Jewish deli has got all your bagel needs covered. A quaint hole-in-the-wall with real chutzpah, expect traditional bagel flavours peppered with some fun, modern twists. We have it on good authority that the signature lox bagel is a must-try, and the whipped cream cheese schmear is seasoned with lemon, dill and shallots to give it a bit of kick. What’s not to love?
Shop 2/96 Glenayr Avenue, North Bondi
Madame & Yves
To fill your pastry cravings, head down to Clovelly and stock up at Madame & Yves. From patisserie treats to creamy gelato, there is a sweet treat for everyone. Whether it is a post-swim visit or a lazy weekend brunch, it's always the right time to devour their salted caramel éclairs.
343-345 Clovelly Road, Clovelly
Dine & Dezerts
Ever wanted to skip breakfast and just get straight to the dessert? You’re in luck. You can now satisfy your sweet tooth at Brighton Le Sands’ Dine & Dezerts – a haven for dreamy dessert decadence. No matter your sweet vice, Dine & Dezerts will be sure to fulfil all of your sugary fantasies, serving up delectable desserts by the dozen. From pancakes, waffles, and crepes, to fondue, dessert pizzas, French toast, and all of the cake varieties you could ever imagine, the folks down at Dine & Dezerts will make sure you roll out of their establishment on a sugar high.
373 Bay Street, Brighton Le Sands
Best New Cafes in Sydney: January
Soul Brew Café
Newtown’s Soul Brew is a little hole-in-the-wall café paying homage to lost legends of the music scene and fast becoming one of the best new cafés in Sydney. With murals of Kurt Cobain, Jimi Hendrix and Amy Winehouse adorning the walls, alongside other infamous 27 Club members, Soul Brew delivers a soulful café experience. The menu offers up familiar favourites with a South-East Asian twist – bringing various flavours from passed down family recipes. Be sure to try our favourite, the chilli scrambled eggs served with a lightly battered softshell crab. Add a side of signature fries drowned in house-made satay sauce and Tom Yum salt and you’re in business.
243 Australia Street, Newtown
St. Aubaine
The latest Insta-worthy brunch spot to open its doors in Pyrmont. Serving up artfully plated brunch fare with a side of rainforest, this tropical garden oasis is decked out with flowers as far as the I can see. With esteemed interior designer, Anna Wang at the helm, the new café is fit out with a vibrantly coloured floral wall, hanging plants, leafy palms, a garden ceiling and all of the rainforest vibes you could ever want.
While the rainforest aesthetic is a whole Instagram vibe, the food is equally worthy of a close-up. The menu is succinct, offering up eight brunch dishes to choose from that take contemporary Australian cuisine and add a vibrant pop of colour. You can’t go past St Aubaine’s signature dish - a vivid red ruby rose breakfast panna cotta served with berry mascarpone, chocolate crumble, seasonal berries, popping candy, paillete feuilletine (pastry crunch) and rose syrup. Delicious!
Shop 92/ 732 Harris Street, Pyrmont
PeanutButterLove
Delicious and healthy, Manly’s newest café and dessert bar takes their peanut butter very seriously. PeanutButterLove is a loving ode to everyone’s favourite crunchy, smooth and nutty spread. Free from sugar, dairy, and gluten, this paleo and vegan friendly joint serves up everything from smoothies and bowls, to ice cream and cheesecake. Better still, take your furry friend along and they'll get a free dog-friendly cookie!
13 Market Lane, Manly
Has this list of the best new cafés in Sydney inspired you to explore the coffee scene? Don't stop at this round-up. You can check out our favourite cafés across Sydney, from Alexandria and Manly, to Surry Hills and Ultimo. Looking for a productive café? We have discovered Sydney's best café offices that offer delectable breakfast eats with a side of wifi. Design lovers, we haven't forgotten you! Sydney is also home to a plethora of cafés with beautiful interiors that will spark your Insta-dreams.
