Sub-Station Cafe, Alexandria

I’ve driven past this place so many times, but it’s strangely hard to get to since you can’t just pull up out front and the street parking in this semi-industrial location seems to fill up with semi-industrial vehicles. But inside the disused shell of Electricity Substation No. 152, Sub-Station Cafe is like a wonderfully refurbished little oasis, with the side […]

Cafe Blossom, Chatswood

You don’t go to Cafe Blossom for the coffee or the food – you go there because it’s right next to a huge indoor playground. The location is everything, and Cafe Blossom isn’t bad enough to force you to go somewhere else for anything better. With run-of-the-mill Mama Kaz banana bread and a coffee that was neither here nor there, […]

Elbow Room, Chatswood

Elbow Room used to be my local a very long time ago. They had a cool chef who was unusually good at executing homely cafe fare with a slight twist of elegance. I was pleased (and also slightly disappointed – I liked the guy) to see that he was still here after so many years. As well as having a […]

Mint Tea & Rosewater, Killarney Heights

Ah, I knew there was somewhere nice that would hit the spot whenever I head up to Killarney Heights, and it’s been right here under my nose for years! The coffee was head-noddingly smooth and flavourful. And the home-baked banana bread was really next level – bursting with fresh banana flavour and honey overtones rather than an excess of sugar […]

Cafe 101, Alexandria

Cafe 101 wouldn’t be my first choice for a cafe outing. For a start, it’s inside the Alexandria Homemaker Centre, but I guess I’m a homemaker, so here I am. The coffee was not well executed. I burnt my tongue first, then tasted that thick overboiled milk flavour. The banana bread was kinda ok, in theory. It had the right […]

Petty Cash Cafe, Marrickville

This place is very, very Marrickvilley. Walk up the pride rainbow, through the front door, into your Grandma’s kitchen, if your Grandma’s a human rights activist. The decor is a retro wonder to behold, complete with authentic Australiana. I’m no longer sure whether I want a coffee or a tinnie… I’m here at 10am and feel like either would be […]

Brudo’s Coffee, Circular Quay

We don’t talk about Brudo, no, no, no. But we do talk about Brudo’s cute little coffee cart down by the water at Circular Quay. I broke my flat white standard and ordered their signature “Hot Brudo”: a double-ristretto piccolo. I figured if they can’t get their featured drink right then they sure won’t be serving a decent flat white […]