First Year Wrap Up

Well, it’s been a fun and fattening year, during which I’ve really gotten to know the good, the bad and the ugly (literally) of the Newtown cafe scene, and beyond! So let’s look at the stats. I’ve visited 138 cafes over the past year. I’m pretty proud of that effort. Overall, this is what I found: Coffee Banana Bread 34% […]

Els & Co Bakehouse, Newtown

I just happened to be visiting a friend at the Flourmill Studios, otherwise I never would have found this place. Tucked away down Gladstone St (think behind Young Henry’s), Els & Co is very off the beaten track and seems to primarily cater to nearby workers. The decor was a strange mix of bamboo and fake jungle leaves, with mismatched […]

Ariana’s Place, Newtown

I got a kick out of the advertising for this place. The flyer was in an envelope addressed “To our special friends on PHILLIP STREET, ENMORE” which is not only a little over-the-top, but also not even close to my address. Inside the envelope, the flyer was a dramatic open-the double-doors fold-out thing referring to the cafe as a “unique […]

Tokyo Lamington, Newtown

Black Star Pastry and N2 Extreme Gelato have had a lovechild and she is stunning. I first stumbled upon Tokyo Lamington in late 2020 when it was a pop-up in Market City and loved the seamless fusion of iconic Aussie food and delicate Japanese style. Now, its particular blend of alternative, cool and professional fits perfectly into the Newtown cafe […]

Wolf & Honeybee, Newtown

Here I am, right in the middle of what I’d consider to be Marrickville, and yet across the road I can see the Wolf & Honeybee, a little cafe on the far west border of Newtown with, unsurprisingly, very Marrickvilley vibes. There were cool murals on the wall both inside and out. The service was homely, the locals were friendly […]

Juniper & Rye, Newtown

Well well well, what a pleasant surprise! Didn’t think I’d find someone like you here, Juniper & Rye. Newtown is just full of surprises. This little micro bakery is a little off the beaten track, and yet hidden in plain sight in the middle of Alice St. I’ve probably driven past it a hundred times without realising it was there, […]

Garden Lounge, Newtown

This place reminds me so much of Black Books. Part bookstore, part art gallery and part Vinnies, I’m pretty sure the shop is the owner’s loungeroom, the cafe is his kitchenette and his stuff is for sale simply because there’s a lot of it and the front door happens to open onto the eclectic vintage retail stretch of south King […]

Sweet Lu, Newtown

Sweet Lu is a Taiwanese dessert cafe, so I wasn’t really expecting a classic flat white and banana bread. The service was excellent, and given that my friendly barista this morning was very, very not Taiwanese, she knew a lot about their products, and was an excellent barista to boot. She took pride in recommending the Reuben croissant and she […]

The End of King, Newtown

Oooh, looks like there’s someone new in town… The End of King looks fantastic and I only just found out it was here! There was some good music pumping and fun vibes happening, with a big rustic counter covered with a big rustic display of phenomenal baked goods. But sadly, amongst it all, no banana bread! I opted for a […]