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 […]
Elbow Room, Chatswood
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 […]
Le Parisien, Killarney Heights
Le Parisien is not the picturesque image of quaint, countryside France they think it is. The decor is old and tired. There’s lace where it doesn’t belong. The baked goods in the glass counter look like sad little French cliches. The serviette dispensers all have a strip of bright contact covering them in pink-trimmed pictures of cakes. They do bake […]
The Coop, Bronte
From the moment you walk through the door, Coop is a delight to behold. It starts with a huge, open beachfront view, then there’s art on the walls, dried bunches of “wild botanicals”, a book entitled “Rock Pools of Sydney”, dogs, bikinis, vibrant juices and a bookshelf lined with colourful natural wines and an assortment of craft beers. Even the […]
Cafe Queenz, Ultimo
All that’s visible from the outside is a little door on a constantly busy and noisy Harris St corner, but inside is like a little haven. There was smooth jazz playing, leather lounges, slabs of wood with black steel trim. Lovely. The coffee was delicious: a nice, well-executed Toby’s Estate blend, almost as good as the one I got from […]
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 […]
Gazzi, Tramsheds
I was down at Federal Park today because of the sandpit, so that meant my coffee and banana bread had to come from the Tramsheds. I’d already tried the obvious options out front, Butcher and the Farmer and Garcon Spritz Bar, so I wandered inside looking for another option and found Gazzi, a casual Mediterranean restaurant/cafe. It looked okay, and […]