Sydney Walking

The Best Cafes In Sydney Where Are They?
© David Newton
2/12/08

There are many places around Sydney that can tempt and tantalize your taste buds and some really nice places you can visit to simply relax time away.

Let’s Start Near The Harbour Bridge

At Kirribilli near to the Milsons Point Rail Station is a café called Freckle Face at Burton St. Its quite tiny let me tell you, but it’s a nice place you can relax without being too far away from the Sydney Harbour Bridge itself and the Bradfield Park.

Still staying on the Lower North Shore and not too far away is Café Mia at Blue St, North Sydney. The service is simple and the tables are easy to use to place your work on and use your laptop. Down at Mount St is another cool café called Café Pronto – in fact both of these places have power sockets for laptop users.

Now not to get too far away from the harbour again – if you get the Neutral Bay ferry from Circular Quay, over to Hayes St Wharf, you encounter the Thelma and Louise Café at the Wharf. It holds a lot of charm as you are smack on the waters edge.

Then if you got back on the bus outside the café at Neutral Bay Wharf, and got off at the top of Wycombe Road next to Military Road and walked over at the traffic lights you’d be at Theos Arcade, which is where The Il Paradisso Café is located. It sits looking over the Woolworth’s Carpark. A wonderful place to meet up with friends and do your reading.

At Crows Nest are some great cafes. While the area has generally gone downhill as far as restaurants go, there is still a glimmer of hope with two cafes newly located there.

Opposite the Crows Nest Community Center is Bean Drinking – a mini specialist coffee shop with inviting décor and a good selection of coffees on their choice list.

Around the corner at 90 Willoughby Road is one of my pet favorites – Coffee Culture – a stylish café with plenty of seating, free broadband wifi and most importantly; power sockets for your laptop something harder to find at cafes these days. The service is attentive and the staff friendly you’ll love this place and it makes an easy place for meeting friends. www.coffeeculture.net.au

Now if you went right back into the city, you’ll find a lot on offer there too. At Circular Quay near the Opera House lives the Guylian Chocolate Café a similar one is at The Rocks only a short walk away.

Maybe one of the busiest cafes at the harbour is the City News Café and its open almost all the time. So if you need a meeting and want a place that’s always there City News would be the spot to meet at.

If you go over to George Street near the corner of Alfred St, you’ll see the Four Seasons Hotel, walk inside and the Marble Café is a great place to be. Wonderful lounges, often there’s piano music and a singer sometimes too. It’s some affordable luxury in a busy city.

Fancy A View Of The City?

After 5pm you can visit The Summit Restaurant at Australia Square and simply enjoy a cuppa and soak up the views of the city. Likewise you can go to The Shangri La Hotel on Cumberland Street and go up 32 floors to see the views there its mind blowing what you’ll see of our great city.

Also another great café is on the concourse spanning from David Jones Store to Centerpoint which has lovely service and a great menu.

Want A Break From The City?

Over at Double Bay you can enjoy the simple life and really top service. If you want to scan your eyes over the fashions and maybe a power lunch, here’s the spot.

Two notable cafes are there, Bee Dees at Knox Street and a wonderful café at the Blackburn Cove Swimming area. Both of these locations are open almost every day of the year. Oh and wear something nice, it’s a dressy location.

Also out of the city is Manly. Grab a ferry from the city if you like. Out on the Manly North Head is a café (near Lady Fairfax Walk) called North Fort Café – the views here are worth the effort to get there.

If you don’t wish to go that far, try going to some of the cafes along the Esplanade and try a walk to Shelly Beach while you’re there.

Further up the Northern Beaches you’ll come to Dee Why – if you go to The Strand there is a vast assortment of cafes overlooking the beach front. On weekends its busy, it’s best to there during the week and to enjoy it at a slower pace.