17 To Book: The Best New Sydney Restaurants, Bars and Cafes To Visit in October

Another month bites the dust in a year that, to me, is speeding through to the end. Pump the brakes in October, savouring new dining experiences at the venues Broadsheet visited in September.

Cream-topped coffees and crunchy-topped pineapple buns near Central, maybe, or natty wines sipped standing around a big communal bench. The Taiwanese doughnuts described by writer Pilar Mitchell as “thunderously crunchy” make a good brekkie wrapped in an egg pancake, and The Carlisle is looking schmick, with a pub menu that’s among the city’s best.

Here are all the details.

• Kiddo Coffee, Surry Hills. Hong Kong coffee culture meets Thai heritage at this new Sydney cafe, where you’ll find extravagant drinks and pineapple buns.

• Burek Brothers, Rockdale. The beloved burek shop is bigger than ever – now with room for Macedonian doughnuts. Go early, they sell out.

• Mishy’s, Surry Hills. This little restaurant has been quietly doing its own thing for three years. It’s adored by a tight-knit group of locals and tourists alike, despite flying under the radar for many Sydney diners.

• Calamansi, Cremorne. A Masterchef alum opens a Southeast Asian wine bar and restaurant just north of the bridge – and people are returning multiple nights a week for the Peranakan-style chicken curry.

• Ayce Coffee, Kogarah. Find coffee brewing on the tray of a vibey little Piaggio Ape, parked up on a block that’s part-industrial, part-residential, with a big sports park that packs out on weekends.

• Eggette, Haymarket. This new spot is for extra-crisp Hong Kong egg waffles filled with choc chips, red bean and classic Hong Kong flavours like Ovaltine, Milo and Horlicks.

• House of Suns, Springwood. This roadside microbakery in the bush pops up one morning each week with caramel layer cakes, passionfruit alfajores and more filling its sunny yellow shelves.

• L’Massif Cave, Surry Hills. This new natural wine bar is inspired by the standing bars of Tokyo and the small team’s appreciation of natural drops. Pop in and pick your colour, then let them do the rest.

• Brothers Ben Atelier, Petersham. Local treasure Brothers Ben has a new sibling on the opposite corner, with cheffy brekkie plates, good coffee and ultra-rich slices of London Cake, an internet-famous choc-caramel layer cake.

• Mother Chu’s Taiwanese Gourmet, Haymarket. Find “thunderously crunchy” Chinese doughnuts and other homestyle classics at this family-run institution. 

• The Heritage Room, CBD. A new wine bar has opened next door to its restaurant counterpart – with a cheesy short rib sandwich on till midnight, and plenty of rare Italian bottles.

• Petit Lapin Patisserie, Kogarah. Find the giant croissant on President Avenue, enter the new spot for golden viennoiserie, silky cheesecakes, little layered mousse cakes and, yes, croissants.

• Carlisle Castle Hotel, Newtown. The Bat and Ball team’s thoughtful revamp of the Sydney boozer is complete. Head in for $20 schnitzels on Monday, live jazz and $15 Martinis on Thursday, and more.

• Razzie’s, CBD. This newcomer is powered by memories of In-N-Out Burger and LA-style chilli dogs. Visit for surprisingly juicy smash burgers and proper chilli con carne.

• Il Baretto, Newtown. The 27-year-old pasta favourite opens a second dining room in the inner west – and the team’s returning to its roots with original recipes, a long-serving chef and classic bowls under $30.

• Sample, Marrickville. The local roaster’s been at it for well over a decade and now has a new roastery, featuring a teeny coffee counter fronted with a raw slab of wood, topped with ready-pour taps and all the coffee gear.

• Miss Sina, Dulwich Hill. These popular cinnamon buns have found a new inner-west home. Plus, there’s a refreshed brunch offering and cream-topped lattes.

Additional reporting by Howard Chen, Dan Cunningham, Ben Hansen, Pilar Mitchell and Bineeta Saha.