sydney Takeaway Spots
Kaska Eatery
DARLINGHURST
This modern neighbourhood cafe has an old soul, serving up classic brunches with top-tier Sydney produce. Come for an outstanding ploughman’s board or a three-cheese toastie, and stick around for Mecca coffee served any way you like.
Bourke Street Bakery
SURRY HILLS
These days Bourke Street Bakery has outposts by the baker’s dozen. But this much-loved corner site is where it all started. Tip-top sourdough, award-winning pies and value-packed sandwiches are the main attractions.
Espresso Bar by Paper Cup
LILYFIELD
A quiet espresso bar with a short, sharp menu.
Gelato Messina
DARLINGHURST
With locations all over the country (and one in Hong Kong), Sydney-born Messina is the definition of a runaway success story. Despite the scale; the flavours, the quality of ingredients and the exacting attention to detail have, if anything, improved over the years. It even uses milk from its own dedicated jersey farm in rural Victoria.
Rosso Pomodoro
BALMAIN
The golden rule at this neighbourhood pizzeria? No half-and-half. It’s the same story at its Bondi sibling, where you’ll find a similar selection of red, white and vegan pizzas made in true Napoli style. There’s also a big focus on antipasti, and Negroni served nine different ways.
About Life
BONDI JUNCTION
Each of these minimarkets is packed with organic, ethical and biodynamic groceries and diet-friendly takeaway meals.
Black Star Pastry Newtown
NEWTOWN
Home to the famous strawberry-watermelon cake.
Cafe Giulia
CHIPPENDALE
Filling Abercrombie Street's cafe void.
Spice I Am
SURRY HILLS
This slamming Thai institution has all the classics you know. Plus, a hardcore Thai following to rival the corporates and students dropping in for an affordable lunch and dinner.
Kawa
SURRY HILLS
A charming place to enjoy fresh local ingredients and alfresco dining on one of Sydney’s favourite streets.
The Source
MOSMAN
Excellent coffee roastery and expresso bar.
Porch and Parlour
NORTH BONDI
A classic beachside all-rounder, from morning to night.
Pastizzi Cafe
NEWTOWN
Visit this slamming Maltese eatery for big bowls of pasta and flaky, addictive pastizzi (savoury pastries). After moving from its original South King Street digs, it’s now three times the size – but remains an essential Newtown venue.
Sonoma Bakery
GLEBE
It's more than likely you will have eaten – or at least heard of – Sonoma. Its sourdough is the loaf of choice for many cafes, delis and providores across Sydney. We’ve usually got one on the go, too.
Barefoot Coffee Traders
MANLY
A simple and relaxed menu offering homemade waffles and coffee to compliment.
York Lane
SYDNEY
A tiny cafe and bar tucked away behind Wynyard Station.
Corduroy
SURRY HILLS
A specialty espresso bar in the most unlikely of spaces.
The Bunker
DARLINGHURST
A carefully considered hole-in-the-wall cafe.
Paper Cup
STANMORE
A relaxed little cafe from the man behind Clipper, Clover and Piccolo Padre.
Klink Handmade Espresso
SYDNEY
A coffee oasis in the city.
Gusto
BONDI
A local institution that's been going for more than two decades.
Latteria
DARLINGHURST
A busy hole-in-the-wall cafe.
Marlowe's Way
SYDNEY
A quirky cafe with its own unique house blend by Little Marionette.
Infinity Bakery
SYDNEY
A purist sourdough bakery with a cult following.
Shenkin Erskineville
ERSKINEVILLE
If it's not made with love, Shenkin won't make it.
Deluca Specialty Coffee
BANKSMEADOW
A cafe all about the coffee.
The Bogey Hole Cafe
BRONTE
A simple beachside cafe with cracking views.
Shenkin Espresso Bar
NEWTOWN
Fudgy brownies and great coffee on the go.
Gumshara
HAYMARKET
The home of the richest, most unctuous tonkotsu ramen in town. Owner Mori Higashida rips through 300 kilograms of fresh pork bones every day to make his soup, which has been hailed by Dan Hong as the “most hectic” in Australia.
Fix Cafe
CROWS NEST
Side-street nook coffee fix.
Gochiso
WILLOUGHBY
A feast of traditional Japanese dishes.
The Lab Cafe
SYDNEY
A coffee nook in the bustling city arcade to get your perfect daily fix.
Fernside Coffee Shoppe
REDFERN
A pleasant spot to while away an hour or two with a Campos coffee.
La Piadina
BONDI
A tiny eatery specialising in piadinas, the Italian version of gozleme.
Chica Bonita
MANLY
This rustic little bolthole, hidden in a Manly back alley, is one of the seaside suburb's most popular and enduring eateries. We can see why. The laid-back atmosphere belies just how seriously this team take their food.
Lyons Raw
DRUMMOYNE
Buttery egg and bacon pies and fine coffee.
Chapter One Coffee & Wine Room
BONDI
A beach nook tucked up off the main Bondi drag.
Armchair Collective
MONA VALE
Cafe in a lifestyle store, or vice versa.
Eugene's
WAVERLY
A beachside cafe full of reclaimed details.
Frank’s Bar
AVALON BEACH
A day-to-night cafe and bar tucked away in an arcade.
Kujin
ELIZABETH BAY
Izakaya-style teppanyaki and noodle bar.
Vesbar Espresso
MARRICKVILLE
Cute corner cafe in the coffee hub of Marrickville.
Vacanza Surry Hills
SURRY HILLS
Vacanza embodies the Italian “less is more” approach to pizza. There’s a neat list of pies, a calzone for good measure, plus a dedicated mozzarella bar brimming with imported Italian cheeses. Need we say more?
Coffee Tea & Me Potts Point
POTTS POINT
An even smaller version of Redfern's favourite hole-in-the-wall.
Vacanza Bronte
BRONTE
Simply great pizza by the beach.
Ichi Ban Boshi
SYDNEY
It’s mostly about the ramen at this Japanese noodle house.
Cow & The Moon
ENMORE
This family run gelato bar was crowned the world's best back in 2014. Years on, it's still one of Sydney's best – and most popular – spots for gelato.
The Brewery Espresso Bar
SYDNEY
A split-level coffee bar serving sandwiches and sweets.
Fleetwood Macchiato
ERSKINEVILLE
Housemade everything and seasonal coffee from the city’s best roasters.
The Italian Bar Pizza
WILLOUGHBY
Traditional food made with modern, diet-friendly ingredients.
TopHat Coffee Merchants
CLOVELLY
TopHat Coffee Merchants brings specialty espresso to Sydney’s eastern beaches with an engaged coffee experience and the return of the jaffle.
Gather on the Green
CAMPERDOWN
As friendly and local as cafes come.
Kepos Street Kitchen
REDFERN
Combines the best of Mediterranean and Middle Eastern cuisines, from breakfast through to dinner.
Sub-Station Cafe
ALEXANDRIA
A summery oasis secretly disguised in a historic substation.
The Fine Food Store
THE ROCKS
A go-to for salad-heavy lunches and wall-to-wall shelves of gourmet bits and pieces.
Ruby’s Diner
WAVERLEY
A coffee haven featuring speciality filter methods and single estate coffee.
Le Caféier
BALMAIN
Simple, earthy Mediterranean.
Café 1812
PADDINGTON
A polished wine bar on the top floor of Berkelouw's Paddington store.
Euforia Espresso
BALMAIN EAST
Indulge in this East Balmain playground serving Mecca coffee, gelato milkshakes and all-day breakfast.
Fourth Village Providore
MOSMAN
A one-stop shop filled with an array of seasonal produce and Italian inspired gourmet products.
Youeni Foodstore Castle Hill
CASTLE HILL
A third offering from the Youeni team.
Cabrito Coffee Traders
SYDNEY
A coffee nook that rejuvenates Sydney's laneways.
Rivareno Gelato
DARLINGHURST
When Rivareno's Darlinghurst location opened, it was the first non-European outpost for this renowned Italian gelati chain. And though it's since spread across Sydney, we think that this one's still the best.
The Roots
NORTH SYDNEY
Real coffee in the North Sydney business district.
Love Supreme
PADDINGTON
Pizza done just right on Oxford Street.
Iggy’s Bread
BRONTE
Not only is Iggy’s where fine-dining restaurants get their bread, it’s also a proving ground for the city’s top baking talent. Sourdough, baguettes, bagels – you name it. The people have been lining up for it for years.
Contessa Balmain
BALMAIN
With coffee from The Grounds, locally sourced produce and perhaps the best French toast in Sydney, what’s not to love about Bar Contessa?
The Wooden Whisk
ST LEONARDS
A two-pronged cafe in a commuter hub, with an Irish slant.
Kürtosh Crows Nest
CROWS NEST
The Hungarian chimney cakes head over the bridge.
Organic Republic Bakery
BONDI
The bread speaks for itself at this wholesome corner bakery.
The Ivanhoe Hotel
MANLY
The Ivanhoe Hotel has been stripped back and spruced up by Sibella Court to feel like a nostalgic beach club with classic red and white lifebuoys and squash rackets.
Marrickville Pork Roll
MARRICKVILLE
Picture a baguette loaded with meat, carrot, pickled daikon, liver pate and coriander stalks. Now add birds-eye chillies so intense they’ll make your eyes water. Now picture a line of banh mi addicts wrapping around the block, hankering for Sydney's most famous banh mi. That’s Marickville Pork Roll.
The Pie Tin Newtown
NEWTOWN
Away from the bustle of King Street, The Pie Tin is pretty clear on its specialty.
Marrickville Organic Market
MARRICKVILLE
A bohemian farmers' market in the yard of a vintage warehouse.
Little Mule Cafe
STANMORE
Campos coffee and a great sandwich menu in Stanmore.
Circa Espresso
PARRAMATTA
Sydney’s narrowest cafe is still going strong after more than a decade, thanks to a Middle Eastern-influenced menu and consistently great coffee. The poached Ottoman eggs are a must order, and a staple since the early days.
The Cook and Baker
BONDI JUNCTION
Old fashioned desserts like doughnuts and Louise Cakes.
Left Bower
SUTHERLAND
A retro-themed cafe selling impeccable Australian-grown coffee.
Pep’s Italian Ice and Panini
EARLWOOD
Hit this suburban dessert shop for a semi-frozen scoop that’s part sorbet, part granita and super popular in New York. Plus, classic Italian panini warmed in the pizza oven.
Batch Burgers & Espresso
KIRRIBILLI
Four Frogs Creperie
SYDNEY
Sweet and savoury crepes made by four Frenchmen.
Gelato Messina Bondi
BONDI
Sydney's famous gelato by the beach.
Yellow
POTTS POINT
Sydney’s first fine-dining restaurant devoted to plants.
Cafe Nookie
SURRY HILLS
Perhaps Sydney’s smallest cafe.
Kafeine
BALMAIN
A cosy little nook in Balmain.
The Lucky Pickle
SURRY HILLS
The fast lunchtime sandwich, perfected.
Kwila
SURRY HILLS
A quiet achiever at the foot of Surry Hills.
Barista Haus
ROCKDALE
Tucked down an unassuming alleyway, this pocket-sized cafe brings a taste of Melbourne coffee culture to Rockdale.
Zeus Street Greek
SYDNEY
Greek street food with a gourmet twist.
Gypsy Espresso
POTTS POINT
For house-roasted coffee and uncomplicated food.
Gypsy Espresso
POTTS POINT
For house-roasted coffee and uncomplicated food.
Hot Star
SYDNEY
Bigger is better.
The Pigeonhole Cafe
ULTIMO
A tiny cafe spreads its wings in Ultimo.
Alpha Food Store
SYDNEY
Greek food go-to, Alpha Restaurant in the CBD, has opened an adjacent Food Store selling street staples.
Alpha Food Store
SYDNEY
Greek food go-to, Alpha Restaurant in the CBD, has opened an adjacent Food Store selling street staples.
Vic’s Meat Market Butcher
PYRMONT
You may double take when you see Wagyu steaks at the fish market, but stop here for a personal and comprehensive meat shopping experience.
Great Aunty Three
SURRY HILLS
A Vietnamese institution in Surry Hills.
Hotel Harry
SURRY HILLS
A traditional Sydney pub with a Central American twist.
Dhakshin
CROWS NEST
This is South Indian with heart and soul in Crows Nest.
Harrys Bondi
BONDI
A family-friendly spot that’s been looking after locals since 1997.
Pilu Kiosk
Freshwater
A casual spin-off by Pilu at Freshwater.
Pilu Kiosk
Freshwater
A casual spin-off by Pilu at Freshwater.
Brew Collective
SYDNEY
A no-nonsense coffee and takeaway-food stop in the business end of town.
Charlotte
BIRCHGROVE
A local cafe has had a make over.
Cross Eatery
SYDNEY
Proof that CBD cafes don't need to be cramped.
Gelateria Gondola
CHATSWOOD
This Chatswood gelateria is run by a pair of Venetian chefs. Come for handmade gelato – the flavours are simple, but beautifully executed every time.
The Boathouse Shelly Beach
SHELLY BEACH
Beachside eating and lingering.
The Boathouse Shelly Beach
SHELLY BEACH
Beachside eating and lingering.
Darband
AUBURN
No-frills Persian meat and rice in Auburn.
Lao Hui Min
BURWOOD
A portal to China's north-west in Burwood.
Queen Margherita of Savoy
CRONULLA
A fastidiously traditional pizzeria that has been awarded Naples’ highest honour.
Vertical Espresso
SOUTH TURRAMURRA
Specialty coffee and small bites in South Turramurra.
Belaroma Coffee Centre
MANLY VALE
Coffee roasting and education on the Northern Beaches.
Belaroma Coffee Centre
MANLY VALE
Coffee roasting and education on the Northern Beaches.
Frank and Blanco
SUTHERLAND
A Mexican tequila bar and restaurant in Sutherland.
Salt Meats Cheese Mosman
MOSMAN
A hybrid pizzeria and cocktail bar.
Mina Bakery
GRANVILLE
Traditional Lebanese pizza – for breakfast.
Kebab Abu Ali
FAIRFIELD
Iraqi flat bread, sumac-encrusted lamb skewers and cardamom tea in Fairfield.
Burger Project
SYDNEY
Fast food meets fine dining, courtesy of Neil Perry.
Brooklyn Bridge Deli
SYDNEY
House cured pastrami, Reubens done by the book and an Oreo with every coffee.
Caysorn
HAYMARKET
A restaurant in Haymarket specialising in southern Thai cuisine.
Chat Thai Haymarket
HAYMARKET
A trailblazer in Sydney’s Thai restaurant scene. When the late, great Amy Chanta opened it in Darlinghurst in 1989, it brought Bankgok flavours that were then-unknown to Sydney diners. The Thai street food here is fine-dining quality, served at very reasonable price points. Today, it’s a super-popular chain with stores all over Sydney.
Aslan Coffee
ST PETERS
Coffee from the Indonesian archipelago is the focus at this cafe in St Peters.
La Paula Continental Cakes and Sandwiches
FAIRFIELD
This Chilean bakery has been making the same empanadas and dulce-de-leche-filled cakes for more than 30 years.
Ayam Goreng 99
KINGSFORD
Cultish popularity and loads of sambal. Expats, students and food explorers make the pilgrimage to Anzac Parade for the Indonesian fare at this institution. Visit for outrageously tender chicken (choose from charcoal or deep-fried options), street-style satays and nasi goreng.
Tandoori Hut
ENMORE
Enmore Road’s perennial late-night Pakistani joint. Newtown kids gravitate towards the excellent tandoori, but past midnight, the taxi driver set fuel up with flash-fried Lahore-style curries and stews ordered off the special menu (the staff write it in biro on the back of a docket).
Baodao Taiwanese Kitchen
SYDNEY SOUTH
Try gwa bao with pork belly, peanut and pickles, or a noodle soup with rich tender strips of beef rib.
Rosso Antico
NEWTOWN
The finest pizza on Emore Road is by a veteran of Sydney’s Italian food scene. Neapolitan tradition is well and truly on show here, along with a tight edit of pastas and a longer list of antipasti. Find it all in an exposed brick space beneath the Urban Hotel in Newtown.
Hello Auntie
MARRICKVILLE
Banh xeo, banh khot, pho and DIY rice paper rolls, a Vietnamese refugee revisits his roots at Hello Auntie.
COOH Alexandria
ALEXANDRIA
COOH Curl Curl Cafe and Roaster brings the wholefood movement into the old Vicinity space in Alexandria.
Hong Ha Bakery
MASCOT
There’s always a line for this Mascot bakery’s excellent banh mi, and it's been that way since 1986. Variations include schnitzel, meatballs and plain chook.
Broth Bar & Larder
BRONTE
Organic, ethical and unprocessed, the cult of bone broth comes to Bronte.
Taipei Chef
ARTARMON
Core Catering
STANMORE
A Stanmore cafe and catering company offering takeout with a twist.
Jardin St James
SYDNEY SOUTH
French garden dining and local coffee underneath Sydney’s oldest church.
Chicken Shop
NEWTOWN
Old-school burgers and rotisserie chicken like you used to get after school.
The Sparrow's Mill
HAYMARKET
Red Pepper and Sparrow Mill serves Korean-style chicken.
Burgers Anonymous
DARLINGHURST
A cafe serving classic American burgers with a hip-hop backdrop and a Breaking Bad theme.
Ky-oto
CHIPPENDALE
A different style of lighter tonkotsu in Kensington Street's Spice Alley.
Kahii
SYDNEY
A Japanese-inspired cafe with a menu that changes from week to week.
Ella Guru
ERSKINEVILLE
Hangover-curing toasties and homemade brownies baked on demand.
La Coppola
REDFERN
Sicilian-style pies made to a secret recipe. Not as thick as a Roman pizza, but not as thin and sloppy as Neapolitan either. La Coppola’s has a crisp base with a satisfyingly puffy and blistered edge. A small joint with big Italian heart.
Tacos Muchachos
REDFERN
Don’t let this sleek eatery fool you – it serves honest Mexican street-food including tacos, nachos and burritos stuffed with slow-cooked beef, chipotle or quesabirria with consomme. Pair those with a tart Margarita for the full experience.
VN Street Foods
MARRICKVILLE
Vietnamese bento boxes. Why didn’t anyone think of this earlier?
Rising Sun Workshop
NEWTOWN
The unlikely pairing of ramen and motorcycle repairs produces some pretty spectacular results at this casual all-day diner. Come for one of four signature ramens (including an outstanding breakfast number), izakaya snacks and lo-fi wines.
Adamo's Pasta
ROSEBERY
Pasta every way you could want it.
Loaf
CRONULLA
A trio of locals are making old-school jaffles with a new-school twist.
Sugarcane Coogee
COOGEE
The younger sibling of the Surry Hills restaurant feels like a Thai beach hut.
Grill Republic
HUNTERS HILL
Turkish-style meats cooked over charcoal.
The Sawmill
WEST PYMBLE
Feast on slow-cooked lamb and sweet ricotta desserts, served with a side of opera.
Tuga Pastries Alexandria
ALEXANDRIA
A second cafe-bakery for one the city's finest Portuguese tart makers. Find a grand display of traditional and less-conventional baked goods, and a cafe menu that plays with the Aussie idea of breakfast while paying homage to its Portuguese roots.
Lal Qila
SYDNEY
A whole leg of lamb smothered in Pakistani spices and cooked for more than a day in a smoky tandoor oven.
Dogma
CRONULLA
Katsu hot dogs with nori; French sausages with truffle aioli; and bratwursts with jalapenos and guacamole.
Cairo Takeaway
ENMORE
Bright-green felafel, rolls stuffed with charcoal lamb and a Cairo brunch.
@! Restaurant
CROWS NEST
Fresh, perfectly executed Japanese.
Choco Cannelle
RYDE
A no-frills patisserie serving authentic French treats with a smile.
Flying Tong
NEWTOWN
Some of the best Korean fried chicken in town.
Flying Tong
NEWTOWN
Some of the best Korean fried chicken in town.
Ume Burger
SYDNEY
Japanese-inspired burgers and crazy good soft-serve.
Ume Burger
SYDNEY
Japanese-inspired burgers and crazy good soft-serve.
Kafeneio
PARRAMATTA
Toasties and Mecca coffee in a beautiful timber coffee bar.
Little Alley
NARWEE
Like a trip to Alice’s Wonderland.
Soul Burger Glebe
GLEBE
Serving entirely plant-based burgers.
Shuk Bakery
NORTH BONDI
Israeli-style cakes, bourekas and sausage rolls to go.
JB & Sons
DEE WHY
Burgers, beer and the best jalapeno poppers, all within walking distance of the beach.
Two Skinny Pickles
SURRY HILLS
Two Nomad alumni serving kombucha on tap, nitro coffee and nduja-packed croque monsieur.
Mecca Coffee CBD
SYDNEY
Where it all began.
The Grounds of the City
SYDNEY
Imagine yourself on the Orient Express eating oysters and drinking deconstructed mochas.
Dutch Smuggler
SYDNEY
Espresso Martinis on tap and mee-goreng toasties.
Yang’s Dumplings
BURWOOD
Traditional Shanghainese dumplings and pork wontons.
Regiment
SYDNEY
As far as small corner cafes go, this is about as good as it gets.
Betty's Burgers
SYDNEY
Classic American cheeseburgers and Shake Shack-styled desserts from Noosa.
Nudo Cafe
CRONULLA
A no-nonsense cafe with a lot of cheek.
The Nielsen
VAUCLUSE
A fig-lined promenade and turquoise waters provide the backdrop for a contemporary Italian menu.
District Brasserie
SYDNEY
A 200-seat all-day venue in Chifley Plaza with its own bakery, cafe, bar and charcoal grill.
Lil Miss Collins
PARRAMATTA
The pop-up so good it stuck around.
Kusuka
HAYMARKET
A cafe with a dual identity: Western cafe staples plus Indonesian mee goreng and coffee.
Al Barakeh
LIVERPOOL
Lebanese charcoal chicken since 2002.
Awafi
REVESBY
One of Sydney’s oldest and best Lebanese charcoal chicken joints.
Happy as Larry
SYDNEY
A pizza truck so good, it turned into a full-blown restaurant. Pizza is front and centre, topped with twists on classics. A middle eastern bent elsewhere on the menu is another surprising turn.
Pizza Madre
MARRICKVILLE
The Two Chaps team have passed the baton to new owners, but their meat-free legacy remains. The seasonal menu changes weekly, with vegetarian toppings you’ve probably never tried on a slice of pizza. And – busy intersection be damned – an al fresco meal on the footpath outside is a quintessential Marrickville experience.
Ballaró
NEWTOWN
Pizza like you’ve never tried before.
Ballaró
NEWTOWN
Pizza like you’ve never tried before.
Black Star Pastry Moore Park
MOORE PARK
A bigger, more experimental space and offering for the much-loved creator of the watermelon cake.
Tea Journal
CHATSWOOD
Learn about tea over cake at this cafe.
Joe’s Sandwich Bar
SYDNEY
A vegan sandwich bar where you won’t miss the meat.
Hungry Paulie
EASTWOOD
Peppery pork buns and Taiwanese congee with doughnut dipping sticks for breakfast?
Lox Stock and Barrel
BONDI
All kinds of chewy, dense bagels are boiled on-site at this Bondi favourite every day. For the classic Ashkenazi-Jewish deli experience, go for the signature with chopped liver, egg, onion and a side of zingy pickles.
Belles Hot Chicken Barangaroo
SYDNEY
Nashville-style spicy fried chicken, natural wines and craft beers.
Bowl.r
BALMAIN
Poke, smoothie bowls and espresso served in a coconut.
Ho Jiak Haymarket
HAYMARKET
Char kway teow noodles with jumbo prawns, Hainan chicken rice and a signature wok-fried crab are the highlights at Junda Khoo’s nostalgic Malaysian diner.
Nene Chicken
NORTH RYDE
It means “Yes! Yes!” and it’s crisp-battered, often saucy and exactly how they do it in South Korea.
Yellow Fever
REDFERN
Half classic cafe, half Vietnamese restaurant, with a tongue wedged firmly in cheek.
Staple Bread & Necessities Seaforth
SEAFORTH
A sourdough standard-setter, now with multiple locations on the northern beaches. Hit this hole-in-the-wall for a stellar loaf, then hang around for a chocolate croissant or a “Balgowlah bun” made with croissant off-cuts.
La Favola
NEWTOWN
Six pastas with your choice of sauce and a couple of starters – simple pleasures await.
The Carpenter
LEICHHARDT
A fancy espresso machine, a thoughtful design and food by an ex-Kindred chef.
Matinee
MARRICKVILLE
There are fine-dining chefs in the kitchen, but this colourful inner-west cafe channels Sydney’s classic milk bars.
Formaggi Ocello
SURRY HILLS
A cheese lover’s paradise.
Copper Mill
ALEXANDRIA
A strong sandwich and roll selection make this one good for takeaway and sit-in alike.
Ayam Bakar 7 Saudara
PENSHURST
Superb Indonesian grilled chicken and freshly made gado gado.
Wellington Cake Shop
BONDI
Hungarian treats have been front and centre at this bagelry and pretzel-maker ever since it opened in 1979. Here you'll find exquisitely layered chocolate cakes and strudels, plus bagels good enough to stand up to any of Sydney’s flashy new-school bagelries.
Caffeine Cartel
SYDNEY
A hole-in-the-wall cafe specialising in espresso-yuzu tonics, Greek-style frappes and naked-burrito bowls.
Boronia Kitchen
HUNTERS HILL
A restaurant and garden with moist rotisserie-style chicken served three ways, and salmon cooked in barrels in the car park.
Mr Crackles
DARLINGHURST
Home to the best crispy pork-belly roll in Sydney. And it’s available past midnight.
Ali Dine In
LAKEMBA
A Pakistani buffet serving food that’s hearty, spicy and cheap.
The Tamaleria & Mexican Deli
DULWICH HILL
Rosa Cienfuegos has been instrumental in shaping Sydney’s Mexican dining scene. At her tiny inner west shop, you can grab her cult tamales freshly made, or grab all the ingredients to make them yourself. Plus, street-style tacos and Mexican specialties you won’t find anywhere else.
Edition Coffee Roasters Haymarket
HAYMARKET
Traditional Japanese mountain houses were the inspiration behind Edition’s flagship cafe. Enter this astounding space for fine-dining level breakfasts fusing Scandi and Japanese flavours, and some of the best coffee in Sydney.
Bubble Nini
CHIPPENDALE
The prettiest bubble teas in town with tapioca pearls, jellies and flavourings all made in-house.
Bayswater Kitchenette
RUSHCUTTERS BAY
From Italian comfort food to welcoming heaters, this eatery will make you feel right at home.
Johnny Gio's
BONDI
A brother to Bondi’s Society Pizzeria, it’s serving American-Italian style pizzas, a three-cheese mac’n’cheese and pre-batched Negronis.
Fish Cove
ROSE BAY
Tuck into golden-fried New Zealand hake and chips made from locally grown potatoes on the shores of Rose Bay beach.
Juno and Sons
ELIZABETH BAY
A neighbourhood corner store where you can add organic soy sauce, fragrant Spanish garlic and Adelaide-grown apples to your basket. But not before you chill on the windowsill seat with a coffee and a slice of the cake of the day.
Beverly Hills Beijing Roast Duck Restaurant
BEVERLY HILLS
A little-known spot with some of the best Peking duck around. Here, they carve the duck at your table and – for a bit of extra cash – will batter and fry the last morsels of meat for you once you’re done eating.
Golden Sands
HURSTVILLE
Exceptional dim sum with glistening, seafood-stuffed dumplings and saucy pork ribs. Completed by a homely RSL vibe, this is the yum cha king of the south-west.
Xi Xiang Feng Seafood Restaurant
BEVERLY HILLS
Fresh-out-of-the tank seafood banquets and stellar crispy-skin pigeon. This is Cantonese food at its best, alive and well in Beverly Hills.
Palace Chinese Restaurant
HAYMARKET
One of Sydney’s yum cha kings. This slamming Cantonese favourite can be a tad expensive if you're dining with a smaller group – but the premium is warranted. The quality of food, speed of service and deep history is undeniable.
Spicy Joint
HAYMARKET
A wildly popular Chinese chain in the middle of the CBD, repping the spicy flavours of Sichuan. The tome of a menu here is telling of the huge portions you get here.
Nanjing Dumpling
HAYMARKET
One of the few places in the centre of town where you can try Nanjing specialties. If you’re into duck, this is the spot for you.
The Eight
HAYMARKET
A swish and enormous restaurant with an exceptional yum cha service. It’s a contender for best yum cha in the CBD, but it's also one of the newest in the pack.
Hurstville Chinese Restaurant
HURSTVILLE
A cornerstone of south-west Sydney’s Cantonese-speaking community. Its suited-up service and low-key decor have remained unchanged since 1980. And you can expect the same consistency from the extensive menu. Equally primed for one-person lunch or a banquet for many.
Taste of Shunde
KOGARAH
Roast goose, “fried milk”, and fish dumplings – this is a rare opportunity to try a niche cuisine from south-east China.
The Northeast Restaurant
KINGSFORD
The flagship location of a string of restaurants specialising in cuisine from north-east China. Tackle a hotpot or go for a platter of smoked pork with Chinese corn bread.
The Northeast Restaurant
KINGSFORD
The flagship location of a string of restaurants specialising in cuisine from north-east China. Tackle a hotpot or go for a platter of smoked pork with Chinese corn bread.
Eaton Chinese Restaurant
ASHFIELD
A lone, late-night Cantonese star among Ashfield’s strip of Shanghai dumpling dealers. Some say it goes head-to-head with Golden Century on quality and price.
Jimmy's Falafel
SYDNEY
Jimmy’s Falafel's colourful room features booths, frosted-glass sconces and tourism posters of cosmopolitan 1960s Beirut. As the name suggests, there’s falafel, which is stuffed in pita (among other things) and served alongside meze plates including eggplant salad, hummus and silverbeet. At night, there’s also meat cooked on the charcoal grill, and a wonderful smoky scent permeates the air.
Henrietta
SURRY HILLS
At this buzzing charcoal chicken joint, get smoky Lebanese-style chook with chips, fattoush and garlicky toum to have in or take away.
Small's Deli
POTTS POINT
This petite, takeaway-focused sandwich shop at the leafy end of Potts Point offers no-nonsense sangas, strong coffees and a few bits and bobs for the pantry. There’s also a good range of salads, sweets and pastries.
Westwood Pizza
NEWTOWN
This tiny pizzeria by two ex-Bella Brutta chefs makes around 150 pizzas a day, so order your fermented-garlic honey number early – this one tends to sell out fast. There are a few seats inside, but we say grab your pizza to go and head to Camperdown park for an al fresco feast.
Three Seagulls
Freshwater
This corner store and cafe is in a space that once housed a classic general store. Now, it serves coffees, fat double-bacon-and-egg toasties and Snickers slices out of its takeaway window.
China Jiaozi
HURSTVILLE
A tiny takeaway joint serving Chinese breakfasts for under $10, including its speciality – handmade youtiao, or strips of deep-fried dough. It has a golden crust and fluffy insides, perfect for dipping in steaming soy milk, which is made in-house daily.
Fish Shop
BONDI BEACH
An elevated fish'n'chipper from the team behind Fishbowl. Pull up a chair in the light-filled dining room for Mediterranean-inspired bar snacks, or settle on a picnic rug in the neighbouring park with takeaway boxes.
Good Ways Deli
REDFERN
A cafe, deli and bakery serving up sangas and treats inspired by school canteens, country bakeries and other nostalgic Australian references. There's a big emphasis on native ingredients, plus you can grab pickles, condiments and more to take home.
Small Talk Glebe
GLEBE
The second outpost for the Dulwich Hill favourite. This light-filled, dough-smelling space is great for everything bagels, spicy tomato focaccia and cinnamon doughnuts. Plus suburb-specific sandwich specials, and ferments and pickles to take home.
Soulmate Coffee
NEWTOWN
The brunches at this heaving inner west cafe are as photogenic as the locals who line up for them. Go for those, plus Single O coffee on tap (whipped cream optional) and plenty of natural light.
Staple Bread & Necessities Manly
MANLY
Come to this hole-in-the-wall bakery for sourdough loaves and wholewheat pastries. Once you've grabbed your goods, order a coffee and stroll over to enjoy it by the beach.
Deluca Marrickville
MARRICKVILLE
Deluca Marrickville takes its coffee seriously – so seriously, you'll just find coffee and nothing else. And just like the menu, the cafe space is minimalist: clean lines, natural timber and plenty of natural light.
South Dowling Sandwiches
DARLINGHURST
This takeaway-focused, old-school sandwich shop makes some of Sydney’s best (and biggest) sangas. But you don’t need to take our word for it – the lengthy queues that form outside it every single weekday at lunchtime should tell you how good these beauties are.
Lamin8 Patisserie
LANE COVE
Visit this patisserie for 20 different types of pastries (including palmiers in an array of flavours) and activated-charcoal sourdough loaves. Plus, there are buttery croissants, chunky kouign-amman and beef-and-kimchi pies.
Baby Rey's Burgers
MARRICKVILLE
This popular food truck now has its own permanent spot. You no longer have to wait for it to pop up to get your hands on the popular American-style burgers, mac’n’cheese balls and cheeseburger spring rolls.
Don't Doughnuts
DARLINGHURST
A shop that sells inventive sourdough-brioche doughnuts by a classically trained pastry chef. Traditional flavours are playfully twisted here – there’s a Vegemite-spiked salted butterscotch and another filled with Basque cheesecake.
Royal Bakery
ROSE BAY
The pastry for this Rose Bay bakery’s custard tart is meticulously hand-rolled into buttery sheets, before it’s filled with sweet, eggy custard (it’s one of the finest pastel de nata you’ll find Sydney). Visit on a weekend for a whole range of Portuguese baked treats.
Frank's Deli
WAVERLEY
Anchored by its owners’ Polish heritage, this new-wave deli and cafe is big on sandwiches with sliced cheese, pickles, and thick cuts of meat.
Mapo
NEWTOWN
Simple, good quality ingredients, prepared traditionally.
Mapo Bondi
BONDI
A traditional Italian gelateria just across the road from Bondi Beach – you can't really ask for a much better combo than that. It's doing gelato the old school way, using organic ingredients with no preservatives. Opt for a scoop of classic fior di latte, Pepe Saya salted caramel or seasonal fruit.
Alex 'N' Rolls
MARRICKVILLE
At this tiny banh mi shop, the rolls are generously filled with house-made braised pork belly and hunks of chicken. Some are comparing it to a hugely famous spot in Vietnam – one that Anthony Bourdain described as the best in the world.
Lode Pies and Pastries
SURRY HILLS
A polished pastry shop that puts a fine-dining twist on classic bakery items. Think Wagyu and mushroom pies, and yuzu curd croissants. The star item – the Crown on 487 – is so labour-intensive only 15 are made each day.
Flower Child Castle Hill
CASTLE HILL
Refuel before (and after) you hit the shops at this inviting, garden oasis. Expect lavish brunch spreads and topnotch burgers, plus coffee and pastries by The Grounds.
My Mother’s Cousin
BEXLEY NORTH
A big wallop of nostalgia informs this retro-tinged pizza-and-wings parlour. It’s doing New York-style pizzas, wings drenched in hot sauce and a riff on a famous fast-food apple pie. Proudly pineapple-free since ‘83.
Akasha Brewing Company
FIVE DOCK
All about those hop-forward, American-style beers.
Fish Butchery Waterloo
WATERLOO
The sequel to Josh and Julie Niland's Paddington original ups the ante with dine-in seating and an expanded takeaway menu. Come for the famous yellowfin tuna cheeseburger, plus fresh seafood, cookbooks and fish butchery masterclasses.
Effie's
BALGOWLAH
Hit this lovingly-converted corner store for classic cafe vibes during the day, and wine-bar bliss Wednesday to Saturday. If you’re grabbing takeaway, it’s served from Sydney’s most Instagrammable window.
Slim’s Quality Burger Marrickville
MARRICKVILLE
By the team who founded Betty’s Burgers, this nostalgic '50s-inspired burger chain offers a bargain meal without skimping on quality. Fries are hand-cut, and ice-cream is churned on-site each day.
Alice's Makan
SYDNEY
The one-two punch of exemplary Malaysian sweets and smoky char kway teow noodles is not one you’ll experience often. But that’s exactly what you get at this unassuming food court counter run by a husband-and-wife duo.
Vegan Chocolate Co
DULWICH HILL
This inner west chocolatier does handmade vegan takes on Tim Tams, Cherry Ripes and Snickers. Plus, a vegan version of the classic Wagon Wheel made in collaboration with the food technologist who helped create the original.
Chaco Ramen Bondi
BONDI
The sequel to Chaco’s Darlinghurst ramen joint brings all the favourites to Bondi, including the chilli-coriander and yuzu-scallop ramens. There are also a few Bondi-only numbers, such as yakitori, prawn fried rice and pre-batched cocktails.
Padre Coffee Paddington
PADDINGTON
At the Melbourne-born roaster’s first Sydney shop, you’ll find seasonal espresso blends and single origins alongside excellent pastries and bread. Plus, everything you need to lift your coffee game at home – from hand-grinders to espresso machines and beyond.
North Bondi Fish
NORTH BONDI
Even a top chef like Matt Moran can’t resist the fish’n’chipper format. His breezy spot, tucked under North Bondi RSL, enjoys enviable ocean views that perfectly compliment the seafood-forward menu and stellar Margaritas.
Flyover Fritterie
REDFERN
A two-level diner influenced by the nameless street food stalls that sit under overpasses in India. Visit for the classic pakoras and chai, then come back for the jaffles with potatoes and peanut chutney, and lentil stews.
A.P Supply
SURRY HILLS
This takeaway-only sibling to AP House serves all the classics – like Aleppo scrolls and cheese-topped focaccia slabs. But you’ll also find got exclusive baked goods (like Japanese-inspired cream puffs) and roasted-croissant soft-serve.
Brooklyn Boy Bagels
MARRICKVILLE
The New York-style bagels at this drive-through sell out quick. Crowd favourites include the blueberry and poppy seed varieties.
Best Bagel Co
CREMORNE
A sunny corner shop filling bagels with fresh, sustainably sourced ingredients. While the smoked salmon and dill with cream cheese is a daily go-to, the shop mixes it up with monthly bagel takeovers from hospitality gurus.
Ardi's Block to Grill
SURRY HILLS
An artisan butchery with a mini restaurant attached taking on the supermarkets by offering cut-to-order meat .
Quick Brown Fox Eatery
PYRMONT
Dressed up and unconventional all-day meals in a laid-back and sunny setting.
A.P Town
NEWTOWN
A tiny inner-west outpost for the lauded Surry Hills bakery.
Penny’s Cheese Shop
POTTS POINT
Sydney's top fromagerie is the one-stop shop for the world’s best handmade and farmhouse cheeses and its accoutrements.
Toastiesmith
HAYMARKET
Fluffy scrambled eggs, Wagyu beef, grilled prawns and taro wedged between butter-infused bread – these are toasties like you haven’t seen before. Grab them from one of five neon-lit locations around Sydney.
Soul Deli
SURRY HILLS
A casual cafe spinoff of Korean favourite Soul Dining. Not only does it serve traditional dishes and cafe classics with a Korean twist, it’s also selling homewares and clothes by local Korean designers. Plus house-made tofu, Korean pickles and sauces to take home.
Mixtape Brewing & Bar
MARRICKVILLE
Visit this low-key warehouse for a who’s who of indie craft beer, 50-plus natural wines and plenty of whisky. To eat, it’s drinking food’s greatest hits: kimchi dumplings, buffalo chicken wings and pizza.
Glider
POTTS POINT
Great coffee and a Thai-influenced menu.
Banksia Bakehouse
SYDNEY
A one-stop shop for celebration cakes, savoury lunch-time pastries and croissants made with a recipe that took 15 months to perfect. From the street, you can watch the team prepare all of the above inside the glass-encased kitchen.
Goodwood Bakeshop
MARRICKVILLE
This tiny neighbourhood bakehouse is run by a couple who list some of Sydney’s best bakeries on their CVs. Get in early for crunchy croissants, rustic sourdough and seasonal-fruit danishes – they often sell out.
Good Fella Coffee
BELLA VISTA
A specialty-coffee-focused cafe from a team of hospitality veterans.
Busta
MANLY
Natural wine and handmade pasta from the crew behind Chica Bonita and Sunset Sabi.
Kindred
DARLINGTON
An ex-A Tavola chef serves handmade pasta, batch beer on tap and natural wines out of his Darlington home.
Chiosco by Ormeggio
MOSMAN
The casual counterpart to Alessandro Pavoni's celebrated Italian restaurant, Ormeggio at the Spit. The food and service are just as excellent, but the atmosphere and dishes here are a little more relaxed. Settle in with some antipasti harbourside and soak up the scenery.
Harvey’s Hot Sandwiches
PARRAMATTA
A nostalgic, subterranean sandwich diner dedicated to big, hot and tasty sandwiches. Find all the classics from a French dip to a Turkey Club, along with Nashville fried chicken, shoestring fries and house-made ice-cream.
Barrel One Coffee Roasters
BROOKVALE
The flagship cafe for the popular Northern Beaches roastery serves a range of New York-inspired bagels, alongside melty, show-stopping toasties and quality coffee. Find the lot within a low-key warehouse space tucked away in Brookvale's industrial area.
Threefold Pastry
PARRAMATTA
A sleek, takeaway-only patisserie specialising in eye-catching croissants. It’s also got lunch covered with savoury pastries and pies, ready-made Turkish sandwiches and wraps, and specialty coffee.
Slim’s Quality Burger Sydney
SYDNEY
Serving up burgers under $10 and freshly churned thickshakes, this burger joint’s neon signs and sky-blue tiles are a vibrant ode to ’50s American diners.
Dish: Sri Lankan Street Food
GLEBE
Visit for authentic egg hoppers, kottu roti and fiery curries.
Mrs Palmer Sandwich
DARLINGHURST
This tiny spot does fresh sangas during the day and decadent meaty sandwiches and margaritas at night.
Sebastien Sans Gluten
LEICHHARDT
A Parisian-born, French-trained baker is behind this petite cafe and bakery. He’s applying his skills to the world of gluten-free pastry, with meat pies, chocolate eclairs, baguettes and Paris-Brest, plus a croissant refined over six months.
Hudson’s
BONDI JUNCTION
What was originally a market stall has transformed into a fully fledged baking operation devoted to gut-friendly baked goods. Pop by for GF loaves, sweet and savoury muffins, and takeaway meals such as lasagne and pies to cook at home.
Breadfern
REDFERN
Sourdough, croissants, pies and more.
Two Good Co Cafe
DARLINGHURST
Set within a historic former church, this social impact cafe empowers at-risk women through hospitality training and a sense of community. It also collaborates with top Australian chefs to curate monthly specials, events and more.
St Kai
MORTDALE
On a corner in South Sydney, this specialty-coffee destination is putting Japanese spins on the Aussie brunch. Think house-made bagels with Japanese fixings, cheeseburger donburi bowls and umami-packed noodle dishes.
Pina
POTTS POINT
From Neil Perry to Josh Niland, top chefs love this heaving spot and its "everyday" brunch fare for good reason. Soaking up the European vibe in Llankelly Place with a plate of eggs and caponata is peak Sydney.
Messy Spoon
SURRY HILLS
A tiny vegan wholefood kitchen and bakery by a former Jamie's Italian chef. Rock up to the takeaway window for baked goods free from gluten and refined sugar – including avo toast on slices of sprouted quinoa loaf, bliss balls, banana bread and more.
Zini Contemporary Gelateria
SYDNEY
A sleek gelateria and espresso bar that loves to push the envelope with its flavours. While pesto doesn't instantly come to mind when you think of gelato, a scoop of the signature blue vanilla is a must. It's traditionally flavoured but – coloured blue with butterfly pea flowers.
Buttercrumbs Croissant
FIVE DOCK
Whether you visit the original Buttercrumbs in Five Dock or the Ultimo sequel, some tough choices lie ahead. Plain or almond? Strawberry and Nutella or the monthly special? There are also milkshakes, iced tea smoothies and coffee on the cards.
Lucien Baked Goods
PARRAMATTA
The Circa Espresso team leaves nothing on the lamination bench at this light-filled bakery. A cornucopia of treats is baked on-site each day, including croissants and banoffee choux. There's also a brunch menu packed with Middle Eastern flavours.
Cut Lunch Deli
RANDWICK
A lockdown sandwich obsession is now a sunny, deli-style eatery with a strong sanga game. Its owner – a trained pastry chef with experience at Quay – is serving up a Korean fried mushroom and kimchi slaw sanga, a Hetty McKinnon-inspired miso, Vegemite and cheese toastie, and freshly baked burnt-butter choc-chip cookies.
Fiore Bread
MCMAHONS POINT
A compact terrazzo bakery modelled on an Italian alimentari, where you can grab everyday staples like bread and condiments for the pantry. But do you need a focaccia sandwich filled with mortadella every day? Of course you do.
Porkfat
HAYMARKET
A Long Chim alumnus is behind this 30-seat Chinatown restaurant, where you’ll find punchy takes on classic Thai street food and home-style cooking. Think deep-fried barramundi with mango salad, Phuket-style curry with tiger prawns and betel leaves, and a refreshing coconut ice-cream with roasted peanuts and candied pumpkin.
Genovese Coffee House
ALEXANDRIA
From a 50-year-old family-owned company that helped pioneer the Australian coffee scene, this cafe in a converted warehouse is where you’ll find espressos on the go, Italian pastries (like mini hazelnut bombolone and citrusy ricotta-stuffed sfogliatelle) and fresh panini sandwiches filled with freshly sliced cured meats.
Ickle Coffee
KINGSGROVE
The Sydney specialty coffee roaster’s debut cafe is a colourful and educational space where you can learn about the coffee you're sipping. Come for a range of sustainable single-origin coffees, pastries from Tuga and gluten-free fare from Little Secrets Bakehouse.
Kabul Social
SYDNEY
Dumplings, made-to-order bread and Afghan “Burgers” are on the menu at this refugee-led diner in the CBD. Not only does it train and employ women who have recently arrived from Afghanistan, but for every meal bought, it donates two more meals to Afghan communities in need.
Little West
HABERFIELD
In a space that’s sat empty for two decades, this petite cafe is serving modern spins on Aussie classics, including smoked brisket sausage rolls with bush tomato sauce, and chocolate and golden syrup dampers. Also, a layered muffuletta sandwich that takes two days to make.
S'wich
BONDI BEACH
Excellent sandwiches, big salads and natural wines are the recipe for a good time at S’wich, a new-wave sandwich diner in the centre of Bondi. In the evenings it transforms into a bar with global craft beers, Margarita seltzers from Cantina OK, pre-mixed Campari spritzes and Negronis made in-house.
Celsius Coffee and Dining
KIRRIBILLI
Hovering over Kirribilli wharf is one of the city’s most picture-perfect cafes. A swish space inspired by the Hamptons packs in social-media famous waffles and some mesmerising harbour views.
Good Ways Buckland
REDFERN
Good Ways Deli’s petite second sanga shop lives inside a heritage-listed corner spot on a leafy residential street. Like the original it’s doing updated versions of Aussie classics, plus exclusive menu items including creaming soda spiders, a very oozy cheese toastie, and cheese-and-spinach rolls.
Hester’s
SYDNEY
Hester’s is one of the few cafes in the city where dining in for breakfast on a weekday is heartily encouraged. Come for Mediterranean-style dishes, lunchtime cocktails and espresso from north shore roaster Gabriel Coffee.
Ciccone & Sons
REDFERN
At this artisan gelateria on Regent Street, you'll find coffee, Italian cakes and – of course – excellent gelato.
Shuk
NORTH BONDI
This cafe takes inspiration from Israel’s well-known market places.
Hearthe
STANMORE
Christopher Thé created the country’s most famous dessert. Now, he’s focusing on native ingredients at this beautiful cafe in an old butcher’s shop. As well as his signature cakes, pastries and elegant brunches are also on the card.
Vermuteria
KINGS CROSS
At the site of the legendary Cafe Hernandez, this Spanish bar honours the former tenant with big barrels of house blended vermouth, banging cocktails and tapas including tinned seafood and a famous four-cheese toastie.
Hong Kong Cafe
WOLLI CREEK
Cafes called cha chaan teng proliferated in Hong Kong in the 1950s, serving cheap Western and Cantonese food in a no-frills, diner-style setting. This Sydney chain honours the tradition, serving thick-cut French toast filled with peanut butter; pineapple buns with ham and eggs; wok-fried noodles; and more.
George St Deli
REDFERN
George St Deli brings a slice of New York's bagel scene to Redfern. Tuck into a classic lox number packed with house-made cream cheese and smoked trout, paired with house-made lemonade. Then follow it up with a giant, chewy, double-choc-fudge cookie.
Self Raised Bread Shoppe
CARLTON
Details are everything at this retro bakery in the city’s south. The team behind pizzeria My Mother’s Cousin are making sangas with cross-section charisma, fruit-filled danishes and sourdough worth lining up for.
City Oltra
HAYMARKET
Two gun pizzaiolos have teamed up with inner-west distillery Poor Toms to create the ultimate inner-city hangout – with not-quite-New York pizzas, chunky square pies, plates of gabagool and a riff on a legendary Perth sandwich. But it’s here for a good time, not a long time.
Fabbrica
SYDNEY
A deli, wine store and by-the-gram pasta shop from the Love Tilly Group. You can also take a seat inside for a quick aperitif and sandwich.
Ruby Lonesome
MARRICKVILLE
Mock meat, incredible toasties and crisp-fried tempeh burgers worth trekking for.
Sou Ramen Lab
NORTH SYDNEY
A former Gumshara is making ramen with soul at this unassuming spot. The menu is ever-changing – but you can always expect chicken-based soups alongside rotating specials from 8am daily.
Parami
SYDNEY
Find this hidden Japanese gem for rice balls filled with salted salmon or mushroom and cheese. Plus, konbini-style rolls and single-origin matcha.
Three Blind Mice
MASCOT
Taste your way through the provedore’s cheese selection, including Australia’s first buffalo-milk blue cheese and a handcrafted cheddar aged in a silo in Kiama. Then journey to the salumi bar packed with local and international meats.
Three Blind Mice
MASCOT
Taste your way through the provedore’s cheese selection, including Australia’s first buffalo-milk blue cheese and a handcrafted cheddar aged in a silo in Kiama. Then journey to the salumi bar packed with local and international meats.
Malay Chinese Noodle Bar
SYDNEY
An institution among Laksa addicts. Today the name has two locations under its banner, but the original, now-closed Hunter Street shop was ladling bowls of piping hot laksa all the way back in 1987 – long before most of the CBD’s other Asian restaurants joined the party.
Oti
SYDNEY
There’s no physical menu and no dine-in space, but the lines were out the door from day one of Merivale's cranking little pizza joint. Come for sexy slabs of Roman-style pizza and schiacciata sandwiches laden with Italian cold-cuts. But be warned – they tend to sell out.
Sea Sweet Patisserie
MERRYLANDS
Take a sesame bun and stuff it with hot knafeh for a hot cheesecake roll.
Tuga Pastries
CLOVELLY
If you’re looking for the city’s supreme Portuguese tart, it comes from this tiny, counter-only bakery. It’s also where you’ll find beautiful cakes, croissants and cream-filled doughnuts. Ditto at Tuga’s Alexandria HQ.
Diggy Doos Coffee
SYDNEY
At the back of an unassuming food court near Wynyard Station, this buzzing spot is making specialty coffee great again – with warm service and rare single-estate geishas you won't find elsewhere. It hosts regular cupping sessions, and will bust your hunger with toasties, pastries and the occasional pop-up.
Tuga X Village
CLOVELLY
From the owner of the bakery known for making some of Sydney’s best pasteis de nata. Expect heavy Portuguese influence in the breads and pastries, and dishes such as açorda (a bread-based stew) and peri peri chicken.
Small Joys Gelato
FIVE DOCK
Popcorn miso caramel. Yuzu peach pavlova. Hong Kong milk tea. These aren't flavours you'll find at any old Sydney gelateria. But this tiny spot isn't your average. Artisan gelato maker Terrence Seeto has worked in some of Sydney's best kitchens, and his penchant for flavour, texture and colour is on show here.
Fabbrica Bread Shop
ROZELLE
The Love, Tilly Devine team’s bakery has landed in the inner west with masala croissants and metre-long focaccias. You can grab the latter just like they do it in Rome: by the slice and loaded with cold-cuts.
Salma’s Canteen
ROSEBERY
Two top chefs have joined forces to open a casual eatery in South Sydney. The red-brick one-stop shop has you covered with vibrant lunchtime salads, deli provisions and the city’s most Instagrammable desserts.
Bsp’eria
PENSHURST
A retro hole in the wall bringing Brooklyn energy and neapolitan pizzas to South Sydney. Claim a milk crate and tuck into an Uncle Charlie – a 48-hour fermented sourdough base topped with spicy ’nduja, mozzarella, ricotta and honey – while watching the chefs in action.
Ta Ta Ta
BONDI JUNCTION
Like in Rome, the pizza at this Bondi takeaway joint is sold by weight. The bases are crisp with puffy interiors and toppings like earthy mushrooms on parmesan cream; and salami, fior di latte and mozzarella. Go for the chef's selection box – it includes three to six slices of the day's favourites.
AP Place
SYDNEY
Yet another location for the cult bakery, this time in the heart of town. Come for pizza sandwiches stuffed with porchetta; cheesy cauliflower toasties; and salt and vinegar hash browns with your Reuben Hills coffee.
Pocket Pizza
MANLY
Order a single slice and eat it sitting on the sand while the sun sets.
Dom Panino
LEICHHARDT
Sydney’s first bona fide paninoteca is all about nailing the Italian sandwich. Come for the hero, loaded with five-hour slow-cooked pork and veal bolognese – but don’t leave without grabbing a fried-to-order Sicilian doughnut rolled in cinnamon sugar.
Otogo
ULTIMO
Innovation meets affordability at Otogo. Cutting-edge tech is the key to its sharp prices – but quality is still king. Come for onigiri made with premium Japanese rice, soba with Kyoto-style duck, and housemade vanilla soft serve.
Crescent Croissanterie
CROWS NEST
Pastry chef Elly Kim’s little takeaway spot is a heavy hitter in Sydney’s booming croissanterie scene. The plain croissant is outstanding, but we love the “dirty” chocolate number. Grab one of each and a yuzu-glazed palmier before the trio sells out.
Mountain Culture Emu Plains
EMU PLAINS
The celebrated Katoomba brewery’s western Sydney production site doubles as brewpub, pouring up to 20 different styles including the brand’s ever-popular hazy beers. Throw in some woodfired pizza, and you’ve got an excellent alternative to the beloved Blue Mountains venue.
Kicks Brewing
MARRICKVILLE
Combining stylish design and an experimental approach to brewing, this tiny operation by a husband-and-wife team is doing it like nowhere else in Marrickville. Track down their breezy taproom for 10 limited release beers, with options changing monthly.
Hansang
STRATHFIELD
A buzzing Strathfield eatery serving homestyle Korean fare. Sure, you’ll find familiar Korean staples such as bibimbap here. But the focus is on traditional soups served with rice and side plates filled with pickles, kimchi and Korean snacks.
Home Croissanterie
BALMAIN
Starting out as a popular lockdown bakery, Home is the work of a self-taught pastry chef who’s also done stints at Noma and Quay. Everything from classic to crème brûlée-topped croissants are possibilities here.
Sydney Cebu Lechon
BLACKTOWN
Just like a roadside eatery in the Philippines, this open-air diner serves up marrow-rich beef soups, homemade pork sausage and Cebu-style lechon: roast pork belly with plenty of crackling.
Kosta’s Takeaway Rosebery
ROSEBERY
The lord of handheld lunches is back in South Sydney – with items you won't find at its other shops. Get a whopping schnitzel sanga or a smashed beef burger, plus treats inspired by classic Vietnamese train station bakeries.
Jazushi
SURRY HILLS
Japanese with a side of jazz? Hit this smooth diner, where legit musos play most nights of the week. Jazzed up ramens and Japanese favourites have been served here for more than 20 years.
Ester Spirits
MARRICKVILLE
The acclaimed gin brand’s warehouse home feels more like an artist’s studio than a distillery. Packed with personality, it’s a place of perfect Negronis, gin-friendly snacks and curiosities by local designers.
Kosta's Takeaway
ROCKDALE
A “no bullshit” sandwich deli doing cold-cut layered paninis, cracking chicken-schnitty rolls and spectacular salad sangas. Served from a canteen-style window next to a smash-repairs workshop in Rockdale.
Golden Century BBQ
HAYMARKET
For fans of the legendary, now-closed Golden Century restaurant, this Cantonese barbeque joint is a sight for sore eyes. But the sequel is not like the original – get some of its most famous dishes in a fast-casual format.
Oh Boy
SYDNEY
This sun-soaked eatery at the Andrew (Boy) Charlton Pool is here for the warmer months with a fresh menu, poolside dining and a bottomless brunch package – everything you need for a red-hot day out.
The Corner Deli by Lox in a Box
MARRICKVILLE
The first dine-in venue from Bondi’s Lox in a Box is serving Sydney’s first bagel high tea. Head to the old old Cornersmith site to try it – or maybe some hot salt beef on rye, or a stellar brisket burrito.
Pillar
BURWOOD
Track down this sleek concrete cafe to try the best local micro-roasters you’ve never heard of. Plus, Basque cheesecakes by cult baker 15 Cenci, and a cool community vibe.
Shadow Baking
DARLINGHURST
Three Messina chefs have gone all-out with their bakery debut. It’s where French and very nostalgic Aussie influences collide in treats like a Vegemite and avocado scroll, and a fancy take on an old-school custard tart.
Blackwood Cronulla
CRONULLA
Meals with Michelin-star cred are the drawcard at Blackwood, from elevated poke bowls to build-your-own breakfast plates. The easy-breezy vibe here is a perfect match for the beachside setting.
Sandoitchi
DARLINGHURST
A buzzing cafe doing riffs on Japan’s most famous convenience store item: the katsu sando. The one here is staked with cabbage, pickled carrots, American cheese and more. And considering the size, it’s bang for your buck. Expect katsu salad bowls, smoothies and Single O coffee, too.
Norma’s Deli
MANLY
At this epic Greek deli off the Corso, you can start the day with toast smothered in house-made taramasalata and return after a day at the beach for moussaka and a classic Greek lager. Plus, takeaway sourdough, cheese and charcuterie.
Happyfield
HABERFIELD
Walk past this sunny corner any day of the week and there’ll be a crowd of people lined up outside. They’re here for pancakes – fluffy, Instagrammable stacks of them – drenched in 100 per cent Canadian maple syrup.
Yappari Steak
SYDNEY
Direct from Japan, this steakhouse lets you choose from three affordable cuts of meat, then watch as it’s slapped on a super-hot stone to cook at your table.
Malika Bakehouse
SURRY HILLS
The Surry Hills sequel to the popular Botany bakery serves classic Turkish breakfasts like you'd find in Istanbul. Roll up for simit bagels stuffed with egg and sucuk (spicy sausage), classic Turkish breakfast plates and daily-baked sweets.
Glory Days
BONDI
Rock up to the beachfront patio for oysters with mignonette and kingfish ceviche, or settle in for a breakfast and lunch menu full of easy classics.
Double Tap Coffee
MARRICKVILLE
A neighbourhood cafe serving decent coffee, quality sandwiches and cakes made by the owner’s mum.
Algorithm
MARRICKVILLE
Best brunch on Marrickville Road? This corner cafe is a hot contender. Come for plussed-up brekkies by a Quay-trained chef, pandan custard buns and a strong iced drinks offering.
Kowloon Cafe Chatswood
CHATSWOOD
The north-shore eatery from the Hong Kong-inspired chain is geared towards takeaway – but it still offers all the hits including "pineapple" buns, and French toast with condensed milk, maple syrup and honey.
Pantry Story
STANMORE
Opening to immediate queues, this is the permanent home for an online bakery made famous by its “brochi” – a brownie-mochi hybrid. It’s also serving pandan buns, brisket hand pies and “kimcheese” focaccia.
Tita Carinderia
MARRICKVILLE
Tita isn’t your typical Filipino carinderia. Hit this cafe and bakery for brekkie muffins stacked with egg and longganisa sausage; classic Filipino breakfasts of garlic fried rice, egg and adobo; and ube soft serve ice-cream.
The Wedge Glebe
GLEBE
One of the suburb’s enduring venues for good reason, this local gem puts European spins on classic brunch dishes. The dinner menu, combined with the cosy digs, make it a solid date-night contender.
Double Cross Dining Room
CROWS NEST
The “unusual” eggs on toast – sourdough topped with fried eggs, stracciatella, peanut butter, sesame sauce and chilli sauce – is the move at this destination all-day diner. It’s been serving some of the north shore’s most creative brunches since 2016.
Poketto
CHIPPENDALE
This pocket-sized cafe in the old Cadbury chocolate factory is where to go for onigiri sets, cod roe toasties and a succinct menu of Japanese cocktails. Another winner from the Kurumac team.
Derrel’s
CAMPERDOWN
Part takeaway joint, part casual eatery, this late-night spot serves modern interpretations of classic Indian dishes. Walk in for fiery vindaloo, blackened tandoor wings, and hot chip butties lashed with butter chicken gravy.
Self Raised Snack Shoppe
BEXLEY NORTH
This takeaway window, from the team behind one of Sydney’s top bakeries, has exclusive items you can’t get at the OG. It’s also serving Self Raised staples, from Boston cream doughnuts to god-tier sangas.
Hills Distilling Co
ROUSE HILL
Hit the area’s first locally run distillery for a tour and a gin-making masterclass (with Italian snacks), or stop by during cellar door hours for cocktails and dumplings.
An Restaurant
BANKSTOWN
One of the oldest and most popular pho joints in Sydney.
Royale Specialty
SURRY HILLS
Housed inside a breezy terrace, this cosy cafe serves single-origin coffees roasted in-house. The menu flaunts classics like buttermilk pancakes, and a za'taar brekkie flatbread that's become a crowd fave.
Queen Ester
NEWPORT
Queen is all about the fresh, vibrant and comforting flavours found in homes and on the streets of Israel. Come for plates of falafel and hummus; or pita breads stuffed with fried eggplant, jammy eggs and salad.
Venice
MANLY
This hole-in-the-wall is having fun in the sun – with iced-coffee slushies, premium matcha and Maccas-inspired brekkie rolls.
Domo 39
ST PETERS
A light-filled cafe inspired by the convenience stores of Japan. Come for bento box lunches, Japanese soft serve and iced coffees spiked with yuzu. From the teams behind Kurumac and Mapo Gelato.
Kariton Sorbetes
BURWOOD
Try 16 frozen flavours representing the Philippines and Southeast Asia, plus nostalgic Filipino desserts like a halo-halo made with brown-sugar slushie.
Martina
ROSE BAY
This bakery-meets-osteria from the Marta team has you covered all day, with espresso and sfogliatelle in the morning and Roman pizza at night.
Taste of Canton
ZETLAND
This fluorescent-lit slither of a diner, which shares its corner site with a car wash, serves the silky cheung fun owner Lingqi Yang remembers fondly from her childhood in Guangdong, China. You’ll also find classic Cantonese street food like siu mai and black bean spare ribs.
Maido
DARLINGHURST
Japanese homewares and specialty coffee are a match made in heaven at this peaceful cafe by Artificer and Provider Store.
Noon
MANLY
The Chica Bonita team takes on brekkie at community-minded Noon. Find the usual breakfast darlings, plus creative morning plays showcasing suppliers you don’t usually see on the northern beaches.
Ol’ Mates Sandwich Shop
EARLWOOD
Just a short stroll from Cooks River, surrounded by sporting ovals, sits this lively little sandwich shop. It’s got lunchtime covered with whopping schnitty sangas and a deli number packed with cold cuts.
MLK Deli
SURRY HILLS
There are seven ripper sandwiches and a breakfast brisket roll at this Central Asian deli. Plus Coffee Supreme coffee, homemade cookies, and Turkish smallgoods to take home.
Uncut Seafood Delicatessen
BONDI
Described as “the Fendi of fish shops”, this elevated seafood eatery is by a family of fourth-gen fishmongers. Come for crispy-skinned fillets fired over a lava grill. Or some whole fish and freshly shucked oysters to take home.
Mogu Mogu
SURRY HILLS
Choose from 12 ready-to-go flavours – including nanko-ume plum with shiso or marinated onsen egg – at this specialist onigiri shop. Luxe made-to-order options like flame-grilled M9 wagyu add a touch of drama to the diminutive space.
Superfreak
MARRICKVILLE
Superfreak’s head-turning fit-out makes it a contender for Sydney’s best-looking cafe. But there’s plenty more to love – including a fresh, homely menu and a vinyl soundtrack.
Superfreak
MARRICKVILLE
Superfreak’s head-turning fit-out makes it a contender for Sydney’s best-looking cafe. But there’s plenty more to love – including a fresh, homely menu and a vinyl soundtrack.
It’s Recess
SURRY HILLS
A tiny sandwich spot turning out well-made, grab-and-go lunches that don’t cost the earth. If you’re here for brekkie, grab a BAE roll with chilli jam, or a yoghurt and granola cup for the win.
Cafe 143
BRONTE
This cosy spot in the old Three Blue Ducks space is led by a US barista champion. The coffee is as good as you’d expect, but the unpretentious vibe is bang-on for Bronte. Come for good coffee and bargain deli rolls in the pastel-pink laneway.
Kakigori Kaiji
HAYMARKET
Kakigori Kaiji is Sydney’s first shop dedicated to the iconic dessert – but it’s also the first to use Kuramoto Ice, a tasteless, slow-melting ice from Kanazawa in Japan.
Solstice
SUMMER HILL
This welcoming spot from the team behind The New Paradigm Coffee Roasters only serves single origin coffees. On Saturdays, a tight food menu inspired by the owners' backgrounds (Chile and Germany) is joined by treats from a cult Instagram bakery.