Three Blue Ducks, Rosebery, New South Wales © Destination NSW
9 of Sydney's best brunch spots
Brunch in Sydney is not so much a meal as a ritual.
By Ute Junker
Sydney's brunch scene is more than just perfectly poached eggs and single origin coffee. It’s a chance to slow down a little, catch up with friends, and try some of the most creative food in town. From famous corn fritters to Instagrammable avocado, these Sydney brunches will make your day.
The Depot
Where: 132 Warners Av, Bondi Beach
Bondi’s brunch scene is ever-growing, but none can beat the local's love affair with the laid-back Depot. This family-run favourite embodies the Bondi lifestyle – one that is centred around wholesome food, good company and of course, the beach. Boasting ocean views, great coffee and generous plates of Aussie favourites, this is no doubt the place to be in Bondi. Even its exterior is cute, painted in yellow, blue and pink pastels.
BILLS
Where: 433 Liverpool St, Darlinghurst
This cute corner café was the birthplace of Bill Granger's international culinary empire, the place where he served up the first batch of those famously fluffy ricotta hotcakes drenched in honeycomb butter. Bill's empire has grown exponentially since then, with a batch of overseas outlets as well as two additional Sydney addresses – in Surry Hills and Bondi – but the hotcakes are still the go-to dish, alongside the equally famous corn fritters.
THE GROUNDS OF ALEXANDRIA
Where: 7a/2 Huntley St, Alexandria
It's a coffee roastery and a bakery, a café, a restaurant and an organic garden, all wrapped up in one mouth-watering package. The Grounds is also ridiculously popular, especially on weekends, so expect to wait before being seated. Luckily, this entire property is an Instagram dream – with ornate arches, ferns and fairy lights – so get out your camera and have a walk around.
YELLOW
Where: 57 Macleay St, Potts Point
At night this smart little bistro is a meat-free zone, but the rules at Yellow are relaxed in the morning, so you can still enjoy a serve of bacon with your 63 degree poached eggs, floating in a charred onion consommé. Chef Brent Savage’s creative menu is full of highlights that turn brekkie classics like banana bread and scrambled eggs on their head.
KEPOS STREET KITCHEN
Where: 96 Kepos St, Redfern
Sydney's longstanding love affair with Middle Eastern flavours is in full bloom at this Redfern café, where breakfast and brunch has been reinvented with a modern Israeli twist. Served until 11:30am, seven days a week, the breakfast menu features deliciously spiced Shakshuka, falafel for breakfast, and tasty sabich pita filled with hard-boiled eggs, fried eggplant, tahini and a medley of vegetables.
THREE BLUE DUCKS
Where: 1/85 Dunning Ave, Rosebery
Launched by three young chefs from one of Sydney’s top kitchens, the Three Blue Ducks has gone from strength to strength. In typical Three Blue Ducks fashion, their Rosebery menu is committed to sustainability and making things from scratch. Order up a cold-pressed juice and a house-made vegemite on toast, black sausage with scrambled eggs or their moreish banana bread French toast.
Brewtown Newtown
Where: 6-8 O'Connell St, Newtown
There seems to be a café on every corner in Newtown, but Brewtown is the undisputed leader of the pack. What makes it so special? Some point to the cold-brewed coffee; for others, it's the brunch dishes that combine the comfort of classics with the intrigue of uncommon combinations. The one thing all fans agree on: this airy warehouse-style café is a cut above the competition.
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Boon Café
Where: 1/425 Pitt St, Haymarket
It doesn't take long to realise that Sydney takes its Asian food seriously, and that includes breakfast. Boon Café is the place to chow down on dishes that seamlessly blend Thai and western cuisine. Try something new, like crab congee or a crispy croissant spread with pandan butter.
Reuben Hills
Where: 61 Albion St, Surry Hills
It all started with coffee. As the Reuben Hills team scoured the length and breadth of Latin America looking for the best beans, it picked up the odd recipe along the way, and those dishes – such as soft fried eggs on tostadas with beans and smoked cheese – now form the core of an eclectic brunch menu, where you're sure to find something surprising.