Dragon Espresso, Chinatown (Sydney)

Pablo and Rusty’s coffee. Shop 18, 401-403 Sussex St, Sydney. Downstairs from Happy Chef, I’ve long wondered what the coffee was like, but had never been here at the right time of day – until now! It’s literally a hole in the wall, with no seating at all, but for the name, I thought I’d …

Orson and Blake cafe, Surry Hills

Grinders coffee. 483 Riley St, Surry Hills. The cafe overlooks the furniture store; lots of natural light, and a series of furniture choices for the eat-in crowd. This is the real strength here: it’s a space with a lot of visual interest – you’ll want to spend some time here looking around if you can. …

Kash Cafe, Surry HIlls

Toby’s estate coffee. 424 Elizabeth St, Surry Hills. This little cafe has a slight disadvantage in location: away from the city, and with its street frontage largely hidden from the sight of pedestrians until they’re in front of the cafe. There’s lots to like about it, though: from the varied menus (at the moment, any …

Heart of Europe, Bondi Junction

Numero Uno Coffee. 114 Bronte Rd, Bondi Junction. Recommended by a friend, we pull up to this unassuming shop-front and take a seat. The menu has a lot of eastern european flavours – goulash, soups, a ruben sandwich, a salad with smoked pork and other recipes I’m unfamiliar with. I settle on the smoked pork …

Organic Produce Cafe, Surry Hills

Toby’s Estate Organic coffee. Despite its unassuming street frontage, inside is plenty of seating, a large range of organic groceries, and even a water feature! If you’re looking for an organic salad, there’s a good range of tasty-looking salads to be had here too. Coffee is good: a standard Toby’s cup, made to a better-than-average …

Le Pain Quotidien, Surry Hills

Neoma coffee – their own blend. 414 Bourke Street, Surry Hills. Forget the friendly staff, the French accents, even the wooden shelves and two sizes of latte bowl. What this place has thatsets it apart is space. Big communal tables (yes, more than one) that seat as many as 20. This is an unheard of …

Lazy Chef, Surry Hills

Caffe Di Gabriel coffee. 479 Crown St, Surry Hills. (Formerly called Mangiare?) Feels like a new cafe in its interior. A preference for small tables and chairs, this would be a great spot for a catch-up with a friend, before browsing the amazing paper shop next door. A decaf grinder is almost the first thing …

Cafe Harris, Ultimo

Toby’s Estate coffee. 456 Harris St, Ultimo. Immediately next to the Ian Thorpe Aquatic centre you’ll see the umbrellas, or at least tables and chairs of this place. There’s a lot of seating here, indoor and outdoor, and a comfortable, lounge-room style arrangement of furniture. I’m pleasantly surprised to find they have a decaf grinder. …