Hale &amp; Hearty

I completely walked by this place the first time I was wandering around Spice Alley, but once I…read morelooked at the small cafe's Asian fusion menu, I knew I wanted to try it. You order at the front register, and they bring your order to you. I've only tried their hojicha latte and taro latte, but they are the best lattes (no coffee) I've ever had. They're so flavorful and rich with a fluffy foam design on top. The drink itself is smooth and creamy but not overly sweet. Hits the spot!

All coffees are not created equal…read more I know this because of Glider. The original is in Potts Point, this is the new venue, and it's an absolute corker. They've set up shop in a teeny tiny Lilliputian cottage in Kensington Lane in the new Central Park precinct. It backs onto Spice Alley and has light-filled interiors that are all white walls and light wood and it feel positively Scandinavian. Then there's the coffee. Good lord, man. It comes served in these custom cups, they're kind of grainy and glazed and feel like they've been hewn out of very light sandstone by some unnamed master craftsman who will die a nobody but be recognised posthumously as one of the finest artisans of this or any age, Van Gogh style. The barista had the obligatory mustache but boy, did this dude know what service felt like. Polite, friendly, charming, without being overbearing. Win stars out of five. Top class, thank you and goodnight.

Omelette

Nice presentation

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Hojicha Latte

Something 4 Jess Espresso Boutique

4.3(21 reviews)

1.8 km•Chippendale

The unassuming Something 4 Jess has quietly become my favourite cafe in Chippendale. In all…read morehonesty, I had to take a break because I was becoming one of those customers who was there a little too early a little often. The lovely staff make it hard to stay away. I've been meaning to write up a review for weeks, but struggled to choose what to write about. The menu is seasonal and changes weekly, some samples include finely cut wagyu, crusted in dukkah and served on sourdough, honey-glazed bacon with fresh avocado, and mushrooms with ricotta. Almost everything comes served with sprinklings of sprouts and greens grown on the windowsill. The menu is small but there's almost always something for everyone; however, those looking for your classic big breakfast should come prepared to settle for something a little different. The quality of coffee is not entirely consistent, but the molasses-infused sugar makes up for it. I could eat a jar of it by itself. There's also a range of sandwiches on offer. A friend recently brought home lamb-shoulder on sourdough that had me drooling. I need to be strong, three visits in one day is just too much.

I don't know who Jess is but if I had to guess she'd be some kind of minor indie princess, she'd…read moreprobably have a nose ring and a heart of gold, she'd wear bare feet and have sun-tousled hair and holes in her jeans and a smile that could thaw out the Cold War. And if I was going to personify this cafe, that's how it'd go. It's small and charmingly ramshackle and chilled out and social all at the same time, it's basically how I want my living room to be. The coffee is fantastic, as are the views across the new Central Park development, and weirdly the noise of the construction across the road doesn't seem to come inside. The small menu is on the spendier side, but it looked creative & wholesome. Bring a book or a notepad to write deep thoughts in.

Long black (after I had taken a sip).

Art on display over the table-for-ones

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Yummy counter display with an old-timer register

White Rabbbit Tea House

4.0(2 reviews)

•$

Talk about a relaxed and crisp vibe. First time to this amazing place and will definitely be back…read more Had the egg and chive, chicken and lemon grass dumplings, have to say not that bad. Was a pleasant surprise to see some great bites to eat at an art gallery. Only thing I would have to improve is the chicken and lemongrass dumplings, there wasn't a huge amount of secondary flavor to them.

We stumbled across this great little tea house attached to a contemorary Chinese art gallery on the…read moreway to the brewery makets. With a simple menu, offering a couple types of handmade dumplings and other nibbles. There were also a decent range of Chinese tea on offer. This was place was perfect for me at the time as I was after a light snack. I went the chicken and lemongrass pot stickers and ordered the home made lychee iced tea. The dumplings were delicious and the iced tea was refreshing. This place would be a great place for a quiet catch up and a nice alternative to go to instead of a cafe or coffee shop.

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Concrete Jungle

4.4(25 reviews)

Cute decor and good service. We really liked the breakfast wrap but the corn fritter could have…read morebeen a bit more crispy.

This was a pretty nice café over in spice Alley. They have a…read morepretty roomy dining area with a spacious and open concept with large glass walls. The cashier was very polite and helpful with the menu. You pick your table, then you grab a menu and then order at the counter once you're ready. I got the mushroom thyme tomato toasty and a black sesame latte with a shot of espresso. The latte was nice and creamy, and had a nice flavor and was not too sweet . The toasty was pretty good! it had a lovely amount of sauce, eggs, and vegetables. The Potato toast itself was a bit greasy though, and sat heavy in my stomach after eating. Definitely a meal that you need to go for a walk after eating.

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Big space

Toby's Estate

4.1(14 reviews)

2.1 km•Chippendale

Toby's Estate turned out to be one of the best cafe in Sydney to get good, single origin coffee at…read morea reasonable price. Located next to Victoria Park and near Uni Row, I was surprised to have found this gem that the locals get to enjoy everyday. Walking in, a barista takes your order for takeaway and has you standing behind them as they make your order. There is plenty of seating inside, but those are reserved for those dining in. They have their roastery in the back, with large windows separating from the cafe. We had visited twice here and each time was a great experience. I had the opportunity to try both their Ethiopian and their Guatemalan long blacks, and the tasting notes do stand out. They have a variety of coffee beans you can purchase, along with a more limited selection of teas. Toby's Estate is a must try for all coffee aficionados in the area.

I found out about this place through a friend who noted that they landed the top spot on the…read moreWorld's 100 Best Coffee Shops ranking, but I liked my hotel cappuccino better than their flat white! I'm not a coffee snob, so maybe I'm way off. One thing I did love was how their baristas are around the counter rather than behind it, so you can chat and watch as they make your drink! The jury is still out on when the coffee world will standardize a flat white, according to my barista

Interior space

Merchandise for purchase

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Storefront

At Tea

5.0(1 review)

1.9 km•Chippendale

Yum Cha is my favourite weekend ritual, so it was perfect opportunity to venture out and try…read moresomewhere new. At Tea is conveniently located at Duo Central Park, Chippendale (about 10 min walk from central station, near Sheraton Four Points). At Tea is a boutique Yum Cha restaurant, that is redefining your Yum Cha experience with matching teas. Everything is made to order, so you can pick at your tummy's content without waiting on the yum cha trolley to come around. We dined on a selection of dumplings: prawn hargow, xiao long bao, shumai, jiaozi and wonton soup. And enjoyed perfectly accompanied hot teas: orange pu'er and chrysanthemum & wolfberries and cold brews: Sydney sweetheart. We thoroughly enjoyed the tea and dumpling selection, my highlight was the chilli/xo sauce dumplings and fried chicken. This is one Yum Cha dining experience you'll want to treat yourself and the family to. Big thank you to @at_tea_duo for having me over

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Bright and clean ambiance

Twelve Squares

4.7(3 reviews)

1.8 km•Chippendale

•$

I'm locked up in a nearby hotel for mandatory quarantine and the morning delivery of perfect Sydney…read morecoffee from Twelves Squares is the highlight of my day!!! Thank you so so much Francesca and team for the special deliveries while i work US West Coast hours - and in the rain!!! Appreciate you!!

Great service! Campus coffee and delicious bagels!!! Love…read morethis place. Also great desserts including carrot cake and choc brownies. Days when I've had yo many bagels they also do a great vegimite, avo and cheese jaffle!!

Cream cheese bagel

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Batman to the rescue!

Single O Surry Hills

4.5(161 reviews)

1.8 km•Surry Hills

One of my favorite spots I went to during my trip. They…read morehave an espresso flight which I loved. Got the mothership bowl and the corn fritters which were both perfect and sooo yummy. Has in/out seating which can get a little hot on a hot day. Service overall was standard and quite good.

Excellent coffee, friendly service, and cute ambiance…read more We ordered their filter flight and all the pours were outstanding. On the day we went, they featured beans from Honduras "Marcala" & Sumatra "Putra Gayo Washed". The cold brew they served us came from Colombia. I was most impressed by their cold brew - it was light, fruity/floral, and super creamy. I can't think of any places in the US that does cold brews that well. My husband's favorite was the Honduras Marcala as it was very easy on the tongue, "sip easy" indeed it was. Luckily we got there early enough to snag seating outdoors. The place filled up quickly during our time there with a line out the door by the time we paid at the cash register.

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Take Away Ordering

The Bean Brewers

4.1(10 reviews)

•$

The food here is amazing and the people are so nice! There is a nice assortment of food for…read morebreakfast and lunch. Would definitely recommend to stop in and get a coffee and something to eat.

Bar Mattino is a surprisingly busy little joint for its whereabouts (tucked into Chippendale on…read moreAbercrombie street). Sebastian, the robust English chef, serves up traditional and delicious café cuisine for breakfast and lunch on weekdays and a beautiful roast for Sunday lunch. He's funny at best, though I might warn you not to sit too close to the kitchen unless you want to overhear a colorful monologue of cynicism and crude jokes. Some winning items on the menu include the "Big Salad" which changes daily and can include a delicious mixture of pumpkin, cous cous, eggplant, walnuts, raisins, and any other odds and ends the chef decides to add on the day. I recommend ordering it with poached chicken, which is as tender as can be. Another popular item is the BLT, served on Turkish bread. Careful though, it's big enough to feed your entire family of seven. If you can appreciate a good chip (or 2 dozen), Bar Mattino's are hand cut and fried to perfection. Lastly, I would highly and enthusiastically recommend the house made brownie, for which I solely blame the gain of 3 kilos. It's chocoloatey, and melty, and powered sugary and just ALL good.

Pretty yummy! Mushroom about toast

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Vegan breakfast burrito

Gibbons Street Cafe

5.0(2 reviews)

1.3 km•Redfern

My Airbnb was just across the street, and I couldn't have been more lucky in finding this little…read moregem. The food is as gorgeous as it is delicious. I sincerely think this is some of the most creative breakfast I've ever experienced. The staff is super-friendly.