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    Tropicana Caffe

    3.3 (24 reviews)
    Closed 5:00 am - 11:00 pm

    Tropicana Caffe Photos

    TROPICANA CAFFE ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Moderate noise
    Casual
    Outdoor seating
    Good for groups

    Recommended Reviews - Tropicana Caffe

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    Chicken salad
    Annabelle W.

    Living locally this is another favourite!! I love that I can either have a huge pig out with a massive bowl of pasta or grab a healthy salad if I'm not super hungry. The spaghetti gamberi is a winner! For $19.90 it's a HUGE bow of pasta in a tomato white wine sauce filled with yummy prawns. You also have the option to get creative with the pasta. I get them to make me fettuccine Napoletana with bacon, olives and chilies. On occasion they have home made gnocchi and its to die for. With the salads I can't go past the chicken salad that comes with potato wedges in it!!! I also love the summer salad with chicken. The wine is so cheap and its not a bad drop. You can get a bottle of house red for $15 or a glass for $3. If you're looking for a quick cheap delicious eat than Tropicana is your place!

    Ana S.

    Tropicana café may or very well may not be your cup of tea. If you're a green tea drinker then I'm going to say you're fairly health conscious and with that very clear scientifically unstable conclusion I would say you're going to like it. They have about 8 to 10 different hearty salads, one that comes with tuna and egg plus lots of salad bits or the chicken salad which comes with grilled individually sliced pieces of chicken and sliced avocado and potato wedges (yes, I know, so good) and tomato and all the rest of the salad bits (because, really, who cares). If you're a black tea drinker then you're like me and if you're like me you love pasta. I go for the pasta I can't remember to spell or pronounce (Aunnlulta?) You can choose the pasta (fettuccine, penne, spaghetti etc) and then it comes with chicken, mushroom and zucchini in a cream sauce. It was really very good. No unnecessary superlatives there. If you're an iced tea drinker I'm going to say you like sandwiches (they tend to go very well with iced tea) and if you're going for the Focaccia sandwiches go for the pollo: chicken, avocado, cheese and lettuce. Another brilliant invention along with the light bulb. This is a bit of a trendy place but if you were anything that would mean the opposite you wouldn't be in Darlinghurst to begin with so I wouldn't worry about it. Tell the lovely lady or the crabby guy behind the counter what you want, give them the number of where you'll be sitting (look behind you and at the ceiling) and wait for the obligatory 5 minutes for your food.

    Joel Amigo H.

    Let's start with a bit of Sydney history. The original Tropfest film festival (hopefully everyone knows about this - as it's amazing) was called Tropicana Short Film Festival, and started in the very cafe over 10 years ago. More than 200 people showed up for that first screening. Inspired by the turn out, John Polson decided that a full-fledged short film festival was the next step. The meals are relatively cheap in comparison to other sit down restaurants in Darlinghurst, although it is more of a take-away service, and less than an adequate level of food. I've had salads there which were dry, and my friends chicken schnitzel was very thin. This is a great meeting spot in Darlinghurst, as many people know where it is, and the coffee isn't horrible. I'd only recommend the cheap breakfasts, as they're very hard to screw up. If you're in the mood for a bit more of a vibe, I'm sure you're the more lively and culture type (as you're on this awesome website) then hit the streets and avoid this place. Good history, but not so good present.

    Violetta C.

    Very nice spot and it's popular, lots of food options and great atmosphere. Great coffee always and snacks !

    Julia W.

    For a place that is touted as somewhere to 'sit and be seen' Tropicana is remarkably humble for what is a Sydney institution. A great spot for a quick causal lunch or dinner, 'Trop' has a cool canteen vibe. The system works by pre-ordering/pre-paying at the counter then the food is brought to your table. The atmosphere is typically bustling with an eclectic, but never too cool, crowd. The food is simple Italian dishes done well. My personal favorites are the Invernale Pasta (try it in a pink sauce) and the Chicken Salad which is big enough to be a meal in itself. The value is excellent with the average meal price at $15-$20. Tropicana is cash only.

    Cafe interior
    Danielle L.

    You know Tropfest right? Well this is the place where it all started....a cafe on the famous Victoria Street Strip... I think this place has been here for forever - or at least i can't remember a time when it wasn't around. it's one of those Sydney icons that everyone knows... It opens at 6am so its a great place to visit if you have an early start. The dishes are simple - nothing too fancy - but they do the job of helping you feel satisfied.... my morning suggestion would be Uova in Cocotte (Vegetarian) - $10.70 Hash brown, mushroom, onion, 2 eggs, tasty cheese & toast... Now if you're getting up late in the day, may i suggest you stop by for salad. Of course I'm going to recommend - the Tropicana Salad - cos & rocket lettuce, tomato, boiled egg, tuna, grilled capsicum, sun dried tomato & tropicana dressing. ($12.70).... it's really really delicious and suprisingly exciting for a salad.... Its a chilled place - so don't expect anything fancy - it's a great place to grab a cheap snack with a friend or to watch the interesting crowd which makes its way from Kings Cross to Darlinghurst.

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    12 years ago

    Great place for a big salad or a pasta. Cash only. Nice, but no fluff. Open late. Good to know about!

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    8 years ago

    Used to be one of my favorites but unfortunately has changed hands. Food and service are now terrible. What a shame. Never going back.

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    10 years ago

    Visiting for a few days and came upon this restaurant for dinner. It was quick, tasty and reasonably priced. Warning, they only take cash.

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    Review Highlights - Tropicana Caffe

    n. A great spot for a quick causal lunch or dinner, 'Trop' has a cool canteen v

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    Spring Espresso Bar

    Spring Espresso Bar

    4.5(2 reviews)
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    Celebrity spotted! For some reason this is a common catchcry at Spring Espresso. I have no idea…read morewhy, considering it looks like a normal cafe. Also this is usually a 2nd option for a lot of people when the line at Fratelli Paradiso across the road is too long... My experience here was really good. The coffee was excellent and the breakfast of eggs with bacon done well. Oh and I had a side of David Wenham. I dropped my menu and he was the guy at the adjacent table that picked it up for me. I said thanks and he said you're welcome. Then I did the double take and my friend was about to lose it. But luckily we both kept calm and tried to concentrate on my eggs. This is apparently his favourite breakfast place and also of many other beautiful people in Sydney due to the good coffee. So if you want a bit of sparkle with your coffee, Spring Espresso is where to go to stalk...errr....eat lol.

    The tiny cafés of Spring Espresso and La Buvette, on Challis Street just off Macleay, are nearly…read moreindistinguishable. Each has only about 4 places to sit, in the entryway or on the pavement, and our guide book suggested picking whichever had the first free seat. We sat at Spring Espresso and had a fabulous breakfast. This isn't hard in Australia, but this one was tops for quality and the chic feel. My waffles with fruit were perfect; the coffee was heaven. The café has a very European feel in its size, decor and ambience. Even the service felt European: efficient but far from in-your-face. Very popular with the gay crowd, too.

    Tropicana Caffe - italian - Updated May 2026

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