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    Workshop Espresso

    4.2 (83 reviews)
    InexpensiveCafes
    Closed 6:00 am - 6:00 pm

    Workshop Espresso Photos

    WORKSHOP ESPRESSO ATMOSPHERE

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    Moderate noise
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    Recommended Reviews - Workshop Espresso

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    Bacon + Egg Roll w/ Chili Jam, Workshop Espresso
    Dan P.

    As you alight from Town Hall station the first thing you'll likely see is the throng of people milling around Workshop waiting for their fix. This place certainly looks the part. Attractive design, attractive staff, attractive nibbles. The place is abuzz with acitivity. I counted no less than 6 people behind the coffee counter, 2 out the back making food to order and 1 girl out the front (taking turns with another girl) to hand out the coffees/food. The service was fast. No doubt about that. 5 stars for service. Today I ordered a bacon and egg roll w/ chilli jam AND my standard litmus test, the large soy latte. The bacon and egg roll was a 4-star delight. It hit the spot. Sadly peeps this is where all the fun ends. The coffee wasn't good, and my expectation was already high. After Gumption yesterday, the coffee at Workshop isn't even in the same galaxy. So whilst everything else about the place seems to be working just peachy and is the reason for the popularity, the coffee just does not cut it. Too weak and uninspired unfortunately... Such a shame :(

    Salted Caramel Cronut: $5.50
    Paul V.

    The fantastic coffee shop culture in Sydney is so varied and top notch that it can quickly turn you into a bit of a coffee shop snob, and I'll admit that when I stumbled across Workshop Espresso I assumed that it was just some overpriced spot that leveraged it's location to get away with otherwise subpar offerings. I was wrong. Star 1: How were the service and atmosphere? If I worked in a coffee shop where the location was such that lines ten or fifteen folks deep were commonplace I'd probably be a pretty horrible person to be around come midday, but that's far from the case with the staff at Workshop Espresso, who I've decided are actually the reason Workshop lines get so lengthy. Friendly and cheerful even late in the morning, the staff helped me navigate the menu in a way where you wouldn't have guessed they still had to tend to six people in line behind me. Star Granted. Star 2: How were the portions relative to the cost? I don't have a ton of experience with cronuts, but I do know that they're typically pretty spendy stateside being a novelty item and whatnot. With that in mind, I was maybe a bit surprised when my salted caramel cronut came to only $5.50. Not huge but also not small, this was decent value to pair with my coffee, which was also priced competitively. Star Granted. Stars 3 and 4: How was the food? Good? Yes. Great? Not entirely. The consistency and flavor of my cronut was good, but if I'd closed my eyes and taken I bite I'm not sure I would have known that it was a salted caramel cronut. There was melted caramel on the top yes, but given the flaky nature of the cronut that really only made it such that the first two or so bites tasted like caramel. Outside of being a little bit lumpy things were gravy from there. Single Star Granted. Star 5: Would you eat here every day if you could? I applaud Workshop Espresso for not falling victim to the trap of being able to get away with sub-par coffee and food items due to a great location. I'll be back, and I'll be back often, but I simply can't say that a cash only spot (where I've decided the cash only nature is also a contributor to the lengthy lines) could commonly trump somewhere that takes cards. That's not my only reason for not giving a star here (I should have gone with the normal and cheaper cronut) No Star Granted.

    Ferdinand W.

    Sumatra single origin, I can sense the beautiful aroma of flowers and dry finished. It's so nice and strong with pleasant finished for who love the single origin coffee.

    Salmon & mashed avocado on Miche
    Lital K.

    This is the first place I have ventured into after bookmarking it based on a few yelp reviews. Exciting times. This little venue pumps out great food and coffee, in a timely manner in the middle of the CBD. I had previously always thought the CBD was a bit of a let down when it came to food and drinks but the last year has seen a few gems popping up. Aesthetically this place has an Italian feel, crossed with trendy, crossed with practicality so pretty much ticks all the boxes. Being in the middle of the CBD I guess it gets a massive amount of Takeaway trade so I was lucky to find a little stool to perch on this morning, albeit a little cramped. I copied a fellow yelper and totally went with the salmon recommendation of Chris H. And boy was it divine. My food came out a smidgen before my coffee which is a pet hate but man they were slammed so I will give them benefit of the doubt this time round. Coffee was solid, although lacking in rich crema, and a bit on the milky side but I might grab a different style next time. All in all I would for sure go back! Loved the feel, loved the staff, loved the food and yay! There is finally some decent coffee in the CBD!

    Mmmmm small flat white $3.50
    Peter A.

    I have been to this place a couple of times for an early morning caffeine hit and the coffee is consistently good. The place is always flat out! With lines sometimes going down the street, which attracts more people to lineup (how I first tried it!) I haven't tried any food from the workshop but the food selection seems simple and tasty. I believe in most cases that simple is tasty. I will defs go back and maybe get a bacon and egg roll..

    BAT - bacon Avocado (smashed) Tomato
    Ed L.

    This tiny hole in the wall on George Street became the Go To coffee place for many who work around there! The service is always fantastic. I often grab breakfast there - the chorizo roll is yummy. Be warned. Limited choice on the food menu (not many healthy options...) and it can get very crowded.

    Melissa H.

    Awesome coffee and phenomenal sandwiches. Definitely worth a visit when you are in Sydney. During my stay there, i get my skinny latte from them every morning. The line is always long if you don't go early enough but it's worth it! One day for breakfast I had their BAT sandwich (bacon, avocado, tomato) and i was... blown away. Thick, juicy bacon with generous amount of avocado. I'm a fan. I'm a huge fan. Then I scarfed down the sandwich in 30 seconds.

    Ben L.

    Workshop Espresso is consistently one of the best coffees in Sydney. Whenever I am in the Town Hall area I stop here and get a coffee. It's a charming little place whose only problem is that it is frequently busy due to its high quality and popularity. It is also a stockist of Sonoma bread (perhaps the best sourdough in Sydney). Get in early if you want a loaf as they disappear quickly.

    Alice T.

    What on earth is clogging up the footpath? I'm just trying to cross George Street here and hoards of expectant looking coffee drinkers are blocking my path. So of course I just join the queue! This is how I discovered Workshop Espresso. A classic case of 'if you can't beat 'em, join 'em.' And I'm very glad I did! These guys know their coffee and churn them out in impressive fashion. I'm always a bit dubious when the line moves too quickly - a proper coffee takes some time! - but my wait was just right and my skim cap was gooooood! I now have a coffee card and from now on I shall be doing my bit to block the footpath!

    Chris H.

    Great coffee, great food. Tempted to leave the review at that ;) A friend tipped me off about this place (thanks Mim!), I would not have expected to find this place where it is, nestled in a funky little shop amongst the tall steel and glass buildings surrounding it. The place is only small, but there is a nice, little bench and table to sit and chill, if you feel like it (at least, I was there on a quiet day, not sure if this place gets busier during the week), or just grab your stuff to go and head to the park. I originally just went for the coffee (Tobys estate, btw) en-route somewhere else to get lunch, but the sight of the smashed avocado and smoked salmon bruschetta persuaded me to pull up a bench and order one as well. Two of my favourite things in one dish :)

    Lydia A.

    This was one of my first and favourite encounters with Sydney's coffee culture. On George Street opposite the Queen Victoria Building, Workshop is distinguished by the queue that eternally lingers around its premises. The queue is worth joining, too, for the gorgeously silky coffees that it produces. It's the smell that hits you first, about 20 metres down the street, a rich, caffeinated waft of freshly ground coffee beans. They offer the usual varieties of coffee - cappuccino, long black, latte, flat white, hot chocolate, mocha - but made with skill, pace and perfection. Coffee is only one aspect to Workshop. They also offer a delicious range of mueslis, yoghurts, toast and other breakfast-items, chunky sandwiches made with Sonoma bread, baguettes, loaves, rolls, pastries, tarts and nibbly biscuit things for dunking into coffee. Yum. It's popular because it's delicious. But the main reason that people continue to stand in the queue, rather than nipping down the road to another café, is because the staff are just so NICE. Despite frothing out coffees at about 100 mph, they still have time to smile, chat and make each customer feel like a million dollars. Some are on first-name-terms, and conversations that start with 'the usual?' are always a good indication of a fantastic shop. Make sure to visit Workshop for an authentic and uplifting encounter with Sydney's coffee culture.

    Cronut and latte

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    9 years ago

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    14 years ago

    Terrific espresso, great bruschetta and sandwiches! A big thank-you to other Yelpers for recommending this place. Outstanding!

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    11 years ago

    Delicious coffee...great service! Nice range of baked goods and oh joy...handbag hooks!

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    Page 3 of 3

    Review Highlights - Workshop Espresso

    This little venue pumps out great food and coffee, in a timely manner in the middle of the CBD.

    Mentioned in 13 reviews

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    Ground Control Cafe

    Ground Control Cafe

    4.0(25 reviews)
    1.3 kmSydney
    $

    This is Major Tom to... No! I won't go down that road, let's try another route. Like the dumbbell…read morewielding moustachioed man of strength at the circus this cold drip coffee connoisseur delights and astounds the crowd as he goes about his daily grind. First impressions count, and GC had me at hello... That 'tash, is to curling what.... Curling is to the winter olympics. Awesome sauce! I fully expect moustache rides will be on the menu if business ever hits the skids. Alas, despite the gleeful charm of the curly coifed one, nothing short of an excellent coffee with character was going to make the all important lasting impression on me and sadly in that area GC disappoints. I gave GC the Soy Latte test and the Long Black test and it just doesn't measure up to other coffee in the area. I like strong coffee with complexity and GC just doesn't have that. It's not the worst but it is very weak despite using the same La Marzocco espresso machine (that Barista's rave about for ease of use) as other places in the area. The service at GC however is very good and to some people that's first priority. So if you aren't too fussy about your coffee and are looking for a smile and a spring in your step from an energetic soul then get your morning fix at GC, and start the day on a happy note.

    Nice little coffee shop right underneath Circular Quay Train Station, at the opposite side to the…read moreferry wharfs. Grab a coffee in your BYO Cup and run for the next train or ferry Or if you have time, take your coffee up to the Cahill Expressway Lookout and relax while enjoying your coffee with a great view over the Quay!

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    Ground Control Cafe
    Ground Control Cafe
    Ground Control Cafe

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    The Grounds of The City

    The Grounds of The City

    4.0(79 reviews)
    0.0 kmSydney
    $$

    Nice spot but where do I begin? I'm always torn when coming to a place but not fully experiencing…read moreit. This place was recommended to us by a local family friend. We came in thinking it was just a coffee shop, but it's essentially a restaurant that also has a focus on coffee. They have a full bar and a window to the outside where you can order just coffee and tea to go. As for the interior it's dimly lit and sort of has romantic date night vibes. We essentially only ordered coffee and one person ordered a cake slice. The lychee cake was pretty good per my aunt. A couple people ordered the Coco Loco, which is basically an espresso martini on steroids with Nutella and something like a Ferrero Rocher. I ordered a latte and their Affogato. The latte was very smooth and BI is arguably one of the best I've ever had. Is the Affogato a cheat code because they use like a tiramisu ice cream? You could argue that case. You can also buy their blends of coffee beans, subject to availability. While the latte was very smooth, I can't say it was mind blowing but it was still pretty good.

    First time in Australia experiencing the culture and culinary experiences. Please take that into…read moreconsideration when reading this. I also reserve 4 and 5 star reviews for exceptional service with unforgettable dining experiences. The ambience is intimate but also noisy. I will say the coffee here and in Australia in general is some of the best coffee I've ever had. I ordered (2) espresso martinis, pancakes, and the sirloin steak breakfast with a side hashbrown. My pancakes were stone cold but I will say the aesthetics on it made it edible. The pistachio butter cream was to die for. My steak was ok ; for the price I simply just wanted more. I could be wrong but I doubt it was even 6oz. If you have this place on your radar be sure to make reservations. This goes for almost every restaurant in Sydney. My server was Cassie who was very personable and even gave us tips on what to watch out for dining in Sydney.

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    The Grounds of The City
    The Grounds of The City - Strawberry chiffon cake  Great to stop and enjoy for afternoon tea

    Strawberry chiffon cake Great to stop and enjoy for afternoon tea

    The Grounds of The City - Outside

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    Outside

    Workshop Espresso - cafes - Updated May 2026

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