Best cafes in Erskineville

Best cafes in Erskineville, ranked

1. #1Coffee Cult for espresso and a quick takeaway coffee

   $🐕 Dogs outsideOutdoor seating🌳 Harry Noble Reserve, 1 min walk

   Coffee Cult is a small cafe on Swanson Street where espresso is the main order. Get the espresso or piccolo on the Rose St Blend, or pick up a custard tart from the counter. Regulars say the team remembers their orders. Many take the coffee away, and there are outside tables. Dogs can sit outside, and the closest park is Harry Noble Reserve.

2. #2Parliament on King for hot chocolate and weekend coffee

   $Outdoor seating🌳 Devine Street Reserve, 3 min walk

   Parliament on King is a small cafe and bookshop on King Street. Diners often name the hot chocolate as the drink to order, and the coffee is made carefully and never burnt. The china saucers are blue and white. The room is tiny, and the shelves hold second-hand books. It is open on weekends and some Thursday evenings from 7pm to 10pm. Devine Street Reserve is a three-minute walk, and the shop hosts community events.

3. #3Foodcraft for steak and eggs and a dinner out

   $$Outdoor seating🌳 Kirsova 1 Playground, 2 min walk

   Foodcraft on Bridge Street has plenty of room and a quieter feel than the main strip. Order the steak and eggs or the steak sandwich, which diners praise for thick, juicy steak. The menu is short and changes every day. It is open until 8:30pm on Tue and Wed, and 9pm on Thu and Fri. There are indoor and outdoor tables. Kirsova 1 is the nearest playground, two minutes away.

4. #4Naked Brew for big brunch plates and a menu for dogs

   $$🐕 Dogs outsideOutdoor seating🌳 Harry Noble Reserve, 1 min walk

   Naked Brew on Swanson Street has outside tables, and dogs have a menu of their own. Order the smashed falafel on avocado sourdough, the crispy chicken burger with chips, or the chicken and waffles. Plates arrive generously garnished with fresh herbs, pickled onion and a poached egg. Kids and vegetarians both have dishes to choose from. Harry Noble Reserve is a one-minute walk away, so it suits a lunch after a park visit.

5. #5Fleetwood Macchiato for creative lunches and takeaway beans

   $$🐕 Dogs outsideOutdoor seating🌳 Green Bans Park, 2 min walk

   Fleetwood Macchiato is a specialty coffee cafe on Erskineville Road with street tables. Diners keep naming the kimchi pancake and the brisket sandwich, and the house chilli oil is worth asking for. Housemade cakes and cookies sit on the counter, including a rich chocolate cake. Beans and tea can be bought to take home. Dogs are welcome at the street tables, and the nearest park is Green Bans Park.

6. #6Cafe Sofia for healthy lunches and a back courtyard

   $$Outdoor seating🌳 Bridge Street Rest Area, 1 min walk

   On the Swanson Street corner, Cafe Sofia keeps its kitchen up front and seating out back. The sumac labneh eggs and a green goddess bowl are the dishes to order. Customers say the food is fresh and good value, and the serves are a good size. The coffee is described as great, and the cups are made specially for the cafe. Bridge Street Rest Area is a one-minute walk away.

7. #7Cafe Yolk for brunch with kids and dogs

   $🐕 Dogs outsideOutdoor seating🌳 Kirsova 1 Playground, 1 min walk

   Cafe Yolk is an Asian-leaning cafe on MacDonald Street that serves breakfast and lunch all day. The menu also has burgers, salads and a cooked breakfast list. Diners reach for the cabbage pancake and the okra avocado toast. Dogs and kids are common at the outdoor tables, and gluten free bread is on offer. Flat whites and mochas come in grey ceramic cups. Kirsova 1 Playground is about a minute from the door.

8. #8Shenkin for weekend brunch and coffee that regulars return for

   $$Outdoor seating🌳 Green Bans Park, 2 min walk

   Shenkin sits on Erskineville Road with a bright room, vintage touches and a backyard full of plants. Plates to try are the beetroot hummus avocado toast and the sourdough eggs scrambled with smoked salmon. A few diners say the coffee is the reason they keep coming back, and pastries sit alongside it for a quick cup. Service stays warm when the room fills up. Green Bans Park is a short walk off, so it suits a quick coffee before a stroll.

Compare best cafes in Erskineville

The table below compares price, brunch, outdoor seating, dogs and weekend opening for each cafe.

How we picked best cafes in Erskineville

Ordering runs on a score that weighs each average by how many customers gave it, so a cafe with a large base ranks above one with a handful of votes. The brunch menus, weekend hours, dog policy and outdoor tables were checked for each cafe. Food and coffee notes come from the cafes' own pages, reworded here.