NearMe

Best cafes in Hornsby

Last updated

SteamTank Coffee leads this list of Hornsby cafes because its coffee is consistently good, it opens early, and Cenotaph Park is a minute away. The page covers cafes that do the most things well overall, from an early coffee to a sit-down brunch. The rest of the list covers Korean rice bowls, warm muffins, sourdough, burgers and a mocha worth the walk.

Quick picks in Hornsby

  • Best for an early coffee before work: SteamTank Coffee opens at 5am on weekdays.
  • Best for a brunch with kids and a dog: The Dining and Co has a kids' menu and dogs are allowed outside.
  • Best for a Korean rice bowl: PIONA's kimchi fried rice is the dish to order.
  • Best for a warm muffin to take away: Muffin Break Hornsby bakes its muffins on site.
  • Best for a loaf of sourdough: Pattison's Patisserie sells sourdough to take home.

Best cafes in Hornsby, ranked

  1. #1SteamTank Coffee for an early coffee before work

    $🌳 Cenotaph Park, 1 min walk

    SteamTank Coffee sits on Station Street and opens its doors before most of the street wakes. Espresso and batch brew are both on offer, and regulars come back for the consistent coffee and friendly staff. The toasties are a good-value way to start the day. A takeaway cup can be carried over to the benches at Cenotaph Park, which is a minute on foot.

    Best for: Early-morning coffee before work

  2. #2PIONA for kimchi fried rice with a quick coffee

    $Outdoor seating🌳 Cenotaph Park, 2 min walk

    PIONA is a small takeaway-style cafe on Florence Street, next to the station entrance. The kimchi fried rice comes in a bowl with a fried egg and shredded seaweed, and customers also name the bulgogi rice. Coffee is made with Seven Miles beans. Mains are mostly under $20 and arrive quickly. Cenotaph Park is a couple of minutes' stroll off.

    Best for: Korean rice bowls and a quick coffee

  3. #3Bunker Bean for good-value coffee and a bacon and egg roll

    $Outdoor seating🌳 Cenotaph Park, 1 min walk

    Bunker Bean is a no-frills coffee shop on Station Street, open from 6am on weekdays and 7am on Saturdays. Its breakfast deals keep the coffee good value, and the bacon and egg rolls are the food regulars name first. Outdoor tables and step-free access make it an easy takeaway stop. Cenotaph Park sits right next door for a break with the cup.

    Best for: Good-value coffee on the way to the train

  4. #4The Dining and Co for a family brunch with a dog

    $$🐕 Dogs outsideOutdoor seating🌳 Storey Park, 3 min walk

    The Dining and Co on Peats Ferry Road serves breakfast, brunch and lunch, with a kids' menu and high chairs. Dogs are allowed outside at the tables. The ham and cheese croissant and eggs on sourdough are the dishes diners single out, and the cakes are well stocked. Weekday trade starts at 7am, weekend trade at 8am. Storey Park is a short stroll away.

    Best for: Families and dog owners at brunch

  5. #5Muffin Break Hornsby for warm muffins to take away

    $🌳 Willow Park, 5 min walk

    Muffin Break Hornsby sits in the Westfield Hornsby food court on Pacific Highway. Each muffin is made on the premises, and customers find them tastier after a quick warm-up. Hot chocolate and takeaway coffee are praised for arriving hot. Opening runs from 7am most days, and the shop stays open later on Thu. Willow Park lies about five minutes off on foot.

    Best for: Warm muffins and hot chocolate to take away

  6. #6Pattison's Patisserie for sourdough to take home

    🌳 Cenotaph Park, 3 min walk

    Pattison's Patisserie is inside Westfield Hornsby and sells French-style pastries, pies, macarons and cakes. Its sourdough is the loaf customers name most, and the raspberry friand is praised for its buttery richness. Coffee is roasted in-house and served to order, which suits a break while shopping. Whole cheesecakes come boxed to take away. Cenotaph Park is a quick walk from the centre.

    Best for: Sourdough, cakes and a coffee break

  7. #7The Refinery espresso for a generous breakfast or burger

    $🐕 Dogs outsideOutdoor seating🌳 Hornsby Park, 2 min walk

    The Refinery espresso on Coronation Street serves breakfast, brunch and lunch, and diners describe the portions as generous. The bruschetta with smashed avocado and poached eggs suits a slow breakfast, and the burger with chips suits a quick lunch. The cafe roasts its own beans, and dogs are allowed outside. Hornsby Park is only two minutes off.

    Best for: Generous breakfasts and roasted beans

  8. #8The Team Coffee for mochas made with good cocoa

    $🌳 James Park, 4 min walk

    The Team Coffee is set back on Palmerston Road and serves breakfast and lunch from 6am on weekdays. Its mochas are the drink customers single out, made with good-quality cocoa. Bacon and egg rolls sit in the cabinet, and the halloumi plate with smashed avocado and tomato is a lunch choice. Some visitors call the portions small for the price, so check the size before ordering. James Park is a few minutes' walk off.

    Best for: Mochas and a breakfast or lunch stop

Compare best cafes in Hornsby

The table below compares price, brunch, outdoor seating, dogs and weekend opening for each pick, with the nearest park.

CafePriceBrunchOutdoorDogsWeekendsNearest park
SteamTank Coffee$✓✗–SatCenotaph Park, 1 min
PIONA$✓✓–SatCenotaph Park, 2 min
Bunker Bean$✓✓–SatCenotaph Park, 1 min
The Dining and Co$$✓✓Outside✓Storey Park, 3 min
Muffin Break Hornsby$✓––✓Willow Park, 5 min
Pattison's Patisserie–✓––✓Cenotaph Park, 3 min
The Refinery espresso$✓✓OutsideSatHornsby Park, 2 min
The Team Coffee$✓––SatJames Park, 4 min
Jiminis Cafe$$✓✗–✓Cenotaph Park, 3 min
Little Sparrow$–––✓Cenotaph Park, 3 min
18 GRAMS$$✓––✓Willow Park, 5 min
Soul Origin Hornsby Westfield$✓✗–✓Cenotaph Park, 4 min
Cafe Florence$$✓✓–✓Cenotaph Park, 3 min
Oliver Brown Hornsby$✓✓–✓Cenotaph Park, 2 min
Brewhaha$$✓✓–✓Hornsby Park, 2 min

How we picked best cafes in Hornsby

Cafes are ordered by overall score, with a cafe that has a large body of visitor opinion weighted above one with only a few. This list also weighs brunch on the menu, weekend opening, dogs inside or outside and outdoor tables. Each cafe's own page was then read for what it does with food and coffee, and the cafes that do the most of these things well stay near the top.

Best cafes in Hornsby: FAQ

Which Hornsby cafes open early for coffee?

SteamTank Coffee and The Refinery espresso both open at 5am on weekdays. Bunker Bean opens at 6am on weekdays, which is still early enough for a coffee before the train.

Which Hornsby cafes let dogs sit outside?

The Dining and Co and The Refinery espresso both allow dogs outside. PIONA and Bunker Bean have outdoor seating too, but their listings say nothing about dogs.

Where can I get brunch in Hornsby on a Sunday?

The Dining and Co is the brunch pick for Sundays, open from 8am until 4pm. Muffin Break Hornsby and Pattison's Patisserie also open on Sundays, but they suit a muffin or a cake more than a full brunch.

Which Hornsby cafe is closest to Cenotaph Park?

SteamTank Coffee and Bunker Bean are each about a minute from Cenotaph Park, which makes them the closest picks on this page.