Best cafes in Kensington

Best cafes in Kensington, ranked

1. #1Cafe YS9 for a slow weekend brunch

   $$Outdoor seating🌳 Raleigh Park, 2 min walk

   Cafe YS9 on Todman Avenue opens seven days, with weekend hours from 7:30am to 3:30pm. Order the prawn patty burger or the big breakfast, which customers call generous for the price. Regulars return for the iced matcha, and iced chocolate is another favourite. Outdoor tables are on site, and Raleigh Park is a two-minute walk, so a brunch here pairs well with a stroll afterwards.

   Best for: Weekend brunch and big breakfasts

2. #2Cafe Jack's for an early family breakfast

   $$Outdoor seating🌳 Kokoda Memorial Park, 1 min walk

   Cafe Jack's on Anzac Parade is the first to open on this list, at 4:30am on weekdays and Saturdays and 6am on Sundays. Order the Zucchini Breakfast or the Brekky Bowl, then finish with a milkshake, which several visitors single out. The kids' menu and generous plates suit a family table. Kokoda Memorial Park is a one-minute walk, so the children can run off some energy after the meal.

   Best for: Early breakfast with the kids

3. #3Bar Lucio for a long sit on the covered balcony

   $Outdoor seating🌳 Wills Reserve, 3 min walk

   Bar Lucio on Lenthall Street has a covered balcony and an alfresco area, so it suits anyone planning to sit a while. Order the wood-fired panino or the mortadella focaccia, and add the avocado bruschetta if you are sharing. It opens at 6:30am on weekdays and 7am at weekends, and closes at 3pm. Baked goods and desserts change daily, and Wills Reserve is a three-minute walk away.

   Best for: Outdoor sitting and panini

4. #4MAZE Coffee & Food for a quick weekday wrap

   $🌳 Alumni Park, 1 min walk

   MAZE Coffee & Food on High Street is open weekdays only, from 6:30am until 4pm Monday to Thursday and 3pm on Friday. The chicken, spinach, cheese and tomato wrap is the one to try, and the menu covers breakfast and lunch wraps at budget prices. Food comes wrapped in paper, so it travels easily to Alumni Park, a minute's walk away. Waits for a takeaway order tend to be short, though some visitors find the counter service curt.

   Best for: Weekday takeaway wraps and coffee

5. #5Home Ground Kiosk for campus coffee with outdoor tables

   $Outdoor seating🌳 Merilyn Sleigh Lawn, 1 min walk

   You will find Home Ground Kiosk on Science Road, close to the UNSW sports centre. It is open weekdays from 7:30am to 5pm. Coffee drinkers name the cappuccino most often, and the coconut chicken bowl is the lunch dish to order. Outdoor seats look over the lawns, and Merilyn Sleigh Lawn is a one-minute walk away. Prices run a little above other campus outlets, though the lighter lunch options are the reason some visitors pay it.

   Best for: Campus coffee and a healthy lunch

6. #6Stable Talk Cafe for a family meal or a group

   $$🌳 Kokoda Memorial Park, 5 min walk

   Stable Talk Cafe on Anzac Parade opens at 6am on weekdays and 6:30am on Saturdays. Its menu runs from steak, burgers and pasta to eggs on a roll and avocado toast, and portions are generous. High chairs make it easy for families with little ones, and groups can sit together. Recent reviews flag inconsistent mains and coffee, so ask for a dish cooked to order. Kokoda Memorial Park is five minutes on foot.

   Best for: Family meals and group tables

7. #7The Little Marionette at UNSW for a fast espresso between lectures

   $🌳 Michael Birt Gardens, 1 min walk

   The Little Marionette at UNSW sits behind Clancy Auditorium at Gate 9, open weekdays from 7am to 4pm. Its two La Marzocco machines keep drinks moving, and the espresso is praised even when the queue is long. Try the long black, or the iced mocha with hazelnut syrup, a favourite among customers. Cakes and pastries sit in the cabinet, and Michael Birt Gardens is a one-minute walk for a break outdoors.

   Best for: Quick espresso and iced mochas

8. #8Caffe Brioso for an oat latte on a study break

   $🌳 Library Lawn, 1 min walk

   Caffe Brioso serves takeaway coffee from the Morven Brown Building at UNSW, open weekdays from 7am to 6:30pm, and 6pm on the last weekday. Order the oat latte, which visitors praise for its smooth finish, or try the chai and iced matcha. Everything is served in takeaway cups for a walk across the lawns, and Library Lawn is a one-minute walk away. There is no kids' menu, so it works best as a short stop. Visitors report that drinks from the cart can taste weak late in the day.

   Best for: Takeaway coffee between classes

Compare best cafes in Kensington

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

How we picked best cafes in Kensington

Cafes were ordered by a score that weighs customer feedback by how much of it there is, so a cafe with a long record counts for more than a newer one. Every cafe went through a check for brunch, weekend hours, outdoor tables and dog policy. Dog rules were not confirmed for these cafes, so ask before bringing one. Food and coffee were judged on what each cafe is known for.