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Best cafes in Leichhardt

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Wayne's Place leads this list of Leichhardt cafes, with the widest mix of breakfast, brunch and lunch from 6am. The others are burger counters, an empanada spot and Norton Street cafes that each do one thing better than the rest. Start with the quick picks, then the full list with hours, the nearest park and what to order.

Quick picks in Leichhardt

  • Best for a cooked breakfast: Wayne's Place, with the breakfast burger and the halloumi plate on a sunny deck.
  • Best for a cheap burger: Cafe Especial, where the beef burger is juicy and good value.
  • Best for empanadas and matcha: Adri's Cocina, with small-batch empanadas and a matcha that one visitor rates highest in the suburb.
  • Best for a quiet breakfast: Jarrett Street Cafe, with fluffy scrambled eggs on a residential corner.
  • Best for a long catch-up: La Bottega, with acai bowls, affogato and shaded tables outside.

Best cafes in Leichhardt, ranked

  1. #1Wayne's Place for a cooked breakfast on the sunny deck

    $$🐕 Dogs outsideOutdoor seating🌳 Wangal Nura Park, 3 min walk

    Wayne's Place on Marion Street is open from 6am each day. It closes at 3:30pm on Sundays and 4:30pm on other days. The 1st Scouts plate and the breakfast burger with chorizo are the two to order. Staff will swap ingredients to make a breakfast vegan. Wangal Nura Park is a 3-minute walk, so it is an easy stop before or after a stroll.

    Best for: Cooked breakfast and a sunny deck

  2. #2Cafe Especial for the beef burger and a treat for the dog

    $🐕 Dogs outsideOutdoor seating🌳 36th Battalion Park, 3 min walk

    Cafe Especial on Catherine Street is a small cafe with a short menu built around burgers and toasties. The beef burger is the order here, generous and layered on a glazed bun. Open weekdays from 7am and Saturdays from 7:30am, until 1:30pm. Dogs are welcome at the outdoor tables, where a puppuccino is on the menu. 36th Battalion Park is a 3-minute walk away.

    Best for: Burgers and a casual lunch

  3. #3The Local Tart for big plates at low prices

    $🐕 Dogs outsideOutdoor seating🌳 War Memorial Park, 3 min walk

    Open from 6am Monday to Friday and 6:30am on Saturdays, The Local Tart on Moore Street closes at 2:30pm. The corn fritters, the haloumi and egg burger with a spicy sauce, and the spanakopita are the dishes to order. Portions are large for the price. The coffee is Seven Miles, and a long black comes in a smaller cup so it stays strong. You can also order ahead through Skip. A 3-minute stroll reaches War Memorial Park.

    Best for: Good-value lunch and takeaway

  4. #4Adri's Cocina for empanadas and a quick weekday lunch

    $🐕 Dogs outsideOutdoor seating🌳 Quinn Playground, 2 min walk

    Adri's Cocina sits on the first level of the Italian Forum on Norton Street. It trades from 7:30am to 3pm on weekdays only. The chilli chicken empanada is the one to try, and the chicken and beef versions are also popular. Stacked sandwiches and rolls are made to take away, with vegetarian options. Coffee and matcha are both praised. Quinn Playground sits two minutes away on foot.

    Best for: Empanadas and a weekday takeaway lunch

  5. #5Leichhardt Municipal Cafe for coffee before work

    $$🐕 Dogs outsideOutdoor seating🌳 Marlborough Street Playground, 3 min walk

    Leichhardt Municipal Cafe on Norton Street is a small corner cafe with a takeaway rush on weekday mornings. The breakfast burger with sausage, egg and chipotle on a toasted English muffin is the dish to order. Coffee comes out quickly, which suits a hurried start. Staff stop to chat with the regulars. There is a kids' menu and vegetarian options, and Marlborough Street Playground is a 3-minute walk away.

    Best for: Early coffee and a takeaway rush

  6. #6Mezzapica cafe for fresh bakes and a cooked brunch

    $$🌳 Marlborough Street Playground, 3 min walk

    Mezzapica cafe on Norton Street is small and owner-run, with croissants, almond pastries and sweet scrolls on the counter. The Morning Comfort breakfast and the homemade burger are the cooked options. Wraps and salad sandwiches are made to order, and a pasta with sausage, mushroom and basil comes out at lunch. It trades until 2pm, from 6am on weekdays and 7am on Sundays. The iced caramel latte suits a warm morning.

    Best for: Pastries and a cooked brunch

  7. #7Jarrett Street Cafe for a quiet breakfast on a residential corner

    $Outdoor seating🌳 Quinn Playground, 4 min walk

    Jarrett Street Cafe is a small corner cafe run by a couple. The scrambled eggs are the dish customers single out, and the almond croissant is a good pick from the pastry counter. Bring your own cup and get 10% off the coffee. It starts the day at 6:30am on weekdays and 7am at the weekend. Quinn Playground is a 4-minute walk, so it suits a stroll after breakfast.

    Best for: A calm breakfast and takeaway coffee

  8. #8La Bottega for a long brunch with friends

    $$🐕 Dogs outsideOutdoor seating🌳 Pine Square Reserve, 3 min walk

    La Bottega on Norton Street is an all-day cafe with an Italian-leaning menu and umbrella-shaded tables outside. Order the acai bowl, the affogato with soft serve, or a freddo iced coffee. The pumpkin ravioli special comes with fresh focaccia. The staff are attentive, and the shaded outdoor area suits kids and dogs. It opens at 7:30am on weekdays and 8am on weekends, and Pine Square Reserve is a 3-minute walk away.

    Best for: Brunch with friends and affogato

Compare best cafes in Leichhardt

The table below sets the picks side by side on price, hours and the features each one has.

CafePriceBrunchOutdoorDogsWeekendsNearest park
Wayne's Place$$✓✓Outside✓Wangal Nura Park, 3 min
Cafe Especial$✓✓OutsideSat36th Battalion Park, 3 min
The Local Tart$✓✓OutsideSatWar Memorial Park, 3 min
Adri's Cocina$✓✓Outside✗Quinn Playground, 2 min
Leichhardt Municipal Cafe$$✓✓Outside✓Marlborough Street Playground, 3 min
Mezzapica cafe$$✓––✓Marlborough Street Playground, 3 min
Jarrett Street Cafe$✓✓–✓Quinn Playground, 4 min
La Bottega$$✓✓Outside✓Pine Square Reserve, 3 min
Cafe Jolly$$✓✓–✓Ibrox Park, 2 min
The Carpenter–✓✗–✓Wangal Nura Park, 1 min
Muffin Break Leichhardt Marketplace$✓––✓Lambert Park, 2 min
Grumpy Bean Cafe$$✓✓Outside✓North Street Playground, 1 min
Soul Origin Norton Plaza$✓––✓Pine Square Reserve, 2 min
Organica - Cafe in$✓✓–✓Lambert Park, 3 min
Leaf Cafe & Co Leichhardt$$✓✗–✓Wangal Nura Park, 2 min

How we picked best cafes in Leichhardt

Each cafe was ranked on its overall standing, weighted by how many diners have scored it, so a handful of top marks counts for less than a steady record. Then the list looked at the facts that matter here: breakfast and lunch on the menu, weekday and weekend hours, dogs inside or outside, outdoor tables, and what each cafe's food and coffee are known for.

Best cafes in Leichhardt: FAQ

Which Leichhardt cafe opens earliest for breakfast?

Wayne's Place, Leichhardt Municipal Cafe, The Local Tart and Mezzapica all open at 6am on weekdays. Wayne's Place is the only one that opens at 6am on Sundays as well.

Where can I get a burger in Leichhardt?

Cafe Especial on Catherine Street is built around its beef burger. Leichhardt Municipal Cafe on Norton Street offers a breakfast burger with sausage and chipotle.

Is there a Leichhardt cafe that sells empanadas?

Adri's Cocina, on the first level of the Italian Forum, sells empanadas, with the chilli chicken version a favourite. It is open on weekdays only.

Which Leichhardt cafe is open for lunch on a Sunday?

Wayne's Place serves until 3:30pm on Sundays. Leichhardt Municipal Cafe closes at 2pm on Sundays.