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Best cafes in Manly

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Mulatto Coffee leads this list of the best cafes in Manly, with strong coffee from an outdoor stand opposite Keirle Park. The rest of the list covers breakfast and brunch rooms, a Nordic toast menu, a wine bar that serves lasagna, and cafes for a coffee before work. Each cafe is ranked on its standing and on the food, coffee and hours that matter for a morning in Manly.

Quick picks in Manly

  • Best for a strong coffee on a walk: Mulatto Coffee, a takeaway stand with strong flat whites and dogs welcome outside.
  • Best for a slow weekend brunch: Belgrave Cartel, with a calm room and a menu that runs from breakfast to dinner.
  • Best for Nordic toasts: Fika the Cafe, where the Skagen toast with prawns and dill is the dish to order.
  • Best for a brisket sandwich at lunch: Vini's Cafe, built around a Reuben and open from 7am.
  • Best for a seat with a laptop and an early start: Barefoot Coffee Traders, open from 5:30am.

Best cafes in Manly, ranked

  1. #1Mulatto Coffee for strong coffee on a morning walk

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

    Mulatto Coffee runs a takeaway stand on Pittwater Road, across from Keirle Park. Order a flat white, which customers call strong and smooth, and pair it with a muffin or banana bread from the glass case. The arepas are the savoury dish to try. The stand opens from 7am to 12:30pm every day, and dogs are welcome outside, so it suits a walk with a dog and a takeaway coffee.

    Best for: Strong takeaway coffee on a walk

  2. #2Paolo's Cafe and Aperitivo Bar for smooth coffee before the beach

    $🐕 Dogs outsideOutdoor seating🌳 Ivanhoe Park, 5 min walk

    Paolo's Cafe and Aperitivo Bar at 59 Birkley Road is a cafe where the coffee is the main draw. Customers describe the coffee as smooth and rich, and the staff as friendly even on a first visit. Order the sourdough toastie with cheese and avocado, and the counter also sells croissants, muffins and banana bread. Outdoor seats are available for dogs, and Ivanhoe Park is about five minutes away.

    Best for: Coffee drinkers with a quick breakfast or lunch

  3. #3Belgrave Cartel for a long brunch or a dinner with friends

    $$🐕 Dogs outsideOutdoor seating🌳 Gilbert Park, 1 min walk

    On Belgrave Street, Belgrave Cartel mixes a wine list with a cafe menu, open from 6:30am to 8:30pm every day. Diners name the lasagna most often, and the ragu and arancini are also praised. A bacon and egg roll is a brunch favourite, and focaccia with olives comes to the table at dinner. The room is calm and warm, with art on the walls, and Gilbert Park is one minute on foot.

    Best for: Long brunch and dinner with friends

  4. #4Showbox Coffee for a shakshuka breakfast

    $$🐕 Dogs outside🌳 Gilbert Park, 2 min walk

    Showbox Coffee on Whistler Street is a breakfast and brunch cafe that opens at 6am on most days. The shakshuka is the dish visitors name most, and one says it is full of flavour. Coffee lovers order a mocha, a latte or a batch brew, all praised by recent customers. Dogs can sit outside, but the seating inside is where the room is, and a two-minute stroll takes you to Gilbert Park.

    Best for: Breakfast and coffee before a morning in Manly

  5. #5Fika the Cafe for toasts at breakfast

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

    Fika the Cafe on Market Lane builds its menu around Nordic toasts, served from 7am to 2pm every day. Customers name the Skagen toast most: prawn and dill on dark bread, finished with radish and roe. The Salmon Lover toast is also praised. Vegetarian options and a kids' menu are offered, and Gilbert Park is a two-minute walk away.

    Best for: Nordic toasts and takeaway bakery

  6. #6Little Legends :: Lot61 Coffee Roasters for coffee before work

    Outdoor seating🌳 Gilbert Park, 3 min walk

    Little Legends :: Lot61 Coffee Roasters works from a small room off Rialto Lane, and the coffee comes first. The roaster is LOT61 Coffee Roasters, and the doors open at 6:15am on weekdays. One regular recommends the cold brew and an ice long black nitro, which is not on the menu. Granola bowls with fresh berries and the pastries are the food to order, and Gilbert Park is three minutes on foot.

    Best for: Coffee before work and pastries

  7. #7Barefoot Coffee Traders for a calm sit-down coffee

    $🌳 Gilbert Park, 1 min walk

    Open from 5:30am until 5pm daily, Barefoot Coffee Traders sits on Whistler Street. The waffles run all day, with a choice of chocolate, salted caramel or both, and the espresso is Thunderbird, served as flat whites and long blacks. The window bench catches a breeze and plays good music, so it works for a laptop session. Gilbert Park is a minute from the door.

    Best for: Early starts and a quiet sit-down coffee

  8. #8Vini's Cafe for a sandwich with brisket at lunch

    $$🐕 Dogs outsideOutdoor seating🌳 Gilbert Park, 5 min walk

    Vini's Cafe on Victoria Parade is built around a Reuben sandwich with plenty of brisket, which regulars name more than any other dish. A steak sandwich on a soft, fresh baguette is also praised, and hot cross buns come with butter. Orders are placed at the counter, with outdoor seating out front and step-free entry. A stroll of roughly five minutes gets you to Gilbert Park.

    Best for: Reuben sandwiches and a casual lunch

Compare best cafes in Manly

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

CafePriceBrunchOutdoorDogsWeekendsNearest park
Mulatto Coffee$–✓Outside✓Keirle Park, 2 min
Paolo's Cafe and Aperitivo Bar$✓✓Outside✓Ivanhoe Park, 5 min
Belgrave Cartel$$✓✓Outside✓Gilbert Park, 1 min
Showbox Coffee$$✓✗Outside✓Gilbert Park, 2 min
Fika the Cafe$$✓✓Outside✓Gilbert Park, 2 min
Little Legends :: Lot61 Coffee Roasters–✓✓–✓Gilbert Park, 3 min
Barefoot Coffee Traders$✓✗–✓Gilbert Park, 1 min
Vini's Cafe$$✓✓Outside✓Gilbert Park, 5 min
The Roast Office Cafe$$✓✗–✓Gilbert Park, 7 min
Bluebottle Espresso$✓✓Outside✓Gilbert Park, 4 min
Silo West$✓✓Outside✓Gilbert Park, 2 min
Ruby Lane Wholefoods Cafe$$✓✓Outside✓Lagoon Park, 5 min
A Touch of Europe Bakehouse$–––✓Gilbert Park, 3 min
Barrel One Manly$✓✓Outside✓Gilbert Park, 3 min
Staple Bakery$✓––✓Gilbert Park, 3 min
Girdlers Café$$✓✓–✓Gilbert Park, 3 min
Three Beans Manly$$✓✓Outside✓Gilbert Park, 2 min
Silo Espresso$✓✓Outside✓Gilbert Park, 2 min
Bella Vista$$✓✓Outside✓–
Ripples Little$$✓✓Outside✓Little Manly Point, 2 min
Noon$$✓✓–✓Gilbert Park, 3 min
Cotti Coffee(Manly Beach)$–––✓Gilbert Park, 2 min
Affogato by Chill Bar$–✓Outside–Gilbert Park, 4 min
Fusion Point$$✓✓–✓Gilbert Park, 4 min
Cali Press Cafe & Breakfast$✓––✓Gilbert Park, 4 min
Momo Bar$$✓✓Outside✓Gilbert Park, 1 min
Cove Espresso Co$✓✓–✓Gilbert Park, 3 min
Bluewater Cafe$$✓✓–✓Gilbert Park, 5 min
Gelatissimo––––✓Gilbert Park, 3 min
North Steyne Emporio$✓✓–✓Lagoon Park, 4 min
The Bower$$✓✓Outside✓–
Market Lane Cafe$$✓✓Outside✓Gilbert Park, 2 min
The Corner at Queensie$$✓✗–✓Lagoon Park, 3 min
Charlotte's Little Sister$✓✓–✓Keirle Park, 3 min

How we picked best cafes in Manly

The list leans on overall standing, with extra weight for cafes many customers have scored. Topic facts came next: breakfast and lunch on the menu, weekend hours, dogs inside or outside, and outdoor tables. Each description reflects the food and coffee notes, and the strongest cafes lead.

Best cafes in Manly: FAQ

Which Manly cafes let dogs sit outside?

Mulatto Coffee, Paolo's Cafe and Aperitivo Bar and Vini's Cafe all have outdoor seating where dogs can sit. Several others on the table also allow dogs outside.

Which Manly cafes open before 6am?

Barefoot Coffee Traders opens at 5:30am every day. Showbox Coffee opens at 6am on most days, so both suit an early start.

Which Manly cafes are open on a Sunday morning?

Belgrave Cartel, Showbox Coffee and Barefoot Coffee Traders all open on Sunday mornings. Mulatto Coffee, Paolo's and Fika the Cafe also open on Sundays.

Which Manly cafes serve a brunch menu?

Belgrave Cartel, Showbox Coffee, Fika the Cafe, Little Legends and Barefoot Coffee Traders all serve brunch. Showbox and Fika also have outdoor seating.