NearMeBest cafes in Sydenham
Last updatedTommy Black Espresso leads this list for coffee and a cooked breakfast, and it opens at 4am most days. Joey's and Meraki coffee follow for different reasons: Joey's for low-priced breakfasts near the station, Meraki for specialty brews. All three are within two minutes' walk of Memory Reserve.
Quick picks in Sydenham
- Best for an early cooked breakfast: Tommy Black Espresso, open from 4am on weekdays with the Breakfast of Champs on the menu.
- Best for a cheap breakfast near the station: Joey's, one minute from Memory Reserve.
- Best for specialty coffee: Meraki coffee, with filter brews and guest roasters from overseas.
Best cafes in Sydenham, ranked
#1Tommy Black Espresso for fast coffee and a cooked breakfast
$Outdoor seating🌳 Memory Reserve, 2 min walkTommy Black Espresso is a small takeaway-style cafe on Burrows Avenue, and it opens earliest of the three at 4am on weekdays. The fry-up at The Breakfast of Champs is the thing to get, and one regular says it is good value at $22.50. Coffee is the other draw: the cold brew has a full body, sweet flavour and some acidity. Parking, toilets and step-free access are listed, and Memory Reserve is a two-minute walk away.
#2Joey's for low-priced breakfast and well-liked coffee near the station
$Outdoor seating🌳 Memory Reserve, 1 min walkJoey's is on Gleeson Avenue, a short walk from the station and one minute from Memory Reserve. Prices are low for the breakfast, lunch and coffee on offer, and customers call the coffee some of the best around, with Toby's Estate beans. The menu also has vegetarian dishes. It opens at 6:30am on weekdays and 7:30am on Saturdays, closing at 4pm.
#3Meraki coffee for specialty brews and a relaxed lunch
$$🐕 Dogs outsideOutdoor seating🌳 Memory Reserve, 2 min walkMeraki coffee on Unwins Bridge Road is the pick for specialty coffee. Filter, batch brew and cold brew sit alongside the espresso drinks, and overseas guest roasters take turns supplying the beans. One cold brew is described as strong with hints of mint and dark chocolate. Customers praise generous portions, and the crispy fish and chips is the food to order. Dogs can sit outside.
Compare best cafes in Sydenham
The table below sets each cafe's price, brunch, outdoor tables, dog policy and weekend trading side by side.
| Cafe | Price | Brunch | Outdoor | Dogs | Weekends | Nearest park |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tommy Black Espresso | $ | ✓ | ✓ | – | ✓ | Memory Reserve, 2 min |
| Joey's | $ | ✓ | ✓ | – | Sat | Memory Reserve, 1 min |
| Meraki coffee | $$ | ✓ | ✓ | Outside | ✓ | Memory Reserve, 2 min |
How we picked best cafes in Sydenham
Ranking weighs customer opinion of each cafe against how many people gave it. Each cafe was then checked against this topic's facts: breakfast and lunch on the menu, weekend hours, outdoor tables and whether dogs can come along. Food and coffee notes come from what each cafe's own page says, and the list keeps the cafes that hold up on those points.
Best cafes in Sydenham: FAQ
Which Sydenham cafe opens earliest?
Tommy Black Espresso opens at 4am Monday to Saturday and at 4:30am on Sundays, so it suits the earliest starts on the list.
Which Sydenham cafe has vegetarian choices and a kids' menu?
Vegetarian meals are on the menu at Joey's and at Meraki coffee, where a kids' menu also runs.
Where can I get a cooked breakfast in Sydenham on a weekday?
Tommy Black Espresso serves the Breakfast of Champs from 4am on weekdays, and Joey's has a cooked breakfast from 6:30am.
Which Sydenham cafe is best for fish and chips?
Meraki coffee lists fish and chips among its food, and customers say the portions are generous and the ingredients good.