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Best cafes in Sydney

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The Naked Duck Kent St leads this list of the best cafes in Sydney 2000. Its coffee is smooth and its lunch counter opens at 7am on weekdays. The other seven picks each do one thing well, from a sit-down breakfast to a cheap wrap at lunch. The table below sets them side by side.

Quick picks in Sydney

  • Best for a weekday takeaway coffee: Bar Pronto, where the coffee is the main draw and most customers take their order away.
  • Best for a cheap lunch: Kosmos Espresso Cafe, with affordable wraps and dumplings.
  • Best for a sit-down breakfast: Cafe Taza - Sydney CBD, with omelettes and avocado toast.
  • Best for a coffee before work: Miss Carter Cafe, where coffee and meals come out quickly.
  • Best for a brunch with family: Bomonti Cafe and Restaurant, with an outdoor terrace and table service.

Best cafes in Sydney, ranked

  1. #1The Naked Duck Kent St for smooth coffee and a quick lunch

    $🌳 Wynyard Park, 2 min walk

    The Naked Duck Kent St is a city cafe with a lunch counter open on weekdays from 7am to 4pm. Ask for the house blend, which mixes four origins into toffee, spice and berry notes. The lunch special is one main protein with two sides, and the duck burger comes with hoisin and aioli. Wynyard Park sits two minutes' walk from the door.

    Best for: Smooth coffee and a weekday lunch

  2. #2Lime Espresso & Sandwich Bar for a fast weekday breakfast

    $Outdoor seating🌳 Wynyard Park, 7 min walk

    Lime Espresso & Sandwich Bar is a family-run espresso bar at 26 Market Street, open from 5am to 3pm on weekdays. Order the vanilla latte, or a toasted sandwich, which comes out quickly. Ask for the omelette made with three eggs and no cheese. The cafe has outdoor seating, and The nearest green space is Wynyard Park, roughly seven minutes on foot. It also takes office catering orders for pastry boxes and sandwich platters.

    Best for: A fast weekday breakfast

  3. #3Commons Coffee - George Street for coffee before work

    $🌳 Wynyard Park, 4 min walk

    Commons Coffee - George Street sits on the mezzanine of The Commons building on George Street. Beans come from Coffee Supreme, and regulars call the cups consistently excellent. Order the bacon and egg roll or the miso salmon salad, which regulars single out. The cafe only serves food on weekdays, so plan a weekend visit around that. Wynyard Park is around four minutes on foot.

    Best for: A coffee-first stop on a work day

  4. #4Bar Pronto for takeaway coffee and rice bowls

    $🌳 Wynyard Park, 3 min walk

    Open since 1993, Bar Pronto on Pitt Street is a compact spot for coffee and takeaway food. Regulars say the flavour of the coffee comes through even with milk. Go for the Wagyu rice bowl or the French toast, which is ready to eat straight away. Few seats sit inside, and most orders leave with the customer. It opens at 5am on weekdays.

    Best for: Takeaway coffee and lunch bowls

  5. #5Miss Carter Cafe for a sit-down breakfast before work

    $$Outdoor seating🌳 Hyde Park South, 4 min walk

    Miss Carter Cafe on Castlereagh Street is small and busy, with office workers and regulars at the tables. Order the porridge or the ham and cheese sandwich with mustard, which one visitor called among the best they had eaten. A glass cabinet holds ready-made lunch for under $10. The coffee is strong and aromatic, and Hyde Park South sits a short four minutes away on foot.

    Best for: A sit-down breakfast before work

  6. #6Kosmos Espresso Cafe for a cheap lunch of wraps and dumplings

    $🌳 Hyde Park, 4 min walk

    Kosmos Espresso Cafe sits inside an arcade on Pitt Street and makes its sandwiches, wraps and pastas to order. Go for the lemon pepper chicken wrap, the Portuguese chicken wrap or the 16 dumplings with one sauce included. A half wrap is an option, and you can split two fillings in one order. Coffee here plays a supporting role next to the food. Hyde Park is roughly four minutes away on foot.

    Best for: A budget lunch of wraps and dumplings

  7. #7Cafe Taza - Sydney CBD for omelettes and avocado toast

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

    Cafe Taza - Sydney CBD serves breakfast and brunch, with tables on the footpath under an ornate arcade. Order the omelette with toast, or the avocado toast topped with cherry tomatoes, feta and balsamic. The coffee is excellent, and one customer ordered a cold brew with a sesame bagel. Dogs are welcome outside, and Hyde Park is three minutes on foot from the cafe's tables.

    Best for: Breakfast and brunch with dogs outside

  8. #8Bomonti Cafe & Restaurant for a brunch with family

    $$Outdoor seating🌳 Wynyard Park, 6 min walk

    On York Street, Bomonti Cafe & Restaurant has a terrace where umbrellas and heaters keep diners comfortable, and waiters take orders inside. Order the Burrito Bowl or the Mediterranean Bowl, which are fresh and filling. The burger with chips is another good choice for a lunch in the city. One visitor says the iced matcha latte was the best they have had in a long time. It is six minutes on foot from Wynyard Park.

    Best for: A relaxed brunch with family

Compare best cafes in Sydney

The table below sets the picks side by side on price, brunch, outdoor seating, dogs and weekend hours.

CafePriceBrunchOutdoorDogsWeekendsNearest park
The Naked Duck Kent St$✓––✗Wynyard Park, 2 min
Lime Espresso & Sandwich Bar$✓✓–✗Wynyard Park, 7 min
Commons Coffee - George Street$✓––✗Wynyard Park, 4 min
Bar Pronto$✓✗–✓Wynyard Park, 3 min
Miss Carter Cafe$$✓✓–✗Hyde Park South, 4 min
Kosmos Espresso Cafe$✓––✗Hyde Park, 4 min
Cafe Taza - Sydney CBD$$✓✓OutsideSatHyde Park, 3 min
Bomonti Cafe & Restaurant$$✓✓–✓Wynyard Park, 6 min
Ok Cool$✓––✗Hyde Park South, 4 min
Joe Black Cafe$$✓✓–✓Harmony Park, 3 min
Mission Cafe$✓✗–✗Wynyard Park, 6 min
Margot Espresso$–✓Outside✗Wynyard Park, 2 min
Industry Beans Castlereagh St$✓––✓Wynyard Park, 5 min
Speed Bar Espresso$✓––✗Hyde Park, 3 min
Industry Beans York St$$✓✓–✓Wynyard Park, 5 min
Expresso120$✓––✗Wynyard Park, 4 min
Skittle Lane Circular Quay$✓✓–✗Jessie Street Gardens, 1 min
Double Brew$✓✓–✗Wynyard Park, 1 min
Kingswood Coffee - World Square$✓✓–✓Hyde Park South, 5 min
Barista v.s Chef$$✓✓–✗Wynyard Park, 2 min
York Lane$–✓–✗Wynyard Park, 1 min
Alpha Gourmet Cafe$✓✗–SatJessie Street Gardens, 1 min
Fossix Pitt St$✓✓–✗Jessie Street Gardens, 2 min
Stella's Coffee Pies Pastries$✓––✓Jessie Street Gardens, 2 min
Leible Coffee Pitt St$✓––✓Wynyard Park, 4 min
North Sandwiches and Burger Bridge St$–✗–✗Lang Park, 2 min
Three Beans York Street$$✓✓–✓Wynyard Park, 3 min
Cabrito Coffee Traders$✓✓–✗Jessie Street Gardens, 1 min
Marlowe's Way$$✓✓–✗Jessie Street Gardens, 3 min
Porcellino$$✓✓–✗The Domain, 3 min
Mia & Co$✓✗–✗Jessie Street Gardens, 3 min
Bearded Bear Cafe$✓✓–✗Hyde Park South, 5 min
Stitch Coffee Central St$–––SatHyde Park South, 4 min
Juveniles Coffee$✓✓–✗Jessie Street Gardens, 1 min
Dutch Smuggler Coffee Brewers$✓✓Outside✓First Fleet Park, 2 min
Dulcet Cafe$✓✗–✓Hyde Park, 5 min
Leible Coffee$✓✓–✗Wynyard Park, 5 min
Blaq Piq$$✓✓–✗Harmony Park, 3 min
FBR café$–––SatHyde Park South, 5 min
Piccolo Me Royal Botanic Gardens (RBG)$$✓✓Outside✓Palace Rose Garden, 1 min
Jin & Co Daily Grind$✓✗–✗Hyde Park, 3 min
Due Mondi @ Society$✓✓–✗The Domain, 5 min
Tessuto$$✓✓–SatWynyard Park, 4 min
Westpac Lobby Cafe$✓––✗Wynyard Park, 2 min
Bar Bellaccino$✓✓–✓Jessie Street Gardens, 1 min
Sevens Specialty Coffee$✓✓–✗Wynyard Park, 4 min
Cappapinos Cafe$✓✓–✗Palace Rose Garden, 2 min
My Coffee Room$✓✓–SatHyde Park South, 2 min
Nth Degree Cafe$✓✓Outside✗Hyde Park South, 2 min
Cross Eatery$✓✗–✗Wynyard Park, 3 min
Hills Bros Cafe$✓✓–✗Wynyard Park, 4 min
Cafe De Casablanca$✓✓–SatHyde Park South, 3 min
Oh!Matcha$–✗–✓Darling Quarter Village Green (South), 5 min
Beanbah Espresso$✓✓–✗The Domain, 4 min
The Tea Room QVB––✗–✓Hyde Park, 6 min
The Walrus Sydney CBD$$✓✓–✓Hyde Park, 4 min
Sydney Boardgames Cafe - Dice Inn Boardgames––––✓Chinese Garden of Friendship, 5 min
Coffee Pitt$✓✗–✓Hyde Park South, 4 min
Parami$✓✓–✓Harmony Park, 3 min
Brew Bros Licenced Eatery$$✓✓–✓Darling Quarter Village Green (South), 4 min
Chubby Cubby Cafe (Westfield Sydney)$–✓–✓Hyde Park, 5 min
Brew Collective Coffee$✓✗Outside✗Wynyard Park, 2 min
Nook Jr$$✓––✓Wynyard Park, 6 min
Hester's Cafe$$✓✓–✗Wynyard Park, 1 min
Picco_leo$✓✓–✗Wynyard Park, 2 min
Lennox Espresso @ 1 Market st$✓✓–✗Darling Quarter Village Green (South), 7 min
Bar Fino$✓✗–✗Wynyard Park, 5 min
Café Stretto$✓✓–✗Hyde Park, 5 min
Little Duck Kent St$✓––✗Wynyard Park, 4 min
Dorchester Cafe$✓–Outside✗Palace Rose Garden, 2 min
Avenue on Sussex$$✓✓–✗Darling Quarter Village Green (South), 6 min
The Naked Duck Hyde Park$✓✓–✗Hyde Park South, 3 min
Bar Mammoni Pasta & Deli$✓✓–SatJessie Street Gardens, 1 min
Avenue on George$$✓✓–✗First Fleet Park, 3 min
Cap and Cinos$✓––✓Hyde Park, 5 min
Back Row West$$✓✓–✗Lang Park, 2 min
Café In Time$✓✓–✗Wynyard Park, 5 min
Georgie Boy's Coffee Co - Grosvenor Place$✓––✓Lang Park, 3 min
Stitch Coffee QVB$✓✗–✓Hyde Park, 5 min
Gumption by Coffee Alchemy$–✗–✓Wynyard Park, 5 min
Metropole Cafe$✓✗–✓Hyde Park, 6 min
Cloudline Coffee$✓✗–✗Hyde Park South, 2 min
Pablo & Rusty's Sydney CBD$$✓––✗Hyde Park, 3 min
Regiment specialty coffee$✓✓–✗Wynyard Park, 1 min
Spresso Cafe and Salad Bar$✓✓–✗Wynyard Park, 1 min
Cafe Portico$$✓✓Outside✓Lang Park, 1 min
Incanto Coffee$✓✓–✓Chinese Garden of Friendship, 4 min
Parla Cafe$–––✗Jessie Street Gardens, 1 min
Pitt St Quick Shot–✓✓–✗Wynyard Park, 3 min
Kahii$✓✓OutsideSatWynyard Park, 6 min
Espresso on Kent$✓––✗Wynyard Park, 6 min
Bureau$✓––✗Wynyard Park, 7 min
GG Espresso–✓––✗Hyde Park, 3 min
T2 Westfield––––✓Hyde Park, 5 min
Espresso Fortè–✓––✗Wynyard Park, 2 min
Revitalize–✓––SatDarling Quarter Village Green (South), 4 min
Toby's Estate Flagship Café Westfield$✓✓–✓Hyde Park, 5 min
Avenue on Chifley$$✓✓–✗Palace Rose Garden, 4 min
San Jose Place$✓––SatWynyard Park, 1 min
Ambi's Chai Bar––✓–✗Wynyard Park, 2 min
The Grounds of The City$$✓✓–✓Hyde Park, 5 min
Citi Cafe$✓––✗Hyde Park, 4 min
Precinct$✓––✗Wynyard Park, 3 min
Lot 51–✓✓––Wynyard Park, 4 min
ONEA Café$✓––✗Hyde Park, 6 min
Two Black Sheep$✓✗–SatHyde Park South, 5 min
Two Penny Blue$✓✗–✓Wynyard Park, 3 min
Cali Press 2 Market St$✓––✗Wynyard Park, 6 min
This Way Canteen$$✓✓–✓Jessie Street Gardens, 2 min
Bullion Store–✓✓–✗The Domain, 4 min
Toby's Estate Coffee 388$✓✓–✓Wynyard Park, 4 min
Love Bomb Candy$✓✓OutsideSunDarling Quarter Village Green (South), 5 min
Black & White Espresso Bar | The Strand Arcade$✓✓–✓Wynyard Park, 5 min
T Totaler––––✓Hyde Park, 4 min
Cafe Alma$$✓✓Outside✓Darling Quarter Village Green (South), 1 min
Nook Clarence St$✓✓–✗Wynyard Park, 2 min
Serigo Espresso–✓✓–✗Wynyard Park, 6 min
Basket Brothers$$✓✓Outside✓Harmony Park, 3 min
Cafe 68–✓––✗Wynyard Park, 6 min
Socialite$$✓––✗Darling Quarter Village Green (South), 5 min
Piccadilly Lounge Cafe$✓✗–SatHyde Park, 4 min
Frango Kent Street$–––✓Wynyard Park, 5 min
Bowery Lane$$✓✗–✗Jessie Street Gardens, 4 min
Bennie’s Cafe · Bistro$$✓✓Outside✓Barney & Bligh Reserve, 4 min
Golden Brown Pancake & Bakery Cafe$$✓––✓Hyde Park South, 4 min
Cafe One$✓––✗Wynyard Park, 4 min
Shelley$✓––✗Wynyard Park, 4 min
Georgie Boy's Coffee Co - World Square$✓––✓Chinese Garden of Friendship, 5 min
Loftus Lane Cafe Cocktail Bar$$✓✓–✓Jessie Street Gardens, 1 min
Market Espresso$✓––✗Darling Quarter Village Green (South), 4 min
Soho Espresso$✓✓–✗Wynyard Park, 4 min
Caffe Casina$$✓––✓Chinese Garden of Friendship, 3 min
Eternity Cafe Town Hall Square$$✓✓–SatDarling Quarter Village Green (South), 5 min
Babette Cafe$$✓✗–✓Hyde Park, 6 min
Two Penny Espresso$✓✓OutsideSatWynyard Park, 1 min
Workshop Espresso$✓––✓Hyde Park, 5 min
Town Hall Espresso$✓✓–✗Darling Quarter Village Green (South), 5 min
Gram Cafe & Pancakes The Galeries$$✓✗–✓Hyde Park, 4 min
Storehouse Sydney Central Cafe and Bar$$✓✓–✓Harmony Park, 3 min
THE ASSOCIATE$$✓✗–✗Belmore Park, 5 min
Coffee Shop$✓✗–✗Wynyard Park, 1 min
Edition Roasters Wynyard, Brookfield Place$✓––✗Wynyard Park, 1 min
Vic On George$$✓✗–✓Hyde Park, 6 min
Back to Square$✓✓Outside✓Wynyard Park, 2 min
Soul Origin Sydney 161 Clarence St$✓✓–✗Wynyard Park, 3 min
MrHyde$✓––✗Hyde Park South, 2 min
San Valentino––––✓Hyde Park, 5 min
Eastbank Cafe.bar.pizzeria$$✓✓–✓Jessie Street Gardens, 4 min
luxe8 cafe & bar$$✓✓–✓Darling Quarter Village Green (South), 5 min
Good Co. Coffee$✓––✗Lang Park, 2 min
Eggshell Cafe$$✓✓Outside✓The Domain, 4 min
Caffeine Cartel$✓✓–✗Wynyard Park, 4 min
Hydeaway Cafe$$✓✓–✓Hyde Park South, 2 min
Roma Espresso$✓––✗Palace Rose Garden, 5 min
June's Cafe Wynyard$✓–Outside✗Wynyard Park, 1 min
Starbucks York Street$✓✗–✓Wynyard Park, 1 min
Taste Baguette$✓––✓Wynyard Park, 5 min
Legal Grounds Cafe$✓✓–SatThe Domain, 4 min
Starbucks QVB$✓✗–✓Hyde Park, 5 min
Romolo Espresso Cucina$$✓✓–✓Wynyard Park, 5 min
Tom & Gerry's Cafe$✓✓–✗Lang Park, 2 min
Grumpy Baker$✓✓–✗Hyde Park, 1 min
Luxe Cafe$$✓✓–✓Pyrmont Bay Park, 6 min
Cali Press Australia Square$✓––✗Wynyard Park, 2 min
The Daily Eatery$✓✗–✓Hyde Park, 5 min
Mozart Coffee Lounge–✓✓–✓Hyde Park, 6 min
Soul Origin Sydney Met Centre$✓––✗Lang Park, 2 min
The Treasury at InterContinental$$–––✓Palace Rose Garden, 3 min
Library Cafe$$✓✓–✓Palace Rose Garden, 3 min
The Gardens Cafe World Square$$✓✓Outside✓Chinese Garden of Friendship, 5 min
Three Beans Met Centre$✓––✗Lang Park, 2 min
Soul Origin Sydney The Galeries$✓––✓Hyde Park, 5 min
Starbucks George Street$✓✗–✓Darling Quarter Village Green (South), 4 min
Via del Corso$✓✗–✓Hyde Park, 5 min
Soul Origin Sydney 25 Martin Place$✓––✗Wynyard Park, 5 min
Foodoo Coffee Lounge$$✓✗–✓Wynyard Park, 5 min
Soul Origin Sydney Central Plaza$✓✗–✓Hyde Park, 6 min
Botanic Gardens Cafe$$✓✓–✓Succulent Garden, 2 min
Gloria Jean's Sydney Central Plaza$✓––✓Hyde Park, 6 min
Little Sparrow QVB$✓–––Hyde Park, 7 min
Little Sparrow Sydney Westfield$✓––✓Hyde Park, 6 min
Coco Noir Cafe$$✓✗–✓Hyde Park, 5 min
Rossini Restaurants$$✓✓–✓Jessie Street Gardens, 1 min
Vesta$$✓✓–✓Darling Quarter Village Green (South), 1 min

How we picked best cafes in Sydney

These picks are ordered by overall customer feedback, weighted by how many customers left it. Each cafe was also checked for what this page covers: the food, the coffee, weekend hours, dog policy and outdoor tables. Each cafe's own page text was used to describe its menu. Cafes with thin facts were left out of the list.

Best cafes in Sydney: FAQ

Which Sydney CBD cafes open at 5am on weekdays?

Lime Espresso & Sandwich Bar and Bar Pronto are the early risers, serving from 5am Monday to Friday.

Where is the cheapest lunch in Sydney 2000?

Kosmos Espresso Cafe has budget prices for wraps and dumplings, and its orders come out fast at lunch.

Which Sydney CBD cafes have outdoor tables for brunch?

Cafe Taza - Sydney CBD has tables on the footpath, and Bomonti Cafe & Restaurant has an umbrella-covered terrace on York Street.

Where can vegetarians eat well in the Sydney CBD?

In Sydney 2000, vegetarian options at Bomonti Cafe & Restaurant include bowls and gluten-free bread.