Meet the People - Breakfast is Served

GOOD PLACES TO HAVE BREAKFAST IN SYDNEY

Please note this info was compiled quite some time ago and some information will be out of date - hence details should be checked before heading out in your car. Plus also note that:

Most of these places don't accept bookings, so be prepared for a (usually) brief wait. The later you arrive & the nicer the weather then the longer you will wait.

We have listed only the times during which the breakfast menu is available, not the full opening times for each venue

About one third of these places have outdoor seating. Take sunglasses and hat if this is your preference *especially if hungover*. The Sydney sun is bright!

Check with management before lighting up cigarettes. Even then, is is generally considered courteous not to smoke whilst people at adjacent tables are still eating. And turn your wretched mobile phone OFF please

If you try any of these places and are dissatisfied then please let us know (provide full details)

If you visit other venues and think they should be on this list, then please let us know

Lower North Shore area:
The Bathers Pavilion, 4 The Esplanade, Balmoral, Ph 9968 1133
Weekends and public holidays 9:00am to 11:00am
Situated on the shore of Middle Harbour - nice place for a stroll - excellent outlook - not cheap
The Bower, 7/9 Marine Parade, Manly, Ph 9977 5451
8:00am to 10:30am seven days
You'll need to book if you want to sit outside. Again the excellent sea view is not the only plus here
Thomas Street Cafe, 2 Thomas Street, McMahons Point, Ph 9955 4703
8:00am to 11:45am Tuesday to Sunday only
Inner West area:
Cafe Corelli, 352 King Street, Newtown, Ph 9550 4080
8:00am till late seven days
Pelicans Fine Foods, 81 Darling Street, East Balmain, Ph 9810 1966
Recommended by local resident, David, who says "Pelicans' is legendary around this part of the peninsula"
Inner East area:
Bayswater Brasserie, 32 Bayswater Road, Kings Cross, Ph 9357 2177
Sunday brunch 10am to 5pm
one of our favourites - reasonably dressy and higher price range. Apparently no longer open on Sunday mornings.
Bill's, 433 Liverpool Street, Darlinghurst, Ph 9360 9631
Monday to Saturday 7:30am to noon
legendary corn fritters
Cafe Crown, 355 Crown Street, Surry Hills, Ph 9331 2154
Mon - Fri 7:00am to noon, Sat/Sun 7:00am to 2:00pm
Apparently interesting clientele (as well as good brekkie)
Cafe Niki, 544 Bourke Street, Surry Hills, Ph 9319 7517
6:00am to 5:00pm seven days
The Bourbon and Beefsteak, 2 Darlinghurst Road, Kings Cross, Ph 9358 1144
open 24 hours
Not our cup of tea but it has many devotees, so if you're in the mood and you like that sort of down-at-heel atmosphere then give it a try
Fez Cafe, 247 Victoria Street, Darlinghurst, Ph 9360 9581
Mon - Sat 7:00am to 4:00pm, Sunday 8:00am to 4:00pm
Una's Coffee Lounge, 340 Victoria Street, Darlinghurst, Ph 9360 6885
Mon - Sat 6:30am to 10:30pm, Sunday 8:00am to 10:30pm
Interesting and diverse clientele, good prices & big serves, also one of our favourite dinner venues as they serve the best schnitzels I've tasted anywhere
Eastern Suburbs:
Agostini's Caffe, 118 Queen Street, Woollahra, Ph 9328 6140, Fax 9328 6149
We visit quite often. It is in sheltered courtyard with adjacent bookshop. Nice food, good ambience, good service at moderate expense.
Cafe Q, 469 Bronte Road, Bronte Beach, Ph 9369 5673
One of our regular haunts and highly recommended. We often stroll along the scenic coastal walk to Bondi Beach afterwards. A full hot breakfast for two here works out to about $20. Good points = Good food + pleasant service + good value. Bad points = Like any small popular cafe, can be long waits for food to be served at peak times.
Centennial Park Cafe, Corner of Grand & Parkes Drive, Centennial Park, Ph 9360 3355
8:30am to 11:00am seven days
Listed only because of its great setting - I haven't eaten there for ages - staff were inefficient and pretentious
Diggers Cafe, Bondi Digger's Club, Campbell Parade, Ph 9365 4958
7:00am to dark
Ravesi's, Corner Campbell Parade & Hall Street, Bondi Beach, Ph 9365 4422
7:30am to 11:15am seven days
arrive early for a spot on the sunny terrace

.. and while I have hand to keyboard I'll just quickly mention a few good places for afternoon tea (in case it's too late for brekky):
Cafe Q at Bronte (and indeed several of the breakfast places listed above are also good venues for afternoon tea)
The Park Hyatt Hotel, 7 Hickson Road, The Rocks, Ph 9241 1234
excellent location, not exactly bargain basement, but a tasteful all-you-can-eat pork-out extravaganza
The Hughendon Boutique Hotel, 14 Queen Street, Woollahra, Ph 9363 4863
Sunday high tea is highly recommended, olde-worlde style - wear a tweed coat for maximum enjoyment
The Regent Hotel, 199 George Street, Sydney, Ph 9238 000
Not cheap and not unlimited grazing as per the Park Hyatt, but tasteful and well done
The Observatory Hotel, 89 - 113 Kent Street, The Rocks, Ph 9256 222
As for the Regent but much more intimate (check out the pool while you're there)
Hotel Inter-Continental, 117 Macquarie Street, Sydney, Ph 9230 0200
Once had an excellent arvo-tea service, now it's a pay-by-the-item affair which I find a bit inhibiting. It's also now served in the foyer area, which is rather grand (and worth inspecting) but too exposed for my liking. Check out the pool here too.
Tea Gardens at Watsons Bay, 8 Marine Parade, Ph 9337 5548
Outdoor and indoor seating with views westwards across the Harbour, adjacent to saltwater pool and close to Watsons Bay Hote. A little bit expensive (cheaper in the mornings) and staff tend to be a bit surly.
Nielsen Park cafe, Greycliffe Avenue, Vaucluse, Ph 9337 1574
The cafe is not as good as it once was (it's now a reasonably expensive Italian restaurant with basic kiosk facility tacked on), but the setting is absolutely superb
... and if don't mind a (really long) drive:
Lilianfels, Lilianfels Avenue, Katoomba, (Blue Mountains), Ph 047 801 200
This was once the state Governor's summer residence. It has the location, furnishings, etc to be a truly great arvo tea venue. Last time I went however they provided the sort of cheap fluorescent strawberry jam that only K Mart or a really expensive boarding school would dare serve (oh, and *paper* napkins). Nevertheless they've probably got their act together by now, and it's well worth a visit if you're in the area.