9 Best Brunch Spots in Sydney’s CBD
The brunch city capital of Australia and regularly taking the world title for the best breakfasts in the world, Sydney is a champion hubspot for lovers of the breakfast-lunch power combo.
Home to some of the world’s most Instagrammable cafes, hole-in-the-wall eateries, high tea joints and alfresco brunch spots, Sydney spoils for choice when it comes to a leisurely feed to start the day. We have it all here in all guises and locations. Waterside, rooftop, laneway, city, suburb. Whether you are hunting for a perfectly brewed espresso before a busy day of sightseeing or planning a lazy day of relaxing on holiday, having brunch in this city is an absolute must for any visiting foodie on their Sydney bucket list.
So what are the top places to pick for the ultimate brunch experience in Sydney’s CBD? We’ve rounded up the must-try best brunch places to enjoy an unforgettable breakfast and lunch across the city of Sydney.
#1. Quick Brown Fox
Wander Pyrmont’s tree-lined streets to bustling Union Square at the centre of the village and pop into indoor-outdoor Quick Brown Fox for one of Sydney’s best brunches. This all-day café menu is perfect for the indecisive, with a variety of beautifully-plated and delicious breakfast, brunch and lunch eats, from toasted sourdough crumpets, waffles, and congee, to hearty pastas. This beloved neighbourhood sanctuary is a locals favourite and top pick for foodies as one of the ultimate breakfast spots near Darling Harbour, only a short 2 minute walk from our hotel.
22 Union St, Pyrmont
Recommendation: Waffle Benedict
#2. Two Sis
If you’re looking for an Instagrammable brunch right around the corner, look no further than Two Sis & Co, a quaint café known for eye-poppingly colourful dishes and drinks. Easily one of the most beautiful brunches in Sydney, spoil yourself with a selection of specialty coffee and rainbow-hued lattes like their signature Blue Latte, Rose Latte and Turmeric Latte. Conveniently located only a short 2-minute walk from our hotel, their ever-changing seasonal menu brings a burst of culinary creativity for whichever time of year you visit.
306 Harris St, Pyrmont
Recommendation: French Toast
Credit: Sarah @cafesdownunder
#3. Theeca
If you’re looking for Sydney’s best pancakes, Theeca is an unmissable spot boasting a beautiful brunch plate of buttermilk pancakes made with fluffy bread, crème fraîche, organic berry jam made with berries that change with the season, and Canadian maple syrup. Eat like the locals do in the heart of Darlinghurst and enjoy a charming alfresco brunch under the sun, framed by sandstone buildings and stone pillars at this rustic, light-filled brunch spot in Darlinghurst, down the road from Hyde Park, at the heart of Sydney’s CBD.
1 Burton St, Darlinghurst
Recommendation: Buttermilk Pancakes
Credit: Sappho Books Café and Bar
#4. Sappho Books Café and Bar
If you’re hunting down the cosiest cafés and searching for unique brunch spots, kick off your Sydney brunch exploration with a visit to our neighbouring suburb, Glebe. Grab a hot coffee then snuggle up with a good book over some fluffy pancakes at Sappho Books Café and Bar on Glebe Point Road. As the name suggests, this hidden gem is a bookstore and café in one with a range of hidden rooms and levels full of books. This dream destination for bookworms and foodies alike also boasts a leafy, graffiti-covered courtyard that’s the perfect reading nook after a hearty breakfast with a vegetarian and vegan-friendly brunch menu. Keep your eyes peeled for Charlie the cat who’s coined ‘the guardian of the books’.
51 Glebe Point Road, Glebe
Recommendation: Breakfast Burger
Credit: Jess Eddy
#5. Industry Beans
The most popular café in the city centre, Industry Beans on York Street, Wynyard delights with elevated café classics and creative signatures for breakfast, brunch and lunch, alongside an expansive coffee menu. Pick from popular dishes like their OG Avocado Smash (goes great with a flat white), to the famous Porcini Nest and their Sweetcorn Fritters. As Australia’s largest independent specialty coffee roaster, shop their retail section for freshly roasted beans, cold brew, equipment essentials and gifts that make for a great souvenir. This is a must-try brunch spot in Sydney for specialty coffee lovers with state-of-the-art equipment used to deliver a balanced and flavourful cup every time.
Shop 2/40 York St, Sydney NSW 2000
Recommendation: Porcini Nest
Credit: Jess @this.gal.reads
#6. The Grounds Coffee Factory
Where Charlie and the Chocolate Factory meets a Wes Anderson film, The Grounds Coffee Factory in South Eveleigh has the most Instagrammable interiors of any café in Sydney. Set in the historic Locomotive Workshop, brimming with aesthetic photo spots in every corner, this charming, industrial brunch spot invites you to sip your morning brew directly alongside overhead pipelines and state-of-the-art roasting machinery. It is an experiential destination taking you behind the scenes of your cup, complete with fully interactive workshops and masterclasses. Make sure to pair your chosen single-origin blend with a decadent treat from their iconic, roaming dessert trolley or a plate of their delightfully fluffy hotcakes. This magical destination is just a short walk from Redfern Station.
Bay, 4a/2 Locomotive St, Eveleigh NSW 2015
Recommendation: Dessert Trolley
Credit: Instagram @awvie
#7. Reuben Hills
The favourite go-to brunch spot for our General Manager, Luther La, Reuben Hills is a Sydney institution and a top pick for locals in Surry Hills set in a New York-style warehouse. With house-roasted specialty coffee, it’s an industrial-chic haven for discerning coffee lovers looking to pair a house-roasted, single-origin batch brew with signature brunch staples and vibrant, South American-inspired all-day breakfast and lunch options. Because this bustling hotspot is walk-in only, be sure to head down early to secure your seat and beat the queue. Safely cemented as one of the top Sydney specialty coffee spots, this café takes the cake for good reason.
61 Albion St, Surry Hills NSW 2010
Recommendation: ‘The Not Reuben’ Wagyu Brisket Sandwich
Credit: David Li Photography
#8. Wild Sage
Find one of the best bottomless brunches in the city at Wild Sage in Barangaroo. This fully halal certified café in Sydney delivers the ultimate sun-drenched brunch experience with drinks for every occasion from artisanal cocktails and Australian wines, to great coffees, wellness smoothies and cold-pressed juices. This feel-good dining destination offers modern Australian cuisine with colourful, creative dishes from grilled swordfish to smashed avo, and miso bowls to slow cooked lamb shoulder. Whether you’re stopping by for an early breakfast or enjoying a long lunch, this standout Sydney brunch spot has something for everyone. Step out of our centrally located hotel and enjoy a short scenic ferry ride from Pyrmont Wharf to Barangaroo Wharf to get there.
Exchange Place, 3 Sussex Street, Barangaroo
Recommendation: Lobster Tacos
#9. Wayfarer’s Bar & Café
The closest to our heart, our very own Wayfarers Bar & Café is one of the best places to brunch near Darling Harbour, as a café by day and wine bar vibes by night. With a sleek black marble central bar, monochrome tiles and brass fittings, Wayfarer’s is a sophisticated place to meet and eat, but casual enough to grab a quick takeaway coffee while you overlook Darling Harbour and Pyrmont Bridge through floor-to-ceiling windows. Here you can enjoy nourishing breakfasts, quick bites, substantial share plates and bar snacks, with an all-day dining menu featuring vegetarian, gluten-free, dairy-free, vegan and keto options. There’s also freshly brewed local Love Tea, and Wayfarer’s Bar & Café’s very own blend of 100% high grown Arabica coffee beans.
45 Murray Street, Pyrmont
Recommendation: Scrambled Eggs Croffle
Need a place to stay?
Base yourself by all the action across from the CBD and next door to Darling Harbour, in the village-like neighbourhood setting of Pyrmont. That way, they can have the best of both worlds as well as easy access to everything around Sydney. Convenience meets artistic flare here at Aiden Darling Harbour, with luxe features like hand-painted murals, Dyson hair dryers and free-flowing Moda sparkling water, on-site restaurant and bar, and one of Sydney’s best hotel breakfasts.
Cheers with a complimentary glass of house wine or beer when you book your stay at Aiden Darling Harbour directly with our team via our website, phone or email.
