Breakfast
Danks Street Depot - 2 Danks St, Waterloo. Quality and choice.
Ph: (02) 9698 2201
Fratelli Paradiso - 12 - 16 Challis Ave, Potts Point. A cafe and bakery with delicious food, cakes, bread and gooooood coffee.
Ph: (02) 9357 1744
Bather's Pavillion - 4 The Esplanade, Balmoral Beach. This is a showstopper. Cakes are baked on the premises every morning, the service very good and polite. Stunning views.
Ph: (02) 9969 5050
www.batherspavillion.com.au
Ripples Cafe - Olympic Drive, Milsons Point. You can find this place at the Sydney Olympic Pool. Amazing views, and quality food.
Ph: (02) 9929 7722. There's also a Ripples Cafe at Chowder Bay with sublime harbour views and good food. Deck C, Chowder Bay Rd, Mosman. Ph: (02) 9960 3000
www.ripplescafe.com.au
Cafes
Danks Street Depot - 2 Danks St, Waterloo. This place first came on the scene a few years ago in a part of town bereft of any cultural life. In fact, the area wasn't even considered safe. The Danks Street Depot was the first cafe to open up in Danks Street. Now, the street is a must for lovers of food. And this cafe does great breakfasts, lunches and dinners.
Ph: (02) 9698 2201
Bar Colluzi - 322 Victoria St, Darlinghurst. A super cool cafe with tiny stools that's been serving up great coffee for decades. The arty set, philosophers, locals and old timers love coming here.
Ph: (02) 9380 5420
Govindas - 112 Darlinghurst Rd, Darlinghurst. A vegetarian restaurant and cinema with futon lounges, a place you can come for cooking classes, yoga, music, workshops and anything else that's going to give you peace of mind.
Ph: (02) 9380 5155
www.govindas.com.au
Bondi Iceberg's Club - 1 Notts Ave, Bondi Beach. Good food, superb views of Bondi, not pretentious at all. But, the restaurant downstairs is rather pricey and comes with an image. Visitors who live more than 5km outside the club can enter for free. Visitors who live within 5km of the club must join the social club for $55 or be signed in by a member. ID is asked for at the door.
Ph: (02) 9130 3120
www.icebergs.com.au
Bather's Pavillion - 4 The Esplanade, Balmoral Beach. This is one of the most superb places in Sydney to grab a coffee, have breakfast, lunch or dinner. Set in an old bathing pavillion, visitors can now drink and dine in a building with great, relaxing decor and sublime views of Middle Harbour.
Ph: (02) 9969 5050
www.batherspavillion.com.au
Yum Cha
Marigold - Citymark Building, Levels 4 and 5, 683 - 689 George St, Haymarket (Chinatown). This is a huge place with delicious food, and it's not overpriced.
Lunch daily from 10am - 3pm. Dinner daily 5:30pm - midnight.
Ph: (02) 9281 3388
Kam Fook Chatswood - Shop 600, Level 6, Westfield Shoppingtown, Help St, Chatswood. Hordes of people come here.
Lunch Mon - Fri 10:30am - 3:30pm, Sat - Sun 9:30am - 3:30pm. Dinner daily from 5:30pm - 11pm
Ph: (02) 9413 9388
Sea Treasure - 46 Willoughby Rd, Crows Nest. This is another winner on the yum cha front.
Lunch Mon - Fri 11am - 3pm, Sat - Sun 10am - 3pm. Dinner daily 5:30pm - 11pm.
Ph: (02) 9906 6388
Bars
Hugo's Lounge - Level 1, 33 Bayswater Rd, Kings Cross. Yes, it's a bit pretentious and full of beautiful people, but it is a Sydney institution. So, check it out.
Ph: (02) 9357 4411
The Lotus Bar - Challis Ave, Potts Point. At the back of the Lotus restaurant. Chic decor.Great cocktails.
Ph: (02) 9326 9000
Madame Fling Flong - Level 1, 169 King St, Newtown, at Soni's. A cosy restaurant and lounge in the heart of Sydney's grunge capital, King St. Retro lounge, funky decor, classic, cult and foreign movies screen on Tuesday nights at 8:30pm. $20 for the movie and a meze plate and glass of wine. Bookings for the movies are essential because the cinema is small.
Ph: (02) 9565 2471
www.madameflingflong.com.au
Iceberg's Dining Room and Bar - 1 Notts Ave, Bondi Beach. It's famous, it has great views, and it is friendly.
Ph: (02) 9365 9000
Longrain - 85 Commonwealth St, Surry Hills. Friendly staff, great drinks, converted warehouse setting.
Ph: (02) 9280 2888
Rambutan - 96 Oxford St, Darlinghurst. A tropical themed drinking den with good cocktails, wine and food. Open from 6pm every day.
Ph: (02) 9360 7772
Water Bar - W Hotel, Cowper Wharf Rd, Woolloomooloo. Great cocktails in a swanky setting.
Ph: (02) 9331 9000
The Victoria Room - Level 1, 235 Victoria St, Darlinghurst. Colonial tropical decor, and very popular with young people at night. On Sunday's, it serves up a very mean high tea for around $45.
Ph: (02) 9357 4488
Opera Bar - Lower Level Concourse, Sydney Opera House. This place is always busy and easily impresses with its great views.
Ph: (02) 9247 1666
Bakeries and Sydney's best bread
Haberfield Bakery - 153 Ramsay St. Don't expect a trendy bakery, but be prepared for delicious and crusty Italian ciabatta, pane di casa, and dinner rolls.
Ph: (02) 9797 7715
Infinity Sourdough - 225 Victoria St, Darlinghurst. This is a tiny bakery with a massive reputation. Plenty of Sydney's top restaurants buy their bread from here.
Ph: (02) 9380 4320
Victoire - 285 Darling St, Balmain. Delicious bread, twists, cakes, and gourmet sweets served by a Frenchie or two.
Ph: (02) 9818 5529
Sonoma - 215a Glebe Point Rd, Glebe. A small bakery and cafe. This is bakery specialises in spelt, and supplies quite a few of Sydney's gourmet delis.
Ph: (02) 9660 2116
Bowan Island - 183 Victoria Rd, Drummoyne. Set on busy Victoria Rd, this bakery does great sourdough, yeast free breads, muffins and Turkish bread.
Ph: (02) 9181 3524
Sydney's best cakes
Abla - 402 New Canterbury Rd, Dulwich Hill. A massive choice of Lebanese deserts of all shapes and descriptions. It'll be hard to walk out of here with just one cake. There are plenty of chairs and tables in case you decide sitting and eating in is more your thing.
Ph: (02) 9560 5088
Bourke Street Bakery - 633 Bourke St, Surry Hills. Locals are fiercely loyal and addicted to this place.
Ph: (02) 9699 1011
Croissant d'Or - 117 Macleay St, Potts Point. Tiny extravagant and colourful French cakes/petit fours.
Ph: (02) 9358 6014
Fernandes Patisserie - 516 Marrickville Rd, Dulwich Hill. If you are after some of the best Portuguese custard tarts in Sydney, you would have to have rocks in your head to give Fernandes Patisserie in Dulwich Hill a miss. $1.20 a piece. On weekends it's full of Portuguese families.
Ph: (02) 9568 2114
Hytone Cake Shop - 296 Bondi Rd, Bondi. This shop has a deceptive appearance. Hytone serves up the best poppyseed strudel in Sydney. Everything is made on the premises, including the cheese, cheese and spinach or meat burek - a Serbian specialty.
Ph: (02) 9130 5170
La Patissier Chocolatier - 121 Military Rd, Neutral Bay. Melt in your mouth pastries and cakes and flans.
Ph: (02) 9953 8550
Paris Cake Shop - 91 Bondi Rd, Bondi. citrus cakes, pastries, raspberry mouse. Another good cake shop on Bondi Rd.
Ph: (02) 9387 2496
Pasticceria Tamborrino - 75 Great North Rd, Five Dock - Delicious Sicilian cakes. Try the sfogliata.
Ph: (02) 9712 1461
Sweet Belem Cake Boutique - 35C new Canterbury Rd, Peterhsam. Great Portuguese cakes.
Ph: (02) 9572 6685
Sweet Infinity - 53 Riley St, Woolloomooloo. Good tarts.
Ph: (02) 93312448
Sweet Kiss Cake Shop - 343 Clovelly Rd. Traditional but unpronounceable Hungarian sweets like Flodni and Jzerbo through to the good ol’ Aussie meat pie.
Victoire - 285 Darling St, Balmain - as well as great breads, this place has finger licking cakes.
Ph: (02) 9818 5529
Wellington Cake Shop - 157 Bondi Rd, Bondi. OK, so the service may not be the friendliest, but who cares when the ice-cream and Hungarian Jewish cakes here taste so good.
Ph: (02) 9389 4555
Yellow Bistro and Food Store - 57 Macleay St, Potts Point. Divine cakes but not so cheap.
Ph: (02) 9357 3400
Wine
Kemeny's - 137 - 147 Bondi Rd, Bondi. Ph: 138 881
Summerhill Wine Shop - 7 Lackey St, Summer Hill. A small wine shop that specialises in boutique wines from around Australia.
Ph: (02) 9798 7282
Ultimo Wine Centre - 99 Jones St, Ultimo. This is the place to come to if you are after the obscure. Good quality wines from around the world. Ph: (02) 9211 2380
Five Ways Cellars - 4 Heeley St, Paddington. Set in a small terrace house packed with interesting labels, these wine merchants specialise in boutique wines from cooler climates. Great, friendly advice. Ph: (02) 9360 4242
Farmers' Markets
Good Living Growers' Market - Pyrmont Bay Park, Pyrmont. 7am - 11am. This is a food lovers paradise. Gourmet smoked meats, cheeses, organic meat, fruit and veg, coffee, bacon and egg rolls, and water views. It's held on the first Saturday of every month, except January when all holders take a holiday. For more information on Sydney's markets, go to Day Trips
Farmers' Market - The Entertainment Quarter, Langs Road, Moore Park. Every Wed and Saturday from 10am - 4pm. A small market with friendly farmers and growers selling organic produce, conventional produce, fresh eggs, tasty bread.
Orange Grove Organic Market - Orange Grove Public School, Balmain Rd, Rozelle. Every Saturday 8am - 1pm. This is a small market but the woman who makes flans is worth getting out of bed early for. The chocolate flan is divine. Get there early or be disappointed. Mayan coffee, artisan breads, vegan food.
Out of town
Lilianfels Resort and Spa - Lilianfels Avenue, Katoomba, Blue Mountains. Restaurant, bar, luxurious accommodation. The architecture, setting and decor are great, and the views are pretty impressive. Llianfels has a one hat restaurant - Darley's - and a bar. Both are welcoming. There's a piano player and singer on Friday and Saturday nights at the bar. A bit of indulgence is good, sometimes.
Ph: (02) 4780 1200
www.lilianfels.com.au
Yindi Day Spa - 15 - 47 Katoomba St, Katoomba. Dr Hauschka products, massage, facials, hair, scalp and body treatments.
Ph: (02) 4782 1111
www.yindi.com.au
Megalong Valley Tea Rooms - Megalong Valley Rd, Megalong Valley, Blue Mountains. Not too many Sydneysiders know about this place. Breakfast and lunch is served here in the perfect rural idyll setting. Tables and chairs are set on the grass, amongst trees and shrubs with a view of the Blue Mountains. The is the perfect place for a chilled out lunch or devonshire tea on a sunny day. All food is home made, including the scrumptious jams. Eggs from the farm are on sale, there's organic porridge, and big breakfasts.
Ph: (02) 4787 9181
Ashcrofts - 18 Govetts Leap Rd, Blackheath. Award winning gourmet dining.
Ph: (02) 4787 8297
www.ashcrofts.com
Solitary - 90 Cliff Drive, Leura. This is a must stopover for food lovers. Dinner Wed - Sun, lunch on weekends.
Ph: (02) 4782 1164
www.solitary.com.au
Echoes - 3 Lilianfels Ave, Katoomba. Another must stop for food lovers.
Ph: (02) 4782 1966
www.echoeshotel.com.au
