The Grounds of Alexandria

Location: Alexandria 

Great for: Photo backdrops, space for the kids to run around and lots of eatery options.

Described as a "cafe, restaurant and bar, garden, bakery and patisserie, coffee roastery, animal farm, florist, markets and more," The Grounds of Alexandria is a one-stop shop. Let the kids roam around The Grounds Garden, which features fresh flowers and animals, or relax with friends for lunch or dinner at The Potting Shed.

The Grounds of Alexandria

La Renaissance

Location: The Rocks 

Great for: A coffee in one of the most historic suburbs in Sydney.

La Renaissance serves up French pastries, cakes, desserts and macarons that are simply mouthwatering. It's no surprise co-owner Jean Michel Raynaud has been inducted into Relais Desserts – the world's most exclusive French Patisserie association. Sit in their leafy back courtyard or people watch out front of this cute cafe.

La Renaissance, The Rocks - Credit: La Renaissance

The Greens North Sydney

Location: North Sydney 

Great for: Lawn bowls, live music and fire pits.

For similar vibes north of the Sydney Harbour Bridge, check out The Greens North Sydney. Set in leafy St Leonards Park, fuel up for your game of lawn bowls over brunch and order the whipped goat cheese and fig bruschetta to enjoy next to a fire pit on the patio.

The Greens, North Sydney

The Boathouse Shelly Beach

Location: Manly 

Great for: Beachside eats every day.

With its breezy coastal vibe and prime waterfront perch on Shelly Beach, The Boathouse is a Manly favourite for sun-soaked brunches and seaside sips. Expect relaxed walk-in dining, views that stretch all the way to the horizon and fresh Aussie fare with a seafood slant, including a crab scramble and tuna tostada.

The Boathouse Shelly Beach, Manly

Three Blue Ducks

Location: Rosebery 

Great for: Those fuelled by friends, family and sustainable food. 

A little oasis tucked into the industrial backstreets of Rosebery, Three Blue Ducks champions local produce. Built on strong foundations of mateship and ethical food, the menu is constantly rotating to make use of what's fresh and in season, from fire-roasted eggplant to slow-cooked lamb shoulder served with red chimichurri.

Three Blue Ducks, Rosebery - Credit: Three Blue Ducks

Outfield

Location: Ashfield 

Great for: Fuelling up after a visit to the park.

This parkside cafe, aptly named Outfield, feels like an extension of a friend’s backyard. With a picnic-appropriate menu that includes takeaway hampers, borrow a blanket and settle on a patch of grass among the locals. Popular orders include their kimchi egg and cheese toastie, and the smoked salmon bagel.

Outfield Cafe. Ashfield - Credit: Outfield Cafe

Flying Bear Cafe

Location: Kirribilli 

Great for: Delicious dishes on the dock with wonderful views to match.

Flying Bear Cafe in Kirribilli sits a bit hidden on the wharf at the Sydney Flying Squadron. Enjoy water views while you chow down their signature eggs benny for brunch or tuck into a Greek lamb pita during lunch.

Flying Bear Cafe, Kirribilli - Credit: Leigh Griffiths

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Copyright: Flying Bear Cafe, Foys

Porch & Parlour

Location: North Bondi 

Great for: A quick coffee pitstop before a swim.

Porch & Parlour have proudly served the locals of Bondi for more than a decade, drawing a crowd to its sun-kissed corner overlooking the beach. Grab a flat white and a table outside and see why this brunch icon is deserving of the hype.

Porch and Parlour, Bondi - Credit: Kitti Gould

Girdlers

Location: Dee Why 

Great for: A massive menu of goodies made with care in the Northern Beaches.

With a focus on honest food and friendly service, the crew at Girdlers specialise in healthy meals including buckwheat crepes and smashed avo. Much of the menu is gluten-, dairy- and refined sugar-free so everyone can enjoy a delicious breakfast and lunch. Located across from Dee Why Beach, there are five other locations spread throughout the Northern Beaches in Avalon, Manly, Narrabeen, Castle Hill and Warringah Mall.

Girdlers Dee Why, Northern Sydney - Credit: Girdlers Dee Why

The Lookout

Location: Elizabeth Bay 

Great for: Sunny wooden deck with water views.

Overlooking Elizabeth Bay Marina, The Lookout brews coffee as good as the view. Enjoy breakfast or lunch on the sun-drenched deck to watch boats cruise by as you tuck into dukkah egg, salmon bowls, and bacon burgers.

The Lookout cafe, Elizabeth Bay

Tommy’s Cafe

Location: Vineyard 

Great for: Pastries in the morning and ice-cream in the arvo.

Modern cafe dining meets rustic charm at Tommy’s Cafe at The Vineyard. Kids can explore the playground while parents enjoy coffee and brunch at the picnic tables on the lawn, with decadent dishes including creme brulee French toast and a house-made bolognese on toast. Just after a quick bite? Order a pot of tea with a scone or Butterboy cookie.

Tommy's Cafe, Vineyard - Credit: Tommy's Cafe

Next Door

Location: Cronulla 

Great for: An indulgent brunch listening to the lapping waves of the ocean.

Neighbouring North Cronulla Beach, Next Door's head chef follows the philosophy that you should only serve what you love to make for your friends, and the menu certainly reflects this mantra. From ‘eggs your way’ to truffle and parmesan arancini, it’s impossible to order wrong.

Next Door, Cronulla

The Waterfront Cafe and General Store

Location: Church Point 

Great for: Water views and an extensive menu.

Share corn fritters, fresh fruit salad and breakfast tacos on the deck at The Waterfront Cafe and General Store. Located at scenic Church Point surrounded by water, tree-filled banks and boats, soak in the views over a drink or two.

The Waterfront Cafe and General Store, Church Point

Sappho Books, Cafe and Bar

Location: Glebe 

Great for: Cosy garden cafe with stellar wines.

Not only is Sappho an excellent second-hand bookshop but it treats customers to a wonderful cafe by day, and a wine bar at night. Serving fresh and delicious dishes with many vegetarian options including a mushroom bruschetta and American-style pancakes, this garden courtyard cafe also hosts live music nights with an elegant wine list.

Sappho Books, Cafe and Bar, Glebe - Credit: Sappho Books

4 Doors Down

Location: The Rocks 

Great for: People watching and pastries.

This fully licensed spot from The Mercantile team delivers comfort with character. 4 Doors Down's front tables offer prime people-watching in the busy streets of The Rocks, while the leafy back courtyard is perfect for a quiet brunch. There's an all-day breakfast menu with eggs on toast or a full Irish breakfast, if you're hungry enough. Don't forget to drop by for a pint in the evening.

4 Doors Down, The Rocks - Credit: Anna Kucera

Percy Plunkett

Location: Penrith 

Great for: Cosy vibes in a renovated heritage cottage.

Sit on the verandah or in the white-picket-fence garden as you munch on breakfast or lunch at Percy Plunkett. This wheelchair accessible spot serves up everything from birria lamb toasties to fairy bread. Dogs are welcome in the outdoor areas.

Percy Plunkett, Penrith

Art Cafe

Location: Campbelltown 

Great for: An idyllic garden setting in an arts precinct.

Located within the Campbelltown Arts Centre, enjoy your meal in the serene landscape of the surrounding Japanese Gardens. A tranquil oasis, Art Cafe is known for its outstanding house-blend coffee and an all-day menu with pastries, pies and toast.

Campbelltown Arts Centre, Greater Western Sydney

Abattoir Blues Cafe

Location: Sydney Olympic Park 

Great for: A pre-show bite.

Abattoir Blues is a spacious cafe that makes for a great place to visit on a beautiful day. Snag a spot in the sunny courtyard and down a few cups of speciality coffee or fuel up before a show at the nearby Accor Stadium – the menu caters to all hunger levels with nourishing bowls and special brunch dishes like a coconut crumble and salmon hash.

Abbattoir Blues, Sydney Olympic Park

Blackwood Cafe

Location: Bondi

Great for: Easing into the weekend. 

As the second outpost of a Cronulla favourite, Blackwood Cafe feels right at home in laid-back Bondi. Start the day with blueberry ricotta hotcakes or truffle chilli scrambled eggs or kickstart the night with drops from the curated Aussie wine list.

Blackwood Cafe, Bondi

Celsius Coffee

Location: Kirribilli

Great for: A view and a meal to remember.

While you'll need to stay indoors at this cafe, Celsius Coffee hovers right above the water of Kirribilli wharf with heavenly harbour views all around. Come for the scenery but stick around for the breakfast menu, which includes chilli buttered poached eggs and the signature waffles.

Celsius Coffee, Kirribilli

The Nielsen

Location: Vaucluse 

Great for: Brekky staples right on the water.

This waterfront spot is steps away from Shark Beach so you can wander over with sandy feet and grab a causal bite to go. Order the bacon and egg roll or calamari and chips from The Neilsen's kiosk and take your meal straight to the sand for even closer views of the big blue.

The Neilsen, Vaucluse

The Calyx

Location: Royal Botanic Garden 

Great for: Greenery and coffee to go.

Your morning coffee and breakfast go the extra mile at The Calyx, a show-stopping venue in the heart of the Royal Botanic Garden where you can down a brew or spritz and enjoy seasonal exhibits. Take a sandwich to go and venture out into the wider garden. If you walk far enough, the Sydney Opera House will come into view.

The Calyx, Sydney - Credit: The Calyx

Bills

Location: Surry Hills 

Great for: The ultimate Aussie breakfast.

From cloud-like ricotta pancakes to corn fritters and world-famous avo toast, these are the dishes that changed the way Aussie's eat breakfast and made Bills a tourist destination. Despite being open since 1996, the Surry Hills outpost still has a line-up of people biding their time for a table to this day.

Bills Surry Hills, Sydney - Credit: Bills Surry Hills