Sunday, October 11, 2009

Cafe Culture in Sydney

By Jennifer Schellington

The discerning traveller may have heard just how great Sydney's cafes are. There is no doubt that the Harbour Bridge and Opera House are impressive and a must see on your visit to Sydney, but stop a while and relax in one of its many cafes.

It's a Sydney tradition to spend your Saturday or Sunday morning in a cafe reading the local paper with an extremely good coffee and a late breakfast.

For the best breakfast in town take a ferry from Circular Quay to Balmain East. Don't be put off by the big hill that awaits you. There is a regular bus that will take you to the top. Once there, you'll find Kazbah at 308 Darling Street.

You will be delighted by the middle Eastern offerings here including the breakfast tagine. But you can also order fresh juices, turkish toasts and eggs. If you can get a table of 8 together then I cannot recommend enough the degustation menu which is just $20 for a feast. You won't need to eat until that evening and you will get to try some really interesting and incredibly tasty food. Make sure you remember to book in advance though.

There are lots of great places to enjoy breakfast with a view too in Sydney. If you have the cash, try Bathers Pavilion in Balmoral near Mosman at 4 The Esplanade. You can't get much closer to the water and the view is lovely. The food is also fantastic but prices are a little steep at $20 a dish. It's worth it though just for that view.

What about heading to Bronte Beach near Bondi Beach? Take the 378 bus down to the beach and take your pick from the colourful strip of cafes offering a wide selection of juices, coffees and breakfasts. Afterwards, take the picturesque walk from Bronte to Bondi along the coast and be blown away by the views.

Perhaps you have heard of the famous Australian Chef, Bill Granger. He has three cafes/restaurants in Sydney and makes the best scrambled eggs in town. Choose from Darlinghurst, Surry Hills and Woolhara. Get there early as you can't book.

It's hard to find a cafe in Sydney that doesn't do great coffee. Whilst some may look no more than a small hole in the wall, these are often the best places to get a great cup of coffee. It is such a part of the culture here that many locals attend coffee courses. For $150 you can learn everything you need to know about coffee, the espresso machine and how to texturise the milk.

So whilst there are lots of sites to see in the fabulous city of Sydney, make sure you find the time to relax and unwind in one of its laid back cafes.

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