16 Excellent Surry Hills Cafes To Try Now

The dynamic cafe culture in Surry Hills sees both classic brunch favourites and eclectic, experimental breakfast dishes thrive.

Sydney embraces mornings wholeheartedly, and there’s no better place to start the day than with the vibrant and thriving cafe culture in trendy Surry Hills. While the Surry Hills restaurant scene transforms the area by night, there’s something for everyone here in the mornings too – you’ll find bustling cafes overspilling onto footpaths, friendly banter with baristas who have serious coffee knowledge, and an artsy and industrial atmosphere that keeps locals and visitors eagerly coming back for more. Whether you like a macchiato when you get up with the sun, or prefer long lazy brunches that begin at midday, the cafe scene here has got a wealth of options for you. Read on for our suggestions.

1. A.P Bakery

Best for: freshly baked bread and pastries in a sunny rooftop urban oasis.
Price: $-$$

To find A.P. Bakery, head through the ground floor of Paramount House and up the elevator to the rooftop, where you’ll be met with views of the city skyline, lush greenery, and an energetic and cosmopolitan vibe. In the impressive bakery you’ll find bread, pastries, cakes and pies made with the freshest, sustainable, high-quality goods.

On the breakfast menu we recommend the hot pocket, a gruyere, asiago and cheddar blend with onion, tomato and mustard melted into a pizza bianca pocket, as well as the LP’s smoked brisket bagel, served with potato chips. There’s simply too many baked treats to choose from, so rather than panic, it’s best to accept you’ll need to take a selection away with you. It gets busy, so be prepared for lines out the door if you arrive after 11 am on the weekend.

Address: A.P Bakery, L2/80 Commonwealth St, Surry Hills

2. Reuben Hills

Best for: excellent coffee and South American-inspired food.
Price: $$

Reuben Hills turns 12 this year, and the boutique specialty roastery has been sharing their passion and enthusiasm for coffee in Surry Hills since day one. Their all-day brunch menu is inspired by trips to Central and South America, and Africa, and is updated regularly to reflect local seasonal produce. As well as roasting their beans onsite, Reuben Hills proudly supports its coffee producers and believes in industry sustainability and accountability. And, as a bonus, they’re dog-friendly!

The cafe interior of Reuben Hills in Surry Hills, Sydney

Reuben Hills has been serving its boutique specialty coffee for over a decade.

Address: Reuben Hills, 61 Albion St, Surry Hills

3. Sticky Fingers

Best for: Asian fusion brunch options and quality coffee.
Price: $$

Sticky Fingers love what they do, and are dedicated to creating excellent experiences for their Surry Hills customers that go above and beyond expectations. They do this by bringing together a lively city atmosphere, consistent service that makes each customer feel known, and a unique menu that infuses modern classics with an Asian twist.

food and drinks on the table at Sticky Fingers, Surry Hills

The cafe infuses an Asian twist into all its creations.

Signature menu items include the super green bowl, pulled beef benedict and chilli momo (Nepalese dumplings). The coffee tastes as good as the food, with Marrickville’s golden Cobra beans on offer.

a close-up of food on the plate with coffee on the table at Sticky Fingers, Surry Hills

Decadent breakfast favourites also feature on the menu.

Address: Sticky Fingers, 23 Pelican St, Surry Hills

4. Paramount Coffee Project

Best for: interesting seasonal, local food in a striking setting.
Price: $$

The striking high ceilings, airy light-filled space and sleek wooden tables give Surry Hills’ Paramount Coffee Project cafe an elegance that makes you want to linger over your coffee and take it all in.

the cafe interior at Paramount Coffee Project, Surry Hills

Nab a spot inside the light-filled space at Paramount Coffee Project.

When it first opened in 2013, the plan had been to create a place to showcase high-quality coffee; the team delivered on this goal, with local and international roasters rotated regularly.

a glass of coffee shake at Paramount Coffee Project, Surry Hills

Try Paramount’s signature creamy coffee shake.

There’s a seasonal breakfast and lunch menu made with locally sourced ingredients, including favourites like crumbed eggs on toast and fried chicken waffles.

a close-up shot of waffles on a plate at Paramount Coffee Project, Surry Hills

Breakfasts don’t come heartier than Paramount’s fried chicken waffles.

While service is quick, be warned that it may be a long wait for a table: best to arrive early.

The crumbed eggs are a real crowd-pleaser.

Address: Paramount Coffee Project, 80 Commonwealth St, Surry Hills

5. Bills

Best for: classic Australian brunch dishes.
Price: $$

Looking for Bills on Surry Hills’ Crown Street? The bustling crowd waiting out front will let you know that you’ve arrived. Bills is synonymous with simple, fresh and delicious dishes that embody Australian cuisine, and customers flock for the brunch classics like fluffy ricotta hotcakes, corn fritters, and creamy scrambled eggs.

Treat yourself to Bills’ fluffy ricotta hotcakes. (Image: Tourism Australia)

Big Italian windows, dreamy filtering sunlight and pops of green throughout, make Bills the perfect place to gather with friends to tuck into crowd favourites while drinking a Single O coffee (or passion fruit bellini).

Address: Bills, 355 Crown St, Surry Hills

6. Neighbourhood

Best for: consistently excellent coffee.
Price: $

A short wander up from Central station in Surry Hills and you’ll find blink-and-you’ll-miss-it Neighbourhood, the hole-in-the-wall cafe that knows coffee back to front.

Baristas at Neighbourhood cafe in Surry Hills

The baristas at Neighbourhood serve consistently excellent coffee.

The space may be small, but the coffee is outstanding. With only a few seats out front, we recommend grabbing a take-away coffee and daily baked treat, and heading across to a bench in Prince Alfred Park to savour the moment.

A cup of coffee served at Neighbourhood cafe in Surry Hills

The coffee here is outstanding.

Address: 16 Buckingham Street, Surry Hills

7. Kentaro

Best for: enjoy a Japanese fusion menu whilst seated in a quiet, leafy street.
Price: $-$$

Located on leafy Bourke Street and tucked away from the frenetic energy of the main hub of Surry Hills, Kentaro embraces a more relaxed atmosphere with a rustic, industrial look. Kentaro’s menu embodies Japanese fusion, and while you’ll recognise some menu favourites like the katsu sandwich from big sister cafe, Cafe Oratnek, you’ll also fall in love with the matcha French toast and Japanese poutine. Chef Kenny’s mantra of ‘make it fresh today, make it fresh tomorrow’ means that all food is prepared fresh.

Address: Cafe Kentaro, 616 Bourke St, Surry Hills

8. Single O

Best for: single-origin coffee and brunch classics with a twist.
Price: $$

Single O in Surry Hills changed Sydney’s coffee scene when it first opened in 2003, and this passionate coffee stalwart has been a crowd favourite ever since.

It’s the cafe that single-handedly changed Sydney’s coffee scene. (Image: Tom Ferguson)

People flock for the single-origin coffee, yes, as well as their tasty seasonal breakfast and lunch menu. Stop by Sideshow, their specialty brew bar next door, for their espresso of the week.

getting coffee on tap at Single O Cafe in Surry Hills

Stop by the brew bar on the block at Single O.

Already planning your next coffee on your way out their door? Why not sign up for their coffee subscription? An added bonus? Their commitment to sustainable practices means they’re on track to be certified by Bcorp.

a person holding a cup of coffee at Single O Cafe in Surry Hills

Single O is a go-to spot for a coffee run in Sydney. (Image: Alana Dimou)

Address: Single O, 60/64 Reservoir St, Surry Hills

9. Soul Deli

Best for: Korean-inspired brunch at a funky cafe-deli.
Price: $$

Soul Deli’s catch cry is that they’re all about ‘bold flavours and big smiles’, and they sure do deliver with their Korean deli, shop and cafe. Located inside the Adge Hotel in Surry Hills, Soul Deli brings the fun vibes and a splash of colour.

As well as breakfast favourites, the menu showcases a clear Korean influence with smashed avo and white kimchi, Korean chicken porridge and a range of Soul bowls. There’s an extensive drinks menu of coffee, teas, special lattes and sodas – and don’t forget to pick up a tasty Korean donut.

Address: Soul Deli, 1/212 Riley St, Surry Hills

10. Malika Bakehouse

Best for: lingering over a Turkish breakfast.
Price: $-$$

A cheerful pop of colour first greets you when you walk through the door of Malika Bakehouse in Surry Hills, followed by an equally cheerful greeting by the friendly staff. Owners Efe Topuzlu and Ozgur Sefkatli want to make sure their customers are able to embrace the ritual of breakfast, and it’s not hard with a delicious menu to choose from.

an array of food on the table at Malika Bakehouse

You’ve got plenty to choose from on the menu. (Image: Katje Ford)

Think Turkish breakfast, baklava, menemen, tahini granola, with a range of borek on offer. There’s plenty of seating too, both inside and out of the pavement. ‘Malika’ is Turkish for ‘queen’ which makes sense, because the food here really is fit for the royal court.

Malika Bakehouse is a sunny Surry Hills hot spot. (Image: Katje Ford)

Address: Malika Bakehouse, 515 Crown St, Surry Hills

11. Shift Eatery

Best for: Vegan cafe/deli with outdoor seating.
Price: $-$$

Shift Eatery’s name comes from their desire to make the shift to trying and eating vegan food as seamless as possible. At Shift, you’ll find both a shop and deli, with the option to eat outside. Everything on the menu is vegan, and gluten-free bread is available at no extra cost. Expect an all-day breakfast, toasties, fresh bowls and salads.

a close-up shot of a salad bowl on the table at Shift Eatery, Surry Hills

A tasty salad bowl from Shift Eatery just hits the spot.

Why not try the vegan salmon bagel, with house-made tomato lox with nori and cream cheese, or the meetball sub with vegan meatballs, house-made marinara sauce and vegan parmesan cheese? The excellent coffee is by Byron Bay’s Marvell St Coffee Roasters.

Be sure to try their version of a carrot banh mi sandwich.

Address: Shift Eatery, 4/241 Commonwealth St, Surry Hills

12. Lode Pies and Pastries

Best for: mouth-watering pastries and pies that melt in your mouth.
Price: $-$$

Stepping inside Lode Pies and Pastries in Surry Hills is a delight for the senses, where the delectable aroma of high-end freshly baked inventive creations meets a dreamy soft colour palette of pinks and greys.

This isn’t your average bakery – food here is a work of art. Using only the very best ingredients, Lode embraces a fresh approach to viennoiserie and the craft of layering butter and dough to deliver refined and elegant products.

While it’s a small space, there’s outdoor seating available. Lode’s popularity means things often sell out – we suggest getting there before midday to ensure you’re able to grab your favourites.

Address: Lode Pies and Pastries, 487 Crown St, Surry Hills

13. Meet Mica

Best for: innovative, delicious brunch choices with a Japanese influence.

Price: $$

Meet Mica was voted in the top 20 cafes in Sydney by the Good Food Guide in 2018 and 2019, and it is easy to see why. This light-filled, welcoming cafe serves interesting and delicious dishes that pack a punch.

Think about ordering the matcha French lava toast with condensed milk, the signature lobster congee, or one of the bento boxes. They also have a special menu for more brunch options.

Meet Mica’s thorough drinks menu features excellent coffee, as well as house iced tea and Japanese lattes.

Address: Meet Mica, 5/492-500 Elizabeth Street, Surry Hills

14. Berto’s Espresso

Best for: cafe street seating to people-watch over a classic brunch.

Price: $-$$

With sunny vibes and minimalist decor, friendly service, and tables on the street, Berto’s Espresso in Surry Hills is where to go for a relaxed and casual brunch. The welcoming atmosphere pairs well with the smooth coffee on offer. Expect brunch favourites, sandwiches and salads. Keep an eye out for the weekly special, where you’ll find tasty plates like smoked salmon Florentine and miso mushroom.

Address: Berto’s Espresso, 536 Crown St, Surry Hills

15. Four Ate Five

Best for: friendly service and satisfying Middle Eastern meals.

Price: $-$$

At Four Ate Five, you’ll find a casual, homely feel with a strong sense of community – the walls feature art by local Surry Hills artists.

Taste your way around the Middle Eastern-inspired menu at Four Ate Five.

Head here if you’re hankering for a Middle East-influenced menu, think shakshuka and makhlama, beef kofta and healthy salads. Grab a Single O coffee and a seat outside to embrace the local atmosphere.

The lively Four Ate Five cafe is a local hangout for a reason.

Address: Four Ate Five, 485 Crown St, Surry Hills

16. Blacksmith

Best for: classic brunch favourites in a well-designed space.

Price: $-$$

The first thing you’ll notice at Blacksmith in Surry Hills is their commitment to embodying the blacksmith aesthetic – it feels like you’re stepping straight into a smithy workshop. With metal-framed windows, dark studded timber tables and hanging chains, you almost expect a blacksmith to wander by.

With an all-day breakfast menu, you’ll find a range of brunch favourites on offer that are made fresh onsite.

Address: Blacksmith, 116 Chalmers St, Surry Hills

Welcome to the first instalment of Hotel Addict, a monthly column where I check into Australia’s best hotels, exploring not just the rooms, but the stories, service and settings that make each stay unforgettable and worth adding to your wishlist.

Hotel stays have quietly become my thing. Long before I became a travel journalist, I was booking staycations just for a change of scenery. Some had charm, some had character, some had neither. Once, I even stayed in a hotel directly opposite my own apartment – partly for the novelty, partly because I wanted to see my life from a different angle.

For me, hotels represent a kind of mystery – I find myself wanting to know what these buildings contain. Many of them are designed with intention: lighting, materials, scent and sounds that often reflect the city they sit in. Time seems to gently pause in these spaces, which have increasingly become the destination itself for modern travellers.

It only felt fitting for the first hotel in this series to be in my home city and at the hotel that’s been at the top of my list: Capella Sydney.

A sandstone heritage building and palm trees

Capella sits within an Edwardian Baroque‑style sandstone building.

An email with a hotel program from the “Culturist Team” lets me know this will be a luxurious stay. There’s a guided walk around the Botanic Gardens, a weaving workshop and a Sydney contemporary art tour – the kind of addition that signals a hotel that’s tuned into the finer details, and one that’s not surprising given that Capella’s ethos centres on delivering personalised, immersive experiences.

Capella opened in 2023 within a transformed Edwardian Baroque‑style sandstone building in Sydney’s CBD that was originally designed by renowned Scottish-Australian architect George McRae. I often walk past this building and once attended an event inside – I distinctly remember being surprised by how beautiful it was. Bar Studio, Make Architects, and stylist Simone Haag were engaged to sensitively adapt the building for contemporary luxury while honouring its past, in collaboration with Heritage NSW and the City of Sydney.

When I arrive, I’m greeted by three different staff members along the way to reception. There’s a lovely subtle scent, which I later learn combines notes of bergamot, green tea leaves, peony, freesia, vetiver and cedarwood. This hotel strikes such a beautiful balance between grandness and intimacy, with large floral bouquets, contemporary artworks, impressively high ceilings that give it an international feel and quieter nooks to unwind in. Each space is unique, but they’re all unified by a warm, textural and layered design.

Sydney has been deserving of a hotel of this calibre for quite some time, with many of the accommodations in the city looking and feeling dated.

A modern hotel reception with high ceilings

The design strikes the perfect balance between grandness and intimacy.

I have a treatment booked at the hotel’s Auriga Spa prior to check-in. The space is ultra-luxe, moodily lit and intimate, featuring timber joinery, green walls and a sleek design that’s so perfect it almost transports me to Japan. I opt for the Replenish Beauty and LED Facial – a strategic choice with a TV segment on the horizon, and a hopeful bid to look extra fresh for the camera.

The treatment begins with me sitting in the softest robe of my life, wearing slippers and sipping chamomile tea. I’m then whisked away to my private treatment room, which has its own bathroom, a large skylight and a small Japanese-style garden. The treatment is extremely relaxing and moves through cleansing, exfoliating, massaging (arm, head, neck and face) and LED Light Therapy. There’s so much attention to detail – even at the end, the facialist puts my slippers back on me, while I’m still lying down.

Spa treatment room with a massage bed, featuring timber walls and a serene Japanese-style garden visible through a window.

A treatment at Auriga Spa might be the best way I’ve ever started a hotel stay. (Image: Rachael Thompson)

While this treatment certainly hasn’t had a Benjamin Button effect, my sister seems to think I’m glowing, so I walk away happy, or at the very least, zen.

Auriga Spa has a sauna, steam room, ice fountain and a beautiful indoor heated swimming pool. There’s also “experiential showers” – new to me, but essentially it combines water flowing from different places, changing temperatures, mood lighting, gentle sounds, and a subtle lemongrass scent.

You could easily spend the better part of a day at the spa and pool, even if you’re not a guest.

The indoor heated swimming pool with glass ceiling at Capella Sydney.

Guests outside the hotel can use the spa and swimming pool. (Image: Rachael Thompson)

I’m escorted to my room, drunk on relaxation, but I make sure to take note of how noisy the hallways are – answer: dead quiet. My room is 50 square metres, which is huge by hotel standards, but particularly for one in the CBD. It feels like a high-end apartment with floorboards, a freestanding bath and a seating/dining area. My eyes are immediately drawn to the line-up of macarons waiting for me on the dining table.

I’m thrilled to see the mini bar armoire includes a small wine fridge stocked with Minuty Prestige Côtes de Provence, Cloudy Bay Sauvignon Blanc, Handpicked Wines Pinot Noir, and Moët Grand Vintage. Not that I plan on using it (I simply could not justify the prices) – but it’s a nice extra that makes the room feel that much more luxurious. The drinks lineup reads like a who’s-who of local favourites – Young Henrys, Maybe Sammy cocktails, Four Pillars gin and Archie Rose gin. Snacks include Tyrell’s chips, Pringles, Natural Confectionery lollies, and a Carman’s oat bar.

Some small touches I appreciate that some hotels don’t offer: the option to choose your housekeeping time, an iron that actually works well, a Bluetooth speaker, the beloved wine fridge, aluminium water bottles and a bathroom without a glass door or screen that awkwardly exposes you. The one downside is that some of these rooms don’t offer much in the way of a view.

A modern hotel room with a monochrome paletter.

I stayed in a Premier Room which was elegant and relaxing. (Image: Rachael Thompson)

4:30pm is Swill Hour – a daily tradition that nods to the historical “six o’clock swill” in Australia. This one-hour event takes place in the Living Room and invites guests to gather and enjoy each other’s company with a signature cocktail in hand. This afternoon’s tipple is a Eucalyptus Gimlet, a clever, herbaceous little cocktail, by the multi-award-winning Maybe Sammy Team, served on coasters depicting drawings of the historic building. The canapé of the day is a tomato and stracciatella tart. I noticed several staff members chatting with guests like old friends, asking how their adventures earlier in the day went – clearly remembering previous conversations from earlier visits.

Dinner is booked for 6:30pm in Aperture – arguably the most beautiful area of the accommodation. It’s decorated with Australian flora and features a kinetic sculpture hanging from the roof that opens like flowers, with softly changing lights. Tyler, who is serving us, clearly admires the Capella brand, speaking enthusiastically about the other international properties he’s been to and sharing how he sometimes brings his five-year-old daughter here to use the pool.

Interior of Aperture at Capella Sydney, featuring lush greenery and a striking ceiling-mounted sculpture.

The scale of Aperture gives it an international feel.

I kick things off with a basil melon margarita – a winning recommendation – before tucking into the best prawn toast I’ve ever had. For mains it’s crispy Ōra King salmon and spaghetti with mud crab.

When I arrive back at my room, there’s a vegan leather journal on my bed with a note that says: “The ritual of journaling allows us to pause, reflect and focus.” This is part of the turndown service, and my slippers are neatly lined up next to my bed. Will I journal? No. Do I think it’s a nice touch? Yes.

Brasserie 1930 at Capella Sydney, where Art Deco elegance meets contemporary Australian cuisine.

Brasserie 1930 boasts Art Deco elegance.

The next morning, I make the predictable choice of smashed avo for breakfast at the on-site restaurant, Brasserie 1930. There’s also a buffet brimming with all the usual suspects.

Afterwards, I head to the pool to relax for a few hours before the 11am checkout. Despite my earlier resolve not to journal, I find myself reflecting nonetheless – an irony not lost on me – on my 21st hotel stay in Sydney. I write this with growing assurance that great hotels don’t just provide a place to stay; they create memorable moments, thanks in large part to fantastic staff. Kudos to the hiring manager.

Next stop: The Tasman, a Luxury Collection Hotel, Hobart!

16 excellent Surry Hills cafes to try now

The dynamic cafe culture in Surry Hills sees both classic brunch favourites and eclectic, experimental breakfast dishes thrive.

1. A.P Bakery

2. Reuben Hills

3. Sticky Fingers

4. Paramount Coffee Project

5. Bills

6. Neighbourhood

7. Kentaro

8. Single O

9. Soul Deli

10. Malika Bakehouse

11. Shift Eatery

12. Lode Pies and Pastries

13. Meet Mica

14. Berto’s Espresso

15. Four Ate Five

16. Blacksmith

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Welcome to the first instalment of Hotel Addict, a monthly column where I check into Australia’s best hotels, exploring not just the rooms, but the stories, service and settings that make each stay unforgettable and worth adding to your wishlist.