The Best Cafés in North Sydney

Gildas is a Basque-inspired wine bar offering share plates, Spanish wine, cherries, and vermouth. The restaurant is intimate, with seating for 60, and the light is dim—reminiscent of wine bars in San Sebastian. Diners can expect the same exceptional food quality you would find at Firedoor, with a much smaller price tag. Mia Dolci Italiani, an Italian pasticceria, and the brainchild of famed chef Orazio D’Elia and classically trained Italian pastry chef Riccardo Falcone (ex-Rockpool), will open in Alexandria this December. The converted warehouse space will operate as a cafe serving house-made Italian sweets with a modern twist, focaccia, specialised chocolates and also offer retail and wholesale orders. Harry’s By Giuls is your little slice of Milano on Darlinghurst’s iconic Stanley Street, where Head Chef, Alessio Rago, infuses 15 years of Italian cooking at Michelin Star venues into the menu.
The coffee is great, but there's a bigger emphasis on food. Pretty much every time you visit you'll find a new temptation on the menu, be it chocolate, marscapone and banana muffins, or coconut waffles with coffee-infused gelato. With design features as comfort-focused as the food, the cafe features an assortment of quirky lamp shades, a teaspoon collection to measure up against your grandma's and chairs you can north sydney cafe settle into all arvo long. Ere's your guide to ten of the lower north shore's finest cafes. With two popular cafes in Surry Hills andBarangaroo, it shouldn't be a surprise that Devon decided to expand across the bridge in North Sydney. Its lineup of signature dishes in tow, Devon North Sydney joins bar and eatery Hunter Gatherer and Hawaiian Nudefish in Greenwood Plaza, just across from North Sydney station.

Like the "Return of the Macdaddy", which is a croissant loaded up with triple smoked bacon, bacon mac n' cheese, 63° egg, tomato relish, and fried shallots. Or, the "I'm So Bondi It Hurts" soba noodle salad with coconut poached chicken or confit salmon. And its beautiful dishes have made a regular of me. The food always seems so fresh, curries are nice, Bento boxes beautiful, Katsu chicken and pork so tender and crispy. What is more, when visiting with colleagues we particularly like to sit outside in the balcony.
The preserved selection of the menu will feature fresh Australian seafood, cured and cooked in oil, such as Port Lincoln Berrima octopus and Espelette pepper. The mains are a range of must-haves, including Yellowfin Tuna Chateaubriand, garlic Warrigal greens, and Diane sauce. Brunch is an opportunity to re-introduce some of Josh’s favourites, such as St. Helens long spine sea urchin crumpet, the Ballina spanner crab croissant, and Manjimup Marron scrambled eggs. Some new ones include smoked Murray Cod bacon & maple pancakes and King George Whiting caesar salad. Fittingly named, this Crows Nest cafe and bar may be small in size but it’s certainly big in just about everything else!
Fresh rice paper rolls filled with avocado, green apple, mango and fresh salad based on passionfruit and honey dressing. I will have to try some of them with my grandkids. Located on the corner of Reserve Road and Pacific Highway in St Leonards, Gore Hill Park is right next to the oval that hosts lots of sporting games. Downstairs is all exposed brick and high ceilings, with recycled timber tables and American-style booths.

We love having a place to bring clients and really show off what we’re about; Work inc has become an extension of our brand in the best way possible. The environment here is just so inspiring to be around. I get to meet the people behind these companies I’ve heard of and it’s nice to share similar struggles, hear their solutions and celebrate successes together. The Botanica's elegant and lush interiors are every designer's dream, offering bursts of botanicals against velvet pinks and ornamental accents. The Botanica Vaucluse's botanical theme continues with their paddock-to-plate menu, which features locally sourced produce and offerings straight from their Jamberoo Valley Farm.
From their on-site cafe vegetable garden in Bronte to their picturesque 80-acre working farm in Byron Bay, Three Blue Ducks have proved produce-driven, sustainable breaky  is tastier. In Sydney, you can get your fix in Rosebery with now-famous dishes like scrambled eggs with black sausage. Sydney's CBD used to be pretty devoid of cool cafes, bars, and restaurants. These days, there are that many epic venues to try, with newbies opening all the time too, we reckon you'd be hard-pressed to tick them all off in a year.

Incredible adventure playground is suited to kids of all ages – from toddler through to teens! The new Skate Park is right next door too, so kids on wheels will have lots of fun too. The new playground at Dukes Green was completed in early 2023, and provides equipment for all ages and abilities including a climbing frame, swing set, slide, carousel, cubby house and a rocker. The playground also includes a discovery and nature play area beneath existing trees, along with seating, additional trees for shading, landscaping, a water fountain and a new fence. There’s also nearby toilets, picnic tables, bubbler, BBQ facilities and parking.
I said I'd cover the cost of ingredients and pay half. They said no, why should they have to pay for my mistake. Passing parade of people going about their business at the end of the day...Just lovely. Too three people who had never been before for dinner - as usual great service, quality of food excellent and size of portions more than enough.

Today, COYA has reopened its doors with beautiful, bright interiors and incredible light fixtures that pay homage to Chef Ash’s Middle Eastern heritage. The restaurant has also relocated to St Leonards. Artfully created and full of flavour, diners can expect modern Australian fare served across six and 10-course degustation menus. On the menu, find a well-curated wine list that complements each dish.
Diner will enjoy an upscale dining experience, with picturesque waterfront views, and a boardwalk to wander down. Keeping in tune with the brand’s ethos, expect premium steaks, contemporary food dishes and an extensive beverage range to complement. The menu’s focus is a combination of Australian and seasonal produce that is energised by Afro-centric ingredients and cooking techniques that reflect African culture and tastes. It’s a dining experience that offers something for everyone. At the helm of the menu is the brand’s curated meat program from Australian purveyors.
Thé's intention in opening Hearthe was to create cakes using traditional Australian flavours and preserving measures - cakes designed specifically designed to withstand our warmer climate. Think Geraldton Wax Cheesecake and Paperbark Dacquoise. If you're after something savoury there are plenty of bites on the menu, including handmade pies, that can be enjoyed in the crisp interior of the cafe or al-fresco amongst Stanmore's Douglas Street. A work colleague and I went in for a bite of lunch - it was not busy with only a handful of people seated - no one else was waiting to be served. There were three staff behind the counter standing idle when we walked... Deliberately detour my way to the office to grab a coffee from here.

The Moody Chef is an open and inviting café with a fun and social vibe. They offer an extensive seasonal breakfast and lunch menu that are scrumptious and in generous servings. This café also serves some of the best coffee in the local area. Back & Forth is adored by Castlecrag locals for its smooth Gabriel coffees and spectacular range of health-conscious fare alongside more indulgent options. The nourish bowl is a strong favourite for the virtuous, but the weak willed (ahem, that’s us) are drawn to the bacon and egg roll.
Casual Saturday brunch at the cafe guarantees a stellar weekend, and if you're in a fancy mood, the French-inspired restaurant's elegant lunch and dinner will take your weekend to the next level. Owner and executive chef Serge Dansereau serves a seasonal menu, with favourites such as seared scallops and pan-fried barramundi making an appearance, complemented by an extensive wine list. The new playground at St Ives Village Green opened in October 2022, and it’s definitely one of the best locations if you want lots of nearby coffee options or to do a spot of shopping. There’s plenty of free parking nearby, although it does get busy at different times, especially when there’s sport on the greens.