This page contains all of the Five Word Coffee Shop Reviews in Sydney and New South Wales. Other pages have Melbourne reviews, Taiwan reviews, chains and franchises and chocolate cafes.
They are sorted as follows:
New South Wales (67 reviews)
· Sydney. CBD, North Sydney, Double Bay, Newtown, Leichhardt, Sydney Airport, Tamarama, Clovelly, Bondi, Maroubra, Bondi Junction, Ramsgate, Oatley. (23 reviews)
· North Shore, Sydney. Wahroonga, Turramurra. (4 reviews)
· Sutherland Shire, Sydney. Sylvania Waters, Como, Jannali, Sutherland, Gymea, Caringbah, Cronulla, Bundeena. (22 reviews)
· Regional NSW. Holbrook, Goulburn, Nelson Bay, Wyong, Berrima, Austinmer. (9 reviews)
· Albury and Wodonga. (9 reviews)
* Sydney:
Berkelouw, Norton St, Leichhardt
Quite good café bookshop combo
Bacio, Queen Victoria Building, Sydney
This is good, not great
Fresco, Queen Victoria Building, Sydney
Just how I like it
Espresso Bar, David Jones Food Hall, near Pitt St Mall, Sydney
Good coffee. Needs more seats.
Arc, Circular Quay, Sydney
Notable coffee by the harbour
Voodoo Espresso, Greenwood Plaza, North Sydney
Nice flavour, texture. Well presented.
Kinokuniya, The Galeries, Sydney
Books disallowed! Good coffee though.
Bar Zeppa, Knox Lane, Double Bay
Coffee commendable. Nice cakes too.
Campos, Missenden Rd, Newtown
Its stellar reputation is deserved
Urban Bites, 70 King St, Newtown
The coffee here ain’t bad
Cinque, King St (opposite Newtown Mission), Newtown
Good quality coffee is here.
Corelli’s, King St, Newtown
Nice old building. Good coffee.
Ritazza Lounge, Sydney Airport
Reasonable coffee with good views
Quikfix, Domestic Terminal, Sydney Airport
Very good. Best at airport.
Bar Ristretto, Sydney Airport
The coffee here ain’t bad.
From Judy:
Tamarama Beach Cafe, Tamarama
Good quality, strong beachside coffee.
Le Paris Go Cafe, Hall St, Bondi Beach
Good coffee and top atmosphere
Seasalt Cafe, Donnellan Circuit, Clovelly
Very good coffee by beach
Pool Caffe, Marine Pde, Maroubra
Top coffee at beachside location
Luxe Espresso, Westfield Bondi Junction
Top coffee. Best in centre.
From Jon:
d’ough espresso, Westfield Bondi Junction
Not good. Go Luxe instead.
La Promenade Patisserie, Ramsgate Rd, Ramsgate
Coffee okay. Food is nice.
Dolce Espresso, Letitia St, Oatley
Good to average. Nothing groundbreaking.
* North Shore, Sydney:
Pierre’s Patisserie, Turramurra
Nice French pastries, good coffee
Bonjour Patisserie, Railway Ave, Wahroonga
Nice food, coffee below par
Danes Gourmet Coffee, Railway Ave, Wahroonga
Flavour good. Just strong enough.
Café Laurella, Wahroonga
Nice atmosphere, coffee was disappointing
* Sutherland Shire, Sydney:
Reviews in this section courtesy of Jon.
Portions, Belgrave Esplanade, Sylvania Waters
Nothing special but not bad.
Riviera Café, Cremona St, Como
Average coffee, very well located
The Centre, Jannali.
Gloria Jeans Coffee in a non-GJ, e.g. real cups and glasses. Good food and Christian magazines.
From Jon:
Fix Cafe, Sutherland
Good, apparently. And popular, too.
Mozart’s, Gymea Bay Rd, Gymea
Nice sweets but coffee ordinary
Café Twelve, Gymea Bay Rd, Gymea
Reasonable quality coffee served here
Hairy Canary, Gymea Bay Rd, Gymea
Mediocre coffee unfortunately. Try elsewhere.
Hazelhurst Gallery Café, cnr Kingsway and Talara Rds, Gymea
Coffee good, service somewhat patronising
Vlasta’s, Gymea Bay Rd, Gymea
Coffee mediocre. Didn’t go back.
Cronulla Park Ice Creamery, Cronulla South beach
Great coffee, wonderful view, well-priced.
Aromas, Gymea Bay Rd, Gymea.
Good service, half decent coffee, papers.
Kafenico, Cronulla St, Cronulla.
Top coffee though not cheap.
Surfeits, Surf Rd, Cronulla.
Great coffee and food.
Cafe Parlo, Cronulla Mall, Cronulla.
Unexpectedly good, remember Mark?
Café De Keels, Tonkin St, Cronulla
Overlooks the bay. Coffee alright.
Café La Bay, Gunnamatta Park, Cronulla
Coffee ain’t bad. Seldom open.
Grind, Surf Rd, Cronulla
You won’t find better anywhere
Nulla Nulla, Cronulla St, Cronulla
My mum liked it, yesssss.
Camellia Gardens Teahouse, National Camellia Gardens, Caringbah.
Good Devonshire teas- coffee inconsistent.
Deli Cucina, President Ave, Caringbah
Looks uninspiring, but reasonable coffee
From Sarah:
Cafe 43, Gerrale St, Cronulla
Great coffee with beach views
Café Manna, Bundeena
Park, beach, kookaburras, decent coffee.
* Regional NSW:
Holbrook Bakery, Hume Hwy, Holbrook
Coffee somewhat mediocre, nice food
From Sarah:
Paragon Café, Auburn St, Goulburn
Average but satisfies the craving
From Jon:
Bryants Bakery, Auburn St, Goulburn
Surprisingly good coffee and ambience
Berkelouw Book Barn & Coffee Shop, Old Hume Hwy, just north of Berrima
Nice atmosphere, coffee not bad
E10, d’Albora Marina, Nelson Bay
Decent quality coffee on waterfront
Aquablu, d’Albora Marina, Nelson Bay
Excellent coffee. Tourist trap prices.
Coolabah Tree Café, Service Centre, Sydney-Newcastle Freeway, Wyong
Worst coffee ever. Stay away.
Oliver’s, Service Centre, Sydney-Newcastle Freeway, Wyong
Decent. They’re making an effort.
From Judy:
Austibeach Cafe, Lawrence Hargrave Dr, Austinmer
Beachside atmosphere, views, good coffee
* Albury-Wodonga:
Sarah has submitted the following reviews for cafés in the Albury-Wodonga area:
Ameldis, Elgin Blvd, Wodonga
Good for early morning coffee
Zilch, Stanley St, Wodonga
Excellent coffee just never open
Cafe Grove, High St, Wodonga
Mostly good but sometimes dodgy
Hollywoods, Southside Terrace, Wodonga
Quite good and open always
Coffee Mamma, Olive St, Albury
Good flavour unfortunately served lukewarm
Green Zebra, Dean St, Albury
Food is better than coffee
Electra, Dean St, Albury
Great latte I’m coming back
Canteen Cuisine, Dean St, Albury
Don’t even bother going there
Georges, Dean St, Albury
Very dodgy coffee stay away
19 comments
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June 21, 2008 at 10:55 am
John
From John S;
The Shop and Wine Bar,
Curlewis St, Bondi
Smooth Toby’s coffee, relaxed locale.
August 2, 2008 at 11:39 am
josh
It never ceases to amaze me the lobotomising critics.
IE. See below
Café Laurella, Wahroonga
Nice atmosphere, coffee was disappointing
I drink Coffee at Laurella weakly (its local) Yes on occasion (very rare) the coffee is not fantastic. I know the beans are good quality (*that’s why I come here )
So Mr Critic please cease being a monosyllabic fool and tell me when you were at my local cafe was the
Milk to hot, burnt, to cold, the flavor to bitter (head not rinsed) the beans to strong, over / under roasted (maybe you like the burnt starbuks flavor) Did you wate to long or do you owne the cafe around the corner?
Josh
PS you dont get a better feed on the upper north shore quolity, portion/ $
August 5, 2008 at 1:38 pm
Markk
I’ve responded to Josh at http://myopinionsareimportant.com/2008/08/05/i-respond-to-a-cafe-laurella-fan/
September 7, 2009 at 4:01 pm
dave
i see you have recommended berkelouw books coffee shop in norton street.
Sadly the owner is a nob. I sat there .. feeling very ill and couldnt bring myself to order something even though that was my intention. He kept hounding me to order something even though the place was half full with empty tables.
when i said nothank you to another enquiry as to whether i was ordering something- he got abusive lecturing me on why did i think i could sit there and not order anything - asking me if there was any other place i could do that?
the guy was rude, aggressive. A coffee shop is a nurturing environmnet you want to go to , take yr mates et cetc. this place IS NOT IT…. there are other places i would rather spend my money.
WHy in SYDNEY do we continually support places where teh customer service is a big fat ZERO!!!!!!!!!and the owners are RUDE.
Trust me … i spend thousands of dollars a month at restaurants and coffee shops. I am not a bludger, or a student. I have dollars to spend but i am sick of crap service
September 7, 2009 at 6:13 pm
markk
I think I see his point - it’s bad etiquette to not order anything, to say the least. When I’m in a similar situation, I always briefly explain why I’m not ordering. Most business owners are quite reasonable about meeting your needs once they know what they are.
September 7, 2009 at 6:26 pm
dave
FIrstly - it was newtown not norton street….. well Mark i think you are off base here. also understnad my intention was to order.
the issue is a. there was no upside for him by being abusive or not trying to cultviate me as a client. It speaks of a sense of entitlement that is common of many shopowners and shows a clueless approach how to nurture a loyal and repetitive customer base . b. besides showing a lack of humanity he was abusive and aggressive. both i think are totally inexcusable. but in an industry bankcrupt of service and respect for customers it comes as no surprise. Guess i am too used to far better service in other Australian cities and overseas where i spend a lot of time.
Having lived here on and off for the last 8 years Sydney is by far the worst service orientated city in the world. ANd most of my well heeled and travelled mates agree. I basically have cut down my spend .. it jsut aint worth it anymore.
September 26, 2009 at 1:11 pm
markk
You are, of course, correct that there is no excuse for him being abusive. But generally speaking I find the service in Sydney cafes and restaurants not to be a problem. But then, I haven’t travelled enough to make those sorts of comparisons.
October 28, 2009 at 10:39 pm
ANNA HATHIS
Service in Sydney is far better than the service in Melbourne, and that is saying something!! Furthermore at least when I ask for a macchiato I dont get asked - “is that a long or short macchaito?” WTF - this is what happens when you order a macchiato on Melbourne!!
What about coffee suggestions inner city - let me start:
CAFE SOPRA - Waterloo - excellent coffee. And if you take it ala Italian stand up style it is only $2.50!!!
BITE CAFE inside SIMON JOHNSON - Alexandria
Excellent bread & pastries but could do with better coffee - SONOMA BAKERY waterloo
Beautiful coffee but bad coffee makers (or you may be lucky to get someone that can do this excellent coffee justice) LOVE GRUB - Alexandria
As for the guy sitting in the cafe in the bookshop, it may be that the coffee shop area is leased from the bookshop, so really you have no business sitting there unless you are going to order. There are plenty of other seats available in the bookshop. So stop crying and go complain about something more important.
October 29, 2009 at 7:23 am
markk
Thanks for those suggestions Anna.
So with Melbourne vs Sydney service we have:
- 1 vote for Sydney
- 1 vote for Melbourne
- 1 undecided (that would be me - I’ve never noticed much difference).
Best of 5, perhaps?
October 29, 2009 at 10:02 am
dave
you got to be mad if you think melbourne service is worse than sydney. there is no lower than sydney - and trust me i live there.
was at a cafe this week. staff remove stuff leaning over you without asking permission.
zero verbal contactj or communication
waiter kept leaning over to refill salt shaker, refill toothpick holder whilst we were there ….. without by your leave. …
i could go on and on. …
the only places you get great service in sydney are asian/thai etc restaurants and 2 hat upwards. the rest are normally pathetic. and the staff can barely move under the chips on their shoulders.
October 29, 2009 at 11:05 am
markk
The worst service experience I’ve had was at a South Yarra restaurant that shall remain nameless. I’ve been there a number of times and on several occasions the staff have been downright surly. And this wasn’t a $3 coffee joint - mains were typically $25 or above.
I can’t think of anywhere in Sydney that I’ve experienced anything similar. But then, I don’t live there.
October 29, 2009 at 9:43 pm
ANNA HATHIS
Davo - I eat out three times a week and have done for over ten years. I have also eating around Australia, Europe and Asia and only eat at places recommended by guides - GFG, Mich, etc. I know Sydney and Melbourne both very well and I can tell you that Melbourne service needs to take a good look at itself. I dont want waiters fawning over me. I dont want to start a conversation and joke with them I just want solid service with good food and wine. Full stop. ALL MELBURNIANS have attitude and if you think they are bad in Sydney take a trip south for a real shock.
As for coffee as long as they say hello and thank you and deliver a good brew WTF else do you want?? And let me tell you Sydney is doing far better coffee than Melbourne these days too. And I never thought I would ever say that!!
October 29, 2009 at 9:49 pm
ANNA HATHIS
OH HOW COULD I FORGET!! - for some of the best breakfast, lunch, pastries and coffee in Sydney (if not the best at the moment) go to DEUS EX MACHINA CAMPERDOWN. And let your eye salivate on the gorgeous motorbikes.
Up Missenden Rd new place with divine pastries - best custard tart i have ever had and i dont even eat them - a place called LUXE BAKERY - i think??? Cant comment on the coffee yet but looks promising.
October 31, 2009 at 4:39 am
Jonk
Anna you´re probably taking it a bit far. Sydney and Melbourne both follow the Australian culture of customer service, with some cafes falling outside of that norm. If you have an objection to being asked tall or short, that´s simply… unusual.
As for differences in coffee between Sydney and Melbourne, you´ll find more top-end places in Melbourne, although Sydney may well not tbe too far behind. It´s because Melbourne is colder, nothing else.
Beyond that being a big fan of banana bread, I love going to Sydney cafes.
October 31, 2009 at 3:20 pm
ANNA HATHIS
Jonk it’s not me that is unsual it is the fact that I am asked that in the first place. A macchiato is a macchiato - there is no long or short. There is only short - being an expresso plus dollop of milk - end of story. And the only place in AUSTRALIA that does this is VIC. So the question is: if you dont know your coffees how can you make a decent one??
Now this is not the issue with the coffee - the issue is that where once Melbourne had it over Sydney for coffee this is no longer the case. SORRY but I have just spent yet another week south and threw out all but one coffee. Even SA does better coffee these days!!
Ho and as for more top places in Melbourne well you have that wrong also - I think that in the top 10 of best dining in OZ 8 or 9 are in Sydney. And in the top twenty two of those places in Melbourne are actually Sydney restaurants - ROCKPOOL & GUILLAME. Sydney trumps the dining and service.
But you know Jock you are more than welcome to the picturesque & feng shui perfect city Sydney and its superior dining establishments & cafes anytime. Maybe you can tell your mates south of the border what a macchiato is so that they stop asking me the same dumb question each time.
November 1, 2009 at 6:05 pm
markk
Once the locals expect you to ask the long/short macchiato question, you have to ask it, regardless of whether you know how to make coffee or not.
But last time I visited Sydney I was presently surprised by the quality of the coffee in almost every cafe I visited.
November 23, 2009 at 10:40 am
Lyndall
To Anna Hathis, you know your coffee , I have a kiosk and am thinking of changing from sega fredo to?????….campos ,allpress ??? any others you like that I should think about …….
Actually would be keen to hear from anyone else if there is a coffee that is worth a mention.
November 27, 2009 at 1:44 pm
Matt
Sarah, Thanks for your comments regarding Coffee Mamma review. Appreciate your comments and matters around temperature have been reviewed and fixed over the last 12 months. Happy drinking!
January 12, 2010 at 2:27 pm
Laura
Wow, chip on the shoulder much Anna? Jealousy is unbecoming.
Probably best you avoid Starbucks in Melbourne in the future.
You should probably know, that long macchiatos do not exist in isolation in Melbourne, but all around Australia. Perhaps not in Sydney, but we can’t all be ‘perfect’ and ‘feng shui’[?] can we. Do you also have a hissy fit every time a flat white appears on the menu?