Cafes all closed? Where to get a great coffee in Sydney after dark

Kürtőskalács (Kürtősh for short) is the name of a traditional Hungarian chimney-shaped pastry made of a caramelised, crispy, flaky outer pastry with soft inner layers. Add nuts, chocolate or spices and you have the famous dessert that is also the name of this excellent cafe.

Also add coffee because Kürtősh does coffee as well as it does cakes. The locally roasted coffee blends change seasonally as do the sweet treats on offer, but there is a consistency in quality and flavour that makes Kürtősh a go-to place for coffee once the sun goes down.

My favourite Kürtősh is the original “Kürtősh House No.1” at The Spot in Randwick, a great place to go before or after a movie at the Ritz. You’ll also find Kürtősh in suburbs including Surry Hills, Haymarket, Crows Nest, South Eveleigh and Marrickville.

Dish Cult’s top pick: Pistachio Kürtősh ($9)

Coffee 24 hours a day? There really needs to be more of this but at Maisy’s that’s exactly what you’ll get.

This round-the-clock eatery has been providing great coffee and fab food to go with it since 1972, something not lost on nocturnal Lower North Shore locals.

For those south of the harbour, Maisy’s is a great option for when those cravings hit. Whether it be the desire for a wagyu beef burger with fries at 3am or a comforting bowl of spaghetti, this place is worth crossing the bridge for.

Dish Cult’s top pick: Liqueur coffee with Frangelico ($11)

Fine dining, fine wine and fine coffee come together at Sella Vinoteca – a gem of an Italian restaurant in the easy-to-miss Newmarket dining precinct in the Eastern suburbs.

While not strictly a coffee destination, this is a place that needs to be found for traditional Italian food and service. I discovered it – and Newmarket, a residential development in a former horse stable – when I needed a coffee while waiting for a friend. I sat at one of the outside tables to enjoy an espresso, wine, rosemary focaccia and a long black. Not only was my coffee perfect, so was the South Australian Shiraz. I’ll be back for more coffee and a three-course Italian meal. This place is great.

(And a thought – perhaps not original – when looking for a late night coffee, the nearest Italian restaurant could be a good bet).

Dish Cult’s top pick: Spiced poached pear, sponge cake, lemon myrtle, almond brittle ($16)

For coffee and dinner in Surry Hills, try quintessentially Sydney café Bills. It’s the kind of place that pulls you in from the street (or pushes you sideways: if you want to eat and drink coffee al fresco outside on Crown Street).

The coffee roast of choice is the Single O blend. Here, you can purr over a pour over single origin of the month, or a cold drip single origin of the month. Why not try both and compare the difference?

Bills’ restaurants can also be found at Bondi Beach, Double Bay and Darlinghurst. They’re open till 10pm so while it’s not a super late night haunt for coffee, it’s a great one when you want to grab caffeine before a show.

Dish Cult’s top pick: Coconut curry, choy sum & holy basil, brown rice with fish and prawn ($33)