Eat like a local: Alexandria

Damon is a film, television and stage actor who appears in the Netflix series Thai Cave Rescue (to be released on 22 September). When he’s not rehearsing, treading the boards or flying to Thailand to shoot on location, Damon enjoys the hidden gems in his own backyard.

Where do you go for your morning coffee?

“Cafe 0.6. I want to try the special brew. I haven’t tried it yet. Julia – my girlfriend – likes the coffee here too and encourages me to go out and get it for her! Another place I like is Cuppa Flower in Waterloo. I’m very happy to get my regular long black at either of these cafes.”

Best brunch with friends?

“Zera Food & Co. It’s quite cheap. It has good bacon and egg rolls, bowls, lentils, falafels and fish options. It has cool music and it’s nice to sit outside. I like the open kitchen: to watch what they’re doing. It’s friendly with good food too.”

How about your bakery of choice?

“Bourke Street Bakery in Alexandria, hands down.”

Your favourite fast lunch?

“Cafe 0.6 again. The sandwiches here are so good. The schnitzel sandwich is great.”

What about drinks after work?

“My house! I’m not as brave as everyone else since Covid, but when I do go out for a drink I like the Iron Duke Hotel on Botany Road. I like the beer garden and it’s dog friendly. It’s a nice place. The food is really good: pub food but good pub food.”

A place that really impresses people is…

“… Oooh! The Grounds, man! Man, The Grounds is huge. Multiple attractions in one place. There’s a florist there, a cool function room … and so much more. It’s very aesthetically pleasing for the eye. They have a kissing booth stall when you walk out. The Grounds is great: really impresses people the first time they see it. It used to have a pig called Kevin Bacon who was later abducted by animal activists and taken to Victoria. The Grounds has quite a whisky bar feel in some areas and in others an old school diner feel. Really varied. People also really like the Potting Shed for outdoor eating.”

Alexandria’s secret gem is…

“… the Social Hideout. It’s on the cusp of three suburbs, on the border of Waterloo, Zetland and Alexandria. Strictly speaking it’s in Waterloo but we’ll claim it for Alexandria! It really looks magical: a lot of flowers. It looks awesome when you walk in. The food is good. The service is really good. The music is good. Everything’s good! It’s kind of like … eclectic music – they’ve got everything but particularly contemporary jazz. They really nail the cafe jazz vibe. There are flowers everywhere and it feels bubbly when you go into it.”

Alexandria is a great place to eat because…

“… of its variety and all the different foods. The places to eat tend to be on off streets like this [like Bowden Street where we have coffee at Cafe 0.6]. The owners make them more interesting. They go with the industrial vibe. There are breweries, different cultures, different cuisines. Good vegan options. They tend to really put in an effort, really succeed. They do a good job. Alexandria is an industrial area but with lots of overhanging trees, and some places play on that theme: kind of hidden and super forrest-y inside. A lot of greenery. Like Sub-Station Cafe: one to try, the menu looks pretty damned nice.”

Your Alexandria address book:

Cafe 0.6: 11 Bowden Street, Alexandria NSW 2015

Cuppa Flower: Shop 1/15 Allen Street, Waterloo NSW 2017

Zera Food & Co: 1/68 McEvoy Street, Alexandria NSW 2015

Bourke Street Bakery: 472-474 Gardeners Road, Alexandria NSW 2015

Iron Duke Hotel: 220 Botany Road, Alexandria NSW 2015

The Grounds of Alexandria: 7a/2 Huntley Street, Alexandria NSW 2015

Social Hideout: Shop 4&5/25-33 Allen Street, Waterloo NSW 2017

Sub-Station Cafe: 124 McEvoy Street, Alexandria NSW 2015

Want to explore another part of Sydney? Check out our eat like a local guide to Enmore or head on over to Asian food haven Kingsford.