Sydney’s Hottest Cafes Right Now

It’s an Alice in Wonderland meets Secret Garden crossover, and boy does it work.

Heralded as a dreamy oasis, Flower Child hits all the right notes. Tucked in Chatswood shopping centre, you’ll be dining in a beautiful indoor garden with an open-plan kitchen where you can watch the chefs whip up colourful, gorgeous dishes that are well-deserving of the cult status they hold.

Drop-in for their prosciutto and asparagus soldiers at breakfast, or spring for their 12-hour lamb bowl for lunch– either way, you’ll be happily fed.

Dish Cult recommends: The $28 Miso Cured Salmon Toast

Anyone vaguely familiar with Sydney’s cafe scene knows that The Grounds is a household name.

A gorgeous, sprawling space that takes farm-to-table to the next level, The Grounds has multiple eateries to pick from and an ever-present crowd of fans who love them all.

There’s a cafe serving what’s literally some of the best roasts in Sydney, a bakery with fresh pastries, and a wildly popular eatery with fairy lights and tantalising cafe fare. Plus, there’s lush greenery, animals, and gorgeous photo-ops at every turn.

Dish Cult recommends: The Cafe’s $19 Farmer’s Omelette

You’d be hard-pressed to find a Sydney-sider who doesn’t have a massive crush on Circa.

A tiny hole-in-the-wall nook that’s made a larger-than-life impression, Circa’s interior is dotted with nostalgic novelties, and they serve up fantastic roasted in-house coffee and food that’s some of Parramatta’s best (if not, the best).

Their signature dish– the addictively delicious Ottoman Eggs– features poached eggs like you’ve never known them: nestled atop a heaping stack of crumbed eggplant, garlic labneh, burnt chilli and sage butter, fried leeks, and housemade focaccia.

Dish Cult recommends: The $26 Ottoman Eggs

Specialty coffee beans are Paramount’s Holy Grail– as are the international coffee roasters they showcase in their airy, industrial-chic space.

Apart from winning coffee, the menu here is equally tempting; a rollicking list featuring contemporary Asian-Australian dishes and bold spin-offs on beloved classics.

Their chicken yuzu burger is a firm winner, as is their Fried Chicken Waffles served with maple bacon gravy, chilli pickled apple, radicchio, and roasted hazelnuts. They also do a bang-up job with pastries, so get there early on weekends to avoid fighting off die-hard fans.

Dish Cult recommends: $23 Fried Chicken Waffles

Two Chaps strips it down to the basics. With a fit-out reflective of their approach to food, the space is beautifully minimalistic with exposed brick walls, steel shelving, and warm wood finishings.

The menu here is ever-changing and produce-driven, with all their food made from scratch daily. The team here always has something up their sleeve with a rotating list of daily specials and a pastry cabinet heaving with handmade treats and hot sandwiches that fly off the shelves.

Opt for their Hash Browns with cime de rapa, brussel sprouts, two poached eggs, and green goddess sauce for a delicious tummy-filler.

Dish Cult recommends: The $22 Hash Browns