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The Best Cafes on the Northern Beaches for a Beachy Brunch
From Manly to Mona Vale and beyond, here are the best cafes on the Northern Beaches.
The best cafes on the Northern Beaches run from Manly to Palm Beach, led by Serva in Seaforth and Freshwater for breakfast sandos, Effie’s in Balgowlah for coffee by day and wine by night, and Norma’s Deli in Manly for baklava and buttery croissants. Further north, Oceans Narrabeen pairs brunch with ocean views, while Coast in Palm Beach offers a timber-decked courtyard. Do as the locals do and make a beeline.
With all the magical places to swim, friendly folk, and laidback atmosphere, we understand why people don’t want to leave! Do as the locals do and make a beeline for these hotspots.
In This Guide:
Editor’s Pick:
Buoy Kisok
Perched in Balgowlah, this little spot is doing the simple things really well. Drinks service starts at 7am, with smoothies, coffee and cold pressed juices in amply supply. Then, from 10:30am, the food menu kicks in, with sandwiches, salads and a couple of breaky items too.
The location makes Buoy Kiosk perfect for a post-swim or mid-walk pitstop, but it’s also becoming a destination in its own right. Grab something and go, or park up and watch the world drift by. Either way, it’s already firmly earned a top spot on the Northern Beaches rotation.
Sitchu Tip: Try the Cheese & Vegemite mousetrap… you won’t regret it.
Suburb: Balgowlah Heights
Price Guide: $$
Cuisine: Cafe, Juice bar
Best For: Breakfast, Quick bite, Locals
Need To Know: Drinks only in the early morning, with the food menu starting mid-morning.
Best Cafes in Manly and Fairlight
Noon
This gem has been brought to you by the Good Good Company — the same folk behind Manly faves Chica Bonita, Sunset Sabi and Busta. With a simple yet chic fit-out and a prime sunlit corner, just a block back from the beach, Noon is fuelling locals and visitors alike with classic coffees, iced matches or a shaken tahini latte.
For food, think elevated B&Es with house barbecue sauce, scrambled eggs with black lime za’atar crisp, sourdough and cultured butter or Rosti with cured ocean trout, fennel and herb salad, lemon myrtle and crème fraiche.
Suburb: Manly
Price Guide: $$
Cuisine: Cafe, Brunch
Best For: Breakfast, Brunch, Locals
Rollers Bakehouse
When it comes to delicious, flaky croissants, the bakers at Rollers never miss. For breakfast, try one of their signature or special croissants loaded with delicious flavours — they are so worth getting out of bed for.
The space is cosy and welcoming with communal tables, a cute courtyard and succulents. It’s also millennial pink and oozing with California-cool vibes — the stuff Insta-dreams are made of.
Suburb: Manly
Price Guide: $$
Cuisine: Bakery
Best For: Breakfast, Quick bite, Outdoor dining, Weekend plans
Norma’s Deli
From the team behind Roller’s Bakehouse and Butterboy, Norma’s Deli has created a big buzz in Manly! And for good reason.
Walking down the stairs into Norma’s, you’re immediately transported to a charming and busy Greek deli. If you can peel yourself away from watching the bakers work their magic in the open-planned kitchen, try your best to choose some delights from behind the glass window of treats.
Between the buttery croissants, Yiayia-approved baklava and other drool-worthy creations, it’s like picking a favourite child.
Suburb: Manly
Price Guide: $$
Cuisine: Bakery
Best For: Breakfast, Quick bite, Weekend plans
Skittle Lane
Calling all caffeine lovers! This sun-soaked spot is one of the absolute best cafes in Manly, with a laidback beachy feel and a prime location along busy Pittwater Road.
The delicious Skittle Lane coffee has already earned its stripes with coffee lovers and can be paired with delicious Tuga pastries served on Hasami Porcelain plates.
Suburb: Manly
Price Guide: $$
Cuisine: Coffee bar
Best For: Breakfast, Quick bite, Locals
Cibaria Caffetteria & Gelateria
Located right down on Manly’s iconic ocean-front promenade, Cibaria Caffetteria & Gelateria is exactly where you want to be on a sunny day. Enjoy craft coffee, Italian pastries and wood-fired pizettes, topped off with fresh house-made gelato.
Suburb: Manly
Price Guide: $$
Cuisine: Cafe, Gelato
Best For: Waterfront, Quick bite, Weekend plans
Boté
Head down to Manly’s historic boat shed between 7am and 1pm each day and you can sip coffee, snack on Staple pastries and top off your morning with a ButterBoy cookie, all whilst watching the sun sparkle off the water at Boté.
Suburb: Fairlight
Price Guide: $$
Cuisine: Cafe
Best For: Breakfast, Waterfront, Quick bite
Need To Know: Mornings only, closing early afternoon.
Best Cafes in Balgowlah, Seaforth and Freshwater
Serva
This Seaforth deli was quickly championed by locals, and for good reason. With its cool, funky fit-out and a menu that’s guaranteed to impress, Serva has become one of the coolest spots on the Northern Beaches, and now, locals in Freshwater can get a taste too.
The team has just opened a new Freshwater outpost, trading Thursday to Sunday. Serving up the same signature breakfast sandos, specialty drinks and matchas that make the original a hit, the menu makes good use of gourmet and seasonal ingredients, with preserves, pickles and ferments bringing plenty of punch to the sandwiches, The drinks line-up includes the likes of a banana maple cold foam which feels like a serious bit of us.
Sitchu Tip: Both outposts are well worth a visit when you’re chasing a very good breakfast sando!
Suburb: Seaforth and Freshwater
Price Guide: $$
Cuisine: Cafe
Best For: Breakfast, Quick bite, Locals, Weekend plans
Need To Know: The Freshwater outpost trades Thursday to Sunday.
Effie’s
A coffee shop by day and cosy wine bar by night. With it’s chic white-washed interiors, and Sydney’s most aesthetic takeaway window — we think this is possibly the coolest cafe on the Northern Beaches.
What once was a Korean corner store, Effie’s is a love letter to local artists and makers, featuring Sarah Ellison chairs, Hay tables, Maison Balzac glassware and Ash Holmes art. By day, they’re serving up seriously good Mecca coffee alongside elevated brunch bites. By night, come for cocktails by Chica Bonita and wines by Winona and stay for the snackies (hello vongole frites).
Suburb: Balgowlah
Price Guide: $$
Cuisine: Cafe, Wine bar
Best For: Brunch, Wine lovers, Cocktail lovers, Date night
Albert & Moore
On any given day, fit foodies spill out onto the footpath of this bright and airy Freshwater cafe. The menu at Albert & Moore is nutritious and artfully presented, with many paleo, gluten-free, vegetarian and vegan options.
Try the Protein Stack with steak and eggs post-workout, otherwise, the PB Acai Bowl or Green Goodness Bowl with kale, quinoa, avocado, grilled halloumi, beetroot hummus, boiled eggs and toasted seeds are amazing.
Price Guide: $$
Cuisine: Cafe, Gluten-friendly
Best For: Breakfast, Brunch, Locals
Need To Know: Plenty of paleo, gluten-free, vegetarian and vegan options.
Best Cafes in Collaroy, Narrabeen and Mona Vale
Oceans Narrabeen
With unbeatable ocean views and a breezy, laidback vibe, Oceans Narrabeen is a Northern Beaches favourite for sun-soaked breakfasts by the sea. The menu heroes coastal classics done right (think smashed avo with dukkah, fluffy ricotta pancakes and hearty brekkie bowls paired with perfectly poured coffee or fresh juices). Whether you’re coming straight from a surf or settling in for a long brunch with friends, it’s the kind of spot that captures the easy charm of beachside mornings.
Suburb: Narrabeen
Price Guide: $$
Cuisine: Cafe, Brunch
Best For: Breakfast, Brunch, Waterfront, Group dining
Outpost Espresso
This charming hole-in-the-wall eatery has got the breakfast menu down pat. Whether it’s a fresh açai bowl, a salmon bagel, or a ham and cheese croissant, Outpost Espresso is always packed with hungry locals tucking into their goods and sipping their Campos coffee.
Suburb: Collaroy
Price Guide: $$
Cuisine: Cafe
Best For: Breakfast, Quick bite, Locals
Queen Ester Falafel Bar
Queen Ester is a popular Israeli cafe and falafel bar serving delicious Middle Eastern. Sit in the sun-drenched outdoor dining space and indulge in their handmade falafels, pitas, and shawarma bowls, each made with fresh, tasty produce. Trust us, it will be love at first bite!
Suburb: Mona Vale
Price Guide: $$
Cuisine: Middle Eastern
Best For: Outdoor dining, Quick bite, Locals
Best Cafes in Newport and Palm Beach
Coast
Breakfast, brunch, small bites and leisurely long lunches are the order of the day at Coast, a Palm Beach local oozing charm. From the moment you step into the beachy courtyard with a light timber deck, rattan chairs and white weatherboard walls, you’ll know you’ve made a good choice.
An oasis serving Campos coffee and T2 tea, the menu is filled with deluxe egg and bacon rolls, smashed avo and bircher muesli for breakfast, while Falafel dishes, Gyros wraps, Super Bowls with vegetables, dukkha and fried egg will keep you satisfied come lunch. Did we mention it’s dog-friendly?
Suburb: Palm Beach
Price Guide: $$
Cuisine: Cafe, Brunch
Best For: Brunch, Long lunch, Outdoor dining, Dog-friendly
Rusti Fig
Rusti Fig is the local institution boasting cheap eats, a delicious sandwich bar, fresh juices and the best coffee in town.
Run by Newport local Ellie, you’ll be a regular in no time thanks to the welcoming atmosphere, super quick service and top-shelf food. Try the creamy scrambled eggs, and thank us later!
Suburb: Newport
Price Guide: $$
Cuisine: Cafe
Best For: Breakfast, Quick bite, Budget-friendly, Locals
Zubi Cafes
Whether you need to get caffeinated or are after a more substantial feed, the team at Zubi has all bases covered. With four locations across the Northern Beaches, Zubi is a cult favourite with locals thanks to its fresh, tasty food.
These guys are the pros of a classic big breakfast, or for something a little more daring try their Reuben sandwich. They also serve Campos coffee, fresh juices and delicious pastries.
Suburb: Newport
Price Guide: $$
Cuisine: Cafe, Breakfast
Best For: Breakfast, Brunch, Locals
Need To Know: Four locations across the Northern Beaches.
Dunes Kiosk
Sitting atop Sydney’s iconic Palm Beach, Dunes Restaurant is beach-side alfresco dining at its best. But when you’re looking for something a little more low-key, you can’t go past their kiosk serving great coffee, juices and delicious nosh perfect to keep you fuelled for a day at the beach.
Suburb: Palm Beach
Price Guide: $$
Cuisine: Cafe
Best For: Waterfront, Quick bite, Weekend plans
Frequently Asked Questions about the Best Cafes on the Northern Beaches
The best cafes on the Northern Beaches include Serva in Seaforth and Freshwater, known for its breakfast sandos and seasonal preserves, and Effie’s in Balgowlah, which runs as a coffee shop by day and a wine bar by night. In Manly, Norma’s Deli and Rollers Bakehouse are standouts for baked goods, while Oceans Narrabeen pairs brunch with ocean views. Further north, Coast in Palm Beach offers a timber-decked courtyard and a dog-friendly welcome, making it a strong pick for a slower weekend morning.
For a cafe with a view on the Northern Beaches, Oceans Narrabeen is the standout, serving smashed avo with dukkah and ricotta pancakes with ocean views. Dunes Kiosk in Palm Beach, the casual offshoot of Dunes Restaurant, offers coffee, juices and easy food for a day on the sand. In Manly, Cibaria Caffetteria & Gelateria sits on the North Steyne oceanfront promenade with coffee, wood-fired pizzettes and house-made gelato, while Boté in Fairlight serves coffee and pastries from a historic boat shed overlooking the water.
Rollers Bakehouse in Manly is the go-to for croissants, with signature and special flavours and a courtyard for eating in. Norma’s Deli on The Corso in Manly, from the team behind Rollers and ButterBoy, adds baklava and buttery croissants made in an open-plan kitchen. Skittle Lane on Pittwater Road in Manly pairs its house coffee with Tuga pastries, and Boté in Fairlight stocks Staple pastries and ButterBoy cookies. Cibaria Caffetteria & Gelateria on North Steyne rounds things out with Italian pastries and house-made gelato.
Albert & Moore in Freshwater is the leading healthy cafe on the Northern Beaches, with a menu built around paleo, gluten-free, vegetarian and vegan options. Post-workout orders include the Protein Stack with steak and eggs, while the Green Goodness Bowl combines kale, quinoa, avocado, grilled halloumi, beetroot hummus, boiled eggs and toasted seeds. For something quicker, Outpost Espresso in Collaroy serves açai bowls and salmon bagels with Campos coffee, and Oceans Narrabeen offers brekkie bowls and fresh juices with ocean views. Buoy Kiosk in Balgowlah Heights adds smoothies and cold-pressed juices.
At the northern end of the Northern Beaches, Coast in Palm Beach is a strong all-day pick, serving Campos coffee, egg and bacon rolls and bircher muesli in the morning, and falafel, gyros wraps and bowls at lunch, all in a dog-friendly courtyard. Dunes Kiosk, also in Palm Beach, is the casual option for coffee and juices close to the sand. In Newport, Rusti Fig is a local institution known for its sandwich bar and creamy scrambled eggs, while Queen Ester in Mona Vale serves handmade falafel, pitas and shawarma bowls.
Sampled your way through the entirety of this edit of the best cafes on the Northern Beaches and ready to explore the area? Read our roundup of the best restaurants in Manly. Then, why not strap on your hiking boots and check out our edit of the best walking tracks in the Northern Beaches?
