The 7 Best Sydney Milk Bars

There’s no better way to appease nostalgia than with a trip to a milk bar, and a slew of venues are now channelling the old Aussie corner store vibes. While the menus and fit outs tend to boast a modern touch, all the favourites remain. From mixed lollies and milkshakes, here are the best old school stores donning new school flare. Next time nostalgia hits, stop by.

The Milk Bar by Cafe Ish

A hint of nostalgia lies just over the road from Redfern Train Station. The Milk Bar by Cafe Ish does burgers, shakes, all-day breakfast and much, much more. Tables sit amongst arcade games and a jukebox gives the retro cafe a 50s diner feel. However, jars of mixed lollies and peanut butter and jelly milkshakes keep diners knowing they’re in a fully-fledged Milk Bar with a modern touch no one would turn down.

105 Regent Street, Redfern

MilkBar

Covering both ends of the dining spectrum, MilkBar does breakfast, lunch and dinner with both light and heavy dishes. Those opting for the heavier end indulge in eggs benny, burgers and spaghetti meatballs while a red omelette lines the lighter side of town. When it comes to sweets, temptation’s bound to win with one look at their cake selection. Insider’s tip: don’t pass up their hot chocolate flavoured with your choice of Mars bar, Turkish delight or peppermint.

261a King Street, Newtown

Rio Milk Bar

A rebellious milk bar refurbishment is found in Summer Hill, where mixed lollies and neapolitan ice cream are replaced with espresso martinis and a solid wine list. Rio Milk Bar is now a bar with a nod to its corner store heritage. With the original milk bar signage maintained and a milkshake machine serving virgin milkshakes for the kids, it’s worth a pitstop for greek tapas, a cocktail or The Rio Milkshake of rum, Amaretto, agave and milk.

126 Smith Street, Summer Hill

Daisy’s Milk Bar

Arguably the best modern milk bar in town, Daisy’s Milk Bar is a playful, pastel-coloured venue in Petersham with a nod to Aussie milk bars in all the right ways. Boasting a lemonade stand and bottles of cordial customers can add to their table water, the contemporary corner store’s menu has standouts aplenty with pesto scrambled eggs, salted caramel banana split milkshakes and ice cream spiders. All served with a smile.

340 Stanmore Road, Petersham

Milk Bar Cafe 2223

Bringing a little bit of the ‘70s to Mortdale, Milk Bar Cafe 2223 is a venue filled with traditional milkshakes, spiders, burgers and steak sandwiches but the main attraction are their one cent lollies. You can mix and match and feel like you’re living out your childhood again, or opt for one of their modern dishes on the menu. Yes, there’s smashed avo and granola here too.

38 Balmoral Road, Mortdale

Olympia Milk Bar

When a milk bar has a fan club you know it must be good, or old, or both, which Olympia Milk Bar is. The aging, crumbling store has been around since the ‘30s while the owner has held its reigns since the ‘50s. From the outset it appears abandoned but inside you’ll find a man serving tea and milkshakes (chocolate or vanilla) which has turned the venue into a local attraction. Hence the invite-only fan club on Facebook.

190 Parramatta Road, Stanmore

Watson’s Bay Milk Bar

A change of hands a few years ago has brought the Watson’s Bay Milk Bar back to life and quality coffee now accompanies old school bacon and egg rolls. The menu is filled with corner store favourites of BLTs and hot dogs, while the ‘Cuban’ variety sees on-trend sandwiches of wagyu beef, pickles and mustard. Nestled in the wealthy, beachside village of Watson’s Bay it’s the perfect post-swim pitstop.

10 Military Road, Watson’s Bay