Best Brunch in Sydney: Your List of Weekend Cafe Hangouts

When it comes to weekend rituals, nothing beats a brunch session on a Saturday or Sunday. Sydney’s best brunch spots stretch from Manly’s Norma’s Deli to Marrickville’s Superfreak and the CBD institution that is Bills, with standout regional picks in the Eastern Suburbs, Inner West and Sutherland Shire.

Come rain, hail or shine, Sydney’s best cafés are constantly thinking up new ways to draw in the hungry mid-morning crowds (hello bottomless brunch!), with drool-worthy plates of breakfast salads, granola bowls, twists on smashed avo on toast, and of course the perennial favourite – the humble bacon and egg roll. When it comes to brunch, Sydney’s café scene has it all. We’ve selected some of the greats to help you decide where you’ll be heading this weekend. Here’s our edit of the best brunch in Sydney.

Best Brunch: Editor’s Picks

Olea

If you ask us, breakfast is the most important meal of the day and pancakes are the most important part of any breakfast so it makes sense that we’re absolutely in love with Olea’s ricotta hotcakes with banana and whipped honeycomb butter. If you prefer to start the day with something savoury, check out the zucchini and celeriac fritters served with yellow beetroot salad and house-made hummus or Spanish-baked eggs.

If you don’t tend to roll out of bed before lunch, you can stop by for a mid-day feast of Nonna-approved paninis packed with meatballs and porchetta as well as fresh spaghetti limone and crispy skin barramundi served with brodo. Wash it all down with a signature cocktail, or a glass of wine or sink a sweet cold-pressed juice while you drink in the architecture of this sun-soaked Linfield café.

Suburb: Lindfield
Price Guide: $$
Cuisine: Brunch
Best For: Brunch, Long lunch, Wine lovers, Weekend plans

Best Brunch in Sydney’s Northern Beaches

Norma’s Deli

From the team behind Roller’s Bakehouse and Butterboy, Norma’s Deli is Manly’s coolest venue creating a big buzz! 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-plan kitchen (they’re seriously hypnotising), it will take you a while to choose just one or two delights from behind the glass window of glorious treats. Our pick is the strawberry and cream donuts.

Honestly, between the buttery croissants, Nonna-approved baklava and other drool-worthy creations, it’s like picking a favourite child. They offer both a lunch and breakfast menu with standouts including the tzatziki, egg and cucumber, the taramasalata toast, Norma’s pastito and their zesty spanakopita. 

Suburb: Manly
Price Guide: $$
Cuisine: Bakery
Best For: Brunch, Locals, Quick bite

Best Brunch on Sydney’s North Shore

Somewhere North

Tucked into leafy St Ives, Somewhere North is the kind of neighbourhood café that turns a simple brunch into a proper ritual. The menu leans fresh and produce-driven, with beautifully plated dishes that burst to life with vibrant greens, perfectly poached eggs and house-made touches throughout.

Light-filled, relaxed and effortlessly stylish, it’s a go-to for long catch-ups, post-walk coffees and those mornings when only a really good brunch will do.

Suburb: St Ives Chase
Price Guide: $$
Cuisine: Cafe
Best For: Brunch, Locals, Long lunch, Weekend plans

Best Brunch on Sydney’s CBD

Bills 

It surely is blasphemy to have Bills excluded in any cafe roundups in Sydney – especially the best brunch spots. A pillar of the brunch scene, Bills doesn’t just have one cult dish but a series. If you haven’t yet tried the Ricotta Hotcakes with Banana and Honeycomb Butter or the Sweet Corn Fritters with Roast Tomato, Spinach and Avocado Salsa, we’re officially rescinding your brunch aficionado titles. These are brunch scene staples. But you’ll have to make multiple trips to sample the other gems on the menu, too. 

Suburb: Various locations
Price Guide: $$
Cuisine: Brunch
Best For: Brunch, Weekend plans, Locals, Group dining
Need To Know: Locations across Surry Hills, Bondi Beach, Darlinghurst and Double Bay.

A.P Bakery

Be drawn in by the beans, beats and baked goods at A.P Bakery. Having gained an impressive cult following, the pop-up patisserie is known for serving up some of Sydney’s best baked goods. Choose between sweet and savoury treats such as dark-chocolate croissants, potato hash, a fig, olive oil and ricotta danish, and their signature egg bun. Soft, flaky, and perfectly golden, these are some of the best pastries in Sydney guaranteed to keep the sugar cravings at bay. You can find them on the Paramount House Rooftop from Thursdays to Sundays or catch them at one of our favourite Sydney markets on Saturdays, as well as a few other locations around Sydney. 

Suburb: Various locations
Price Guide: $$
Cuisine: Bakery
Best For: Brunch, Quick bite, Locals
Need To Know: Found at Paramount House Rooftop, Thursday to Sunday, and at Sydney markets on Saturdays.

Best Brunch on Sydney’s Sutherland Shire

Rushi 

Rushi is a hidden gem in Sydney’s South serving up impeccable brunch options, including their iconic Yariman Roll. This beauty consists of a soft milk bun, filled with parmesan shallot scrambled eggs, avocado, crispy bacon and siracha mayonnaise. Their fluffy hotcakes are also a winner. If you’re looking for a drink, their coffee is top-notch, but their Mint Slice latte is the real winner. Tucked into the front of a bike shop, this petite cafe is worth a road trip! 

Sitchu Tip: If you find yourself in The Shire and seeking lunch, Rushi’s sushi is some of the best in Sydney. 

Suburb: Cronulla
Price Guide: $$
Cuisine: Brunch
Best For: Brunch, Locals, Quick bite

Best Brunch on Sydney’s Eastern Suburbs

Blackwood Bondi

Effortlessly fun and beachy, this café is run by three mates and it’s open seven days a week for brekkie, brunch and lunch and casual weekend dinners. The bright and flavoursome menu at Blackwood Bondi swings broadly between bold Mediterranean classics, French favourites, and fresh and fun Asian influences. Go in for Morning Glory egg, chorizo and kale, cult-classic blueberry and ricotta hotcakes and hangover-curing lunches like the chilli chicken schnitzel sandwich. The Biscoff latte is also a must. 

Suburb: Various locations
Price Guide: $$
Cuisine: Mediterranean (flagged — see below)
Best For: Brunch, Group dining, Weekend plans, Late night
Need To Know: Open seven days for breakfast, brunch, lunch and weekend dinners.

The Navy Bear

Sitting pretty on the harbour, The Navy Bear makes for a picture-perfect brunch destination. Serving up all your breakfast faves, alongside plenty of dietary-friendly options, you can’t go past the smashed avo toast with pickled jalapeno, coriander and lime on sourdough. A brunch feast fit for a queen!

Suburb: Darling Point
Price Guide: $$
Cuisine: Breakfast
Best For: Brunch, Waterfront, Weekend plans

Best Brunch on Sydney’s Western Sydney

Misc.

Brace yourself for a pretty big call on our part… We believe Misc. restaurant is to Western Sydney what Totti’s is to the Eastern Suburbs. With delicious food, breathtaking scenery and perfectly puffy flatbread, this epic 300-seat is pure delight. Nestled within Parramatta Park, designed by Nic Graham (QT Hotels) this modern courtyard restaurant is the brainchild of restauranteur and Gogglebox-er Jad Nehmetallah.

Describing his vision for the restaurant, Nehmetallah says “we’re sophisticated but we don’t take ourselves too seriously. [This is] a spot for Western Sydney to proudly call their own.” The menu from executive chef Sebastian Geray and industry heavy-weight Joel Bennetts is an approachable Mediterranean menu with a delicious selection of all-day eats.

Suburb: Parramatta
Price Guide: $$
Cuisine: Mediterranean
Best For: Brunch, Group dining, Special occasion, Outdoor dining

Best Brunch on Sydney’s Inner West

Valentina’s

It’s official, Marrickville’s (and all of Sydney for that matter) has a massive crush on Valentina’s, the Inner West’s go-to all-day diner. They’ve got (you guessed it) all-day breakfast with biscuits and gravy, short stack pancakes with butter and maple syrup or you can commit fully to their American dream and get a slice of pie and a snickerdoodle. From 11 am you can order from their lunch menu. Think fried mortadella sandwiches and fried chicken biscuits!

Suburb: Marrickville
Price Guide: $$
Cuisine: Brunch
Best For: Brunch, Locals, Weekend plans, Group dining
Need To Know: Lunch menu available from 11am.

Superfreak 

Superfreak is already a firm favourite on the Sydney foodie scene. Serving up healthy bites that look the part, you can expect delicious breaky plates (jammy eggs, radish, picked vege and the like), broth, porridge and other nourishing delights. The interiors are just as clean as the menu with a neutral palette and minimalist design fitted out with luxury textiles. 

Suburb: Marrickville
Price Guide: $$
Cuisine: Brunch
Best For: Brunch, Locals, Weekend plans

Frequently Asked Questions about Sydney’s Best Brunch

Where is the best brunch in Sydney?

Sydney’s best brunch spots are spread across the city, with standout options in the CBD, Inner West, Eastern Suburbs, North Shore and Northern Beaches. The CBD’s Bills is a long-running favourite for its ricotta hotcakes, while Marrickville’s Superfreak and Norma’s Deli in Manly offer a more contemporary, produce-driven take. For a harbourside setting, The Navy Bear in Darling Point pairs its brunch menu with water views. Wherever you’re starting from, there’s a strong brunch option within a short trip.

What time does brunch start in Sydney cafes?

Brunch service typically runs from mid-morning through early afternoon at most Sydney cafes, though exact hours vary by venue. Some spots, like Olea in Lindfield, transition from a breakfast and brunch menu into a lunch offering from midday, so you can arrive later and still order from a similar menu. It’s worth checking a venue’s specific hours before heading out, particularly on weekends when popular spots can have queues or limited walk-in availability.

Do Sydney brunch spots take bookings?

Booking policies vary significantly across Sydney’s brunch scene. Larger venues and those in high-demand locations are more likely to accept reservations, particularly for weekend sittings, while smaller neighbourhood cafes often operate on a walk-in basis only. If you’re brunching with a group or have a specific time in mind, it’s worth calling ahead or checking the venue’s website, since many of Sydney’s best-loved spots fill up quickly on Saturday and Sunday mornings.

What is the best brunch dish to order in Sydney?

Sydney’s brunch scene is known for a few standout dishes that have become cult favourites. Bills’ ricotta hotcakes with banana and honeycomb butter and its sweet corn fritters are considered brunch scene staples. Beyond the classics, many cafes have put their own spin on smashed avocado toast, with venues like The Navy Bear adding pickled jalapeno and coriander for extra flavour. Ultimately, the best dish comes down to whether you’re after something sweet, savoury, or a share-friendly spread.

Is there good brunch outside the Sydney CBD?

Yes, some of Sydney’s strongest brunch options sit well outside the city centre. The Inner West, Eastern Suburbs and Northern Beaches all have well-established cafe scenes, with venues like Valentina’s in Marrickville and Blackwood in Bondi drawing loyal local crowds. Western Sydney has also seen significant investment in its dining scene, with venues like Misc. in Parramatta Park offering a large-scale brunch destination outside the traditional inner-city hubs.

Love brunch and want to find more places to dine? Be sure to check out our killer round-up of  Sydney’s best bottomless brunches. Or if coffee is more your thing, why not explore Sydney’s diverse café scene by checking out some of the city’s best new cafés and coffee roasters.