The Best Cafes In the Inner West for a Brunch with Bite
With smashed avo and espresso's en masse, the best cafes in the Inner West prove this area may well be Sydney's cafe capital.
There’s no doubt about it - the Inner West is a foodie’s idea of heaven. Along with time-tested staples, new places are popping up all the time, giving locals a slew of choices for breakfast, lunch and a quality cup of Joe.
From Marrickville and Newtown to Ashfield and Erskineville, the Inner West is home to a string of cafes that are serving up some of the best brunch in the city and offer a strong sense of community to boot.
Rise and shine – the coffee is brewing and delicious meals are waiting for you at the best cafés in the Inner West!
The Best Cafes in the Inner West: Burwood
The Antique Cherry
The Antique Cherry is a haven of Instagrammable dishes with plates loaded with pancakes, eggs, burgers and salads that pair nicely with the delicious teas, shakes and sodas. It's also dog-friendly with plenty of outdoor seating for you and your furry friend to soak up the Sydney sunshine!
5 Unity Place, Burwood
Pillar
Coffee lovers, gear up because you're not going to find a finer drop in all of Sydney. Making artisan coffee accessible to everyone, Pillar does everything right. From the pared-back interiors to the single-origin sourced beans, they've left no stone unturned in the quest for perfection. Choose from their carefully sourced pour-over reserve coffee, incredible batch brews or classic coffee menu before tackling the food. Freshly baked daily pastries are on offer on top of a selection of Japanese-fusion brunch dishes.
Shop 1, Unity Place, Burwood
The Best Cafes in the Inner West: Marrickville
Two Chaps
What will it be: stuffed French toast with fruit puree, custard and berries? Or perhaps the seasonal salad bowl with fresh produce and zesty dressing?
At this Marrickville hotspot, almost everything on the menu is made from scratch, and if it isn’t, it’s sourced from local growers. Before you leave, grab one of Two Chaps’ famous house-made doughnuts to nibble on later.
122 Chapel Street, Marrickville
Valentina’s
It’s official, Marrickville (and all of Sydney for that matter) has a massive crush on Valentina’s, the inner west’s beloved all-day diner.
They’ve got all-day breakfast with biscuits and gravy, short stack pancakes with butter and maple syrup, fried egg and bacon, 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 chicken sandwiches and yummy chicken biscuits!
132 Livingstone Road, Marrickville
The Best Cafe in the Inner West: St Peters
Aslan Coffee
Aslan Coffee brings a taste of Indonesia to St Peters and a bright, technicoloured lion to its streets.
The cafe’s street art and orange sign draws in locals and intrigued visitors, but the coffee from the Indonesian archipelago keeps diners coming back.
All coffee is roasted and brewed in the cosy café, and as for food, with everything from Balinese chicken burgers to beef rendang, the meals are hearty and casual.
1 Council Street, St Peters
Sample Coffee Roasters
The refurbished warehouse of Sample Coffee Roasters boasts white walls, wooden floors and tables with a polished Scandinavian.
The minimalist interiors leave the coffee to do the talking. From beans to home brewing equipment for sale, you can sip in or sort your caffeine hit at home.
Suite 1.03 75 Mary Street, St Peters
The Best Cafes in the Inner West: Erskineville
Naked Brew
If you bring anyone along with you to Naked Brew - make sure it's your furry friend.
This Inner West cafe is so dog-friendly there's a menu dedicated entirely to the pups that includes a peanut butter donut your pooch is sure to love!
For the humans, choose from a range of sweet and savoury dishes served all day long. With everything from healthy veggie bowls, eggs any way, burgers, waffles and French toast - this is likely to become a new favourite after just one visit.
110 Swanson Street, Erskineville
Blackbird & Co.
This charming corner cafe in the Inner West has something for everyone, with ample outdoor seating, pet-friendly policies and garden views that are particularly appreciated on sunny days.
The all-day brunch menu has an Asian influence, with creative dishes made from fresh and local produce, and there's Acai on tap for smoothie days.
Shop 1/177 Mitchell Road, Erskineville
Fleetwood Macchiato
When the temperatures drop, life is all about those simple, homely pleasures – and Fleetwood Macchiato delivers.
The team makes everything from the cakes and baked goodies to yoghurts, preserves and condiments in-house, and the menu features fresh yet moreish dishes.
Bonus: it runs all day, so no need to rush in. The space is cute and cosy, with its friendly vibe making it even warmer and one of the best cafes in the Inner West.
43 Erskineville Road, Erskineville
The Best Cafes in the Inner West: Newtown
Soulmate Coffee
If the calm interiors, relaxed vibe or friendly service doesn't immediately have you hooked, the delicious all-day brekky menu with sandos and scrambles at Soulmate Coffee should do it.
Unit 12/39 Phillip Street, Newtown
Rolling Penny
Rolling Penny's is the spot to go for a languorous long lunch. They make all the bits & bobs gracing their menu from scratch so if it's wholesome, comforting nosh you're after, you'll get it here.
583A King Street, Newtown
Brewtown
If you’ve never had the pleasure of dining at Brewtown before, this is your sign to go immediately. The roastery, cafe and bakery...trust us, it’s all good!
With Eastern and Northern outposts, the Newtown hub just off King Street caters to locals getting their morning coffee and freelancers needing a work spot with an all-day menu.
6-8 O'Connell Street, Newtown
Black Star Pastry Newtown
From their humble beginnings in Newtown, Black Star Pastry quickly became a household name across Sydney for their Instaworthy Strawberry Watermelon Cake.
They have since opened more aesthetically pleasing stores across Sydney, Rosebery being one of them, where they continue to hand-make all their treats with no unnatural ingredients.
1/325 King Street, Newtown
The Best Cafes in the Inner West: Annandale
Black Toast
Black Toast is brimming with character and charm, with a dedication to a Christmas or Halloween theme we can't help but admire.
If you're not visiting at the most wonderful time of the year, you'll still be treated to warm hospitality in an open converted warehouse space, along with fresh breakfast and lunch dishes and steaming hot cups of coffee.
43 Booth Street, Annandale
Revolver
Located in a restored 1890s corner store, Revolver is laidback and a little bit hipster. Its vintage-chic feel is instantly welcoming, and the menu boasts comforting classics, like bacon and egg rolls and cinnamon chia porridge with stewed rhubarb and honey. When lunchtime rolls around, the lamb shwarma, warm salad, and – if you’re feeling indulgent – cheeseburger really hit the spot.
291 Annandale Street, Annandale
Made your way through the best cafes in the Inner West and ready for more foodie adventures around Sydney? Check out our edits of where to find the best dumplings in Sydney and gather the crew to enjoy the best happy hours in Sydney.
