The Best Cafés on Sydney's North Shore for Weekend Brunching

The North Shore has plenty of selling points, from its storybook homes and leafy streets, to prestigious schools and village café scene. While each neighbourhood has its own vibe, they all share a love of good food and quality coffee. Whether you’re a caffeine fiend or brunch buff, there’s a café that will suit your style.

When the weekend rolls around, do as the locals do and make a beeline for one of the best cafes on the North Shore.

Olea

Olea covers all bases with their breaky and lunch options. They've got something for any mood you could be channelling from heart-warming paninis to cheese plates, bowls of pasta, breaky classics and even a cheeky bar menu if you fancy a boozy lunch. To top things off, the space is impeccable with delicious mood lighting, a marble bar and soft pink accents. Whatever time of day you pop by, you're in for a treat! 

8-10 Tryon Road, Lindfield 

Brick Lane Espresso

This gem is set in the quiet West Pymble pedestrian mall but is always bustling inside. Serving quality coffee and café fare with an Italian touch, Brick Lane is an ideal family-friendly café with leafy surrounds and a fenced playground for the little ones in sight.

Shop/21 Philip Mall, West Pymble

Goodfields Eatery

For quality café fare and coffee, Goodfields Eatery has got you covered. Calling leafy suburb Lindfield home, this all-day venue serves up both breakfast and lunch to hungry locals and commuters seven days a week. Their all-day breakfast menu focuses on classics, both of sweet and savoury nature. Come lunchtime, burgers, pasta and bowls reign supreme. Relaxed and well-designed, Goodfields Eatery is equal parts café and community hub.

Shop 4/5 23/41 Lindfield Avenue, Lindfield

Stanley St Cafe

This breakfast hotspot, just off the buzzing St. Ives strip, provides the perfect afternoon stop-off. Grungy yet relaxed in vibe, the open space reflects the service; warm and inviting. If you hang around longer than your caffeine hit, you’re sure to be impressed by Stanley St Café’s Middle Eastern-inspired menu offering. 

15-17 Stanley Street, St. Ives

The Butchers Block

People from all over Sydney flock to this North Shore institution for their breakfast Bellini’s and impressive brunch offering. The Butcher’s Block is a family-run eatery that boasts chic interiors filled with natural light and bordered by a lush herb garden; a true oasis. Take a seat at one of their rustic wooden tables and indulge in a mimosa with a side corn fritters.

15-17 Redleaf Avenue, Wahroonga

Lil Lane Eatery 

This petite cafe is small but mighty and easily serves up some of the best brunch fare on the North Shore. Trust us - we've eaten every single thing on the menu! They have some killer weekday coffee + breaky deals as well as a full-size all-day breakfast menu. Our favourite way to start any morning is with an oat latte and one of Lil Lane's halloumi pitta pockets with black garlic aioli. You can't beat it! 

152 Longueville Road, Lane Cove 

Pottery Green

With three locations on the North Shore, Pottery Green is a certified local institution. This French-Vietnamese fusion café-slash-bakery does pretty much everything well; from pastries and pho, to coffee and juices. Rustic in vibe, this all-day eatery is the perfect one-stop shop for you to pick up a fresh loaf of bread, grab a bite to eat and get your caffeine fix.

Gordon, Turramurra & Lane Cove

The Steam Engine

Sitting pretty at Chatswood Interchange, The Steam Engine serves robust brews from their compact cafe. The coffee flows freely, along with a variety of single origin beans to help commuters on their way. For a bite on-the-go, the toasties will keep you satisfied.

Chatswood Interchange, 25/436 Victoria Avenue, Chatswood

Crescent Croissanterie 

For the flakiest pastries North of the bridge, head to Crescent Croissanterie where their freshly baked croissants sell out daily. If you're a fan of fun flavours, this is the bakery for you. Rotating with the season, you can expect inventive combos from yuzu, honey and lemon to tiramisu, on top of all the classics, of course. 

2/134 Willoughby Road, Crows Nest 

Flower Child

The ultimate pitstop for shoppers, Flower Child is a garden oasis in Westfield Chatswood. It's set within a greenhouse styled space laden with vines and greenery – complementing the botanical vibe of each carefully plated dish. With the pastries, cakes and coffee courtesy of The Grounds, you know you are in for a delicious breakfast or afternoon pick-me-up. The French toast and acai bowl are must-try’s!

391/1 Anderson Street, Chatswood

The Boathouse Balmoral Beach 

The pearl in Balmoral’s café crown undoubtedly goes to the Boathouse. Sitting proud at the Eastern end of the baths, the shabby-chic beach-shack vibes come replete with ornate floral and fruit displays for you to ogle at as you join the well-heeled Mosman folk for a coffee and a serve of avo and tomato on toast.

2 The Esplanade, Mosman

Bathers Pavilion

It doesn't get much more iconic than this. Bathers' Pavilion, a casual chic, bright and airy café sits within one of Sydney's most beautiful harbourside suburbs. The floor-to-ceiling windows look out over Balmoral Beach and towards the headlands, creating the perfect backdrop to a menu that is equally as impressive - Mediterranean-style dishes.

4 The Esplanade, Balmoral Beach 

Managed to check all of the North Shore's best cafes off of your list and still want more? Be sure to take a peek at our edit of the best croissants in Sydney and the best pancakes in Sydney.