If you live in Sydney or visit often, you likely know the ritual: weekend mornings, a café full of friends, the smell of good coffee, plates coming out one by one. This isn’t just food, it's culture. But ask yourself: Can you really call yourself a Sydneysider if you haven’t brunched at the right spots?
Brunch has taken on special meaning here. The ritual of searching out the best brunches in Sydney is almost like a local badge of honour. This article shows you why brunch matters, what counts in 2025, and points you toward cafés you’ll want to visit.
Why brunch defines Sydney life
Sydney’s café-scene didn’t appear overnight. Its roots trace back to post-war espresso culture imported by Italian and Greek immigrants. Fast-forward, and Sydney cafés now lead with high-quality coffee, seasonal produce and relaxed vibes. For Sydney locals, brunch isn’t just a meal it’s a weekend statement. The tourism board describes brunch here as “more than just perfectly poached eggs and single origin coffee, it's a chance to slow down a little, catch up with friends, and try some of the most creative food in town.” australia.com
According to Tourism Research Australia, cafés now make up a large part of Sydney’s hospitality economy, with thousands of new openings every year. Even visitors rank “having brunch in Sydney” among their top 5 things to do.
So when you talk about the best brunches in Sydney, you’re also talking about a little bit of what makes living here feel like being part of the club.
What makes a brunch spot a “2025 favourite”?
What lifts a café into “favourite status” in 2025? Here are three criteria:
- Top quality coffee + local produce
- Brunch isn’t just about good food, it's about good coffee too. Many cafés now roast their own beans or source premium lots.(Source:The Urban List)
- Creative menu + standout dishes
- The classics (bacon & eggs, smashed avo) remain. But favourites now offer surprising dishes: Middle Eastern-inspired plates, fusion menus, or beautifully plated brunches you’ll photograph. (Source:australia.com)
- Ambience & location
- Whether it’s beachside breeze or inner-city industrial-chic, the setting matters. Many brunchers choose cafés not just to eat, but to experience.
With those in mind, let’s jump into some actual cafés that deserve the tag “2025 favourites”.
The 2025 Brunch Hall of Fame
Here are this year’s favourites, the places every Sydneysider should know.
1. Bondi – Brunch With a View
If you’re doing brunch the Sydney way, start by the beach.
Porch & Parlour (North Bondi) This one’s a classic. The Urban List lists it as one of Sydney’s most-loved cafés for its green pea pancakes, perfectly poached eggs, and ocean view. Come early lines start before 9 a.m.
Speedo Café (Bondi Beach) Known for acai bowls and fruit-stacked pancakes, it’s the spot that fuels morning surfers. Time Out Sydney calls it “the ultimate post-swim brunch.”
Bondi brunches are more than meals they’re experiences. Waves, sunshine, and coffee all rolled into one.
2. Surry Hills – Where Coffee Meets Creativity
A short ride from the city centre, Surry Hills is where Sydney’s café culture gets creative.
Paramount Coffee Project Featured by The Urban List for its fried chicken waffles and baked eggs. The coffee is roasted in-house, and you’ll often see freelancers tapping away at laptops.
Reuben Hills A Broadsheet favourite, known for Latin-American-inspired dishes like Honduran baleadas and soft scrambled eggs. The coffee beans come straight from the farms the owners visit each year.
This area defines modern brunch stylish, experimental, and caffeine-powered.
3. Marrickville – The Local Gem Zone
You can’t call yourself a real Sydneysider without exploring the Inner West.
Two Chaps (Marrickville) Everything is made by hand, even the sourdough. Australia.com highlights it as a top pick for its vegetarian pasta brunch and sustainable approach.
Cornersmith (Annandale) One of Sydney’s first zero-waste cafés, famous for pickled vegetables and ricotta hotcakes. It’s the kind of place that feels like a community.
Marrickville brunches have a homely charm, no flash, just great food made with care.
4. Parramatta – Brunch Beyond the City
Brunch isn’t just an East Sydney thing anymore. The West has some incredible cafés too.
Circa Espresso Time Out Sydney’s 2025 Best Café winner, it mixes Middle-Eastern flavours with Australian favourites. The signature dish? Ottoman Eggs with labneh, garlic yoghurt, and chili butter. It’s unforgettable.
Paper Plane Café (Parramatta) A cosy spot with stacked pancakes, great coffee, and plenty of local love. It’s where students and families meet on weekends.
Exploring Sydney’s suburbs shows that the city’s brunch culture reaches far beyond the harbour.
Trends That Shape the Brunch Scene in 2025
Brunch in 2025 looks a bit different than it did a few years ago. Here’s what’s new:
- Plant-forward menus: Expect chickpea omelettes, miso mushrooms, and vegan Benedicts.
- Global inspiration: Brunch is going international Middle-Eastern shakshuka, Japanese souffle pancakes, and Mexican breakfast tacos are popping up everywhere.
- Alternative milks & sustainability: Oat and macadamia milk dominate the coffee scene. More cafés use local suppliers to cut waste.
- Pet-friendly patios: Many cafés now have outdoor seating just for your furry friends. It's part of Sydney’s relaxed style.
- Even Broadsheet Sydney reports that 2025’s brunches are “leaner, greener, and far more diverse in flavour than ever before.”
How to Brunch Like a True Sydneysider
Want to fit in with locals? Here’s how:
- Arrive early. The best cafés are full by 9:30 a.m. on weekends.
- Be casual. Shorts and sandals are fine, no one's dressing up for eggs.
- Order smart. Try the flat white it’s the coffee Sydney invented.
- Stay social. Brunch is about catching up. Don’t rush off after eating.
- Explore widely. From Bondi to Parramatta, every suburb brings its own vibe.
If you’re unsure where to start, you can browse a detailed list of the best brunches in Sydney to find cafés by neighbourhood, budget, and style. It’s the go-to local guide for 2025.
Brunch Economics: How Much to Budget
Brunch in Sydney can range from $18 for simple eggs on toast to $35 for a fancier plate. Coffee averages $5 to $6. Destination NSW’s 2025 report shows that Sydney cafés are slightly pricier than in Melbourne, but locals don’t mind they’re paying for quality and experience.
Many cafés offer weekday deals or “bottomless brunches” (around $60 with drinks included). It’s an easy way to taste multiple dishes and enjoy that social vibe.
Brunch and the Sydney Identity
Brunch in Sydney says a lot about who you are. It’s social, relaxed, and creative just like the city itself. Whether you’re people-watching in Surry Hills, sitting by the ocean in Bondi, or exploring a small café in Marrickville, every bite connects you to local culture.
As Australia.com explains, “Sydney brunch is about connection to people, produce, and place.” That’s why it’s more than a meal. It’s how the city slows down and celebrates life.
The Final Bite
If you’ve never spent a lazy Saturday at one of Sydney’s favourite cafés, it’s time. Pick a place from this list, order a flat white, and take that first bite of avocado toast while the sun hits the table.
Because once you’ve experienced it, you’ll understand brunch isn’t just part of Sydney life. It is Sydney life.