Eat, drink and be merry (volume one).

One of my favourite things is visiting good places to eat and drink in Sydney. I love that after a jam-packed week, heading to a different part of our beautiful city on the weekend can have the effect of having a 3 hour holiday. In this post, I’d love to share with you some of my favourites – some recent, some long-standing. All of the ones in this post are south of the Harbour Bridge. I’m no expert when it comes to reviewing food/coffee/atmos or anything… But I certainly have an opinion to share, and I’d like to think my taste would serve some of you well. Enjoy!

Rosebud, Rozelle

This spot on a corner of Darling Street is so much fun for anything from late big breakfasts through to sleek wine bar adventures. If you pick the right weekend, there are markets across the road in the beautiful old courtyard of Rozelle Primary School. My favourite thing I’ve had here is the vegetarian big breakfast which, memorably, included crispy polenta chips and some of the creamiest goat’s cheese I’ve ever eaten. The mushrooms were heaps tasty as well (which is somewhat unusual in my experience of fried mushrooms). It can get pretty busy on the weekend. But the vibe is wonderful, and there’s a SENSATIONAL second hand bookshop about 300m down the road as well… Good option.

The Little Marionette, Balmain

A tiny one. In fact, this is probably the littlest coffee shop I’ve been to! Order a coffee through the window, wait for it on the footpath and then grab a blanket from the basket and lie in the park across the road. Alternatively, enjoy a Zumbo pastry (he is just around the corner, after all) at one of the three tables inside this little haunt. This spot was recommended to me by a man who lives for coffee, and it certainly did not disappoint. There’s another, larger shop in Annandale too. TLM has become a regular spot for my mummy and me because it’s quiet, quality and out of the usual North Shore hub. (Please ignore that the silly man in the picture is wearing crocs. That should be punishable by law.)

Three Blue Ducks, Bronte

I went here this morning. Coffee was indisputably 10/10 and the food was amazing – Mum’s was the best: poached eggs with basil salad, ocean trout, roasted tomatoes, homemade sauce hollandaise and Iggy’s sourdough. My sister had their house-made lemonade which was probably the best non-commercial stuff I’ve ever tasted. They’ve recently expanded the place so that now there’s the main bit – where the big, open kitchen is – and another room filled with little tables, with an alleyway in between the two, the walls of which are colourfully painted with giant ducks. As my mother pointed out, a notable feature of this place is the babe-ness of the ten or so male waiters, so for peeps who are into that kinda thing (and, let’s be honest, what girl isn’t?)…

Gallery, Annandale

Gotta thank my friend Soph for introducing me to this gem. Fifties wallpaper, local abstract art on display, a counter made out of old drawers, pews for seats and big windows in the restaurant section out the back, a small aviary and comfortable armchairs make this place immediately appealing. Then there’s the great coffee and Zumbo pastries which make this spot unreal for a cosy read on a rainy Sunday. It’s open and spacious, has high ceilings with dark-wood beams and floorboards. Really comfortable.

Gelato Messina, Darlinghurst

Oh my. What a place! There’s no queue system, so at 10:30 on any given night, when you’re in the mood for a scoop or two, squeeze into the shop and spy out what flavours you want: Passionfruit Meringue Tart (which, for some reason, they’ve awkwardly abbreviated to PMT), ‘Isn’t this a salad?’ (goat’s cheese gelato, caramelised walnuts and beetroot puree), yoghurt & salted caramel, any of the classic normal ones, breakfast of champions (with croissants and plum jam stirred in)… The salad one is unbelievable! This place is phenomenal. I go there way too often. Oh, and all the staff have European accents. Hot.

Youeni Provides, Paddington

The internet says this is in Darlinghurst. But it’s actually in Paddington. One of those classic inner city hole-in-the-wall cafes. But it’s cute, not too hipster for its own good and is run by a bunch of mates who seek to minimise waste and encouraged sustainable eating and living. This coffee shop slash grocer gets points for having adorable window boxes full of bright flowers and for only having a few good things on the menu each day. Their sandwiches are chunky and amazing, the coffee is smooth, the ambience is European and the peeps are friendly. Do it.

More to come in the next post. Delish.

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