The 10 Best Brunch And Breakfast Spots in Surry Hills, Sydney

Grab brunch at this Commonwealth St institution to learn why PCP was named the Good Food Guide’s Cafe of the Year in 2017. Occupying the light-filled atrium of an elegant Art Deco building, PCP serves the suburb’s best speciality coffee as well as a mouth-watering menu to match, including fried chicken waffles, miso ramen and creole jambalaya. There’s also a second location in Los Angeles for those seeking decent coffee in La La Land.

PCP’s sister cafe on nearby Albion St occupies a similarly stylish industrial-chic space, which is filled with the aroma of coffee being roasted upstairs. This boutique micro-roastery opened in 2012 and Rueben Hills showcases its expertise in the downstairs cafe, brewing coffee sourced directly from farmers around the world. The menu is inspired by these coffee origin trips, and features a distinctly Latin American flavour — think huevos divorciados, Mex meatballs, and Honduran Baleada.

Single O is a veteran of Surry Hills’ specialty coffee scene, opening its doors on Reservoir St way back in 2003 as Single Origin Roasters. The name may have shortened over the last 15 years but the passion for coffee hasn’t wavered, roasting beans for some of Sydney’s top coffee joints. This tiny cafe also plates up a mean brunch thanks to an all-day menu balancing the healthy and the decadent — choose between something called the ‘mothership bowl’ or a slow-cooked beef brisket roll.

Welcome to Sydney’s first vegan deli, which aims to change minds about plant-powered food one plate at a time. Shift Eatery serves a huge range of meat-free products — sandwiches, health bowls, vegan meats, cheeses, ice cream, chocolates, the list goes on — complemented by an impressive specialty drinks menu, including coffee from Marvell Street and tea from Tea Craft.

Located in the heart of Surry Hills at 485 (or ‘Four Ate Five’) Crown St, this homely cafe is one of the neighbourhood’s best-loved brunch spots. You might have to wait for a table in the cosy, bustling dining area but the hearty all-day breakfast menu — including a kale pesto bowl, honey ricotta Blintzes (Russian pancakes), and Shakshuka (Middle Eastern baked eggs) — plus the long list of smoothies and fresh juices are worth every moment in the queue.

This licenced cafe is a place that takes its rock ’n’ roll as seriously as its food and coffee, dishing up vintage tunes alongside its brunch options on Hutchinson St. Suzie Q’s short and seasonal menu relies on fresh, locally sourced produce — right down to the traditional Sucuk sausages prepared on-site and the honey harvested by a friend on Sydney’s Northern Beaches. And there’s also a healthy menu of rare and original vinyl records on sale here, too.

Tucked away on Pelican St just away from the hustle and bustle of Oxford St, Sticky Fingers is a modern, stylish cafe that plates up brunch classics with a Thai twist. We’re talking the ‘Big Sticky’ breakfast with lap xuong (Chinese sausage) and bacon and egg rolls with a sprinkling of Thai basil. Sticky Fingers is also licenced if you feel like washing down your brekky with a cheeky cocktail.

Bangbang is famous for its experimental burgers — delectable creations dubbed ‘The Chainsmoker’ and ‘Samurai Pig’ which defy description. But the breakfast options are classics, such as bircher muesli, smashed avo, bacon and egg rolls and sweetcorn fritters. This fashionable Reservoir St favourite also brews smooth specialty coffee from Five Senses in its simple, airy space.

Bill Grainger dropped out of uni in his early 20s to open his first cafe in Darlinghurst, and eventually expanded to deliver delicious brunches to the crowds of Crown St in Surry Hills. Granger has forged a famous career in the public spotlight filled with cookbooks and TV spots but the quality of his classic ricotta hotcakes has never wavered.

This Surry Hills stalwart has earned a reputation as one of the best coffee stops in the neighbourhood, just a stroll away from bustling Crown St. The well-priced food menu is complemented by a variety of specialty coffees sourced from across the globe.