When travelling, late morning is really the most logical time to fill your tummy. Why? Because you’ll probably want to stay up late exploring the city and you’ll probably wake up late as a result. Although you’ll end up missing breakfast, you’ll get to enjoy the next best thing – a lovely and relaxed brunch. Our local Toby has shared a selection of his favourite brunch spots in Sydney.

1. The Stinking Bishops

We have a friend in cheeses. Cheddar, Gouda, Edam, Brie and Swiss: you can count on them, no matter what. They have our best interests at heart. But the miraculous cheeses at The Stinking Bishops go further. They entertain. They delight. They even have stories to tell. And locals keep coming back for tales old and true, their friendships renewed. The staff here are walking encyclopedias. And they really do have a breathtaking library of cheese. As in, the cheese is so good you won’t want to come up for air. Or stop studying it. There are volumes of fresh fromage, shelves bursting with mouldy morsels (each with their own rapturous stink) and plenty of other moreish treats.

Photo credit: The Stinking Bishops

2. Black Star Pastry

Locals eagerly crossed the event horizon when this flavour vortex first opened its doors back in 2008. It should really be called Black Hole Pastry, because it’s impossible to escape the gravity of its deliciousness. It’s rich but not sickly, mind altering and exquisitely consistent. In other words, merciless – alluring to the point of indignity. Eat the orange cake with Persian fig; it’s fit for a Martian goddess. Gobble the strawberry watermelon cake, with its rose-scented cream and juicy blush. Watch the mini quiches and pies show you their cheesetastic moon magic. Then let the stellar coffee recharge your jet packs with the power of a thousand comets.

Photo credit: Black Star Pastry

3. East Ocean Restaurant

While ascending the staircase (it’s 20,000 leagues!), locals can’t help thinking they should relocate either to the rim of the Pacific or under the sea. But this hasn’t stopped them climbing; time and again they ascend, their appetites building with every step. East Ocean has been catering to seafood aficionados since the late 1980s. They’ve got lobsters, king crabs, mud crabs, abalone, pipis, king prawns and schools of fish from all four corners. But wait, there’s more! Not only have they won several awards for their wine list, they’re also one of the best places to get yum cha in the city.

Photo credit: East Ocean Restaurant

4. Courthouse Hotel

This rambling drinkery is like a Queensland pub in the middle of Newtown, complete with crab racing, pinball machines and a pop-free jukebox. Seconds last minutes here, troubles are doused in frangipani perfume and the beer’s reasonably priced. That’s why locals keep coming back – heading up, up and away for a brief jaunt to an imagined north. If shiny, sharp and chic don’t excite you, then the Courthouse probably will, because you’re a beer ‘n’ burgers sort of person. You like things weathered and worn – pre-loved and unsuperficial. You hate places that attract the same crowd every night. You want to nestle in somewhere that feels like a home away from home. Look no further.

Photo credit: Solotel

5. Scout’s Honour

With hands on hearts and rolled-up sleeves, this posse of cubs and brownies offer a scrumptious menu that supports physical, mental and spiritual development, so locals can continue to play constructive roles in society. The best part? No pioneering required. No knots to learn or badges to earn. You don’t even have to save; prices are reasonable. This taste jamboree is impossible to resist. It’s exuberant, lush and deceptively simple. There are salads to get excited over, sandwiches you’ll tell your friends about, muffins soft as clouds, breakfast plates for inner-city champions and coffee that will make you pledge allegiance with the three finger salute.

Photo credit: Scout’s Honour

6. The Pig & Pastry

There’s nothing old here except the artfully distressed furniture. This little sweetie pie is fresh out of the oven and eager to please. And she does, with her creamy interior full of natural light, friendly waitstaff, menu of farmyard favourites, plus pork and pastry galore. The Pig & Pastry overlooks Petersham Park and is just a few hay bales from Taverner’s Hill light rail stop. The foodies who run it source a lot of tasty produce from local providers, while also making their own breads, brioche, cakes and ice cream. They even use organic herbs and veggies grown in their kitchen garden. And the coffee? It’s a better wake-up call than a cock-a-doodle-doo!

Photo credit: The Pig & Pastry

7. Bourke Street Bakery

The food’s so good that going out of your way to make a pit stop doesn’t feel like an indulgence. Or even a detour. Just common sense. All roads seem to lead here anyway, because once you’ve tried it, you smell Bourke Street Bakery everywhere. And even though locals know the recipes are (pretty much) the same at the other outlets, this is the original. Opened in 2004, it’s a Sydney institution. You may wonder how it became an institution so quickly. You’ll have plenty of time to think about that while queuing for your slow-cooked wagyu beef brisket, pickled cucumber, cheese, dijonnaise and sour cabbage sandwich. Or ginger brulee tart.

Photo credit: Bourke St Bakery

8. Addison Road Markets

Sydneysiders love markets. From east to west and north to south, they just can’t get enough. On weekends the Emerald City’s covered in them, polka-dotting the landscape with their bounty of leisure and pleasure. Locals love Addison Road because it’s a treasure chest of haphazardry, brimming with unexpected gems that you never knew you wanted. It’s one of the best farmers markets in the city: a one stop shop for gourmet produce and regular fruit and vegetables, fresh bread and pastries, meat, poultry, fish and cheese, glorious cheese. But that’s not all. There are plenty of food stalls serving everything from Phở to fry-ups.

Photo credit: Vera & Jean-Christophe

9. Iku

Iku treats food like vitamins. And locals feel healthier just looking at the menu; it radiates wholefood energies. But Iku’s food doesn’t just treat the physical. Every nourishing morsel is designed to cure your blues, quiet your rage and cool your anxiety. Plus everything’s free from dairy, additives, preservatives and genetic modification. Balanced diet = balanced life. But honestly, most people just feel smug after eating here; unsurprising, because it’s healthy AND delicious. If you finish your meal and feel something more noble than that, you’re probably too good for this world.

Photo credit: Iku

10. Mamak

The dinner queue outside this powerhouse of flavour is always the same length. No matter how many people go inside, the same number turn up to replace them. Mamak’s the perfect place to stop in and chow down before heading somewhere else. It’s no muss, no fuss. You’re in and out in a flash. And there are no dud meals: zero, zip, zilch. In this crazy, mixed-up world it’s nice to know you can always count on something: Mamak’s speedy tour of Malaysian comfort food. It’s short and sweet, spiced to perfection and reliably delicious. And even if you know your nasi lemak from your nasi goreng, your kari sayur from your kari ikan, you’ll never tire of reminding yourself here.

Photo credit: Mamak

For more local recommendations read:
What locals like to do in Sydney
Where locals like to eat in Sydney
Where locals like to party in Sydney

Opening photo credit: Jonathan Lin