Coffee Cantata - Darlinghurst & Potts Point

Coffee Cantata is all about giving bouquets to those cafes that come up with a cup of coffee that's worth going back again and again for.


Ducale (street side cafe) cnr Oxford and West St, Paddington
For shopaholics who love their coffee to this barrow style cafe is a great stop off/meeting place,in lower Oxford Street before heading up the hill to yet more shopping. The coffee will reward those that take the time out to enjoy it. Bouquets: 4

Llankelly Place, Kings Cross - just before  Darlinghurst Road turns the corner into the more gentrified, Macleay Street.

I was apartment hunting this morning in the Kings Cross/Potts Point area. In need of a stimulant I checked out this laneway in search of a mid-morning 'fix'..... you can expect to find something a little more stimulating than coffee in this area. Much to my delight there were three cafes I could choose from. I chose the one on the left of this shot. Although it has a Greek theme, be assured,......the coffee is 100% OZ standard. At $4.00 it sits up there with the best. Bouquets: 4

Kawa 348a Crown Street, Surry Hills

I've passed this cafe often in the bus and each time I've made a mental note that irrespective of the time of day it's always busy. To test my busy is good theory I finally got to buy and try. I'ts Friday lunchtime and the place is buzzing, a little too loudly for my liking. Great if you're with a group sitting inside, better if you're with minimum company, and have managed to score a pavement table. I'm stuck with the mezzanine floor (loud noise rises). All is forgiven when not long after I've ordered my Soy Cap arrives - at ideal temperature, decent sized cup, and served with a winning smile. Casting my eyes around the other tables I note generous salad plates being delivered. I can't vouch for these, but you may like to take the coffee thing one step further and order a salad to. Bouquets: 4


I hadn't planned to hand out 'brick bats', but as I only drink a couple of cups of coffee a day, if they're not up to scratch I really begrudge a bad one. I struck out, then spoke out today! To give the cafe credit they did offer to make me a fresh take away cup. So where is this cafe?

La Croix, 44A Macleay Street.
enter via Macleay Street or the courtyard beside theAlamein Fountain green space.

Visually it's a delight, all clean and white and evocative, perfectly designed for the beautiful people crowd who want to see and be seen. I couldn't fault the presentation (won't go into detail) because the warm fuzzy feeling it created  fell apart when I tasted the small, luke warm cup of weak coffee, and watery soy milk. Apparently I'm the only person who has complained about the coffee. My policy: if you don't like what's been served to you, stand up and be counted.  Bouquets: 1 .

After this less than pleasant experience I  headed around the corner to

Coco Cubano at 97 Darlinghurst Road, Kings Cross where I knew I would enjoy their always reliable, brew. Bouquets: 4  NB. Since my visit this cafe has a new owner and has been renamed Kings Cross Whisper. I've yet to try it out in its new guise

This was its sister cafe, Coco Cobano, Taylor Square, until Coco Cobano, Kings Cross changed ownership.

I called into Taylor Square for a coffee on the way to the movies. At $4.20 the coffee wasn't a patch on the high standard set by its now ex-sister.

Bouquets:3

Now I know that I'm onto a winner - Ampersand Cafe Bookstore, 78 Oxford Street (Darlinghurst end), opposite COFA.

This is the best Soy Capuccino to pass my lips so far this year. At $4 it's up their with the expensive ones, but worth every cent.

A beautiful blend, excellent temperature, great froth and served in a large cup sitting on a dainty , mismatched, pink rose covered saucer.

I'd sit in a hole in a wall to enjoy this. No need here though as Ampersand is also a second hand bookstore covering three enticing floors, a basement and a casual outdoor area. Go to browse, socialise or just to chill out and enjoy the ambience. Bouquets: 5

Hat's on in Oxford Street

You'd be forgiven for mistaking Sydneysiders for Melbournians on Oxford Street this morning. Out of the depths of their closets they had unearthed the good, the bad and the downright ugly in winter headwear. Scarves fortunately were a little more in tune with 2010.

Here's a pictorial collection of some of the better looks.

Crossing the lights at Oxford Street/Jersey Road intersection

Shop assistant - The Corner Store, William Street, Paddington

Man and his dog - Glenmore Road, Paddington


Looking great and feeling cosy - Oxford Street, Paddington

Wish my bus would hurry up - Taylor Square

Matching head to toe

I took what I had intended to be a leisurely morning stroll. It ended up more of a fast walk to counter the impact that the weather was having on my body. My mission - to check out the recently established Sustainable Food Market at Taylor Square, Darlinghurst. It's got a way to go before it becomes part of the establishment. I picked up an extra tasty Olive sour dough organic loaf which had made its way from Berry in the wee small hours.

Sustainable Food Market

In the immediate vicinity I wandered down Foley Street. Watch out for this one; there are plans afoot to transform this laneway near Oxford Street, Darlinghurst into an alfresco dining and retail area (a touch of Melbourne in Sydney). Graffiti in the nearby laneways is a good start, comparing favourably with the Graffiti
artists of Newtown (see Graffiti - disaster or designer? an earlier blog)

Foley Street - pre makeover

Darlinghurst Graffiti

Coffee at the grunge/funky cafe Coco Cubano right on Taylor Square is a must. There's always plenty of action on the pavement to keep you interested. Directly across Oxford Street is the Darlinghurst Court which, when the court is sitting, provides fascinating week-day people watching.

Inside Coco Cubano looking towards Darlinghurst Courthouse

Walk back up Oxford Street heading towards Paddington Library. On the left you'll pass The Fringe Bar Market (Saturday's) - worth a look if you're after vintage style clothing and accessories.

Fringe Bar, Oxford Street, Paddington

Farewell from Oxford Street, Darlinghurst

For more of my Sydney shots visit:  www.flickr.com/people/4U22