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

Coffee Cantata - Sydney, Australia

Introducing my local coffee haunts within 2kms of my home in Paddington.

Red Leaf Cafe - Kiosk, Red Leaf Pool (down the steps from the Woollahra Council Building)

What a way to spend a lazy Sunday, or any other day, if you're able to take time out. This is a no decorating frills, plain and simple kiosk. Who needs style and flair when you can sit under the shade of the big black umbrellas looking out at the harbour, with Double Bay in one direction and Point Piper in the other. And guess what? the coffee is oh so very good. The wickedly decadent chocolate brownies, bulging with crunchy walnuts, are worth dieting for, and the price is right. A word of warning....a parking spot is usually hard to find on New South Head Road - hang in there as the coffee is worth the frustration.

Alimentari, 2 Hopetoun Street, Paddington
This is the locals local tucked in at the bottom of William Street where is turns the corner into Hopetoun Street. Pram and pushchair territory in the mornings and a sophisticated coffee stop on weekends. Worth popping in you want to soak up an Italian atmosphere and good coffee, in trendy Paddington. 

The Falconer Bar Cafe Restaurant, 31 Oxford Street, Darlinghurst
It's not what you would expect to find at the Hyde Park end of Oxford Street. There's nothing especially glamorous or groovy about this place. It has the look and feel of a 1950's Milk bar style cafe and would be quite at home in a European neighbourhood. I've seen similar in cafes in Venice. It's one of those little locals that comes up with food and coffee that really speaks the language.The mood is welcoming and comfortable, with no pressure on the  'just coffee please' types to drink up and move on.The coffee is for real and the choice of decadent Continental cakes, an exercise in self indulgence. They're open from dawn till dark so feel free to stay on for lunch and return for dinner to enjoy the Italian themed menu. Mains come in under $27.

The Goods, 253 Crown Street, Darlinghurst
Just off Oxford Street, down from Taylor Square there's a gem of a cafe.  Everything about it hits the right note. The food is brilliant, especially the organic salads, the mood relaxed, the coffee spot on, and the choice of  little something sweet to accompany your coffee is irresistible. Think  ginger, date and walnut biscuit, with a generous layer of lemony icing.

Further up Oxford Street, not far away from the weekend Paddington Market site you'll come across Paddington Blend at 339 Oxford Street. The pavement tables here are occupied from early morning with hobby cyclists rewarding themselves with an after ride breakfast. Mid morning brings Mum's in need of a break from the house, and well heeled suburban women planning the rest of their day. Then there's the lunch crowd and the afternoon shoppers looking to inspect their purchases over a coffee. This is the most expensive coffee on my local run but the amiable Barista does a superb job. He gets an eight out of ten from me.

Coffee Cantata - the Darlinghurst Road strip.  Spoilt for choice here I keep going back to an oldie, but still a goodie, Bar Coluzzi. The coffee is consistent and there's always an eclectic mix of pavement dwellers throughout the day propped up on tiny stools, unpretentiously sipping their lattes,

Coffee Cantata - Queen Street, Woollahra. There are six plus cafes in this small area serving coffee 'to go' or 'to have here' ?.

Based on the taste test, considering price, and cup size (which varies greatly),  Kuk Thai                 is my winner. Their mainstay is Thai food, and fab mixed fruit and vegetable juices.  It's well worth dropping in for a shot of caffeine., you won't be disappointed

and at Bondi Junction - a small hole-in -the-wall sandwich bar, Monty's Sandwich Shop,  Spring Street, puts an emphasis on  drop dead gorgeous sandwiches, to eat there, take out, or make a call from your office to have them delivered. So what's good about the coffee, have here or takeaway? Simple - the in-residence, Barista! who pulls a 'mean' coffee, and all for $3 a cup.

Encasa Deli, 135 Bathurst Street, Sydney

Is this a deli, a cafe or a deli/cafe? Whatever, it's a real hit. The ham is to die for and the coffee, my main objective, is a real and generous winner.

Indigo Transvaal Ave, Double Bay

This is the perfect place for a Sunday morning coffee. Either outside beneath the awnings on a sunny day or inside when a Sydney summer isn't behaving. At $4.00 it's a good cup.

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