Tropicana @ Kings Cross

Consistently Above Average!

Tropicana is a great open and friendly establishment. Tropicana attracts all sorts of interesting, bizarre and famous people, it has a great location, great food, great coffee, efficient service and is responsive to the world around it.

The coffee is reliably above average. It's not the best cup in town, but you are never left disappointed.

Open till late, it is always a great option if you are up for a chat with friends or a quiet takeaway.

Reasonably priced coffee and food.

227B Victoria St

Darlinghurst NSW 2010

(02) 9360 9809

Open Daily 5am-10:30pm

www.tropicanacaffe.com

Tigerbakers @ Kings Cross

Black Listed...

Wow. If I would like a slap on the face, with a coffee that's poorly made, I will definitely go to Tigerbakers. While sipping my coffee wondering why I didn't go across the road to Tropicana, I overheard the all time worst customer service in Oz.

Tigerbakers have switched the role of consumer and service provider, reporting they will accept people into their cafe granted they meet the cafes standards. Such standards exclude locals of Kings Cross from frequenting, or pausing out the front of this establishment.

Surly this is not correct? I highly doubt that! I asked the owner directly about what I had heard. She openly informed me that Tigerbakers will not accommodate people who look (insert owner's derogatory comment here...) as though they may engage in activities such as intravenous drug use.

I asked her "How do you determine whether or not a person is engaging in such activities?" The owner replied they will have a look at a person entering the cafe and decide on the spot. I see.

Tut Tut.

This is against Equal Opportunities and it is blatant Discrimination. Understanding that people have views on drug usage as a separate matter, in NSW and Australia a person cannot be refused services based on their looks.

Great place to order a glass of tap water.

Tigerbakers‎

292 Victoria Street

Darlinghurst NSW 2010‎

(02) 9360 4890‎

The Bunker @ Darlinghurst

Wonderful!

This is a great cosy cafe close to everything. Just off the corner of Victoria St, The Bunker is between Talyor Square and the drag of Kings Cross.

Campos Coffee is served here, maintaining it's well deserved reputation. Friendly staff, quick service - it's great to pop in and grab a takeaway, or even to have a quick bite. I recommend trying the Banana Bread with 'Ian's Mum's Lemon Butter'.

No Loyalty cards here, which is a shame as it's a great takeaway coffee spot.

Reasonable prices coffees. The food is a little on the overpriced side, although given the location and local competition it's about average.

Overall, consistently great coffee.

The Bunker

399 Liverpool St

Darlinghurst NSW 2010

0404 407 349‎

Bean There @ Sydney City

Wonderful!

Oh I love this place. They serve Campos coffee and know how to make a great cup. There is always a crowd, which means a bit of a wait - but it is worth it.

Happy Hour is between 2 - 3pm - $1.50 for a regular coffee and $2.00 for a large (soy and chai extra $0.50). They wait can be long here too - but again - worth it.

Other times it is $3.00 for regular and $3.50 for a large. They offer a loyalty card, 8 = 1 free.

Friendly staff, great coffee!

It can be a little tricky to find if you haven't visited this establishment before. It is in the Telstra Arcade between Pitt and Castlereagh Streets, (between Liverpool and Bathurst).

Bean There

320 Pitt St

Sydney Nsw, 2000

02 9267 4430

Gallery Cafe @ Surry Hills

Wonderful!

Come One Come All!!

This is a fantastic set up. I can't decide which is better - the coffee or the circus tricks staff perform while you wait? Have a look up at the roof when you enter...

Gallery Cafe is relatively new and establishing a great reputation. Service is always positive, and entertaining. The cafe has a great layout with local artists works displayed. And the coffee is a good brew every time.

Loyalty Cards are available - 7 = 1 free, with three rows to a card.

$3.00 for a regular coffee

74 Devonshire Street

Surry Hills

NSW 2010

p: (02) 9281 5931 f

Hoochie Mamma @ Newtown

Consistently Above Average.

Hoochie Mamma attract a lot of students and visiting parents, and some crowds from the near by hospital as well as other people who find themselves on Missenden Road.

It's a fairy trendy set up with reasonably priced snacks and drinks. They also have great opening hours - early till late. As the local Campos closes in the afternoon, Hoochie Mamma are a prime target for late night coffee sippers.

Hoochie Mamma's serve a consistently a pretty good cup of coffee.

There is a loyalty card for 9 = 1 free, and this is double sided so bonus points for recycling, and all staff seem to make a good brew.

$3.00 for a regular coffee.

Hoochie Mamma Cafe

156 Missenden Road

Newtown NSW 2042

Ph: +61 2 9557 9444

Coco Cubano @ Kings Cross

Black Listed

Hmmmm......

Promising!! An exciting new cafe on the strip. "Viva the Revolution" "Be the change you want to see in the world". Che Guevara enthusiasts are encouraged to come and sip in the warehouse style revolutionary cafe.

Getting caught up in the metaphorical Bling of the revolution may be an excuse for not noticing the pricey coffee you have purchased is very below average and the cup has residue from several coffee's prior.

Granted they have a loyalty card with a personal inspiring message from your favourite revolutionary - if you do not follow their computers strict policy of presenting before paying you forfeit your reward points. Way to fight the machine.

Disappointing. How is one to overcome the oppressive forces that be with a below average coffee?

I have given Coco Cubano three strikes... failing each time.

Coco Cubano

Darlinghurst Rd

Kings Cross

Website coming soon.

www.cococubano.com

I say skip on past this Gloria Guevara Cafe and head to Bella Vita. They know how to brew a good coffee. And for $3.00 a regular, also with a user friendly loyalty card (9 = 1 free), Bella Vita is definitely worth the 20 metre walk.

Bella Vita

Darlinghurst Rd

Kings Cross

20 meters from Coco Cubano

away from the station.

Cafe Palate @ World Square

Wonderful!

I love this place. The staff are friendly, remember your order and either make chit chat / don't make chit chat depending on what the customer indicates.

I recommend going when there is no queue and being served by the regular man who works there. He has a gift! He can make a coffee perfect temperature and brew a great cup.

When they are busy, the coffee can be burnt and often too hot.

You can pick up a royalty card here: Purchase 5 and receive one free.

Regular Coffee's are $3.00

Cafe Palate

World Square

Level Upper Ground

Shop 17-18

123 Liverpool Street

Sydney NSW

Phone (02) 9264 3661

Freckle Face @ Kirribilli

Black List

Great location, great potential for return customers, and great name!

Unfortunately not so much praise can be given to the cafe itself.

Strike One is due to the ridiculously long waiting time!

I came to this cafe a while ago with a friend, and waited about 10 minutes to order (there was no queue), waited another 10 minutes for the coffee and the order was wrong. Fair enough - this sort of stuff happens, goes down better with an apology.. we had some worried friends wondering what had happened!

The coffee was alright. Is is slightly higher than middle of the range. I cannot remember the type of coffee used, but the way it was brewed didn't do it much justice.

Strike Two is due to the ridiculously long waiting time and below average coffee.

We are in Kirribilli once again. All the local cafes are full and a place opened out the front of Freckle Face. Everyone deserves a second chance!

We waited about 15 minutes this time to order and almost as long for the cappuccino, even longer for my flat white... It's a bit of a giveaway when the only notable difference between a cappuccino and a flat white is the chocolate.

But Wait - where's the muffin?!

Coffee's consumed - muffins orbiting in the window. The waitress informed us while clearing our table the muffin is on the way... Given Freckle Face's time is different to man kind we couldn't take the chance - we left.

Tut Tut Freckle Face!!

There is such potential there for a fantastic coffee shop.

I say hire more staff! And provide adequate training.

If I am waiting for a train and have a spare hour - perhaps a third chance would make up for these poor attempts?

Freckle Face Cafe 32a Burton St Kirribilli NSW 2061 (02) 9957 2116‎

I recommend heading to Pizzeria Rio. *Make sure the owner (male) makes the coffee. He has a talent! The waiting staff are great at waiting.. not so good with coffee.

Pizzeria Rio

1/12 Fitzroy St
Kirribilli NSW 2061

(02) 9922 4744

Rough Rules of Thumb...

If a coffee shop is good, I will openly praise it. This will be usually under the opening 'Wonderful!'

If a Coffee Shop is less than worthy, they will generally receive two strikes before encountering the 'Black List'... Although, desperate times call for desperate measures. And it is these vulnerable moments which provide opportunity for these Black Listed stands stalls and cafes to crawl back onto the Brown List.

:)

Welcome!

Hello there!

first post: it's almost midnight - my three coffees throughout the day are keeping me going - what better time to start a blog than now?

I like to consider myself a professional Coffee Sipper.  This does not pay my rent however.  So I incorporate two goals into my day:

1.  Drinking good coffee

2.  Do this while working.  

So far it is working well.  

Soon, I will report on the many fantastic and not so fantastic coffee houses in Sydney.  

Adios!