The Best Cafes in Newcastle We're Booking a Table at ASAP
Expect great coffee, perfect poached eggs and incredibly Insta-worthy dishes. These are the best cafes in Newcastle to dine at.
For Australians, breakfast and brunch are practically an art form, a weekend ritual and something that we do incredibly well. No matter where you are in Australia, a solid morning feast is the perfect way to start any day.
From perennial faves like healthy granola and fluffy pancakes to comforting bacon and egg rolls, breakfast is the most delicious meal of the day.
In this great tradition, Newcastle has so many great cafes known for serving up perfectly brewed specialty coffee and loaded breakfast dishes. Read on for our edit of the best cafes in Newcastle.
Bowie
Bowie offers a buzzing cafe experience in a trendy setting with a strong focus on creative brunch dishes and locally roasted coffee. Known for its playful menu, highlights include the decadent spiced mango chicken burger, the mouthwatering sourdough toasties and the cold-pressed juices.
The cosy, colourful atmosphere is perfect for a casual hangout or a weekend treat. Bowie also serves expertly brewed espresso and specialty teas to pair with their house-made pastries.
1/79 Beaumont Street, Hamilton
East End Hub
Located in Newcastle’s bustling East End, this restaurant and cafe is a go-to for modern Australian dishes with a twist. The menu at East End Hub has been crafted by executive chef and owner Anthony Kocon and has everything from avo smash, fluffy pancakes and banana bread for breakfast to apple wood smoked duck toastie and king prawn and chorizo Aztec salad for lunch.
The quaint and charming interior offers a relaxing escape, whether you're grabbing brunch or a quick coffee on the go.
3/3 King Street, Newcastle
Good Brother Espresso
A cafe by day and live music bar by night, Good Brother Espresso is a Newcastle institute renowned for its top-notch coffee and charming atmosphere. The menu is simple and seriously good. Think toasties, wraps and bagels, house-baked beans and creamy coconut turmeric brown rice porridge. Known for its Slingtown Coffee beans, it’s a must-visit for coffee enthusiasts.
40 King Street, Newcastle
Pegs
Pegs is a gem in the Newcastle cafe scene, serving soul-warming food and drinks made with love. The menu is a masterclass in homemade treats with lemon ricotta cake, spiced pumpkin Basque cheesecake and Biscoff biscuits all racing out the door. If sweet isn't your thing, don't worry. They also do fresh salads, fish and chips, tempura prawns, and other savoury delights.
157 Dudley Road, Whitebridge
Slingtown
Slingtown Espresso is a beloved Novacastian haunt renowned for its exceptional coffee and welcoming atmosphere. Known for its community-driven vibe, the cafe serves everything from rich espresso drinks to freshly made smoothies and teas.
On the food front, you’ll find house-made pastries, nourishing breakfast options, and satisfying lunch dishes that cater to all tastes. The cafe also showcases local artists, fostering creativity within the community.
3 Beaumont Street, Islington
Convoy Commune
Convoy Commune is a haven for coffee lovers and foodies, combining industrial-chic design with a warm community vibe. Their menu celebrates seasonal, locally sourced ingredients, with favourites like the hearty brekky burger, Mexican chilli scrambled eggs, açaí bowls and cinnamon pecan granola. Pair your meal with one of their expertly crafted lattes or cold brews. With a sunny outdoor seating area, it’s the perfect spot to unwind.
31 Throsby Street, Wickham
HuBro
Start your day right by venturing to the beach at the end of Darby Street, where you’ll find HuBro, a crisp white cafe with a wooden interior that takes its no-fuss food seriously.
This local hangout is popular for some of the best cold brew coffee in Newcastle, along with its hearty smashed avo, served on thick, nutty sourdough, with a healthy dose of avocado, delicate crumbles of salty feta, and drizzled with organic honey.
1a/295 Darby Street, Bar Beach
Bolton Street Pantry
At Bolton Street Pantry, they like to keep things humble, and the raw, industrial interiors with handmade, recycled furnishings nod to Newcastle’s working-class roots.
With an all-day breakfast menu serving all the classics and a modest wine and beer offering, it doesn’t matter when you pop in to get your coffee (or beer) fix.
45 Bolton Street, Newcastle
Merewether Surfhouse
Set across three levels overlooking the stunning Merewether beach, Merewether Surfhouse stylishly blends Australian beach culture with sleek, modern design.
The light and bright cafe provides the perfect spot for a post-swim catch-up. In the summertime, the venue is a lively hub of activity, with swarms of locals keen to get a glimpse of a sunrise view with their morning coffee.
5 Henderson Parade, Newcastle
Equium Social
Sitting pretty on Maitland Road, Equium Social is an open, light-filled cafe, perfect for dine-in or takeaway. Serving up modern Australian fare, the coffee and the delicious food keep the locals coming back again and again.
The friendly service and relaxed vibe convert one-time visitors into long-standing regulars.
1/5 Maitland Road, Mayfield East
Talulah
Rustic, moody and intimate, Talulah is an amazing breakfast spot known for being one of the best breakfast cafes in Newcastle. One of our favourite things about Talulah is that they’re open from 6:30 am with the cocktail list ready to go—because it’s never too early for a spiked cold brew or a passionfruit mimosa!
Talulah leans to a fine dining breakfast and lunch spot, priding itself on an ever-evolving seasonal menu. Everything here is great, but the best breakfast dish is their pork belly benedict.
52 Glebe Road, The Junction
Three Monkeys Cafe
Famous for its coffees, smoothies, and burgers, Three Monkeys has been operating on Darby Street for 20 years. Loved by Newcastle locals and visitors alike, Three Monkeys serves up some of the best breakfast in Newcastle.
They offer everything from homemade bircher muesli to Moroccan eggs, but their most famous dish is their porky pig toastie with ham, gruyere, dijon mustard aioli and onion jam.
131 Darby Street, Cooks Hill
Estabar
The best beachfront breakfast in Newcastle, Estabar is the place to breathe in salty air, take in some stunning ocean views and relax with some truly delicious breakfast. Perfect for early risers, Estabar is open from 6:30am every morning.
Their ingredients are largely sourced from local providers, ensuring every meal is fresh and flavourful.
61 Shortland Esplanade, Newcastle Beach
Momo Wholefood
Your go-to spot for the best vegetarian cafe in Newcastle, Momo Wholefood has a range of tasty vegetarian and vegan breakfast dishes. They source their food locally and have a range of rotating specials that feature the best seasonal ingredients.
With a sunny and warm interior close to the ocean, this is a must-visit if you’re a vegetarian!
227 Hunter Street, Newcastle
Autumn Rooms
You had us at breakfast cocktails! This Newcastle breakfast spot is sun-soaked and inviting, with romantic, rustic furnishings. With a sage green interior, reclaimed wooden tables and an elegant and welcoming air, Autumn Rooms is a serious contender for the best cafe in Newcastle.
They also have a tea room upstairs with fresh flowers and antique furnishings, so if you’re looking for a high tea spot in the heart of Newcastle, this is the place.
127 Darby Street, Cooks Hill
Mockingbird Cafe
This beautiful cafe can be found in a sunny space filled with plants and exposed brick walls just around the corner in Hamilton.
If you ask us, Mockingbird Café is the perfect spot for a group, thanks to Instagrammable breakfasts and a licence to serve alcohol for those looking to have a boozy breakfast.
131 Beaumont Street, Hamilton
Goldberg’s Coffee House
A Newcastle institution that’s been open on Darby Street for over 25 years, this beloved mainstay is where the locals come—knowing it's one of the best cafes in Newcastle.
Goldberg's has all the breakfast staples covered, like eggs and bacon, big breakfasts, and pancake stacks, but their rotating specials are where they shine.
For comfort food, retro vibes and local flavour, you can’t look past Goldberg’s Coffee House. When you visit, check out the laneway next door for some cool street art.
137 Darby Street, Cooks Hill
Why stop with breakfast at one of the best cafes in Newcastle? Newcastle is a great town with no end of impressive restaurants, beaches and shops.
