Forking Easy

Time spent in place: Grew up in the area.

Recommended travel time: 1 week.

Type of travel: Lifestyle, physical activity and always eating

Top Suburbs to explore: Bondi, Bronte, Watsons Bay, Double Bay, Paddington, Woollahra, Pots Point, Centennial Park, Dover Heights.

Mode of transport: Car, Uber, Public Transport

High level food recommendations:

Coffee:

• Skittle Lane
• Fika Bondi
• 18 Footers bar
• Primary Coffee

Baked goods:

• Baker Bleu
• Bourke Street Bakery
• Flour and Stone
• Iggys Bakery

Breakfast:

• Fruitologist
• The Depot
• Barbetta
• Savta Cafe

Lunch:

• Room ten
• South Dowling Sandwiches
• Gogyo
• Charcoal Charlie’s

Dinner:

• Cubby Cheeks
• Bastardo
• 10 William St
• Chiswick Woollahra

What to expect:

Sydney Eastern Suburbs siders are early risers, work hard and at often times have picture perfect lives; authentic always on point. I’ll let you in on the secret…coffee and sun. This area has great coffee and delivers soul roasting sun. From an active morning of walking, running, and swimming, to when you can get myself motivated go to a Pilates/Yoga situation or just going to watch all the active folk on the beaches live their best lives, you best believe this was always with a quality coffee and a ray of sunshine. $4-5 is not a bad price to pay to unlock the Sydney Eastern Suburbs lifestyle even if it’s just to watch the ambitious folk, like I often did. Disclaimer, the sun is free.

Sydney Eastern Suburbs is a morning place, the daily grind is real, and quality sleep is treasured, meaning quality breakfast and lunch are built into the foundations and 9PM reservations don’t exist.

An area packed with food and coffee enthusiasts, any place with a Google rating of 4.5+ with over 200 reviews means you’re in excellent hands.

First things first, coffee:

• Skittle Lane (135 Curlewis St, Bondi Beach NSW 2026)
  Quality coffee roasters, who just do coffee. Really well. I’ve been search for the creme-de-la-cremecoffee in Bondi for years, and once I found these guys, the hunt was over.
• Fika Bondi (45 Gould St, Bondi Beach NSW 2026)
  Personally I’m ecstatic the Sweeds landed in Bondi. Tucked away from the promenade scams and long lines this cafe has some of the best coffee in Bondi, and takes first place for Eastern Suburbs Swedish food, with Ikea’s curated menus coming a close second (Veggie meat-balls at Ikea still remain a staple in my freezer).
• 18 Footers Bar (77 Bay St, Double Bay NSW 2028)
  Don’t eat here, if you’re peckish get your nibbles from Baker Blue (below). BUT the coffee from this little hole in the wall next to the wharf is unbelievable. Lovely staff, bean enthusiasts and always have something new to try on the coffee menu. Reliable coffee without the bullshit. With Double bay beach right next to you, this is the perfect place to soak up the sun, caffinate and people watch.
• Primary Coffee (1/9 Ward Ave, Potts Point NSW 2011)
  They know coffee and well. This is where I go on those extra hard days when I need a bit of coffee magic to get me through a tough day ahead. Delicious and one of my city favourite.

Baked goods:

• Baker Bleu (2 Guilfoyle Ave, Double Bay NSW 2028)
  Hands down my favourite bakery in Sydney. I was set in my ways my whole life to believe the bakeries underneath were unbeatable. But Baker Bleu opened in 2022 and set a new standard. I don’t think I can oversell this bakery, thats how much I rate it. You have to get a sandwich and a pastry, this is non negotiable. My perfect mornings consist of getting some goodies from Baker Bleu, walking down to 18 footers for a coffee and sitting on the Double Bay Beach benches, people watching, indulging, and soaking up the sun. Disclaimer, this bakery is pricey, but from your first bite the price is perfectly justifiable; get fat and poor but enjoy doing it.
• Bourke Street Bakery (633 Bourke St, Surry Hills NSW 2010)
  Tarts, tarts, tarts. Sydneys finest tarts can be located here. From their lemon curd to ginger brûlée tart, I really don’t believe you can find a silkier filling and flakier rustic pastry combo in Sydney. Their other pastries are world class, and their coffee is perfection. But whatever you do, don’t overlook the tarts. Bourke Street bakery has always made every situation better, from they best and worst of times, always being the perfect complement to any situation. I will always remember this one Sunday morning when I was having an anxiety attack and my Dad without saying anything grabbed my hand, got me into the car, drove me to Bourke Street Bakery, bought me a plain croissant and sat with me as I came out of my shell bite by bite of this flakey, crispy god like combo of flour, water and butter. If you want to know how they make their breads/pastries, they have a day course you can book here:
  There will most likely be a line wrapped around the bakery, it moves quickly and don’t let this deter you, just keep thinking of the tarts.
• Flour and Stone (53 Riley St, Woolloomooloo NSW 2011)
  As I typed this bakery’s name, I made an obnoxiously loud inhale and exhale. I’m not usually one to commit to a slice of cake as making one big cake to slice up and sell individually has so many failure points. I’ve been burnt so many times by believing the classic sentence “Trust me… XX has the best cake”. I will not promise you they have the best cake. But trust me, their cakes are fucking good.
• Iggys Bakery (131 Macpherson St, Bronte NSW 2024)
  OG Sydney sourdough royalty. Undoubtably the best sourdough you can find in the city. A little out of the way, but if you’re seeking the best sourdough straight from the source, look no further.

Breakfast

If coffee and pastries aren’t enough, there’s also some awesome real food options to explore. I don’t believe one should pay for a simple egg or avocado on toast. So below are some of my standout breakfast moments:

• Fruitologist (151 Bondi Rd, Bondi NSW 2026)
  The best basic bitch bowl (acai bowl) in Sydney. In an area filled with basic bitches, this is truely an honourable shout out. Not too sweet, silky AF, generously topped with seasonal fresh fruit.
  Hot tip: Make sure to get the classic bowl with peanut butter on top.
  Disclaimer: It’s purely a take away place and I’d suggest grabbing a bowl before heading down to Bondi beach – this is an easy 10 min walk down the hill to the beach.
• The Depot (132 Warners Ave, Bondi Beach NSW 2026)
  One does not go to The Depot for the service, one goes because you will undoubtably get delicious food every time. After a morning walk and swim, come to The Depot in all your salty, sandy and sweaty glory, and relax. Situated right by the beach, this is one of the few places I rate close to the beach that is not a scam.
• Barbetta (2 Elizabeth St, Paddington NSW 2021)
  For a bit of an elevated breakfast moment, with delicious food, soul warming interiors and quality coffee. Barbetta is the perfect place to lose track of time, over a breakfast that can easily roll into a lunch. Their lunch menu is also great. If you drive, don’t forget to move your car – rangers will fine you.
• Savta cafe (4/12 Waverley St, Bondi Junction NSW 2022)
  There’s some quality middle eastern inspired places to indulge for breakfast like Shuk, Grump Baker, Bake Bar. But my favourite one is Savta Cafe. It’s in a bit of a weird location next to a shopping centre, tucked away in a side street, if you ever find yourself hungry at breakfast time in Bondi Junction. Savta Cafe will take care of you.

Lunch:

• Room Ten (10 Llankelly Pl, Potts Point NSW 2011)
  SHUT UP AND TAKE MY MONEY…EVERY TIME. This is hands down my favourite place to each lunch in Sydney’s Eastern Suburbs. I didn’t think a salad, mushroom toasty, or a schnitzel would make me so passionate… I don’t even eat schnitzel. A very hole in the wall type place, they not only have some of the best coffee, but their lunch proceeds their coffee. Not to forget that the staff is some of the friendliest in the east. They have breakfast too, but I must say this should not stop you getting the lunch menu at breakfast time – it hasn’t stopped me.
• South Dowling Sandwiches (377 S Dowling St, Darlinghurst NSW 2010)
  I’m a full believer that a sandwich is one of the most satisfying lunch options around. The filling to bread ration needs be around a 4:1 and there needs to be the perfect crunch, protein, veggie, salty, peppery, sweet combo. And if it’s soggy, forget about it. The middle part of the bread needs to be soft and crust crunchy and chewy. Finally, the sandwich should not be finished in 6 bites. After years of disappointment my determination to find the perfect sandy never died. I stumbled upon South Dowling while I was stuck in traffic, when I saw a young woman unwrap this perfect looking sandwich, to which I screamed out the window “WHERE DID YOU GET THAT SANDWICH”, completely in shock (because thats not what you do in Sydney), she pointed behind her to a completely unassuming take away shop. That was the day I discovered South Dowling Sandwiches. The Veggie sandwich fits my sandwich criteria above and is non-replicable at home – so in my eyes the perfect sandwich to buy.
  Disclaimer: They are LARGE sandwiches.
• Gogyo Surry Hills (52-54 Albion St, Surry Hills NSW 2010)
  Hands down the best Ramen in Sydney. I’ve had a love affair with Ramen since I was 16 and have become a bit of a tyrant when it comes to going out for Ramen. There’s 3 other ramen places I rate, but there’s only one in first place and that’s Gogyo. The reason I like to go at lunch is because I don’t have to wait for a table or book. They have other food options outside of Ramen.
• Chargrill Charlie’s (in Rose Bay, Bondi or Woollahra)
  The local chicken shop that makes you feel like you’re eating a home cooked meal made by your aunty on a lazy Saturday Afternoon. An epic array of chicken, potatoes (important!), salads and other home-cooked meal styled meals. I would say this is the best options for someone looking for a simple, tasty, fresh meal without any fuss.

Dinner:

• Chubby Cheeks (437 Oxford St, Paddington NSW 2021)
  An affordable and consistently high quality favourite. After a day of eating, there’s generally no better way to end a day than with some quality asian food. This is a place I consistently recommend in the east, their set menu is always a good option so you can try a bit of everything.
• Bastardo (50 Holt St, Surry Hills NSW 2010)
  Let the bougie come out a bit. One long table in the centre of the restaurant, this will be a great pasta affair. A place I often go to celebrate, I always leave feeling a tad bit more cultured (this is not so easy in Sydney). All their desserts are top notch.
• 10 William St (10 William St, Paddington NSW 2021)
  If you are full after a day of eating, and just want something to drink and a nibble, 10 William street is the best destination. Their wine list is extensive, sommeliers the most friendly and their starter pretzel is to die for (you will likely order more than one – when you taste that whipped butter you’ll know). A cozy destination, that feels warm and cozy with great food options. But if you’re looking for an elevated Italian food experience, I would recommend Bastardo for the mains, but 10 William St for the vibes/wines.
• Chiswick Woollahra (65 Ocean St, Woollahra NSW 2025)
  Elevated classic pub/bistro option – farm style in the city. Aussies are know to love a pub, often committing to a pub because it’s tradition, close by or cheap. I do love a pub, but often feel a little mehh about the food. If you’re looking for an elevated bistro/pub experience, Chiswick will deliver.

Looking for some quality Drinks:

• P&V Wine: For wine
• Bitter View: For craft Beer
• Paski Vineria Popolare: For Wine
• Shady Pines Saloon: Speak easy with it all
• Four Pillars Gin Laboratory: For you gin lovers this is not one to miss. Think green ant, white Chocolate clear Gin cocktails – yeah exactly its crazy, and crazy good.

When you’re not eating:

• Swim – Bondi, Bronte, Camp Cove, Milk Beach, Tamarama, Shark Beach (beautiful beach don’t worry about the name), Clovelly Beach.
• Walk – Bondi to Bronte walk, Dover Heights Coastal walk, Centennial park, Cooper Park.
• Soak up the views – Dudley Page Reserve, Milk Beach, Yarranabbe Park (walk around the side closest to the water)
• Yoga/Pilates – BodyMindLife, PEACHES
• Other: Bondi Markets on Saturday

Sydney Eastern Suburbs is all about the morning and lunch moment, with the area quieting down from 7pm, there’s a lot of room to improve for cultural activities. This is not the area you’ll find the cultural shapeshifters who think life is a bunch of metaphors, the kind that spent 10 hours finding one outfit at second hand store to wear to an illegal rave under a highway (yes these are around), or an area with a night vibe. But don’t worry, this part of Sydney exists, in the Inner-West.

Don’t be fooled by the IG hoes. Trendy doesn’t always translate into the best food experience at a justifiable price. If what you’re seeking is an overrated experience for some dope IG photo’s, go to Totti’s and Icebergs Dining Room in Bondi, Freds in Paddington and Indigo in Double Bay,

Lots of love, L x