Hernandez coffee. O’connor st, near abercrombie st. Literally situated in the loading dock of a furniture place, this is the most creative
use of space I’ve seen in a long while.

Clear spoken staff, up for a chat. Early days, so the decaf is admittedly lacklustre, but the caffeinated coffee is ground to order, is rich and nutty with great milkwork.

The kitchen is up above the coffee machine, and a range of colourful locals ebb and flow past, giving a people watcher plenty to do.

Food serving portions are incredibly large, as you can see from this hamburger!

Update (July 30) – I had this in the wrong suburb! Sorry for any confusion.

Vittoria coffee. Shop 2, 12-26 Regent St, Chippendale. Despite an unimpressive exterior, the inside of this place is really pleasant. Complimentary newspaper to read while you’re there, cheery furniture and smiling staff.

The coffee is served a little too hot for my liking, but when it cools, it’s a reasonable decaf latte.

I’d say the main strength of this cafe is as an eat-in space.

Coffee Roaster Coffee. 92 Abercrombie St, Chippendale. Don’t be fooled by the relatively small street frontage – this cafe is one of the larger ones in the area. One of the largest blackboard menus I’ve seen in a cafe, filled with details and enthusiasm for the variety of dishes on offer. It’s a little pricey, but consistently crowded, so they must have found the right price point for their area.

Coffee is quite good: I took the increasingly rare opportunity to sit in and drink the coffee: their decaf is straightforward and easy drinking.

Worth a look for the menu, the art adorning the walls, and to be a part of something of its sheer size.

Website: cafegiulia.com

Vittoria coffee. 96 Abercrombie St, Chippendale. Busy at lunchtime with a mix of suits and designers, this place has a bustling kitchen, and borderline restaurant menu, with prices to match. Even the takeaway menu is on the expensive side.

I’m here toward the end of the lunchtime rush, and the coffee seems slow on its way out; in face, it was being held back to go with my toasted sandwich (a Reuben – delicious!) and was the usual sweet, smooth latte I’ve lately come to expect from Vittoria decaf.

mission cafe

Genovese coffee. 3 Little Queen St, Chippendale. In the middle of an obscure side street, a trip inside is a breath of fresh air: sculptures and paintings on the walls, a complete contrast in style to the alley outside. Though there’s not much natural light, the lighting manages to be warm and homey.

Menu provides a range of diverse options, and the sizes are comfortable: not so large that you walk away bursting, but not meagre either.

Coffee is quite good: the decaf has a certain charm to it – it’s not amazing, but it works as a suitable complement to the food.

Mission Bar website

Allpress coffee. 67 Abercrombie St, Chippendale. Take a tiled kitchen, and put a café in the front of it, and you have this place. I’m not saying the kitchen is out back, but rather that the café’s seating is in its kitchen. Staff are friendly, and always working on something.

Coffee is made in front of you: from most seats, you can see the extraction descend into the cup. This decaf: pre-ground long ago, has the last vestiges of crema, and is then swamped by creamy, frothed milk at a temperature that’s ready to drink.

I noticed this place a long time ago, and have tried to visit before, but it’s always been closed. As a writer’s destination, the tables are small, and it faces a busy road, so even when the place is empty, there’s some soothing background noise, and some visual distraction if you need a break.

Six Seven Ate, Chippendale