There’s a certain magic in comfort food. It doesn’t whisper—it wraps you in warmth, dials up the richness and leaves you happily full and slightly smug. Whether it’s slow-cooked osso buco or golden toast dripping with butter and spice, comfort food delivers familiar satisfaction with a side of nostalgia.
These five cafés and casual eateries are serving up the kind of dishes that hit you right in the soul. Expect hearty servings, full-on flavour and settings designed for lingering.
Simply D’vine Café – Nulkaba, NSW
Nestled among garden statues, fragrant blooms and bubbling water features, Simply D’vine Café is a rustic oasis on Wine Country Drive in Nulkaba. With its corrugated iron and timber décor, this country-style café is the ideal spot to kick back in the sunshine with a latte and something deeply satisfying from the kitchen.
Start with their much-loved Turkish-style eggs with herbed yoghurt, kale, flatbread and a hit of chilli oil, or go green with a nourish bowl layered with wild rice, sweet potato, beetroot and lemon tahini. For lunch, comfort takes centre stage—think chilli prawn tacos or the deeply stacked roast beef club sandwich. One of the best bites? The avocado toast, taken up a notch with korma paste, crispy chickpeas, roasted tomato and lemon mayo on housemade bread. Nourishing, yes—but indulgent all the same.
Sumptuous Fine Food – Currumbin, QLD
Tucked away on Currumbin Creek Road, Sumptuous Fine Food is where locals gather for flavour-packed feeds and that unmistakable Gold Coast buzz. Bright sea-green walls, mural art and the mouth-watering scent of sizzling ingredients make it feel more like a neighbourhood party than a typical café.
Here, everything is made to order with love—and it shows. Whether it’s a gourmet burger, a toasted sandwich or a smoothie bowl, the menu champions personalisation. But for something truly memorable, opt for their Buddha Bowl, layered with your choice of sashimi-grade tuna, Atlantic salmon, chicken or organic tofu. It’s fresh, filling and deeply satisfying—the sort of feel-good food you’ll want again tomorrow.
Valerie’s Sunroom – Goulburn, NSW
Inside the Gehl Garden Nursery, Valerie’s Sunroom is a light-filled escape where potted plants meet pastry cabinets and the scent of pesto lingers in the air. With its whitewashed timber, cottage décor and bubbling water fountain in the courtyard, it’s a haven for those in search of comfort with a contemporary twist.
Indulgence comes in many forms here—from twice-cooked pork belly with kimchi and fried egg to spaghetti laced with garlic prawns, bacon and Parmesan. But if you’re serious about comfort food, the Osso Buco Pot Pie is a standout—slow-cooked pulled osso buco in a rich tomato sauce, topped with cheesy mash and served with sourdough. It’s everything you want from a winter warmer, served with style.
Ashfield’s The S Lab reimagines comfort food through a Hong Kong lens, blending Cantonese traditions with a modern-day café ethos. With its commitment to MSG-free cooking and an inclusive, feel-good philosophy, this Liverpool Road diner is where warmth comes from both the menu and the welcome.
Expect authentic soup bases, bouncy noodles and flavourful broths that transport you straight to Kowloon. The curry beef brisket with dry egg noodles is a must—tender, melt-in-your-mouth brisket tangled with bean sprouts and shallots in a fragrant curry sauce. Pair it with a tall glass of housemade milk tea and finish with their dulce de leche French toast for the ultimate sweet ending.
Coffee Oasis – Deniliquin, NSW
In the heart of Deniliquin, Coffee Oasis is more than a café—it’s a community hub with a warm heart and a generous spirit. Inside, local art lines the walls while aromas of housemade meals waft from the kitchen. Even the smoked salmon is made onsite, and many ingredients are grown on the property.
The menu is stacked with dishes that feel like a warm hug. Start with smashed avo on a crispy hash brown, topped with confit tomatoes and bacon crumb, or tackle the Colossal Burger—a beast of a feed with double beef, cheese, bacon, egg and more. For something indulgent but slightly lighter, the Chicken Burger—grilled chicken breast, cos, avocado and sun-dried tomato aioli on a Turkish roll—is the kind of modern comfort you’ll remember long after the last bite.
Whether you’re craving nostalgic flavours or modern takes on time-honoured dishes, these venues serve up the kind of comfort that feeds both body and soul. So go ahead—order the pot pie, say yes to extra aioli and treat yourself to that second coffee. This is indulgence, and you’ve earned it.
