Thanks a Brunch – Try These 7 Venues to Appease Weekend Cravings

Brunch – that lazy weekend meal where catching up over the week’s news is obligatory along with delicious dishes and perhaps even a glass of bubbles.

Once a week we all scramble to find our brunch location, how many of us can make it and what time we are eating. As is the case with many culinary traditions, brunch’s origins are a bit hazy. 

Many consider it a byproduct of England’s hunt breakfasts where a smorgasbord of goodies was laid out for hungry huntsmen after the chase, while others consider it comes from the practice of Catholics to fast before mass and then sit down to a huge midday meal.

Here are seven spots sure to appease brunch cravings this weekend:

Bringing the Cammeray community fun and enjoyable brunch experiences, Sydneysiders head to The Alchemist Espresso on Carter Street for specialty coffee and café fare with flair. Sunny days guarantee the patio will be full of guests enjoying a drink and bite to eat, or head indoors where you can cosy up by the fireplace in Winter and peruse an all-day menu showcasing the freshest local produce.

 

Start the day the right way with the Jenga – housemade corn fritters, stacked with halloumi, smashed avocado, poached egg, sesame, red salsa and Greek yoghurt – or devour a Reuben beef sandwich for lunch, with corned beef, Swiss cheese, sauerkraut and Russian dressing.

All-day Filipino fare has Canberra foodies salivating at Northside Garden Café on O’Hanlon Place in Nicholls. A sunny alfresco area with thatched umbrellas and an oasis of potted greenery awaits on balmy days, or head indoors where polished wood, glowing globe lighting and cosy tables beckon as diners peruse a menu delivering Filipino and Western dishes sure to tempt all tastes.

 

Brunch-goers delve into the likes of tapsilog – marinated beef, fried egg, garlic fried rice, cucumber, tomato and house spiced vinegar – or a smoked salmon breaky bowl with beetroot hummus, poached egg, spinach, quinoa, sun-dried tomato and honey lemon vinaigrette.

Sophisticated casual dining in a warm, inviting atmosphere is on the menu at Aroma @ Eastwood on Howitt Avenue. This cosy café oozes charm with recycled timber, potted greenery, cushions adorning bench seating and an eclectic mix of decorations and accents.

 

Stop in for a brunch date over plates such as vegan smashed avocado with savoury mushrooms and juicy tomatoes for a burst of flavours and vibrant colours; or join the lunch crowd for a gourmet chicken and pesto focaccias, with sun-dried tomato, brie and spinach.

Prepare to indulge in an unforgettable experience at Block 50 on Jells Road in Wheelers Hill as breakfast and lunch are elevated to new heights. This cafe is more than just a place to eat, it is a destination for food enthusiasts; chill out in warm and inviting surrounds of exposed brick, pendent lights and potted greenery, while a glass frontage lets in an abundance of natural light.

 

Each dish is crafted with passion and precision, think brunch plates like fresh avocado, poached egg, honey goats’ curd, sage, tomato chutney, pickled target beets, bacon and toast, enjoyed with Fizz Fiesta mocktail of grapefruit, kaffir and lime.

Everything is shiny in every way at Kingscliff locally-loved café Shiny Brew on Cylinders Drive. Stroll up from the golden sands of Kingscliff Beach and take a load off at this warm and fuzzy eatery, where polished concrete floors, multi-coloured chairs and wall art, set the scene for catching up with friends over a coffee and brunch bite.

 

Be tempted by Mushies Got Room – roasted sweet potato, sautéed mushrooms, garden peas, feta whip, chilli oil and dukkah – or Eat the Burrito, with bacon, eggs, beans, corn, cheese, pico de galo and chipotle mayo, wrapped in a toasted tortilla.

Well-loved Fitzroy local Arcadia Café on Gertrude Street dishes up delicious and reliably good fare with flair that has diners returning time and again. A simple and unpretentious vibe of high ceilings, timber furnishings, whitewashed walls and large windows overlooking the street makes for an ideal spot to linger over aromatic coffee, breakfast and lunch choices. 

 

With brunch cocktails like a Bloody Mary on offer, settle in and devour Arcadian eggs with wilted spinach, shaved ham, poached eggs and sriracha Hollandaise on a sourdough English muffin; or blueberry and lemon ricotta hotcakes, dulce de leche and raspberry compote.

Find your way along St Hellier Street in Heidelberg Heights to find favourite neighbourhood café Sunnyside. On balmy Melbourne days, enjoy an aromatic brew in the alfresco area where black wire chairs and potted palms beckon for a leisurely catchup with friends, while indoors is light and bright with white subway tiles, blond wood tables and trailing greenery setting the scene for brunch and lunch dining.

 

Grab a green booster smoothie to go with plates like bircher muesli topped with figs, pumpkin seed, almond and passionfruit, or chow down on the Maze Runner – corn and zucchini fritters with smashed peas, salsa, chilli jam, coconut mint yoghurt and sumac.