By Marie-Antoinette Issa.
Charge your phone and prep your appetite! Sydney’s most Instagrammable cafes are as much about lattes as they are likes! Whether it's pink pancakes, urban artwork or a designer-logo emblazoned cup of coffee, these good-for-the-Gram eats prove that sometimes updating your feed is just as important as actually getting your feed!
If Vogue Cafe was a magazine spread, it would be the glossy centrefold - stylish, sophisticated and dripping in sartorial chic. Located beneath the W Sydney at Darling Harbour, this stunner of a spot offers more than just harbour views.
The caviar High Tea - stacked with (among others) a mini XO lobster roll, roasted hazelnut praline and Vogue cafe signature caviar with seaweed rice cracker, truffle cracker, chives, egg and cream fraiche - makes for such a cover-star-worthy pic that even Anna Wintour would approve.
However, other equally editorial (or Insta) impressive options include the lobster pasta and the signature seafood platter. Add the sleek interiors and fashion-forward vibes and you’ve got the ultimate place to sip Champagne, snap selfies and soak in the scene.
Hidden in the heart of Marrickville is a cafe with a vibe so cool that it wouldn’t look out of place at the MTV Music Awards. Meet Metro Brew’in - where Mediterranean eats meet mural-covered walls featuring urban music artists Drake, J Cole and Metro Boomin’. Even the menu is designed like a vinyl record, for a side dish with a social-media-approved spin.
From baguettes that crunch like a sick beat (the Mortadella remix with pistachio pesto is elite) to fruity mocktails that sparkle like JLo’s skin, everything here screams good vibes only. The fare is full of flavour and flair, making it impossible to leave without snapping at least a dozen shots of your breakfast - and the wall art, too.
Nestled within QT Sydney, this all-day/late-night neo-French eatery is dripping in old-world charm with a modern twist. Think vintage glamour, ornate ceilings and dishes as dramatic as the nearby State Theatre.
Decor aside, the menu at Parlour, perfected by renowned Chef Sean Connolly of Gowings and Chef Kenny Radegonde from Felix, is equally impressive. Highlights include raclette cheese jaffles, souffles so fluffy they look like a frilly Saint Laurent skirt and blush-toned prawn cocktails that understand the dress-pretty assignment.
It’s the kind of place where every dish deserves its own photoshoot and the dining room could double as a backdrop in French Elle. Tres chic.
If your sweet tooth has an Instagram account, it probably already follows Cafe Levant. This Greenacre gem flooded our feeds with its strawberry matcha drink topped with Levantine fairy floss. Now it’s upped the ante with its strawberry matcha pancakes. Picture this: fluffy green stacks layered with strawberry cream, pistachio swirls, crunchy kataifi and a final flourish of Turkish fairy floss.
Bonus: The interiors look as luxe as the eats. Featuring a luxe mix of green velvet, white tiling and gold fixtures - including Middle Eastern glass pendent lights, murals of Lebanese notes and countertops adorned with Turkish teapots and Lebanese brit jugs - Cafe Levant is a destination that truly deserves its own #Delicious Hashtag.
Mini by name, but mighty in social media circles, The Tiny Giant deserves its status as one of Sydney’s best social media stars.
The Tiffany-esque blue interiors are cute and cosy. However, the real slay comes through the food. Past viral sensations have included over-the-rainbow bagels, unicorn toasties and designer logo-branded coffees - making this a destination for those who like their hot cakes with a side of high-end.
Step into Happyfield and you're instantly wrapped in joy. Literally! The yellow walls, sage-green accents and vintage American diner vibes make this cafe feel like a slice of sunshine. However, the real showstoppers are on the plate.
The ‘proper pancakes’ are legendary. Fluffy, foldable and smothered in Canadian maple syrup and Pepe Saya butter. The McLovin Muffin, with its folded eggs, handmade chicken sausage and chipotle mayo, is pure hangover-healing magic. Don’t miss the dark caramel nitro coffee, served in a frosted mini mug that’s as photogenic as it is delicious.
Finally, for those who have ever wished their High Tea came served on a Ferris wheel (and really, why wouldn't you) Loftus Lane Cafe invites you to get on board. This pastel-hued, flower-adorned spot in Circular Quay is the definition of whimsy and delivers a fairytale spread that’s sure to make your feed pop.
Expect scones with cream, macarons, sliders and berry tartlets - all served on elegant French tableware, surrounded by fresh blooms. It's a pastel paradise made for birthday brunches, baby showers or just pretending you’re royalty. Snap it, sip it and let your camera eat first before indulging in your bite-sized treats.
