Cafes of Darwin
Cafe culture is new to Darwin. Over the last five years there has been a surge of new cafes opening around the city to cater to the coffee connoisseurs. A coffee movement. A few of my favs:
Laneway Specialty Coffee
This was one of the first cafes that I ever visited in Darwin - and it's never disappointed. It has a fresh industrial type feel with an exposed roof and walls, hanging ferns and an array of fresh flowers a top the tables. The façade is covered with a impressive overgrown leafy vine that keeps it shady and cool. The breakfast menu is fresh and modern, steering away from the greasy 'big breakfast'. Fresh salmon, trout, feta, and also caters to my 'smashed avo' cravings. For lunch they have a selection of salads and burgers. The menu changes seasonally. They have also opened up another cafe called Besser, which is a bit further out of town.
Cafe De la Plage
Quintessential Darwin cafe; relaxed, casual and on the beach. The owners are Turkish-Belgian and the menu has a European vibe. They have converted a canteen underneath the Dawrin Surf Life Saving Club on Casuarina Beach. Bean bags, hammocks, crates and DIY tables are scattered over the grass, great for watching people and dogs along the beach. During the Dry Season they do themed nights; cinema screenings, live music and street food. Friday nights are the street food nights and visit a different cuisine every week. There is always a lot going on at De la Plage, so best to check their Facebook page to keep up to date.
Ray's (Formally Alleycats)
Great Campos coffee, home made pies, hand crafted pastries, fresh sandwiches and mega shakes. The former Alley Cats was one of the first cafes to open in the Darwin scene, since then we have seen a boom of other cafes opening. In June 2019 they moved location and rebranding to Ray's. Their sourdough is baked in house and you can buy a loaf to take home with you. There is leafy and breezy al fresco area, or stay inside in the cool aircon with floor to ceiling windows that look out over Smith Street. They have daily sandwiches, get in quick as they usually sell out. Their menu is creative and changes regularly with the seasons and food trends.
The Trader Winnillie Road
Check their Instagram for their weekly sweet concoctions, everything looks delicious, a hybrid of all things sugary. They are a bit out of town in an industrial part, catering to tradies and workers so are only open business hours; Mon-Fri. They also do savoury - breakfast pastas, eggs benny, a modern ploughman's plate. They have opened a bar in town called Trader Bar - it doubles as a cafe on Saturday and Sunday, you can bring your dogs! Loud music, great cocktails and wine list.
The Rabbit Hole
Blink and you'll miss it - it took me a while to find the entrance to this place. They now have seating out the front of the cafe so are easy to spot. Squished in-between the retail shops on Smith Street Mall, it's hard to believe they have kitted out a cafe in this small space, but they have and it works. The menu is different and exciting, lots of interesting marinades used for their meats and different styles of cooking. They have an express menu for the lunch crowd; sandwiches, salads, pies. Great consistent coffee.
Sweetbrew & Co Dining
Although it's out of the CBD, you are guaranteed a parking spot that you don't have to pay for. About 5 mins drive from town, Sweetbrew used to be an old mechanics workshop - and they have stuck to the industrial/mechanics roots. Lots of steel and metal furnishings, cement tables and floors which helps keep the temperature down. There's two different dining rooms, communal dining tables out the back and smaller tables out the front. The space is a welcome change for Darwin cafes, and definitely needed on the busy weekend - I recommend booking as this place gets packed out!
They have a bakery on site, so all their bread, pasta, pastries (best in Darwin), pies, cakes made to order, are made in house.
Great coffee - same menu all day; so you can still get breakfast for lunch! They do the basics well, have a very creative and bold menu that changes seasonally, they cater for the vegetarians, vegans, gluten intolerants. In the dry season they also do dinners.
Most weekends there are flowers for sale - you can pick up fresh made jams, chai, muesli, specialty milks, an array of traditional and unusual sourdoughs.
Skin
Boutique shop + cafe, serving Bondi Beach coffee. Fantastic light-filled space in the old sandstone Country Womens Association building. Prime position for city office workers to grab a coffee on their way past. Clean white space, green ferns, large glass windows and doors that look out onto Knuckey Street - great for people watching. Shop while you wait - they sell clothes, shoes, bags, watches, sunglasses, gifts and jewellery. They are committed to supporting Australian and New Zealand labels. Shop local!
Laneway Specialty Coffee
This was one of the first cafes that I ever visited in Darwin - and it's never disappointed. It has a fresh industrial type feel with an exposed roof and walls, hanging ferns and an array of fresh flowers a top the tables. The façade is covered with a impressive overgrown leafy vine that keeps it shady and cool. The breakfast menu is fresh and modern, steering away from the greasy 'big breakfast'. Fresh salmon, trout, feta, and also caters to my 'smashed avo' cravings. For lunch they have a selection of salads and burgers. The menu changes seasonally. They have also opened up another cafe called Besser, which is a bit further out of town.
Cafe De la Plage
Quintessential Darwin cafe; relaxed, casual and on the beach. The owners are Turkish-Belgian and the menu has a European vibe. They have converted a canteen underneath the Dawrin Surf Life Saving Club on Casuarina Beach. Bean bags, hammocks, crates and DIY tables are scattered over the grass, great for watching people and dogs along the beach. During the Dry Season they do themed nights; cinema screenings, live music and street food. Friday nights are the street food nights and visit a different cuisine every week. There is always a lot going on at De la Plage, so best to check their Facebook page to keep up to date.
Ray's (Formally Alleycats)
Great Campos coffee, home made pies, hand crafted pastries, fresh sandwiches and mega shakes. The former Alley Cats was one of the first cafes to open in the Darwin scene, since then we have seen a boom of other cafes opening. In June 2019 they moved location and rebranding to Ray's. Their sourdough is baked in house and you can buy a loaf to take home with you. There is leafy and breezy al fresco area, or stay inside in the cool aircon with floor to ceiling windows that look out over Smith Street. They have daily sandwiches, get in quick as they usually sell out. Their menu is creative and changes regularly with the seasons and food trends.
The Trader Winnillie Road
Check their Instagram for their weekly sweet concoctions, everything looks delicious, a hybrid of all things sugary. They are a bit out of town in an industrial part, catering to tradies and workers so are only open business hours; Mon-Fri. They also do savoury - breakfast pastas, eggs benny, a modern ploughman's plate. They have opened a bar in town called Trader Bar - it doubles as a cafe on Saturday and Sunday, you can bring your dogs! Loud music, great cocktails and wine list.
The Rabbit Hole
Blink and you'll miss it - it took me a while to find the entrance to this place. They now have seating out the front of the cafe so are easy to spot. Squished in-between the retail shops on Smith Street Mall, it's hard to believe they have kitted out a cafe in this small space, but they have and it works. The menu is different and exciting, lots of interesting marinades used for their meats and different styles of cooking. They have an express menu for the lunch crowd; sandwiches, salads, pies. Great consistent coffee.
Sweetbrew & Co Dining
Although it's out of the CBD, you are guaranteed a parking spot that you don't have to pay for. About 5 mins drive from town, Sweetbrew used to be an old mechanics workshop - and they have stuck to the industrial/mechanics roots. Lots of steel and metal furnishings, cement tables and floors which helps keep the temperature down. There's two different dining rooms, communal dining tables out the back and smaller tables out the front. The space is a welcome change for Darwin cafes, and definitely needed on the busy weekend - I recommend booking as this place gets packed out!
They have a bakery on site, so all their bread, pasta, pastries (best in Darwin), pies, cakes made to order, are made in house.
Great coffee - same menu all day; so you can still get breakfast for lunch! They do the basics well, have a very creative and bold menu that changes seasonally, they cater for the vegetarians, vegans, gluten intolerants. In the dry season they also do dinners.
Most weekends there are flowers for sale - you can pick up fresh made jams, chai, muesli, specialty milks, an array of traditional and unusual sourdoughs.
Skin
Boutique shop + cafe, serving Bondi Beach coffee. Fantastic light-filled space in the old sandstone Country Womens Association building. Prime position for city office workers to grab a coffee on their way past. Clean white space, green ferns, large glass windows and doors that look out onto Knuckey Street - great for people watching. Shop while you wait - they sell clothes, shoes, bags, watches, sunglasses, gifts and jewellery. They are committed to supporting Australian and New Zealand labels. Shop local!
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| Coffee at Sweetbrew |
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| Sweetbrew & Co |
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| Sweetbrew & Co |
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| Chilli scram with crab - Sweetbrew |
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| Outside tables at Laneway |
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| Iced latte at Skin |
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