Image: Shutterstock

Summer days in Sydney call for spending as much time outdoors as possible. To kick the day off with a nice dose of Vitamin D, send yourself to one of these excellent brunch spots. They all offer outdoor dining, delicious eats and reliably good coffee - aka the perfect trifecta.

Café Oratnek

Tucked away a few blocks south of Central Station, this delicious café is run by Kenny Takayama, former head chef of Bills Darlinghurst. Set in a beautifully restored terrace house complete with glorious garden courtyard, it serves up all the usual brunch favourites with a delicious Asian twist. Try the wild mushrooms with miso butter, goat cheese and chilli flakes, or the miso shakshuka with beans, tomato, kale and baked egg.  

The Grounds of Alexandria

This sprawling venue has been a Sydney favourite for years, offering the enticing drawcards of all day dining, weekend markets and Kevin Bacon, the famous barnyard pig. On sunny days The Garden is where it’s at, offering relaxed outdoor breakfasts at an eclectic collection of tables set amongst the greenery. Sip on a smoothie from the Soda Barn or get something heartier from the BBQ. Whatever you choose, don’t forget to say hi to Kevin on your way out.

The Boathouse Shelly Beach

Tucked away on Shelly Beach, this breezy waterside café is summer day perfection. Salty hair is standard, thongs are encouraged and the food is fresh, healthy and delicious. Think French toast croissant with raspberry, coconut, maple and ricotta, or steel cut oats with masala chai, fig, macadamia and poached quince. If you can, nab a table outside and savour every bite of whatever wonderful creation you decide to order..

Indigo

Brunch at this Double Bay café is always a glorious adventure, partly because of the excellent food on offer and partly because you’re likely to find yourself seated at a table on a traffic island (it’s a big traffic island and the street’s a cul-de-sac, so it’s charming rather than scary). The all-day breakfast menu is full of items that make choosing hard, like Alaskan crab omelette with papaya salad, and doughnut-style French toast with orange crème brulee and vanilla poached pear. See what we mean?  

The Depot

Perched on the North Bondi end of Campbell Parade, a 10-minute walk from the Adina Apartment Hotel Bondi Beach, this little gem sure knows how to do a good brunch. It’s always a good day when we find ourselves on one of their sunny outdoor tables with a plate of their famous Peas Please in front of us. The day gets extra points if we’ve also been for an early morning ocean swim at Sydney’s most iconic beach, enjoying the waves before the crowd sets in.

Above 8

Twenty minutes from Sydney CBD, Travelodge Hotel Hurstville has a stunning rooftop bar, Above 8, with unobstructed views as far away as the Southern Highlands. Combining a chic indoor lounge with a lovely open-air terrace, it’s a great spot to enjoy shared plates, authentic Italian hand-stretched pizzas, and tempting dishes such as kingfish ceviche with native plum, and wagyu bresaola “Reuben”. Open from noon every day except Monday, it’s a swish addition to the burgeoning local food scene.

Above 319

And when the brunching’s done, head to Above 319 atop the Vibe Hotel at Darling Harbour for an afternoon of cocktails in a gorgeous rooftop garden setting. It’s easy to lose track of time, and if you’re still there after the sun goes down, our top tip is to catch the sunset for your Instagram account beside the hotel’s rooftop pool.