Estabar — Restaurant in Newcastle-Maitland

Nice Spot with Friendly Staff, but Some Letdowns

I recently visited Estebar in Newcastle, and while it wasn’t a terrible experience, I definitely left wishing it had been better.

The location is great, and the staff were friendly, which I really appreciated. However, on a hot day, I was disappointed that the water was warm and wasn’t refrigerated—it would have been a small but important detail. The menu leans toward an “earthy, hippy” vibe, so no bacon or avocado, which isn’t a dealbreaker but something to keep in mind.

I ordered poached eggs on toast, while my friends had the summer tomato with whipped ricotta and salmon on sourdough with eggs (poached and scrambled). Drinks were on the pricey side—$7.80 for an iced coffee and $9 for a small immunity drink, which was pre-made and couldn’t be customized.

Food took over 30 minutes to arrive, and when we asked about it, only part of our order came out first. My eggs were already cooling down, and one was closer to being boiled than poached. The summer tomato dish was also missing some of the expected elements—only one confit tomato instead of both fresh and confit. When the salmon dishes finally arrived, one of my friend’s poached eggs was fully cooked, which was frustrating.

That said, the atmosphere was nice, and the staff were lovely. I wouldn’t say it was an awful experience, just a bit underwhelming. With some small improvements—faster service, better attention to detail with food, and maybe a rethink on pricing—it could be a great spot.

Decent cafe with a good vibe, but some aspects left...

The host who served us was lovely and helpful and we had a delicious breakfast- the buttered sourdough was indeed a delight. A busy Sunday morning meant there was a long queue for take away coffee when we got up to pay. The staff inside were flat out so directed us to pay at the take away counter. The girl there was not interested in acknowledging us while I waited to pay although she saw me waiting there for at least 6-8mins. After she served 4-5 customers and chatted at length to one about how she hoped to see them again socially, I politely interjected that I’d like to pay for my meal and provided the location we had been seated at. The girl just looked at me and started serving the next take away customer and told me he’d been waiting before me!!! When I went back inside to try and pay she came running to take my payment. A bit of training here wouldn’t go amiss. I think the girl actually expected me to join the back of the take away queue to make my payment! I could have easily walked away as was needing to get away on time, but in the interests of supporting small business didn’t. Unfortunately the manner in which she looked and and spoke to me is what I will remember about my experience...

A local gem, Estabar's owner, Bec Bowie, is passionate about sourcing local produce that's nourishing & good for the soul.

She works with the makers & creators of Newcastle, supporting & promoting their businesses, whilst conjuring up seasonal flavours, to create an ever evolving, delicious menu for her customers to enjoy.

The passion that she, & her equally passionate, dedicated team share at Estabar, can be tasted & seen in the colourful, nourishing dishes.

Bec really cares about her customers, & where her food comes from. She also promotes sustainability, & is always looking for ways she can improve her game.

Besides the lovingly made food, Estabar enjoys wonderful sea breezes, with Newcastle Beach in perfect view accross the road, & the warmth of this charming cafe can be felt instantly, with it's super friendly, cosy, family atmosphere.

Pick a window seat & inhale the salty air over a coffee or frappe, or snuggle in a corner nook on a cold Winter's day with a book & a hot cocoa, the choice is yours. The only choice you'll find difficult, is deciding what to order...and that goes for their mouth watering gelato flavours too, which are...