Genovese Coffee House — Restaurant in Sydney

Genovese’s warehouse conversion and design was beautifully done and we love it! However the space was not fully utilised and some odd choices for furniture placement and old coffee machine display.

The ordering system is also odd to say the least and very slow where everyone have to line up at the counter to order before the customers were told where they can sit. The menu wasn’t provided anywhere near the counter when you are in the line waiting but everyone have to wait for the customers who are currently being served to go through the menu which is ONLY available right at the counter. Customers slowly read through the menu then slowly decide what to order and then pay when they are being served! A lot of time wasted and a lot of patience needed if you are no. 10th in line! What about if you are customer no. 20?

Simply more efficient way was to provide the customers who is already in the line a menu to read, everyone would have already decided what they wanted and the line would have moved a lot faster! What about a big menu board that’s easy for everyone in the line to read!? But no! They do have a Panini Menu poster with THIN-LINE pen like writing on the wall behind the counter which was very hard to read from where customers stand. When we suggested that it needs to have thicker/clearer text on the poster to the bearded staff who was serving at the counter who has the grumpiest face we were just rudely brushed off and he obviously didn’t care! What a grumpy attitude! Oh well! Just as well the line wasn’t too long today but I can’t imagine the wait on a busy day.

I had the Three Cheeses Focaccia and it was surprisingly spicy! While the taste was nice but it was completely ruined by the level of spiciness unless you really want your cheese focaccia super spicy — another odd choice! I love spicy food but I can’t imagine many people can take this level of heat…

My partner had the Deli Plate — the cold meats and focaccia were tasty but we didn’t like the buratta and the light cheese much. Both the buratta and some kind of semi-hard cheese were very bland and way too light for our taste.

The coffee was nice but funnily I have had much better made and better flavour Genovese coffee elsewhere!

All in all it was not worth the hassle unless you...

Genovese Coffee House in Alexandria has quickly become one of my favorite spots in Sydney. The moment I stepped inside, I was greeted with a warm, inviting atmosphere that perfectly blends mid-century and industrial design elements. The history and passion behind this family-owned cafe, run by the Genovese family since the 1970s, are evident in every detail. The decor, featuring exposed brick and wood accents, adds a touch of charm that makes the space feel both cozy and stylish.

The coffee at Genovese is outstanding, delivering rich and robust flavors that coffee enthusiasts will love. I am a big fan of their freshly made paninis as well. The pastries too are a real treat, with the strawberry and mascarpone croissants being a personal favorite. It’s clear that a lot of thought and care goes into every item on the menu.

What truly sets Genovese Coffee House apart is the exceptional service. The staff is always friendly and attentive. Whether you’re stopping by for a quick coffee or a leisurely brunch, they ensure a fantastic experience every time.

However, the only downside is that you have to line up and order, regardless of whether you are dining in (also noting this is before you’re given a table) or getting a takeaway. This can be particularly annoying if you want to order more while dining in, as you have to join the queue again at the back and wait, which can be frustrating during busy times. So if you’re in a rush, this place might not be for you.

Overall, Genovese Coffee House is a must-visit. The combination of excellent coffee, delicious food, and a welcoming atmosphere makes it a standout in Alexandria's vibrant cafe scene. Highly...

Unfortunately our experience did not match our expectations. Food was below average, service was poor and overall it left us feeling disappointed.

Service: they don’t offer table service. You have to line up at the counter, which for a venue of this size is inadequate. Wait times were close to 30 minutes, which sucked if you just wanted a coffee. They didn’t tell us that lunch started at 11am and breakfast stopped, meaning you CANNOT order what you want for breakfast even if you were in the line to order much earlier. I got to the front of the line at 10:50am and had to go to the back again to wait another 20 minutes for a panini. We also heard the waiter say, “I’m going to go slowly on purpose,” to which we were shocked because of how long the line was. Owner also grabbed an iPad to serve people at the back of the line, so unsure why I had to rejoin the line.

Food: cold, expensive, unappetising and even stale. We were a group of 5 and everyone ordered something different. We only enjoyed one pastry, the rest was not fresh at all, and the Nutella croissant wasn’t even real Nutella. Presentation was nice though. Coffee was nice at least.

Atmosphere: very nice venue in a good location. Very aesthetic place!

Overall, Alexandria is full of beautiful cafes and I would unfortunately recommend others...