Kafeine — Restaurant in Sydney

Kafeine is good - and good is an accurate word to describe this place.

Short version: Would I come back here? Yes, I have multiple times. For what reason? The food selection is massive, and the food quality is decent. It’s a yummy place to have lunch. Would I choose this place to have coffee, exclusively? No.

The long version Menu selection: extensive, wide, grand. There is something for everyone, and what is most impressive, that there are numerous gluten-free items. If you feel like breakfast, brunch or lunch food, you will find it on this menu. May I also point out that the drinks menu is AMAZING! Quality of food: Good, expected, nice. I have eaten here numerous times (5+) and the food is consistent. It is interesting, it tastes good, its cooked well. The dressings on the salad are a decent amount so you’re not left with dry bits of lettuce. The portions of protein are decent. Price: Decent - actually, very good considering they have so many proteins available. You can spend anywhere between $13 and $28. Averaged priced items. I’ve seen cafes with ‘bowls’ for $30 which is absurd. Not this place - ‘bowls’ are like $24 to $28 depending on your protein choice. Service: decent. I have actually had two times where something slipped up - my drink was given to another table. I had to call an assistant to help which took a while because they’re were so busy. Also, they’ve tried to serve our table food which wasnt ours. So I guess they’re in a rush. Coffee: Average. Some days the coffee is burnt, or pulled incorrectly. The milk can be burnt some days. Expect inconsistency in terms of their coffee. Atmosphere: nice cafe, nice chairs. However, you can tell they’ve tried to squish as many as can be in that space, and it does get very busy, crowded, packed. Nice natural lighting comes in from the street. The atmosphere is nice. Parking: street parking on Darling Street. Can be hard to find, but for me, this cafe and its food selection and quality of food...

Felt sick after eating here. The lettuce in the salad was rotten, not dressed and not fresh. Don’t go here. My partner also had the mushroom toast and it was very soggy and had a weird taste to it. The salsa was store bought and I trust my partner cause he is a chef. The dish was poorly plated- one big mushroom plopped onto there with spinach thrown on one toast- super soggy from juices. did not find it worth $20. The only thing good was the fresh pressed fruit juices- I’ll give them that.

Edit: got a reply saying why didn’t I inform them. I left the rotten lettuce on the plate and paid and left. Felt sick and was in a rush to go back to work. Honestly the fact that there is no apology or acknowledgment to make things right should already tell you to stay away.

Update: the owner has stalked my instagram pages and my small crystal business page to try and intimidate me. The way they are handling this is appalling and causing so much drama. Even though I had a bad experience- I still paid for my meal and gave a truthful review based on that experience. Instead of being condescending and rude, they should take this as constructive criticism to improve their cafe....

The coffee here is hands down the best I’ve had in the area! I may not be a coffee expert, but there’s something about the taste that just hits differently—rich, smooth, and perfectly balanced. Every sip feels like a little moment of joy, whether I’m starting my day or taking a much-needed afternoon break.

Beyond the amazing coffee, I have to give credit to the incredible staff. They are always warm, welcoming, and attentive, making each visit a pleasant experience. You can tell they genuinely care about what they do, from crafting each cup with precision to ensuring customers feel right at home. Their passion and hospitality add to the charm of this place.

I love how the café itself has such a relaxed yet vibrant atmosphere. Whether I’m grabbing a quick coffee to go or sitting down to enjoy it, I always leave feeling refreshed and satisfied. It’s become my go-to spot, and I can’t recommend it enough! If you’re a coffee lover—or even just someone who enjoys a great café experience—this place is definitely worth checking out. Grateful to the team for consistently delivering such high-quality coffee...