The Caffeine Bubble

words by james phillips

Bondi is a township that has been known by many names and representations that reflect its reality.

Long referred to as The Bubble, Bondi got this label because it’s a unique cultural hub from which its residents venture as little as humanly possible.

Also known as The Caffeine Kingdom, anybody that’s spent enough time exploring Bondi’s various cafés and coffee shops can see why it’s earned that title.

Okay, I might have made that last one up… but it’s undeniable that some of the best coffee going around Sydney is being served up by the Baristas of Bondi Beach.

Here are five Cuppas in Bondi to keep you warm this winter

Saturdays NYC
One of the best things about staying at QT Bondi is that you share the building with a supermarket, spa and a gym – all the essentials for a hotel holiday. But even better, on your doorstep is a contemporary art gallery, a hairdresser and a boutique clothing store that doubles as a surf shop & café. Since launching their label in New York in 2003 and expanding to Tokyo, Saturdays NYC opened in Bondi in the summer of 2015. Along with world-famous apparel, the team at Saturdays brew a ridiculously good coffee at the front of the store using Surry Hills’ own Artificer beans and are now an unmissable stop on a Bondi Coffee Crawl.

Vida Surf Store
Continuing with the tried and true surf store-café formula, the guys at Vida started off in a shop smaller than your QT King room. They’ve since become known around Bondi for their quality surfboards, authentic acai bowls and delicious cappuccinos. They now boast a full shop front that is quadruple the size and is just around the corner from QT Bondi; make sure you stop in for a caffeine fix during your stay.

COFFEE Bondi Beach
Sitting just a stone’s throw from QT Bondi, on Curlewis St, are Bondi’s own notorious local coffee roasters. COFFEE Bondi Beach specialise in the procurement of single estate coffees, roasting, serving and delivering some of the best beans to the locals of Bondi. This one is for the Coffee purists out there who like it brewed black… so pop in for a coffee tutorial or to sample the goods from Tuesday to Sunday 7am – 3pm.

Bru Coffee
Up on the hill at North Bondi is a tiny shop that many locals hold close to their hearts. Bru Coffee has made a name for itself due to its unwavering caffeine credibility. Open 6am – 2pm daily, the coffee they Bru (get it?) from top quality ALLPRESS Arabica beans mean that it’s a packed house almost every hour of the day.

Porch & Parlour
Known for their creative and healthy dishes served up in a comfortable and relaxed atmosphere with views of Bondi Beach, the legends at Porch couldn’t be forgotten on this list. Their locally sourced ingredients don’t stop at the menu, Porch brew Will & Co Coffee, a local collaboration that has partnered with some of the most respected green bean suppliers from across the globe to source the best quality raw product available. Open from 6.30am daily for coffee, you’ll be able to enjoy your latte while watching the waves roll through the North Bondi headland.