The Best Cafes in Newcastle When You Need to Have Breakfast Stat

When searching for a delicious weekend breakfast, you don’t have to go far to find a great cafe in Newcastle.

The last couple of years have been tough on cafes. For me, my local café has always been a favourite place to meet friends, catch up on the news, or just sit back and relax. Now sadly, you can walk through any town in Australia and see local cafes who have had to close their doors.

I’m on a mission to help in any way I can. I’m dedicating my blog, to finding the best Cafes in Australia and shine a light on them. It’s time to get out and support those wonderful local cafes. I have already uncovered fabulous cafes in Port Macquarie, amazing cafes in North Sydney and brilliant cafes in Surry Hills. I’m determined to go right round this beautiful country of ours and narrow in on regions, cafes and coffee roasters to find exactly where the best cafes are. Now, I’m in Newcastle.

Located on the beautiful, East coast of Australia, just over two hours north of Sydney. Newcastle is a vibrant city, bursting with amazing things to do and places to stay. Home to spectacular beaches and coastal scenery, with iconic ocean baths and some of Australia’s best surfing spots. Newcastle has fabulous museums and art galleries, a rich history and amazing architecture. With a thriving bar and restaurant scene, trendy designer shops and artisan markets, Newcastle is a very popular city to settle or visit. Newcastle locals or Novocastrians, also have a dedication to coffee, and a growing café scene, to rival Melbourne.

Which cafe does the most delicious avocado on toast in town? Where is the best espresso bar? Who serves up a killer piccolo latte? Do cafes in Newcastle have a better eggs benedict than cafes in Bondi? What’s the answer to the age-old question; cappuccino verses latte.

Knowing exactly where to go to get a delicious breakfast and smooth coffee is so hard. No-one likes being disappointed with a bad breaky. So, I’ve done the hard yards. After many lattes, bacon and egg rolls, avo on toasts and so many long brunches. I’ve narrowed it down to 5 of the best cafes in Newcastle.

I’m so excited to share. Let’s get going

The Contenders

Three Monkeys

Located at 131 Darby Street Cooks Hill. Three Monkeys is a firm favourite with Newcastle locals with its laid-back feel. It has been an iconic brunch spot on beautiful Darby Street for more than 20 years.

For the owners, Three Monkeys has been an amazing experience. It has taught them an incredible amount about food, coffee, wine and people. As much as they love food, coffee and wine, it is the people that make Three Monkeys the special place it is.

The menu is based around the freshest local produce. On the menu there is an amazing Bacon and Egg Roll with cheese, smoky BBQ sauce and aioli. A delicious Moroccan Eggs with dukkah, chilli, shallots, crumbled feta and lime is a standout. But my all-time favourite breakfast dish on the menu is the Parmesan Toast with Scrambled Eggs. It is scrambled eggs, bacon, truffle oil on parmesan toast.

A tip, the Bubble and Squeek Reloaded is also amazing. It is a potato, pumpkin, and corn rosti with bacon, spinach, tomato salsa and sriracha aioli.

For lunch, there are delicious Poke Bowls, a Pulled Port Burrito and a selection of tasty burgers. There is also a wide selection of amazing coffee and teas on offer. You can even purchase the house tea and coffee blends in bags and take it home.

It’s also great to know that Three Monkeys only uses recycled cups and straws in their delightful café.  

Mockingbird

Located at 131 Beaumont Street Hamilton. Mockingbird is one of Newcastle’s stand out cafes. Mockingbird is all about representing their local community and bringing people together to excite the senses. If it’s breakfast, brunch or lunch you are craving, you will find the most delicious options at Mockingbird.

The Cafe takes a fresh and fun approach to their food. On the menu you can find all the classics like avo on toast, a bacon and egg burger and corn fritters. But there are also standouts you don’t normally see. The Satay French Toast with coconut satay, housemade peanut butter, cucumber, crispy 62 degree eggs, sourdough and soy crisps is amazing. The Chorizo Croquettes with poached eggs, muhammara, piquante peppers, chorizo roast capsicum, parsley and blackened shallot is a masterstroke.

There is also a delicious Budda Bowl with sweet potato chips, zaatar grilled salmon, pickled onion, labna and spiced quinoa.

Mockingbird also has a wide selection of amazing coffee including house cold brew coffee, hot chocolate, turmeric lattes and teas. The cold pressed juices are fabulous and the milkshakes, and my personal favourite thick shakes, will keep me going back to Mockingbird again and again.

Equium Social

Located at 1-5 Maitland Road Mayfield East. Equium Social boasts a wholesome, ethically sourced and seasonally influenced menu with dishes to suit every person who walks through their doors. It’s all about simple, wholesome food with integrity and heart.

On the menu you can find a delicious Ricotta Hotcakes. It is house made ricotta folded through fluffy hotcakes, cream, maple, strawberries and candied nuts. There are eggs anyway, avocado on toast and one of the best-looking egg and bacon rolls I have ever seen. It comes with thick cut bacon, swiss cheese, house made bbq sauce and locally sourced greens.

But when I am at this lovely café, I love to order the Tortilla De Patatas. It is a potato, herb and onion Spanish omlette with locally sourced greens, aged goat cheese and smokey beetroot relish.

There is also a selection of some of the most delish sides. They include house made pickles and ferments, slow cooked greens, halloumi with honey and thyme, vegetable hash and roast pumpkin wedges.

Signal Box

Located at 155 Wharf Road Newcastle. Signal Box is housed in one of Newcastle’s most iconic buildings. The space has been transformed into a café and beautiful dining space.  

When you visit you will clearly see they take pride in doing things properly. Just about everything that emerges from the kitchen is made in-house and from scratch. From sauces, stocks and pickles through to fresh juices, chai and sodas. At Signal Box, they don’t mind doing things the hard way and taking it on themselves.

Whether it be breakfast in the sunny courtyard, a late afternoon lunch or a more refined dinner by night. You will find an innovative, modern Australian cuisine on the menu with plenty of delicious options for all.

The Smashed Avocado on Toasted Sourdough with goats feta, marinated tomato, basil and lemon is fabulous. The Middle Eastern Shakshouka is next level amazing with baked eggs, mixed beans, capsicum and onion spiced tomato sauce on warmed flat bread. But the standout for me, is the Queensland Spanner Crab Omelette with oyster mushrooms, XO sauce, chilli oil, coriander, cashew, crispy shallot and lime. It was seriously one of the best breakfast dishes I have ever had. And let me tell you, I have had my fair share of delicious breakfasts.

Blue Door

Located at 22 Honeysuckle Drive Newcastle. Blue Door is known for their consistently good coffee and delicious eats. Their goal is not just to nourish, but to create an environment which brings people together. They strive to provide a café that makes their customers feel like they are part of a community. The team at Blue Door are authentic, passionate and very approachable.

Blue Door first began by pioneering greens for breakfast, creating delicious cold pressed juices and inventing the world’s first vegan soft serve Coco Whip, which is exclusive to the Blue Door Group in Newcastle. They now have three stunning locations across Newcastle (including Merewether, Honeysuckle and Hamilton) where they use the freshest, seasonal ingredients to create a truly balanced menu. Each location brings a unique experience that is relevant to its geographical location.  

Blue Door is committed to creating a health conscious, balanced menu across all three locations. Signature breakfast dishes include smashed avocado, bacon and egg rolls and breaky burritos with cheesy rolled eggs, bacon, tomato, onion, basil and aioli.

There are delicious fresh baked croissants, fresh salads, acai bowls, mouth-watering burgers and wraps. There is a fantastic breeze-in-breeze-out menu which includes a Chicken Cheese Panini with chicken breast mixed with celery, mayo and red onion, baby spinach, cheese and house-made romesco sauce. There is the always amazing Nasi Goreng, with brown rice, celery, red onion, cabbage, carrot, cherry tomato, rolled egg, fried shallots and house-made nasi sauce.

My personal favourite dish on the menu is the Jamaican Chicken Wrap with shredded chicken, red onion, Blue Door Jamaican sauce, minted sour cream, spinach and tomatoes.

There is also a wide selection of amazing fresh juices, smoothies, shakes and sundaes. The Berry Dream is next level. It is mixed berries and strawberry sauce on soft serve. But my go-to sundae is the Caramello. It is a delicious combination of chocolate and caramel sauce on fluffy white soft serve.