Win the morning, win the day, with a visit to one of Newcastle's best breakfast spots

Is there a better way to kick start the day than with a scrumptious breakfast at one of Newcastle’s many bustling cafes? We don't think so.

With so many spots to try, it can be a tough choice deciding where to dine. We've enjoyed our fair share of egg and bacon rolls and avocado on toast on your behalf and compiled a guide to the cafes dishing up some of the best breakfasts in Newcastle.

Autumn Rooms

Get your breakfast fix in Newcastle at Autumn Rooms on Darby Street. While the menu is seasonal and changes regularly, you're guaranteed a good brekkie no matter the time of year at this well-loved cafe. Right now, we can’t go past the delicious chili eggs on sourdough and for something sweet, the peaches and cream waffles. Where: 127 Darby St, Cooks Hill

Bolton Street Pantry

Bolton Street Pantry boasts a modern industrial interior with exposed concrete walls, minimal furniture, and moody lighting – it's not overcomplicated, just like the food menu. They have all the classics and also a few fresh spins, like the Massaman beef benedict with roti, pulled beef curry, soft eggs and gochujang sabayon. 
Where: 45 Bolton St, Newcastle

Bowie

Sister cafe to The Junction’s favourite, Talulah, Bowie is set up along the main Beaumont Street strip in Hamilton and their absolute must-order would be the char-siu benedict for a fresh take on the classic with added miso hollandaise and kimchi slaw or the tiramisu hotcakes with their vanilla mascarpone cream and choc almond soil. 
Where: 79/81 Beaumont St, Hamilton

ELMAs on Clyde

Tucked away amongst the second hand shops, ELMAs offers delicious coffee to start the day from local coffee roasters Tapestry Coffee and plenty of fresh and fun breakfast choices to go with it. Try the Boerewors breaky roll featuring sausage mince grilled with onion and capsicum, scrambled egg, coriander and a house made mayo on a long roll.   
Where: 54 Clyde St, Hamilton North

Equium Social

A Mayfield institution, Equium Social boasts a wholesome, ethically sourced, and seasonally influenced menu with dishes to suit every person who walks through its doors. Breakfast is an all-day affair here and thank goodness for that. Our must-try is the ricotta hotcakes – fluffy hotcakes cooked with house-made ricotta and served with cream, maple, berry compote, and candied nuts.
Where: 1/5 Maitland Rd, Mayfield East

Estabar

Estabar is an ideal year-round cafe spot, perched across from Newcastle Beach. Sit outside, soak up the sunshine and whale watch while you sample its seasonal menu. Our favourite? The salmon bruschetta featuring NZ manuka-smoked salmon, labna, dill, capers, red onion, and lemon atop toasted sourdough.
Where: 61 Shortland Esp, Newcastle

Fairmont Diner

Carrington’s 70s-style corner cafe has been pumping since its inception in 2024. The food is kept simple but done well, with their brekky burrito (or have it as a bowl) of scrambled eggs, bacon, cheese, potatoes, and house salsa on a flour tortilla or up your protein with Peggy’s Prize featuring all the usual breakfast heroes plus a steak. 
Where: 34 Cowper St S, Carrington

Food Farmacy

More than a café, Food Farmacy blends wholefood, plant-based eating with nutritional science. Located alongside Atune Health, every dish is made from scratch with an anti-inflammatory focus, proving food can support healing while still being colourful, delicious and social.
Where: Atune Health Centre, Floor 1 - Unit 1/52 Ada St, Cardiff

Lae Bae

Art, design and food collide at La Bae in Hunter Street Mall. Created by Kate Lieu, the bright cafe blends Asian influences, striking interiors and beautifully crafted dishes, from cafe classics to show-stopping croffle desserts and creative coffees, for a truly sensory experience.
Where: 152 Hunter St, Newcastle

Local Customs

Adamstown’s newest community hangout, Local Customs, has a consistently updated chef specials board that is always worth diving into, but if you’re sampling anything from their standard menu, make it the green eggs and ham benny with café de Paris hollandaise, asparagus, and greens served on sourdough.
Where: 513 Glebe Rd, Adamstown

LOLAs

The cafe on the corner of Cooks Hill’s Darby and Bull Streets is the delightful LOLAs and it boasts a menu featuring native ingredients with that comfortable feeling of eating at a good friend’s place. With all-day breakfast, their Spanish omelette with potato crisps, caramelized onion, serrano ham and horseradish crema is a must-try. 
Where: 171 Darby St, Cooks Hill

Mockingbird

The team at Mockingbird is all about bringing a fresh and fun approach to food, so you can expect the usual Aussie classics on the menu, but it’s the quirky surprises that have our attention. What’s our pick? The prawn toast complete with prawn mousse, sesame, bisque, poached eggs, bean shoots, red onion, and herbs.
Where: 131 Beaumont St, Hamilton

Momo Wholefood

Momo Wholefood has become a Newcastle institution known for its dishes lovingly created entirely from plant-based ingredients. This bright, airy, plant-filled space serves up a delicious seasonal all-day menu. Don't miss the Indian breakfast, complete with bhujia tofu scramble, masala spiced potatoes, green chilli sauce, and flatbread.
Where: 227 Hunter St, Newcastle

Neighbours on Market St

Renowned for its breakfast cocktails (we’ll take the Berrycolada with mixed berries, pineapple and coconut milk), it’s no surprise to see Neighbours on Market St make our list. Our pick of the menu? The corn fritters of course, with jalapeño aioli, avocado, charred pineapple, and watercress salad.
Where: 2 Market St, Newcastle

The Pavilion

Carrington’s newest cafe addition, The Pavilion is all about community and connection. Breakfast often comes with a side serving of live music at this newly renovated warehouse space. We love the satisfying brekky burger with thick cut bacon, egg, Bev’s tomato relish, house hashbrown, rocket, and smoked cheddar. 
Where: 150 Young Street, Carrington

Pegs

Everyone knows Pegs when it comes to cafes in Whitebridge and for a breakfast with soul after a ride on the Fernleigh Track, you can’t go past it. A self-described community cafe, you’ll find all the classics on the breakfast menu, plus some delicious quirky pics like Pegs’ potato rosti with warm fennel and roasted beetroot salad and poached egg or the morish brekkie burrito.    
Where: 157 Dudley Rd, Whitebridge 

Talulah

The perfect place to duck into after an early morning walk at the beach is the cosy cafe Talulah. Treat yourself to a hot cup of coffee or a pot of tea before devouring the stuffed French toast, an egg dipped brioche stuffed with raspberry jam, chai crème anglaise, macadamia crumble, and strawberries.  
Where: 52 Glebe Rd, The Junction

Three Monkeys Cafe

Three Monkeys Cafe has become an iconic brunch spot on Darby Street since its inception over 20 years ago! The team certainly knows their way around a good breakfast menu. We recommend the green monkey with chorizo, mushrooms, tomato, chilli, garlic, spinach, a drizzle of truffle oil, and a poached egg, served on Turkish bread.
Where: 131 Darby St, Cooks Hill

The Village Newcastle

This Greek-inspired cafe on Beaumont Street has a number of signature dishes, so it was hard to pick just one favourite! The Greek brekkie is an obvious choice, aligning with The Village's roots. It's served with lemon fried eggs, grilled haloumi, mushrooms, spinach, cumin tomato, olive tapenade, and sourdough.
Where: 2/44 Beaumont St, Hamilton

The Wickham Boatshed

The avo smash at The Wickham Boatshed is a breakfast to behold on the beautiful marina location. Try the cafe's take on the beloved Aussie breakfast smashes avocado on toasted sourdough with beetroot humus, edamame and sesame smash, rocket, pickled onion, parmesan, poached eggs, crispy eschallots, and micro greens.
Where: 91 Hannell St, Wickham

Zaaki Espresso

Mayfield’s best-kept secret? This fresh and friendly espresso bar in Mayfield West. The traditional and authentic flavours that come out of the kitchen at Zaaki Espresso are a great start to the day like the shakshuka featuring Lebanese baked tomatoes, two baked eggs, garlic, and mild chilli, served with Turkish bread.
Where: 402a Maitland Rd, Mayfield

Best brekky in my belly