Café
Single O Surry Hills
The original café of Sydney specialty roaster Single O, on Reservoir Street in Surry Hills, serving its own coffee alongside breakfast and lunch.
The Grounds of Alexandria
A café, garden and bar complex in a former industrial site in Alexandria, popular for weekend breakfasts among planted courtyards and seasonal displays.
At a glance
- Type
- Garden café
- Area
- Alexandria, Sydney, Australia
- Price
- $$ · Mid-range
- Opening
- Open daily
- Official site
- thegrounds.com.au
Good to know
- Garden setting
- Takeaway
- Garden bar
Why we recommend it
The Grounds of Alexandria occupies a former industrial site in Sydney's inner south and has turned it into a café surrounded by gardens. Planted courtyards, climbing greenery, a potting shed and seasonal displays that change through the year give it the feel of a country garden in the middle of a warehouse district, and it has become one of the city's most popular weekend destinations.
Several venues share the site. The Grounds Cafe is the main dining room, serving hearty breakfasts and lunches along with cakes and sweet treats. The Potting Shed, surrounded by plants, offers seasonal dishes with drinks, and The Garden Bar and BBQ provides a more casual outdoor option. The same company also runs The Coffee Factory at South Eveleigh and The Grounds of the City in the central business district if you cannot make it out to Alexandria. Each venue has its own menu, so it is worth looking at the options on the website before you go and deciding whether you want a full brunch, a lighter meal or simply coffee and cake.
The café serves dine-in meals from 07:30 to 15:30 on weekdays and from 07:00 to 16:00 at weekends, and takeaway coffee and food from 07:00 to 16:00 every day. Breakfast is the busiest time, and weekend queues can be long, so arrive soon after opening or visit on a weekday morning. Group bookings for 13 or more people can be arranged by phone, and other enquiries go through the contact form on the website.
The gardens are a big draw for families, who can wander the paths and courtyards while waiting for a table, and for anyone who enjoys a photogenic setting. The seasonal displays, which change through the year, are part of the reason people return. Expect a lively, busy atmosphere rather than a quiet café.
The Grounds suits families, groups of friends and visitors who want a leisurely weekend brunch. If you are short of time or dislike crowds, a weekday visit or a takeaway coffee and a walk through the gardens is a better choice than a long wait for a table.
Alexandria is about a fifteen-minute taxi or rideshare from the city centre. Green Square is the nearest train station, about fifteen minutes' walk away, and several bus routes pass nearby. The surrounding streets have warehouses converted into showrooms and design shops, which are worth a browse afterwards.
The Grounds of Alexandria FAQs
What time does The Grounds open?
The café opens for dine-in at 07:30 on weekdays and 07:00 at weekends, with takeaway from 07:00 daily.
What time does The Grounds close?
Dine-in closes at 15:30 on weekdays and 16:00 at weekends; takeaway runs until 16:00.
Can you book for a large group?
Group bookings for 13 or more can be arranged by phone on +61 2 9699 2225.
When is The Grounds busiest?
Weekend mornings are the busiest; arrive early or visit on a weekday.
What else is on the site?
The Potting Shed and The Garden Bar and BBQ, as well as the gardens and seasonal displays.
Is The Grounds good for children?
Yes. Families enjoy exploring the gardens and courtyards.
How do you get there?
Take a taxi from the city or a train to Green Square, about fifteen minutes' walk away.