Best cafes in Bellingen: Owners give insight into good coffee, food

Exotic coffee, fresh food and eclectic interior designs define a mix of Bellingen cafes that draw residents and visitors into the town. Here are the people behind the vibrant scene.

Bellingen has grown into a multicultural hub with a variety of unique options for cafes and shopping.

Here is the best of what Bello has to offer - through its strong community, fresh produce and passionate owners.

H&S Cafe

Coffee beans: Axil

H&S cafe owner Sean Page said his business had built a close relationship with local farmers and the community.

“We have great rapport with local farmers that we utilize every season to produce the best food menu,” he said.

Sean Page has perfected his art across many years as a chef.

Mr Page is a chef who has built experience working internationally.

He travelled to China for the International Gastronomic Festival where he showed off local Australian produce.

H&S features homemade granola from co-owner and partner Jamila Chapman.

“Our granola is made by hand with Jamila’s famous recipe and sold at local markets across the coast,” Mr Page said.

Hearthfire Bakery

Coffee beans: Mothersky

Passion and commitment are fundamental to Hearthfire’s excellent menu.

Owners Dave Larsen and Sally Townley (also deputy mayor of Coffs Harbour) have run Hearthfire for the past 10 years.

Larsen freshly bakes his pastry and dough to deliver the best possible product.

Mr Larsen said his passion for food was developed from growing up with his mother’s cooking.

Hearthfire also strive for sustainability, showcasing Bellingen produce wherever possible.

“Hearthfire doesn’t take shortcuts, everything is made by scratch with passion. Time is the most important ingredient,” Mr Larsen said.

The Swiss Patisserie & Bakery

Coffee beans: Artisti

Specialising in Swiss and European pastries, The Swiss makes pies, quiches and authentic German pretzels in-house.

Owner Urs Rickenbach was just 14 when he began training as a pastry chef in Switzerland.

From humble beginnings watching his sister bake, Urs Rickenbach and his wife Daniela have set a life up for themselves.

“My sister worked in the local bakery,” he said.

“As kids we would pop in to see her and I became fascinated with the idea of baking.”

In 1992, he established the Swiss Patisserie.

“I introduced things like pretzels and beesting cake to the Bellingen customers,” he said.

His partner Daniela was originally a pathologist, but Rickenbach took her under his wing and said she became a very skilled pastry chef.

“She is now running the production and has introduced a few interesting goodies, like the popular walnut macarons and the baked cheesecake. She is now the linchpin of the business,” he said.

“We went through Bushfires, floods, Covid-19 and we are still pumping now.”

With their enthusiasm, teamwork and first hand experience in baking and pastry work, they pair have brought the Swiss influence to Bellingen.

Quoll Coffee House

Coffee Beans: Single O

Owner Zach Fowler is only 23 but has already managed a bustling cafe in Pyrmont, Sydney.

Mr Fowler opened Quoll in just three weeks, using his experience and friendships to quickly get things moving.

Zach Fowler says he got Quoll up and running in just three weeks.

“I hadn't thought about it until it happened, we just got into gear and got it all done,” he said.

His girlfriend Grace Gilham designed the interiors, and a carpenter mate installed and fitted the bar.

Their toasties feature local tempeh (from Bisque Tempeh) and locally foraged reishi mushrooms from Dorrigo rainforest.

HYDE Bellingen

Coffee beans: Pablo & Rusty’s Porter Street blend

Hyde is owned by mother and daughter duo Jenni Bienefelt and Elyse Wright.

Mrs Wright said she wanted to create an atmosphere that combined a typical cafe with fashion.

Elyse Wright (left) and Jenni Bienefelt have created a social space within their cafe.

“It is built on philosophy of creating a hub for the locals and a rest stop for travellers by providing boutique coffee, locally made and sourced food and a careful curation of designer clothing and homewares,” she said.

Hyde is designed to encourage a relaxing space to eat, drink, shop or catch up with friends.

It has been open since 2014.

Old Butter Factory Cafe

Coffee beans: il Giorno by Griffith Brothers

Owners Sophie Bogdan and Daniel de Wys say their cafe has special history attached to it.

“It is unique it is set in a historic building,” Mrs Bogdan said.

Sophie Bogdan and Daniel de Wys are proud of the history attached to the Old Butter Factory.

More than 100 years of history is clear upon entering.

The building’s high ceilings and concrete walls are reminders of its origins.

It overlooks the beautiful Bellingen region and allows for pets in its spacious outdoor area.

Gelato Bellingen

Proud Father and son owners Robert and Danny Sebes. Picture: supplied

Bellingen Gelato is a father-son business run by Robert and Danny Sebes that is famous for its house-made gelatos.

However, they also serve coffee and co-owner Robert said he was always passionate about Italian coffee and old Italian coffee machines.

In the late 1980s, Robert owned Badde Manors cafe in busy Glebe in Sydney.

The pair won an award for their gelatos in Sydney in 2016.