Best cafes in Dubbo, Central West NSW
From “fancy devon” to Asian delicacies, there is something for everyone at the best cafes and eateries everywhere from Dubbo to the rest of NSW’s Central West.
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Whether you’re sticking around in Dubbo or hitting the road out to NSW’s Central West, here are the top 20 best places to stop in for a coffee or a bite to eat.
From Asian inspired eateries to a classic Aussie brunch, we’ve done the work for you and selected the best picks cafes from Dubbo, to Mudgee, to Orange.
DUBBO
You Cafe, 124 Brisbane St
Relatively new to the Dubbo hospitality scene, You Cafe has already made their mark on the region with their Asian delicacies.
Since opening in January, Belle and David are hoping to bring “something new” to the Dubbo cafe industry.
“It’s not easy to introduce something new and different to the local people especially when cafes and Asian foods have been stereotyped for ages,” Belle told The Dubbo News.
Being from Hong Kong, Belle said she “hopes to let people know that natural umami can be created with the proper selection of fresh ingredients”.
She said that David has been mastering the kitchen since the age of 16, curating the perfect “mix and match” of fresh ingredients.
She said through time, the pair wish to keep introducing new ingredients and foods to locals, but admitted there is a difficulty when it comes to a variation in food supply.
Outback Trek, 21 Judy Jakins Dr
Royal Flying Doctor Service visitor experience co-ordinator Michelle Wishart said the service took ownership of the cafe in October 2021.
Ms Wishart said the cafe is known for their “fabulous” coffee, drinks, snacks and meals.
“The tourism centre and cafe are a valuable contribution to allow people to learn and gain an understanding on all aspects of the organisation and its rich history, resourcefulness and innovation,” Ms Wishart said.
“We realise this is a developing precinct and saw the need to provide a service.
“We wanted to add an exceptional space to host after-hour events and provide a convenient place for visitors, as well as our RFDS staff.”
Having an “aviation-themed” venue, Ms Wishart said the cafe caters to visitors from “all over the world” as people have the opportunity to recognise the importance of providing quality healthcare while having a sip of their coffee.
Outback Trek is open from 9am to 3pm on weekdays (closed on Tuesdays) and open from 8am to 2pm on Saturday and Sunday.
Magnolia Cafe, 1/73 Wheeler’s Ln
Since buying the Magnolia Cafe in August 2022, Karleen Charters hopes to introduce more of an Italian cuisine.
A chef by trade, Ms Charters said the business is going “very well” to the point where it is “outgrowing itself”.
“I’ve been looking for a business in Dubbo and having hospitality and kitchen experience, this suited me very well,” she said.
“I’ve always wanted to have my own cafe so I’m glad I took the leap.”
She said the cafe currently has a modern Australian menu, mixed with Mediterranean and fresh ingredients.
Joined with Magnolia Nursery, Ms Charters said the plant shop and cafe go “hand-in-hand” to create a beautiful space where people can enjoy a coffee while being in a relaxed environment.
271, 271 Darling St
From owning a cafe in Orana Mall, Kyra and Russ Peet founded their Darling St store to serve the locality and have more freedom when it came to their style and flexibility.
“Community and connection are so important to us as well as providing a calming and inviting space for our customers to ‘fill their cup’ during the day,” Ms Peet said.
The cafe’s theme of coffee, food and friends is to provide connection and relaxation as people take a small break from their busy day to order a coffee or a quick bite to eat.
“We are a small, family-run business – both of our mums assist us with cooking,” Ms Peet said.
The couple have spent their careers in the hospitality industry and opened their own store to continue their dream.
“We wanted to create our own space that we feel comfortable in – put plants up, have our own music, have candles – your vibe attracts your tribe,” she said.
YouGalah!, 83 Jubilee St
Founder of YouGalah! Tim McCloud opened its doors in December last year, inspired by the Australian bird and the community of Dubbo.
From pink ceilings to one-of-a-kind coffee, Mr McCloud appreciates the opportunity to “build connections” and hear stories from the customers who walk in the door.
Known in town by their “fancy devon”, the menu is marked by classic sandwich options and their breakfast burger with their special ingredient.
“I’ve been in the hospitality industry for over 16 years and could see an opportunity to build a vibrant and caring local business that would bring those things to this community,” Mr McCloud said.
“Starting my own cafe was an opportunity to use my experience to craft a coffee and food menu that was just right for Dubbo.
“The hard work required to bring that vision to life has made it even more rewarding. I’m motivated every day to do something great for Dubbo.
“We have the best community here in Dubbo – from day dot we have had the most incredible support when we opened our doors.
“As a new business owner, starting a cafe from scratch that has meant a lot.”
Church Street Cafe and Bar, 15 Church St
Opening the corner cafe on Church St in 2013, Erin Williamson has developed the cafe to be one of Dubbo’s favourite eateries.
Using locally sourced and seasonal ingredients, the cafe’s always evolving menu has contemporary Australian favourites from the pulled ham eggs Benedict to the sweet chilli chicken and bacon burger.
CSC caters to a range of dietary requirements, with gluten-free options, vegetarian and vegan options, and dairy-free options to ensure everyone is welcomed in the space.
The cafe also offers catering options to businesses around Dubbo, such as sandwich platters, slider boxes, fruit platters, mini quiche and frittata platters, and more.
The cafe is open seven days a week opening doors at 7am on weekdays and 8am on weekends, so each day can be started with a coffee fix.
Poppyseed Cafe, 174 Darling St
Opening seven weeks ago, Milly Skinner is set to provide a creative hub for locals who enjoy coffee, high-quality food and connectivity.
From being a teacher’s aide to owning her own business, Mrs Skinner has dreamt of having her own cafe for 15 years.
“I want to have a space where people can come and hang out, not only to eat food but to have a deeper connection,” she said.
She hopes to invite creatives to use the space as a hub for workshops and local artistry.
“We’re getting more people come in each day through social media and word of mouth,” Mrs Skinner said.
Trusting the chef to curate his own menu, Mrs Skinner said every ingredient is carefully selected, bringing local flavours to the table.
“I’m gluten-free so our menu caters for different types of people – plus we have a lot of sweets.”
Cacao House, 179 Brisbane St
Pastry chef Danielle Malcolm opened the doors to Cacao House in December 2021, introducing an abundance of sweet treats to Dubbo’s hospitality scene.
After working as a pastry chef on Sunshine Coast, Ms Malcolm is excited to “help celebrate all of the many life occasions that deserve it” through the creation of cakes.
“My dream was always to open my own shop that offers not only cakes, healthy desserts and amazing food, juices and smoothies, but coffee – delicious coffee,” she said.
“With years of experience in the coffee scene, I am excited to share some rich and flavoursome coffee with customers in the Cacao House Cafe!”
Dahab Cafe, 197 Brisbane St
From Dahab to Dubbo, Dahab Cafe owner Mali Khattab is the master of bringing the Mediterranean flavours to the central west town.
Having opened the cafe in 2011, Mr Khattab worked two jobs to get the stability to open and flourish in the hospitality industry.
With a menu that is unlike any other in Dubbo, Dahab continues to grow in popularity through their unique coffee, welcoming atmosphere and friendly service.
Russo’s Coffee Bar, 33-34 Whylandra St
The home of Russo’s roast, Russo’s Coffee Bar serves their own brew alongside their modern Australian menu.
The cafe has a brick-and-mortar shop front and a coffee cart, serving classic favourites all around Dubbo.
Located on a main road, the cafe is a pit stop for travellers passing through the town with their quick and friendly customer service.
From the traditional smashed avo to steak and peri chicken toasties, Russo’s Coffee Bar serves all-day breakfast seven days a week.
The cafe is open from 6.30am to 2.30pm on weekdays, 7am to 1pm on Saturday and 7am to 12pm on Sunday.
Press Cafe, 33 Bultje St
Transforming the former newspaper house into a hospitality venue, Alister Dyson-Holland opened Press Cafe in 2015.
The cafe’s passion is to provide a friendly service specialising in homemade food accompanied by their own roasted coffee.
To ensure a sustainable future and make their mark on Dubbo’s hospitality scene, Press Cafe has recyclable or biodegradable packaging to lessen their footprint.
Open seven days a week, the modern Australian cafe is inspired by Mediterranean ingredients to curate a unique menu.
WELLINGTON
Four Cats Coffee, 79 Percy St
In July, Four Cats Coffee will celebrate their four-year anniversary since opening the business.
Owner Kylie Barton said she opened the doors to “find her own path and provide a service and product” she is proud of.
From homemade cakes and slices to compliment every sip of coffee, Four Cats Coffee specialises in sourdough toasties and gourmet salads.
Ms Barton said that owning a business is “a lot of hard work but very rewarding” and she is hopeful for what the future brings.
“I love the Wellington community and enjoy meeting our travellers that pass through and generally return,” she said.
She added that the cafe is designed to “create a happy place for people to come and enjoy coffee”.
MOLONG
Lime and Stone, 26 Bank St
Originally opening the doors in September 2020 in a small rental, Sally Brazier and Kate Redfern took the leap in May 2022 and purchased their own property on Bank St.
Working together, the pair said the best part of the industry is seeing people being “brought together”.
“We’ve always tried to create a welcoming space where people can gather and offer a real sense of community,” the women said.
From selling food and coffee, to clothes and accessories, Ms Brazier and Ms Redfern recognise that being “adaptive” is “critical” in owning a small business, particularly in rural communities.
“We set out to create a warm, welcoming light filled space for people to gather in, and a place with a strong community focus,” they said.
“We couldn’t have imagined the challenges and the heartbreak that would come with the devastating 2022 flood wiping out our entire business.
“In a way it has now formed part of our unique story and shown us that resilience and the support of your community that incredible things can be achieved.
“We have poured our heart and soul into Lime and Stone, and created a space that we were super proud of.”
Ms Bazier and Ms Redfern shared their “love” for the Molong community and said it is a “wonderful place to live and raise a family”.
ORANGE
Byng Street Local Store, 47 Byng St
Since establishing Byng Street Local Store in 2011 Jeremy Norris has taken pride in making his own produce for Byng St and his other four cafes.
Finishing school in 1991, Mr Norris completed a Bachelor of Hospitality and experienced the industry all over the world.
Opening his own production kitchen 12 months ago in Orange, the modern Australian cafe specialises in supplying its own produce.
“We have been trading for 12 years and in that time we have developed a great customer base,” Mr Norris said.
“I love being able to walk into our venues and bump into long term customers.”
Over his career, Mr Norris said that learning how to run his own business was a “steep learning curve” and is still learning each day.
“The red tape is always changing and there are lots of things you have to keep on top of,” he said.
Anything Grows || Lakeside Kiosk and Cafe, 54 Summer St || 145 Lake Canobolas Rd
After establishing Anything Grows in 2018, founder Clare Bremerkamp opened Lakeside Kiosk and Cafe in 2021 and watched the two develop side-by-side.
Working in the hospitality industry for more than two decades, Ms Bremerkamp said the two cafes have their own “personalities” which make each day different.
Anything Grows’ chef Matthew Bremerkamp’s menu focuses on seasonal produce, bringing out the region’s unique flavours.
Along with serving cafe delicacies, the coffee shop has a built-in gift shop, including a selection of indoor plants, furniture, wall features and pieces by local artists.
The kiosk takes advantage over the scenic view over Lake Canobolas.
“We believe in supporting our local businesses and developing a menu that is both delicious and from quality produce for the local community and all our visitors,” Ms Bremerkamp said.
“Working in the hospitality industry can be hard, and we all have bad days, but it is mostly really fun.
“There is always some lighthearted banter, mischief and the team really band together.”
Factory Espresso, 135 Kite St
Established in the old Repco building, the former automotive store has cracked the coffee and comedy industry in one.
Established by four friends in 2016, the cafe now roasts their own coffee, bringing their personal style into each sip.
Serving coffee by day and comedy by night, the cafe transforms into an entertainment venue in the evenings bringing Australia’s best acts to regional NSW.
From Tom Gleeson to Tony Martin, the venue caters to each personality, even if you’re just there for their local delicacies.
Factory Espresso caters to local businesses around Orange, from all things breakfast to sandwich and wrap platters.
The cafe is open seven days a week.
MUDGEE
Outside the Square Cafe, 83 Mortimer St
Opening Outside the Square one year ago, Maree and Nigel Hardwick have gained “personal satisfaction from implementing” their ideas into their business.
The Mudgee cafe bakes their own cakes, slices as well as creating their own sauces.
“It’s simple, uncomplicated food with a happy environment for both staff and customers,” Mrs Hardwick said.
“The Mudgee community has been very welcoming and supportive of us.”
Wanting a “change of pace and quality of life”, The Hardwicks took a leap to open their own business and could not be happier.
“Our business gives us freedom, satisfaction and flexibility,” she said.
“It is hard work but very rewarding to work for yourself.”
Alby and Esthers Cafe and Wine Bar, 61 Market St
Owning Alby and Esther’s Cafe and Wine Bar for almost five years, Monica Campbell looks forward to creating a unique experience for each customer who walks through the doors.
The little cobblestoned corner cafe is packed with character and charm, delivering a “mouth-watering” menu infused with a local flare.
“Our unique location offers varied seating options, including a grapevine shaded courtyard for alfresco ambience and the eclectic and welcoming interiors of our art gallery with its share tables,” Ms Campbell said.
“Sip coffee, kombucha, cocktails or local wines from our extensive list while perusing our regional and seasonal menu of progressive fare.”
After working in the hospitality industry for two decades, Ms Campbell said opening her own business seemed like the “natural thing to do”.
Learning something new every day, the founder said it can be “very rewarding when you see growth and improvement” in your work.
She acknowledged that her team are the best product.
Mudgee Corner Store, 72 Lewis St
Not your average corner store, the cafe front uses a combination of the region’s best produce to curate their own sit in and catering menu.
The “fuss-free” cafe is a grocer, coffee shop and a catering business in one, serving as a pit stop for regional delicacies or a place to relax and connect for a couple of hours.
Getting ready for winter, the cafe currently sells sourdough making kits, to warm up the breezy mornings from the comfort of your own home.
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