Best cafes in Penrith: Cafe kings and queens of the brunch scene revealed
Penrith locals are pretty serious about their coffee and brunch, so the standards are very high. But where are the best cafes in the Riff? Find out with our look at the cafe kings and queens.
Penrith
Don't miss out on the headlines from Penrith. Followed categories will be added to My News.
Cafe culture has taken off in Penrith in recent years.
The standards are incredibly high and there is plenty of competition.
So who are Penrith’s cafe kings and queens? Find out below:
Percy Plunkett – Phil Hallani
If you’re a local, there’s no doubt you know about Percy’s – it’s Penrith’s answer to the Grounds of Alexandria.
Phil Hallani, cafe king of Percy Plunkett, offers up a modern menu that meets the new wave of Aussie cafe culture with a warm handshake with options like pancakes, fritters and scones.
The decor is heavenly, and not to mention extremely instagrammable, providing customers with a variety of different but mindfully curated spaces to dine in.
With their style on fleek and a menu that would garner the envy of many inner west cafes, we had to sit down with Mr Hallani to hear more about the cafe that resides elegantly within one of Penrith’s favourite heritage-listed cottages.
It seems location was a conscious part of Phil’s decision when opening a cafe, with Station Street taking the crown for prime location.
“The reason I decided to open up in Penrith is because it’s home and where I was brought up my whole life. I opened up three years ago and, other than lockdown, it’s been amazing,” he said.
Mr Hallani’s warmth and happy-go-lucky attitude is one of the many things that locals adore about the business but even he had a hard time getting through lockdown.
“Both lockdowns really affected us but this year was a lot harder than last year. It’s been really tough but we’ve got a really resilient team so we’ve been able to find ways to get through it,” Mr Hallani said.
Mr Hallani is convinced that the secret behind the success of the business is one key aspect.
“I think we’re very focused on hospitality and it’s about how we make people feel,” he said.
“The one thing I enjoy most about being in the cafe business is making people happy.”
With a menu as abundant as the one offered at Percy Plunkett, you can’t go wrong and are definitely spoiled for choice but Mr Hallani has some recommendations to make your order easier.
“If you’re coming to Percy’s for the first time and you want to try one of our signature dishes I’d recommend the lamb eggs Benedict or the pancakes. They’re one of our favourites and they’ve been on the menu from day one,” he said.
They’ve also got a stellar menu for ‘little Plunketts’ so you can bring the kids along to brunch too.
“We’re a very family-focused venue, I have two kids myself. So, when we were building Percy’s we wanted to make sure we had a place for kids to play so we have a cubby house and courtyard where kids can play and have fun.”
Caffe and Co
If there’s a father-son duo you need to look out for it’s Hatham and Klayden Naamo.
These two are taking Penrith’s cafe scene by storm after recently opening up their coffee hub, also known as Caffe and Co.
“We opened up in Caddens because there is a lot of potential here and we love the area,” Hatham Naamo said.
The Naamo’s warm hospitality is captured within the cafe’s chic decor and their fun-loving nature can be seen in the colourful menu selections which are carefully prepared by chef Adnan Alhomsi.
“Our cafe is very family friendly and we’ve always got new things coming up. We have a lot of instagrammable dishes and the decor is really aesthetically pleasing too,” Klayden Naamo said.
“Our signature dishes include acai bowls, crazy shakes and lots of other desserts,” Klayden Naamo said.
Chances are, if you do visit Caffe and Co for a coffee, that you’ll be greeted by April Priest behind the coffee machine.
“Knowing you can make someone’s day better with a coffee and a joke or a smile is why I love working in hospitality and, particularly, at Caffe and Co. You create your own family here and it honestly feels like home,” Ms Priest said.
Hatham Naamo added: “The customers in this area are awesome and we’re always looking forward to meeting new people so come on down for a coffee.”
Underground Coffee Roasters
Are you a coffee lover? Perhaps even a coffee connoisseur?
If so, then Tim Briggs from Underground Coffee Roasters is your guy.
Like all the best things in life, Underground Coffee Roasters came about while watching late night TV and swigging down a drink.
In 2007, Lapstone Hotel licensee, Mr Briggs was watching a 13 part show while drinking an espresso when he decided he wanted to deliver the best pub coffee in Australia.
Having got the coffee bug, Mr Briggs emailed the World Barista Champion, Paul Bassett, and convinced him to join in on the coffee adventure of a lifetime. The rest is history.
Since then, Mr Briggs bought a micro-roasting business and has been sourcing the best beans western Sydney could ever dream of.
He even has software that helps roast beans to their full potential depending on their size, density, moisture content and all that technical stuff.
Mr Briggs now runs a warehouse and cafe in Penrith on Castlereagh Street where you can visit for an authentic coffee experience.
“We’ve been in Penrith for five years and before that we started out of a garage in Glenbrook, hence the ‘underground’ in our name,” Mr Briggs said.
“We’re predominantly coffee roasters supplying cafes, hotels and the club industry but we also supply to the home barista. With that being said, you can walk in and grab coffee and a toastie from the cafe onsight too.
The cafe has big plans for the future.
“We’re in the process of building training rooms and we’ll be offering roasting experiences where people can learn all about coffee from seed to cup,” Mr Briggs said.
If you’re looking for a daily caffeine fix with a kick then give Underground Coffee Roasters a go.
“Coffee is all about being fresh. You can get a fresh coffee here and talk to us about maximising your coffee experience,” Mr Briggs said.
Nanna’s Place
If you’re looking for a place to call your cafe home, then look no further than Nanna’s Place.
Having opened up just before Christmas in 2020, this homely cafe has become a staple among locals for more reasons than just its ambience.
“I live locally so I know the area, the customer base and the demographic so it made sense to operate locally,” said owner, Carolanne Brennan.
This cafe runs with sustainability and the local economy at the forefront of its operations.
“I’ve worked in organics and have a great understanding of the footprints we leave as we live. I also employ locally – all my team live within the area,” Ms Brennan said.
While the business leaves a warm lasting impression, the early days were tough but they still managed to build local rapport.
“We were struck with mask wearing within days of opening, off then on again, before we hit lockdown in June. We have still managed to create a loyal following. We’ve kept our operating hours static to support those looking for a little something when others have closed,” Ms Brennan said.
Part of their secret to success, despite all the lockdown setbacks, is in their attitude and culinary efficiency.
“You can expect humour and fun when you come to visit us. Our owner has a sharp sense of humour and when she interacts with the clientele, her cheekiness comes to the fore, always making a very entertaining visit for those present,” Ms Brennan said.
The food may take you for a welcome walk down memory lane.
“We make the meals we remember from our childhood, revamped to taste more flavourful. Great healthy, tasty food fast and we use only fresh ingredients. We’ve invested in a speedy oven to cook our meals, we do not have a microwave in the venue.”
Nanna’s place is equipped to cater for everyone.
“Large muffins are made fresh daily by our chefs. Gluten-free, vegan, vegetarian meals & desserts all made in-house by our chefs. Creative and innovative. Old-fashioned spiders, thickshakes, banana splits, wagon wheels, cottage pie, lasagnes, bubble and squeak. Tea served in pots, not mugs, we make it a welcoming experience,” she said.
If you’re wondering what to get, we asked for a few suggestions.
“Quesadillas, breakfast bakes and our upcoming picnic menu specifically designed for the alfresco dining area currently under construction. All the fun of a picnic without the inconvenience of all the work. Just work through the menu – you’ll enjoy it.”
There’s no doubt you’ll be well looked after when you visit the Emu Plains venue.
“It’s called Nanna’s Place, cause who doesn’t wasn’t to visit Nanna? Come in and see us – we are the corner shop within the shopping village the locals love,” Ms Brennan said.
Screaming Beans
If you’ve gone for a walk down High Street, there’s no doubt you’ve passed this place on the corner with the classy black and white sign.
Owner Simon Wilson has been operating Screaming Beans for seven years and wouldn’t change a thing, he told the Penrith Press.
“Everything’s going not too bad considering what we’re going through with Covid”, Mr Wilson said.
We saw an opening and, with the products we’re offering, Penrith seemed like a great spot. My wife and I have always wanted to do coffee and food so it ticked all the boxes.”
The toughest period out of seven years, for Screaming Beans, was most probably the last lockdown.
“Lockdown has been terrible, we’ve been running at 30% less than what we usually do but we’ll get through it,” he said.
When you do get a chance to try Screaming Beans, this is what you should go for.
“We’ve probably got a few things that are reasonably unique. We’ve got a breaky burger which is a large Turkish roll with hash browns, eggs, chorizo, bolognese sauce and spinach. Oh and you have to try our hash brown stacks!”
“We’re hoping to be able to enjoy the sunshine with our patrons very soon,” Mr Wilson said.
Daniel’s Kitchen
Daniel’s Kitchen opened up in Penrith in May 2018 and has called it home ever since.
“Penrith seemed like a great place, it is a large suburb with expanding infrastructure, lots of development happening and a great local community. It was also one of the few suburbs where commercial rents were still at affordable levels,” Daniel Zakowski said.
It’s not secret that lockdown hit the business quite hard.
“Lockdown affected us very significantly, particularly the second lockdown. Most of our regular clients worked from home or closed down for good. The pedestrian traffic on High Street was almost non-existent,” Mr Zakowski said.
“Our turnover was down by more than 70%. I am sure we’re not the only one facing these challenges, it is the same for everyone who runs small business like me.”
If you’re looking to support a local business and have a coffee with a chat, then Daniel’s Kitchen is the place for you.
“You can expect great coffee and amazing pastries at affordable prices with a great chat. We genuinely care about customers and it is very important to us that they enjoy our products and have the best of experiences every time they visit us,” Mr Zakowski said.
“We have the best pies; our slow cooked lamb shank or chicken and leek pie is one of the most popular.”
If you’re looking for a specialty, then you can’t go past this cake that people have travelled over an hour for.
“Carrot, orange and nut cake. Absolutely to die for. We have customers coming from as far as Liverpool to get one from us,” Mr Zakowski said.
Platform T8
Platform T8 set up shop in a new Penrith estate and offers a world of caffeine relief to commuters.
“I saw a great opportunity in a growing community in the Thornton estate, which was situated right near Penrith station, and I wanted to expand my businesses by offering early morning train commuters’ coffees and breaky on their way to work as there aren’t any cafes close and or which open early enough,” owner Tatum McManus said.
The cafe has been running for just over three years and Ms McManus can’t get enough.
“I’ve loved every moment of it, from the build, opening in a new area, growing clientele – getting our brand out has taken a little time and managing the changing Covid world is challenging but we have become a real part of Thornton Community,” she said.
Lockdown hit platform T8 hard.
“Lockdown has been very taxing emotionally and financially to be honest. My trade has completely changed, having no train commuters has decreased my revenue dramatically but We are very grateful for the local community and quest apartments through whom have been supporting us through this time.”
The highlight of Ms McManus’ day is getting home to read customer feedback.
“Seeing my customers smiling faces makes all the long hours’ worth while. And once I get home reading the five star testimonials left from clients brings so much joy.”
Platform T8 has a whole world of customisable cafe experience to offer.
“Our coffee any which way you enjoy it we use a local roaster called Underground the blend is white mouse, it’s a full bodied, traditional roast. This blend is big and punchy with strong cocoa and chocolate flavours with a hint of raisins,” Ms McManus said.
On the food end of things, there are two dishes you have to try.
“I have two favourite dishes right now one being the banoffee pancakes and the other The AVO the flavours and colours on the plate are amazing.”
Assemble Nutrition
Assemble Nutrition is very new to the Penrith area but they’re a very welcome alternative for those looking to stick to a healthier alternative, offering plenty of sweet tooth options too.
“We noticed that Penrith has a really buzzing fitness community so it was a no-brainer to open up here where our product could be incorporated into people’s lives,” Ms Nayada said.
The cafe, that’s been open for almost a year, is run by fresh-faced owners and best friends Sonika Mohan Nayada and John Azrah.
“We opened up because we wanted to serve Penrith with a healthier alternative to bubble tea or juice stores that sell drinks with lots of added sugar,” Ms Nayada said.
Despite the lockdowns, Ms Nayada revealed that the business has still been getting orders through UberEats and Doordash.
“All our smoothies are jam packed with 21 essential vitamins and minerals as well as protein and fibre. We also have amazing teas that have zero sugar. We wanted to be that fun and healthy place where you can hang with friends.”
Penrith Press asked for recommendations because we had no idea where to start.
“If you’re grabbing a tea, go for the Watermelon Magnus or if you want a smoothie then grab a monkey business or snickers. They’re our bestsellers!”
The Birdhouse Kitchen & Cafe
If you’re looking for more of a ‘fine dining experience’, then you need to check out The Birdhouse Kitchen & Cafe, situated within the Australian Arms Hotel.
The venue offers a gorgeous alfresco, indoor dining space and a classy atmosphere with a swanky cocktail bar to add some spice.
“The café side to our business is to complement our restaurant offering in the evening. It’s proven to be a worthy extension of our food and specialty coffee, giving people a chance to experience the Birdhouse in a more casual setting,” director Elias Mason said.
The business was forced shut by lockdown just eight weeks into trading but “bounced back with the incredible support of the greater Penrith community”, according to Mr Mason.
When visiting the Birdhouse, you’re getting way more than you’d initially bargained for.
“You’ll get a diverse food offering which goes beyond most regular café offerings. That and our dad-jokes,” Mr Mason said.
“For us, as hospitality professionals, it’s what gets us out of bed every day. You can make an incredible connection over a cup of coffee and we love doing that with our patrons,” Mr Mason said.
We asked Mr Mason for some recommendations before we get all decked out to visit the chic venue.
“Our signature dry-aged T-bone or dry-aged duck breast,” he said.
Mr Watkins
Located on High St Penrith, Mr Watkins is a cafe by day and an old fashioned bar/restaurant by night.
Having opened in 2017, the local business has become a staple of dining out in the Penrith community serving both quality interpretations of classic dishes and daring new ventures into the uncharted territories of food.
They’re also known for their impressive range of craft beer, cocktails and a trendy wine list.
The interior nods to a colonial library theme and the tasteful cafe at the front always delivers quality pies, pastries and coffee.
Penrith Press popped into Mr Watkins when lockdown hit for the second time and their versatility and flexibility was like no other.
The much loved cafe, bar and restaurant was hit hard by Covid but they quickly re-engineered their model to provide takeaway meals and cocktail jars for customers.
“We are working through Covid and we’ve done this before. It affected our business because our bar is not open,” administration manager Jess said.
The owners at Mr Watkins were overcome by the support of the community during those tough times.
“The local community has been amazing and they can continue coming in and buying our cocktails and takeaway meals,” floor manager Daniel said.
Now that restrictions have eased, you can head in for a dine-in experience and even check out the bar.
“We do homemade meals, cocktails, dessert, brekkie rolls and they’re all house baked goods,” Jess said.
Zokoko/Morgan’s Coffee
If you’re looking for a killer coffee and chocolate then you must check out Zokoko which has been busy since the first day Dean and Michelle Morgan opened in 2009.
“We opened Zokoko to showcase our craft chocolate made from scratch and our coffee, freshly roasted by Dean under the brand of Morgan’s Coffee Roasters. The cafe opened in 2009 and has been busy from day one,” Michelle Morgan said.
While lockdown was difficult for the business, the Morgans were astounded at how much support they got from the local community.
“Everyone has been so supportive and they appreciate being able to get their caffeine fix and sweet treats from us,” Mrs Morgan said.
Zokoko bring a very sweet treat to the table.
“Our craft chocolate is made on the premises. We source the best quality cacao beans from around the world, roast them and craft them into our award-winning chocolate.”
They can also boast a mean roast.
“Being a specialty coffee roaster, our full range of coffee blends and single origin speciality coffees are also available, catering to all brewing methods All our cakes, sweets and treats are also made in house by our pastry chef and chocolatier,” Mrs Morgan said.
Zokoko completed renovation right before lockdown so patrons can enjoy a new space when they visit. There are also gluten free options available.
If you’re looking for a recommendation, and overwhelmed by the sweet variety, we asked for you.
“Our Zokoko Chocolate Crackles have a cult following and our Chocolate Lamingtons are divine,” Mrs Morgan said.
“We love sharing the joy of a ‘moment of deliciousness’. Giving someone time out from their day to enjoy something made with love,” Mrs Morgan said.
‘The greatest man ever’: Tributes flow for slain pizza shop owner
A public floral tribute for a slain business owner and new grandfather is growing at the site of his alleged murder, as shattered family and friends unite to remember the beloved man.
Meet the talented young artists from ARTEXPRESS 2025
The annual art exhibition which shows some of the most outstanding and exemplary artworks across NSW by HSC visual arts students has opened. Meet the students and see their amazing works.