Best cafes in Penrith: Faces behind your favourite coffee joints

Cafe culture has taken off in Penrith in recent years with both new and established joints offering up excellent brunch and coffee options. See the full list.

Cafe culture has taken off in Penrith in recent years with both new and established joints offering up excellent brunch and coffee options, but who’s who in the Nepean caffeine scene?

Take a look at some of the faces behind your favourite cafes.

Favela Penrith

One of the new kids on the block, grab-and-go style coffee shop Favela Penrith is offering up something new - in the form of bagels, bringing a taste of New York City to the Nepean.

Painted a cheerful, sunny yellow with a 70s decor this hole in the wall is one you won’t miss and is already becoming a favourite with locals - once you reach regular status you’ll get your polaroid on the Favela wall of fame.

Charli Holohan and Jack Allen at Favela Penrith.

Favela’s wall of fame for regulars

Jack Allen and Charli Holohan said since opening their doors three months ago they’ve already developed a loyal customer base and “there’s something new every day.”

‘Our concept is being a speedy grab-and-go coffee and bagel place, we wanted to bring something new to the area that Penrith doesn’t already have,” said Mr Allen.

Where: 451a High Street Penrith

The Natural Choice Cafe

After six years of operation, The Natural Choice Cafe is well established in Penrith’s cafe scene, loved for its extensive range of vegan, paleo and gluten free desserts all hand made locally with raw ingredients.

Josie Black the owner of Natural Choice Cafe

Owner Josie Black said her top dessert picks are the caramel slice and the toasted snickers bar. For customers after something more substantial the vegan big breakfast is the go-to.

The Natural Choice Cafe serves up organic coffee using beans from Cafe Moda.

Where: 541 High Street Penrith

4oz & co Coffee

Co-owners of 4oz &co, Asha and Yogi said business is good since they took over from the previous owners — who traded as Kudos — in early September.

The cafe has retained the regulars while acquiring new customers by serving up modern Australian cuisine seven days a week — including all day breakfast for last risers.

Asha and Yogi at 4oz cafe Penrith

Customers have the option of design- it-yourself breakfast plates, where you can pick and choose specific menu items to include.

Where: 472 High Street Penrith

Screaming Beans

Screaming Beans is a well known fixture on Penrith’s caffeine scene and owner Simon Wilson said things are “business as usual, only better”.

“Things are going great, we’ve bounced back from Covid really well and we’re at a point that we’re almost packed out at certain times, at max capacity especially on weekends,” he said.

Along with his wife and business partner Jen, Mr Wilson opened the doors to Screaming Beans eight years ago, and since then the standard and variety of cafes in the area has increased significantly.

The Screaming Beans team: L-R Steve, Jen, Simon, April and Juanita.

“When we first started the quality of other business was not where it is now but now you look at High Street and the CBD and there are a lot of very good operators,” Mr Wilson said.

Despite the stiff competition, he said quality food and friendly service keep customers coming back.

Where: 3/396 High Street Penrith

The Prairie Cafe

This hidden neighbourhood gem offers a tasty menu and an Instagram worthy outdoor patio draped in flowers, making it the perfect springtime brunch spot.

Among the most popular offerings on the menu are the Dutch Baby (bespoke, European-style pancakes) and the cowboy breakfast (housemade, slow cooked beef brisket with scrambled eggs and cornbread).

The cafe has been built with love from the ground up by owner Benjamin Moore who did everything from the tiling to filling out and designing the menu.

Prairie Cafe’s Brunch spread.

Chef Ashleigh Southgate tending to Prairie's garden.

“It was a shell when I got the place so I’ve really made the entire cafe from scratch, it’s my baby,” Mr Moore said.

Despite opening its doors just before the pandemic hit in early 2020 the Prairie has remained triumphant with a loyal customer base who keep coming back.

“It was scary starting off and to get off the ground but we have really good customers who kept backing us up,” Mr Moore said.

Chef Ashleigh Southgate said everything on the menu is made with love and the team put a lot of pride into serving up each and every plate.

Where: 177 Smith St, South Penrith

The Blind Chef Cafe and Dessert Bar

Chef Craig Shanahan is legally blind and prides his cafe on being an accessible and accommodating venue with

an extensive and ever changing menu, guaranteeing a dish for every set of tastebuds.

The space, which used to be a Thai restaurant, has now been transformed into an industrial-chic cafe with ample space for both wheelchairs and service dogs.

Classic Eggs Benny at Blind Chef Cafe, Penrith

Rocco the service dog

On any given day Mr Shanahan’s service dog and cafe mascot Rocco the friendly lab is roaming around looking for pats and attention, giving dog lovers a handy excuse to pop past.

After navigating two years of lockdown the team are building the business up better than ever, introducing

Paint and Sips and “Blind” Dating involving a set menu which guests enjoy while blindfolded - both of which have sold out.

The spacious interior of The Blind Chef Cafe and Dessert Bar.

The current must try menu item is the “Cranky Kranksy” hot dog as well as current dessert specials chocolate tart, apple and rhubarb crumble and vanilla brulee.

The Blind Chef Cafe is open every day — except Tuesday — serving up breakfast and lunch.

Where: 1/251 High Street Penrith

Percy Plunkett

Nestled inside a heritage listed cottage this elegant eatery could arguably be one of the most aesthetically pleasing eateries in western Sydney.

Percy Plunkett co-owners Phil Hallani and Adam Alahmad — a lifelong resident of Penrith — said “love from the locals” is a large part of what makes the cafe special.

Phil Hallani. Image: Simran Gill

Percy Plunkett’s dreamy interior

“From day one we have received a lot of amazing support from the community, the cafe is my dream but it‘s the customers and my staff that is keeping the dream alive,” Mr Hallani said.

Mr Hallani is also convinced his hardworking staff are an important part of the cafe’s winning strategy.

“I receive constant praise about my staff and their level of service, When our guests walk in they are made to feel at home.”

When asked about Percy Plunkett’s must-try menu items Mr Hallani was quick to respond, and said the

lamb eggs Benedict, pancakes and halloumi fries will blow your mind.

Where: 146 Station Street Penrith

High Street Depot

Since opening its doors in 2015 this

cafe and eatery has built and maintained a loyal following.

In fact, the menu is so loved by its regulars its dishes have stayed consistent due to popular demand.

Co-owner Noreen Bryan, who owns the cafe alongside business partner and husband Tim, said consistent and quality food keep guests coming back.

A breakfast special at High St Depot.

High St Depot Penrith.

When asked what the crowd favorite is on the menu Ms Bryan said

she can’t narrow down to just one dish.

“The whole menu is a crowd favorite, the vegan bowl, the Turkish eggs and the quinoa bircher are all menu staples our customers love,” Ms Bryan said.

“However we do like to spice it up a little bit so we have weekly specials which sell just as well, for example at the moment we’re serving up tempura zucchini flowers.”

High Street Depot is open seven days a week serving up Single O coffee beans.

Where: 488/490 High St, Penrith