The coffee, food and atmosphere of Darwin’s best cafes
DARWIN is a city with an increasingly vibrant food scene. To help you find your next brunch spot the NT News (with the help of our city’s premier foodie) has ranked the Top 10 cafes in and around Darwin. The food, coffee and atmosphere were the deciding factors
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CAFE culture is rife in the Top End and every day food hot spots strive to deliver the best meals, beverages and service to customers.
To help Territorians choose their next brunch spot the NT News ranked the Top 10 Cafes in and around Darwin with the help of Mission Australia Cafe One co-ordinator and chef David Taylor.
1: The Lucky Bat Cafe & Pizzeria
What we love: A staple for the hippies of Nightcliff, Lucky Bat makes an incredible frozen yoghurt perfect for Darwin’s stifling weather. The cafe serves most dishes based around their crunchy bread. On Friday through the weekend, woodfired pizza is on the menu with the classics like margherita, gourmet delicacies and the family favourite, nutella pizza.
What David loves: “They have fresh baked bread on premesis, amazing mum style recipes in their food and its all beautifully prepared. Their coffee is probably the best in the northern suburbs.”
2: SweetBrew & Co
What we love: This former mechanics workshop was transformed into one of Darwin’s most popular eateries. A pioneer of Darwin’s trendy cafe scene, SweetBrew helped spark our obsession with almond croissants, cronuts and sourdough bread. The cafe makes some of the best scrambled eggs in town and their chocolate tarts are sinful.
What David loves: “The front is a bit noisy so I like going out the back because its dark, mysterious and romantic. They have the best sourdough, you can watch the bakers make it and its quite voyeuristic. Their ‘heart attack’ burger for breakfast is so bad and delicious it becomes good for you.
3: Besser
What we love: A haven for tradies, this minimalistic cafe in the Winnellie Business District has mastered their small, funky menu. Besser’s friendly customer service is consistently praised by locals and interstate visitors, who say staff go above and beyond with their service. The cafe also has a liquor licence and is a popular spot for beers and burgers.
What David loves: “I love the way its tucked away. It’s clean, neat, modern and seemingly unrushed. The coffee is a light roast bean and always perfectly made. The food is really simple and delicious, especially the salads.”
4: Ruby G’s
What we love: With one of the best atmospheres and menus in town, Ruby G’s is a go-to in Darwin. The cafe has delicious handmade pastries from cronuts to loaded doughnuts and a brunch menu to suit all tastes. The coffee is also reasonably priced and made well. After opening three years ago, the owners decided to take their delicious cuisine to the next level and will open a second cafe in the CBD.
What David loves: “They have one cup size, an eight ounce which is what you want for a coffee and they automatically give you a double shot. I’ve never had a burnt cup or milk. Everything is baked in house and I especially love their huevos rancheros with their crunch sourdough. It’s a rustic, kid friendly and bike friendly place.”
5: Mosko’s Market
What we love: In the heart of Palmerston, Mosko’s Market is the go-to cafe for health nuts and mums and bubs out for a post-workout coffee. Organic, natural wholefoods are their specialty, with a variety of superfood fuelled meals on their menu and nutrient-dense dry goods for purchase.
What David loves: “The chef is from eastern Europe and I really love his work and the way he treats food. They’ve got lots of different specials on each day and their coffee is quite lovely, all organic, fair trade. I like sitting inside, it’s quite lovely and has a rustic warehouse feel where they’ve used the recycled timber. I don’t like sitting outside, it’s too noise and there’s too many people passing by.”
6: Duke’s Cafe + Eatery
What we love: Full of good, unpretentious food, Duke’s is famous for their addictive burgers and breakfasts. The coffee can be hit and miss but the staff are quick and the cafe’s renovation last year has put every inch of the small location to good use.
What David loves: “They have a beautiful big slab of breakfast with eggs, bacon, tomato and mushrooms. The coffee is quite lovely, it’s a friendly and chatty place and the tables are well placed so you’re not listening to the next table’s conversation. You’re not squished up.”
7: Four Birds
What we love: For good coffee on the go, Four Birds in the Star Village Arcade is the best spot. The cafe’s small menu is filled with nutritious delights at reasonable prices and the staff’s love of coffee is shown in their caffeinated creations. Four Birds embraces the outdoors with its cool, shady seating and is the perfect cafe to sit back and relax in the Dry.
What David loves: “It’s a fun, Darwin outdoorsy place. The staff are always uber friendly, it’s a real vegetarians and vegan’s delight. I particularly love their iced mocha and when you’re sitting it's a lovely feeling like sitting in the backyard under a nice big tamarind tree.”
8: Roma Bar
What we love: The coffee is made consistently well in this nice, breezy area despite being in Cavenagh St, the hottest place in Darwin. The menu while small, is made well with options to suit everyone. The staff are some of the friendliest in town and make the experience memorable.
What David loves: “It’s most popular with ABC journalists, the legal crowd and anyone left wing. It’s been consistently amazing for about 30 years, with the food they try to do as much as they can locally and they’re big on seasonality menu changes. There’s always something delicious to eat and very reasonably priced. They also let you read the NT News for free.”
9: Salvatores
What we love: A Darwin institution, Salvatores has served quality meals to Territorians for more than 20 years. Canadian chef Sean Johnston has an unwavering passion for ribs. His love for the dish was inspired by a ribs festival in Canada and his dedication is evident on the plate.
What David loves: “It’s my favourite spot in town for breakfast. I love the chef’s crab benedict, it’s the best in all of Darwin for breakfast. The poached egg is beautifully cooked and he uses a bearnaise sauce not hollandaise, with two pieces of bread so he’s not stingy and not stingy with the coffee price. With more than 20 years in the game its consistently good. The atmosphere is people watching, it’s like you’re in a goldfish bowl watching people go by.”
10: The Trader
What we love: A tradie hub on the other side of Winnellie, this cafe is famed for its pastries and sandwiches. The Trader’s rustic, wholesome menu accommodates all types of diners but the health conscious should beware because diets go straight out the door when you step in.
What David loves: “I love the concrete jungle feel created inside. Pip Ainsworth is the most delectable, sweet cook in the whole of the universe. Her cakes, friands and pies are just exceptional and I low how she can walk in quickly and have an array of amazing rolls all prepared. They use fresh bread and a lot of ingredients, so it doesn’t feel like you’re just biting into bread.”
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Honourable mentions
Mad Snake Cafe
Cafe 21 Smith
Kopi Stop
Ben’s Bakehouse
De la Plage
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