The Grounds of the City
From Coffee to Cocktails in the heart of Sydney CBD
“If cafés were beauty queens, this one would take home the crown.” — Time Out
Step out of the hustle and bustle of Sydney CBD and be transported back to an era of old-school charm in our Parisian-bistro-inspired cafe and restaurant.
Open from dawn ‘til dusk 7 days a week, The Grounds of the City transforms from buzzing cafe with a sumptuous all-day menu to moody dinner restaurant and bar Tuesday through Sunday nights.
Allow our hosts to find you a cosy table, and settle in with a menu that features something for everyone. Reservations and walk-ins welcome.
Dinner & Drinks at the Bar
It’s time to stop, slow down amid the Sydney-city-rush and get social again; The Grounds of the City is at your service.
Choose from delectable small plates suitable for sharing through to mouthwatering Wagyu steaks hot off the grill. Whatever your fancy, our tantalising dinner menu—designed by Group Executive Chef, Paul McGrath—has something to soothe your hungry soul.
Pair your dinner with a bottle from our expertly crafted wine menu or sit at the bar and delight in one of our signature cocktails. Combining our passion for coffee and love for ending the day in the best way possible, The Grounds Espresso Martini is arguably one of Sydney’s finest. Alongside crowd favourite cocktails, Rose Bouquet and The Grounds Mule, you’ll be tempted to try them all.
Coffee, Breakfast & Lunch
Step inside and find our coffee sommelier at The Barista’s Bar ready to take you through a tailored coffee experience, and our baristas expertly serving up The Grounds house-roasted espresso and filter coffees.
As our tea lady roams the room with her trolley, you’ll find it adorned with fresh coffee to top up your bottomless cup, our selection of ethically sourced teas and cakes baked fresh daily in The Grounds Bakery & Patisserie.
If you’re after a hearty breakfast, don’t miss our Steak & Eggs served with chimichurri and sautéed mushrooms. For something a little more indulgent, you can’t go past our Brioche French Toast with ricotta, fresh strawberries, honeycomb and macadamia brittle.
Daily Takeaway
For those on the run, we’ve got your morning caffeine dose, breakfast and lunch available takeaway up to 3pm.
For the ultimate in convenience, order ahead via The Grounds app—and earn loyalty reward points while you do it—or order at our counter and take a moment to yourself. While you wait, have our shoe shiner tend to you. After all, they do say you can tell a (wo)man by their shoes.
What’s On
at The Grounds of the City
LIVE MUSIC WEDNESDAYS
6:30pm – 8:30pm
Cosy in, grab a wine or two, and jazz up your night with live music over dinner from 6.30pm – 8.30pm every Wednesday night.
HIGH TEA
2:30pm-5:00pm daily
Settle into the city and spoil yourself with all the delights of our High Tea. Our seasonal menu includes a curated daily selection of house-made sweet & savoury offerings, fresh from The Grounds very own Bakery & Patisserie.
Opening hours
Mon: 7am-5pm
Tues – Thurs: 7am-9pm
Fri: 7am-10pm
Sat: 8am-10pm
Sun: 8am-9pm
Please note that special trading hours will apply to dates throughout December and January. More information here.
Customer Reviews
ISABEL W
★★★★★
Google
Really nice decor and great ambiance. Amazing menu and great coffee. We were celebrating our anniversary here and they surprised us with a little strawberry tart. What’s there not to love about this place?!
G HUTCH
★★★★★
Google
The Grounds of the City serves delicious food, great coffee, and if you need one a wide range of alcoholic beverages. I’ve visited a few times for coffee, but once I went inside for a sit down meal I was sold. The staff were lovely, and the menu was great. Highly enjoyed.
JIMMY Y
★★★★★
Google
Coffee there was superb, and the food (brekkie bowl plus the smoked trout) was quite amazing. The Grounds provides an experience hard to find elsewhere.