Caffeinate ahead of a day exploring the Blue Mountains at these excellent Katoomba cafes.

Katoomba is serious about starting the day with a good cuppa and equally good eats, from local coffee roasters peddling their wares to a robust French breakfast, coffee with a view, and a bakery that pairs flaky treats with excellent beans, there’s no shortage of cafes to take you from breakfast to lunch and beyond. Here’s a round-up of the top spots to sit and sip.

1. Cassiopeia

You’ll find two of the four Cassiopeia espresso bars in Katoomba, so you’ll never be short of a good brew to kickstart the day. The Lurline Street cafe is open daily from the bright-eyed hour of 6am, while the 3/59 Megalong Street venue is a Monday-to-Friday affair.

It is very much about the bean here with minimal eats to be had, but there are the usual suspects of coffee pairings, such as toast, banana bread and pastries. If you fall in love with the brews, you can take a bag of beans home with you, too.

Address: Unit 3, 59 Megalong Street, Katoomba; 79 Lurline Street, Katoomba

2. The Lookout Echo Point

Enjoy your breakfast served at The Lookout with a side of stunning, sweeping views as you gaze at Echo Point. Settle in to sit at Bar NSW and enjoy classics of eggs your way, waffles and breakfast rolls, or grab-and-go from the Milkbar and find a perch with incredible views of the Three Sisters. You can also roll in for lunch or snacks with a menu that services a range of appetites from small share plates to burgers and larger mains and an award-winning wine list on the pour at Bar NSW.

Address: 33 Echo Point Road, Katoomba.

3. Black Cockatoo Bakery

Bread made slowly and beautifully using organic ingredients is at the heart of Black Cockatoo Bakery – a big reason this cafe remains a Blue Mountains favourite. If it’s good coffee and the flakiest and most golden of pastries you’re after, you need only set Google Maps here on a Wednesday to a Sunday.

Single O coffee is run through the machine and you shouldn’t (read: won’t) leave without cradling a loaf of fresh-baked sourdough in your arms. Each day is a different loaf, from Miche to emmer and a delightful apricot and fennel.

Address: 165 Katoomba Street, Katoomba.

4. Little Paris Cafe

Nobody does breakfast and brunch quite like the French, so if you’re after a wonderfully buttered start to the day, direct yourself to Little Paris Cafe. The menu is just the classics with no room for anything that isn’t French or heavy-handed with the cheese, so go for the croque monsieur, brioche toast, or omelette with Toulouse sausage for the all-day breakfast, or, if you’re looking to lunch, opt for crepes salees (savoury crepes) or traditional baguettes. There’s also good, fair-trade coffee and, of course, a range of sweeties that can’t easily be refused.

Address: Shop 4/81–83 Katoomba Street, Katoomba.

5. On The Soul Side

A little bit of quirk and good coffee make On The Soul Side cafe a must-swing-by when you’re in and around the mountains. There’s often live music happening here, but if not, there’s always good music playing from owner Dave’s collection. Stop by for a toastie or a bacon and egg charity roll, from which a portion of the proceeds go to not-for-profit charity, Thrive in the Mountains. There are also sweet treats of Bilpin apple pies and sticky date pudding, as well as a changing menu of savoury dishes, which may include an Indian Vegetable Curry.

Address:  1 Goldsmith Place, Katoomba