hero media

A guide to the best cafes in Wollongong

Credit: Destination NSW

Carla GrossettiBy Carla Grossetti
Plan your next visit to the Illawarra region around the best Wollongong cafes for coffee and breakfast.

Wollongong cafes are as much a source of pride as the city’s blue-collar past. The Gong has become the epicentre of cool in the Illawarra, a place for young creatives and entrepreneurs to realise the urban environment anew. As a result, the concentration of great places to eat and drink around Wollongong has multiplied over the past decade or so. There are now more than enough standout Wollongong restaurants and cafes to inspire a road trip from Sydney or Canberra. Here is our guide to the Wollongong cafes we keep returning to.

The shortlist

Best Coffee: Seven Miles Wollongong
Hidden Gem: Lili.J
Family-Friendly Spot: Diggies Cafe

Lili.J

the exterior of Lili.J cafe, Wollongong
The rustic cafe is housed in an old florist shop.

Lili.J has gained a lot of attention in Wollongong for its focus on simple, honest rustic fare done well. Housed in an old florist shop and charming corner house, the white-on-white Wollongong cafe opened in 2016 with one simple goal: to give Wollongong a reliable neighbourhood cafe built around specialty Reuben Hills coffee and quality pastries. Order a bacon and egg roll to feast on in the sunroom out the back, which is furnished with vintage finds and spills onto a pet-friendly grassed courtyard. Or bunker down inside one of the cosy nooks where you will find pops of colour from flower-filled vases. Pick up some honey from Little Backyard Honey Factory to go.

Cuisine: Modern Australian

Average price: $$

Atmosphere: Artfully scuffed rustic Wollongong cafe meets charming #cottagecore

Location: 1/156 Corrimal Street, Wollongong

Gelato Emporium

Gelato Emporium, Wollongong
Get your gelato from one of the best gelaterias in Australia. (Credit: Gelato Emporium)

Road trippers in the know will always pull away from the purr of the Pacific Highway to visit the Gelato Emporium . It’s perched like an eyrie on the cliffs at the Southern Gateway Centre, Bulli Tops. After enjoying an espresso and a double scoop of blueberry and white chocolate artisan gelato you can pick up a few foodie souvenirs from this expansive one-stop Italian wonderland. The emporium sells everything from chocolate-coated liquorice branded as Koala Poo to panettone and Fressko keep-cups. Look for the blue-and-white striped awnings but don’t blink or you’ll miss it.

Cuisine: Italian

Average price: $$

Atmosphere: Happy people enjoying the views from one of the highest gelaterias in Australia.

Location: Southern Gateway Centre, Princes Highway, Bulli Tops

Basin Cafe

the exterior of Basin Cafe, Wollongong
Nab an outdoor spot under striped umbrellas. (Credit: Basin Cafe)

There’s no shortage of excellent coffee roasters and hip cafes in Wollongong. But you know the java landscape has changed when our motels start contributing to the scene. That’s because the Australian audience is thirsty for specialty coffee and will settle for nothing less. Plenty of outdoor seating has helped secure this harbourside cafe at Boat Harbour Motel as one of the most sought-after places for coffee and cake in Wollongong. The coffee counter buzzes with activity from breakfast through to lunch, with its breakfast bagels a popular grab-and-go option.

Cuisine: Contemporary cafe fare

Average price: $$

Atmosphere: A cheery and compelling place to be

Location: 7 Wilson Street, Wolloongong

Miller’s Local Bakehouse

croissant and coffee, Miller's Local Bakehouse
Pair fresh-baked croissants with specialty coffee at Miller’s Local Bakehouse. (Credit: Emma Huber)

Miller’s Local Bakehouse is a small-batch operation doing things properly, with everything made from scratch and baked to order using fresh ingredients and no preservatives. The focus is on great coffee (Crazy Horse Coffee) bread and pastries. Miller’s Local Bakehouse was born after finding success at well-loved cafe, Sandygoodwich. Standouts include twice-baked ricotta croissants and lemon meringue cheesecake as well as chunky loaves of sourdough. The bakery-led cafe also has outposts in Bulli, Thirroul and Wollongong.

Cuisine:  Bread and pastries

Average price: $$

Atmosphere: Community hub

Location: 7 Wilson Street, Wolloongong

Longboard Cafe

You can watch the leathery old longboarders hanging ten from your table at the Longboard Cafe . You might also clock these crusty old core lords congregating at the Wollongong cafe post-surf for a coffee and chicken schnitty roll. Executive chef Paul Hamilton also looks after sister venue Steamers Bar & Grill and it’s full steam ahead here when it comes to his casual cafe offering. Plant-based diners will appreciate the many Longboard Cafe vegan items on the menu which the chalkboard describes as “from the Earth, for the soul". Big-ups for the bottomless brunch.

Cuisine: Seasonal cafe fare

Average price: $$$

Atmosphere: Great views and cool vibes.

Location:  1 Marine Drive, Wollongong

Uncle Earl’s

strawberry matcha latte at Uncle Earl’s, Wollongong
Sip on a strawberry matcha latte. (Credit: Uncle Earl’s)

Uncle Earl’s is one of the major players on the coffee scene in Wollongong. But the boxy little cafe is also on the radar for its regular Thrift, Sip, Groove fashion market on Saturday mornings where you can pick up some quality fashion garments. The expanded breakfast and lunch menu is all about sambos, toasties and bagels with the mortadella foccacia a personal fave. The cafe serves batch brews, Biscoff lattes, matcha lattes and sticky chai latte, too. Pay it forward to help the next uni student or passerby with the funds for a pick-me-up.

Cuisine: Toasted sandwiches, bagels

Average price: $$$

Atmosphere: Uni crowd

Location: 47 Burelli St, Wollongong

Halfday Deli

Neapolitan-style pizzas at Halfday Deli Wollongong
Grab a slice of flavour-packed Neapolitan-style pizza. (Credit: Halfday Deli)

Join the bread cult that is equal parts sando shop and pizzeria. Halfday Deli leads a double life doling out well-built sandwiches by day and 48-hour-fermented pizzas by night. Coffee comes courtesy of sister venue Opus Roasters and the sangas are hefty. The space designed by Alana Cooke blends concrete, spotted gum, and steel, creating an intimate setting for a date night. There are DJs spinning vinyl and a generous wine list for #girldinner with your gal pals. Bond with the baristas pulling the shots or the barkeeps topping up your glass with Frappato as you worship at the altar of good bread and pizza.

Cuisine:  From day to night – sandos to pizza

Average price: $$$

Atmosphere: Friendly and inclusive.

Location: 38 Atchison St, Wollongong

Lee & Me

the exterior of Lee & Me, Wollongong
Gather at the sun-splashed communal tables. (Credit: Lee & Me)

Lee & Me is a local favourite that occupies a 1890s’ terrace that has become the unofficial headquarters for the Gong’s hipster brigade. Sit by the fireplace in winter. Linger on the sun-splashed balcony in summer. Or gather at the communal table where you can engage in a bit of banter with the beard(y) barista. After downing your short black, head upstairs to meet up-and-coming creatives selling their fashionable wares from their studios. The Turkish eggs here are the business.

Cuisine: Contemporary

Average price: $$$

Atmosphere: Grungey and bohemian.

Location: 87 Crown Street, Wollongong

Pepe’s on the Beach

It’s all crashing waves and pastel sunsets at this beachside cafe underneath the Novotel Wollongong Northbeach that is open from breakfast until late. Spiritually, Pepe’s on the Beach feels like it’s an LA hang that has been untouched since the 1970s. Start with a stroll on the sand or a cycle along Wollongong’s iconic shared pathway. Claim a beanbag under a palm tree and refuel on pancakes with banana and maple syrup. Eat and drink (responsibly) until the wheels fall off at pumpkin o’clock.  Guaranteed, Pepe’s will be your new hyper-fixation.

Cuisine: All-American breakfast fare

Average price: $$$

Atmosphere: Cali cool

Location: 2-14 Cliff Road, Wollongong

Diggies Cafe

the exterior of Diggies Cafe, North Wollongong
Settle in for coffee and brunch at the seaside cafe. (Credit: Destination NSW)

Diggies is open for breakfast, lunch and weekend brunch when it is full to the brim with a healthy mix of millennials, young mums and MAMILs. Cyclists often end their Sydney to Gong ride here with a coffee and a Savvy Session of seasonal greens, herbs, sheep’s feta, avocado, crushed roasted almonds and poached eggs. Join sandy-toed locals at the more relaxed 1930s’ Art Deco North Beach Kiosk for coffees or settle in for a post-swim brunch at the sit-down section of the seaside cafe. There are outposts in Wollongong, North Beach Kiosk and Kiama.

Cuisine: All-day brunch classics and ‘beach club’ big plates like fish and chips.

Average price: $$$

Atmosphere: Aussie beach culture writ large.

Location: 1 Cliff Rd, North Beach, Wollongong

Bull & Bear

Your stocks will go up if you take your Tinder date out for breakfast at Bull & Bear , which has swallowed up three shops on vibey Victoria St. The name is not a metaphor for the movements of the stock market. Rather, it came to chef and owner David Juarez Vidal after returning from Spain where he ran with the bulls in Pamplona and visited El Oso y el Madroño (The Bear and the Strawberry Tree), the symbol of Madrid. Pig out on El Gordo (The Fat One) or a beefy breakfast burrito. The Wollongong cafe is also open for dinner and considered one of Wollongong’s best restaurants and tapas bars.

Cuisine: Aussie cafe food with signature Spanish twists.

Average price: $$$

Atmosphere: Exposed beams, polished concrete and pops of greenery lend the cafe a rustic charm.

Location: 2A Victoria street, Wollongong

Seven Miles Wollongong

Seven Miles Wollongong doubles as a coffee house and roastery nestled in North Wollongong. Geek out on all things coffee related, from the state-of-the-art roastery to latest equipment at this popular Wollongong cafe, which draws the city’s coffee community here for mighty good brews. You can learn to level up your coffee at home by signing up for a barista class where you will see the science behind making the perfect cup of Joe.

Cuisine: Modern Australian

Average price: $$$

Atmosphere: Industrial-chic

Location: Wollongong

Carla Grossetti
Carla Grossetti avoided accruing a HECS debt by accepting a cadetship with News Corp. at the age of 18. After completing her cadetship at The Cairns Post Carla moved south to accept a position at The Canberra Times before heading off on a jaunt around Canada, the US, Mexico and Central America. During her career as a journalist, Carla has successfully combined her two loves – of writing and travel – and has more than two decades experience switch-footing between digital and print media. Carla’s CV also includes stints at delicious., The Sydney Morning Herald, and The Australian, where she specialises in food and travel. Carla also based herself in the UK where she worked at Conde Nast Traveller, and The Sunday Times’ Travel section before accepting a fulltime role as part of the pioneering digital team at The Guardian UK. Carla and has been freelancing for Australian Traveller for more than a decade, where she works as both a writer and a sub editor.
See all articles
the Sea Cliff Bridge, Wollongong from above
Wollongong

Your guide to the must-do activities in Wollongong and its surrounds

From escarpment walks to pub lunches at clifftop pubs, this is your field-tested guide to the best things to do in Wollongong.

Read more
alfresco dining at The Scarborough Hotel
Wollongong

Best bars and pubs in Wollongong: the ultimate local guide

Discover our pick of the best bars and pubs in Wollongong.

Read more
Roy's, Wollongong
Wollongong

A guide to the best Wollongong restaurants

Whether you’re looking for casual bites or an elevated dining experience.

Read more
the exterior of Lumière House, Wollongong
Wollongong

Best places to stay in Wollongong and surrounds

From rustic surf camps to design-forward motels and cute-as-a-button cabins, here is some of the best accommodation in Wollongong and the Illawarra.

Read more
hero media

Dive into summer with hikes, great bites and wellness in The Tweed

    Kassia ByrnesBy Kassia Byrnes
    Continue
    Warmer days call for slowing down and relaxing in nature. Discover why The Tweed is the ultimate destination to do just that.

    As the end of the year draws near, the need for rest and restoration grows ever more prominent. For many, that means heading into nature – and there’s plenty of science to back up the benefits of doing so. It quite literally makes us happier as it reduces stress hormones, lowers our blood pressure and more. And what better place to lean into this feel-good effect than during summer in The Tweed (in the Northern Rivers region of NSW)? Blending sparkling beaches, riverside towns and hinterland villages, this area has nature covered, while also offering top activities and dining options.

    Slip, slop, slap.

    And of course, pack your SPF. We Are Feel Good Inc’s Ultra-Light Mineral Sunscreen Lotion SPF 50 is a lightweight and fast-absorbing formula that keeps your skin hydrated and shielded, thanks to nourishing Coconut Oil and Vitamin E. But it’s also helping preserve the natural beauty around you on your Tweed vacation, thanks to 30 per cent ocean waste packaging.

    Discover eight experiences that make The Tweed the perfect place for summer.

    1. Underwater worlds

    two people swimming after turtle on the tweed
    Get a chance to swim with the locals.

    There’s something about the ocean that calls to us as humans, and what’s below the surface is even more magical.

    Green, hawksbill and loggerhead turtles (not to mention an abundance of other marine life) all use the protected waters around Cook Island, near Fingal Head, as their foraging ground, making it the perfect place to dive and snorkel to spot these adorable creatures.

    Join Cooly Eco Adventures on a guided snorkelling tour that combines unforgettable turtle encounters with an inspiring look into marine conservation.

    2. Farm-to-table dining

    table spread at Potager restaurant
    Treat your taste buds at Potager. (Image: Cara Sophie)

    Respecting the land and nature also means appreciating its abundance of food. From farm-to-table cafes and boutique breweries to river cruises and restaurants championing local produce, dining around The Tweed often means engaging with the best local producers.

    The award-winning Potager Restaurant , part of The Hinterland Collection , is the perfect example; beginning life as a kitchen garden, the passion to champion local producers is woven into every dish. Vegetables, fruit and herbs are picked from the garden or sourced from other local producers, the seafood comes from the Northern Rivers, and meat is sourced from ethical local producers. Even the cocktail list features local distillers.

    Extend your stay with a night (or several) at boutique on-site accommodation, Potager House . This French-inspired country four-bedroom retreat boasts stunning views of the surrounding hills and nearby ocean, as well as a large pool, outdoor entertaining area and infrared sauna.

    3. Water wellness

    Waterguru Mindfulness in the Mangroves summer on the tweed
    Find mindfulness in mangroves. (Image: Matt Johnson)

    You’ll find mindfulness while floating around the mangroves of Kingscliff’s Cudgen Creek at any time, but Watersports Guru offers an immersive experience to help guests do so with more intent. Join a 90-minute guided session on a stand-up paddleboard to reconnect with nature and relax through breathwork, gentle movement and sensory awareness.

    If you’re feeling more adventurous, Watersports Guru also offer Kayak fishing adventures or join a Sea Turtle Odyssey experience.

    4. Restorative seaside stays

    woman relaxing in spa at Halcyon Wellness, halcyon house
    Unwind at Halcyon Wellness.

    The Tweed encourages locals and visitors alike to slow down. To really indulge, a seaside stay is a must. Halcyon House has understood the assignment, blending a wellness philosophy centred on balance and self-discovery with luxurious surrounds. Stay in one of 22 rooms and suites (each individually designed by eclectic interior designer Anna Spiro) right on the beachfront. Book restorative treatments at the onsite spa, Halcyon Wellness, relax by the pool, dine at the hatted Paper Daisy restaurant and just let The Tweed work its magic.

    While Blue Water Motel offers a relaxed coastal escape, just steps from Kingscliff Beach. Settle in stylish rooms, recently restyled by Jason Grant, nodding to the cool of Kingscliff with a fun retro vibe. Hire a bike from reception to explore the surrounding area.

    5. Tasty drops

    Husk Farm Distillery
    Join a Farm to Bottle tour. (Image: Salsingh Photography)

    The owners at Husk Farm Distillery aren’t just about creating high-quality rum: they’re also farmers themselves. In fact, they create one of the world’s only single estate, farm-to-bottle spirits. Join a Farm to Bottle tour to discover the sustainable ‘full circle’ distilling practices used here, and even get hands-on with your own cane knife to help harvest and juice your own stalk of cane. And, of course, a welcome drink plus complimentary tastings along the way.

    6. Rail trail adventures

    Cycle the Northern Rivers Rail Trail.
    Cycle the Northern Rivers Rail Trail.

    Exploring the rolling green slopes and historic towns of the 24-kilometre Tweed section of the Northern Rivers Rail Trail is one of the best ways to connect with the region’s lush hinterland and interesting heritage. In this section of the trail, discover the area’s railway history at heritage-listed Murwillumbah Railway Station, and traverse by 18 railway bridges and through two railway tunnels.

    Linking vibrant towns and villages with the larger hub of Murwillumbah, this section of the trail is covered in asphalt or compacted gravel, making it accessible for all ages and abilities, from prams to adaptive bikes. 

    7. Linger longer

    surfer at fingal heads the tweed
    Enjoy beachside locations, like Fingal Heads.

    Linger longer at one of the seven idyllic beach, river and creekside locations of Tweed Holiday Parks – including at Tweed Heads, Kingscliff Beach, Hastings Point and Pottsville South. All just steps from the water’s edge, they make the ideal base to unwind, or head out for exploration of The Tweed. Choose from luxury waterfront cabins, accessible cabins, surfari tents (yes, they are basically glamping tents) or spacious sites for caravans, motorhomes and campervans or tents.

    Tweed Holiday Parks
    Stay for longer and indulge in plat at Tweed Holiday Parks.

    Find your feel-good summer in The Tweed at visitthetweed.com.au .