These 7 Australian coffee shops just ranked among the world’s best

Australia has again proven itself as a global coffee powerhouse, with seven coffee shops ranking among the world’s top brews.

Australia’s coffee scene has once again stamped its authority on the global stage, with seven local coffee shops earning spots on the newly released World’s 100 Best Coffee Shops list for 2026.

But while Aussie cafes performed strongly across the board, this year brought a surprising shake-up at the very top – and an unexpected winner from a country not exactly famous for its espresso culture.

A new global number one (and it’s not where you’d expect)

Taking out the top spot this year is Onyx Coffee LAB in Rogers, Arkansas, in the United States – a result that may surprise many Australians (myself included), who often consider the US coffee scene a big step behind.

The specialty roaster has built a cult following globally for its meticulous sourcing, innovative brewing techniques and ultra-modern cafe experience, which judges praised for pushing boundaries in both flavour and presentation.

Still, for Australians accustomed to consistently high-quality coffee at nearly every corner cafe, the idea of a US venue topping the list may raise a few eyebrows.

Australia’s highest-ranked cafe lands in the top four

Only Coffee Project in Crow's Nest, Sydney, Australia — Only Coffee Project is Australia’s best coffee shop for 2026, and the fourth in the world.

The strongest Australian performer this year is Only Coffee Project in Sydney’s Crows Nest, which secured an impressive fourth place worldwide.

Known for its experimental brewing methods and deeply technical approach to coffee, the tiny specialty bar has become something of a pilgrimage site for serious coffee enthusiasts. Its high ranking signals a shift towards ultra-specialty coffee experiences, rather than traditional cafe culture alone.

Just one place behind it is another familiar name.

Toby’s Estate still holds global bragging rights

Toby’s Estate Coffee Roasters in Chippendale, Sydney, Australia — Toby’s Estate Coffee Roasters was the World’s Best Coffee Shop in 2025.

Sydney favourite Toby’s Estate Coffee Roasters , which claimed world number one last year, slipped slightly to fifth place this year – but remains one of the highest-ranked cafes on the planet.

The flagship Chippendale location continues to draw international attention for its immersive “coffee theatre" concept, where visitors can watch beans being roasted and brewed with scientific precision.

Even with the slight drop, its consistent top-five placement reinforces its reputation as a global leader in specialty coffee.

Sydney dominates the rankings

Single O cafe in Surry Hills, Sydney, Australia — Single O ranked 53rd globally.

Sydney emerged as the strongest-performing city overall, with four cafes featured across the list.

Among them is Beta Coffee in Surry Hills, which landed at an impressive 13th place, cementing its status as one of the country’s most respected specialty coffee spots.

Another Surry Hills favourite, Single O , ranked 53rd globally, recognised for its longstanding role in shaping Australia’s modern cafe culture and championing ethical sourcing.

Melbourne and Brisbane also make the cut

Melbourne, often considered Australia’s coffee capital, secured two places on the list.

Proud Mary Coffee ranked 27th worldwide, celebrated for its direct-trade relationships and internationally acclaimed roasting program. Vacation Coffee also just made an appearance at number 100, reflecting the city’s continued depth and diversity in coffee experiences.

Brisbane also appeared on the list, with Coffee Anthology landing 29th globally, praised for its rotating showcase of top Australian roasters and focus on innovation.

From ultra-specialty brew bars to neighbourhood institutions, Australia’s coffee scene remains defined by high standards, skilled baristas and a culture that treats coffee as a serious craft. And while a US venue may have taken the crown this year, Australia’s strong presence across the top 100 shows the nation is still one of the undisputed leaders of global coffee.

The country’s rawest places offer some of its most transformative, restorative experiences.

Australia offers sublime opportunities to disappear into the ancient, untouched wilderness, worlds away from modern stress. Wild Bush Luxury offers a collection of experiences that are a portal into the continent’s wildest, most undiscovered landscapes, from wide floodplains to vast savannas, where the only distractions are birdsong, frog calls, curious wallabies and the daily drama of sunset. With a focus on conservation and Indigenous knowledge, these all-inclusive experiences allow guests to slow down and quiet their minds for intimate encounters with the natural world.

1. Bamurru Plains

safari tent at Bamurru Plains wild bush luxury — Let nature take front row.

In the remote Top End, just outside Kakadu National Park on the fringes of the spectacular Mary River floodplains, you’ll find Bamurru Plains , a peerless Australian safari camp. After a quick air transfer from Darwin to the camp’s private airstrip, you’ll be whisked away via 4WD to a vivid natural wonderland of shimmering floodplains, red earth, herds of peacefully grazing water buffalo and 236 bird species (Bamurru means magpie goose to the Gagadju people).

Accommodations consist of 10 mesh-walled bungalows and two luxe stilted retreats where guests enjoy panoramic, up-close views that invite them into their rightful place in the landscape (and binoculars to see it even better). Being an off-grid experience designed to help guests disconnect, the only distractions are birdsongs, frog calls, curious wallabies, the occasional crocodile sighting and the daily drama of the spectacular golden sunset.

It’s a place where nature’s vastness rises to the level of the spiritual, and Bamurru’s understated, stylish, largely solar-powered lodgings are designed to minimise human impact and let nature take front row. Guests relax in comfort with plush linens, an open bar, communal tables that allow for spontaneous connections and curated dining experiences from the in-house chef using local ingredients and bush-inspired cooking methods.

Bamurru Plains airboat tour — Zoom across the floodplains. (Image: Adam Gibson)

It’s a restorative backdrop for days spent zooming across the mist-covered floodplains in an airboat, birding with expert guides, taking an open-sided safari drive or river cruise through croc country. Spend time at the Hide, a treehouse-like platform that’s perfect for wildlife spotting.

In fact, nature is so powerful here that Bamurru Plains closes entirely during the peak monsoon season (October to April), when the floodplains reclaim the land and life teems unseen beneath the water. Yet Wild Bush Luxury’s ethos continues year-round through its other experiences around Australia – each designed to immerse travellers in a distinct Australian wilderness at its most alive and untouched.

2. Maria Island Walk

woman on a headland of Maria Island Walk — Maria Island Walk offers sweeping coastal scenes.

Off Tasmania’s rugged east coast, the iconic Maria Island Walk is an intimate four-day journey through one of the country’s most hauntingly beautiful and unpopulated national parks, encompassing pristine beaches, convict-era ruins, and wildlife sightings galore. Accessible only by a small ferry, Maria Island feels like a place reclaimed by nature, which is exactly what it is: a penal settlement later used for farms and industry that finally became a national park in 1972.

These days, the island is known as ‘Tasmania’s Noah’s Ark’ and its only human inhabitants are park rangers. It’s a place where wombats amble through grassy meadows, wallabies graze beside empty beaches, dolphins splash in clear water just offshore and Tasmanian devils – successfully reintroduced in 2012 after near-extinction on the mainland – roam free and healthy.

Each day unfolds in an unhurried rhythm: trails through coastal eucalyptus forests or along white-sand bays, plateaus with sweeping ocean views, quiet coves perfect for swimming. Midway through the journey, you’ll explore Darlington, a remarkably preserved 19th-century convict settlement whose ruins tell stories of human ambition at the edge of the known world.

At night, sleep beneath a canopy of stars in eco-wilderness camps – after relaxing with Tasmanian wine and locally-sourced meals, and swapping stories with your fellow trekkers by candlelight.

3. Arkaba

two people standing next to a 4wd in Arkaba — Explore Arkaba on foot or on four wheels.

For a bush immersion with more of an outback flavour, Arkaba offers a completely different type of experience. A former sheep station and historic homestead in South Australia’s striking Flinders Ranges that has been reimagined as a 63,000-acre private wildlife conservancy. It’s now patrolled mainly by kangaroos and emus.

Small-scale tourism (the homestead has just five ensuite guestrooms) helps support rewilding projects, and guests become an essential part of the conservation journey. Days begin with sunrise hikes through ancient sandstone ridges or guided drives into the ranges to spot yellow-footed rock-wallabies. And end with sundowners on a private ridgetop watching the Elder Range glow vibrant shades of gold, crimson and violet as the air cools and time stands still.

Here, you can join conservation activities like tracking native species or learning about Arkaba’s pioneering feral-animal eradication projects, then unwind with chef-prepared dinners served alfresco on the veranda of the homestead, which is both rustic and refined. The highlight? Following Arkaba Walk, a thriving outback wilderness where emus wander and fields of wildflowers grow.

It’s an unforgettable immersion in Australia’s vast inland beauty, a place where the land’s deep and complicated history – and astounding resilience – leave their quiet imprint long after you return home. In a world where genuine awe is rare, Wild Bush Luxury offers a return to what matters most in the untamed beauty of Australia’s wilderness.

Disconnect from the grind and reconnect with nature when you book with at wildbushluxury.com