A big cafe with a big heart, MISC takes up perhaps one of the best locations in all of Parramatta, perched in a sun-lit shed-turned-restaurant nestled within a leafy park near the Parramatta River. The menu is designed to share, and there is a definite Middle Eastern influence, with plenty of pita, hummus and labneh to accompany the many fresh seafood options. We can’t go past the cilbir eggs with cacik, pumpkin, aleppo brown butter, seeds and focaccia.

Serving up what may very well be the best coffee in western Sydney. Homage Speciality Coffee is a hole-in-the-wall like none other. While its unassuming location within a car park may be misleading, one whiff of the coffee and a look at the menu and we’re already sold. The coffee is Five Senses, and they sell jaffles that will change your life — our favourite is the bolognaise jaffle.

Mëraki Merchants is a Lebanese-inspired cafe in Parramatta with a menu that delivers old-school classics with a twist. This popular cafe is known for their amazing drinks, coffee, and food that rotates regularly so you can return repeatedly and never get bored. We recommend trying The Sultan’s Jaffle, which is made up of tasty cheese, sujuk (dry, spicy sausage), olives and house-made smoky capsicum relish.

Circa Espresso is a stylish modern hotel restaurant and bar that is known for its Australian farm-to-table menu. A great spot for a later breakfast, we can’t go past their crispy skin barramundi, made with cherry tomato, basil, capsicum, eggplant, olives, summer squash, pinenut and kipfler potato salad with saffron aioli. More traditional breakfast options include maple glazed French toast with butter brioche, spiced plum coulis, peppered balsamic marinated stone fruit and figs.

For a classic, no-frills cafe where you’re guaranteed good food and coffee every time, head to Beans and Barrels. The menu revolves around modern Australian cuisine with a Mediterranean twist to keep you happy all day long. Menu standouts include the Mediterranean omelette to start your day, the Asian noodle salad for lunch, and the southern fried chicken burger for dinner.

This Greek-run cafe in the centre of Parramatta likes to do things the Greek way, which means good vibes and coffee, and lots of it. Whilst a cup of joe is the main focus here, their toasties are also off the charts, made fresh every day. You can also find a selection of sweet treats like doughnuts and brownies to help you make it through those 3 pm sugar cravings.

Social Hideout is known for its incredibly Instagrammable and very-extra dishes. The menu is colourful and indulgent, filled with foods like taro hotcakes, matcha French toast with red velvet mascarpone and many more amazing foods plus drinks served in miniature bathtubs.

Since 2014 White Henry Espresso Bar & Catering has offered Parramatta locals fantastic coffee and food. But it’s the amazing coffee that they produce here that really draws in a crowd. From the single-origin beans that change weekly to White Henry’s house blend Blue Stag, which has a chocolatey body with fruity, spicy notes. While we don’t often find ourselves here for food, we highly rate their banana bread, wraps and smashed avo.

Lil Miss Collins Café is a family-owned and operated Parramatta cafe. Most of the produce used in the food comes from local farms. The menu here is amazing and filled with tasty food, including Phoenician kofta — a Middle Eastern-inspired dish made from lamb kofta, labne, cabbage and pomegranate on toasted Lebanese bread. The team roasts their coffee blend in-house, but they also have another blend of Colombian and Brazilian beans with a fuller flavour.

Paper Plane Cafe is a cosy farmhouse-style cafe that offers locals a throwback experience in the heart of Parramatta. The coffee here is made with a Picasso Blend which is a buttery brew with sweet caramel notes, created by Beaconsfield’s Numero Uno Coffee Roasters. The menu follows the course, filled with cafe favourites including one of our favourite ‘Big Breakfasts’ in Parramatta with its mountain of eggs, bacon, chorizo, hash brown, mushrooms and tomatoes all served on sourdough.

Riverside Deli Bar Cafe has a unique coffee blend originating from the Central American plantations of Costa Rica, Guatemala, Honduras and El Salvador. The brew here has people lining up for it, while the breakfast and lunch menu is full of great options such as the Mediterranean poached eggs on a chunky bruschetta.

XS Espresso is known for its amazing coffees and Instagrammable shakes and food. This trendy cafe is a hotspot for amazing food like the Delicious Dean: avocado and cherry tomatoes on sourdough with goat’s cheese, prosciutto, basil pesto and poached eggs. There’s something for everyone here.

Don’t let the name fool you because Badmanner is a cafe that is loved by locals for its smooth coffee and homemade baked goods. From Brewtown Newtown brewnuts to tasty milkshakes and everything in-between — this cafe has something for everyone and you’ll be silly not to try it for yourself.

You may have seen a few Mr Phillip’s cafes popping up around Sydney, and that goes to show these guys know what they’re doing. With new cafes popping up around Western Sydney and the city. Serving up Campos coffee, they are passionate about their brews, with skilled baristas and passionate staff. If you’re feeling hungry, they’ve got you covered with homemade granola, açai bowls, sandwiches and salads, but our top choice? We love their Butterboy cookies.