While for years, Melbourne might have held the café culture crown, Sydney has well and truly hit back and given our southern sister a run for its money when it comes to the business of the syphon, pour over and other assorted coffee geekery.

And who can blame a Melbournite for defecting? After all, we have actual beaches. And tans. Fresh from Melbourne’s Proud Mary in Collingwood, Joe Black’s owner Ben Sweeten definitely knows his Yergacheffe from his Fazenda Villa Boa, but even if you don’t, it’s all good – the coffee comes with tasting notes (in cute vintage tobacco tins, to boot).

It’s not all serious caffeination though, with a short and sweet café menu full of tasty snacks including one kickass chilli (on the willy) chicken burger, rum & raisin pikelet stacks and more.

Tucked in near Italian hottie Berta in that triangle between central, Surry Hills and Hyde Park, Joe Black’s cute digs is set to give locals and drop-ins cause to smile on the daily.

Joe Black Cafe @joeblackcafe
27 Commonwealth Street, Surry Hills NSW 2010