The Arrival & Vibe
From the moment you stroll up to the entrance, the energy is contagious. The Rusty Rabbit feels like a neighbourhood favourite with attitude – whimsical rabbit motifs, warm industrial touches, cheeky branding and a bright, breezy outdoor seating setup. Their new Concord outpost channels the same spirited DNA as the OG in Darlinghurst and the St Leonards spot. Dogs are welcome to join their owners, which always adds a relaxed, friendly hum to the outside space (expect puppy pats to be part of the deal!). On this sunny Sunday morning, there’s a brisk turnover of tables – their always-on-point food and chilled atmosphere beckon a crowd. The staff are part of that energy too: fun, warm and quick with both the banter and solid menu recommendations.
The Drinks
We started with a perfectly hot almond latte — creamy, smooth, and just strong enough to kick the day into gear. I had the Green Goddess juice, a zingy mix of kale, apple and celery that tasted as healthy as it felt.
The Menu & Dining
Then came the real challenge: choosing from a menu where everything sounds unreasonably good! Everyone is catered for with a good mix of vegetarian, gluten free and dairy free options or switch outs available. We tossed up amongst a few options such as the Champ Bowl (a punchy combo of harissa hummus, avocado, grilled chicken, kale, poached eggs, dukkah and pickled cabbage) and the hearty Breakfast Wrap. And for those who like their brunch with a side of decadence, the Rusty Rabbit’s Insta-famous Pancakes topped with whipped ricotta, fresh strawberries, berry compote, passionfruit, pistachios, and maple syrup, are practically a social media rite of passage. We finally narrowed it down to the Sweet Potato Fritters and the Shakshuka and added chorizo.
The sweet potato fritters arrived crisp on the outside and tender within, stacked with corn, fresh spinach, avocado salsa, bacon cooked just right and a perfectly poached egg that spilled golden yolk into the plate — the kind of dish that disappears faster than you intend. The Shakshuka was a stunner: rich, Harissa-spiced tomato sauce bubbling around soft eggs, chickpeas and smoky chorizo, perfect for scooping up with the accompanying sourdough.
And apparently we can be read like a book as we were easily persuaded by the staff’s enthusiastic suggestion to try the Mango Mimosa – because, honestly, why not?! This light and fruity fizz is dangerously drinkable, and it added just the right amount of sparkle to our brunch.
There’s a reason The Rusty Rabbit keeps expanding and they have plenty of returning customers: they’ve nailed that sweet spot between fun, quality, and feel-good food. Between the vibrant vibe, the genuinely warm staff, and a menu that’s both creative and comforting, it’s easy to see why every location is buzzing come brunch time.
What were we Addicted to: Those Mango Mimosas, the perfectly executed and filling meals, and plenty of puppy pats.
What we need to be more Addicted: Honestly… struggling to think of anything, other than wishing we had more room to try more dishes! This is one of the best brunch spots in Sydney.
The Rusty Rabbit , Darlinghurst, St Leonards and Concord
Open daily from early till 3pm
