The Grounds of Alexandria

In Sydney for a day trip for work and was lucky enough to stop in to The Grounds of Alexandria for a quick breakfast before my 10am meeting.
The café itself is at the back of the grounds which means a lovely walk through brick paved outdoor areas, a chance to look at a REALLY BIG pig and some cute chickens and also enjoy the entire relaxed vibe of the establishment.
I was in a pretty large hurry so my friend and I were ready to order within two minutes of being seated. I wanted the Avo Special with a Poached Egg and she went with the Ricotta Berry Hotcakes. Because of our super fast food-​choosing skills we had to flag down a waitress to take our order but everything came out pretty quickly after that.
I was surprised by how large the portions were and I found myself absolutely stuffed halfway through the meal! Really enjoyed the Avo special and all the ingredients were super fresh, the almond milk latte I ordered was also pretty delicious.
I was in a rush so didn’t get to enjoy this place as much as I would have liked to. I hope I can come back again next time I am in Sydney!

The beautiful gardens and the lovely Kevin bacon (a giant pig!) make the wait some what bearable but wait you will on the weekend. The coffee was not as good as expected with the hype and ridiculously expensive brewing machines but not as bad as some. The first time we went we waited for an hour and a half so we missed breakfast and had to select from the lunch menu which was a huge disappointment but I was determined to get my breakfast so we went back on a week day and were seated in less than 10 but our waiter went on a break without putting in our order and the whole experience took almost two hours. But I had an amazing pancake with marsclpon cheese and fresh berries, I can actually taste it as I’m writing this review. Overall worth the trip but bring your patience!

Heavy rain and giant puddles didn’t stop us from popping into this excellent place. This is somewhere we will be coming back for sure!
Ok. The review…
Food: Great! We had the schnitzel burgers (to with I added bacon) and I’m still full 6 hours later. To me, that’s a good feeling.
Service: Fantastic! We didn’t have to wait much at all. The waiters were very friendly and funny. One of which recommended us one of the smoothies and it was spot on. Another one recommended us some venues to check out in Sydney for live music too. Like I said, super friendly service!
We read there is a farm of some sort… I want to meet Kevin Bacon so I’ll be sure to do so next time (hope there is no rain then)

Such an awesome venue! We got there at 11am on a weekend and it was PACKED! We were given a buzzer and told that the wait was approximately 1 hour. Normally, we’d be out of there quicker than a rabbit on roller skates, but our friends kept insisting we try it. It was definitely the right choice, because the 1 hour flew by so quickly with all the things to see around the complex.
The coffee was excellent, so rich and smooth. The food was creative and looked amazing! Only reason I’m giving this 4 stars and not 5 is because we had to ask for table 4 times before getting any.
Will be back, probably on a weekday or EARLY weekend.

OMG! What was this place? An experience!!!
I won’t say food is great… probably just good but this is like a garden party and it’s truly amazing. I have been there once and I shall visit again, and again! Although be warned… the grounds is a busy busy place. It’s best not to be too hungry when you visit.

Yes, it’s a great photo-​worthy spot but I found it to be a very overcrowded place, especially on the weekend where you’ll have to squeeze your way through the crowds. It’s not a bad place to visit for tourists or group of friends, but keep in mind this is a place that you will have to wait. You can take photos with the animals, check out the super expensive flower shop, buy some bakeries (although you can get them way cheaper at a farmers market on the weekend), and wait for hours for brunch.

A really unique spot for a gathering. A little too on trend but still aesthetically great. Animals for the kids, beer and coffee for the adults. Loads of space but staff don’t seem to know the place too well. Went there for baby shower and had to ask more than 4 different staff members how to locate our party. All in all a nice experience

I had the best day here. The grounds are beautiful and majestic. The food is delicious! I went because after seeing so many photos of the Nutella donuts, I needed to try them. I thought the donut was delicious but that it could have more Nutella inside of it. They were rolled, fried and filled right in front of you. The line was long but worth it.
The grounds themselves had tons of food options. There is a sit down restaurant, a café, a bakery stand, a donut stand, a bbq stand, a lemonade and fruit stand and more. I had a strawberry lemonade from one of the stands and it was delicious. I also had a burger and fries from the sit down restaurant The Potting Shed. It was also delicious!
HIGHLY recommend. Bring your appetite and your camera!

With a bustling atmosphere & music humming in the background, the Grounds is a hub for locals dropping in for their lunch break, as well as clusters of younger customers. The large size of the restaurant is impressive — but the speed of the friendly waiters is moreso, and they zip through the crowds attentively.
Food is prepared quickly & attention is paid to the appearance on the plate. I got the Grilled Prawn Fattoush, which was pure lemony goodness with fresh, juicy prawns & these cool bread… fries?
I wish the food weren’t quite so expensive, as the size of the dish was a little small for the price. It’s also quite noisy inside the restaurant, so be prepared to raise your voice a little.
All in all though? I’d definitely come back.

Five stars !!!
Everything is good ! The place to bring children as they have a farm. All kinds of food are available. The place is the place to eat when you are in Alexandria, not too far from all the hotels nearby the airport.
The cakes are simply magic. To avoid the queue (between 20 to 45mn) i suggest to book before coming.

On my most recent trip to Sydney, I was very keen to check out The Grounds of Alexandria.
It is essentially a mix between Ponsonby Central, La Cigale French Market and the gardens in the Auckland Domain (my three favourite places in Auckland). I am so glad I visited because it is now officially my favourite activity in Sydney!
You will find stands serving freshly brewed hot coffee, delectable pastries and desserts, homemade lemonade, chocolates, doughnuts and a café serving mouthwatering meals, all set in beautiful garden surrounds. There is also an indoor market selling a range of products and there are farm animals, including lambs and the biggest pig I have ever seen, called Kevin Bacon (haha!).
We were on a tight schedule, so we did a quick squizz around the grounds and then ordered a few coffees. It was hands down the best we have had in Sydney — strong, extra hot and great froth. The coffee stand also had a great ordering system which meant we didn’t have to wait long. And the staff were super welcoming and friendly too — always an added bonus! We sat on one of the many picnic tables surrounded by plants and rows and rows of beautiful flowers — there is even a florist there!
I cannot wait to come back when I have more time to try their café food and gorge on doughnuts, dessert and handmade chocolates. I highly recommend you make a trip to The Grounds of Alexandria — it truly is a foodie’s heaven, and you will feel like you are in a secret garden oasis.

The Grounds is a fabulous place and also fabulously popular. Which makes for queues, long long queues … stay the course though because this is one place that is worth the wait.
Come prepared to wait and use that time to wander around and enjoy the abundant gorgeousness. If it’s the weekend there is a Grounds Fair that is worth checking out — think chilli peanut butter, raw treats, Turkish Apple tea, soy candles …
Once you get a table, the menu is varied and delicious and the ambience is fantastic. This is s great place for groups (even better if you can persuade one of your friends to be the advance guard). There are lots of healthy dishes and interesting inmovations such as bamboo charcoal bread … I had a fruit plate, which was really enjoyable.
Apart from the over the top verdant beauty, The Grounds is fantastic for kids. There’s a petting zoo and a really fun creative play ground. They also run special programs during the school holidays. I’ve never seen anything like the Grounds in all my travels — it’s a real phenomenon

Such a cute place for brunch. I must warn you that parking is basically nonexistent, but don’t worry you can find parking on the street just know you might have to walk a little distance to get to this place (depending on how busy it is). I came here last Saturday for brunch with my cousins before I fly back to California and I was so glad I was able to come here before I left. This place is Instagram heaven because not only does the food looks good, it taste good too. I don’t understand why people complain about the wait because it honestly is not that bad. But if you are those people who doesn’t like to wait there is a section on the other side that has food to-​go and just grab an open table outside under the shades. However, if you can bare an estimated of half an hour or a little longer for a table, which I suggest you should, you can just stroll around the place for a little while to kill time. There are mini shops to go into like the flower shop or go check out the mini petting zoo. If you are starving there are lemonade and dessert stands around the area too.
**I want to do note that the menu changes ever so often so what you see on here they might not have it at the time you go.
What we ordered:
— The Brekkie Board ($ 22): I like varieties and this really gives me samples of everything I like on one huge plate. I think it is perfect as a sharing plate for (2 – 3 people, depending on how hungry you are). The poach eggs were perfectly cooked and they don’t get stingy with the avocado.
— Chef’s Brekkie Pan ($ 19): Very flavorful.
— Three cheese omellete ($ 16): I didn’t get to try this but I think it must have been good because it didn’t take long for my cousin to finished that.
Overall, it was a perfect spot for brunch. I would come back here to eat when I do visit Sydney again.

The food here is good (we got a delicious captain chook burger and chargrilled chicken roll from the stand in the middle, followed by a tasty lemonade and mediocre Nutella donut), the prices aren’t as painful as you expect, and the animals are adorable. However, the crowd management is terrible on the weekends – moving around requires a lot of effort, and you have to beat out slow moving families to nab a spot in the long lines to order and find a seat. I’m glad this place is so popular, but if they’re not careful, someone is going to get hurt. For this quality of food and entertainment, I’d rather go to a café closer to home.

This place is amazing and well worth a visit. But be aware, everyone else in Sydney will probably be there at the same time. Midweek or weekends, this place is usually a beehive of activity.
The coffee and food is very lovely though. Either eaten in or ‘take away’ into the garden, I’ve enjoyed the visit.

Nithing less than a five! It so lived up to all the hype i read about it. The greens and the potting shed is so adorable and charming ! Headed there on a sunday noon for a late brunch. Boy the lamb roll (hubby had) was apparently yumm and my smashed avacado was yummm to look at and deliciousss. Couldnt resist the fresh lemonade off the stalls and also picked fancy desserts from the stall. Its perfect for a weekend lunch or brekkie with an upbeat and happy atmosphere:) will take more friends next time: D

This place is a sensory experience. It’s a collection of restaurants; not just one. So if there’s a long wait at one you can just try another.
I love the garden and animals. Lunch on a Sunday was a madhouse, but we were able to get takeaway food without waiting too long and eat it in the garden. The bakery/​desserts were excellent, as were the sandwiches.
I definitely want to come back and try more of what they have to offer. It’s also a beautiful location for private events, although I’m not sure if the cost.

I must say, this is one of the most overrated cafes in eastern Sydney, and I like it!
With its own farm, and organic food store. Located within an abandoned factory house; the grounds is one of the most classy Cafes you can be!
From saying hi to Bacon (the on farm pig), to having a slice of organic bacon (obviously not the pig); the Grounds have you covered!
The average wait time is 40−50minutes. To make sure you don’t just walk and are looked after. There is often some dessert or snacks stalls right outside, and one can always roam around the organic super market. They do give you a buzzer so don’t you worry you will miss their call!
I quite like their coffee. For those who has read some of my reviews, you will know I’m big on coffee. The grounds, while it is not the best; they do try and have their own in house roast and blend which is great.
I had it there a few times but didn’t fine it special. However if I make it myself at home, I realised it tastes slightly better. No idea why.

The Grounds of Alexandria is so many things. It is like a tiny country markets with animals, food stall/​carts, multiple meal options, multiple seating areas with a different feel/​atmosphere and some shops.
When you walk in the first thing you will probably notice is Kevin Bacon, the resident pig. He is big, fat and possibly sleeping. When I visited in the morning the roosters were trying to wake him but he would just roll over as if pressing the snooze button.
The food is slightly different from what you get at a normal café. It is a little bit deconstructed and a little farm to plate. I have tried a few of the dishes and all have been great, not my usual breakfast with eggs benedict (although the chefs brekkie pan is their equivalent) but gets me to discover different meals that I will enjoy.
The other food places also look great, I really wanted to have a donut but was already full from my breakfast! Next time I will start with a donut :)
It gets super busy on the weekend, so come early-​ish, put your name down and explore the grounds.

4 stars for the restaurant, 5 stars for the place itself.
I have spent a memorable afternoon hanging around, inbetween the amazing flower shop, the cakery and the farm.
This place is really special and it is a great destination to spend an entire afternoon.
I need to go back to discover the italian shop — they sell fresh mozzarella and terrific jamons apparently…
One single advice: keep some space for a cake, they are just delicious (see pictures)