More than just a cafe

> Enjoy a whole different kind of dining experience at The Grounds of Alexandria in Sydney, Australia

THE GROUNDS of Alexandria in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia, is an uber cool cafe frequented by hipsters and tourists, as well as families.

Located at 500 George Street, it opens for business daily from 7.30am to 4pm, and is always packed with diners enjoying the many fresh, homemade cakes and pastries from the cafe’s own bakery as well as the chefs’ speciality cuisine.

This family-owned cafe was founded by Ramzey Choker, and was built within an old pie factory from the 1900s. It retains the rustic charm of the building, while offering a scenic and cool dining experience.

“When we were building the cafe, I wanted everything we do to be beautiful,” said Choker. “Anything we do has to be beautiful, as The Grounds is the place that people must visit when they are in Sydney.”

Once you step into The Grounds, you will find yourself in a garden filled with heirloom vegetables and herbs, which are picked every morning and used throughout the day by the chefs in the cafe to serve up speciality dishes and wholesome food.

The open-style kitchen offers an all-day brasserie-style menu for both dine-in and takeaway.

The mains include lobster with seaweed butter, lamb chops with buttered zucchini and chervil yoghurt, or fish fried in breadcrumps with vegetables.

You can also try the rump cap, rib eye or tenderloin, with sides that include mashed potato with burnt onion, minted heirloom tomatoes and cauliflower, and almond mac ’n’ cheese. For drinks, there are smoothies, hot coffee, lattes, cappucinos, macchiatos, piccolos and hot chocolate, as well as the famous avocado smash.

There is also a dedicated barista bar with a coffee sommelier to assist diners with their orders.

The specially-trained baristas at the coffee bar serve up freshly-roasted Seasonal Blend and Single Origin coffees using revolutionary espresso and filter technologies, with weekly offerings of new beans and roasts from across the globe.

Those who want something different can try deconstructed hot chocolate, mocha, or coffee, while tea lovers can order a bottomless cup.

For desserts, there are all kinds of pastries available, ranging from puffy cream cakes to chocolate cakes, fruit tarts and eclairs to go.

There’s even a Takeaway Bar which offers a healthy range of breakfast dishes, salad bowls, wraps and freshly-made cold drinks including juices and smoothies.

Besides its food and drinks, one of the biggest draws at The Grounds is its resident star, Kevin Bacon. This pig lords over its companions Bradley the sheep and Russell Crow the rooster, along with some chickens and ducks, at The Grounds’ petting zoo.

Nearby can be found Fluffy the Macaw, which has its own little station.

The cafe is also home to an artisan Bakery & Patisserie, where diners can watch the bakers create fresh-baked sourdough loaves, and pastry chefs fashioning irresistible pastries.

There is also a retail store, where you can purchase The Grounds’ own signature granolas, freshly-roasted coffee beans, homemade jams, as well as ceramics and enamelware for those wanting to take a piece of The Grounds home with them.

The Grounds is full of energy and life, creating an engaging and inspiring place for guests to reconnect with one another over aromatic coffee and wholesome food.

With a seasonal-inspired menu that’s bursting with fresh flavours, the chefs at the cafe deliver an ever-evolving offering, carefully plating and presenting each dish to highlight the beauty of each ingredient.

For a slice of this unique dining experience, pay a visit to The Grounds the next time you are in Sydney. But remember to make a booking ahead as the place is usually packed.

For more, visit The Grounds of Alexandria website.