The 15 best cafés in Darwin

Whether you’re here for hotcakes and hot dates, or chilli eggs and chill outs, Laneway has you covered. This hipster café in the heart of Parap Village has been pleasing locals with artisanal coffee and cool vibes since 2014. The all-day menu is divided between bread, bowls and burgers, with vegans and gluten-free diners well looked after. If you can only order one thing, go for the creamy eggs benny dripping with native pepperberry hollandaise and your choice of laneway pastrami, slow-cooked pulled pork, wild mushrooms or smoked salmon.

This 100 per cent not-for-profit Indigenous-led café spotlights native bush tucker that you don't usually get the chance to try anywhere else. For breakfast, you can’t go past the fried damper with bush jam, cream and Davidson plum dust. Headed there for lunch? The roasted kangaroo roll with sea celery pickle and coleslaw is an easy grab-and-go, while the wattleseed brownies are the perfect lunch dessert. On your way out, check out the neighbouring gallery and browse a selection of homewares, ethical fashion and bush medicine at the gift shop.

It’s hard to beat the sublime seaside location of this laid-back café, located literally metres from the water’s edge in Darwin. De La Plage, translating to ‘from the beach’ in French, serves up hearty breakfast and lunch dishes inspired by the Turkish and Belgian roots of its owners. Local and organic ingredients shine in their refreshing watermelon and feta salad, rustic zucchini and eggplant ratatouille, and zingy beetroot sauerkraut with smashed avo and poached egg on turmeric or charcoal sourdough. Bring your own picnic rug, in case all the tables are taken (which is highly likely during the Dry Season), and feel free to bring your four-legged friends too.

Come for the specialty coffee and stay for the Singaporean-style breakfast at this wholesome café in Darwin City. For more than a decade, Kopi Stop has been serving up comforting breakfasts made using recipes passed down through generations. Signature dishes include their sweet kaya (coconut jam) toast with soft-boiled eggs, thick congee (rice porridge) with golden century egg, and prawn wonton laksa – don’t skip out on a dollop of their house sambal. Coffee is a serious art form here, with local beans sourced from the sustainable heroes at Ona and grounds for their kopitiam drinks imported from Singapore. Whether you prefer it black or iced, with butter or condensed milk, there’s bound to be a brew for you. 

This Barbie-esque café, located in the heart of Darwin’s industrial district, has won multiple awards, including the title of best burger in the NT in 2022 and best breakfast café in 2023. Pink isn't just a colour here – it's a vibe that extends from the decor to the plates. Picture a pork benny hash dressed in a bright pink chilli hollandaise, a poke bowl bursting with hot pink watermelon radish, burnt butter toast topped with berry sorbet, and granola sitting under a wobbly dragonfruit panna cotta. Besser Brew Bar will be a hit for the whole family, with dedicated menus for kids and dogs.

After a steamy morning exploring the Botanic Gardens, cool off at this charming, homestyle café in the heritage-listed Wesleyan Church. You can find a shady spot amongst the tropical trees and flowers with your furry friend or seek refuge inside, where air conditioning and refreshing drinks await. Eva’s famous scones with jam and wattleseed mascarpone cream make for the perfect mid-morning treat, while grazing boards, seasonal salads and hearty sandwiches will tick the box at lunch. Keep it classy with Allpress Espresso coffee, housemade sodas and smoothies, or turn it into a boozy affair with breakfast cocktails, house beer and wine by the glass.

Swap your midday cuppa and toast for a Moroccan mint tea with spiced cous cous at this worldly tapas bar in Darwin CBD. Open for brunch from 11am Tuesday to Saturday, Moorish serves up a flavour-packed lunch menu with clay pot tagines, beer battered NT barramundi, berbere spiced kangaroo and marinated lamb strips. During lunch, you can also score three tapas with a glass of Sangria for $35. Choose from char-grilled pita bread with hummus, patatas bravas, and truffle mac and cheese. Sounds pretty moreish to us.

If you’re a pancake person, then it’s time to make friends with this chillax café and dessert bar. With locations in Bellamack, Darwin CBD and Nightcliff, you’re surely just a hop, skip and jump away from indulging in dessert for breakfast. Each pancake stack features two homestyle buttermilk pancakes, generously topped with all the good stuff, including Biscoff, Nutella, maple syrup, ice cream or fresh berries. Fresh Point is also famous for its crazy freak shakes, piled high like the Leaning Tower of Pisa with marshmallows, wafers, lollipops, sour straps – if it’s got sugar, it’s on there.

True to his name, the Coffee Man crafts some of the finest coffee Darwin has ever seen. Whether you prefer pour-over, batch brew, single origin or straight-up, you’ll find high-end caffeine hits for every palate and occasion. Their friendly baristas will guide you through the flavour profiles and will happily recommend their top toastie picks, be it the pulled pork or the truffle mushroom and cheese.

Croissants and coffee go hand in hand at this super popular café and patisserie, tucked away in a tropical courtyard on Smith Street in Darwin CBD. It’s hard to look past Ray’s flaky, golden croissants and cruffins, but you’ll be just as challenged for choice with the brunch menu, featuring berry and mascarpone hotcakes, wild mushroom bruschetta, and house manoush bread with za'atar, feta and tomatoes. In need of caffeine? Ray’s house blend comes from Sydney’s Mecca Espresso, while their seasonal single origin is by the sustainable coffee crowd at Single O. They also serve up a punchy batch brew, best enjoyed over ice. 

Easy, breezy and beautiful, The Foreshore stands as one of Darwin’s best-kept secrets. Its extensive brunch menu has a deeply Australian identity, featuring classic BLTs, avo smash, steak sandwiches and acai bowls. The Foreshore’s friendly team won’t bat an eye if you order fish and chips at 7am, which is prepared with 100 per cent Aussie seafood and served with chunky chips and house salad. Fully cool off with freshly squeezed OJ, tropical frappe or housemade iced tea.

Follow Alice down the rabbit hole and you might stumble upon this gorgeous café, which overlooks the tropical trees of Raintree Park at the end of Smith Street Mall. Pull up a chair outside under the large fans and enjoy Asian-fusion brunch dishes, like Japanese karaage burgers, miso eggs benedict, and flame-charred salmon salad with hot and sour dressing. You could just as easily grab a Tim Tam milkshake or yuzu iced tea to enjoy in the park, paired with a daily-changing freshly baked muffin. 

Roma Bar has been a staple of Darwin’s café since way back in 1989, and you’d be hard-pressed to find a local who dined there. You could start your day in Thailand with Roma’s chilled pandan sago or opt for the Indian breakfast with dahl and roti. Come lunchtime, travel around the world with cheeseburgers, falafel pitas, fish tacos, gado gado salads and the hearty curry of the day. 

For the best brunch with a view in Darwin, make your way to this waterfront gem at Cullen Beach Marina. Snag a sunny bench outside and tuck into basic brunch favourites, including corn fritters, banana and Nutella crepes, Spanish eggs and BAE rolls. If you’ve got a full day of adventure planned, then the ‘Fatty Boomba’ will fuel you up, loaded with eggs, bacon, sausages, hash browns, baked beans, mushrooms and brioche toast. Need something lighter? The ‘Skinny Boomba’ has got you covered. Ask the friendly staff for fresh juice and smoothie specials, or throw it back to the good old days with a lemonade spider.