Where to eat this Easter in Sydney
From bakery runs for hot cross buns to Good Friday drinks and Sunday lunches, the Easter long weekend is made for eating well. And these Sydney venues are open and ready to host, whether you’re after a neighbourhood bar, a classic pub meal, or a bakery stop for a recovery pie or something sweet.
Whether you’re staying local in Sydney or heading out of town for the long weekend, The Grumpy Baker is a reliable stop for a great Single O coffee and something flaky and fresh from the oven. What began as a single Oxford Street bakery in 2002 has grown into a family-owned institution with locations across Sydney and NSW, from Potts Point and Vaucluse to Bilpin and Newcastle, making it just as handy for a beachside pastry run as it is for a pit stop on a weekend road trip.
Everything is baked fresh daily on-site at each location, from pies and breads to pastries and café favourites. Owner and head baker, Michael Cthurmer draws on Middle Eastern influences, weaving subtle spices through the menu while keeping the offering familiar and approachable.
And while The Grumpy Baker is known year-round for its pastries and bread, Easter is when its traditional hot cross buns make their annual appearance, made using the same recipe Michael developed more than 20 years ago with the famous spongey texture and secret mix of spices. Choose from traditional raisin or chocolate varieties. Single hot cross buns are $3.80 and a bag of six is $20.
Locations & Easter hours:
Potts Point (73 Macleay St, Potts Point) 7am-5pm
Vaucluse (6/767 Old South Head Rd, Vaucluse) 7am-5pm
Maroubra (14/124 Marine Parade, Maroubra) 6:30am-5pm
Coogee (98 Beach St, Coogee) 7am-2pm
Bellevue Hill (27A Bellevue Rd, Bellevue Hill) 6:30am-4pm
Waverton (85 Bay Rd, Waverton) 6:30am-5pm
Neutral Bay (64A Clark Rd, Neutral Bay) 6:30am-3pm
Newcastle (53 Glebe Rd, The Junction) 7am-2pm
Bilpin (2481 Bells Line of Rd, Bilpin) 6:30am-5pm
Just 10 minutes from the Sydney CBD, Folly’s is a buzzy bar and bistro in Cammeray drawing crowds from well beyond the neighbourhood. With burgundy leather banquettes, street-facing window seating, a bustling bar area, and a seasonal menu, it’s the kind of place made for settling in over the long weekend with friends, family and a few well-earned drinks.
Chef John Sipolo (ex-Fratelli Paradiso, Fauna) leads the kitchen, with standout dishes including his must-try linguini alla vodka, while the drinks list from ex-Applejack bartender Lachy Sturrock ensures the cocktails are just as memorable (try the Frosted Fruit or a mini negroni). With live music Saturday (7pm-10pm) and Sunday (4pm-7pm) and what many claim is the North Shore’s best Sunday roast, Folly’s is an easy pick for a relaxed Easter catch-up.
429 Miller Street, Cammeray NSW 2062
Good Friday 3pm-10pm | Saturday 3pm-12am | Easter Sunday 12pm-10pm
follys.com.au
With its amber-lit exterior and one of the North Shore’s largest wrap-around balconies, The Belroy is a striking corner pub in St Leonards with an upstairs conservatory-style terrace bar and bistro with blue leather banquettes and terrazzo-topped tables make for an ideal setting for a relaxed Easter long weekend lunch.
Downstairs, the moodier sports bar leans into classic pub energy, with black-and-white tiles, plenty of screens and a huge LED display. It’s the perfect spot to settle in with a pint and a pub classic while catching the NRL Easter Sunday game.
Across both floors, expect tap beers, wines and cocktails alongside a menu that balances traditional pub favourites like bangers and mash, schnitzel and burgers, with modern eats like poke bowls, salads, karaage chicken, pan-fried salmon, and piri piri roast chicken.
282-286 Pacific Hwy, St Leonards NSW 2065
Good Friday 12pm-3am | Saturday 10am-3am | Easter Sunday 10am-10pm | Easter Monday 10am-3am
thebelroyhotel.com.au
