Sound the Vuvuzelas! Unless you live under a rock or have no interest in sport (in which case I'm not sure why you're reading this) you may have heard that a little kick-around known as The Football* World Cup is about to begin.
As it's Brazil's turn to host The World Cup and we live in Sydney, there's going to be games televised at inconvenient hours. The kind of no-man's-land times when you're not sure whether to go to bed and wake up early or ride the lightning to the other side. However, this doesn't mean you have to be stuck in an inner west pub at 4am dipping vending-machine Twisties into Toohey's New to waiting for Timmy Cahill hit the back of the net. There's a multitude of places serving food, coffee and other liquid refreshments to see you through the games.
We want this to be a living, breathing list, so jump on the comments and let us know where you'll be watching the matches.
The Work-Shop Redfern
Brooklyn Boy Bagels has been nice enough to put a spread on for Australia v Chile on Saturday June 14 at 8am at Redfern's Work-Shop. There'll also be serving feijoada, the hearty Brazilian stew of pork and beans. The roller door comes up at 7am and there's a foosball tournament with prizes for anyone up for spin. Tickets are free (bagels are not) but you best register at the Work-Shop's website to secure a spot.
80 George St, Redfern, work-shop.com.au/event/world-cup-breakfast-australia-v-chile-live/
The Forresters
At 8am pizza is usually consumed cold from the night before. The Forresters, however, is plating up a breakfast pizza with bacon, egg, sausage, and beans for the morning of Australia v Chile.
336 Riley St, Surry Hills, 02 9212 3035
The Norfolk
Not to be outdone, The Norfolk's cousin pub is also screening Australia v Chile and putting on $5 breakky tacos filled with sausage and egg.
305 Cleveland St, Redfern, 02 9699 3177
Lowenbrau Keller
It's a German beer-hall, so naturally the Lowenbrau is televising the German games (or at least the 2am Portugal and USA clashes). A bar snack menu featuring house-baked pretzels, Thuringer sausage hot dogs, and a Reuben sandwich that's bigger than Thomas Muller's paycheque. Entry is $20 at the door or $10 pre-paid.
Cnr of Playfair and Argyle Sts, The Rocks, 02 9247 7785
The Ship Inn
The Circular Quay pub is screening a 2am game for each day of the group stage and an 8am game each day until June 23. The Ship's full menu of grazing plates, toasties, and pizzas will be available, too. For the morning matches there's $12 big breakfast special of bacon, sausage, beans, toast and coffee plus a Breakfast Bacon pizza for those inclined.
1 Pitt St Sydney, 02 9241 2433
The Star
All 64 games will be shown live, which is the least they could do, really, given there's over 50 LCD screens in the 24/7 Sports Bar. You can simply rock up and vie for a spot or, for a cool thousand bucks , you and a maximum of seven mates can book a private game table. A cash-drop of that size buys you pre-game shepherd and Berkshire pies, half-time antipasti and sandwiches, and a three-hour drinks package that includes NV Domain Chandon, Marlborough sauvignon blanc, Barossa shiraz and Carlton Draught. Elsewhere in the complex, The Star Event Centre is transformed into The Hyundai Fan Park, screening all Socceroos games, semi finals and the grand final.
80 Pyrmont St, Pyrmont, 02 9777 9000
Cafe XXII
This corner cafe is about a thousand times smaller than the casino across the road, but offers a sanctuary for Pyrmont residents not fussed on heading to The Star. It's showing a large selection of morning games and there's a free coffee for anyone wearing their team's jersey. Brioche French toast with marinated strawberries and mascarpone is a good excuse as any to get out of bed for 5am France vs Switzerland match. Cafe XXII has limited seating and recommends booking your spot.
22 Union St, Pyrmont, 02 9552 3093
Pyrmont Bridge Hotel
The all-day-every-day licence at The Bridge means every game of the 20th FIFA World Cup is televised for your viewing pleasure. The coverage is split across three levels and fifteen screens too, so if you're a die-hard Dutch supporter you needn't worry about those damn Socceroos hogging the only telly when you want to watch your boys in orange take on Chile. The hotel will have full bar service and a snack menu available throughout the coverage. A cheese and pate plate will see you through the wee hours and there's a breakfast menu from 9.30am.
96 Union St, Pyrmont, 02 9660 6996
Criniti's Manly
The Criniti's clan isn't adverse to Italian football and will be airing Italy v England at 8am Sunday June 15 in addition to Australia v Chile the morning before. Free coffee is on offer for anyone who orders breakfast. The breakfast platter for two should provide more than enough energy to cheer on the boys gold (or azure blue) with pancetta, Italian sausage, vine-ripened tomatoes, antipasti, sauteed mushrooms and spinach.
1/54 West Esplanade, Manly, 1300 274 648
The Unicorn, Paddington
The Oxford Street pub will be open from 7am for the first Socceroos game, serving a fry-up breakfast and screening the game on its shiny new big screen.
106 Oxford St, Paddington, 02 9360 7994
Goodtime Burgers
The Bondi Junction burger joint has a 4am license and will be playing all 2am games across five big screens. The kitchen will be open until midnight for burgers and fries. Note that the Juicy Lucy burger has a wagyu patty stuffed with brie and cheddar. Just saying...
500 Oxford St Bondi Junction
Sapori di Sardegna
The cute Sardinian deli plans to have the rabbit-ears pointing to SBS for a number of the games. Waverly locals might like to pop in on the weekend when Italy takes on England and owners Andrea and Pauline will be making paninos with sausage and onion or sausage and potato and brewing thick Sardinian coffee.
Shop 3, 173 Bronte Road, Waverley, 9388 9940
Papa Cafe 1970
Because of the permanent signage, for a number of years this writer thought Papa Cafe was actually named “World Cup Soccer Live". The sign for World Cup 2010 has been changed to World Cup 2014 thanks to carefully sticky-taped '4' so it looks like this Petersham stalwart will be televising a game or two again. There's usually gozleme, freshly squeezed juice and hot, black espressos of Schibello coffee.
24 Crystal St, Petersham
The Royal Hotel, Leichhardt
The Norton Street watering hole is televising all Australian games and serving homemade pies and sausage rolls. The bar will be open so you can grab a Rechs on tap or Sierra Nevada Pale Ale in the bottle (the label's green and gold, so it makes sense, right?).
156 Norton St, Leichhardt, 02 9569 2638
The Warren View Hotel
It's World Cup weekend at 'The Wazza' with Australia v Chile on Saturday and England v Italy on the Sunday. Doors open at 7.30am and The Warren View will be serving simple bacon and egg, sausage and egg, and vegetarian rolls. There will also be a foosball table on the go for anyone wanting a kick around of their own.
2 Stanmore Rd, Enmore, 02 9557 1064
PLUS…
The Enmore Theatre
The art deco theatre will be screening all Australia games plus all Greece games. The theatre will have an operating bar, nine by six metre screen, and err, theatre-quality sound. Note that the Australia v Holland and Greece v Japan games will be screening a couple of blocks away at The Factory Theatre instead.
118-132 Enmore Rd, Newtown, 02 9550 3666
Hoyts Cinemas
It's not quite the same as going to Brazil, but an immersive experience nonetheless. The Hoyts cinemas of Blacktown, Broadway and Moore Park's Entertainment Quarter are televising the Aussie matches and a hodge-podge of finals and other group games on the big, big screen. Tickets are priced differently depending on the cinema and fixture, but all have the option for a bacon and egg toastie and orange juice to be thrown in for a few dollars more.
hoyts.com.au
Belmore Park
A live site at Belmore Park will be screening all three Aussie games and the final with a few food-stalls set up for sustenance. If you were so inclined, you could also grab a Tiger from Harry's Cafe de Wheels around the corner on Hay Street.
Across from Eddy Ave at Central Station
World Square
A big screen will be televising the 5am and onward games The Cup's duration. A fine choice for office workers who can grab a takeaway brekky in the city (or from one of the many joints in World Square itself) and catch a spot of football before that 10am meeting with Brian from accounts. There's match replays throughout the day and a shoot-out competition 12pm-1pm Fridays with giveaways. Oh, and Brazilian dancers between 12pm-1pm from June 12-14.
680 George St, Sydney, 8669 6900
*This is not the forum to weigh in on the eternal “we call it soccer here, not football” debate, however, one should note it's FIFA not FISA.
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