Cafe XXII

In the 1850s Pyrmont was the place to go for the best sandstone - there were once 50 quarries around Wattle Street and Union Street - and there are still wonderful glimpses of the past to be had. Another warm golden glow comes with every Espresso Anonimo coffee ($3.40) taken at this historic sandstone corner cottage, albeit from a tattooed barista. Breakfasts of buttermilk pancakes and porridge segue to buzzy lunches of pumpkin and feta salads and, in homage to the mining past (or not), there's even a BLAST (that's Bacon, Lettuce, Avocado, Salsa and Tomato).