Primary Coffee, SIT and Stitch Coffee were some of the most hotly anticipated cafe openings in Sydney, and we’ve got the low-down on when to go, what to eat and which one is right for your next weekend.July 5, 2026Three of Sydney’s most exciting new cafes opened in Marrickville over the past year, cementing the inner west suburb as the go-to for specialty coffee and weekend brunch. Over three rapid-fire cafe reviews I’ll guide you through Primary Coffee, Stitch Coffee and SIT: when to go, what to order and what makes them the right choice (or not) for your next coffee or matcha catch-up.Primary CoffeeAfter nearly a decade of serving house-roasted specialty coffee from his small Potts Point cafe, Dan Kim expanded Primary Coffee to a second location in the industrial part of Marrickville. The working roastery-turned-cafe opened in November, transforming a brick warehouse into a well-designed haven of clean lines and warm Japandi minimalism.This is not a place where you can settle into a comfortable couch with a book, or eat anything substantial (though there is a small selection of pastries from Pioik Bakery in Pyrmont). Rather, it’s a pilgrimage for coffee enthusiasts seeking a cup of Sydney’s best. Restaurant reviews, news and the hottest openings served to your inbox.Sign upBut for one signature drink (more on that later) the menu plays it straight: barista’s choice of one small-batch single origin and the seasonal espresso blend, filtered or extracted any which way you like. It encourages you to really taste where the coffee came from, and the pourover creates a cup of coffee that is so smooth, so clean and so free from bitterness that it’ll convert the most die-hard coffee sceptic. Then there’s the Einspanner. Exclusive to the Marrickville location, it combines a seasonal blend of Colombian and Guatemalan coffee beans, rich Jersey milk and a gently curved dollop of house-made whipped cream, with vanilla and panela sugar. Think of it like a grown-up affogato. Pros: Exceptional coffee, vinyl records, dog-friendlyCons: (Mostly) uncomfortable seating, singular offering 38 Chapel Street, Marrickville, primarycoffee.com.auSITFirst, there was Baba’s Place: a one-hatted Marrickville warehouse restaurant where Eastern Europe meets western Sydney. In February, the same team opened SIT, its first cafe on Illawarra Road, a short walk from what will become the Marrickville metro station. The space has a through line of intentional eclecticism that will feel familiar, if more contemporary, to Baba’s diners: a resin doily lampshade, colourful carnations and stepped “amphitheatre” seating in the corner, made of recycled pastel plastic.Mediterranean-ish brekkie and lunch menus are provided via QR code but the orders are taken via humans. Said humans seem remarkably warm and easy-going. Yes, they will take a photo of you and your son sharing pancakes. Yes, they might offer a leftover steak to dogs as they pass by (note: the venue itself isn’t dog-friendly). And yes, they’ll probably suggest a freddo espresso with agave syrup and house-made almond milk, and it’s an excellent choice. There are two absolute must-trys: the pot-set yoghurt and the pancakes. The former made me angry: are you seriously telling me that yoghurt could have been this good that entire time? I don’t even really care about yoghurt and now I feel the need to tell everyone about it. It’s light, almost mousse-like, encased within a satisfyingly chewy layer of natural milk fat and a thick, sticky coat of honey. Paired with a side of walnuts and optional sliced fruit, it’s a textural dream. The pancake, too, stands up to some of Sydney’s best. It’s the size of a dinner plate, perfectly cooked, served beneath a paper-thin sheet of butter that slowly, theatrically, melts in. And a side of maple syrup, of course.Pros: Thoughtful but approachable menu, mind-bending yoghurt, vibesCons: Weekend queues, no dogs, a little exxy (but you get what you pay for)387 Illawarra Road, Marrickville, comesit.com.auStitch CoffeeStitch Coffee takes Serious Coffee Business and makes it fun, without compromising quality. They’re the kind of roasters who will put a pastel cartoon rat on their packaging, who aren’t afraid to experiment with different delivery methods (ever tried steeping your coffee like tea?) and who readily adventure into new territory, with a range that now includes matcha, chai and chocolate.Their roastery-cafe opened in April, with an arched timber ceiling and long, tiled coffee bar. Half of the interior is dedicated retail space: a careful arrangement of ceramic filters, merchandise and trade magazines that make Stitch the perfect choice for a last-minute birthday present, alongside your morning coffee.Most of the seating is on plywood furniture outside, on a wide concrete space bathed in morning sun. It’s a popular choice with running groups, families and people with dogs but there is the occasional street-sweeper dampening the vibe.At the counter you’ll see the drinks menu is similarly experimental: nitro-brewed coffee blended with yuzu for an extra pick-me-up, toasty hojicha lattes with foam, and the viral watermelon cold brew sprinkled with rose petals, which sounds like a strange combination but works.Unlike its CBD outpost, the menu is limited to creative, Asian-inspired pastries from Tenacious Bakehouse in Darlinghurst. You really can’t go wrong here but we enjoyed the taro cream croissant (not too sweet) and the Korean spicy pork croissant. Pros: Sunny outdoor seating, proximity to Sydenham station, fun drinksCons: Street-sweeper, limited food15 Sydney Street, Marrickville, stitch.coffeeThree more Marrickville cafes to try