The daily 11am coffee cupping sessions at The Cupping Room (1/13 University Ave, Civic) are just one reason to visit local coffee roaster Ona’s new venue. The other is their fantastic breakfast menu featuring jamon and peas with poached eggs and Persian feta (pictured), or the benedito with poached eggs and ‘guacacassa’ – avocado with Tobasco. Staff will advise what coffees are on offer and their best method of delivery.

What started as a daytime cafe has now evolved into a fantastic all-day eatery that offers a popular BYO dinner menu. “The food’s uncomplicated and true to the ingredients,” says owner and chef Sean McConnell. “We try to limit the food miles and work with local producers.” Sit at the green marble bar and watch the action at the burners or sink into one of the leather chairs. Order a fresh grapefruit juice or organic fair trade coffee with one of the daily specials or Sean’s pick – the Tripoli baked eggs.

Local Press Cafe (129 Trevillian Quay Kingston), part of the new Kingston Foreshore development, is the ideal spot to kick back for a lazy Sunday brunch. Pull up a stool made from recycled fence palings at the communal table and try one of the cold-pressed juices made fresh onsite. Highly recommended on the wholefoods-focused menu is the green pea pancake made with poached eggs, feta, avocado, mint and drizzled with a pomegranate and balsamic reduction. Wander down the boardwalk after your meal – the development may still be underway but there are signs that this could be a fantastic new dining precinct.

If you’re in need of a sugar hit, Penny University (15 Kennedy St, Kingston), opened by young-guns Effie Kochinos and Ellie Raymond in November 2013, is your go-to destination. Bask in the eclectic, homey ambience as you peruse the paint-worn timber dresser groaning with 19-year-old pastry cook extraordinare Elliane’s creations – think lemon curd tarts, raspberry bakewells, salted caramel chocolate tarts and choc hazelnut croissants. Hang outside on the milk-crate seating with vintage crochet blankets or inside next to the exposed brick wall featuring illustrations of anthropomorphised animals in waist coats, as you devour an orange citrus cronut.

Da Rosario (59 London Circuit, Civic) is the hole-in-the-wall eatery from the Trimboli family, who also own Italian and Sons and Mezzalira. Seating is outdoors only, panini and coffee come from the tiny shop and larger items come from the Mezzalira kitchen next door. Serving breakfast and lunch only, this is simple alfresco eating at its best.

Just around the corner from BentSpoke Brewery is artisan bakery Autolyse (5/21 Lonsdale st, Braddon), which opened in Sydney’s Central Park precinct, and specialises in handmade sourdough, cakes and wickedly crisp and buttery pastries. Order a cofee from local roaster Ona with one of their killer choc or almond croissants, then watch head baker David Damour hard at work.

Although not exactly secret, Molly (Hobart Place, Civic) is the uber-cool underground bar found via GPS coordinates or with a little ingenuity – just follow the groups of people huddled over their phones in Hobart Place. Look for the unmarked wooden door with a single light globe above, then head down the stairs to the bar. “I love Molly, they’ve nailed the speakeasy vibe. You half expect Frank Sinatra to walk in and hang up his hat,” says Sean McConnell. Owners Antony Arena, Dean Brown and Lorenzo Focarile have created the frst bar of its kind for Canberra, one where bartenders know their craft, shaking, stirring and setting alight their creations with deft ease – a gin martini or old fashioned are the order of the day. “You can order a whisky sour and a charcuterie plate at 11pm, it’s great,” says Sean.

For an authentic experience, Italian and Sons (7 Lonsdale St, Braddon) is outstanding. One of the frst to set-up shop on Lonsdale street five years ago, the hatted trattoria by the Trimboli family (owners of new Da Rosario, p 143) delivers refned, Italian favours with attentive and knowledgeable service. The open kitchen is dominated by the woodfred oven that pumps out perfect pizzas, along with roasted meats. Wines are mostly Italian, try the chianti classico with the patate (potato and rosemary) pizza (left), then fnish of with tiramisu.

Nestled into the luxurious East Hotel, Joe’s Bar brings a touch of Italian elegance to Griffith. The space features a 10-metre-long marble bar, stocked with an excellent selection of aperitivi and Italian wines, ready and waiting to be paired with your meal. The menu skews towards contemporary Italian cocktails and meals that draw upon chef Francesco Balistrieri’s Roman roots. While the negroni reigns supreme here, other cocktails include the ‘Upper East Side’ (vanilla infused bourbon, Nocello, peach nectar, lemon and bitters) and the ‘Apple-Ginger Tini’ (vodka, apple schnapps and ginger syrup). 69 Canberra Ave, Griffith joesateast.com