Discover the best cafes in St Leonards to get lunch! Whether you’re looking for places to eat in St Leonards during your lunch break or you live in the area, Sydney local Beth Shea is sharing her personal go to cafes to help you make the right choice, so you’re not disappointed when ordering lunch next time.
Beth is a Sydney North Shore resident and a copy writing expert helping businesses from her self titled site; Bethany Shea. Make sure you follow her on Instagram at @bethmyvallentine to keep up to date with her adventures.
Best Cafes In St Leonards
While many people only come to St Leonards for work, it is a universal truth that this Sydney suburb boasts some of the best places for lunch! For those working in St Leonards, finding good places to eat lunch can be overwhelming. Thankfully, I’m here to share with you some of the best cafes in St Leonards I personally go to.
1. LHM Foods In St Leonards
Let’s start with one of the best cafes in St Leonards, LHM Foods. This unassuming corner café on the Pacific Highway (a two minute walk from the station across Herbert Street), boasts some of the tastiest, healthiest and cheapest lunch options! Plus! Let’s not forget to mention, it’s home to the most delicious coffee.
It’s a familiar sight in the office to see everyone armed for their 9am meeting with LHM’s signature orange coffee cup, exuding the delightful scent of freshly brewed perfection. When it comes to lunch, LHM Foods has an incredible selection of small but mighty takeaway food packs. These are perfect for grabbing quickly and heating up in the office, or taking to the local oval for an outdoor picnic.
From DIY burritos to lamb kofta and an extensive range of pasta salads, there’s always something delicious to get you through the rest of your day. And, it’s at a very reasonable price, with almost nothing over $10! An added bonus is their selection of breakfast fruit and yoghurt cups for those days when you forgot to grab your morning granola.
A fair warning, this place is very popular at 9am and 12:30. Keep this in mind when you duck in to get your lunch or coffee of choice.
Address: LHM Foods, 207 Pacific Highway, St Leonards NSW 2065
2. Destination Roll
At just $7 each, Destination Roll in St Leonards has a delightful range of Vietnamese rolls prepared right before your very eyes. Featuring fresh vegetables, the most delicious mayo you’ve ever had, and crisp bread rolls made in-house, this is a healthy and filling lunch that always hits the spot.
While every option is good, the crispy pork roll is truly a thing of beauty. Try it, you won’t regret it! This place always has a long line come lunch, so try to get there before the 1pm rush if you can!
Address:Destination Roll, Shop 1/201 Pacific Hwy, St Leonards NSW 2065
3. Romeo’s Pie Café
If it’s a cold, rainy day and all you want is a hot and comforting pie to warm you up, look no further than Romeo’s Pie Café! The shelves are laden with the most delicious pies you may ever have the pleasure of experiencing. From potato to steak and everything in between (including sausage and spinach rolls), there’s something here for everyone.
The chicken and cheese pie is a personal favourite– there’s something about the way the gooey cheese melts with the tender chicken and buttery pastry that just makes you feel like you’re home!
Address: Romeo’s Pie Café, Shop 3/201 Pacific Highway, St Leonards NSW 2065
4. Sushi Bowl
There is quite the selection of Japanese restaurants in St Leonards, but after careful investigation into each, Sushi Bowl could be considered the top dog.
Boasting reasonable prices and an excellent range of Japanese cuisine, Sushi Bowl in St Leonards is well worth the wait at the lights to cross Pacific Highway for your lunchtime food adventures.
With most dishes coming with complementary sides, you can enjoy all your favourites including udon, bento boxes, fish and rice bowls, curry, and a wide range of sushi! The chicken katsu udon soup in particular is a real winner and hits the spot just right – especially on a cold day.
Address: Sushi Bowl, 12 Pacific Highway, St Leonards NSW 2065
5. Galerie Cafe
If you’re looking something on the healthier side, make your way up Pacific Highway to Galerie Café. Tucked at the far end of the shops opposite the oval, you’ll find all-day breakfasts, velvety coffee and a delicious array of healthy lunch options. Galerie Café is one of those St Leonards cafes which is too easy to miss if you don’t know it’s there.
There are plenty of places to sit, so don’t hesitate to bring along a friend. Keep an eye out for the weekly specials and make sure to give their meatball sub a try when it does the rounds – it’s a lunchtime game changer!
Address: Galerie Cafe, 66 Pacific Highway, St Leonards NSW 2065
6. Gilroys Hotel
Heading out with the coworkers for a casual pub lunch in St Leonards? Gilroys Hotel is only a minute from the station plaza and features the perfect combination of pub vibes with a touch of class for your lunchtime needs.
Gilroys Hotel offers the usual fare of pub lunches, including a chicken schnitty they claim to be the best chicken schnitzel in St Leonards (look, they’re not wrong)! They also do a very delicious couscous salad for the health conscious! Reasonably priced and very tasty, Gilroys Hotel in St Leonards, is the pub of choice.
Address: Gilroys Hotel, 75 Christie Street, St Leonards NSW 2065
7. Charlie & Franks
If you’re looking for the perfect place to enjoy a work lunch in St Leonards with the team that’s more refined than the pub, look not much further up the road for Charlie & Franks. With an excellent array of seating options both inside and out, you can squeeze in your entire department to enjoy the extensive variety of food options available.
Expect excellent options including all-day breakfast (the acai bowl is to die for!), burgers, healthy food bowls and wine! The Middle Eastern Lamb tortilla is a crowd favourite in my department, and if you don’t give it a try, you’re seriously missing out.
Address: Charlie & Franks, IBM Plaza, Shop 1, 601 Pacific Highway, St Leonards NSW 2065
8. The Moody Chef
Nestled on the corner of Atchison Street (and less than 5 minutes from the station), is one of St Leonards’ true hidden treasures: The Moody Chef. Not only does this St Leonards café have a lovely, vibrant atmosphere, but the staff are just as delightful as the food. With plenty of cosy seating options, this is the perfect place to enjoy a healthy lunch over a good book – or with your laptop if you need to sneak in a bit of extra work.
Everything is delicious, but do give the Korean chicken bowl a try, it’s a personal favourite. Sadly, they don’t do all-day breakfast. However, if you can find the time and energy, their signature strawberry and rhubarb pancakes are absolutely worth waking up an hour earlier before work in order to start your day on the sweeter side.
Address: The Moody Chef, 30 Atchison Street, St Leonards NSW 2065
9. The Wooden Whisk
If your tastebuds are tingling for some exceptional culinary delights, take the time to make the 5-10 minute walk from the station to visit The Wooden Whisk in St Leonards. Hidden underneath the local Teppanyaki, the food here isn’t your usual run of the mill lunch fare. We’re talking hefty bowls of glossy pasta doused in truffle butter, braised lamb shoulder on a dressing of pomegranate molasses, croque madam dripping in creamy béchamel sauce, and decadent deep fried haloumi salad – and that’s just for starters.
Perfect for celebrating a birthday or to treat yo’ self, The Wooden Whisk is well worth the walk and slightly steeper price tag. After all, you’re working in St Leonards, you deserve some TLC.
Address: The Wooden Whisk ,Shop 7 & 8, 38-46 Albany Street, St Leonards NSW 2065
10. Green Gourmet
Green Gourmet is a bit of an institution when it comes to vegan restaurants in Sydney. It’s one of the oldest in the city and is also popular amongst non veggies as well. Specialising n Asian style vegan yum cha in St Leonards, they also have a popular second restaurant in Newtown as well. If you’re low on time for lunch, place your order before you’re ready to pick it up and eat it at your desk.
Address: Green Gourmet, 538 Pacific Hwy, St Leonards NSW 2065
11. Cavalier 1.0
Cavalier 1.0 is a gorgeous little espresso bar offering up some of the best coffee in St Leonards. They also serve up fantastic takeaway food like toasties, deli rolls and fresh ingredients, you’ll be coming back time and time again to this little gem!
Address: Cavalier 1.0, shop 1, 34 oxley street, st leonards 2065.
Where To Eat Your Lunch In St Leonards
If you’re looking for a great place to eat your takeaway lunch, Gore Hill Oval is just a short 5-minute walk from the station. With plenty of picnic benches around the playground and extensive green space on which to relax, this is the local lunchtime location of choice.
A big thanks to Bethany for sharing her go to cafes in St Leonards! Hopefully this might help some of you looking for a quick lunch when working in or visiting the area! If you’re looking for more places to eat in Sydney, be sure to check out our Sydney food page!
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Best Cafes In St Leonards
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