Sydney’s Best Coffee & Hidden Gems – Mick’s Five Inside!

Happy St Patrick’s Day. I hope you had a great weekend and as this is such a special day today for our Irish family and friends I tried even harder today to dig out some gems for your enjoyment this week.

1. Where home meets café in Redfern ☕️ 

Redfern has certainly become gentrified since the 1970s and great places continue popping up for meals and entertainment. Doran Doran Coffee and Dining is one of these fantastic places.

As they say, ”…your coffee experience at Doran Doran is not just a drink; it's an awakening of the senses, a moment of tranquility, and a journey through the world of coffee…”

The day menu includes some brilliant meals including; French toast, sandwiches (Boston shoulder is my choice), prawn rolls, Panko chicken curry, Harissa roast chicken and the house lasagna.

The dinner (Tuesday to Friday) are Korean classics including; Bulgogi dinner set, Korean fried chicken, Kimbab & Ramyeon Combo and a range of Bibimbap creations for around mid $20s per serve.

Scoring a 4.9 Google rating, the customers clearly think Doran Doran is the “bees knees”.. Charlie sums it up in his review “…Doran Doran is all about a sense of gathering and enjoyment, and this is a perfect representation of that. Try anything on their menu - I dare you - and you’ll love it…”

Located at 137 Regent Street, Redfern. Open Monday through Saturday from 7:00am to 3:00pm on Monday and Saturday and closing at 8:30pm, Tuesday through Friday as they serve dinner.

2. A bar that is small, but big in many ways 🍻 

The Noble Hops, as you may guess from the name, has a focus on beer, craft beer that is.

The weekly events will help you choose a day to visit this bar. Hoppy hour is everyday from 4:00 to 6:00pm with $8 beers, wines and spirits, Tuesday is Trivia from 7:00pm, Wednesday is $15 classic cocktails all night long, Thursday are $15 Negroni specials and grab a $12 spritz on Saturday from 1:00 to 4:00pm.

Cemo sums up in a Google review “… Very good bar staff, great beers, lots of friendly dogs (on leads) outside. Awesome pizza menu for resto across street table delivered to you with a joke and a smile.…”

Located at 125 Redfern Street, Redfern and open Monday to Friday from 4:00pm until 10:00 / 11:00pm and Saturday from 1:00pm until midnight.

3. Guys & Dolls at the Handa Opera on Sydney Harbour

Guys & Dolls is one of the most awarded Broadway musicals ever written and comes to life on this grand harbour-side stage! The venue is the magnificent Fleet Steps at Mrs. Macquaries Point.

Escape to flashy Manhattan in the 1950s: a larger-than-life world of showgirls and gangsters, set against the backdrop of Sydney’s glittering harbour. The music score is packed with huge hits, including ‘Luck Be a Lady’, ‘Sit Down You’re Rockin’ the Boat’, and ‘I’ve Never Been in Love Before’.

HSBC Platinum Club

Pop up dining at its best. The HSBC Platinum Club is where you can get you pre-performance dinner and interval drinks. Pricing starts at $236 for two course dinner, plus Interval drinks and canapes.

Show tickets start at $79 for adults plus booking fee. You can purchase online via the website.

4. No smugglers in 2025, just awesome views from the headland 🚶 

The Smugglers Track is part of the walk and is a 400 metre climb up the Barrenjoey Headland to the lighthouse for stunning views. You can also opt for the Access Trail which is not so steep and take another 10 minutes. The name comes from customs officers who built the track to monitor smugglers bringing contraband into Broken Bay around 1850.

Overall the walk is around 2.5 kms and takes about 90 minutes. The lighthouse was built in 1881 and is heritage protected. You can walk around it but only see inside via a guided tour.

If you would like to see inside the lighthouse then you can join a guided tour on Sunday for 30 minutes at a cost of $10 per adult.

Don’t forget your hat, sunscreen and some water. Please note that parking fees apply.

5. Despite the name you wont find Tarzan at this restaurant 🍽️ 

Jane is located at 478 Bourke Street, Surry Hills and is a sister restaurant to Arthur which is further down the road and Fior in Gymea.

The lunchtime menu is a choice of a la carte or the $60 set menu which includes; sourdough, stracciatella, kangaroo tartare, pickled mussels, lamb dumplings and vegetables.

The dinner menu is a choice of a la carte or the $90 set menu which includes; sourdough, stracciatella, pickled mussels, squid ribbons, lamb dumplings, duck breast, vegetables and a dessert. Both menus subject to change.

Jane has a huge following of raving fans with a 4.8 star Google rating. Katie nails it in her review “… I don’t even know where to begin with this review - Jane in Surry Hills is hands down my favourite restaurant. Whether I’m hosting family, clients, or friends, Jane is always my first choice…”

Open seven days per week including lunches on Friday to Sunday. Monday to Thursday is 5:00 to 10:00pm and Friday to Sunday opening hours are from midday.

Bookings are always recommended and can be done via the website or by calling the team on 0403 632 355

Thanks for reading! Catch you again on Thursday.

Cheers and beers,

Mick

Founder of Mick’s Five