When the sun hits Fitzroy Street, our little corner of Surry Hills wakes up fast. At Dad and the Frog Café, breakfast isn’t rushed—it’s your moment to breathe. Whether you’re grabbing coffee on the way to Moore Park or settling in for a relaxed brunch, we’ve built a local cafe that feels like your spot.

If you’ve ever dreamed of opening a cafe but don’t have a big budget for a fit-out, the good news is that you don’t need deep pockets to get started. At Dad and the Frog Café in Surry Hills, we’ve learned that success doesn’t come from flashy furniture — it comes from focus. With the right approach, you can still create a place people will call their new favourite spot for coffee, breakfast, brunch, and lunch.

Running a café isn’t just about brewing the perfect coffee or serving up a dreamy brunch. It’s about the people behind the counter, the culture that shapes their day, and the consistency that makes every guest feel at home. At Dad and the Frog Café in Surry Hills, we’ve learned that when you start scaling a café, the biggest challenge isn’t your menu it’s your people.

This September only, every catering order over $300 comes with a FREE medium fruit platter—bright, fresh, and ready to raisin the bar. Consider it our way of saying “you’re the zest.”

Parenting is hard enough, sleepless nights, unpredictable routines, and the constant juggle of adjusting to your infant’s ever-changing body clock. Sometimes, the best thing you can do is stop, reset, and give yourself a moment to breathe. That’s where we come in.

When people ask us what makes Dad and the Frog Café special, I always say it’s more than just the food and coffee—it’s the feeling. We’ve built a café in Surry Hills where every visit feels like you’re part of a neighbourhood community.

When people ask what keeps guests coming back to our café in Surry Hills, the answer often comes down to one thing: our crispy hash browns. They’ve been on the menu since the early days of Dad and the Frog Café, evolving through many variations before settling into the version you know today.

What makes them special? They’re completely handmade in-house—shredded potatoes pressed into shape, fried until golden, and seasoned just right. The crunch gives way to a fluffy, moist centre, striking the perfect balance every time.

Spring in Sydney is always special, but this year it feels extra exciting. With the Sydney Marathon bringing thousands of runners and visitors from around the globe, our little corner in Surry Hills is buzzing again. As a registered local business with the City of Sydney, we’re proud to be part of this international event and even prouder to welcome new and familiar faces through our doors.

Why Dad and the Frog Café is Your Spring Go-To

We’re just minutes from Moore Park, making us the ideal spot to start or end your walk. Dog walkers love our pet-friendly outdoor dining, parents appreciate our pram-friendly setup, and local office workers escape here for a lunch that feels like a mini holiday.

Our menu has something for every mood – from breakfast classics to colourful salads and wraps, all paired with specialty coffee from Madding Crowd Roasters

Spring in Surry Hills means warmer days, longer afternoons, and a whole lot more colour on our plates. At Dad and the Frog Café, we’ve rolled out our new spring/summer menu, packed with fresh flavours and vibrant ingredients. Whether you’re here for breakfast, brunch, or lunch, our dishes are designed to be light, nourishing, and full of seasonal produce, perfect for those sunny days in our alfresco dining area.

We’re looking forward to the warm spring weather that makes a coffee taste even better. With the sunny forecast ahead, Dad and the Frog Café is ready to welcome you to our outdoor dining space one of Surry Hills’ favourite spots for relaxed breakfasts, brunch dates, or lingering lunches.

Our leafy alfresco area, surrounded by plants and covered in natural light, is perfect for everything from a casual meeting to a solo wind-down session. The fresh air, great food, and specialty coffee is exactly what this weather calls for.

Why Doesn’t My Team Work As Hard As Me?

Spoiler: They Might — They Just Need Better Tools

When I first opened Dad and the Frog Café, I wore every hat — chef, barista, dishwasher, people pleaser. It felt like I was carrying the whole business on my back. I remember standing behind the coffee machine thinking, why doesn’t anyone else hustle like I do?

Eventually, I realised it wasn’t about motivation — it was about clarity.

At Dad and the Frog Café, we’ve always believed in celebrating the little things—great food, better coffee, and time well spent. And now, we’re adding one more reason to make the most of your day: Happy Hour is coming soon.

What’s the Deal?

Every day, from 11am to 12pm, you’ll be able to enjoy:

• $13 cocktails

• $8 house beer or wine
  ...with the purchase of any signature dish or big side.

This isn’t just any promo—it’s your midday permission slip to indulge, reset, or celebrate the everyday in style.

Running a Surry Hills café sounds dreamy—sunny mornings, specialty coffee, vibrant brunch plates and chats with locals. But ask anyone behind the scenes, and they’ll tell you—it’s also a whole lot of spreadsheets, scheduling, and showing up when you least expect it.

At Dad and the Frog Café, we’re proud to be one of the best cafes in Sydney not just because of our food and coffee, but because of what happens behind the curtain. Here's a peek into a typical week in my world as the owner.

In the fast-paced world of hospitality, it’s easy to get caught up in the grind—serving lattes, plating brunch, making lunch magic happen. But at Dad and the Frog Café in Surry Hills, we believe that the real growth happens when we pause and listen. Whether it’s a customer telling us they loved their brekkie roll or a team member pointing out where a process could be smoother, we take feedback seriously. Why? Because it helps us stay one of the best cafes in Surry Hills—not just for the coffee, but for the experience too.

Running a café means more than just serving stellar coffee, delicious breakfast, and lazy brunch in a cosy Surry Hills setting. It means managing real human moments—like when someone walks through your doors already having a rough day, or when something doesn’t meet their expectations.

At Dad and the Frog Café, we know that even the best cafes will, from time to time, face complaints. And here’s the truth: while the customer isn’t always right, how you respond is always your responsibility.

Winter doesn’t mean hiding indoors. At Dad and the Frog Café, we’re turning the chill season into your new favourite brunch vibe with our sun-soaked alfresco dining. Located on Farnell Street, our corner of Surry Hills gets the kind of golden midday light that makes you want to stay for one more coffee—or maybe a cheeky cocktail.

Whether you're catching up with friends, powering through a creative workday, or just pausing to soak up some much-needed Vitamin D, our dog-friendly outdoor seating is made for lingering.

When we first opened the doors to Dad and the Frog Café, it was just a tiny 12 seat space serving locals their morning coffee and a quick bite. We kept prices low, thinking it would give people the “best deal.” But here’s the truth, it left us with little room to grow or improve.

Eventually, we asked ourselves: What does it actually mean to be the best cafe in Surry Hills? The answer wasn’t about being the cheapest, it was about giving our guests an experience they’d want to return to.

If you're looking for the ultimate inner-city suburb to spend a day with the family, Surry Hills ticks all the boxes. Think tree-lined streets, heritage terraces, converted warehouses, indie galleries, weekend markets, and more dog walkers than you can count. And in the middle of it all? A local gem of a cafe—Dad and the Frog—that’s designed to keep everyone fuelled and happy.

Make the most of your family time with coffee, comfort food and a stroll to the playground

School holidays in Sydney can be a mix of magic and mayhem—especially if you’re juggling family time and your sanity. If you’re looking for a relaxed outing in Surry Hills, we’ve got a little local secret to share: start your morning with a stroll to Moore Park Playground, let the kids burn some energy, then swing past Dad and the Frog Café to refuel.

We’re a Surry Hills café that gets it—parents need a moment, kids want something delicious, and everyone deserves a good feed.