Running a café as parents changes the way you think about hospitality. At Dad and the Frog Café, we’ve built a local hub in Surry Hills where families feel genuinely welcome—from pram parking to kid-friendly nooks to water bowls for your four-legged bestie. If you’re searching for a Surry Hills cafe that nails breakfast, brunch, coffee, and a relaxed lunch, you’re in the right place.

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.

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 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

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.

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.

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.

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.

We get it—winter in Sydney can feel a little drab, especially when the rain rolls in like it’s set up camp for the week. But here at Dad and the Frog Café, we’re keeping things cozy, warm, and delicious—rain or shine.

This week, we’re expecting a few rainy days, but we’re ready for it. Our team’s prepped to serve up your favourite coffee, breakfast, or brunch with a smile—indoors or under cover. But come 10am on a sunny day, our Farnell Street laneway turns into pure magic. That golden winter light slices through just right, warming up our outdoor seating and turning brunch into a sun-drenched ritual.

Running a café is more than great coffee and tasty brunch—it’s people, systems, and knowing when to pause and reassess. At Dad and the Frog, we’re in that in-between phase that a lot of small, scaling businesses hit:

• The seats are filling.

• The coffee orders are flowing.

• But behind the scenes, we’re stretched.

We’re not quite big enough to hire a whole new team member, but we’re too busy for business-as-usual. So how do we manage it?

There’s something about brunch that deserves a little celebration. And nothing says "treat yourself" quite like a mimosa. At Dad and the Frog Café, we’re making the case for why a crisp, citrusy mimosa belongs in your weekend routine.

Spoiler: it’s not just the bubbles.

A Day in the Life: What It’s Really Like Running a Surry Hills Cafe

Welcome to Dad and the Frog Café. You might know us for our chilli scrambled eggs or that perfect flat white on your morning walk, but today’s post isn’t about what’s on your plate—it’s about the person behind the pass.

As the owner of this Surry Hills cafe, I’m often told how lucky I am to “just make coffee and chat to customers all day.” I get it—it looks like a dream job. But behind every breakfast service and brunch rush is a whole lot of early mornings, late nights, and hard decisions. So I thought I’d share what actually goes into owning and running one of the best cafes in Surry Hills.