Starting Monday, 27th July, Dad and the Frog Cafe will be opening a little later.

Our new hours:

• Monday to Friday: 7am – 3pm

• Saturday & Sunday: 8am – 3pm

• Kitchen closes at 2pm daily

Our old hours were:

• Weekdays: 6:30am – 3pm

• Weekends: 7:30am – 3pm

• Kitchen closed at 2pm daily

It's a small shift on paper, but it's the result of a lot of thinking, some real number-crunching, and a genuine want to look after the people who make this cafe what it is. Here's how I landed on it.

There's a question we get a lot, usually from people who have worked a few shifts in hospitality or are dreaming about opening their own place. What actually makes a café worth coming back to? It isn't the espresso machine. It isn't the fit-out or the playlist. After a few years running a Surry Hills cafe, we're convinced it comes down to two words that sound like the same thing but absolutely are not: service and hospitality.

If you have ever wondered what really goes on behind the scenes at a busy cafe, this is the philosophy our whole team trains on. No secrets. Here it is.

There's a moment every café owner knows well. It's mid-morning, the room is full, the coffee machine hasn't stopped, and a beautiful plate is sitting in the pass a few seconds too long because the kitchen is juggling too many things at once. I've watched that moment more times than I'd like to admit — and it's the reason our menu looks a little different today.

Welcome to the new Dad and the Frog menu. We've trimmed it back, sharpened it up, and pointed our whole kitchen at one goal: making fewer dishes, brilliantly.

Looking for a dog-friendly café in Surry Hills? Dad and the Frog offers dog treats, sunny & shady outdoor seating, and we're steps from Moore Park.

Offices around the neighbourhood started asking if we could feed their teams. A few morning meetings turned into proper morning teas. Boardroom lunches became a regular thing. Before we knew it, our little Surry Hills café was quietly doing corporate catering right across the inner city.

Is Eating Out in Surry Hills Worth It? Here's What You Actually Get for Your Money

The honest guide to value, pricing, and what to expect from breakfast, brunch, and lunch in Surry Hills.

If you've ever typed "Surry Hills cafe prices" or "is brunch in Surry Hills expensive?" into Google, you're not alone. It's one of the most searched questions when people are deciding where to eat in Sydney's most vibrant inner-city neighbourhood. And it's a fair one.

Surry Hills has a reputation — great food, strong coffee, cool atmosphere. But does it come at a cost? Is it actually good value? We're breaking it all down so you can decide before you even leave home.

My name is Daniel, and I’ve been in hospitality since it was just a part-time job while I was at uni.

Like a lot of people, I didn’t step into the industry thinking I’d one day own a café. At the time, it was work. A way to earn money. Something practical. But over the years, hospitality became much more than that.

I worked my way through all sorts of roles. Kitchen hand, private butler, corporate hospitality, catering, cook, supervisor, you name it. I saw many sides of the industry, and I experienced hospitality in a time when the standards around pressure, hours, and treatment were very different to what they should be.

This was during the era when pots and pans being thrown in anger was brushed off as normal. Sixteen-hour days without a proper break were accepted. I still remember finishing a job on Cockatoo Island at 5:30 in the morning, only to be left stranded with my colleagues because no boat had been arranged to get us back to the mainland.

There were parts of it I loved, and parts of it I hated.

When the weather starts to cool, most people expect café season to slow down. At Dad and the Frog Café, it tends to do the opposite.

This is our hottest season.

Not because the temperature is rising, but because this time of year brings out some of the best parts of what we offer. The coffee tastes better when there is a chill in the air. The food feels more comforting. The catch-ups get longer. And our little stretch of Farnell Street, just off Fitzroy Street, comes into its own.

If you are looking for a cafe in Surry Hills for breakfast, brunch or lunch, the cooler months are one of the best times to visit Dad and the Frog.

If you are searching for the best brunch in Surry Hills, you are not short on options. This part of Sydney is packed with cafés, great coffee, and places to catch up over breakfast and lunch. But when it comes to finding a spot that combines quality food, specialty coffee, warm service, and a genuinely local feel, Dad and the Frog Café has built a reputation as a go-to Surry Hills brunch spot.

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.

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.

At Dad and the Frog Café, we’ve always believed a great cafe experience is more than just food and coffee—it’s about community. Being a local regular comes with its own set of perks, and our Surry Hills café is designed with you in mind. Whether you’re here for breakfast, brunch, or lunch, you’ll quickly see why so many call us their go-to spot.

At Dad and the Frog Café, we believe every great experience has a recipe. For us, it starts with a corner location that catches the sun and the leafy charm of Surry Hills. Add in alfresco dining surrounded by greenery, a menu full of house-made goodness, and a team that knows how to make you feel at home—and you’ve got more than just a café. You’ve got a neighbourhood staple.