While I was in Sydney I had a great little outing to The Grounds of Alexandria, which has popped up since moving to Auckland. Some girlfriends of mine raved about it and knew that I would love it so we arranged to meet there for lunch with our tribe of children. I kicked myself for not packing my camera, this place is a playground for not only kids but also adults.
The Grounds of Alexandria is built on the grounds of an old pie factory in urban Sydney. The entire fit out is impressive, industrial rustic, respecting the buildings heritage. There’s a bustling café restaurant with a great menu that also houses a coffee research facility where they experiment with different blends and techniques.
The “grounds” outside is for the public to enjoy; an urban playground with vintage bistro tables and tolix chairs dotted around the café’s sustainable organic vegetable gardens, some of the eating areas in secret little nooks. Off to one side there’s a chook house, pigpen and a cute little play area and house for the little ones. All of it made from salvaged materials.
If you’re in Sydney, with or without children, this place is something! Along with a weekend market, they have various workshops on coffee roasting and degustation as well as sustainable gardening, so make sure you check the website.
Until then, enjoy some of my iPhone snaps from the day.
Mel x
Love the concept – I can imagine that would be so much fun to visit with friends! Your iPhone pics are great by the way!! x
I love ‘The Grounds’ too but its awfully busy and the wait is so long…but such a great idea and concept and so many great details, their food and coffee is great too – beautiful pics Mel!
It was a weekday when we were there and the cafe was busy so we were lucky to get a table. I can only imagine what the weekends would be like. Just goes to show that Sydney is reacting well to all of this industrial space revamp! xx
I visited The Grounds for breakfast this time last year in Sydney and loved it. The food and the space is impressive. Great photos taken on your iphone and what a wonderful catch up with friends. You must be still reliving your Sydney trip Mel, it looked like such a memorable trip back home.
Those yellow Tolix chairs get me every time – LOVE them! Have a wonderful week, Mel. x
Oh yeah me too – love colourful Tolix! You too, Have a great week Will x
Looks lovely Mel, right up my street – we have a great place here in Sheffield you’d like with a similar distressed look / vintage wood / bare bricks etc. https://twitter.com/MarmadukesCafe it reminds me of lots of the cafes in Belgium we used to visit – the Europeans do that relaxed vibe so well : ) x
Sounds fab Amy. You should do a post on it for This is Your Kingdom! x