Where to Eat Over the Long Weekend
The Easter long weekend lands on 3–6 April this year, and the good news for anyone staying local is that most of the Eastern Suburbs’ best cafes, bakeries, and restaurants keep their doors open. Whether you’re after a slow brunch on Good Friday, a long lunch on Easter Sunday, or just a really excellent hot cross bun, there’s plenty happening within walking distance of home.
Here’s what’s worth eating — and a few practical things to know before you head out.
A Quick Note on Trading Hours
Before you make plans, it’s worth knowing the basics. Restaurants, cafes, and pubs can trade on Good Friday and Easter Sunday, but most supermarkets, bottle shops, and large retailers close on both days. That means no last-minute Woolworths run and no takeaway wine from Dan Murphy’s on Friday. Easter Saturday and Easter Monday have no trading restrictions, so everything runs as normal — though expect a 10–15% public holiday surcharge at most venues on Monday.
Hot Cross Buns Worth Queuing For
Easter in the Eastern Suburbs starts at the bakery. The neighbourhood has some of the best options in Sydney, and most are available from now through the long weekend — though pre-ordering is a smart move if you want to guarantee a stash.
Infinity Bakery on Victoria Street in Darlinghurst has built a loyal following for their sourdough-based buns, and Easter is when they really shine. Get there early — they open at 5:30am, which is commitment, but the kind that pays off.
Just up the road, Shadow Baking at 243 Victoria Street has teamed up with Gelato Messina to create their Hot X Scrolls — a laminated pastry hybrid that sits somewhere between a croissant and a hot cross bun. They come in classic fruit or dark chocolate, and they’re around $7.90 each or $39 for a box of six. Available until 6 April.
A.P. Bread & Wine on Burton Street does a traditional bun with a brown sugar and cardamom glaze that Gourmet Traveller called a crowd-pleaser this year. Boozy soaked raisins and candied orange give them a depth that sets them apart. Pre-orders available at both locations.
If you’re heading towards Surry Hills, Bourke Street Bakery on Bourke Street is hard to go past. Their traditional bun has 42% fruit content and a signature spice blend, plus they do a chocolate and cranberry version with Belgian dark chocolate. Look out for the limited-edition spiced rum butter — a collaboration with Red Mill Distillery.
For something a bit different, Fabbrica on Victoria Street in Darlinghurst offers chai-spiced hot cross buns with chai butter included in every six-pack. Pillowy, sticky, and loaded with currants and raisins.
And don’t sleep on The Grumpy Baker. Owner Michael Cthurmer has been baking hot cross buns for over 24 years using a challah-style dough — the result is moist, fluffy, and slightly sticky in the best way. Available in raisin or chocolate chip at all locations, made fresh daily.
Brunch on the Long Weekend
The Eastern Suburbs’ brunch scene doesn’t take a holiday. Most of the neighbourhood’s best spots operate their regular weekend hours from Easter Saturday through Monday, with Good Friday being the only day to double-check.
On Macleay Street, Room 10 at 10 Llankelly Place has been a Potts Point institution since 2010. Their brekkie rice and chilli scrambled eggs are the standards, but the sourdough pancakes are worth a look if you’re in a long-weekend mood. Open from 8am on weekends.
Le Frérot at 81 Macleay Street is one of the area’s newer openings — a French cafe-bistro from the team behind Franca Brasserie. Open seven days from early morning, it does a proper Parisian-style breakfast with boulangerie items, spanner crab omelettes, and strong coffee.
Algorithm Cafe at 36 Llankelly Place opens at 6:30am on weekends and does excellent specialty coffee alongside truffled eggs with Grana Padano and house-baked goods. A solid pick if you’re an early riser.
Further down in Darlinghurst, Cafe Bootsdarling on South Dowling Street opens from 7am Sundays and does everything from smoky croissants and corn fritters to acai bowls and pandan pancakes. They take bookings seven days, which is handy over a busy weekend.
Over in Surry Hills, Cafe Kentaro on Bourke Street brings Japanese-inspired flavours to all-day breakfast. Chef Kenny Takayama’s menu runs from 8am on weekends, and it’s a nice change of pace from the usual eggs-and-avo.
Long Lunches and Dinner Plans
Easter Sunday is made for a long lunch, and the Eastern Suburbs has no shortage of excellent options.
The Apollo at 44 Macleay Street does contemporary Greek taverna dining at its best — the honey saganaki is the dish everyone talks about, but the chargrilled octopus and oven-baked lamb shoulder are why people come back. Book ahead for Easter weekend.
Cho Cho San at 73 Macleay Street is open for lunch on weekends from midday and transitions beautifully into an evening izakaya session. Their set menus ($65–$80 per person) are a good way to work through the raw bar, small plates, and larger dishes without overthinking it.
Fratelli Paradiso on Challis Avenue has been a Potts Point staple since 2001. Mostly walk-in, so arrive with patience and an appetite for scampi spaghettini and glazed lamb ribs.
In Surry Hills, Nomad at 16 Foster Street opens from noon on Good Friday and 11am for the rest of the weekend, with a bottomless lunch option that pairs well with a day where nobody has anywhere to be. Bookings recommended.
The Dolphin Hotel on Crown Street is open seven days and does some of the best pizza in Sydney — the dining room, public bar, lounge, and terrace each have their own vibe, so you can match your mood to the moment.
For something more intimate, Farmhouse Kings Cross near the Potts Point border seats just 20 people around a communal table and serves a seasonal four-course set menu for $95. The menu changes every four weeks, so whatever’s on for Easter will be built around what’s best right now. Sunday lunch starts at 2pm — book well ahead.
And for a special occasion, Arthur Restaurant at 544 Bourke Street in Surry Hills does a five-course set menu ($160 per person) using entirely Australian-sourced ingredients. It’s the kind of meal that makes a long weekend feel like an event.
Markets and Getting Out
The Kings Cross Market in Fitzroy Gardens runs every Saturday from 8am to 2pm, and Easter Saturday is no exception. Fresh produce, food stalls, and a nice excuse to wander Macleay Street afterwards.
Paddington Markets on Oxford Street also runs on Easter Saturday from 10am — good for gifts, homewares, and people-watching.
If you’re looking for a bigger day out, the Sydney Royal Easter Show runs from 2–13 April this year at Sydney Olympic Park. Gates open at 8:30am daily, and there’s a new After Dark program in 2026 with a light parade and illuminated animal lanterns. It’s a trek from the Eastern Suburbs, but it only comes once a year.
The Practical Stuff
A few tips to keep the weekend running smoothly:
Do your grocery and bottle shop runs on Thursday or Easter Saturday. Good Friday and Easter Sunday are write-offs for supermarkets and liquor stores. Restaurants and cafes are fine — it’s the big retailers that shut.
Book dinner in advance. Easter Sunday is one of the busiest dining nights of the year in the Eastern Suburbs, and the better restaurants fill up fast. Even casual spots can get a queue.
Budget for surcharges. Most venues add 10–15% on public holidays — Easter Monday in particular. It’s standard and it’s fair, but it’s nice to know before the bill lands.
Check individual venues before heading out. Most places post updated Easter hours on Instagram a week or so beforehand. A quick look saves a wasted walk.
Enjoy the Weekend
The Easter long weekend is one of Sydney’s best — four days off, autumn weather settling in, and the Eastern Suburbs at its most relaxed. Whether you’re starting with hot cross buns from Infinity Bakery, settling into a long lunch at The Apollo, or just grabbing a coffee and a pastry from Le Frérot before a walk around the harbour, there’s more than enough to fill the days without leaving the neighbourhood.
For more local guides and things to do in the Eastern Suburbs, check out the Laing Real Estate blog.