Why is it so hard to get a coffee in Sydney after 3pm?

Nath, 2 months ago

There’s no secret to it. Cafes close because customers aren’t coming in. If the demand was there, Cafes would be open 24/7.

If you want a coffee after 3pm, several Pubs will serve you real coffee. If you wait until after 5pm, many restaurants will serve you coffee. If you want a coffee after about 10pm and the restaurants and decent pubs are closed, you can resort to Macca’s and 7-Eleven. Both will serve you coffee. It won’t be great, but it will be passable.

Pro Tip for WA: Dome is open until at least 5pm - sometimes even until 9pm. That’s right SMH, Perth is a “truly global city” because you can easily get a coffee after 3pm. :)

Zagorath, 2 months ago

Personally, I don’t drink coffee and I find cafe-/restaurant-made tea to be far too expensive to be worth getting. But I agree with the articles points about the social aspect and use of cafes as a “third place” (though it doesn’t use the term), especially with the growing low-/no-alcohol culture among younger generations.

I don’t mind a smoothie, which most decent cafes have as an alternative option.

ajsadauskas, 2 months ago

@Zagorath In many parts of Europe, there isn't really the hard distinction that we have between a cafe and a bar.

I mean yes, there are cafes that don't serve liquor, and there are pure pubs. But cafe/bars that do both are a lot more common.

So the place you meet your friends for a coffee at lunchtime is the same place you meet your colleagues for a drink after work.

And that means you can get a coffee in the evening, if you want one.

Zagorath, 2 months ago

Honestly this exact same article could have been made about Brisbane. I suspect many other cities in Australia would work too.