We arrived late for coffee and that is exactly what we got! The cap was excellent and the macchiato was good. The menu looks pretty good for lunch. It is on a corner so there is plenty of traffic and people and noise. The chairs at the tables are old wooden steel framed that look like they were salvaged from the TAFE college over the road. It could do with a comfy lounge but I think its business is mainly takeaway because sitting in you need to bring a cushion.
Nate C.
Rating des Ortes: 5 New South Wales, Australia
Without doubt an appropriate name for a coffee institution that attracts ‘caffeinatos’ from all over. The coffee here is flawless, strong aroma, bitter taste with a lasting undernote that rides you through to the next gulp. The baristas are dedicated, each cup a masterpiece of intense concentration. Also, tasty snacks and pastries all inhabit a friendly space that is a social hub for the many different people who grace Harris Street: start-ups on their way to the first billion dollars, ABC journos getting a scoop, college and uni students as well as locals.
Charles B.
Rating des Ortes: 5 Sydney, Australia
Woooo! everything about here is ”the best”! the coffee, the salads, the staff and more importantly the service. I can’t wait to go back here. Just a heads up, they don’t take credit card.
Cat W.
Rating des Ortes: 5 Sydney, Australia
I’m a regular at Mecca and have never had a bad experience here. The coffee and baristas are excellent, the staff are extremely friendly and really make an effort to get to know their regular customers. The croissants are some of the best i’ve ever had, get them to toast them for you. That and a coffee is a filling brekkie for around $ 10. Or for something more substantial, get the sourdough with avocado. The bread itself is phenomenal and they are not stingy on the avocado, they mash it up for you and add what I’m guessing is some salt/pepper and lemon for a tasty flavour. Filling yet simple and delicious.
Kiriah S.
Rating des Ortes: 4 Sydney, Australia
I had a coffee here in the morning with soy milk, the soy wasn’t the greatest but the coffee was good underneath. I came back for lunch to try the Shashouka — this was so delicious, eggs baked in a tomato/capsicum sauce that was full of flavour and definitely what you would want on a cold day. I would happily go back here.
Robert B.
Rating des Ortes: 4 Hobart, Australia
They don’t take credit cards, but they do use«Beat the Q»(phone app) that allows you to pre order and pay by card. Friendly staff, good coffee and nice looking food. I was on the run so have only tried one of their muffins but it was delicious.
Benjamin B.
Rating des Ortes: 5 Sydney, Australia
I like my coffee like I like my women: weak and creamy. Okay so that was terrible and I don’t like my coffee like that at all, I like it strong and smoky with a gentle finish, like a football player from Kentucky who knocks your two front teeth out with a left hook then whispers sweet nothings to you as he lowers you gently to the ground semi-conscious and puts a chocolate on your forehead for when you wake up. Mecca coffee is just great, I’ve never been let down and although I’ve never tried the food I’m sure it’s great too, and I’m sure the baristas are all Rhodes scholars that give to charity and look just go okay you’ll love it.
Tamer M.
Rating des Ortes: 5 Sydney, Australia
Recently I have been searching for good coffee beans, I have tried many places. And this place is worth the try. To be honest, this is probably the best bean that I have found. All the places that I love in the CBD serve Mecca — so why not come to the original source. It is a different coffee bean, which makes it interesting. If you are one of those people who wants a Starbucks or Gloria Jeans coffee, do not drink. Firstly because you clearly like cheap beans, but secondly, I don’t want you to ruin my coffee experience. This is not just coffee(like the CQ branch) but they serve food here, and it is good. Personally I come for the salad — call me healthy, but the salad here is quite good, where you’ll think that you are actually being unhealthy. But warning, this place gets crowded. If you can’t find a spot, there is always Mecca King St or Mecca CQ!
Diego M.
Rating des Ortes: 4 Macquarie Park, Australia
Conveniently located, with good coffee and lunch. The beef salad was great. It was a bit busy with 30 minutes waiting time for the lunch but it was worth it.
Brad W.
Rating des Ortes: 4 Abbotsford, Melbourne, Australia
I wanted Mecca to give me a sniff of a five star review, I didn’t need much justification. I’ve been a big fan of some of their filter brews this year. In short the food and coffee I enjoyed here was good and met my expectations, it just wasn’t great. The window setting on a rainy day was relaxing and comfy. Breakfast had finished 5 minutes before we arrived but they took our orders anyway. Umbrella storage bucket by the door was also a nice thought. Distance from the CBD meant the crowd in here was more chilled and easygoing, also a good thing. I had baked eggs served in a pan atop a tomato, cumin, and onion based reduction. Citrus and herb paste atop. Pita bread was served on the side. I can’t remember the name, but the dish was delicious. Serving size a touch on the small side, needed a piece of bread rather than pita, wasn’t hearty enough. Good otherwise. My wife and I had a Kenyan filter with our breakfast. Nice mouthfeel, seeded fruit, smooth finish. I only saw they’d prepared it using a Moccamaster brewer afterwards. A really enjoyable coffee, just didn’t rival any of the better filters I’ve enjoyed recently. What was standout from this visit was the Bokasso espresso my wife and I ordered each. Huge florals, a really good extraction, sweet seeded fruit, clean finish. I’d only had this in the form of a filter roast at home before and this was a spot on, intensified version of the filter roast/brew. The chaps working here on the morning we went knew how to brew a good filter or espresso — far eclipsing anything within the CBD I tried and worth the walk if time isn’t an issue. Food was good, just not standout.
Lexi M.
Rating des Ortes: 5 Sydney, Australia
Considering the quality u get here the line moves pretty quick– im lucky Mecca is right near uni: D im a regular :) no better coffee in sydney.
Babs J.
Rating des Ortes: 4 Portland, OR
Good atmosphere. Coffee well done. Slower service.
Dave M.
Rating des Ortes: 5 Sydney, Sydney, Australia
Mecca consistently gets in the top 5 coffee places in Sydney and I can see why. Even though their first location in the City is what earned their reputation, the Harris Street location has outstanding coffee. They even use ‘Beat the Q’ — a great app to order take-away coffees in advance and have them waiting for you at the counter. The place is a bit noisy when it is busy around 10:30−11 with the ABC, TAFE and UTS crowd, particularly on Friday. The staff are all professional and while they don’t have table service(you order at the counter) they watch where you sit down and find you with the coffees later. I really like their muffins but it is a bit random which flavours they have each day.
Hans D.
Rating des Ortes: 3 Marrickville, Australia
Sunday morning, we popped in on our way to town for a macchiato before we started our day. Coffee was great and the pastry we bought was brilliant too. Only complaint was the bland service we got from the staff, might have got them on an off day, good coffee nonetheless.
Oliver M.
Rating des Ortes: 5 Sydney, Australia
Best coffee in Ultimo! Cool industrial feel to it, recently revamped and freshly cooked menu. Staff are *fantastic*, passionate and knowledgeable. If you have a chance then attend one of the ‘alter’ sessions on saturdays where you get to sample all sorts of tasty brews under the guidance of a barista. Gets super busy with all the ABC peeps from across the road, but they’re almost always there for takeaway only and the line moves fast.
Lital K.
Rating des Ortes: 4 Sydney, Australia
Love the feel of this place– truly love the smooth creamy coffee– even for a whopping $ 3.90($ 3.40 t/a)… Lots of competition around Ultimo & Chippendale especially with the Tobys Estate up the road too but this place brings together not only the great coffee but also an ample amount of indoor seating for those cold winter days and rocking vibe inside. Staff are all attentive, super on top of their game and keen to impress. This is one of those places that has hit the nail on the head with style, beans, staff & location. My new local coffee haunt for when I feel like splurging :)
Jesse A.
Rating des Ortes: 5 Redfern, Australia
It’s no real surprise that this café gets in the top picks for Ultimo cafes, as they are consistently a cut above the other businesses in the area. These guys are serious about their coffee, and they do a roaring business on weekdays. They’re also open on Saturdays until 3. Mecca Ultimo is also a great space, with school chairs(some hate them, we love them), exposed brick, and plenty of spaces to sit. They often only have one newspaper, which means fighting with other customers, but really, we should just buy our own. Oh yeah, and they have decent lunches too — salads, paninis, gourmet sandwiches. Not the place to ask for an egg and bacon roll. PS: I published this review in a duplicated listing, sorry about that Unilocal — but it didn’t come up in a search!
Danielle L.
Rating des Ortes: 5 Sydney, Australia
I love that feeling of a coffee rush — where you can almost feel your veins dilate and a surge of energy hits your heart… it’s for that reason I love Mecca — it’s the closest thing I have to a drug addiction. I’m lucky because Mecca’s a five minute walk from my office so it’s an easy solution for my caffeine fix. The café is always packed with yuppies lining up to get their feed. Mecca doesn’t only serve coffee they have a small variety of sandwiches, cakes and snacks. I’ve never tried them but it does look delicious. The only thing is if you’re a fan of chai lattes they don’t have them on the menu — you will have to get your cinnamon craving soothed somewhere else. I love this place and i believe it to be worthy of it’s namesake — an A+ for coffee love.
Alice T.
Rating des Ortes: 5 Sydney, Australia
You don’t go calling a café ‘Mecca’ unless you’ve got some serious game. So it should come as no surprise to see this name topping the 2011SMH Good Café of the Year. And yes, Mecca certainly lives up to its name. The Harris Street café is the stomping ground of caffeine addicted UTS students and ABC employees, as well as a required pilgrimage site for any coffee snobs. There are various friands and toasted sandwiches to nibble on, but every time I’ve stumbled into Mecca I’ve only had eyes for the coffee. I’m not enough of an aficionado to talk beans, blends and frothing techniques, but I do know the sweet success of a perfectly served skim cap when I taste one. And that’s why I’ll always head to Mecca.