The Grounds of the City

4.4

3646 Reviews

$40 and under

Modern Australian

500 George St, Sydney, AU-NSW 2000

Make a reservation

2 people

Apr 27, 2025

7:00 PM

Booked 74 times today

Experiences are available.

About this restaurant

Charming
Great for brunch
Good for special occasions

The Grounds of the City, the second outpost from the team behind The Grounds of Alexandria, is bringing soul back to the CBD with old-school service and charm. Located in the heart of the CBD and bustling with activity, The Grounds of the City is tailor-made for a marvellous time; no matter the occasion. Start your day right as our baristas expertly serve up The Grounds house-roasted espresso and filter coffees, or end it in the best possible way and cosy in with our selection of cocktails and a dinner menu that features something for everyone. You’ll find our coffee sommelier at The Barista’s Bar ready to take you through a tailored coffee experience, and our tea lady roaming the room with a trolley adorned with fresh coffee, our selection of ethically sourced teas and cakes.

Additional information

Dining style
Casual Elegant
Price
$40 and under
Cuisines
Modern Australian, Café
Hours of operation
Mon–Fri 7:00 am–9:30 pm Sat 8:00 am–9:30 pm Sun 8:00 am–5:00 pm
Phone number
(02) 9699 2225
Website
http://thegrounds.com.au/Spaces/the-grounds-of-the-city/
Payment options
AMEX, Mastercard, Visa
Dress code
Casual Dress
Executive chef
Paul McGrath
Catering
From client meetings to personal celebrations, our drop-off catering menu offers a selection of sweet and savoury options that can be combined to achieve the perfect offering for your occasion. To view our offering and order online, visit our website <a href="https://thegroundscatering.com.au/" target="_blank">here</a>.

Location
500 George St, Sydney, AU-NSW 2000
Neighborhood
Sydney CBD
Cross street
Park St, Sydney, AU-NSW 2000
Parking details
Sydney CBD has a range of privately owned car parks located within walking distance. Two close-by options include the Citigroup Centre Car Park located at 271 Pitt St or the Queen Victoria Building Car Park at 111 York St.
Public transit
TRAIN - Exit the train at Town Hall Station. The Grounds of the City is located on the right hand side, directly across the road from The Queen Victoria Building.BUS - Arrange a bus route to drop you at Town Hall Station, or the QVB on York St, located within walking distance from The Grounds of the City.
Additional
Beer, Cafe, Cocktails, Counter Seating, Full Bar, Happy Hour, High Tea, Late Night, Non-Smoking, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Takeout, Weekend Brunch, Wheelchair Access, Wine

Featured in

35 Sydney Restaurants to Connect In For Mother's Day

Experiences

High Tea
A$65.00 per person
Multiple dates available
Indulge in a touch of elegance! Delight in a curated selection of sweet and savoury treats, including: - Cucumber, mint and cream cheese finger tea sandwich. - Poached chicken, sun dried tomato and watercress finger sandwich. - Mushroom, truffle and mascarpone mini tartlet. - Smoked salmon rillettes on brioche toast with dill, crème fraîche and caviar. - Mini vanilla mille feuille. - Chocolate sacher-torte. - Fresh plum and almond tartlet. - Chefs selection of macarons. - Warm scone with vanilla bean mascarpone and house-made jam. - A cup of tea, coffee or juice. All items will be plated to share. The high tea menu can only be adjusted for vegetarians. For other dietary needs, or groups of 6+ people, please contact us on (02) 9699 2225.

Popular dishes

Raisin French ToastA$22.00
Caramelised figs, vanilla yoghurt
Fresh Cut Fruit SaladA$22.00
Passionfruit, vanilla yoghurt
Toasted CrumpetsA$19.00
Butter, clotted cream, wild organic honey
Housemade GranolaA$22.00
Cinnamon yoghurt, figs, banana, almonds
Chilled Overnight OatsA$20.00
Coconut yoghurt, mango, grapefruit, raspberries
Buttermilk PancakesA$24.00
Poached spring fruit salad, vanilla mascarpone
Continental BreakfastA$21.00
The Grounds mini pastry selection with condiments, vanilla bean yoghurt & fresh fruit salad

Perfect Eggs

Toasted Seedy BagelA$24.00
Whipped ricotta & feta, heirloom tomatoes, basil, lemon oil, capers
Tarte Fine Of Sauteed LeeksA$22.00
Poached eggs, hollandaise, oyster mushrooms, hazelnuts, endive
Zucchini & Spinach FrittersA$26.00
Crème fraîche, citrus-cured salmon, poached eggs, hollandaise
Eggs On ToastA$17.00
The Grounds sourdough
Big BrekkieA$27.00
Chicken chorizo, onions, fried potatoes, poached eggs, paprika, tomatoes, green chilli
Citrus Cured Salmon BenedictA$28.00
Croissant roll, poached eggs, chive, hollandise

The Classics

Lobster OmeletteA$38.00
Shimeji mushrooms, spinach, caper burnt butter
Avocado On ToastA$24.00
Grounds sourdough, poached egg, avocado, tomatoes, radish, feta, mint, lie, salsa verde
Steak 'N' EggsA$32.00
Fried eggs, sautéed onions, spinach, mushrooms, beef glaze
Brekkie BurgerA$24.00
Brioche bun, pepper jam, spinach, gruyere, cheddar, scrambled egg, port sausage, potato gems, chipotle aioli

Healthy Bowls

Breakfast SaladA$24.00
Millet, greens, cherry tomatoes, pears, avocado, poached eggs, herbed hollandaise
Brekkie Mezze BowlA$26.00
Peppers, tomatoes, feta, zucchini, cucumber, tahini, eggplant, chickpeas, avocado, herbs, hummus, fried egg, pickles, sesame bread

Sides

Streaky BaconA$6.00
AvocadoA$4.50
MushroomsA$5.50
Poached EggA$3.50
Roasted TomatoA$5.50
Italian Pork SausageA$6.50
Sourdough ToastA$3.50
Hot Smoked SalmonA$6.00

What 3,646 people are saying

The Grounds of the City reviews from people who’ve dined at this restaurant. Based on recent rating.

Overall ratings and reviews

Reviews can only be made by diners who have eaten at this restaurant

4.4

4.4 based on recent ratings

4.3Food
4.4Service
4.5Ambience
4.1Value

Noise • Energetic

Loved For

Sydney
Great for brunch
Sydney
Most Booked
Sydney City
Great for brunch
Sydney City
Most Booked

Review summary

AI-generated from verified diner reviews

The Grounds of the City boasts a "great ambience" and "amazing vibe," making it a popular choice for breakfast and brunch. Guests rave about the "best breakfast in the city" and "amazing food," especially the lobster omelette. Though service can vary, the "friendly staff" and "beautifully decorated space" create a memorable dining experience.

3,646 Reviews

N
Naftali
London2 reviews
5.0
Dined on April 18, 2025
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
Great place with amazing vibe. Great food - we ate there breakfast twice in 3 days. Love it.
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F
Fona
Sydney2 reviews
3.0
Dined on April 17, 2025
1. Overall 3
2. Food 4
3. Service 2
4. Ambience 3
The high tea was delicious, the scones superb. Everything on the high tea menu was beautifully made and on point with flavours, all carefully balanced. Disappointingly we had a long wait for our high tea food. The tea order was taken quite soon after we were seated and the beverages came out promptly but we had a half hour wait for the food and the tea was all cold by the time the food arrived. Fortunately, when we pointed this out to the wait staff we were able to get the cold tea poured out and replaced with hot so our enjoyment could begin. The Grounds City is often busy and we're used to having to wait but with high tea it's always best to serve the food whilst the tea is hot otherwise the experience is rather diminished. Whilst the dining area was slightly noisy nonetheless it was comfortable enough to chat. Generally quite clean though one of the menus we received was so filthy some of the pages were stuck together and when the waitress pried the pages apart it was so disgusting looking she quickly replaced it for us. I would love to visit again but hopefully the experience will be better if I do.
Is this helpful?
S
Susanne
Sydney1 review
4.0
Dined on April 17, 2025
1. Overall 4
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 4
Summer salad a great dish sweet savoury and nutty.
Is this helpful?
J
Jenny
Sydney1 review
3.0
Dined on April 17, 2025
1. Overall 3
2. Food 4
3. Service 2
4. Ambience 4
As a customer, I just didn’t feel welcomed like I would at a regular café. To be honest, this was my second visit in three years, and unfortunately, nothing has improved. The food is good and the environment is nice, but the service—maybe they’re just too busy to be friendly.
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n
nichola
Sydney5 reviews
3.0
Dined on April 12, 2025
1. Overall 3
2. Food 3
3. Service 3
4. Ambience 4
Nice venue and was super busy on a Saturday morning but the portion sizes were very small and we left hungry.
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A
Andrew
Sydney1 review
5.0
Dined on April 11, 2025
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
it’s the best breakfast in the city highly recommend the lobster omelette, coffee is superb also as is the chai and the cakes fantastic
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S
Susan
Sydney1 review
4.0
Dined on April 4, 2025
1. Overall 4
2. Food 4
3. Service 4
4. Ambience 5
A central location to meet for lunch. Though noisy, sitting at a booth made conversation easier. We had small plates which were tasty & fresh I felt we were a little rushed to order at the start. We requested extra hot coffee but unfortunately, it was lukewarm. Overall, a good experience, quality food and a very convenient location.
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r
rawan
London1 review
5.0
Dined on April 1, 2025
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
Sensational food, service and vibes. A great place to celebrate special occasion
Is this helpful?
M
Michelle
Sydney1 review
5.0
Dined on March 31, 2025
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
Our party of four enjoyed a wonderful lunch of shared small plates for lunch. Every dish was delicious and we were comfortably full by the end. Just enough room to share some cakes and coffees afterwards. The service was prompt, efficient and friendly. I look forward to my next visit!
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D
David
Canberra11 reviews
4.0
Dined on March 29, 2025
1. Overall 4
2. Food 4
3. Service 4
4. Ambience 4
Have been coming here for years, although our visit for lunch today was the first in a long while. The menu has changed, but good choices of share plates, mains, sides and fantastic desserts and cakes (not to be missed). Great meals, well presented, and very good service! Will be back…
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FAQs

The Grounds of the City offers takeout which you can order by calling the restaurant at (02) 9699 2225.

The Grounds of the City is rated 4.4 stars by 3646 OpenTable diners.

Yes, you can generally book this restaurant by choosing the date, time and party size on OpenTable.

Make a reservation

2 people

Apr 27, 2025

7:00 PM

Booked 74 times today

Experiences are available.

500 George St, Sydney, AU-NSW 2000

Additional information

Cross street
Park St, Sydney, AU-NSW 2000
Neighborhood
Sydney CBD
Hours of operation
Mon–Fri 7:00 am–9:30 pm Sat 8:00 am–9:30 pm Sun 8:00 am–5:00 pm
Price
$40 and under
Cuisines
Modern Australian, Café
Dining style
Casual Elegant
Dress code
Casual Dress
Parking details
Sydney CBD has a range of privately owned car parks located within walking distance. Two close-by options include the Citigroup Centre Car Park located at 271 Pitt St or the Queen Victoria Building Car Park at 111 York St.
Public transit
TRAIN - Exit the train at Town Hall Station. The Grounds of the City is located on the right hand side, directly across the road from The Queen Victoria Building.BUS - Arrange a bus route to drop you at Town Hall Station, or the QVB on York St, located within walking distance from The Grounds of the City.
Payment options
AMEX, Mastercard, Visa
Executive chef
Paul McGrath
Additional
Beer, Cafe, Cocktails, Counter Seating, Full Bar, Happy Hour, High Tea, Late Night, Non-Smoking, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Takeout, Weekend Brunch, Wheelchair Access, Wine

Website
http://thegrounds.com.au/Spaces/the-grounds-of-the-city/
Phone number
(02) 9699 2225
Catering
From client meetings to personal celebrations, our drop-off catering menu offers a selection of sweet and savoury options that can be combined to achieve the perfect offering for your occasion. To view our offering and order online, visit our website <a href="https://thegroundscatering.com.au/" target="_blank">here</a>.

Featured in

35 Sydney Restaurants to Connect In For Mother's Day

The Grounds of the City

Make a reservation

About this restaurant

Additional information

35 Sydney Restaurants to Connect In For Mother's Day

High Tea

Brekkie Burger

Lobster Omelette

Buttermilk Pancakes

Rise & Shine

Raisin French ToastA$22.00

Fresh Cut Fruit SaladA$22.00

Toasted CrumpetsA$19.00

Housemade GranolaA$22.00

Chilled Overnight OatsA$20.00

Buttermilk PancakesA$24.00

Continental BreakfastA$21.00

Perfect Eggs

Toasted Seedy BagelA$24.00

Tarte Fine Of Sauteed LeeksA$22.00

Zucchini & Spinach FrittersA$26.00

Eggs On ToastA$17.00

Big BrekkieA$27.00

Citrus Cured Salmon BenedictA$28.00

The Classics

Lobster OmeletteA$38.00

Avocado On ToastA$24.00

Steak 'N' EggsA$32.00

Brekkie BurgerA$24.00

Healthy Bowls

Breakfast SaladA$24.00

Brekkie Mezze BowlA$26.00

Sides

Streaky BaconA$6.00

AvocadoA$4.50

MushroomsA$5.50

Poached EggA$3.50

Roasted TomatoA$5.50

Italian Pork SausageA$6.50

Sourdough ToastA$3.50

Hot Smoked SalmonA$6.00

Overall ratings and reviews

Loved For

Review summary

FAQs

Does The Grounds of the City offer delivery through OpenTable or takeout?

How is The Grounds of the City restaurant rated?

Is The Grounds of the City currently accepting reservations?

Make a reservation

Additional information

Featured in

35 Sydney Restaurants to Connect In For Mother's Day