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The Grounds of the City, Sydney, AU-NSW

The Grounds of the City

4.3
4.3
3626 Reviews
$40 and under
Modern Australian

Make a booking

2 people
7:00 pm
Booked 96 times today
  • 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.

Order delivery or takeout

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
  • Area
    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, Takeaway, Weekend Brunch, Wheelchair Access, Wine

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Menu

Available 'til 11:30am

Rise & Shine

  • Raisin French Toast$22.00

    Caramelised figs, vanilla yoghurt

    • Fresh Cut Fruit Salad$22.00

      Passionfruit, vanilla yoghurt

      • Toasted Crumpets$19.00

        Butter, clotted cream, wild organic honey

        • Housemade Granola$22.00

          Cinnamon yoghurt, figs, banana, almonds

          • Chilled Overnight Oats$20.00

            Coconut yoghurt, mango, grapefruit, raspberries

            • Buttermilk Pancakes$24.00

              Poached spring fruit salad, vanilla mascarpone

              • Continental Breakfast$21.00

                The Grounds mini pastry selection with condiments, vanilla bean yoghurt & fresh fruit salad

                Perfect Eggs

                • Toasted Seedy Bagel$24.00

                  Whipped ricotta & feta, heirloom tomatoes, basil, lemon oil, capers

                  • Tarte Fine Of Sauteed Leeks$22.00

                    Poached eggs, hollandaise, oyster mushrooms, hazelnuts, endive

                    • Zucchini & Spinach Fritters$26.00

                      Crème fraîche, citrus-cured salmon, poached eggs, hollandaise

                      • Eggs On Toast$17.00

                        The Grounds sourdough

                        • Big Brekkie$27.00

                          Chicken chorizo, onions, fried potatoes, poached eggs, paprika, tomatoes, green chilli

                          • Citrus Cured Salmon Benedict$28.00

                            Croissant roll, poached eggs, chive, hollandise

                            The Classics

                            • Lobster Omelette$38.00

                              Shimeji mushrooms, spinach, caper burnt butter

                              • Avocado On Toast$24.00

                                Grounds sourdough, poached egg, avocado, tomatoes, radish, feta, mint, lie, salsa verde

                                • Steak 'N' Eggs$32.00

                                  Fried eggs, sautéed onions, spinach, mushrooms, beef glaze

                                  • Brekkie Burger$24.00

                                    Brioche bun, pepper jam, spinach, gruyere, cheddar, scrambled egg, port sausage, potato gems, chipotle aioli

                                    Healthy Bowls

                                    • Breakfast Salad$24.00

                                      Millet, greens, cherry tomatoes, pears, avocado, poached eggs, herbed hollandaise

                                      • Brekkie Mezze Bowl$26.00

                                        Peppers, tomatoes, feta, zucchini, cucumber, tahini, eggplant, chickpeas, avocado, herbs, hummus, fried egg, pickles, sesame bread

                                        Sides

                                        • Streaky Bacon$6.00

                                          • Avocado$4.50

                                            • Mushrooms$5.50

                                              • Poached Egg$3.50

                                                • Roasted Tomato$5.50

                                                  • Italian Pork Sausage$6.50

                                                    • Sourdough Toast$3.50

                                                      • Hot Smoked Salmon$6.00

                                                        Last updated: 4 December 2024

                                                        What 3,626 people are saying

                                                        Overall ratings and reviews

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

                                                        4.3
                                                        4.3 based on recent ratings
                                                        • 4.2Food
                                                        • 4.3Service
                                                        • 4.4Ambience
                                                        • 4Value

                                                        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 offers a "great ambience" and "delicious food," making it a popular choice for breakfast and brunch. Highlights include a "vintage atmosphere" and attentive service. While some find it noisy, the lively vibe appeals to many. "Highly recommended" for its inviting setting and flavorful menu options.

                                                        3,626 Reviews

                                                        1. Scott

                                                          Sydney

                                                          1 review

                                                          5.0

                                                          1 review

                                                          Dined 2 days ago

                                                          1. Overall 5
                                                          2. Food 5
                                                          3. Service 5
                                                          4. Ambience 5
                                                          Always great for taking a client to breakfast and coffee

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                                                        2. Jason

                                                          Sydney

                                                          3 reviews

                                                          1.0

                                                          3 reviews

                                                          Dined 2 days ago

                                                          1. Overall 1
                                                          2. Food 4
                                                          3. Service 1
                                                          4. Ambience 3
                                                          Potential to be a good restaurant however I would recommend not booking towards the end of the night. We arrived at 8.45pm and were put under a great deal of time pressure. 3 phone calls and an SMS which started before we were due to arrive. Told we had to order all 3 courses at once which is fine and we did promptly. They then served one entree and one main. 15-20 mins later they served the other main with both deserts. I felt disrespected as a customer. The food, which I had a brief opportunity to taste, seemed quite nice but certainly no chance to enjoy it with staff trying to repeatedly take away our plates before we were finished. To top it all off after finishing all our 3 courses in less than an hour they then let us wait around for 20-30 mins before bringing the bill. The manager did come up to us at the end of the night and listened to our concerns and tried to help.

                                                          Is this helpful?

                                                        3. Ana

                                                          Sydney

                                                          3 reviews

                                                          2.0

                                                          3 reviews

                                                          Dined 2 days ago

                                                          1. Overall 2
                                                          2. Food 3
                                                          3. Service 1
                                                          4. Ambience 2
                                                          We had been waiting for nearly 40 minutes for pasta and a salad for lunch. Both my friend and I needed to go back to work, so it was dragged a long time, which is unusual. Other tables got food earlier than us even though we arrived and ordered early. We asked the staff where our food went, and the staff replied without checking that our food was coming. However, we waited for another at least 15 minutes. They did not have enough staff at all. The experience was terrible and the price was overpriced.

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                                                        4. Belinda

                                                          Sydney

                                                          1 review

                                                          5.0

                                                          1 review

                                                          Dined 7 days ago

                                                          1. Overall 5
                                                          2. Food 4
                                                          3. Service 5
                                                          4. Ambience 5
                                                          Very Cute space ,staff recommendations were spot on ..overall lovely experience!
                                                          The Grounds of the CityResponded 6 days ago
                                                          Dear Belinda, Thank you for the lovely feedback! We’re so glad you enjoyed the space and that our staff’s recommendations hit the mark. It’s great to hear you had a lovely experience, and we hope to welcome you back soon! Kind regards, Nagi (TGOTC)

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                                                        5. Christina

                                                          New York City

                                                          1 review

                                                          5.0

                                                          1 review

                                                          Dined on 13 December 2024

                                                          1. Overall 5
                                                          2. Food 5
                                                          3. Service 5
                                                          4. Ambience 5
                                                          A great location! Food fabulous, staff wonderful and coffee great! Quick and easy.. will dine again.
                                                          The Grounds of the CityResponded 6 days ago
                                                          Dear Christina, Thank you for the fantastic feedback! We’re thrilled to hear you enjoyed the food, coffee, and service. We look forward to welcoming you back for another great experience! Kind regards, Nagi (TGOTC)

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                                                        6. Christine

                                                          Sydney

                                                          2 reviews

                                                          5.0

                                                          2 reviews

                                                          Dined on 13 December 2024

                                                          1. Overall 5
                                                          2. Food 5
                                                          3. Service 5
                                                          4. Ambience 5
                                                          Everything was great at The Grounds. Staff, food & ambiance were perfect. A value for $$ dining experience.
                                                          The Grounds of the CityResponded 6 days ago
                                                          Dear Christina, Thank you for the wonderful feedback! We’re so glad you enjoyed the staff, food, and ambiance. It’s great to hear that you found the dining experience to be good value. We can’t wait to welcome you back! Kind regards, Nagi (TGOTC)

                                                          Is this helpful?

                                                        7. Heimy

                                                          Sydney

                                                          2 reviews

                                                          2.0

                                                          2 reviews

                                                          Dined on 13 December 2024

                                                          1. Overall 2
                                                          2. Food 2
                                                          3. Service 1
                                                          4. Ambience 4
                                                          The ambience was great, but there’s not a lot of options for people with dietary requirements. Our server had a hard time understanding the menu and english - so it was difficult to order.
                                                          The Grounds of the CityResponded 6 days ago
                                                          Dear Heimy, Thank you for sharing your feedback. I’m truly sorry to hear about your experience, and I apologize for any difficulty you had with ordering and the service. It’s disappointing to know we fell short in providing the right support, especially around dietary requirements and menu knowledge. I’ll be addressing this with our team to ensure we improve in these areas and provide better training where needed. Your comments are invaluable in helping us get better, and I appreciate you bringing them to our attention. We hope to have the opportunity to welcome you back and provide a much smoother experience next time. Kind regards, Nagi (TGOTC)

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                                                        8. James

                                                          Singapore

                                                          1 review

                                                          2.0

                                                          1 review

                                                          Dined on 10 December 2024

                                                          1. Overall 2
                                                          2. Food 1
                                                          3. Service 1
                                                          4. Ambience 5
                                                          Ordered steak sando med rare, arrived rare as heck. It was cheap cuts of beef too, so even after it was re-fired it was still rubbery and fibrous. Service was poor as our waitress was judgy and disingenuous. Waitress manager also ignored my raised hand when i wanted to send back the beef, and had to wait for our original waitress to come back. Front of house waitress was the only one who was top tier.
                                                          The Grounds of the CityResponded 6 days ago
                                                          Dear James, Thank you for sharing your feedback. I’m sorry to hear your experience with the steak sandwich and service didn’t meet expectations. This isn’t the level of quality or attentiveness we strive for, and I’ll be addressing your concerns with our team to ensure we do better. I appreciate your kind words about our front-of-house waitress—it’s great to know her service stood out. I hope we can welcome you back in the future and provide the experience you deserve. Kind regards, Nagi (TGOTC)

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                                                        9. Tony

                                                          Sydney

                                                          1 review

                                                          5.0

                                                          1 review

                                                          Dined on 10 December 2024

                                                          1. Overall 5
                                                          2. Food 4
                                                          3. Service 4
                                                          4. Ambience 5
                                                          Incredible ambiance. A terrific feel. Lovely food.
                                                          The Grounds of the CityResponded 6 days ago
                                                          Dear Tony, Thank you for your kind words! We’re thrilled to hear you enjoyed the ambiance and food. It’s wonderful to know the creative decor made an impression—we’ll be sure to share your compliments with the team. We hope to welcome you back again soon! Kind regards, Nagi (TGOTC)

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                                                        10. Pierre

                                                          Sydney

                                                          2 reviews

                                                          4.0

                                                          2 reviews

                                                          Dined on 8 December 2024

                                                          1. Overall 4
                                                          2. Food 4
                                                          3. Service 4
                                                          4. Ambience 4
                                                          Great opportunity to meet colleagues for a breafkfast meeting with great food in a lively environment
                                                          The Grounds of the CityResponded on 9 December 2024
                                                          Dear Pierre, hank you for your kind words! We’re delighted to hear that our lively atmosphere and great food made for a productive and enjoyable breakfast meeting with your colleagues. We hope to see you again soon! - Nagi (TGOTC)

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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 4.3 stars by 3626 OpenTable diners.

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

                                                        Make a booking

                                                        2 people
                                                        7:00 pm
                                                        Booked 96 times today

                                                        Order delivery or takeout

                                                        Google Map for The Grounds of the City

                                                        500 George St, Sydney, AU-NSW 2000

                                                        Additional information

                                                        • Cross Street
                                                          Park St, Sydney, AU-NSW 2000
                                                        • Area
                                                          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, Takeaway, 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>.

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