The Lion and Buffalo - South Coogee, Sydney

Lion and Buffalo in South Coogee is more than just a corner cafe; it’s a multicultural culinary experience influenced by its diverse staff from around the world. The menu reflects this diversity, featuring dishes like house-cured salmon lox with carrot butter, coconut milk porridge with beetroot syrup, and seasonal ramen, all served throughout the day. Named after the owners’ star signs, Leo and Taurus, the cafe pays homage to its Polish heritage with locally made Polish sausage and smoked salmon plates.
The cafe’s decor celebrates rabbits, with a prominent wall mural by local artist Fintan Magee and small porcelain rabbits adorning the space as a nod to owner Anna Allison’s roots. The menu offers refined yet affordable dishes, including full-blood Wagyu beef strips with freshly grated wasabi and roasted chickpea and cauliflower salad with beetroot hummus and haloumi. Lion and Buffalo pride themselves on their local relationships with farmers and suppliers, ensuring top-notch ingredients in every dish.

The cozy village vibe extends beyond the food, with the cafe’s warm service and two-year effort to source local ingredients and share their Polish heritage with the neighborhood. The all-day menu includes cafe staples like poached open-range eggs with Polish sausages on sourdough and 15-hour braised lamb with couscous, zucchini, cranberries, baba ganoush, chimichurri, and hazelnuts. Guests can also enjoy a variety of flowering teas, beautifully displayed in glass teapots, while seated at the main table crafted from an old workbench or on wraparound seating facing the small park outside. Lion and Buffalo offer a unique dining experience that celebrates diversity, quality ingredients, and warm hospitality in the heart of South Coogee.