Best Coffee in Wollongong: Specialty Cafes, Crown Street and the Illawarra Scene

Wollongong has a well-developed specialty coffee scene for a city of its size, with a cluster of strong espresso bars and roasters concentrated on Crown Street, the city's main dining and retail corridor, and in the suburb of Thirroul to the north, which has developed a cafe culture that reflects its artistic and lifestyle-oriented community. Tarts Cafe on Crown Street is a Wollongong institution with a strong espresso program. The Thirroul strip on Lawrence Hargrave Drive has several specialty coffee operations that have developed a following among the sea-change community and day-trippers from Sydney. Corrimal on Princes Highway north of the CBD has an active cafe scene. The University of Wollongong campus on Northfields Avenue drives a strong student and academic cafe market in the Fairy Meadow and Gwynneville area. Wollongong's position on the Illawarra escarpment above the Pacific Ocean gives many cafes dramatic coastal views that add to the appeal of the coffee experience. Sydney specialty coffee culture has strong influence on Wollongong's scene, with several Sydney-trained baristas and roasters establishing operations in the city.