Sandwiches are no small deal in Sydney. Anyone who lives here will quickly tell you their favourite spot to go for a cut lunch sando – and more importantly, ask you yours. As someone who moved here only a few short years ago, I was surprised by the gusto the city's residents had for the humble lunch favourite. That was, until I started trying some of these raved-about spots.
From the Northern Beaches down to The Shire – there are sandwich shops aplenty. But how do you cut the crummy spots from the ones that serve God-tier meals? Well, luckily for you – we've done the hard (albeit delicious) work for you, below.
1. Avner's (Surry Hills)
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Best for: NYC-style bagels, Challah sandos, sidewalk dining.
Avner's is a spot I've yet to see people talk about too much, but it's a place I can't stop thinking about. Helmed by TV's own Fast Ed (i.e. Ed Halmagyi), this place wheels out trays of fresh, Jewish and Eastern European-inspired baked goods on the daily – include the bagels and Challah bread most of their offerings come sandwiched between. I'd highly recommend spending a sunny weekend morning ordering yourself one of their Challah sandwiches with brisket (or bagel with smoked wagyu), and perching yourself on one of the tiny tables on the sidewalk outside. If you're lucky, Halmagyi himself might just throw an impromptu baking class in the open-to-the-sidewalk bakery next door too.
2. Norma’s Deli (Manly)
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Best for: seaside sandos, generous fillings, a maritozzi on the side
A conversation about Manly isn't complete without someone bringing up Norma's. It's a spot most in our office have made the drive up north for several times – and one that's well rewarded. This self-proclaimed 'big fat Greek deli that does it all' is known for their sandwiches among plenty of other specials – and they aren't stingy on the Deli meats. The Normas Deli sandwich is their signature: layers of creamy labneh, mortadella, ham, salami, rocket, pickles and fresh tomato on their house-made focaccia. But we'd suggest not leaving it to the last minute for a visit – they close when sold out for the day.
3. Cross Section (Darlinghurst)
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Best for: Caesar salad wraps, viral cross-section shots, parm galore
A favourite of the RUSSH team's (partly because it's just down the road from RUSSH HQ, partly because it's so damn moreish), Cross Section is a relative newcomer to the Sydney sandwich scene. Having opened their doors last year, they've quickly become a hit with their viral Caesar salad wraps and delicious focaccia sandwiches. And it wasn't long before Sydney-siders were coming from far and wide to try one for themselves (and take a few snaps for socials while they were at it). For once, the rumours are true – the Caesar salad wrap is 100% worth it – but don't forget about some of their other menu classics. Personally, I'd recommend the #11 with mortadella, hot sopressa and stracciatella.
4. Small's Deli (King's Cross)
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Best for: vegie options, GF options, sandos on a baguette
Another spot heralded as a great by many a Sydney resident is Small's – a spot befitting of its name, tucked into a leafy backstreet of the King's Cross/Woolloomooloo area. There are only a few milk crates out front for diners to enjoy their sandwiches on-site, but there's nothing stopping you from taking your order to the nearest park (or back home) to devour. It's one of the few sandwich shops I've found have pretty ample vegie options, as well as Gluten Free options, available (the Al Green is an excellent choice here). They also do a mean tahini choc chip cookie.
5. Kosta's Takeaway (Rockdale, Rosebery, CBD)
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Best for: simple is best, quick turnaround, prawn rolls
Kosta's has a few locations around Sydney – so you're likely to be near at least one. They're a no-nonsense Greek deli of the highest order. Fresh ingredients. Classic sandwiches. Their offerings range from straight-up sandwiches on sliced panini and schiacciata, to brioche burgers and chips (where do we really draw the line between burger and sandwich anyway?). Their straight-up pastrami beef and pickles sando is hard to go past – especially if what you're craving is a proper, NYC-style sandwich – but we'd never say no to their monthly rotation of sandwich specials either.
6. Teta's (Potts Point)
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Best for: flat-bread toasties, Middle Eastern flavours, pomegranate sodas
Teta's – nestled into a row of eateries along Roslyn St in Potts Point (between the beloved Piccolo Bar and Barrel One coffee shop) – is one place held in high esteem by just about everyone who visits. Run by deli owner Dina, and named in honour of her late grandmother, Teta's is an ode to slow, handmade, Lebanese fare; marinated and brined to perfection. In fact, when model Gabbriette visited Sydney last year, she was so enamoured by the food she took her thoughts to Instagram (and even created her own special version in NYC in homage). And while you're there enjoying your lunch, you can peruse (and purchase) from their deli wall – from Teta's best-selling chilli sauce to jars of preserved baby eggplant.
7. South Dowling Sandwiches (Alexandria, Paddington, Miller's Point)
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Best for: bang for your buck, fresh is best, fluffy bread
Another cult fave around these parts is South Dowling – who've been in the sando game for over 15 years. They tout the Australia’s #1 Best Sandwich title on their website, as well as three locations across town. A favourite of a few of our RUSSH Editors for its freshness, light and fluffy Sicilian-style bread (baked fresh each day), and of course, for its chicken schnitzel sandwiches, we'd recommend giving this one a red hot crack when you get a chance. (Just mind the queues – they're worth it.)
8. Fred's Providore (Cronulla)
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Best for: catering, weekly specials, Truffle Mortadella!!!
From charcoal schnitzel to slow-roasted lamb, Fred's Providore – The Shire's newly reopened European-inspired sandwich bar – is anything but ordinary. They load up their sandos on house-made focaccia, using fresh cold meats and cheeses straight from their in-house deli and butcher, and lathered with cold meats and cheeses straight from their deli. It's also a great little coffee shop – and with both indoor and outdoor seating options, you can make the most of your meal on site, or take your wares home (or to the nearby beach) to snack on.
9. Baker Bleu (Double Bay)
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Best for: country rolls (ofc), egg salad sandwiches, a sweet treat on the side
Perhaps you've overlooked Baker Bleu as simply just a bakery – a damn good one at that – but you should be informed that they also do an incredible sandwich. Between crowd favourites like their salt beef wagyu sandwich on rye caraway and their sesame bagel with Glory Bay smoked salmon pastrami (are we really going to argue the merits of bagels as part of the sandwich family?) this might be one of Double Bay's finest sandwich spots – and you can opt for a couple sweet treats on the side too.
10. FLOUR (Caringbah South)
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Best for: climate controlled dough, cute cafe interiors, crispy bottomed focaccia.
Between green goddess sandwiches and chicken katsu sandos on super soft, fluffy Japanese Shokupan baked fresh each morning in house – FLOUR is one of The Shire's sandwich gems. It's hardly hidden though – there's a line out the door every morning for this joint, so you know it's as good as we say – and with a rotating menu of sandwiches, there's plenty of newness to try each week.
