Cafe Levant Brings Eastern Flavours To Sydney’s West
Sydney’s eastern suburbs have long been a hotspot for many of Sydney’s best cafe’s and restaurants. This has shifted in recent years with the opening of several fine venues further west of the city.
Greenacre’s Cafe Levant is one such establishment. This beautiful family-owned cafe features a mix of indoor and outdoor dining options, artfully adorned with cushions, lanterns and murals of ‘Bank of Liban’ notes.
The space was designed by Cafe Levant’s Co-Owner and Manager, Jinan Afiouny Ammoura, herself. Everything from the menu – featuring iconic Middle Eastern dishes like Knafeh – to the interiors – a luxe mix of green velvet, white tiling and gold fixtures – is an ode to the Levant Region.
The Levant – which spans Jordan, Lebanon, Syria and Palestine – is more than a collection of cities. For Jinan and her family, it is their whole identity. “I am Lebanese with Turkish roots, and my sister’s husband is Jordanian. We’re different but also a little bit of everything, so we wanted to create a space that reflected this,” says Jinan. “The flavours on the menu, the design of the space, how we greet our customers – it’s all a love letter to who we are and our upbringing.”
Jinan and her family grew up in and around the Greenacre streets Cafe Levant now occupies. The cafe’s corner spot was once a milk bar that Jinan and her siblings would frequent after school for snacks and to meet with friends. Their parents also owned and operated NutRoasters next door where Jinan and her siblings learnt everything there is to know about Middle Eastern ingredients and food.
When the milk bar next door eventually closed, Jinan’s family purchased the space in 1995. In 2018, Jinan’s brother Mohamed suggested they use the corner shop to fulfil their lifelong dream of owning their own cafe and in 2021, that dream was realised when Cafe Levant first opened.
The siblings credit their parents with teaching them all they know about hospitality and generosity. “Cafe Levant pays homage to our culture but also our parents,” says Jinan. “We are honoured every day to put into practice the values they instilled in us, to continue their legacy and share our passion for food with others.”
Living up to its name, the menu skilfully incorporates touches of the Levant – and is completely halal. Favourites include the Potato & Eggs ‘Batata Wa Bayd’ ($24), Savoury ‘Kaak’ Flatbread Toasties (from $17), Ashta Atayef Pancakes ($25), Avocado Sourdough ($23) and the Levant Omelette ($26). Each dish is a mix of flavour, culture and tradition.
For something truly special, you’ve got to try the absolutely delectable Sultan’s Board For 2 ($72). This one is quite substantial and comes with four eggs (your way), sujuk, Lebanese sausage, house made labneh, grilled halloumi, shanklish, tomato, cucumber, za’atar, pickles & olives, balila bi tahini, ashta with honey, watermelon, sourdough, warm kaāk along with two hash browns and a pot of tea. So delicious and highly satisfying, you certainly won’t walk out of here hungry!
To wash it all down, the drinks menu is a mix of standard cafe favourites like cold press fresh juices ($10) and smoothies ($12), and Arabic staples like Black Coffee ($7) served in a traditional ‘brik’ pot and Turkish Teas ($12) known as ‘shai’, featuring Middle Eastern Flavours like sage, mint and aniseed. The loose-leaf tea is sourced from a Byron Bay-based artisanal tea shop and can be enjoyed by the pot, brewed hot or cold.
For those based on the west side of the CBD, you no longer need to venture to the east to experience the best of Sydney’s cafe culture. Cafe Levant has it all and more, right at your doorstep!
Cafe Levant
331 Waterloo Road, Greenacre NSW 2190
Open Mon-Tue (5.30am – 3pm) | Wed-Sun (5.30am – 4pm)