Cafe at the Gallery - Sydney

Visiting the Archibald and took time out for coffee. There seemed to be around a dozen people hovering around the coffee machine but we waited 15 minutes for 2 mediocre cups of coffee. The new system does not seem to be working, fortunately we didn't order food. Sitting on the bench table in front of coffee machines I noticed three other people enquire re their coffee. You have a captive audience in the art gallery don't let them go away only remembering the cafe experience which at the moment is not good. The gallery itself is a fantastic place to visit.

How nice it is being able to get a great coffee at the gallery! The banana bread is well made and love how they heat it just the spot for a quick break from the Archibald exhibition .

We often visit the AGNSW but, rarely stop for coffee, yesterday we did and sadly this was a stressful end for myself and friends, to a lovely morning walking around the Archibald.We ordered cakes and coffee and at the counter we were advised by the friendly staff that coffee would take 10 minutes, which although we were on a tight time frame, we thought would be fine. 25 minutes later, cakes finished, we still did not have coffees or hot chocolates - parking meter ticking, we had to get going without a coffee and unfortunately due to waiting for something we could have got outside in the park in a few minutes, a $110 parking ticket.There seems to have been a change in the way the floor is managed at this cafe, the ordering system seems confusing and surely, a large cafe like this either gets more coffee machines or reduces the number of tables if it can't cope the demand. This kind of management makes it unfair for the professional and helpful staff that work there.We were given a refund, but sadly the end of a lovely morning was spoilt.

While spending the better part of a day at the gallery (There's so much to see!), I took a break to rest and replenish. The Cafe at the Gallery is downstairs, popular, and has good food made there. I had a delicious vegetarian soup, a roll and a pot of tea. I was tempted to order one of the attractive desserts but I wanted to get back to the gallery, so I settled on a large chocolate chip cookie (good).Friendly, free wi-fi, nobody rushes you.

The Café at the Gallery has just recently been refurbished. It is cleaner, better designed and serves a wider range of meals and snacks. It’s a great place to relax after a couple of hours of exhibition browsing.We had coffee on our last visit. It was very good and reasonably priced ($3.90 for a regular cup). We sat outside on the terrace, with views to Woolloomooloo and Potts Point. It’s a great and breezy outdoor space, but you will be bothered by birds, collecting leftover food on tables and crumbs off the floor.We'll return for a snack or a meal. They looked appetising.