Mother’s Day at Harbord Hotel Freshwater.

From offbeat brunches to edible bouquets:23 budget-friendly Mother’s Day ideas

Forget flowers and chocolates. Go for brunch with alpacas,a food tour at a local market,or a box of sweet treats by some of the city’s best bakers.

  • Bianca Hrovat
The apricot walls set the pattern at Brunswick East’s Suntop Plaza.

This retro cafe is all about ’90s vibes and honest food with 101 per cent heart

Affordable sandwiches,sunset-coloured walls and sweet bakes are the order of the day at Suntop Plaza in Brunswick East.

  • Dani Valent

Discover the joys of grab-and-go snacks at this Japanese-style convenience store

Hit up Domo 39 in St Peters for konbini classics such as onigiri,bento boxes,stir-fried noodles,sweet-and-sour chicken and soft-serve rice cream.

  • Lee Tran Lam
Berry tart.

This gluten-free bakery and cafe is a totally cardboard-free zone

Nothing looks ‘gluten-free’ at Wholegreen Bakery’s Alexandria bakery and cafe,the third Sydney outlet for founder Cherie Lyden.

  • Lenny Ann Low
The Peach.
13.5/20

This charming wooden hut − and its peachy dessert − is a fairytale find near an airfield

Basq is an unexpected but pleasing all-day restaurant with really good − and dare I say “yum” − food.

  • Dani Valent
Advertisement

This Marrickville coffee spot is capital-S Serious about caffeinated brews (including its $35 cup)

The beans at ONA Coffee will put your nous to the test but there’s plenty to like for non-coffee-geeks too,including their sell-out potato rostis.

  • Lee Tran Lam
The deli sandwich with salami,mortadella,provolone and Greek tirokafteri sauce.

These excellent deli sandwiches are perfect for river walks,cycle stops and play dates

Schmick Earlwood riverside shop Ol’ Mates slings big classic sandwiches filled with deli meats,chicken schnitzel,poached chicken,and sausage and egg.

  • Lenny Ann Low
Go-to dish:Fritto misto,a tumble of seafood,fried lemon and crisped sage leaves.
Good Food hat15/20

A celebrity chef brings a party (and a Good Food hat) to this St Kilda pub

Saint George’s beachy cocktails,proteins with pizazz and cared-for fish dishes may finally help revive Fitzroy Street’s fortunes.

  • Besha Rodell
The zingy fish toast.

Don’t miss the ‘tongue-zing of a thing’ at this Japanese-style cafe-restaurant

The owners of Kurumac and Cool Mac have opened a spin-off in Chippendale,serving onigiri sets,soybean panna cotta and fish toast.

  • Lenny Ann Low
Saffron and vanilla scroll.

Made-from-scratch pastries are the star of the show at this sunny suburban spot

Locals are lining up to see the doughroom at this theatrical bakery in Sydney’s south.

  • Lenny Ann Low