The new Social Hideout Cafe at Waterloo is an explosion of flowers and colour, and unlike any place we’ve ever dined. The cafe’s interior design is inspired by various places the owner has experienced overseas, and he has added his own creative flair to create a delightfully whimsical setting for diners, complete with cascading flower wall and ceiling, neon signage with fun messages and over-sized mural of style icon Audrey Hepburn.

Social Hideout rose to prominence with their highly instagrammable dishes at their North Parramatta location and Waterloo takes this to new heights, with immaculately plated dishes. We may eat with our eyes but it’s ultimately in the eating where reputations are made. The kitchen does a stellar job of delivering a menu that is as original and delightful as the surroundings.

Firstly, let’s talk about the drinks; iced beverages are served in a miniature bathtub – strange, but true. Our iced taro was a creamy concoction topped with fairy floss and sprinkles, and is one from a choice of flavours including red velvet, matcha, chocolate, coffee, and bubblegum. In contrast, Audrey’s butterfly flower wisteria is a refreshing and effervescent drink with calamansi providing sour notes to balance the sweetness.

We tried a couple of sweet and savoury dishes for breakfast:

The Green Frenchy – matcha green tea french toast, red velvet mascarpone, berries, caramelised banana, bingsu rice cake, maple.

Taro Hotcakes – pink pitaya, berries, mango cubes, black sesame ice cream, mint, taro sauce

The Habib – Za’atar saffron poached eggs, beetroot labneh, pomegranate, portobello mushrooms, radish, sourdough

Red Velvet Benedict – poached eggs, pulled pork, kale, asparagus, pomegranate, beetroot hollandaise, red velvet croissant

Social Hideout will no doubt attract people with its exuberant floral display but the real star is the innovative and delicious menu.

Social Hideout Waterloo

Shop 4/5 25-33 Allen Street, Waterloo, Sydney