Old School Kafey Dessert Bar Haymarket
By Lisa Nguyen | Published 12 June 2023
Does this spot match the hype?
TL; DR | Summary
Looking for a late night patbingsu fix in Sydney's CBD? With a closing time of 11pm daily, Old School Kafey's got you covered. With a massive selection of 14 flavours, including watermelon, lychee, Thai milk tea, taro, matcha green tea, and durian, there's no shortage of options. The icy desserts are packed to the brim and are presented beautifully with a vibrant colour. The flavours could be more robust, but the sides accompanying the desserts are well-prepared. Old School Kafey photos don't do it justice. You'll need to see the colourful and aesthetic drinks and desserts for yourself!
Old School Kafey Review
@bestspots.com.au With a closing time of 11 pm daily, Old School Kafey is perfect for late-night Patbingsu in Sydney CBD ⬇️ With a massive range of 14 flavours, including watermelon, lychee, Thai 🇹🇭 milk tea, taro, matcha green tea 🍵 and durian, there's no shortage of options. These icy desserts 🍨 are packed brim to the bowl, with beautiful presentation and full of colour. The Patbingsu flavours could be more robust, but the sides accompanying the dessert are well-prepared 😊. It's a very colourful menu 🌈 with an aesthetic selection of drinks and desserts. Quite possibly the most extensive selection of bingsu 🍧 in Sydney, Old School Kafey has all the classic favourites like rockmelon and strawberry 🍓, along with ones you may not expect, like banoffee 🍌☕. They also have the old-school shaved ice which looks slightly different with a twist of flavours and toppings. Although the flavours could be more substantial, the sides it comes with are all well prepared, such as jelly, pearls and the flavoured pouring liquid, e.g. Thai milk tea 😋. Its ample restaurant space and lovely interior also add to the overall ambience 🤗, making it a great dessert hangout for couples and a group of friends. While most of their offerings are eye-catching 🤩, the flavours we all know and love need to be added throughout the menu (on the more subtle). For instance, in my matcha croffle 🥐, their green tea flavour could be stronger but is enough for satisfying 👌. This dessert is simply a croissant pressed into a waffle maker, and while it works, I'm not a fan of using LCMs and cereals, which can be a bit off-putting 😅. So if you're looking for a fantastic place for some late-night Patbingsu in Sydney CBD, Old School Kafey is definitely the place to go! 😀 For the extra insight on Old School Kafey, go to bestspots.com.au ✅ #sydneyfoodblog #sydneyfoodbloggers #sydneysiders #foodiesydney #sydneyfooddiary ♬ Made You Look - Meghan Trainor
Old School Kafey has quite possibly the most extensive selection of bingsu in Sydney. There are plenty of classic favourites like rockmelon and strawberry, with new and exciting flavours like Banoffee to try. The desserts use the old-school shaved ice with lots of flavours and toppings. Although the flavours could be more substantial and punchy, the accompanying sides, such as jelly, pearls, and flavoured pouring liquid, are well prepared.
While many of their dishes are eye-catching, the foundations of the dish need work. For instance, the matcha croffle is a croissant pressed into a waffle maker, served with matcha ice cream and cereal. Although the matcha flavour was satisfying enough, it could have been stronger, and the use of LCMs and cereals in the dessert was a little off-putting. But more about that later.
The dessert bar is a lovely space with a quirky interior and eclictic decor throughout, creating an overall ambience that's perfect for dessert. There are copper pipes lining the restaurant walls as well as fun artwork and unique knicknacks. If you're looking for dessert after a first date or a casual and fun place to chat with friends, this dessert bar is a good recommendation.
Eye-catching Korean dessert bar
This cafe is full of personality! From the menu to the interior and the menu, it's a feast for the eyes. The Old School Kafey menu offers a great selection of patbingsu flavours, 14 to be exact. There are also fresh sides such as jelly, pearls, and flavoured pouring liquid. The presentation for all the dishes and drinks are very much Instagram-worthy and the staff are friendly and accomodating. So if you're looking for likes on your Gram or TikTok, this is the place to be.
While the patbingsu isn't outstanding due to the lack of strength in the flavours, I believe the vast selection of flavours is enough to satisfy any sweet tooth. My menu feedback would be to include savoury options to balance out the menu.
Service is generally fast and there is plenty of space for seating. Plus, the late closing time of 11pm daily makes it a great dessert hangout in the CBD, especially after a long work day.
Thai Milk Tea Patbingsu
Thai milk tea snow flakes with brown sugar jelly and grass jelly.
With so much selection, I had a lot of difficulty picking just one flavour. The Thai milk tea patbingsu has a vibrant presentation, bursting with a light orange colour, constrasted with the sides of pearls and jelly.
The Thai milk tea flavour isn't as intense as I would like, but the bingsu was still delightful to eat. The shaved ice melts quite fast, so you must consume it befor the ice absorbs the syrup. Overall, a decent patbingsu with the fresh toppings standing out, adding a nice textural balance.
Matcha Croffle
Croffle served with matcha ice cream, cream, chocolate sauce, cereal, and berries.
The matcha croffle is a unique ice cream sandwich of sorts. It consists of two croissants that have been flattened with a waffle maker, served with green tea ice cream and cream drizzled inside. The plate is topped with cereal, LCMs, and berries.
While it is pleasing to look at, the matcha flavour is weak and the use of LCMs and cereals is not precisely what you want to see in a city restaurant. The saving factor is the crisp croffle that elevates the humble croissant to new heights.
I would like to see a much stronger matcha flavour and more intriguing ingredients to compliment the ice cream sandwich, otherwise I would not be ordering this again.
RECOMMENDED
- Trying out many of their patbingsu selection
- To visit as a late-night dessert hangout
Final Words
I would visit Old School Kafey for the sheer range of flavours in bingsu and for the large restaurant space that's full of character. It's a great place to have an entertaining and varied night out, with bingsu at the $23 mark, so I recommend sharing it amongst friends. The flavours of patbingsu could be more robust, but the sides accompanying the dessert are well-prepared, making the dessert experience satisfying overall.
If you're looking for a best patbingsu in Sydney, it's not here. But if you're looking for a fun, eye-catching, and satisfying dessert experience in the Sydney CBD, Old School Kafey is a solid choice.
Where to find Old School Kafey Haymarket
Address
Hours
- Monday: 7:00 AM – 10:30 PM
- Tuesday: 7:00 AM – 10:30 PM
- Wednesday: 7:00 AM – 10:30 PM
- Thursday: 7:00 AM – 10:30 PM
- Friday: 7:00 AM – 11:00 PM
- Saturday: 8:00 AM – 11:00 PM
- Sunday: 8:00 AM – 11:00 PM
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