Swish Cafe

4.5(504)

147 River St, Ballina, New South Wales, 2478

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Services:Gluten-Free OptionsVegan OptionsSourdough BreadCateringTakeawayDine-In

Good ValueFriendly Staff

Known for

Eggs benedictMilkshakesPancakesTakeawayDine-inCoffeeVegetarian optionsVegan options

Why Choose Swish Cafe?

Swish Cafe is known locally for friendly, attentive service and solid coffee backed by consistent praise from both locals and travellers. The sourdough bread and eggs benedict are standouts, and the menu stretches beyond breakfast into Vietnamese dishes and lunch options, all with good value pricing.

About Swish Cafe

Swish Cafe is a breakfast, brunch and lunch spot in Ballina, New South Wales, and it's one of those places that locals and road-trippers tend to rave about in equal measure. It's a cafe first, but the sourdough on the menu earns it a place for anyone hunting for good bread in town.

The food leans fresh and made from scratch. Eggs benedict on sourdough gets plenty of love, and people also come back for the pancakes, the acai bowl, milkshakes and muffins. There's a surprisingly broad menu beyond the usual brekkie fare too, and one local singles out the Vietnamese dishes, from dumplings in a tasty broth to a salad with prawns. Gluten-free, vegan and vegetarian options are all on offer, so mixed groups usually find something that suits.

The coffee is another reason people return, and we've heard it described as the best in Ballina by more than one happy customer. It's a friendly, welcoming place, and staff are mentioned warmly again and again, from the owner-style hospitality at the counter to the quick, attentive table service. Prices are known to be fair for the portion sizes, which suits families and anyone after good value for a sit-down meal.

It's a practical stop as well. There's seating both inside and out, including in the arcade area, and dogs are welcome at the outdoor tables. They're good for kids, with high chairs available, and there's a wheelchair-accessible car park. You can dine in, grab takeaway, or ask about catering for a function. It also works well for a bit of laptop work over a coffee and a muffin.

One local had a disappointing meal and another found the service a touch brusque on a quiet morning, but those stories sit against a lot of enthusiastic ones.

They're set up as a daytime cafe, closing in the afternoon and shutting for one day of the week, so check the hours before you head in.

Location

Eggs On Sourdough Toast
2 fried, poached or scrambled eggs with roasted tomato
$16
Eggs Benedict
Poached eggs on an english muffin, served with house-made hollandaise & fresh baby spinach
$19
Avo, Feta & Dukkah
Smashed avocado, feta & rainforest dukkah on organic sourdough toast with balsamic, olive oil & lemon
$20
Big Breakfast
Eggs your way—poached, scrambled or fried; bacon, mushrooms, spinach, hash brown, choice of full size Daley Meats gourmet sausage or cheese kransky, roasted tom
$32
Bacon & Egg Roll
Two bacon rashers & two fried eggs, sliced tomato, cheese & smoky barbecue sauce in a sesame roll
$17
Acai Bowl
Chilled acai berry blend topped with banana, seasonal fruit, coconut chips, granola & honey
$20
Pancakes
House made pancakes, seasonal fruit, ice cream & choice of chocolate or maple syrup
$20
Banana Loaf
Toasted thick cut & locally made banana loaf
$9
Raisin Toast
Thick cut locally made raisin bread, toasted, buttered & sprinkled with cinnamon sugar
$6
House Made Cookies, Muffins, Cheesecake & Cake Selection
$7
Spanish Omelette
Bacon, ham, onion & cheese or roasted pumpkin, baby spinach & feta or mushroom, baby spinach & goats cheese
$22
Swish Rosti
House made rosti, relish, avocado, poached egg, bacon (or haloumi), roasted tomato & hollandaise
$26
Breakfast Salsa Wrap
Scrambled egg, avocado, bacon, salsa & cheese wrapped in a toasted tortilla, served with a side salad
$21
B.L.A.T. Turkish Burger
Double bacon, lettuce, avocado, tomato & garlic aioli in locally baked organic turkish
$19
Granola
House made swish granola, berry compote, fresh fruit, cashews, coconut & milk on the side
$19
Turkish Melt
Grilled cheese melt on turkish bread, choose from: ham cheese & tomato, bacon banana & cheese, bacon avocado & cheese, chicken avocado & cheese, ham cheese & pi
$14
Toast
Two slices of organic sourdough, butter & choice of peanut butter, vegemite, honey, plum or strawberry jam
$10
Scone
Served with jam, butter & whipped cream
$5

Lunch From 11.30 AM

Lunch Avo Feta & Dukkah
Smashed avocado, feta, rainforest dukkah on organic sourdough toast with balsamic, olive oil & lemon
$20
Asian Dumplings
Prawn dumplings with asian vegetables on asian broth
$24
Prawn Linguine
Prawn linguine on a bed of baby spinach & topped with parmesan, served with a choice of two sauces: Marinara or Alfredo
$28
Chicken & Mushroom Risotto
Chicken mushroom risotto with parmesan & truffle oil
$25
Mediterranean Lamb Salad
Slow cooked lamb, mixed leaves, tabbouleh, pearl cous cous, feta, cucumber & balsamic reduction
$26
Pumpkin Quinoa Salad
Roast pumpkin, quinoa, tabouli, avocado, mixed leaves, pine nuts & balsamic glaze
$20
Moroccan Lamb Wrap
Slow cooked lamb, lettuce, tomato, red onion and hummus wrapped in a lightly toasted tortilla and served with salad
$24
Spicy Hawaiian Wrap
Grilled chicken, bacon, pineapple, cheese & sriracha mayo wrapped in a lightly toasted tortilla & served with salad
$22
Angus & Bacon Burger
Grass feed angus beef, bacon, cheese, red onion, pickles, bbq & aioli in a sesame seed roll and served with house made chips
$23
Tropical Burger
Grass feed angus beef, bacon, pineapple, cheese, lettuce, tomato, red onion & aioli in a sesame seed roll & served with house made chips
$24
Boho Burger
Field mushroom, hash brown, spinach, avocado & hummus in an artisan bakery gluten free roll served with house made chips
$23
Vietnamese Salad
Wombok, eschalots carot, bean shoots, cucumber, green paw paw, mint & parsley, topped with peanuts, sesame seeds & a lime sweet chilli dressing
$18
Chicken Teriyaki Salad
Grilled chicken, asian wombok slaw, spinach, pickled cabbage, kewpie mayonnaise & teriyaki sauce
$23
Chicken Caesar Salad
Grilled chicken cos lettuce, parmesan, bacon, croutons, egg & caesar dressing
$23
Chicken Cran-Brie Turkish Burger
Grilled chicken, cranberry, brie, lettuce, tomato & cucumber in an artisan baked organic turkish & served with house made chips
$24

Our Coffees

Espresso
Short Black
Long Black
Flat
Cappuccino
Latte
White
Dirty Chai
Macchiato
Vienna
Chai Latte
Ristretto
Piccolo
Matcha Latte
Affogato
Mocha
Hot Chocolate
Babychino

Iced Coffees

Iced Coffee
Made with cold shots &/or syrups, milk, ice cream & topped with whipped cream
$10
Iced Chai
Made with cold shots &/or syrups, milk, ice cream & topped with whipped cream
$10
Iced Chocolate
Made with cold shots &/or syrups, milk, ice cream & topped with whipped cream
$10
Iced Mocha
Made with cold shots &/or syrups, milk, ice cream & topped with whipped cream
$10

Milk Shakes

Chocolate Thickshake
Made with syrup, milk & ice cream
$13
Strawberry Thickshake
Made with syrup, milk & ice cream
$13
Caramel Thickshake
Made with syrup, milk & ice cream
$13
Vanilla Thickshake
Made with syrup, milk & ice cream
$13
Lime Thickshake
Made with syrup, milk & ice cream
$13
Banana Thickshake
Made with syrup, milk & ice cream
$9

Smoothies

Banana Smoothie
Made with real fruit, milk & ice cream
$10
Berry Smoothie
Made with real fruit, milk & ice cream
$10
Mango Smoothie
Made with real fruit, milk & ice cream
$10

Tea

Teapot
Black, green and all the favourites
$5
Herbal Plunge
$6

Iced Tea & Spritzers

Iced Tea Peach
Iced Tea Lemon
Iced Tea Mint
Iced Tea Cucumber
Strawberry Mintz
Strawberries, mint, elderberry syrup and soda water
$8

Juices

Bottled Juice Orange
Bottled Juice Apple
Bottled Juice Pineapple
Cold Pressed Juice Gingered Apple
$6
Cold Pressed Juice Daily Greens
$6
Cold Pressed Juice Love Beets
$6
Cold Pressed Juice Sublime Pine
$6
Cold Pressed Juice Valencia Orange
$6

Soft Drinks

Bundaberg Ginger Beer
$5

Menu as published at swishcafe.com.au on 28 October 2026. Prices change; confirm with the shop.

What Customers Say on Google

Service

“friendly service and affordable pricing. great coffee.”

Staff

“Best thing Is the service. Mel and all the ladies there are so friendly and welcoming - we love swish!”

Bread

“best eggs bene I've tasted, the service was absolutely wonderful.”

Source: Google Reviews

Community Comments

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Frequently Asked Questions About Swish Cafe

: Swish Cafe on River Street is a breakfast, brunch and lunch spot known for its eggs benedict on sourdough, pancakes, acai bowl and milkshakes. It also serves dumplings in broth and a prawn Vietnamese-style salad, which several locals single out as favourites. Coffee quality gets consistent praise, and the staff are regularly described as warm and welcoming.
: Yes, Swish Cafe offers both gluten-free and vegan options alongside its regular menu, which includes sourdough bread, breakfast classics like eggs benedict and avo on toast, and lunch dishes such as chicken and mushroom risotto and pumpkin quinoa salad. Vegetarian options are also available, making it an easy stop for mixed groups.
: Swish Cafe has both indoor and outdoor seating, including space in the arcade area, and is set up to be good for kids with high chairs available. The cafe also has a wheelchair-accessible car park, and locals mention dogs being welcome at the outdoor tables too.
: Yes, Swish Cafe offers both dine-in and takeaway, plus catering for those wanting its breakfast and lunch food for an event. Popular picks like the eggs benedict, acai bowl and Vietnamese-style dumplings travel well, and the espresso bar covers everything from flat whites to iced coffees and iced chocolates.
: Most visitors describe Swish Cafe as offering good value along with friendly, attentive service, and it has built a strong local following for its coffee and cooked breakfasts. As with any busy cafe, ask about current pricing directly, since it can change, but the general consensus is affordable food matched with generous service.