Gertrude & Alice

6.5 Recommended

Food  8      Ambience  8      Service  4      Value  6     

As much as I love coming here to indulge in a divine cup of coffee & enter into a realm of books&reading, the unfriendly service always leaves me frustrated when I exit the cafe... only a few of the staff working here are lovely & helpful... as for the rest, a smile once in a while would be nice.

Dec 14, 2011 

4.3 Below Average

Food  6      Ambience  6      Service  1      Value  4     

Friends of mine in the past have commented on Gertrude & Alice being pretentious and the staff's rude demeanour but my love of books kept me hooked. Until now.

On first sight I fell in love. A wonderful second hand bookshop where you can sit down and enjoy a cup of coffee or a wholesome meal. However, I became increasingly frustrated on subsequent visits when the narrow shop was so crowded that we were unable to find seats and had to eat elsewhere before coming back to browse the books. Even then, trying to search for titles or pick out books to look at is impossible when there are groups of people eating lunch and blocking the bookcases.

Despite all of this, I continued to visit and invested a lot of time and money purchasing many books and sampling a variety of dishes from the simple, limited and overpriced menu.

The final disappointing blow came when I dared to ask to trade several of my own books for some of theirs. The staff barely even looked at them before abruptly telling me that they couldn't accept them. No explanation was given at all. Given that I had bought most of these books from them in the first place, I was very offended. More so given the fact that most of these titles are popular and sought after.

My love affair with Gertrude & Alice is over.

Apr 26, 2011 

7.8 Recommended

Food  7      Ambience  9      Service  8      Value  7     

A friend took me here on saturday and I fell in love immediately! Definitely my kind of place and felt a little like a place you might find somewhere like Byron Bay. I love books, food and coffee so it was the perfect combination! Great, relaxed and friendly atmosphere. Had a lovely time and can't wait to go back. The Chai tea was delicious!

Sep 13, 2009 

9 Highly Recommended

Food  8      Ambience  10      Service  9      Value  9     

This is my favourite cafe in Bondi. It's a real local's haven, cool in summer and cosy in winter. The staff have always been lovely, chatty and warm to my family which includes two very young children. The food is simple, healthy and delicious, great drinks, sweet things and coffee. Hard to leave without a book too!

Mar 25, 2009 

6.8 Recommended

Food  7      Ambience  10      Service  3      Value  7     

This has been my favourite cafe in Sydney for a few years now. The ambience is fantastic. However, the senior staff can be grumpy and unfriendly. I was even asked to leave once for enjoying a good read of the many wonderful books there after having finished my chai tea, being told "this is not a library, and I've got queues of people lining up".

I gracefully exited, only to see when I got to the front that there were in fact many vacant seats and no queue to be seen. As a regular over a long-ish period of time, having spent hundreds of dollars on books there, I was sorely disappointed to be treated so anonymously. Not sure if I'll be going back so often now!

Feb 21, 2009 

9 Highly Recommended

Food  8      Ambience  10      Service  10      Value  8     

It's always a pleasure to lose yourself in this cute bookshop-cum-cafe. I love it. The staff are always helpful, the coffee is consistently good, and there's a huge range of books to peruse over your latte. A wonderful place to whittle away the hours.

Sep 12, 2008 

7.5 Recommended

Food  7      Ambience  8      Service  7      Value  8     

I loved spending time at this place when I was living in Bondi while travelling a few years back. Was the perfect place to go if feeling a little lonely - I always left feeling 10 times better than when I went in! A great ambiance that left me feeling all warm inside. The drink were great - my faves were the Moroccan mint tea (just as good as the ones I've had in Marrakesh) and the Lullaby Night Cap really was dreamy! Not sure about the food as can't remember what I ate! I always recommend this place to friends visiting Sydney and can't wait for a trip back there myself when next in Oz! Just read a post somewhere that says it may have closed down recently - really hope not as been really looking forward to going back! It would be a real loss to Bondi - as its such a gem!

May 23, 2007 

10 Highly Recommended

Food  10      Ambience  10      Service  10      Value  10     

It's funny, I've always found the staff there rather pleasant, I guess they're nicer to those who are nice to them and don't ask stupid questions.

Mar 02, 2007 

8.8 Highly Recommended

Food  10      Ambience  7      Service  9      Value  9     

I just love this place. Especially when I am by myself I can go in there and immerse myself in books. The food is good too, all fresh and I'm assuming all made right on the spot. Great place to meet someone. The only annoying thing is the people who go in there with their laptops and talk on their phones for long periods and only order a coffee to justify themselves.

Dec 18, 2006 

8.5 Highly Recommended

Food  8      Ambience  10      Service  8      Value  8     

The best flourless chocolate we have ever tasted. We loved this place when we visited in summer 06. Would thoroughly recommend you try this place if you like something a bit different.

Oct 31, 2006