Cafe Hernadez , Kings Cross

Cafe Hernandez, in Kings Cross Rd, is an odd little place that serves great coffee and has recently extended its range of food too. But the two things that make it unique are the in-house coffee roaster and the fact that the cafe has been open 24 hours a day, every day, since Adam ordered his first latte. People used to wonder why the door lock didn't work - why would you need a door lock when you'r open 24 hours a day.

I reckon there are three distinct tribes that inhabit Hernandez. There's the daytime people - underemployed writers and retirees - the night people (shift workers and cops in need of a caffeine fix) and the early morning mob (insomniacs, poets and personal trainers). The weird thing is that you can (and will) be treated like one of the family if you go at the same time every day. But go in with a different tribe and it's like you're the new kid in town.

Ambos and cops compete with Russian cab drivers for the best tables while backpackers gamely sit on one coffee while they write 150 postcards home. This is one of the last slices of real Sydney and long may it survive and thrive.