My Sweetopia Cupcake Café
Is it a cliché that springtime should have me obsessing over the finches and the bees, is it completely predictable that I should be feeling all femme and fickle, are my urges to sit around at home all day baking cupcakes and double-strawing ice cream sodas entirely counter-productive?
If you just rolled your eyes and said "Man, that chick has an incurable case of sweetopia" you'd be right.
Batavia Teahouse
Entering Batavia Teahouse is like stepping into the first scene of The Secret Garden: a grand Eastern palace full of exotic treasures and woody, spicy smells. This popular South Bank café/treasure-trove combo truly delivers 'the wonders of the East' with its range of decadent furniture, amazing wooden birdcages, old-fashioned stationery and opulent china.
The Forest
Vegan food that's super cheap, super healthy and super delicious? Yes, The Forest might just have it all. Nestled in the heart of West End, this laid back café-restaurant is a favourite of locals and vegoes (that's a combination of vegans and vegetarians, I've decided) from all parts of town, and it's not hard to understand why.
Riverbend Teahouse
Yes another bookshop-café... it must be a trend or something. However, this trend sure doesn't offend at Riverbend (ha! a rhyme). So much more than just another award winning bookstore that boasts a minimal café. Oh no, Riverbend might well be winner of the Australian Independent Bookshop of the year for the past two years, but it's the Teahouse that's the winner to me.
Café Bouquiniste
Bouquiniste, it's French for bookseller. Merlo, it's Australian for good coffee. Café Bouquiniste, specialises in both of these, plus a well sourced collection of delightful, pretty, nice smelling things like decadent soaps, vintage French postcards and even rubber stamps.
Standing alone on Merthyr Rd, just a short walk from Merthyr Village, Café Bouquiniste might as well be located in the French Countryside.
Sugar 'n Spice Cafe
As we know, the streets in the CBD are named after royalty. From Sugar 'n Spice's window, you can see down busy Adelaide Street (named after Queen Adelaide). Born in 1792, Adelaide was pretty cool; before she married King William... he was known throughout the kingdom as a bit of a douche bag. Adelaide smartened him up: he gave up the drink, swore less and became more sophisticated and tactful.
Alberto's Shot Espresso Bar
I have to admit that I sometimes get a bit intimidated by these new world coffee shops. I find myself fumbling for coins as the long queue shuffles impatiently behind me. Then stuck trying to find a seat amongst the congregations of business suits that fill the room.
Independent suburban cafes, however, are usually a much more relaxed affair.
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