Melbourne Cafe Culture

It has been my absolute pleasure to have a week off work with my wife, Caroline, this week. We have spent Christmas with our great friends. chilled out, and trawled around a few of Melbourne's fantastic cafe's. Coming originally from England, it is a big surprise to find the European style cafe culture on the other side of the globe in an English speaking country. But for those of us who loved travelling across the English Channel, and equally loved the European cafe culture, Melbourne is very appealing, from this perspective.

Dundas Place Cafe

Open frontage at the Dundas Place Cafe

For us it is a short drive to the bay where we can easily choose to spend time anywhere from Port Melbourne to Black Rock (in fact we've walked from Brighton to Port Melbourne, about 10km). A couple of days ago we had breakfast in Albert Park Village at the Dundas Place Cafe. Albert Park Village is a beautifully located place, with loads of cafe's and restaurants walking distance from the bay, and from Albert Park. As a long black drinker, I really enjoyed the coffee which was full bodied and yet smooth of flavour, and although it was strong, there wasn't a bitterness about it. For breakfast I had porridge (yes, it was fairly cold in Melbourne that morning, only about 15C) and it was the best I've had in Melbourne, made with almonds and butterscotch banana. Caroline and I have been here before, and there's always plenty to choose from, the staff are always friendly without being in your face, and to beat everything, the quality is great at cafe prices!

Being close to many places, the only difficulty after having breakfast in Albert Park Village is choosing what to do next! We went to Port Melbourne and walked around Beacon Cove where the Dawn Princess Cruise Ship was berthed. For those interested in cruise ships, there's a schedule for Port Melbourne, the highlights being the QE2 in February and Queen Mary in early March, while for those who want to watch decadent luxury, The World comes to Port Melbourne on February 20th.

Beacon Cove: Caroline with the Dawn Princess in the background.

Brunetti's

Plenty of outdoor seating at Brunetti's in Carlton

It may be one of the most touristy places in Melbourne, but Caroline and I love hanging out in Lygon Street once in a while. Today we spent a bit of time there, and had a coffee in the legendary Brunetti's. The first thing that hits you as you walk in the door is the cakes! There are hundreds of cakes, pastries and biscuits, and they are all calling out to you and saying choose me. Brunetti's has 2 full counters of sweet things, and a savoury counter as well (and I'm not talking about a couple of feet long with a few slices!). I couldn't resist an almond tart and Caroline had a pesche (peach shaped pastry filled with custard). The coffee was smooth, but for me not as full bodied as it could be. Brunetti's is huge with loads of seating inside and outside and again a very relaxed atmosphere, typical of little Italy!

Brunetti's is not the place for those on a diet!