What makes a café a café? More importantly, what makes a café so good we get up early at the weekend to meet friends and family for breaky?
A café is a type of restaurant which typically serves coffee and tea in addition to light refreshments such as baked goods and snacks. Originating from the French word for ‘coffee’, a café is also known as a casual meeting place where you can find people reading magazines, playing board games, studying or chatting with friends about current events.
Here are five of our favourites to enjoy a catch-up this weekend:
Located in the vibrant Gold Coast suburb of Miami, Caffeine Kings has transformed an old laundromat into an exceptional coffee house, serving all-day breakfast and cool tune music. Located on Gold Coast Highway, this funky venue boasts matte-black graffiti-covered walls like a little backstreet Melbourne laneway; setting the scene for memorable meals from a modern Asian fusion menu.
Stop in early after a beach walk and devour the Royale Benedict – poached eggs, wilted spinach, Hollandaise, dukkah, potato rosti and smoked salmon; or a breaky burrito with bacon, scrambled egg, avocado, cheddar, aioli, spicy beans and corn salsa.
Shoes are optional when starting your day with salt water, breakfast and a sunrise overlooking Forster’s Main Beach at Beach Bums Café on the corner of Beach and North Streets. Stroll up from the sand to replenish and recharge at this well-loved local café, where fabulous ocean views and friendly service complement a seasonal breakfast and lunch menu.
Don’t go past mushroom bruschetta with a sautéed mushroom medley, truffle oil, Parmesan, rocket and balsamic on sourdough toast; or berry hotcakes, caramel mascarpone, berries and berry compote.
If the view isn’t enough to get you out of bed, we don’t know what is! Fuel up for the stunning Coogee to Bondi cliff walk or relax and watch whales breaching in the Pacific Ocean at Morning Glory on Beach Street. Just metres from the sands of Coogee Beach, this well-loved local café has been serving great coffee, food and service for more than a decade.
There’s even a mini surfboard on the coffee machine, while display cabinets overflow with all manner of temptations; meet friends for a breaky of Mexican scrambled eggs, chorizo, chilli, spring onion and Turkish toast.
Everyone is welcome at Il Baretto in Albany Creek to enjoy coffee and classic Italian dishes sure to warm the soul. Located on Albany Creek Road, this sleek diner has a corner frontage ideal for soaking up rays on balmy days, while indoors embraces an Italian vibe with wooden floors, black subway tiles and tables clothed in red, white and green.
Breaky-goers are tempted by housemade potato rosti, spinach, grilled asparagus, bacon, avocado, poached egg and herbed Hollandaise; or classic eggs benny with smoked salmon and fresh spinach.
From locally sourced cheese to aromatic coffee, cakes and pastries, locals and visitors alike head to Timboon Provedore on Main Street to appease ravenous hunger. Expect cheerful service along with in-house dining and takeaway options as you peruse shelves groaning with the range of products on offer.
Stop in to pick up freshly baked sourdough, smallgoods, biscuits, jams, preserves and honey to make the perfect Sunday brunch at home; don’t forget to check out the range of fresh pasta and organic sauce for an easy weekend dinner.
