It seems to me that our holiday was a blink of an eye away. People are starting to return to work full force now. The trams are crowded, the trains are packed.

However the cafes and restaurants are still fairly quiet. It’s as if that everyone is trying to behave after gorging themselves silly over the merry season. It’s a cycle that never ends year in and year out.

You know what else never ends? Our passion and love for coffee and cafes in and around Melbourne 🙂

If we happen to be in South Melbourne, the Boy and I will usually wander around the busy intersection of Coventry and Cecil streets, arguing consistently on where we would like to brunch for that day.

Usually, we walk all the way up Coventry Street to Clarendon, muttering to ourselves that St Ali’s would be too busy, and wander back down (not before stopping by Made in Japan) and visit Dahon Tea Lounge for some scrumptious Lechón Kawali (deep fried pork belly).

However, on the rare occasions that the Boy and I come to an agreement on where to go and what to eat, we end up with the following locations below 🙂

_______________________________________________________________________

Clement Coffee Roasters – South Melbourne, Vic

I love love love the concept and look of Clement Coffee Roasters. It reminds me so much of my favourite Patricia Coffee Brewers brew bar in the CBD. Where PCB have the elegant classy look dedicated to the corporate surrounding and customers, Clement has the cool hipster vibe that is so uniquely Melbourne.

It also helps that the size of Clement is tiny (not much bigger than most store rooms). However, Clement is like the ultimate Swedish decor dream that is so simple-modern, with clean panels of wood, and little spaces used to their full potential.

But enough about the fit-out of Clement, this post is about their coffees! I did love their latte and piccolo which I tried. Both were very smooth and perfect to my humble palate.

Using the same formula as PCB, Clement serves coffees from other roasters such as Market Lane, Proud Mary and of course close neighbour (and fellow roaster) St Ali.

I found this particular article about Clement to be most informative 🙂

If you’re walking around South Melbourne or ducking in for your weekly grocery shopping at South Melbourne Market, why not give Clement a go?

*Disclaimer: All food ratings & review are purely based on my own experiences and how I feel about the service, food and quality at the time of visit

Food/ Cuisine: Specialty Coffee
Dining Style: Take Away / Limited Standing

Opening Hours:
Monday to Sunday, 7:30am – 4:30pm

Address:
Stall 89, South Melbourne Market
116-136 Cecil St
South Melbourne VIC 3205

Tel: (03) 9209 6295

Website: http://www.clementcoffee.com/

Twitter: @ClementCoffee

How to get there:

_______________________________________________________________________

Giddiup – South Melbourne, Vic

There was a day when we wanted to visit Chez Dre but the wait was a little ridiculous to be honest. We did spy Matt Tilley with his family sitting at a table nearby and I wanted to stalk. But the Boy dragged me away.

We wandered down a cobbled lane-way and discovered a tiny (and very cute) hidden cafe just off Coventry Street (and Francis Street) with simple letterings on the wall that gave away its name, Giddiup.

It was full but not busy, and we happily sipped our coffees as we waited on milk crates for a more substantial table to become available.

Latte ($3.50) & English Breakfast Tea ($3.50)

The coffee (from Sydney’s Single Origin Roasters) was strong and was made well. The Boy decided to be English and enjoyed his cup of tea.

I munched on my gigantaur of a Bacon & Egg Roll ($10.00) with Anna’s tomato chutney & mayo. It was so massive I felt that I had to dislocate my jaw just to eat it whole.

Luckily for me, the roll was soft and I avoided the drama of unhinging my mouth. I loved the tomato chutney and mayo which accompanied the roll (made in-house) but I needed more of it.

There was just so much bread and not much sauce or bacon that in the end, I felt as if I was just eating an egg sandwich.

The Boy who eats baked eggs, had “whaddayaknow?”, Baked Eggs with Toasted Ciabatta ($16.50) which was two baked eggs, spiced tomato & paprika baked Northern beans & chorizo sausage.

He enjoyed his meal and wouldn’t let me steal more than a spoonful of baked beans (selfish man!).

*Disclaimer: All food ratings & review are purely based on my own experiences and how I feel about the service, food and quality at the time of visit

Food/ Cuisine: Breakfast & Lunch
Dining Style: Cafe

Opening Hours:
Monday to Friday, 7:00am – 4:00pm
Saturday & Sunday, 8:00am – 3:00pm

Address:
269 Coventry Street
South Melbourne VIC 3205

Tel: (03) 9682 8820

Website: http://giddiupcafe.com/

Twitter: @giddiupcafe

How to get there:

_______________________________________________________________________

Gas Eatery & Supplies – South Melbourne, Vic

On another occasion, as the Boy and I dawdled upwards Coventry Street (I tell the truth, we do this a lot) we decided to head over to Gas Eatery & Supplies. As we entered the premises, we were told that the breakfast menu had finished and only lunch was available.

Thinking that we’d be lost if we stepped back outside for food options, we both happily agreed and sat ourselves down the communal table right in front of the lunch display. Hooray!

A couple of Lattes $3.50 from Gravity and we were ready to go.

I left the Boy in charged of sorting out our mezze choices from the Mediterranean, Middle Eastern and Spanish mix on offer through the glass display.

There is no set menu to this place and food on display changes constantly according to the produce and seasons.

On the day that we were there, we sampled Chicken Fritters ($8.00) served with fresh Tzatziki with chunky cucumber bits; Mexican Fritters ($7.50) – Jalapeno and Potato served with a spicy mayo; and a Vegetarian Eggplant and Tomato Risoni ($6.50).

We both pretty much inhaled the food and was astounded by how good the food was and vowed to return for breakfast.

*Disclaimer: All food ratings & review are purely based on my own experiences and how I feel about the service, food and quality at the time of visit

Food/ Cuisine: Breakfast & Lunch
Dining Style: Cafe

Opening Hours:
Monday to Friday, 8:00am – 6:00pm
Saturday & Sunday, 8:00am – 5:00pm

Address:
253 Coventry Street
South Melbourne VIC 3205

Tel: (03) 9690 0217

Website: http://www.gaseatery.com.au/

How to get there:

_______________________________________________________________________

Chez Dre – South Melbourne, Vic

On the odd occasion when we do plan to visit South Melbourne with the intent of dining at Chez Dre, the Boy and I usually get a table (as we are early or come in at such odd hours that it’s fine).

We came by for a late lunch a few days after our wedding and brought along Doctor Lady Lumps and Doctor Love for some sugary (and savoury) delights!

Lemon Praline Cube ($8.50) [top picture – bottom left] & Hazelnut – Praline Crunch ($8.50) [top picture – bottom right]

For sweets we had the above which the four of us dug in with gusto! It was hands down agreement that all four of us loved the praline crunch and the doctors gave it a positive verdict *phew*

We also sipped on some Latte – House Blend “Symmetry” ($3.80) – roasted by The Maling Room

But I also forced upon the group the Chocolate Tart ($8.50) which went down a treat. It was as rich and as indulgent as I remembered the very first time I saw Dré making it in the kitchen downstairs (oh so long ago!)

[Clockwise from top left to bottom left: King Prawn & Pea Risotto with fresh herbs & preserved lemon ($24.50); Minute Steak & Bacon Sandwich – 120g Scotch fillet on house-made foccacia, gruyere, tomato chutney, jalapenos, rocket & dijonnaise ($21.50); Braised Lamb & Hand-Cut Pappardelle – Slow cooked lamb neck, lardons, mushrooms, dates & shaved pecorino ($24.50); and Duck Sandwich – Confit pulled duck, truffle mayonnaise, caramelised onions, apple & rocket ($19.50).]

Now to own up. We ate all the desserts after we gorged ourselves silly on the mains above! WHERE DID WE FIND THE SPACE? But we had to! We couldn’t go to Chez Dré and not have desserts! That would be a sin!

The savouries we had were really good. The doctors for some reason both had sandwiches (maybe it’s a doctor thing) 😛 But the Boy and I went Italian 🙂 He had the risotto (eew peas!) and I had the pappardelle (mmm lamb) both of which were excellent 🙂

If you’ve eaten elsewhere and are looking for sweets, Chez Dré is the place to be!

*Disclaimer: All food ratings & review are purely based on my own experiences and how I feel about the service, food and quality at the time of visit

Food/ Cuisine: Breakfast, Lunch & Patisserie/Bakery
Dining Style: Cafe

Opening Hours:
Monday to Sunday, 7:30am – 4:30pm

Address:
(Rear) 285-287 Coventry Street
South Melbourne VIC 3205

Tel: (03) 9690 2688

Website: http://www.chezdre.com.au/

Twitter: @CHEZDREcafe

How to get there: