Fitzroy Restaurants

It is the coffee which originally brought me to Brunswick Street and kept me there. Since 1987, my first coffee related visit was to the "Black Cat Cafe", a visit which surely changed my life. I still remember those rays of light through the venitian blinds after I sipped that sacred Vitrivere.

Since then there have been many other sweeping changes to Fitzroy, but one thing which remains are the cafes. On a wall is 1989 screamed a graffitied slogan "Action speaks louder than coffee chats!" Well nearly 15 years later the action of drinking coffee still goes on. However the cafe is nothing new to Brunswick Street since in 1959 the "Sila Espresso Bar and Passticeria" first opened it's door and has not closed it since. Here you will find one of the oldest espresso machines in existance. This establishment was to be a big influence on others to follow more than a couple of decades later. It was with the "Black Cat Cafe", opened in 1982, when Brunswick Street began the still running phase of coffee houses. Every month it seem a new cafe opens it's doors. Some you will see empty while right next door the other place is full to the rafters. Melbourne people take coffee very seriously and will importantly judge a place by the way it does it's coffee.

Favorite Dish: Cappuccino at "Sila Espresso Bar"; Latte at "Tin Pot Cafe" - Nth Fiztroy; Short Macchiato at "Joes Garage", lemon tart and most cakes at "Babka's" and freetrade organic coffee at "Volare" on Brunswick Street.

This place is a Fitzroy institition. Come in and see if they have a table free (quite easy for two or three people). Marios is always busy and doesn't take bookings, just ask American comedian Jerry Seinfeld when he was down under on a short tour. "Mister Seinfeld would like a table at you fine café". "Oh I'm sorry but we don't take reservations, but he is more than welcome to come down and wait for a table like everyone else" or so the rumor goes. Definately come to this place for a great coffee and all day breakfast.

Favorite Dish: Try the Veal
CASH ONLY

This resturant has
no menus
no prices
no Alchohol allowed

But people keep coming back and coming back for the food and the way the place is run with such care and passion. You know you are somewhere special when you walk in. The owner will take care of you in her own way. Oh yes, and every night someone gets there meal on the house, but you can't ask for it to be you!

Favorite Dish: The Chick Pea Bake

The Afgan Gallery is a cosy and friendly place to eat. The Afgani food could be described as a mix between turkish and indian but you cannot really do it justice by saying that. It is just to give you a rough idea of the type of food. The setting is very exotic and you sit cross legged on soft coushion/seat things like you can get in Thai restaurants

Favorite Dish: I would need a great memory to write down the name of my favourite dish, but safe to say you could go in there and say 'I'm hungry so you just bring out some appropriate dishes'. You won't go home dissapointed.

Fitzroy is a cool, funky area of melbourne...and retro cafe is one of the pillars of this area. It's mismatched chairs and tables, and laid back service gives it a bit of its own style...