Coburg cafe culture
A new, ‘trendy’ cafe has opened in Coburg! Does this mean we are finally getting some hip Brunswick overspill? Ummmm, maybe not. And, who cares? I first moved to Coburg in 1998, and I like it, dammit!
Carpa is modern-looking, with tables inside and out, and a couch; it’s pretty comfortable. The menu isn’t vegan friendly at all (only toast available, perhaps with avocado!) but they do an ok coffee, though at $3.70 it’s not particularly cheap:
Carpa is not Coburg’s only cafe, however. As well as assorted little places that probably aren’t worth a mention, there’s O’Heas Bakery, a milkbar-type place with a few tables inside and out, offering a coffee shop, mixed groceries, deli and bakery all in one. The bakery is fantastic, with lots of good sourdough breads that are made fresh daily on the premises. The young girls that work there don’t always know what’s what with the breads but the older ladies will be able to help. The coffee is pretty decent too, and the only place in the Burg that does Bonsoy (though perhaps not anymore).
From my place O’Heas is an hour round-trip with Kimba, and because they open early I often walk there on a Sunday morning for coffee and bread. There’s a wonderful two-way bike path that runs the whole length of the street – I’m not sure where it goes or why O’Hea Street has one but nowhere else in Moreland does (to my knowledge, anyway)?
Another cafe stop is Andre’s. Johanna has blogged about Andre’s cafe before, and I agree it’s a nice place run by a friendly guy. Again, vegan food is a bit thin on the ground but there’s decent coffee to be had, and said decent coffee is $2.80, rejoice!
The first coffee I had there had a weird froth top:
…but they’ve been better since then. Plus there are chairs outside so I can sit with Kimba and watch all of Coburg walk (slowly) past.
Are any of these places worth crossing the boundary of Brunswick to Coburg? Probably not, particularly since O’Heas Bakery is in Coburg North and thus
Carpa, 350 Sydney Rd, Coburg
O’Heas Bakery & Deli, 203 O’Hea Street, Coburg
Andre’s, 421 Sydney Rd, Coburg
The Nihilist
2:59pm, 16 Jan 10
What a pity about the lack of vegan fair. It’s far too common.
As for sub-$3 coffee. Are you serious? In Melbourne? I live in Adelaide and would have kittens if I found coffee + soy milk for less than $3.50. There is one place, Zenhouse Tea Corner, which you have visited according to one of your posts, that do $2 lattes. Thing is, it doesn’t open until 11am – too late for my morning coffee. Cures three-oclockitis, though.
lisa
3:03pm, 16 Jan 10
Hey Nihilist, funny you should say that because I’ve always felt the coffee in Adelaide is more expensive than Melbourne! Will check out those cheapo lattes at Zenhouse when I’m back in Adelaide in March for sure.
Johanna
6:07pm, 16 Jan 10
I love coburg – you can also get a decent salad sandwich at the heathfood shop just up from coles and I love the falafel at half moon cafe that they cook fresh and I love the masala dosa at nilas – but my favourite place is andres – though I hate coffee and love cheese so I have a slightly different needs to you – will have to check out this carpa.
Johanna
6:08pm, 16 Jan 10
oops just saw your heading is coburg cafe culture – no wonder you didn’t mention of the wealth of middle eastern bakeries and falafels
Horribleguts
6:45pm, 16 Jan 10
There is a cafe at Pentridge. I hear the coffee tastes ok.
lisa
8:21pm, 16 Jan 10
Johanna, I LOVE half moon cafe – so good. What’s your favourite of the middle eastern bakeries? Whenever i want something of that ilk I usually just ride down to Tabets.
Danni
8:24pm, 16 Jan 10
I too feel like Bell St is some sort of magic barrier, the edge of Melbourne proper maybe? I’m sure there are a lot of people who also feel that way about Moreland Rd.
lisa
8:58pm, 16 Jan 10
Danni, I think Albion St is the Brunswick barrier, Bell St is the Coburg barrier!
It is true though that beyond Bell St the suburbs are less densely populated than before, and it is also post-8km from the CBD (the ‘inner city’ of Melbourne is definited in an 8km radius from the centre).
Toby
10:28pm, 16 Jan 10
Half Moon Cafe FTW.
Anikee
12:49pm, 17 Jan 10
Lol we definitely experience the Albion st magic barrier. We only venture as far as Tabets and our IGA. As for Bell Street, anything past that just seems like no mans land.
TimT
1:58pm, 17 Jan 10
Cheap good coffee and fabulous company at that nifty place in the Coburg Mall. What’s their name? Do they even *have* a name?
I also love the arcades for their gaudy wonder and the pie shop in one of the arcades, though that’s not very vegan!
lisa
2:02pm, 17 Jan 10
TimT, I think the coffee place you mean is ‘coffee and kitchen’? Though I’m not sure if that’s actually it’s name, as everyone I know in Coburg calls it ‘that coffee place in the mall’. Are their coffees still $2 a pop?
Dion
3:06pm, 17 Jan 10
As a former resident from beyond the Bell street barrier (ie. the wilds of the less densely populated north ‘burg), I can confirm its mysterious psycho-geographical symbolism. But there are definitely treasures worth venturing over for, not least of which are the (not very vegan friendly) offerings of O’Hea bakery. Take them down to the bank of Coburg lake for picnicking.
lisa
3:27pm, 17 Jan 10
LOVE Coburg Lake. Kimba does too.
steph
4:33pm, 17 Jan 10
Wait, Johanna, tell me more about this masala dosa! I haven’t had a dosa since I got to Melbourne!
TimT
4:48pm, 17 Jan 10
To the best of my knowledge, yeah. I suspect tax-book cooking or possibly below minimum-fare pay, but the staff are all friendly and happy with one another, so they’re obviously onto a good thing.
Luis
5:18pm, 17 Jan 10
Love the two-dollar-coffee joint at the Coburg mall. First time there I had to wait for two guys to stop arguing about soccer before I could order. Two others to check out: Egyptian coffee at Half Moon, and Masala coffee at Sarabella’s.
lisa
5:24pm, 17 Jan 10
TimT, maybe a family business?
Luis, I’ve never tried coffee at Half Moon, good tip. I used to get coffee from Sarabella but stopped because it was exxy with soy milk and the quality varied widely.
Jacqueline Child
12:02pm, 18 Jan 10
Cafe Della Rose is the cafe in Pentridge – it is located on Urquart street (the dog leg that you use to turn left onto Bell Street from Sydney Road – if facing the city. It does an ok breaky and coffee, but has been a little hit and miss the few times we have been. It is nice to sit out in the sun. They are also open for dinner by appointment. Merlynston shops also has a great little cafe (again in Coburg North – heaven forbid!) called Green Pepper Cafe – good coffee and food. Very popular with us who live near by. You can take your pooches and sit outside.
Johanna GGG
4:40pm, 20 Jan 10
I confess I don’t have a favourite middle eastern bakery – but I always think I should patronise them more as the fresh bread is great – but andres is my fave place in coburg for bread
patchwork avenger
10:37am, 4 Apr 10
I am digging Al-Alamay, it’s behind Sydney Road, near the Coburg Station. Lots of yummy treats – Lebanese pizzas and other baked goods, pickles and more. Even carob pods. A few vegan options (I believe), plenty of vegie options. I think the chai was made from syrup though.
They have this fantastic non=alcoholic fruit beer. It’s the talk of the town (if you live in my household anyway.)