Armchair Collective

Armchair Collective sports the telltale imprint of its founders, lifestyle visionaries Andrew Goldsmith and Pip Robb. Now with new owners, this part cafe, part homewares store is an exotic mix of colour, foliage and, of course, armchairs. Oversized pots of fresh flowers frame immaculate displays of aquamarine lamps, celadon-coloured vases, and piles of multicoloured pillows. A sprightly Single O short black ($3.50) twinges with a nuanced acidity and a short, fruity aftertaste, good with thick slabs of house-made banana bread. It's quite the pre-surf coffee scene in the early morning.