Hawthorn Common

Stretching across a whole second floor, this cafe looks radiant, filled with natural light, fronted by a succulent-potted deck, and fitted handsomely in black and white and timber. In the kitchen, they mill whole wheat into flour, and bake bread for your toast; and they stone-grind oats for porridge ‘two ways’ layered with quinoa. Simply titled dishes encourage enquiry, and friendly staff tell the story. ‘Vegetable fritters’ come on creamy hummus, with bitey chickpeas, mixed tomatoes and torn basil. There’s energy, experience (it's backed by Danny Colls, George Sykiotis) and heart; Hawthorn Common is more than a business, it’s a collective.