The Garden Room

Is this everybody's dream, to have a design studio on the northern beaches that doubles as a cafe on weekends? Phoebe Pape's garden-oriented cafe has been so busy she hasn't yet had time to move her architectural landscape business into the same space. A Little M caffe latte ($3.50) here comes with a higher aesthetic than elsewhere; the big white share table set with David Edmonds' lovely ceramics, surrounded by Aboriginal art, garden books, hot pink bromeliads, tangy lemon meringue pie, and jars of house-made jam. You can even sign up for impromptu dinners with erudite speakers.