Just Open: 5 Lire, North Melbourne

The team at Auction Rooms was as surprised as the rest of North Melbourne when 5 Lire (Cinque Lire) opened quietly across the road last month. They even popped in for lunch to meet their new neighbour, owner Laura Notarfrancesco. After quitting her job at food and beverage company Lion, Notarfrancesco spent a few months with family in southern Italy. It was the push she needed to kick her dream of opening a cafe into gear. Returning to Melbourne, Notarfrancesco and her father got to work on what was previously a white-walled real estate office. Now concrete slabs, crystal lights and tables fashioned from 30-year-old scaffolding reference the rustic in a contemporary space that seats 32.

The menu at 5 Lire incorporates traditional meats such as 'nduja (spreadable salami) into breakfast dishes such as smashed broad beans with buffalo mozzarella on sourdough. Lunch tempts with lasagne and salumi. Those craving la dolce vita will be able to pick up panettone come Christmas, and once the liquor licence comes through, 5 Lire will open for aperitivo.

Open Tues-Fri 7am-4pm; Sat-Sun 8am-4pm.

5 Lire, 116 Errol Street, North Melbourne, 9329 2249, 5lire.com.au